NewPages Blog :: Writing Prompts

Welcome, June! After weeks of Mother Nature flip-flopping between chilly mornings and surprise heatwaves, it seems she’s finally made up her mind. Summer is here in full force. A gentle, much-needed rain gave the gardens a break—thankfully, no wild weather this time.

But this week brought a personal challenge: on Sunday, my grandfather took a fall and fractured his left shoulder. Fortunately, it happened after his birthday—and after our big Memorial Day celebration, when we were all together.

It’s a strange kind of gratitude, but it made me pause and think—sometimes, finding a silver lining in a tough situation is the only way to stay grounded. It reminded me of a line from A Smoky Mountain Christmas, where Dolly Parton’s character comforts a wary orphan, “It could’ve been better, but it could’ve been a whole lot worse.” That line stuck with me.

Writing Prompt: Finding A Ray of Silver Lining

Write about a time you had to find the bright side of a bad situation—what helped you shift your perspective, and what did you learn?

Whether it’s a small inconvenience or a major life event, we all have moments where optimism feels like a stretch—but those are often the stories that stick with us the most.

Not ready to get too personal? That’s totally fine. Try reflecting on a recent news story—can you find a silver lining? Or write about a time when optimism felt impossible. What helped you cope?

Ready to keep writing? Scroll down to explore different submission opportunities where your voice and story might find a home.

It’s that time of the week again—Fri-yay! 🎉

NewPages is back with our weekly roundup of submission opportunities, plus a dose of creative inspiration to help get your ideas flowing. Kick off the long weekend with fresh prompts and venues to help you hit your writing and publishing goals.

Inspiration: Just Like ABC

Abecedarian poems can be tricky—finding the right rhythm and words for those tough letters like Q, X, and Z is no small feat. But what if you turned that challenge into a song?

Back in elementary school, we learned songs that celebrated Michigan’s history—from voyageurs and logging camps to sailing the Great Lakes. One song stood out: it listed reasons why Michigan was a great place to live, from A to Z.

That got me thinking: what if you created your own alphabetical ode to where you live? Try listing reasons—serious or silly—why your state, city, township, or province is wonderful. Or flip the script and list reasons you don’t love it. Maybe even do both for a fun contrast.

You don’t have to stick to song lyrics or poetry. This could become a children’s story, a young adult piece, a lyric essay, or even an adult picture book. Explore how the quirks and flaws of a place might actually be what makes it feel like home.

Stretch those creative muscles. And if you have kids, get them involved! It’s a great long weekend activity that might just spark something worth submitting.

Speaking of the long weekend—NewPages wishes you a wonderful and safe Memorial Day.