Freely Written: Short Stories From a Simple Prompt

Send us Fan Mail In this week's story, Storage War , siblings argue over a storage unit with an unknown inheritance Suggestions for writing prompts are always welcome! Today's prompt came from more of a random thought about how people can find different meanings in the same statement. More about Susan Quilty Susan Quilty mainly writes novels, including two standalone novels and her curre...

Send us Fan Mail In this week's story, Thank You for Being a Friend , a heart-to-heart chat becomes a pop culture fest Suggestions for writing prompts are always welcome! Today's prompt came from more of a random thought about how people can find different meanings in the same statement. More about Susan Quilty Susan Quilty mainly writes novels, including two standalone novels and her cu...

Send us Fan Mail In this week's story, Queen of Everything , a young woman gets a chance at the job of a lifetime Suggestions for writing prompts are always welcome! Today's prompt came from more of a random thought about how people can find different meanings in the same statement. More about Susan Quilty Susan Quilty mainly writes novels, including two standalone novels and her current...

Send us Fan Mail In this week's story, The Clown , a mysterious figure suggests an uncertain future Suggestions for writing prompts are always welcome! Today's prompt came from more of a random thought about how people can find different meanings in the same statement. More about Susan Quilty Susan Quilty mainly writes novels, including two standalone novels and her current YA series: Th...

Send us Fan Mail Bonus episode today! Instead of sharing a new story, Susan is sharing her thoughts on the stories she told in episodes 36 to 39. Check back for new stories every Tuesday. Every fifth episode (like this one) will offer bonus commentary on the previous 4 stories. To avoid spoilers, listen to those story episodes before this one! More about Susan Quilty Susan Quilty mainly writes nov...

Send us Fan Mail In this week's story, Pumpkin Spice ,  a fall shopping trip takes an unexpected turn Suggestions for writing prompts are always welcome! Today's prompt came from more of a random thought about how people can find different meanings in the same statement. More about Susan Quilty Susan Quilty mainly writes novels, including two standalone novels and her current YA series:...

Send us Fan Mail In this week's story, Rain or Shine ,  a woman makes a reservation for patio dining Suggestions for writing prompts are always welcome! Today's prompt came from more of a random thought about how people can find different meanings in the same statement. More about Susan Quilty Susan Quilty mainly writes novels, including two standalone novels and her current YA series: T...

Send us Fan Mail In this week's story, End of the World ,  a gamer tries to keep her system out of the network   Suggestions for writing prompts are always welcome! Today's prompt came from more of a random thought about how people can find different meanings in the same statement. More about Susan Quilty Susan Quilty mainly writes novels, including two standalone novels and her current...

Send us Fan Mail In this week's story, Life is Good ,  an angry interaction at a grocery store shows how an idea can comfort one person and offend another.    Suggestions for writing prompts are always welcome! Today's prompt came from more of a random thought about how people can find different meanings in the same statement.  More about Susan Quilty Susan Quilty mainly writes novels, i...

Send us Fan Mail Bonus episode today! Instead of sharing a new story, Susan is sharing her thoughts on the stories she told in episodes 31 to 34. Check back for new stories every Tuesday. Every fifth episode (like this one) will offer bonus commentary on the previous 4 stories. To avoid spoilers, listen to those story episodes before this one! More about Susan Quilty Susan Quilty mainly writes nov...

Send us Fan Mail This week's story, Back in My Day ,  follows four friends as they solve their way through an escape room of clichés. Suggestions for writing prompts are always welcome! Today's prompt came from one of my sons. And, no, it wasn't because I used that classic phrase on him.  More about Susan Quilty Susan Quilty mainly writes novels, including two standalone novels and...

Send us Fan Mail This week's story, Fireside Wine Chat ,  brings two friends together in a mystical autumn setting.  Suggestions for writing prompts are always welcome! Today's prompt came from my friend Wendy McMullan, who lives entirely too far away from me. ;-)  More about Susan Quilty Susan Quilty mainly writes novels, including two standalone novels and her current YA series: The Ps...

Send us Fan Mail This week's story, Parking Lot Friends ,  explores a modern friendship based on post-class parking lot chats and social media connections Suggestions for writing prompts are always welcome! Today's prompt came from my friend Gretchen Schutte who teaches yoga and meditation through her Peace in the Pause virtual studio and knows all about the joys of parking lot friends!...

Send us Fan Mail In this week's story, Mirror Image ,  Ana's imaginary friend is always watching Suggestions for writing prompts are always welcome! Today's prompt was randomly chosen through some free association that began with reflection and wandered into ideas about mirrors. More about Susan Quilty Susan Quilty mainly writes novels, including two standalone novels and her curren...

Send us Fan Mail Bonus episode today! Instead of sharing a new story, Susan is sharing her thoughts on the stories she told in episodes 26 to 29. Check back for new stories every Tuesday. Every fifth episode (like this one) will offer bonus commentary on the previous 4 stories. To avoid spoilers, listen to those story episodes before this one! More about Susan Quilty Susan Quilty mainly writes nov...

Send us Fan Mail In this week's story, Ball Jar ,  grownups laugh at a funny word while a young girl colors an enchanted forest Suggestions for writing prompts are always welcome! Today's prompt came from my friend Gretchen Schutte during a conversation about growing and canning tomatoes. You never know when inspiration will strike! More about Susan Quilty Susan Quilty mainly writes nove...

Send us Fan Mail In this week's story, Hurkle-Durkle ,  a teenage boy tries to make the most of the new word he's just learned Suggestions for writing prompts are always welcome! Today's prompt inadvertently came about when my friend, Jenn Brown, posted a meme about the definition of hurkle-durkle, which apparently is an old Scottish word for lounging in bed after you're meant...

Send us Fan Mail In this week's story, Squirrelly ,  a group meeting raises some questions about what it means to be squirrelly. Suggestions for writing prompts are always welcome! Today's prompt came from my friend, Wendy McMullan, who sent her suggestion along with a video of a squirrel she saw playing with a stick in the park. It was adorable and great inspiration! More about Susan Qu...

Send us Fan Mail In this week's story, It's Soggy Out ,  two friends relax in the woods and discuss the meanings (and mis-meanings?) of words Suggestions for writing prompts are always welcome! Today's prompt came from my friend, Jen Pool, who told me she has a friend whose kid says "It's soggy out" when it's foggy or humid outside. (How cute and clever!) More ab...

Send us Fan Mail Bonus episode today! Instead of sharing a new story, Susan is sharing her thoughts on the stories she told in episodes 21 to 24. Check back for new stories every Tuesday. Every fifth episode (like this one) will offer bonus commentary on the previous 4 stories. To avoid spoilers, listen to those story episodes before this one! More about Susan Quilty Susan Quilty mainly writes nov...

Send us Fan Mail In this week's story, Muffin of the Month ,  Derek tries to get out of his Muffin of the Month Club subscription Suggestions for writing prompts are always welcome! Otherwise, prompts are chosen in random ways. This week's prompt was inspired by a random ad for an actual Muffin of the Month Club.  More about Susan Quilty Susan Quilty mainly writes novels, including two s...

Send us Fan Mail In this week's story, Spaghetti and Meatballs ,  Jeff and Tiffany plan a menu for their daughter's upcoming visit  Suggestions for writing prompts are always welcome! Otherwise, prompts are chosen in random ways. This week's prompt may have come from a craving for spaghetti and meatballs!  More about Susan Quilty Susan Quilty mainly writes novels, including two stan...

Send us Fan Mail In this week's story, Weak in the Knees ,  Hillary would rather forget a rather embarrassing incident at work Suggestions for writing prompts are always welcome! Otherwise, prompts are chosen in random ways. This week's prompt simply came up as a common phrase that could be used in a number of different ways.  More about Susan Quilty Susan Quilty mainly writes novels, in...

Send us Fan Mail In this week's story, Unicorns and Rainbows ,  Arwyn the rainbow farmer tends her herd of silver unicorns Suggestions for writing prompts are always welcome! Otherwise, prompts are chosen in random ways. This week's prompt came from a unicorn-themed mini bubble wand. Unicorns and rainbows are everywhere... why not put them in a story? More about Susan Quilty Susan Quilty...

Send us Fan Mail Bonus episode today! Instead of sharing a new story, Susan is sharing her thoughts on the stories she told in episodes 16 to 19. Check back for new stories every Tuesday. Every fifth episode (like this one) will offer bonus commentary on the previous 4 stories. To avoid spoilers, listen to those story episodes before this one! More about Susan Quilty Susan Quilty mainly writes nov...