25 Summer-Themed Writing Prompts To Jumpstart Your Writing Ritual

Getting stuck in a writing rut? It happens to all of us. When the words feel stuck or the page feels too quiet, sometimes all it takes is a gentle nudge. That’s where writing prompts come in, not as rules, but as invitations. A doorway back into your imagination. I’ve gathered 25 summer-themed prompts to help you shake off the dust and find your rhythm again. Let them spark a memory, a moment, or a story. Give one a try and see where it takes you.

  1. Write about a summer that changed everything.

  2. Describe the smell, sound, and feel of your favorite summer memory.

  3. What did "summer freedom" mean to you as a child? What does it mean now?

  4. Write a scene set at a summer camp, real or imagined.

  5. Capture the feeling of an afternoon thunderstorm rolling in on a hot day.

  6. Describe a summer love…fleeting, imagined, or long-lasting.

  7. What foods taste like summer to you? Write about a meal you remember.

  8. Write a poem using only images and metaphors inspired by the sun.

  9. Begin with: "That was the last summer we all came back."

  10. Write a story set during a summer road trip. Where are you going and why?

  11. Describe the way your body feels in summer: the sweat, the sun, the air.

  12. Write a letter to summer, or from summer to you.

  13. Recall a summer when you felt completely yourself.

  14. Describe a moment by the water: ocean, lake, river, pool and the story around it.

  15. Write about the summer you stayed home and what you noticed.

  16. Begin with: "That summer, we swam every single day."

  17. Explore the contrast between childhood summers and adult summers.

  18. What does rest look like in summer? Write about a day of true rest.

  19. Write about a summer tradition, one you keep or one you miss.

  20. Describe your dream summer: who’s there, what are you doing, where are you?

  21. Capture a memory of chasing light…fireflies, sunsets, long golden evenings.

  22. Write about a time you got lost, literally or metaphorically, in the summer heat.

  23. Begin with: "There was sand in everything, and I didn’t mind."

  24. Reflect on the endings that always come with late August.

  25. If summer were a character in your life, how would you describe your relationship?

 

If you’re craving more guidance, structure, or just a little company on the page, you might love The Ritual Journal: 30 Days to Reignite Your Writing Practice. It’s filled with thoughtful prompts and affirmations to help you build a writing ritual rooted in reflection, not pressure. And if you’re looking for a space to share your words and connect with other emerging writers, come join us in the Emerging Writers Circle. Your voice belongs here.

Hope to see you there,

Sharla

 
Sharla Fanous

‍‍‍Sharla Fanous was born in 1979 in Methuen, Massachusetts and she spent most of her young life bouncing around the northeastern towns north of Boston. Like a true New Englander, she loves Fall, football, and Frost poems. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Clearwater Christian College and a Master’s in Business Leadership and Management from Liberty University.

She moved to Ottawa, ON Canada in 2007, where she resides with her three children and two cats, T’Challa and Ellie. She can be found binge watching HGTV, experimenting with a new recipe, or chasing around her three rambunctious (but adorable) kids. Jesus and coffee get her through these busy days (and 6 months of winter!). On rare occasions, she escapes her madhouse to seek the quiet of a local bookstore or engage in deep conversation with a friend.


https://www.sharlafanous.com
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