The Writing Prompt Deck

I came up with this system to use with my writing group. It is a really simple way to generate a writing prompt.

Materials:
-index cards in at least 3 different colors (I recommend cards with recycled content.Try Office Depot.)
(http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/279688/Oxford-Color-Coded-Recycled-Index-Cards/)

-a writing implement (pen, marker, sharpie...just make sure it won't bleed through the card.)

-index card case (optional...you could always just use a rubber band or ziplock bag to keep your cards together.)

To Make Your Deck:
1.) Write the category on the front of each card according to the color.
yellow=protagonist (main character)
red/pink=setting
blue=action
green=object
purple=secondary character
(you can use any color for any category, these were just the ones I chose.)

2.) Fill in the back of each card with one thing that corresponds to its category. (A character could be an old woman, a setting could be the beach, an action could be crying, etc.)

That's it! your deck is made! Easy, huh?

To Use Your Deck:
1.) Shuffle each category seperately.
2.) lay each category face down.
3.) select one card from each category and turn it face up.
4.) Use the selection of words together as a prompt.

Example:
character card = man
setting card = city
action card = worry
object card = shoes
secondary character card = sales person
You could use these prompts to write about a man who just arrived in a new city. He is worried because he needs a new pair of shoes for a job interview. So he goes to a store to buy said shoes and is assisted by a sales associate.

It may not be epic, but it will get you started. Have fun!