Prompt to Page with Ashley Blooms

Each month, we interview a published writer who shares their favorite writing prompt. Whether you’re just getting started or have written for years, you’ll find ideas and advice to inspire you and help you become a better writer.

Prompt to Page is brought to you in partnership with the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning.

Listen to Episode 22

Ashley Blooms turned to writing prompts as "a way to reconnect" with her writing and "do some creative healing."

She believes that writers can be hard on themselves and prefers to emphasize self-compassion in her writing practice. "I think that creativity grows much better if you are being gentle with it," she says, "than if you are using shame or criticism...."

more: Prompt to Page with Ashley Blooms

Dig Into a Great Book

Books & Bites Podcast, Ep. 79

JCPL librarians bring you book recommendations and discuss the bites and beverages to pair with them.

In honor of this year's summer learning theme, Dig In, we're digging into some authors we already know with the Books and Bites Bingo prompt, read another book by an author you love.

more: Dig Into a Great Book

Prompt to Page with Elizabeth Kilcoyne

Each month, we interview a published writer who shares their favorite writing prompt. Whether you’re just getting started or have written for years, you’ll find ideas and advice to inspire you and help you become a better writer.

Prompt to Page is brought to you in partnership with the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning.

Listen to Episode 21

For this episode, Elizabeth Kilcoyne, author of Wake the Bones, discusses her own complicated relationship to writing prompts. She used to think she was "anti-prompt," but now she appreciates their help with what she calls "the sticky bits of literature."

In other words, she continues, with "that part of your manuscript that you keep wanting to turn away from and keep wanting to turn away from and keep ignoring.... I feel like [writing prompts] are always the sort of saving grace that I go to, to move into the next phase of a draft."

more: Prompt to Page with Elizabeth Kilcoyne

LGBTQIA+ Authors

Books & Bites Podcast, Ep. 78

JCPL librarians bring you book recommendations and discuss the bites and beverages to pair with them.

On this episode, we discuss books by LGBTQIA+ authors, one of the prompts for Books & Bites Bingo. We've got a diverse group of characters and settings for you, including a Splatterpunk novel set in 1990s New Orleans, a Booker Prize-winning novel set in the United Kingdom, and a YA novel set in 1987 El Paso, Texas.

more: LGBTQIA+ Authors

Prompt to Page with Angela Jackson-Brown

Each month, we interview a published writer who shares their favorite writing prompt. Whether you’re just getting started or have written for years, you’ll find ideas and advice to inspire you and help you become a better writer.

Prompt to Page is brought to you in partnership with the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning.

Listen to Episode 20

For our twentieth episode, author Angela Jackson-Brown, the keynote speaker for the Carnegie Center's upcoming Books in Progress conference, discusses the importance of writing every day.

more: Prompt to Page with Angela Jackson-Brown

Find a Book You Love (for Books & Bites Bingo) with NoveList Plus

One of the prompts in the Books & Bites Bingo reading challenge is to read a book you found on NoveList.

NoveList Plus helps readers of all ages find books that match their reading levels and interests. Get book recommendations from the experts–librarians!

With NoveList Plus, you can:

  • Find books in a series
  • Browse by mood
  • Look up authors or books you've enjoyed to find other books you may like
  • Find award-winning books
  • Browse Recommended Reads Lists
  • Read reviews
  • And more!

more: Find a Book You Love (for Books & Bites Bingo) with NoveList Plus