Prompt to Page – Détails, épisodes et analyse

When novelist Tammy Oberhausen feels "stuck or uninspired," she tends "to wallow around with it for a while and feel bad." Writing prompts help her ideas flow again. "Don't wallow too much," she says. "Get the prompt and go with it."

On this episode, Tammy shares how to use your dreams—which she says are like "personalized prompts"—in your writing.

About Tammy Oberhausen

Tammy Oberhausen is the author The Evolution of the Gospelettes, a novel published in 2024 by Fireside Industries.

She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from Western Kentucky University and an MFA in Creative Writing from Spalding University. 

While working as a book editor and teacher and raising two daughters, she kept coming back to a story about a family of gospel singers that wouldn’t let her go. 

After three decades of developing her craft and writing and rewriting that story, the Gospelettes finally made their debut. A Kentucky native, she lives in Bowling Green with her husband.

Amelia Zachry, author of Enough: A Memoir of Mistakes, Mania, and Motherhood, didn't think anyone would want to read about her trauma. But being vulnerable about her experiences "invited people to be vulnerable" in return. 

"And so that is the power of the word from page to the reader," Amelia says, "that we can transform that sense of healing to others through our words." 

On this episode, Amelia discusses several writing prompts that will help you tap into your emotions and "share your truth."

About Amelia Zachry

Amelia Zachry is the author of Enough: A Memoir of Mistakes, Mania, and Motherhood.

She began writing her debut memoir after finding her voice, shedding silence and fear. Enough reveals secrets of sexual assault and subsequently a bipolar disorder diagnosis. 

She is an advocate for mental health and sexual assault awareness, supporting causes to dismantle rape culture and normalize mental health.

When she’s not writing, she can be found sculpting Raku-Yaki pottery or hiking with her husband and two magnificent daughters. Amelia currently resides in Nagoya, Japan. 

Do you wonder if you have a book inside you? According to Kentucky Writers Hall of Fame member George Ella Lyon, "you have to write to find out." George Ella says writers "have to dwell in uncertainty. Because that's the one thing that's certain, is that you'll be uncertain."

George Ella, who writes for all ages in multiple genres, shares the prompt that inspired her to write Many Storied House: Poems. So take out some paper (two sheets of at least 8.5 x 11") and get ready to draw your way into your next story, poem, or essay.

About George Ella Lyon

Harlan County native George Ella Lyon writes in multiple genres for readers of all ages. She has published five poetry collections, a novel and memoir for adults, novels and poetry for young people, and many children’s picture books. Her most recent titles include Back to the Light: Poems (Univ. Press of Ky 2021) and Time to Fly (Atheneum 2022). 

Her poem “Where I’m From” has gone around the world as a writing model. Married to musician and writer Steve Lyon, she served as Kentucky Poet Laureate (2015-2016) and was recently inducted into the Kentucky Writers Hall of Fame.

If you're a writer who works another job to make a living, poet Robin LaMer Rahija has some advice for you. "I think ideas and thoughts and little tiny chunks of motivation come to all of us throughout the day," she says. "Just stop and write them down and save them for later. And get in the habit of not ignoring that impulse toward a creative act."

Robin says her favorite writing prompt "feels like a dare" and is especially helpful "when you want to do something new and crazy." Up for a challenge? Listen to the episode!

About Robin LaMer Rahija

Robin LaMer Rahija is originally from Kansas City, MO and has lived in Kentucky for over a decade. She received her MFA from the University of Kentucky, where she is currently the Department Manager Associate in the Department of English.

In 2010, she co-founded and edited Rabbit Catastrophe Press, a handbound, feminist, book arts micropress. In 2015, she co-founded Workhorse Writers Collective, a publishing and education platform for poets outside of academia. 

Her poems have appeared in Puerto Del Sol, FENCE, Guernica, and elsewhere. Inside Out Egg is her first full-length book, published by Variant Lit in April 2024.

Author and arts administrator JC McPherson is also a trained master electrician who approaches poetry with a troubleshooting mindset. He says that "writing a poem is no different than wiring up a new room, like putting new lights in the outlets. And it's a process."

JC often returns to his favorite writing prompt because it "shakes something loose" and helps him relax into his writing. Shake up your writing process and have fun while doing it with his help!

About JC McPherson

JC McPherson has a background in writing, electricity, and general troubleshooting. A recipient of the 2022-2023 National Leaders of Color Fellowship through South Arts, he is an associate for the Kentucky Black Writers Collaborative, Creative Writing Instructor, and arts administrator. 

He is a member of the Affrilachian Poets and the author of numerous collections of poetry. He’s also a member of the Society of American Baseball Research.

On this episode, we talk to Tracee de Hahn, author of the Agnes Luthi mystery series and coordinator of the Carnegie Center's Author Academy. 

Tracee prefers "to think of a prompt as a possibility, but not necessarily a necessity." She's partial to the origin story as a writing prompt because it helps her understand the characters and places she's writing about. Listen to find out how to enrich your own writing with this prompt!

About Tracee de Hahn

Tracee de Hahn is the author of mysteries published by Minotaur books as well as non-fiction books for young adults which delve into historical events.  

She is national vice president of Sisters in Crime, an organization founded over 35 years ago to promote the ongoing advancement, recognition, and professional development of women crime writers. In addition, she speaks about Layered Career Paths to groups across the country. 

She is currently Coordinator of the Carnegie Center Author Academy, where she has served for several years as a mentor.

On this episode of Prompt to Page, Sean L. Corbin, the Poetry Gauntlet Coordinator for the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning, discusses his belief that "everything is a prompt." 

"If you sit down to write a poem, you don't just pour it out," he says. "Something had to prompt you to do that."

If you've ever enjoyed Mad Libs or LEGO, you might enjoy Sean's favorite writing prompt, a "wild text exercise" inspired by his friend and mentor George Eklund. Sean even reads a poem he wrote using the exercise.

About Sean L. Corbin

Sean L Corbin is the author of The Leper Dreams of Snow (Finishing Line, 2018), and is the Poetry Gauntlet Coordinator for the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning. His work has been published widely. 

He holds degrees in English and Creative Writing from Morehead State University and the University of Kentucky. Sean lives in Lexington, Kentucky, with his wife and sons, and also works in medical simulation.

On this episode of the Prompt to Page writing podcast, we talk to poet and visual artist Jay McCoy, author of The Occupation.

Jay discusses his passion for researching his family history and how that research has inspired his recent poetry projects. He also shares two of his favorite writing prompts, including one from Linda Gregg's essay "The Art of Finding." 

While Jay encourages listeners to strive for a regular writing practice, he also believes they should be gentle with themselves. "Give yourself grace, read widely, and find your practice," he says.

About Jay McCoy

Jay McCoy is a multimedia artist working primarily in poetry and visual collage. He calls Lexington home but maintains his Appalachian connections and deep roots in Eastern Kentucky. Jay is an adjunct Professor at Eastern Kentucky University and Bluegrass Community and Technical College. 

Also, he is a writing instructor with the Carnegie Center and founder of their Q-munity program for LGBTQ+ writers, as well as the archivist for the Big Sandy Heritage Center Museum. In addition to his book, The Occupation, you may find Jay’s work in anthologies and journals, including Naugatuck River Review, Still: the Journal, and Blue Fifth Review.

On this episode of the Prompt to Page writing podcast, we talk to Terena Elizabeth Bell, author of Tell Me What You See. Terena discusses why the events of the last few years compelled her to write experimental short fiction, and she offers encouragement to listeners who want to write about current events. 

“You have to write with your voice, what you saw," she says, "and you can't worry about whether it's going to get published, whether if you publish it, anything else is going to get published, whether your mother is going to like it…. You have to turn all of that off and just write.”

Turn all of that off and write with help from Terena’s one-word prompt.

About Terena Elizabeth Bell

Terena Elizabeth Bell is a fiction writer. Her debut short story collection, Tell Me What You See (Whiskey Tit), published December 2022. Her work has appeared in more than 100 publications, including The Atlantic, Playboy, Salamander, and Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine.

Her short fiction has won grants from the Kentucky Foundation for Women, Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts, and the New York Foundation for the Arts.

Originally from Sinking Fork, Kentucky, she lives in New York City.

For Christopher Rowe, author of The Navigating Fox, writing prompts can help him generate work when he's feeling stuck. In fact, one of his first stories to be widely published, translated into a dozen different languages, and reviewed in The New York Times was based on a writing prompt.

Christopher's favorite prompt will challenge you to rethink some of the decisions you've already made in a piece of writing. "Because I think that if you're going to write from a prompt at all, in any circumstance," he says, "you should just go with it.... If you're going to trust the prompt, you have to trust yourself to work with it."

About Christopher Rowe

Christopher Rowe’s stories have been published, reprinted, and translated around the world, and he has been a finalist for many internationally recognized awards. His most recent book is a novella from Tordotcom Publishing, The Navigating Fox, which received a starred review in Publishers Weekly. Locus Magazine said that Rowe’s stories are “as smooth and heady as good Kentucky bourbon.”