Breakthrough At the Lit Lab
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breakthroughlitlab.bsky.social
Breakthrough At the Lit Lab
@breakthroughlitlab.bsky.social
79 followers 190 following 79 posts
We're an online writing community, made by and for LGBTQ+ writers and our ally friends! 🏳️‍🌈 We also commit to mutual aid 💖💪


Check out our zine and more about mutual aid at
https://www.breakthrough-at-the-lit-lab.com/
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breakthroughlitlab.bsky.social
#WritingPrompt A lot of stories are about someone who is half-human, Blade the sorta-half-vampire who fights vampires, to the more recent, Rumi from #KpopDemonHunters. Write a main character who is half-human, half-something else entirely. Explore the implications and challenges that comes with.
Writing Prompt Wednesday - Half & Half It’s not uncommon for a main character to be half-human half-whatever monster they fight. Rumi from Kpop DemonHunters is half-demon, Blade is a (sort of) part-vampire vampire hunter, and more. Write about a half-human, and the nuances and complications that come with it Our mascot, Typey, the cute cartoon typewriter in the corner with a long purple Rumi wig on.
November 12, 2025 at 4:03 PM
breakthroughlitlab.bsky.social
This week's #WritingPrompt is...uh...I forgor
Oh yeah, it's about amnesia! Write about a character who loses their memory, either parts of it, or all of it. Question to consider: How did they get amnesia? Who were they before? Who are they now? Do they even want their memories back?
Writing Prompt Wednesday -What's my name again? From medical dramas, to soap operas, the amnesiac character who has forgotten huge chunks of their lives, or even everything is a relatively common trope. Write a story about a character who wakes up one day, and has forgotten something, something small or huge. Our mascot, Typey, the cute cartoon typewriter, in the corner with a ? above tap's head.
November 5, 2025 at 4:01 PM
breakthroughlitlab.bsky.social
This spooky #WritingPrompt deals with dolls. A combination of cute and often creepy, dolls have been around for generations. Try writing a story that utilizes a doll. Either an old Victorian doll, or maybe even a modern plastic doll, plenty of options to choose from.
#Typey #QueerWriters
Writing Prompt Wednesday - Valley of Dolls Old porcelain dolls are often seen as creepy thanks to the Uncanny Valley, a phenomena in which something is almost recognized as a human face, but something is off, creating unease. Write a spooky story about a doll. Spooky Fact: pediophobia aka glenophobia is the fear of human-like toys such as dolls or ventriloquist dummies Our mascot, Typey, the cartoon typewriter in the corner with an old Victorian-era doll.
October 29, 2025 at 3:03 PM
breakthroughlitlab.bsky.social
#WritingPrompt #Typey Another spooky prompt. This time, we're reanimating the dead. Does the reanimated person/animal retain their personality, or are they mindless trying to eat people? How do they become undead? And other things to consider.
Writing Prompt Wednesday - Spooky Semetery Write a story about something/someone dying and somehow coming back to life. How do they reanimate? How do they behave once reanimated? Our mascot, Typey the typewriter in the corner in front of an open coffin
October 22, 2025 at 3:03 PM
breakthroughlitlab.bsky.social
#WritingPrompt Wednesday. While characters playing games may not seem like a spooky writing prompt, tons of shows/movies/stories take these games to the extreme, from Jigsaw kidnapping people to force them to play a deadly game, to participants desperate for money signing up for Squid Games, etc.
Writing Prompt Wednesday - Borderland Games Typey, our cute cartoon typewriter mascot in the left corner riding a red tricycle, the triangle, circle and square logo of Squid Games in the center bottom, the Joker card from Alice In Borderland in the right corner. Write a story about some characters playing a game with some high stakes. Think about what the prize is, the cost of losing, and how people become players.
October 15, 2025 at 3:04 PM
breakthroughlitlab.bsky.social
With Halloween approaching, the #writingprompts shall get a bit spooky. Let's start a story in a graveyard. Why your characters are there is up to you. Maybe they're there for a funeral, visiting a late loved on, or some other reason.
Writing Prompt Wednesday It was A Graveyard Smash Start a story in a graveyard There are many reasons for character(s) to be in a graveyard; mourning a recent loss, visiting an old loss, on a dare, it’s a shortcut through town, etc. our mascot, Typey, a cute cartoon typewriter, in the corner beside a tombstone.
October 8, 2025 at 3:03 PM
breakthroughlitlab.bsky.social
Most stories are written in 1st or 3rd person. You should try out 2nd person. The only example, off the top of my head, is N.K Jemisin's Broken Earth Trilogy, where one of the main characters is "you", i.e the reader themselves.
Writing Prompt Wednesday - You Most stories are told in 1st or 3rd person perspective. Rarely is the 2nd person used. “You” will write a short story, or a poem using the 2nd person perspective. Our mascot, Typey, a cute cartoon typewriter. pointing a finger at the viewer
October 1, 2025 at 3:52 PM
breakthroughlitlab.bsky.social
#WritingPrompt #Typey Who doesn't love music? There are many ways to use music in a story (no you don't need to include all the lyrics, but establishing tone, with the beat can add to a scene). Is it club music in a dance party? Is it elevator music playing in a stuck elevator?
Writing Prompt Wednesday Feel the Music Tell a story that incorporates some music. Perhaps it's a story about a musician, a band, maybe even an ensemble cast of characters. Our mascot, Typey sitting at a grand piano in the corner.
September 24, 2025 at 3:31 PM
breakthroughlitlab.bsky.social
Often writers will have a character, a place, or a thing planned out, before they pick a name for it. This prompt flips that around, pick a name, then decide what sort of person/place/thing it is. No need to think super hard, first thoughts, no right or wrong. Write a story about it. #WritingPrompt
Writing Prompt Wednesday - In a Name Here’s a list of names. Without thinking too hard about it, pick one and write about it. Whether it’s a person, place, thing. Seraphina, Blackthorne, Shadoria, Zyphr Elysium, Lyra, Quintran, Pylonia, Xi
September 10, 2025 at 3:02 PM
breakthroughlitlab.bsky.social
Settings play an important part in any story. For this setting, pick a type of shop that will be the main (or only) setting for the story. Step 2, you can start crafting some characters that make sense in there. If they don't make sense in the shop, find a way to explain that. #WritingPrompt #Typey
Writing Prompt Wednesday - Shopping Spree Tell a story of a character who works in or owns a shop. What sort of shop could be interesting to write about? Perhaps a romcom within a funeral home Or a drama in a beautiful flower shop? Our mascot, Typey, in the corner in front of a cute little shop.
September 3, 2025 at 5:42 PM
breakthroughlitlab.bsky.social
Nature is beautiful, so why not utilize some of that beauty to tell your story?
Plenty of stories take place near, or even in water; from The Way Home to Surf's Up and more, water plays an important role. What sort of stories can you tell revolving around a body of water? #WritingPrompt #Typey
Writing Prompt Wednesday - Waterfront Write a story that heavily features a body of water this can be the ocean, a river, a lake, etc. Why are the characters always near water? Are they fishermen, surfers, mermaids? Perhaps the water is special in some way? Typey, our cute typewriter mascot in the corner spending time by the river.
August 27, 2025 at 3:01 PM
breakthroughlitlab.bsky.social
Many tales tell the story of adventurers who seek immortality. Well, what happens if they actually find it? Consider what it must be like to live, knowing you can't perish in the usual human ways (if at all), how would that change a person? Or a magical beast, if you prefer.
#WritingPrompt #Typey
Writing Prompt Wednesday - My Immortal Write a story or a poem, about an immortal. This can be a human who gained immortality or some sort of mythical creature. How did they get immortality? Does it come with a cost/condition? How long have they had immortality? Our mascot. Typey in the corner in black and white
August 20, 2025 at 3:01 PM
breakthroughlitlab.bsky.social
This #WritingPromptWednesday let's talk about animals. Pick an animal to write as your main character. Maybe a dog, or a house cat, or something more wild. Think about what sort of story could come from that animal.
Writing Prompt Wednesday - Beast Mode We tend to write stories from a human perspective. Try to write from an animal point of view. Whether it’s a house cat, or a wild animal. And just like with human characters, these animals should have goals, and obstacles. Typey, our mascot, and a black cat in the corner.
August 13, 2025 at 3:08 PM
breakthroughlitlab.bsky.social
#WritingPromptWednesday
Tell a story about, or from a ghostly perspective. Ghosts aren't always horror, so feel free to make a comedy about ghosts, or a romance, whatever genre you like to write. You may want to establish the rules of ghosts. Do they leave the property? Do they have ghost powers?
Writing Prompt Wednesday Ghost Stories. Typey, our typewriter mascot looking translucent. Tell a story about a ghost. This can be a haunting, or from the perspective of a ghost. Not all ghost stories need to be horror, feel free to play with the genre conventions.
August 6, 2025 at 2:43 PM
breakthroughlitlab.bsky.social
Let's get spooky this week with some liminal spaces. Create a space for your character(s) to wind up in, that is somehow unnerving. Typically, liminal spaces are devoid of life, stripped of their context, and eerie in an unconventional way. (often lit, instead of dark). #WritingPrompts #Typey
Writing Prompt Wednesday Liminal Spaces the Backrooms as the background our mascot, Typey, the typewriter in the corner looking around A liminal space is a room that has an eerie vibe about it. In 2019, liminal spaces gained popularity due to a creepypasta about the Backrooms. Set your character(s) in a liminal space. A room or long hallway that somehow just feels off. It’s creepy, in a not-so-obvious way.
July 23, 2025 at 6:31 PM
breakthroughlitlab.bsky.social
#WritingPromptWed with #Typey. Flowers have special meanings depending on the species, and color. Take a little time to research the meanings and pick which one(s) would add detail to your story. Ask yourself, what genre you'll be writing in, and how to include a floral detail in. 🌸 🌼
Writing Prompt Wednesday - Language of Flowers We all know red roses mean love, but there are tons of others meanings and associations with other flowers too. Try writing a poem, or a short story that uses flower symbology to add another layer of meaning. Our cute typewriter mascot, Typey in the left corner, and a pretty yellow flower border on the right
July 16, 2025 at 3:05 PM
breakthroughlitlab.bsky.social
#WritingPromptWed #Typey
Some stories are about the lone wolf, but most are about friends. Try writing a scene with a pair (or group) of friends. Maybe they're having brunch and rehashing some drama, or they're a group of adventurers who've been friends for years. Consider the group dynamics.
Writing Prompt Wednesday - BFFs Write about two (or more) characters who are best of friends. Consider their history why are they friends? How long have they been friends? What sort of activities are they doing? Our mascot, Typey, a cute typewriter in the corner near a big shiny metal BFF! sign.
July 9, 2025 at 3:16 PM
breakthroughlitlab.bsky.social
#WritingPromptWednesday this week, let's talk about murder. Who did it, and why?
Murder mysteries are great puzzles, as the author, we must design the puzzle, and how the detective will figure out what the pieces are, and how to put them together. #Typey #QueerWriters
Writing Prompt Wednesday - Murder Mystery (written in red blood font) Write a crime story. Some questions to consider Who’s the victim? Who’s the perpetrator? Why did they do it? How did they do it? And what are some clues left behind the investigator can pick up on? Our mascot, Typey, a cute typewriter with a detective magnifying glass in the corner.
July 2, 2025 at 5:45 PM
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#WritingPrompt #QueerWriters
This week let's play around with playwriting. Think about what kind of stories can fit on a stage in front of a live audience (so no CGI is available).
Writing Prompt Wednesday Play Around Write a play (don't worry about the format) Keep in mind it's a story that could be performed on a stage with 1-4 or so characters, and limited scene changes. Perhaps it's a musical like Chicago, or a comedy like Much Ado About Nothing, or maybe you want to try your hand at a fever dream like Cats. Typey, our cute typewriter mascot and the drama and comedy masks at the bottom
June 25, 2025 at 3:37 PM
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#WritingPrompt It seems most writers have trouble with what to call their pieces. In this exercise, let's start with a title, and figure out the story from there. Pick a title, and see what kind of story comes to mind. Don't worry if your first draft isn't amazing, first drafts rarely are. #Typey
Writing Prompt Wednesday Here's a Title Pick a title from below and use that as a starting point for a story/poem/song/whatever medium or genre you like Rain of Mercy Truth Serum Year of the Dragon The Blood Oath Beyond Broken
June 18, 2025 at 2:45 PM
breakthroughlitlab.bsky.social
Balancing physical action and dialogue can be a little tricky, but it's good to practice. The type of meal they're making can add some layers of characterization, from fancy cookbook recipes to whatever they have in the pantry. #WritingPrompt #QueerWriters #Typey
Writing Prompt Wednesday - Let Him Cook This week, let's write about food. Specifically, cooking. Have two (or more) characters have a conversation while one (or all) of them are cooking something. Physicality can emphasize the dialogue. Typey, out adorable typewriter mascot in the corner with a mixing bowl.
June 11, 2025 at 3:09 PM
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#WritingPrompt Wednesday. This week, instead of a mundane character falling into a land of magic, let's think of how a magical character would find our mundane world to be.
#Typey.
Writing Prompt Wednesday - Reverse Isekai. Picture of Typey, our typewriter mascot, beside a dragon with a red X through it. We’ve probably all heard stories of someone from our world getting thrown into a world of magic. (Narnia, Alice in Wonderland, No Game No Life, etc.) What about the reverse? Write a character coming from a world of magic, and landing in our world without magic and monsters and adventures.
June 4, 2025 at 3:08 PM
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It's #WritingPromptWednesday today let's keep a secret. Write about a character keeping a secret. The story automatically has conflict, one (or more) character(s) want to keep something a secret, another character(s) want to know what the secret is.
#QueerWriters #Typey
Write something where a character(s) are keeping a secret. This secret can be fun (like planning a surprise party), something dramatic (like hooking up with your friend’s partner), or something sinister (like [two redacted words])
May 28, 2025 at 3:03 PM
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#WritingPromptWednesday #Typey
This week, let's gossip! About fictional characters of course. Have your characters gossip about the main character (when they aren't in the room of course). Remember, gossip reveals something about the subject, and the person doing the gossiping.
Writing Prompt Wednesday Spill the Tea Talk about a character without mentioning that character. Use other characters who talk about the main character. What do they have to say about the main character? Is the MC likeable? Hated?
May 21, 2025 at 5:44 PM
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This week, let's think of how a small change can affect the world. Maybe it's small personal change (like your parents decided to give you a different name), or a small global change (like the sky is purple instead of blue). #Typey #WritingPrompt #WritingPromptWednesday
May 14, 2025 at 4:05 PM