The Prompt
Today you’re going to write a story inspired by a song.
Pick a song you have some emotional connection to. Pull up the lyrics or look at the album art, and think about what kind of story you could tell around it.
- You could tell the story of the song;
- you could take a character like the ‘narrator’ of the song;
- you could take a single phrase from the song and build a story around it;
- you could write an ‘answer’ song, in which you use some of the aspects of the original song, its images, language, or characters, and tell us what happened next, or take the opportunity to argue with the premise of the song.
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Julie Duffy
Julie Duffy is a writer and the host of StoryADay and nothing makes her happier than the opportunity to sing and participate in any kind of music.
Join the discussion: what will you do with today’s prompt OR how did it go? Need support? Post here!
Remember: Please don’t post your story in the comments here (and I talk more about why not, here). Best practice: Leave us a comment about how it went, or share your favorite line from your story.
Here’s your next Game Piece. save the image and share on social media with #storyaday
Prefer paper crafts? Here’s the cut & paste version
Day 26 done on the Day 25 prompt ‘Fan Fic’ – publishable as I’ve reached into the D&D Lore, which is purpose-built for FanFic. This piece is from the Eberron setting, and I’ve tried to meld in a bit of narrative on AI in the formation of a warforged.
Hope you find it interesting:
https://afstoryaday.blogspot.com/2026/05/warforged.html
Note as per all stories, this is a OneDraft exercise.
I finally completed my story. After listening to the radio at work all day and jotting down songs and ideas, then listening to the radio on my trip home nothing struck me as much as listening to my playlist.
I chose “Take A Drunk Girl Home” by Chris Janson.
I wrote it using the POV of both the guy and the girl.
I’m having trouble with my blog again so I can’t post the link. I try again later or maybe tomorrow. I fell good about getting back on track with this month’s writing.
Interesting choices you all made. I used Lucinda Williams’s “Essence”. I changed the protagonist to a male, kind of a stalker.
As soon as I read the prompt the song I wanted to start from popped into my head. “With or Without You” by U2. My story is 229 words, a short note left by someone who is moving on to something and letting her partner know “I want you to join me, but I’m going no matter what.” It’s a pretty cliche response to the song title. I’m ok with that, because I’m super glad to have Day 26 done! Thanks for the prompt!
I wrote the story of “Tom’s Diner” as performed by Suzanne Vega and put my own spin on it, as the kids say.
The problem with responding to a great song is that it’s so good.
Nevertheless, I responded to “Sweet Home Alabama” (Lynryd Skynyrd, 1974). Whatever the intent, it comes across as accepting both George Wallace’s violently racist policies and Richard Nixon’s crooked politics. I think an argument can be made that it has become an anthem for, among others, those who espouse both racism and an unaccountable Executive. So I did a mash-up of that song and McCartney’s “Blackbird Fly” (Beatles, 1968).
Is it any good? No, not really. But writing it brought me to engage with both songs in a way I hadn’t before.
I could not get motivated to write yesterday. Too much family drama. But this morning I woke up to this great prompt. I work in a grocery store and we play music overhead. I have a pad and pen (I always carry one). I’m going to jot down song played today and some ideas. Only 23 out of 26 so far but it’s not going to get me down. Happy writing.
23 out of 26 is AMAZING!!! Give yourself credit where credit is due!
Gabrielle,
Thank you for the words of encouragement.
I did a lot more than 5 minutes of brainstorming today, listening through my Queer Country playlist on Youtube. And since I still seem to be deep in my fixation on Adam Mac’s music, that’s what I fell into for today’s prompt. This was really inspired by too different songs. I Just Wanna Dance(https://youtu.be/1mlnyQ8UgM8?si=dcTMqO-oT2DAJWML) and Make You Mine(https://youtu.be/uLnX-itJNf8?si=p0jbAq1Q9d5Ce_lg).
322 words that may end up in book 4 of my Deltry Ocelots series(apparently my ‘muse’ gets fixated on one thing as well, even if it’s not what I’m supposed to be focusing on).
I’m sitting in a coffee shop before work, and, for fun, worked in lines of random songs as they played here, into a story inspired by, and incorporating, an entirely different one. It just happened, so I let it. The story shook out on my drive here, and so did a collection ideas and approaches because of this prompt. It feels like a familiar prompt, but this year it blossomed more fully. Diving back in to do the warmup and brainstorm before work. May 26 ’26. Pinching myself, five more days.