Everyday Canvas

Writing Prompts v.s. Polling Questions

Prompt: What do you think is the difference between a writing prompt and a polling question?

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Polls are an easy way to learn more about the audience and their experience levels or if they recall an important information presented earlier. Polling questions are simple and direct with the least amount of words in them. They avoid nuances; they offer reasonably ranked answers to choose from, and they ask one question at a time.

On the other hand, writing prompts have only one aim: to make writers write creatively, or at least, to get them start writing. A writing prompt is anything—a word, a picture, a phrase, or a quote—that helps kick start creative writing. Still, in general, writing prompts can be wordier and more detailed than polling questions. Their aim is not word economy but to give the writers different hints on any subject, so the writer can find inspiration at least in one part of the prompt.

Now, an eager writer can write even from a single word prompt, but not all writers can be inspired from any one single word all the time. For example, off the top of my head, I can think of several ways to approach writing at least a paragraph or two on the word, oxygen, but can I do the same with molybdenum? I don’t think so, unless I do some research on it and use it as a metaphor in some way. The same goes for simple questions that may also pass as polling questions. Some writers would take those questions and write several paragraphs using the idea in them, but others will end up answering a yes or no or I agree or I don’t agree. I don't think answering questions like this is writing creatively.

I have several books of prompts, and all of those prompts, unless directed at school-age children, are at least a few sentences in length designed as keys to writers’ minds. Some are even half-a-page long. Their aim is to make the writer write, not just answer a question in the shortest sentence possible.