Brainstoryum: Writing Prompts and Short Stories

Play. Discover. Be discovered. Join award-winning fantasy and dreampunk author, Anna Tizard, in a journey into creative writing using the surrealist word game of Exquisite Corpse. Brainstorming and writing short stories has never been so rich in discovery and surprises. Listeners’ words are drawn from the legendary Socks of Destiny and mixed into writing prompts which lead to the most unexpected story ideas—and a fascinating exploration of writing craft. Listeners are also warmly invited to share their own microfiction and poetry based on the previous show’s prompts.
Subscribe for free to Anna Tizard’s private email list and receive an e-book to begin your journey into The Book of Exquisite Corpse (includes exclusive material not published anywhere else). Go to www.annatizard.com.
The list of categories for the second round of brainstorms (chosen with a roll of the dice) is: 1) a book or magazine 2) a job or role, taken on reluctantly, 3) a pub or café, 4) a portal or means of travel, 5) a piece of treasure or magical, sought-after object, 6) a monster or creature, 7) an invention, 8) a weapon, 9) a hidden identity or disguise, 10) a scar (physical or psychological), 11) a ghost, or 12) or a cocktail or special tea (which, let’s face it, is likely to be a magic potion or poison).

Play. Discover. Be discovered. Join award-winning fantasy and dreampunk author, Anna Tizard, in a journey into creative writing using the surrealist word game of Exquisite Corpse. Brainstorming and writing short stories has never been sorich in discovery and surprises. Listeners’ words are drawn from the legendary Socks of Destiny and mixed into writing prompts which lead to the most unexpected story ideas—and a fascinating exploration of writing craft.Listeners are also warmly invited to share their own microfiction and poetry based on the previous show’s prompts.
Subscribe for free to Anna Tizard’s private email list and receive an e-book to begin your journey into The Book of Exquisite Corpse (includes exclusive material not published anywhere else). Go to www.annatizard.com.
The list of categories for the second round of brainstorms (chosen with a roll of the dice) is: 1) a book or magazine 2) a job or role, taken on reluctantly, 3) a pub or café, 4) a portal or means of travel, 5) a piece of treasure or magical, sought-after object, 6) a monster or creature, 7) an invention, 8) a weapon, 9) a hidden identity or disguise, 10) a scar (physical or psychological), 11) a ghost, or 12) or a cocktail or special tea (which, let’s face it, is likely to be a magic potion or poison).

Play. Discover. Be discovered. Join award-winning fantasy and dreampunk author, Anna Tizard, in a journey into creative writing using the surrealist word game of Exquisite Corpse. Brainstorming and writing short stories has never been sorich in discovery and surprises. Listeners’ words are drawn from the legendary Socks of Destiny and mixed into writing prompts which lead to the most unexpected story ideas—and a fascinating exploration of writing craft. Listeners are also warmly invited to share their own microfiction and poetry based on the prompts.
Link to Spotlight Indie author feature: https://spotlightindie.co.uk/2026/05/11/guest-post-anna-tizard/
Subscribe for free to Anna Tizard’s private email list and receive an e-book to begin your journey into The Book of Exquisite Corpse (includes exclusive materialnot published anywhere else). Go to www.annatizard.com.
The list of categories for the second round of brainstorms (chosen with a roll of the dice) is: 1) a book or magazine 2) a job or role, taken on reluctantly, 3) a pub or café, 4) a portal or means of travel, 5) a piece of treasure or magical, sought-after object, 6) a monster or creature, 7) an invention, 8) a weapon, 9) a hidden identity or disguise, 10) a scar (physical or psychological), 11) a ghost, or 12) or a cocktail or special tea (which, let’s face it, is likely to be a magic potion or poison).

Play. Discover. Be discovered. Join award-winning fantasy and dreampunk author, Anna Tizard, in a journey into creative writing using the surrealist word game of Exquisite Corpse. Brainstorming and writing short stories has never been so rich in discovery and surprises. Listeners’ words are drawn from the legendary Socks of Destiny and mixed into writing prompts which lead to the most unexpected story ideas—and a fascinating exploration of writing craft. Listeners are also warmly invited to share their own microfiction and poetry based on the previous show’s prompts.
Subscribe for free to Anna Tizard’s private email list and receive an e-book to begin your journey into The Book of Exquisite Corpse (includes exclusive material not published anywhere else). Go to www.annatizard.com.
The list of categories for the second round of brainstorms (chosen with a roll of the dice) is: 1) a book or magazine 2) a job or role, taken on reluctantly, 3) a pub or café, 4) a portal or means of travel, 5) a piece of treasure or magical, sought-after object, 6) a monster or creature, 7) an invention, 8) a weapon, 9) a hidden identity or disguise, 10) a scar (physical or psychological), 11) a ghost, or 12) or a cocktail or special tea (which, let’s face it, is likely to be a magic potion or poison).

Play. Discover. Be discovered.Join award-winning fantasy and dreampunk author, Anna Tizard, in a funny and dark Alice in Wonderland-style journey into creative writing. Brainstorming and writing short stories has never been so rich in discovery and surprises, using the surrealist word game of Exquisite Corpse. Listeners’ words are drawn from the legendary Socks of Destiny and mixed into writing prompts which lead to the most unexpected story ideas—and a fascinating exploration of writing craft. Listeners are also warmly invited to share their own microfiction and poetrybased on the previous show’s prompts.
Subscribe for free to Anna Tizard’s private email list and receive an e-book to begin your journey into The Bookof Exquisite Corpse (includes exclusive material not published anywhere else). Go to www.annatizard.com.
The list of categories for the second round of brainstorms (chosen with a roll of the dice) is: 1) a book or magazine 2) a job or role, taken on reluctantly, 3) a pub or café, 4) a portalor means of travel, 5) a piece of treasure or magical, sought-after object, 6) a monster or creature, 7) an invention, 8) a weapon, 9) a hidden identity or disguise, 10) a scar (physical or psychological), 11) a ghost, or 12) or a cocktail or special tea (which, let’s face it, is likely to be a magic potion or poison).