Plain Writing

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You are all beasts

Advice is great, but advice on its own won’t make you a better writer. We become better writers by writing and it’s always easier to write when we’re inspired. To that end, a creative prompt using an ordinary item.


you are all beasts | an exercise in public speaking

This week’s ordinary item: Personal care and grooming products

What is it? Body wash, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, soap, shaving supplies…you name it, Beast Brands makes it.

The buzz in the room died down, now it was my turn to talk…

“You are all beasts.”

I expected silence, but instead got outrage. “How dare you!” One woman shouted. A half-empty water bottle spilled onto the stage to my left.

“Wait. Hear me out. So am I. We are all beasts that need to be tamed.”

They had invited me here to stir things up, but I’m not sure this is what they had in mind. I could feel the pressure building to explain myself or we’d really have a problem on our hands.

I took a deep breath and began with a story…

Today’s task, add to this story. What happens next? What story do you tell? How does the crowd react?


Not sure where to start? Some questions to get the creativity flowing…

  • Will you use a personal story or is it something from history or is it completely imaginary?

  • Will it be a metaphor or will you make the case that we are all actually beasts?

  • How does this relate to personal grooming products, or does it not?

  • Do you have any props or visual aids?

  • How does the crowd react at the end? Do they allow you to finish?


Add to this story — what happens next? Leave a comment and let us know.

Inspire someone else — share this page with a friend or colleague.

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My name is Derek and I write all kinds of things for businesses of every size in many different industries. Do you have a writing or strategy need? This is what I love to do.