What Home Means

Richelle Putnam
7 days ago
2 min read

Use the following prompts to explore the idea of "home" without using the word itself. Focus on sensory details, specific descriptions, and the emotional responses that will make your readers or listeners truly feel what you’re expressing.

Prompt 1: The Scent of Comfort

Think about a smell that instantly makes you feel at ease or safe. Describe it in vivid detail. Is it the scent of freshly baked bread? The earthy aroma after rain? The faint, comforting trace of lavender? Use sensory language to capture the way this scent brings up memories or feelings.

Example to inspire you: "The fragrance of

pine needles wrapped me up, like an old quilt, worn but welcoming."

Prompt 2: The Sound of Peace

What sounds define a sense of peace or belonging for you? Whether it’s a humming ceiling fan, rustling leaves in a sudden breeze, or the muffled laughter of children at the dinner table, explore sounds creating a sense of warmth and security. Describe the sound and how it makes you feel in the moment.

Example to inspire you: "Late-night whispers from our twin beds were the steady pulse of our childhood."

Prompt 3: A Place to Rest

Think about a physical space—an object, a piece of furniture, a room—that you associate with comfort and rest. Is it a worn armchair by the window? A familiar corner of a bed that’s never quite made? Describe that space in detail, and share the emotions or memories that surface when you imagine yourself there.

Example to inspire you: "I fell asleep to the sound of my grandfather’s rocker, its creaking rhythm dependable and consistent, like him."

Prompt 4: A Memory of Belonging

Think back to a moment when you felt deeply connected to a place or person. What were the sights, sounds, and smells around you? What were you doing? Dive into that memory and describe how it felt to be there. How did the moment shape your idea of what it means to belong?

Example to inspire you: "We sat cross-legged around the campfire and my sister’s laughter joined the chorus of night creatures. She could fit in anywhere."

Prompt 5: A Doorway to the Past

Think about a threshold or entrance—whether literal (a door, a gate, a window) or figurative (a feeling, a time in your life). How does stepping across this threshold make you feel? Use your words to describe the sensations, both physical and emotional, that arise as you cross from one place or time into another.

Example to inspire you: I touched the faded wallpaper as if I regretted replacing it with something new and trendy. But I knew the past never leaves; it would be there whenever I chose to return."

Writing Tips:

Be specific: Rather than saying, "The room was cozy," describe the way the sun slanted through the window in late afternoon.
Use sensory detail: Help your reader experience the memory or feeling with all their senses—sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell.
Write with emotion: Go deeper than the surface description. Explore how these details make you feel and invite the reader into that emotion.