Tag: creative writing prompts

Writing Prompt: At What Cost?

the Tall Girl #

fortune-cookies-452750-mSome time ago, Twitter buddy and fellow writer Amanda Davis shared a fortune add-on started by author Katie Alender: at the end of your fortune, you add the words “But at what cost?” So often, people (and characters) desperately want something, but they don’t consider the cost of achieving that goal. A great example comes from the title character in Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog; Dr. Horrible wants to be admitted to the Evil League of Evil, but his entry comes at a terrible cost: he forever loses Penny, the woman he adores.

Every achievement should come with a cost. What costs do your characters pay to reach their goals — and how do they react if the cost is higher than they’d expected?

Write a scene or story where a character is faced with a steep cost to gain something important to them.

Writing Prompt: The Frozen Crown

the Tall Girl # #

This week, we’re going to do something totally different: I’m inviting you to join in writing an interactive story.

Yesterday, author Cat Rambo tweeted about a fun site called An Ancient Tome; the site turns writing into a game by facilitating interactive stories. You can start a story of your own and allow other people to write with you, or you can add to a story already in progress. The two available genres are sci-fi and fantasy, and the system will provide prompts or inject information to either jump-start the story or keep it moving. Each contributor writes a “chapter” (200 words or less) before another writer gets a turn.

I’ve started a fantasy story called “The Frozen Crown,” and you’re invited to add to it! You just need a Twitter account to log into the website. Here’s my starting chapter, based on the prompt “the white shield”:

Something was wrong.

The woods were unusually quiet: no flapping of birds’ wings, no rustling of rabbits or squirrels. Sasha slowed her pace, keeping eyes and ears alert for any threat.

The shield must have been enchanted; she couldn’t see it until she was an arm’s length from it. It leaned at the base of a wide oak tree and the painted white surface seemed to glow in the sunlight. It seemed to call her; Sasha wanted to touch it, to claim it for herself. She stumbled and nearly tripped as she stepped back, knowing those feelings were not her own. Her instincts told her to flee. She turned and ran.

And the shield sang after her, calling her name.

Here’s a link to the story thus far.

If sci-fi is more your thing, here’s a link to the sci-fi tale started by Cat Rambo: Inside the Glass. Anyone can add to this story as well.

I hope you join us and add a few words to a story (or start one of your own). Happy writing!

Writing Prompt: Change in the weather

the Tall Girl #

“Here comes the rain again,
Raining in my head like a tragedy…”
The Eurythmics, Here Comes The Rain Again

It’s October and fall is officially here, even though some parts of the country may not be seeing any evidence of it yet. (Here, the temps are still warm, although the dwindling sunlight each day reminds us that winter isn’t that far off.) The weather is an element some writers don’t always consider, but it can be powerful for driving action or even just setting the mood. This week, write a scene or story where a change in the weather plays an important role.

Writing Prompt: Dissatisfied

the Tall Girl #

rainbow-over-valley-1249444-m“I am everything you want
I am everything you need
I am everything inside of you
That you wish you could be
I say all the right things at exactly the right time
But I mean nothing to you and I don’t know why.”
Everything You Want, Vertical Horizon

Many people dream about a perfect person, situation or possession that will change their lives dramatically and make everything right. But too often, attaining that dream isn’t fulfilling; it doesn’t solve the problems or fill the void. Write a story where a character gets exactly what s/he’s dreamed about but still isn’t happy. How does the person react? What does s/he do (or resolve to do)?