Category: Prompts

  • Character development – discovering characters. Prompt #132

    For this two-part prompt, we’re going to develop a character, either fictional or based on reality (especially if you are writing memoir).

    How do writers develop characters?   How do you get to know your character beyond their looks, their desires and where they went to school?

    Step One: Give your character a hobby or an interesting job. The more unusual, the better. Bee-keeping? Needlepoint for a man. Bucking horses, art aficionado, chemist, skywriter, laundromat manager, tornado chaser.  You can look up unusual jobs that pay well by clicking here, such as: Cruise ship entertainer, ice cream taster, human statue, hot dog vender, dog groomer, personal shopper, funeral director.

    Sketch how your character might spend an hour of their work day, or hobby time: gathering honey, purchase yarn and patterns, ranch and corrals, visits to art galleries and museums, mixing potions in the basement.  You might paint a picture what an hour of their job looks like:  what do they see, who do they interact with, what do they think while working.

    Spend some time with this before going to the next step.

    Step Two: Interview your character as a journalist would. Stymied? Look at interviews in magazines, newspaper articles or look online and see what others have done.

    You can interview your character from Prompt #131, or create a new character.

    We’ll continue with character development with the next prompt.

          skywriter.1                             Laundromat.1                     clouds.tornado.1

    Skywriting photo by Breana Marie

    Marlene C

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  • Flesh out your characters. Prompt #131

    You can use this prompt for fleshing out your fictional characters or for characters in your memoir.

    In works of fiction, we think of characters. When writing memoir, we think real people. But, when you write about real people, they become characters in a story.

    With this prompt, you can create character profiles for the real people in your life and for your fictional characters.

    Prompt: Make a three-column list. Label the first column “What I know,” the second, “How I know it” and the third, “How I show it.”

    First column – create a list with one or two-word descriptions about the character. Second column – write down how you know the particular characteristics.

    For example, if the person is known to be cheap, in column 2, you could write, “brings own teabags to restaurants.” Or, “carefully saves paper bags for lunch, been using the same bag for six months.”

    Third column, How I Show It: Jot down short notes about how you might convey the characteristics to a reader. In the case of the cheap friend who brings his teabag to restaurants, you might write, “Scene: character pulls out several teabags from jacket pocket, just before entering restaurant.”

    Your turn: Bring your characters by showing vivid details about their everyday habits.

    This prompt was inspired from The Writer magazine, June 2005, “Frank Talk About Writing Your Memoir,” by Sol Stein

    Sidewalk artist                      Street kids                 Laundry machines and legs

    Marlene C

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  • Revealing Conversation . . . Prompt #130

    People talkingPretend we’re at a party, sitting together talking quietly. Then you see someone you know and you want to tell me about that person. They can’t hear us. What will you tell me about that person?

    Or: Imagine any two people having a conversation about a third person.

    With this prompt, you can practice writing dialogue, revealing more about the conversants than the object of their discussion.

    Remember what Ted A. Moreno said in yesterday’s quote, “Making a pronouncement, judgment or criticism about someone else reveals little about them, but reveals much about you.”

    We’ll expand upon these characters with the next prompt on The Write Spot Blog.

     

    Marlene C

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  • If you didn’t care what anyone thought . . . Prompt #129

    Sail SF BackgroundToday’s prompt:  If I didn’t care what anyone thought . . .

    Gather your supplies. Pen, pencil, paper and/or computer fired up.  Set your timer for 12-15 minutes and write.  Go for it!

     

    Photo by Breana Marie

     

    Marlene C

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  • Color. Prompt #128

    RainbowToday’s writing prompt:  Color.

    Write about color. Or, match an emotion with a color. Write about it.

    Marlene C

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  • When life hands you lemons. . . Prompt #127

    IMG_1851You know the saying: When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.

    Well, what do you do when life hands you lemons?

    Tell us, we want to know.  Set your time for 12-15 minutes and write. Just write. Post your writing here, on The Write Spot Blog. Click on “Guidelines” for information about how to post.

    Marlene C

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  • Winter. Prompt #126

    IMG_5270Today’s prompt:  Winter. 

    Write whatever comes up for you. Share your writing here, on The Write Spot Blog.

    Log in and post your writing.

    Photo by Breana Marie.

    Marlene C

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  • Let it go. Prompt #125

    What do you want to let go? What do you need to let go? What should you let go?

    Take a look at these lyrics to the song, “Let It Go,” from the movie, Frozen.

    It’s funny how some distance
    Makes everything seem small
    And the fears that once controlled me
    Can’t get to me at all

    It’s time to see what I can do
    To test the limits and break through
    No right, no wrong, no rules for me,
    I’m free!

    Let it go, let it go
    I am one with the wind and sky
    Let it go, let it go
    You’ll never see me cry
    Here I stand
    And here I’ll stay
    Let the storm rage on

    Lolita.miniYour turn. What do you need to do to let go? What will happen if you just . . . let . . . go?

    Click here for the full lyrics to “Let it Go.” Music and lyrics composed by the husband-and-wife songwriting team Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. 

    Marlene C

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  • How do you want to be remembered? Prompt #124

    Humorous or serious – what would you write for your epitaph?

    Compose several brief epitaphs for yourself — the headlines you’d like to see on your headstone. Think of them as messages to future generations that convey how you want to be remembered. And then. . . write a story that explains why the epitaph is appropriate.

    You could also write this for your fictional character.

    Here are some ideas:

    He Was Happiest When He Was Young. Strongest When He Was Old.

    Family First, Last, and Always

    I’d Rather Be Smelling the Roses (Than Lying Underneath Them)

    Wish I Had It All to Do Over Again (So I Could Do It All the Same but Better)

    Akeret.Family talesPrompt: Write your obituary, or your Life’s Tributes.  Share your writing here, on The Write Spot Blog.

    From Family Tales, Family Wisdom —  How to gather the stories of a lifetime and share them with your family, by Dr. Robert U. Akeret with Daniel Klein

    Marlene C

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  • What is your body telling you? Prompt #123

    For today’s writing . . . sit comfortably. Take a deep breath in. Let it out. Another deep, refreshing breath in. Release. One more big, nourishing breath. Let it whoosh out.

    Mentally scan your body. Become aware of any area that draws your attention – notice what part of your body calls out to you.

    Place the palm of your writing hand on the place that calls out. Or bring your breath there if it’s not reachable with your hand.

    Allow your hand to be filled with the information from that place.

    When you are ready, write about what you have discovered.

    Marlene C

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