Tag: prompt about a choice

Conflict at Home

On By Terry ConnellyIn prompt, Uncategorized, Writing promptLeave a comment

            Your character shares an apartment with at least two other people. Those two went off somewhere: a shopping trip, a vacation, a return home.

When they walk through the doors of the apartment, it’s obvious that something’s happened and they are no longer speaking to each other.

How does this affect your protagonist? What is the argument about and can it be fixed?

What does your character do? Run away for a few hours? Look for a new place to live? Try to make peace?

Your task is to write such a story. Make sure to emphasize the emotional turmoil swirling about the apartment and how it affects the different characters.

Have fun with this one.

Stolen Artifact

On By Terry ConnellyIn prompt, Uncategorized, Writing promptLeave a comment

            Recall a recent museum visit and all the artifacts you saw there. Which were the most valuable? The most appealing? The ones you wish you owned?

            Go online and search for images that represent things you might have seen. Print up one or two.

            Imagine those artifacts disappearing, without a trace.

            Your task is to write the story, beginning with your protagonist/antagonist strolling through the museum, taking careful looks at various items.

            Take time to describe each, the character’s reaction to them, and let readers get into her internal thoughts. (This is tricky, but you can do it!)

            Write what she does as closing time looms ever closer. Does she saunter out, to return another day? Does she hide somewhere so as to steal the items once the building is cleared?

            How does she steal them, especially if they are under or behind glass?

            Have fun with this one.

Pet Ownership

On By Terry ConnellyIn prompt, Uncategorized, Writing promptLeave a comment

Pet stores flourish because they often offer sad-looking dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, and various amphibians enclosed in tiny spaces. Is this done so that potential buyers will feel sympathy and so buy one as a rescue?

Are the displays set up so that the most desirable choice is at eye-level?

What about pet rescue societies? When they bring pets up for adoption, do they showcase the fluffiest, the cutest, the one with the most outgoing personality?

Or, do we choose our pets as a spur-of-the-moment decision, enticed by the large brown eyes and drooping ears?

Or do we select based or prior experience? What if a child was scratched by a cat? Well, that person is most likely to never choose a cat as a pet.

There’s also some degree of owner-neediness. Cats are notoriously independent, while dogs seek the approval of the leader.

Some pets are unappealing. A tarantula is not cuddly. Neither is a snake or lizard. Guinea pigs squeal loudly and might not be litter-box trained.

Your task is to write a story in which a pet plays a major role. Your character might have a preference, or might be open to just about anything alive.

Have fun with this one.

Cheapskate Travelers

On By Terry ConnellyIn prompt, Uncategorized, Writing promptLeave a comment

Imagine that your character goes out to eat with friends.  He orders a number of drinks, a serving of appetizers, an entree and, finally, a desert. The food is delicious and so he eats every single thing…all by himself.

The other members in the group are more conservative. One has coffee, another a soda, the third just water. None of them order an appetizer. One chooses a small salad as an entrée, another the special of the day, and the third has an American Burger. One orders ice cream for dessert, but the rest have nothing.

It’s obvious that each person in the group owes a different amount on money.

Normally, when the four eat out, the understanding is that they pay for what they order. But this time, the glutton, announces that they should split the bill evenly.

They all agree that the service has been excellent and that the waiter deserves a large tip.

Problems ensue when the bill is delivered. The glutton’s share of the bill would be close to one-third, if not a little bit more. But he still insists they split if equally.

What happens?

Your task is to write the story that shows how everyone reacts. Emotions are key here. Most likely there’s an argument, but does it stay low-key or become heated?

Have fun with this one.

Facing A Personal Dilemma

On By Terry ConnellyIn prompt, Uncategorized, Writing promptLeave a comment

            In life, when someone has to make a difficult decision, it’s portrayed as a multifaceted dilemma. One option might have less risk in terms of possible negative outcomes, but it might not be what the person wants to do.

            On the other hand, a second choice might seem preferable, but without proper foresight, unforeseen harmful consequences might result. Things might be so dangerous, that the person’s might life might be in jeopardy.

            Your task is to write a story in which your protagonist must make a choice between at least two very different options. Make sure that both pose potential threats. To increase tension, give the character limited time in which to make the decision.

Readers must second-guess the character’s eventual decision, questioning that person’s ability to make the right choices.

Give the character limited time in which to choose, so that there’s no time to research or deliberate. Then make the story happen, with elements of threat causing dangerous roadblocks along the way.

            Have fun with this one.