Tag: Relationships

Your Worst Self

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

            We have good days, in-between days and terrible, horrible rotten days. On our good days, everything works well. Our boss is happy, our significant other is as well and all is wonderful in the world.

            The in-between days are partly good, partly not-so-good. The dinner comes out delicious but the toilet won’t shut off. The front door sticks but the roof doesn’t leak.

            Our worst days are filled with dismay, dislike and depression. Everything triggers our anger and we lash out at coworkers, friends and family. Things break, leak or fall apart. The phone rings with endless spam callers and every time someone knocks at the door, you find a religious troop or a peddler selling high-priced chocolates.

            Those days bring out the worst parts of ourselves. We yell, sometimes obscenities, call names, and slam things about. We say things we later regret. We fight with the people we love when we’re really angry at someone else.

            Your task is to write a story in which your protagonist is having a horrible day. Begin by setting the scene: establishing setting and situation. Make the other characters do something annoying, something that will send the protagonist on an outrage.

            Have fun with this one.

Forms of Punishment

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

            Every society, every home, has its own forms of punishment.

            In some homes, naughty kids are sent to timeout while others might be beaten until blood seeps from open wounds. Some kids might be denied privileges while others are locked away in the prison of their bedroom, or in worse case scenarios, in an actual prison somewhere in the home.

            Society might punish offenders with community service or therapy, while others are beheaded or hung to die. Some are tarred and feathered while others have to clean up garbage along interstate highways or on beaches.

            In a fair situation, the punishment fits the crime, but in far too many, prison sentences are too long or too harsh depending upon the color of one’s skin or how much money the family has.

            Your task is to write a story in which punishment takes on a crucial role. You decide if it’s the family that enforces the pain or society. Does the offender continue to live at home or is she detained in a cell? Is the cell in a clean facility, or in a dank dungeon?

            The protagonist can be the victim or the enforcer. What’s important is that your readers feel the suffering, the pain, the humiliation.

            Have fun with this one.

Poisoned Marshmallows

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            Imagine a story in which your protagonist is the victim of a poisoning. And the mode in which the poison was delivered was marshmallows! 

Does she die in the first scene? If so, how do you tell her story? The reasons that someone hated her enough to want her dead would be revealed as the story spins.

Or, perhaps your protagonist is the poisoner. Why would she choose marshmallows and not, say, a bottle of wine? Does the intended victim have a passion for the simple marshmallow?

How does the poisoner make sure the intended victim is the one who consumes the poison, and not some innocent child?

Your task is to tell the story in such a way that readers will be enthralled.

Narrative is important in setting the scene. Dialogue is needed to establish the tense relationship between the victim and the poisoner.

Rely on sensory details. Readers need to see, imagine the taste, smell and touch of the marshmallows. And to watch the suffering of the victim. Is it a quick or slow death?

Have fun with this one.

Do Not Disturb

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

            There are times when we want to be left alone. We’re stressed out after a hard day at work or we’re working on a project that demands our complete concentration.

            When someone intrudes, we might get angry, upset, frustrated.

            We wish for the “Do Not Disturb” sign, to post on our computer desk or in our study. That way our kids, spouse, phone callers will leave us alone.

            Your task is to write a story in which your protagonist wants nothing more than to be left alone.

            Give him a task that requires concentration. It could be yardwork, repairing an appliance or tool, writing a report or reading a book.

            Bring in characters who try to break into the solitude, then make sure that the protagonist reacts appropriately. Obviously, there should be serenity at first, the intrusion, and then the feelings of anger or frustration.

            Setting and dialogue are critical here.

            Have fun with this one.

Uninvited Guest

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

            No one likes it when guests crash the party. Even if they are well-behaved, they might bring unwelcome baggage, causing conflict that will ruin the event.

            Try to recall a TV show with such a scenario. If it’s a comedy, then weird and hilarious things will happen, such as drinks being spilled or someone being pushed into the pool.

            If it’s a thriller or drama story, then there might be a murder, a theft, or threats to one and all.

            Your task is to write a story in which a guest(s) appears at an event without an invitation. Setting is important, but more so the emotions displayed by the host(s) are critical.

            The host might try to close the door, keeping that person out. Or she might let the person in, trying to avoid a scene.

            The guest should do something outrageous, like swill several bottles of beer or dump over the punch bowl. Maybe toss something on the BBQ that sets the canopy on fire.

            You want action followed by reaction.

            Have fun with this one.

Abandoned Pet

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            We’ve all seen starving dogs and cats wandering through our neighborhoods. We look, wondering if they might live in a nearby house but accidentally got away. And will soon be reunited with their loving owner.

            But what happens when that same pet is still wandering the next day? And the one after that? Maybe even a week later?

            What do you do?

            The temptation might be to keep driving by, pretending that the animal isn’t really lost. Or perhaps if you’ve taken a liking to the pet, you might try to lure it into your car or follow you home if you’re walking.

            Your task is to write a story in which you see what appears to be a lost or abandoned animal. Your character can be a softie who rescues the pet, or a grouch who chases it away from her house.

            Don’t begin with a detailed description of the pet, but rather work in the details slowly, one at a time. Bring in tension by making the animal less-than-perfect. It might poop in the house, claw the sofa or chew the expensive shoes.

            You can also through in a bit of comedy, for we all enjoy those videos of cats squeezing into tiny boxes and dogs trying to swallow all the water from a hose.

            Have fun with this one.

Food for Thought

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            It seems that many social gatherings include food of some kind. The group might meet at a restaurant where handling the check becomes a source of tension. Perhaps they meet at a park for a picnic, everyone bringing something to share. This can be fun, tasting different foods, but it can also create problems when someone arrives empty-handed.

            Normally conversation stays on safe topics such as the weather, medical issues or sports, but in every crowd there’s someone who wants to discuss politics. And when his point of view is different from most, conflict arises.

            There’s also the problem about what to bring. Salad? Main dish? Dessert? But what happens when someone, a notorious big eater, arrives with a single bag of chips?

            Does it rankle you when this happens or do you shrug it off?

            Your task is to write a story about a gathering of people that involves food.

            Choose a setting and situation that’s likely to involve tension and conflict. Have a variety of people with a variety of interests and beliefs that will light the spark.

            Setting and dialogue are both important. When describing setting, focus on what people are doing, how they’re showing emotions.

            Have fun with this one.

Autobiographical Fiction

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When I was a small child my father worked at a union-based factory in Dayton, Ohio. His union organized a variety of family-programs that were held throughout the year.

During the Christmas party Santa distributed gifts after some type of entertainment was held for the kids. One of the few entertainers I remember was the famous Sherry Lewis with her sock puppets. Since I’d seen her on television, I was enthralled.

 At another party the entertainer was a TV cowboy. I don’t remember his name and since there are no pictures for me to rely on, I would have to fabricate much of the setting and action if I chose to write the stories.

While I can’t write a nonfiction piece, I can modify the events so as to create original characters and situations.

Your task is to think of an event that is a bit fuzzy. If you’ve got them, look at photos that from that time and place. What did it look like? What smells might there have been? What foods served? Was it indoors or outside? Backyard, playground or school?

Were you small compared to others your age? Were you thin or heavy? What color was your hair? What would you have been wearing? Who was present and how did they behave toward you?

If there’s a comic element, then your story has to be light. If serious, then some form of trauma should exist.

Have fun with this one.

The Well-Disguised Spy

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            Recall a time when you were able to hear and see what was happening from a position of advantage. No one could see you and so no one knew you were watching. What did you discover? Was the husband cheating on the wife? Attempting to bribe a school administrator? Offering for sale valuable piece of jewelry?

            What did you do? Keep it a secret, thinking it was none of your business? Or did you report what you’d witnessed to an authority?

            This is the story that needs to be told.

            Your task is to write a story from the point of view of the spy, the character that no one knew was watching.

            This person could be real, or imaginary, or even an animal, such as the pet cat.

            Intrigue is a must. Make the event something important, something that changes relationships, the economy or even the power of government.

            Have fun with this one.  

The Awkward Date

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

            Did you ever go on a date that didn’t turn out well? What went wrong and how did it make you feel?

            Imagine if you’re a teenager and going on your first date. What emotions do you experience? Who do you tell? What do you wear? Where does your date take you and do you have a good time, or are you miserable? Does he kiss you when he brings you home? Or walk away?

            Imagine everything that could possibly go wrong. Make a list, then narrow it down to the two or three that might make for an interesting story.

            Your task is to write that story, building in plenty of tension and drama. Make the characters complex and interesting. Use dialogue and narrative description so that your readers are right there, experiencing the fraught evening.

            Have fun with this one.