Tag: telling a humorous story

Weather Mistakes

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

            Meteorologists today seem to be much better at forecasting future weather. With all the updated computer applications, they can look at weather patterns a week in advance. Such accuracy is quite helpful when planning outings, picnics, vacations and so forth.

            But…predictions sometimes fall apart. The lows and highs switch places. Instead of sun, it pours. Or instead of fine layer of snow, you get 2 feet in one day.

            Imagine what would happen if a town, using predictions, schedules a St. Patrick’s parade for Saturday, when the sun is expected to shine, instead of Sunday, the actual date. Floats and marching bands line up. Fancy cars decked in ribbons are ready to go. Kids in cute outfits are prepared to march.

            And then dark clouds roll over.

            Your task is to write a story in which the actual weather is diametrically opposite of what was predicted. Through everything at the wall until an interesting idea strikes!

            Have fun with this one.

Reality Show Mishap

On By Terry ConnellyIn Uncategorized, Writing promptLeave a comment

If you’ve ever watched one of the many reality shows on television, you know that despite careful planning not everything runs smoothly. Participants might use words that have to be deleted. They might remove sufficient articles of clothing that the censors would shut down the show.

While you might not have ever appeared as a contestant on a reality show, events in your life might have emitted the same feelings that contestants experience. When you were in elementary school did your teacher hold spelling bees? Did you audition for a play or for a chair in an orchestra? Was there a time when you submitted an application for a competitive position in a company?

All of these scenarios could become fodder for a story.

Your task is to write a story in which your character participates in some type of reality show type of competition. Begin by setting the scene. Does your character apply through a written format or by submitting a video? How does she react when she is accepted?

Does the show take place in a studio or on a remote island? Does it involve stunts that could cause harm or is it an intellectual pursuit?

As the story develops some type of tragedy takes place. It could be a broken hell or a shattered bone, but the most important thing is that it alters, in some profound way, the subsequent events in the story.

Have fun  with this one.