Tag: write about a dilemma

Feeling Ashamed

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

            Imagine standing at the front of your church to lead the congregation in song. You begin off-key, get a few notes right, then go off-key again. You feel your cheeks getting hot. Respiration increases. Your pulse quickens as time seems to stand still. When you reach the last word, you make a fast exit.

            Perhaps you stole something from a friend’s bedroom. She owned a porcelain statue of a horse, when you know she hates horses. Is terrified of horses. She slips it in your pocket while she’s rifling through her closet.  A few days later she asks if you saw it, perhaps even took it, but you deny, deny, deny.

            Shame hits everyone at some time in their life. It can range from a deep reaction to a slight embarrassment.

            Your task is to write a story in which shame plays a major role.

            First decide your audience. Children react differently than adults. Children’s offenses are generally smaller in significance than something an adult might do.

            Setting is crucial, so establish it right at the beginning.

            Have fun with this one.

Seeking Justice

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            Justice is one of those virtues that society is built upon. Working toward establishing what’s right, holding people accountable, and punishing those who violate the dictates of society is based upon what is just, what is right.

            Who decides the rules? What makes one act just but another not?

            Your task is to write a story in which justice plays a central role. Your protagonist might be the one seeking justice for an act committed against him, or he might be the one sitting in a courtroom being held accountable for something he did to another.

            The offense might be small, such as stealing gym clothes out of a locker, or large such as robbing a bank. What’s important is that the act is believable based upon the age of your character.

            Have fun with this one.

Revenge

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            Little kids are excellent at exacting revenge. You touch my truck/doll and I’ll smack your face. You steal my comic book, I’ll shred your favorite t-shirt.

            As we grow, we’re taught that revenge is bad: that we are to forgive and forget. But do we really?

            What do we do about the guest who breaks your favorite goblet? Was it accidental or intentional? Does that determine how we react, how long we hold a grudge? If we believe it was intentional, what do we do to exact revenge? To even the scales?

            Your task is to write a story in which revenge is a central theme. Choose your characters wisely. They need to be able to do something devious, something that irks the other to the point of seeking revenge.

            You also need to decide what the offense is, what the act of revenge involves.

            Have fun with this one.

Coming of Age

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            Growing up is filled with bumps and bruises, both physically and emotionally. We learn to negotiate friendships, dealing with adults in power (bosses, teachers), as well as trying to figure out who we are and who we want to be.

            Most YA (Young Adult) books, whether fiction or fantasy, feature protagonists who are doing just that. There is generally a good deal of angst, tears, temper tantrums, sulking, falling in and out of romance and conflict with friends.

            Your task is to write a story in which coming of age is the central theme. Focus on the protagonist, the sidekicks, and the internal and external conflicts. Begin with an inciting incident such as the announcement of an upcoming school dance. Somewhere along the way include a surprise twist that readers will not see coming, but that impacts the story ending.

            Have fun with this one.

Awards Ceremony

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            Who doesn’t love an awards ceremony? Think of the drinks, the food, the comradery. The banners hanging from the ceiling, the cheerful atmosphere, the tension due to anticipation.

            The fancy clothes, the milling about, interacting with a variety of people, some known, some soon to become new friends.

            Your task is to write a story in which your character is invited to go to an awards ceremony as the guest of someone who may or may not get an award, thanks to the support of your character.

            Set the scene, filling it with anticipation, excitement, glory. Assuming that the characters are friends, what happens once they walk through the doors? Do they stay together? Does the potential recipient abandon his friend? When the awards are announced, what happens if he wins? Or doesn’t win?

            Have fun with this one.

Conflict at Home

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            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.

Magical Shed

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            Imagine a world in which magic is accepted, not feared. Residents love dropping into magical situations, places, events. Celebrations feature magical acts with throngs of people gathered to witness the performance.

What if there are specific places imbued with magic? Anyone can go there. Anyone can walk through the doors and feel the hum of magical power.

Let’s take a backyard shed as an example. What happens when kids sneak in? Do they need to hold certain tools for the magic to work? Is it a simple walk through the door that sends them off to magical lands?

Your task is to write a story in which a specific place is imbued with accessible magic. After being there, are the people now endowed with certain magical powers? Does everyone get the same magic or does it change from person to person? Is all the magic good, or can it be used to cause harm?

Have fun  with this one.

Public Speaking

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            Some are quite comfortable speaking before a crowd. They love the attention, love being at the podium sharing their writing, reading a speech, offering a toast. Their faces light up, their eyes grow huge and when they begin to speak, the room quietens as they know something wonderful is going to be shared.

            Many of us hate public speaking, tremble at the thought of standing before others to say or read anything. Our voices shake, we break out in a deep sweat, and there are moments in which we think we’re going to be ill.

            Your task is to write a story in which your protagonist has to give a speech. First, determine the setting and the purpose of the speech. Then decide how your character is going to react when asked to speak.

            Both scenarios work to make interesting stories.

            Have fun with this one.

Stolen Artifact

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            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

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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.