Picture a house stacked with stuff. Piles of paper everywhere. Unopened mail on the desk. Dirty dishes overflowing the sink. Clothes on the floor. Baskets of craft projects. Buckets of who-knows-what.
Dust motes flutter in the air. Strong odors tickle your nose. Doors stick and floorboards creak.
Your task is to write a story in which something happens to a hoarder, and your character is forced to deal with it.
Have fun with this one.
There’s a game in which players select Truth or Dare. If Truth, then they must answer honestly to whatever question is posed. If Dare, then they must complete, or at least attempt to complete, whatever challenge is presented.
Imagine choosing Truth, then being asked to reveal a deep, dark secret that you’d thought buried in the past. What emotions would you experience?
Now think about the Dare. What if you had to climb a ladder to retrieve something from the roof? Or ride a camel? Or dive to the bottom of a pool?
Your task is to write a story in which the characters participate in the game and are faced with difficult decisions.
Have fun with this one.
Speculative Fiction stories often feature monsters. Some fly, some burrow underground, some spew poison, while a rare few, love humans.
They come in all sizes and shapes. Tinker Bell, while not a monster, was tiny. Godzilla and King Kong were gargantuan. Some, like Shek, are jolly, while others, like the evil stepmother, have viscous tempers.
Your task is to write a story in which at least one monster plays an important role.
Have fun with this one.
No, I mean SIMILE!
Write a scene that includes at least one simile. Try to be original. For example, his cough was like a pair of geese calling across a field.
You can choose to be funny or serious. The similes can be extravagant, chewing up lots of white space, or small, requiring only a few words.
Have fun with this one.
Some people hand out thanks like candy: a piece here, there, and everywhere. At times, it might feel overdone, a bit false, as if the individual can’t think of anything else to say.
There are some who never, ever say thanks, even if the gift is huge. Imagine if grandma gives you her car. Yet you never thank her. Or if the teacher gives you a study tip for an upcoming test, but you just accept it and walk away.
Then there are those who sometimes say thanks, sometimes don’t.
Your task is to write a story in which your character is given something that should have been accompanied by a thanks. Does he profusely layer on the thanks, or walk away, silent?
Have fun with this one.
Valentine’s Day has traditionally been a time for gifting candy to a loved one. Chocolates, in a heart-shaped box, were quite popular. Commercials show the happy recipient, hugging the red-ribboned box, while the giver also smiles. A time for sharing and for joy.
Is it possible to gift candy during the rest of the year? Of course, and no reason required. During the Christmas season chocolate Santas line store shelves. At Easter, bunnies and hearts and egg-shaped treats are available.
Your task is to write a story in which something sweet is involved. Perhaps the protagonist is giving his loved one, whether it be mom or aunt or sister or friend, a sweet treat. Or maybe the protagonist has an upcoming special day that’s marked by friends and family presenting sweets.
Have fun with this one.
One morning, as my kindergarten students stood in line waiting to enter the classroom, one of the girls peed. It streamed down her legs, filling her shoes and running down the ramp. She started crying, but my assistant led her inside. Some students made comments, which I handled by asking if anything embarrassing had ever happened to them. Of course, all of them shared a comparable story. When the girl rejoined the class in clean clothes, barefoot, she was greeted with open arms. No one teased her.
Imagine if your protagonist has something embarrassing happen to him. Would it be during an office meeting when he makes an inappropriate comment? When he’s riding a horse with a group and gets bucked off? When he jumps into the pool and comes up without a suit?
There are countless situations where something can go amiss.
Your task is to write a story in which your character is embarrassed.
Have fun with this one.
Almost everyone dreams during sleep, but we don’t often remember the details. Did monsters attack or was it my sister? Did I slide down a waterfall or was I simply swimming laps? I might never know.
Dreams are also about the future. Hopefully we recall these, as they provide guidance for who we want to be and what we hope to accomplish.
Your task is to write a scene involving dreams. It can be the ones in our sleep, or the ones we carry in our hearts. Perhaps a teacher gives an assignment to write about dreams, but first has to explain it to students. Or maybe dreams are a topic at a conference, and participants are told to record theirs.
Have fun with this one.
Imagine putting on a costume. You arrive at a party, the room alive with laughter. Groups of two or three gather, talking quietly or shouting at each other over the din.
You enter, enjoying the mystery of being hidden, of others not knowing who you are.
Consider how differently you might behave. If you’re normally shy, do you become outspoken? If loud, can you be shy and demure?
Your task is to write the story about a masquerade party. Your character can be the host or a participant.
Have fun with this one.
How many times have you run into someone you hadn’t seen for a long time while shopping for groceries? Or at the bank? At the doctor’s office?
One time I was at a local store and ran into a friend from my soccer days. We talked for a bit, but then I began feeling odd and had to sit. Apparently I feinted. Fortunately she has a medical background and knew to call 911.
That encounter renewed our friendship, which is still going strong many years later.
Your task is to write a story in which a chance encounter brings together your character and someone from her past. It might not have a happy ending.
Have fun with this one.
Have Fun with This One 