Tag: Writing about Hurdles

A Hurdle to Jump Over

On By Terry ConnellyIn prompt, UncategorizedLeave a comment

            Have you ever noticed that when things are finally running smoothly, something goes wrong?

            The car gets a flat. The washing machine overflows. A pipe bursts. A friendship self-destructs.

            How you handle it, how you react, says a lot about your character.

            The same is true for the people in your stories. When faced with difficulty, does your character run away or face it? Does he strike out with fist or walk away? Does she throw dishes against a wall or take a walk?

            Your task is to write a story in which and obstacle arises, something large enough to cause a degree of unrest.

            Have fun with this one.

Hurdles

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

Life is a series of hurdles that we have to jump. Or at least attempt to jump.

The problem is that some hurdles are more challenging than others, some more pleasant than others to achieve.

In track, of course, there is an event involving hurdles. Athletes run at incredibly fast speeds, clearing a series of metal hurdles along the way. That’s something I could never have done for two reasons: my short legs and my terror at jumping.

For most of us, hurdles are more mundane. It could be a death in the family, rent to pay, a search for a new job, trying to find a mate in the dating pool.

Your task is to write a story in which your protagonist is faced with a substantial hurdle that, in some way, is blocking her way forward.

Make the hurdle realistic, but challenging. Doable, but not without great difficulty.

Have fun with this one.