Tag: writing idea

Weather Threat

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            Almost every day we hear or read a story about a damaging weather event. Recently there was a huge fire in the Los Angeles area that burned thousands of homes and business. There was flooding in a North Carlina community that wiped out roads and ravaged the environment of a once-beautiful tourist spot.

            Sometimes authors include weather in a story, but often as an aside. The sun was shining or it poured for days.

            Your task is to write a story in which a major weather event occurs, which alters the pace and direction of the story.

            Have fun with this one.

Defying Authority

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            From a young age we’re taught to do what we’re told, no questions asked. If a parent tells you to clean up your room, you go do it. Later on, if a teacher tells you to open your history book, you comply.

Then when your boss says to wipe out the computer’s memory, you stop and contemplate if that’s what you’re really being asked to do.

There’s a certain code drilled into us that tells us we must do what an authoritarian figure tells us to do. But when commanded to do something that feels wrong, seems illegal or questionable, we hesitate. When the act is discovered, who will be blamed?

Your task is to write a story in which defying authority plays a central role.

Blocked Passage

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            In a lot of thriller and fantasy stories, blocked passages play a critical role.

            Imagine running from a horrid monster, around corners, up and down stairs, to come to a doorway at the end. The protagonist turns the handle, but it doesn’t move. There’s no keyhole or latch or button to push.

            The blockage could also be a mental one. Imagine studying for an important exam, say the SAT which gives admission to the college of your choice. You’ve gone over sample test questions and even taken a test-prep course. The day arrives. You open the test booklet. Your mind goes blank. It’s like standing in front of a locked door.

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

            Have fun with this one.

Something Breaks

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            Imagine an office filled with expensive treasures. You tend to be a bit clumsy. When faced with such a situation, what do you do? Stand in the middle so as to not touch anything? Slink over to the nearest chair?

            What happens if you do break something? Do you hide it? Put it back in place hoping the owner won’t notice?

            Your task is to write a story in which something gets broken. It doesn’t have to be something of great financial or historical value, but perhaps something meaningful to the other person.

            Have fun with this one.

True Feelings

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            Honesty isn’t always the best policy. If someone asks if you like their new hairstyle, which you think is abominable, and you express those feelings, the friendship will be ended.

However, if that same person asks if you’d prefer Italian food or Mexican food, and you reply Mexican, they might laugh and say, “I knew that’s what you’d like!” Well, that’s okay.

            Your task is to write a story in which the expression of true feelings is a key part. Increase tension by making it a bit dicey for your character to speak the truth. Or by having him say what he really thinks, then having the other person become offended.

            Have fun with this one.

True Feelings

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            Many times, people keep their true feelings hidden. It could be because the work environment isn’t conducive to sharing, or it might be that the individual has a difficult time opening up, especially if the relationship is a bit testy.

            Sometimes a person will ask what someone’s feelings are about a given matter. When this happens, the response depends upon the fabric of the relationship, the look in the asker’s eyes, the body position, and even the status of the relationship.

            For example, a boss might not really want to know how an employee feels, while a beloved friend is depending upon an honest response.

            Your task is to write a story in which the protagonist is placed in a situation in which they are asked to express their feelings.

            Have fun with this one.

Acting out of Character

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            Imagine a kind, loving, patient parent slapping a child for not making a goal. Or a mean, obnoxious parent offering to buy pizza for the team after a terrible defeat.

            A strong man bending down to rescue a kitten stuck in a drain. A lightweight lifting a minivan off of a trapped little boy.

            A dictator changing stripes and setting up a democracy. An elected leader suspending government to become a dictator for life.

            Your task is to write a story in which the protagonist does something totally unexpected based upon what the reader knows or intuits about that person. The wider the discrepancy, the better.

            Have fun with this one.

Missing

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            When someone goes missing, we panic. We expected them to arrive at a certain time, but then they don’t. We pace the room, stare out the front window, call repeatedly.

As time passes, our level of anxiety rises. We try not to think the worse, that the individual was injured in some way, or got lost, or, in the worst-case scenario, was kidnapped.

When it’s an item that we lose, there’s a similar degree of anxiety, especially if we need it for an upcoming activity. We retrace our steps, pick up pieces of paper and clothing strewn about. We feel our blood pressure rising, heart beating rapidly, and our level of activity increase exponentially.

Your task is to write a story in which someone or something is missing. Make the person or item important enough that the protagonist is incredibly anxious.

Have fun with this one.

Animal Cameo

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            A sudden appearance of a growling dog changes the atmosphere of a story. Just as the dog’s hackles rise, so do the reader’s. As the character slowly backs up, the reader does as well.

            On the other hand, when a cute, fluffy, tail-wagging dog jumps up on the couch, the readers want to reach out and give it a good petting.

            The same is true when a cat enters the room. Cats have a reputation for being aloof and a bit touchy. Whereas one cat might tolerate a scratch under the chin, others will immediately reach out with claws extended.

            Your task is to write a story in which an animal appears, changing the trajectory of the story.

            Have fun with this one.

A Time When You Had no Voice

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            Many of our memories come from times that hurt us or made us cry. Not having the ability to speak your thoughts and feelings is an important one. Don’t think about a time when laryngitis stole your voice, but when someone chided you or told you to be quiet.

            The first time might have happened when you were quite young. For example, a teacher called on you to answer a question and then didn’t like your response.

            Maybe at home you said something that angered your parent and were severely disciplined.

            Your task is to write a story in which your character was silenced. You must evoke the emotions that arose so that the reader feels the pain, the hurt, the frustration, the anger.

Have fun with this one.