Monday, August 24, 2009

It's Alive


Before we talk about today's prompt, I want to point you to a story based on the Flyswatter prompt from last week. The Day of Small Things can be found on "My Scattered Stories". It has a Twilight Zone feel to it, so if you like that kind of thing, be sure to stop by for a break from reality.

Today's prompt is inspired by my childhood when I believed my toys came to life at midnight while I slept. I used to line up stuffed animals on my pillow until there was no room for my head. After all I wanted them to be comfortable! I converted other kids in the neighborhood to be believers. Mothers would call my mom to complain their children would not go to sleep at night because they were waiting for their toys to come to life!

Pumping Your Muse Prompt
Many a horror movie depicts inanimate objects that come to life. We have the car in Christine...houses that take over with garbage disposals, stoves and other items taking charge, or the classic Frankenstein. In space, things like the computer Hal takes over in 2001. I could make a list of such stories, but I don't want to tarnish the path your muse will follow for this one. For today's pumping your muse prompt, breathe life into something unexpected. If you choose something from the plant world give it the ability to reason and make it mobile. The same goes for choosing anything from the insect world. This can be fun, scary or somewhere in between. Enjoy!

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Beyond the Fifth Gate
Pumping Your Muse





Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Dirty Water


Writing prompts that include a verb and noun that don't seem to logically go together can stimulate new creative paths that grow into an interesting plot or storyline. Today's prompt was inspired by an old song I heard on the radio this morning when my dreams met the half-light of dawn.

Pumping Your Muse Prompt:

Here are a couple of word combinations that will collide to ignite your muse!

  • Love that dirty water.
  • Itch I don't want to scratch.
Write a paragraph or scene based on one of the above.


Today's photo provided by SEPpics's

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Check out my latest radio interview: Back Story - The Behind the Scenes Look at Writing

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Flyswatter Prompt


Sorry I've been absent. I'm immersed in writing the sequel to Beyond the Fifth Gate and working on a non-fiction book for the homeschool market on top of my freelancing...and then there's family, the garden...well you get the drift.

Even with all that, I've thought of a few different prompts that I should have stopped by to post. Here's one to have fun with.

Pumping Your Muse Prompt
Write a story based on a man or woman obsessed and carrying a flyswatter. I don't want to say more or I may taint your imagination rather than inspire it. Have fun with this one.
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Check out my latest interview at Stories That Read You.And my 4 star review for Beyond the Fifth Gate at Teens Read Too!

Sunday, August 02, 2009

One Sentence

 While helping my husband apply film to our south-facing windows today, I stared at my image as I grasped the sheet of film with my hands over my head. I held and he sprayed it with water. My image reflected clearly but adding the water changed the reflection. As he sprayed, it shimmered like in a pond...but clearer. Of course my mind went to the possibility of a fantasy story. In my book, Dragonborn, some characters have the ability to scry--to see or predict the future by means of visions seen in water or a ball of crystal. What they see can be encouraging, frightening, and at times even confusing.

 


Today's Pumping Your Muse Prompt


Your challenge today is to use this sentence in a short story. Don't just tell what your character sees, but show how they feel. How does it affects their actions based on their feelings and decisions. Write from a first person point of view, or change things up and show it from a different POV.

"The image shimmered as if in a liquid mirror. "

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