As different as night and day

The idiom, “as different as night and day,” describes a clear distinction between two things. When you look into it a little more, you’ll find the use of “night and day” as well as “day and night.” While these phrases can be used interchangeably, it turns out that the use of “day and night” more frequently indicates that things get worse, while the use of “night and day” tends to show that something improved.

 Pumping Your Muse writing prompt:

Equipped with this knowledge, for today’s prompt, you choose where to start: Day or night with the goal of moving from one to the other. I challenge you to create a sky that works as a harbinger foreshadowing what is to come. You can make this as simple as showing that it is going to rain while someone is getting ready for a big outdoor party/concert/wedding. Let your setting set the mood.

Or, start with a sunny day where all seems well, but as the story unfolds the characters learn things are not okay. By the time readers see the night sky, make it clear that things have taken a turn for the worse. I’m looking for the feeling you get when the werewolf sees a full moon or Dracula is sleeping and it’s almost time for the sun to set.

The secondary goal is to show not tell. Choose strong verbs that let your readers experience your world as they read. And remember, have fun. Let your muse run with it.

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About The Inheritance by Donna Sundblad

Written within the allegorical tradition of classics like Pilgrim's Progress, The Inheritance offers a literal but symbolic story for today's fantasy enthusiasts. This cleverly devised tale doesn't tell you what to think, but stimulates thought as to why you believe what you believe in your own quest for the Eternal City. The Inheritance is an ideal discussion starter for youth groups, homeschoolers, and families who enjoy meaningful discussions. 

 

The Inheritance is available on Kindle, paperback on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo (Christian fiction), Smashwords and Google Books. When you read it, be sure to leave a review! Thanks for your support. 

Coming soon! Dragonborn by Donna Sundblad

Dragonborn conjures up a winning fantasy with dragons, humans, time travel, and magic. Follow the journey of the young prisonguard, Ervig Greenfields, as he seeks out dragons to remove a curse. The dragons offer him access to the Labyrinth of Times, which will purge the dark magic. But there’s a catch. Erving must take the Dragon Oath that requires allegiance--to fight alongside dragons for centuries, never to return to his own time. He and a handful of others take the selfless oath and become Dragonborn. The Dragonborn and their dragons become seeds of change, in this epic tale, of sacrifice for the greater good. Ride along with them as they slip through a tear in time to the past to change the future.

 

Barking dog – Show what you hear

 

The inspiration for today’s writing prompt comes from the barking dog in my neighborhood. I have owned and loved dogs, but currently a cat has adopted me as his mom. We have many dogs and cats in this neighborhood. Some show dogs, most are pure breeds, but my favorite is the friendly mutt that actually obeys his owner who walks him on a leash. My least favorite dog is the barking dog across the street and one door down. The owner has tried everything. Nothing has worked so far. But I digress. Back to the barking dog writing prompt.

 

The high-pitched bark from the little dog next door that barks from its fenced yard any time it spots my cat is easily ignored. But the bark I heard in the early morning before dawn, today, was a medium size dog. Funny, that we can determine a dog’s size by its bark, but we can. The size of the “resonant cavity” is what makes the difference. Plus, big dogs have longer vocal tracts and mouths which produce lower pitches that are louder.

Today’s Pumping Your Muse writing prompt

As a writer, you’ve probably heard the mantra: show don’t tell. As a new writer, I thought I was doing that until I received peer feedback from fellow students at Writer’s Village University. That feedback stunned me, initially, but in the end, it helped me grow. Something I’m still doing, as a matter-of-fact.

Today’s writing prompt deals with showing not telling. Create three different short scenes centered around a barking dog. In each case, let the reader “hear” the dog with your words. If you're ready for even more fun, show the person’s feelings toward the sound. Feel free to add in howling, baying, and even snarling if you’d like. OR perhaps the thumping of the dogs tail on the wall, or paws scratching the floor. 

 

Additional inspiration

If you don’t know where to start, here are a few ideas to get the creative juices flowing:

A young man shows up at the house of his prom date. Never been there before. He hears barking on the other side of the solid wood fence.

Person in bed trying to sleep and a dog's barking outside.

Cleaning woman shows up to clean the house. The owner left the side garage door open for her. But on the other side of the door to the house is a barking dog.

Have fun! Enjoy the creative process. 

* * *

About The Inheritance by Donna Sundblad

Written within the allegorical tradition of classics like Pilgrim's Progress, The Inheritance offers a literal but symbolic story for today's fantasy enthusiasts. This cleverly devised tale doesn't tell you what to think, but stimulates thought as to why you believe what you believe in your own quest for the Eternal City. The Inheritance is an ideal discussion starter for youth groups, homeschoolers, and families who enjoy meaningful discussions. 

 

The Inheritance is available on Kindle, paperback on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo (Christian fiction), Smashwords and Google Books. When you read it, be sure to leave a review! Thanks for your support. 

 

Coming soon! Dragonborn by Donna Sundblad

Dragonborn conjures up a winning fantasy with dragons, humans, time travel, and magic. Follow the journey of the young prisonguard, Ervig Greenfields, as he seeks out dragons to remove a curse. The dragons offer him access to the Labyrinth of Times, which will purge the dark magic. But there’s a catch. Erving must take the Dragon Oath that requires allegiance--to fight alongside dragons for centuries, never to return to his own time. He and a handful of others take the selfless oath and become Dragonborn. The Dragonborn and their dragons become seeds of change, in this epic tale, of sacrifice for the greater good. Ride along with them as they slip through a tear in time to the past to change the future.

Photo credits: pxfuel, pxfuel