The Light Switch

Write a scene involving a light switch. Bloody fingerprints smeared across the switch plate, or a light that doesn't come on. It's up to you. The only requirement is that the light switch is part of the story.

Your Feet

Describe your feet. How do they feel? How do they smell? Write a brief description, add it to a character and use it in a brief scene.

These Three Words

Write a scene incorporating these three words:

field
truck
haircut

Shadows

Sometimes shadows offer shade, other times they might be mysterious or scary. Many times, they may misdirect. A character may see a shadow and think they are being followed, when in fact it is something else. Shadows are dark areas or shapes produced by something between rays of light and a surface. What that shadow portends depends on the writer. Whether it is something good or bad, shadows can be used to strike strike an emotion in the reader.

Light and shadow are devices used to create mood in writing. It's a way to engage your reader emotionally as people tend to respond to light or a lack of light in a feral way. Well lit areas are deemed safe, while dimly lit areas give people the creeps. Shadows bring with it a sense of sadness, gloom, or even an ominous feel promising something to dread.

Today's writing prompt

For today's writing prompt, introduce a shadow. If you don't know where to start, have a character spot a shadow twice. They think someone might be following them. Here's what you need to include:

• Why do they think they are being followed? (Facts)
  
• What do they think is the reason someone may be following them? (Backstory)
• What do they do about it? (Plot)
• Add conflict (this can be internal or external)
• Resolve the conflict.
• Reveal the shadow.
  

 

Emotions

Write a scene describing the emotions experienced when a long awaited piece of mail arrives. It is an acceptance or denial?

Possible scenarios:

Student hearing from a college
Writer hearing from a publisher

Blessing or Curse

Write a scene where the character gets what they've always wanted, but not with the result (or perhaps in the way) they were expecting.

You may write it as general fiction. For example: a young woman longs to be married and her desire is fulfilled. However, the reality of everyday life makes her wish for the days when she had more freedom.

Or, you can take more of a fantasy, thriller, horror route. I think of Stephen King's Thinner.

Notice in Your Mailbox

Write a short story about receiving a notice informing that a package awaits your character at the post office. Why couldn't it be delivered in the mailbox? Did it require a signature, or perhaps was too big to fit into the mailbox. Build the anticipation and bring the story to a close with opening the package.

Essay Contest at the Dabbling Mum

ESSAY MUST START WITH THIS BLURB:
"Standing out on the deck, observing the birds in flight, and admiring the view..."

All entries must be received by July 1, 2006, no later than 8 p.m. Central Time Zone.
A new contest will be posted by the 10th of the following month!

Submit Your Winning Essay!

Subject: Essay Contest Entry
Your full name:
Your email address:
Your complete address:
(Required to send prize.)
Your phone number:
(Required in case email bounces or prize returns.)
Please tell us how you found us?
Paste your descriptive, story-telling essay using the following format:
(1) Tell us if the essay is hypothetical, made up, or true,
(2) Your 500-600 Word Essay
* If your essay is longer or shorter, it WILL be disqualified.
(3) Your Web Address (optional)
Send your email to:

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See: http://thedabblingmum.com/contests/essay.htm for all the details

A Bell Tolls

In the steeple of a little village church a bell hangs, but doesn't ring as often as it once did. Tell the story of this bell.

Forbidden Fruit

Way back to Eden, humans desired what they should not have, taste, touch, or look at. Write a scene with a character lusting after something off limits. If you can't think of something, choose one of the following:

dieter--a food they are not to eat
man or woman--someone else's date
teenager--a father's '69 Corvette

Natural Inspiration

In my book Pumping Your Muse you'll find an exercise called "One Inch Tall." In that chapter, I explain how a drainage ditch inspired a whole new world. That world not exists as the soon-to-be-released Windwalker. As I went for my walk this morning, I snapped a picture of the drainage ditch where it all started. Imagine yourself one inch tall, and see where it takes you.

Battleship

Create a scene involving two ships at battle. These can be seafaring ships, space ships or any other type of ship your imagination conjures up.

Low Battery

Write a story about a low battery in one of the following:

Cell phone
Flashlight
Camera
Car

Story Starter

The young girl huddled in the shadows of the pub. Her dark, disheveled hair hung in her eyes.

"She ain't talkin'," the barkeep said as he swiped a dirty rag over the worn wood counter. "Don't know where she's from...who's her people." He shrugged.

Favorite Dish

Describe your favorite dish. Entree or dessert. Smell it, taste it, feel it. Mm. Make the reader want some.

Hamburger Joint

Depict a visit to a hamburger joint back in the 50's. What's the floor look like? Is there a counter with stools? Is music playing? Is it crowded? Have a blast with the past.

Comic Book Story

Comic books tell stories in frames. Dialog shows in balloons and sounds are written out in letters like ZONK. Write a story in Comic Book Form. Make each short paragraph a frame.

Home Improvement

Write a scene depicting a home improvement project. It can be a small task or a large refurbishment job. Write the story from one character's POV.

The Boat

Place your character in a charter boat leaving the dock for a day of fishing. A small group of people and one charter captain head out to the great unknown. Describe the day. Be sure to include the sense of smell and sound.

Missing Day

You character opens their eyes and blink in the early morning sunlight. What time is it anyway? Have them start their morning routine and discover they've missed a day.

Blurred Vision

Your character rubs their eyes. They strain to focus, but their vision is blurred. What are they trying to see and why?

The Gym

Place an overweight, middle-aged character at the gym among fit twenty-somethings. Music blaring, face paced instructions and the latest equipment create a frenzied pace. Write a humorous piece from this character's POV.

One More Thing

Create a scene where your character is trying to get out the door for an appointment, but has one more thing to do first. Do they get side-tracked, run late, experience a mishap?