Unprepared

Conflict is part of every good story. One way to introduce this element is to create a character who is unprepared for upcoming circumstances. It's a form of character flaw that makes room for the growth that will take place on the hero's journey. In fact, this is one of the ways many literary heroes are born. They're unprepared on the front end of the story which leads to failure in some sense...but this failure or flaw is the catalyst for growth. Most often it is the first step toward change and equips the hero with skills needed at the story's climax.

Pumping Your Muse Prompt:

For today's prompt, will play with the front end of this concept. Let's create a character who is unprepared. Here are a few prompts to get the ideas pumping. Just place your character in one of the following scenarios or choose one of your own:

*snowfall in a moderate climate
*bump into the "ex" who is with someone else
*accidentally locked in a small room (claustrophobic)
*pet goes missing
*coworker has a gun in the desk drawer
*car spins out on ice

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