Discover Your Fictional World Through Drifting

One way I discover new elements to add to the world-building process when writing fiction is what I call drifting. Drifting lets you hopscotch above and through an area picking up details and fresh ideas as you go. This is accomplished by following a benign item not necessarily related to your story. For example, a leaf falling from a tree whirls in the wind higher into the bright fall sky only to drift slowly toward the frost covered grass in the park where a sole individual sits on a park bench...

The leaf is used to introduce the world.

  

Today's Pumping Your Muse Writing Prompt:

Introduce your world as you discover it by drifting. Follow one of these or an item of your own:

*Feather
*Leaf
*Butterfly
*Snowflake
*Ash
*Bug

* * * *

About 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. 

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

* * * *

Some links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliate sites. Thanks so much for being part of our success.

 

Pumping Your Muse Photo Prompt

It's been awhile since we had a photo writing prompt and this one can be fun. Note the details and you'll find your story.

Pumping Your Muse Photo Prompt: My Fee Hurt (Of course that's where my mind went...where will your muse take you?)

Musical Prompt

As a child did you play musical chairs? If you haven't heard of it, it's a game that requires one less chair than those playing. While music plays, participants walk around the chairs all going the same direction. When the music stops (at random intervals) everyone scurries to capture a chair. Last one standing is out and a chair is removed and the game is played again until one chair remains and one participant has claimed it when the music stops.

For today's Pumping Your Muse prompt we'll turn to the radio for a musical prompt much like this game. Turn on the radio and select a station that plays music. Listen to the words of the first song you hear and jot down concepts. Turn it off. Return to the radio three times throughout the day. Turn on the radio from dead silence to see what's on.

Take the concepts from one of the three songs and incorporate them into a scene or short story.

Note: Today's photo provided by Paulo Correa http://www.flickr.com/photos/stereofunk/

Exhausted - A Story Starter

The following prompt is designed to get your imagination planted in fertile ground.

Prompt: Exhausted

[Enter Character Name] sat on the edge of the bed in the dark wearing nothing but underpants and one sock--half on or is it half off? "I'm so tired, I don't know if I'm getting up or going to bed." Then it hit...

Routine and Backstory

 Backstory plays an important role in a story. It helps to understand the character: why they do what they do, how they think and how their past colors their present. It often lets us know a secret that can make a difference in the story.

Pumping Your Muse writing prompt

Write a scene SHOWING your character involved in everyday routine. Within the scene reveal at least one habit, quirk, and a thought of the past that shows inner conflict. Tie their present actions with what they're doing.   

Example: Your character starts the morning coffee brewing (habit), and puts a mug of water in the microwave to heat because they only drink coffee poured into a warmed mug (quirk). They go into the bathroom to brush their teeth and look into the mirror stirring memories. She thinks she looks much like her mother who spit coffee into her face as a child when it wasn't warm enough. Now she is preparing to take her elderly mother in and become her caregiver (conflict). This is just a sketch and leaves room for a much larger story, but it gives you an idea of how to use this prompt.

Hope you enjoy this prompt. Have fun with the creative process and keep on writing! Let me know if you have questions. Write whether you feel like it or not and you'll be pleasantly surprised. A little every day makes a big difference.

Photo credit:  pixabay

The Was War

I've got a reputation for being anti "was". Now to be fair, was is a word and it must be used sometimes, but most times in creative writing it drags your prose into the dreaded land of the passive. This happens because in most instances using the word was lends to telling the story rather than showing the story. For example, if the character "was running" you're telling the reader about the character's action, but if you say "he ran" or "he sprinted" it creates an image in the readers mind. They are actively engaged.

Today's prompt: The Was War

Write 500 words without using the word was. This is best accomplished by writing your scene and then editing it. However, this prompt will also cause your brain to flag the use of this passive word even while you're writing and help train you to find a better word choice.

Learning From a Different POV

Point of view (POV) offers readers a glimpse into the world you've creative on paper. Based on this POV, they take in visual and other sensory information limited to that POV. For example, if you have three characters in a scene, and it is written from an outside POV--readers will not know the characters' thoughts or feelings. Instead they must make determinations based on what is said and in interpreting body language.

Today's Prompt:

Today we're going to have fun with POV. Take out an existing story (preferably one of your own) and write it from another POV.

Note: If you're ever stuck at a point in a story you're working on, this is a great way to get unstuck. You may never use the additional scene, but information gleaned from it can help you get on with writing.

Foreshadowing and the Red Herring

Little details threaded into your story can add an element of foreshadowing and raises questions in the readers mind. Foreshadowing offers the reader hints of things to come. For example, if you're writing a story about Sophia's wedding day, and the TV is on in the background as she gets ready for the rehearsal dinner and the weatherman announces chance for "scattered thundershowers tomorrow" this foreshadows a less than ideal wedding day.

Hints provided by foreshadowing raise interest as the reader wants to see how things turn out as the plot develops. Foreshadowing can be broad and easily understood, like the example above, or more complex with a number of things that must be connected to make the plot work. In longer works like novels, it's fun to mix things up with some deliberately false hints which are known as red herrings. This keeps things less predictable as your readers' minds follow your hints in the wrong direction. Mysteries are famous for this, but it doesn't always have to be a mystery.

Today's Prompt:

Write a story that includes red herring foreshadowing. Here are a few ideas:

*Following a treasure map--does X really mark the spot?
*Mr. Right--or is he Mr. Wrong?
*Who dun it?

Story Starter - First Sentence

It's been awhile since we had a first sentence story starter. Today's sentence is not quite complete because I've left off what the character is wearing. Many times that's part of the story. If I said, "the waistband of her orange jumpsuit" that would set things up for her to be in police custody. How you dress her will offer a springboard into the rest of the story. Have fun:

Story Starter - First Sentence

Sweat trickled down her spine and soaked into the waistband of her...

Speculative Historical Fiction

Speculative historical fiction is a great venue in which writers can ask: "What if?"

Choose a time in history or a historical figure and write a scene asking what if things were different. It can be a lesser known person or a well-known and popular person. The fun is creating a new set of circumstances set in motion by changing one or many things.

A great example of this is found in the popular movie The Mummy. The High Priest Imhotep was a real person. Look at the fun the writers had with that one.

No Excuses Writing

One of the biggest complaints I hear from want-to-be writers is that they don't have time to write. Today's prompt is designed to help you bury that excuse and lay it to rest. There's only one way to find time to write if you live a busy life, and that is to make room in your schedule.

The truth is that most people want big blocks of time to be able to write undisturbed...well for most of us, that's just not realistic. Instead, set a goal to write 20 minutes a day 4 days this coming week. And let me know how it goes!

Expanding Your World Vision in Fiction

Today is the day I meet with my young writer's Pumping Your Muse class and I've decided to give them a different kind of exercise today. I figured if they can do it, you can do it.

Read your existing scene. Now close your eyes. You can sit, lie down, whatever, but I want you to do this for 5 minutes. From where your character stands, look north, east, south and west. What do they see? What do they smell? And what do they hear?

When you are done, jot down new information and then take time to sketch a world map. This doesn't have to be anything fancy. The only one who needs to be able to interpret it is you! As your character moves about, you'll know where they are headed, and if they reach the border of your map, extend your vision.

Creating a map will help you see where your character is going and keep details consistent.

Sailing the Sea of Imagination

I'm currently working on a manuscript for Pumping Your Muse for kids. I love to encourage kids to be writers. Don't know what the title will be, but I'm working through the exercises with two children and having a blast. They started out thinking it's too much work, and walked away yesterday excited and with their first scene written.

My purpose for this blog is to help pump your muse, too, so that you too walk away with a new scene, character, skill or idea. If that happens, drop me a line at dsundblad (at) theinkslinger.net. You can also contact me with questions.

Today's Prompt:

For today, we'll use this photo prompt. Look at the photo and if you don't know where to begin answer these questions:

Where are they going?
Why?
What led up to them setting sail.
What do they smell?
What do they hear?
What do the feel?
What do they see?

Have fun as you sail on the sea of imagination!

Olympic Emotions Writing Prompt

The Olympics are full of emotion and present a great opportunity to learn how to show emotion rather than tell about it. As swimmers slap the wall in a close race they look up at the official times to see the reality of who won. The camera isn't on the board, it is on the swimmers. Their faces SHOW it all!

Pick an Olympic event and challenge yourself to write a paragraph that shows the emotion on an athlete's face. If you have time, I suggest you do more than one. These paragraphs will come in handy later when you write a story that requires joy, nervousness, crushing defeat...

Learning to incorporate real emotion in your writing is like the difference to watching the official times on a board, or seeing the emotion on the athlete's face. Which would you rather see in your writing?

-----

For a wealth of writer prompts check out my book Pumping Your Muse. These prompts can be used separately or used to pull together a fleshed out novel outline.

10 Things You Do When You're Hungry and On a Diet

Today's prompt requires creating a list of 10 things you do when you're hungry and on a diet. Then take at least five of those things and incorporate them in a scene. This can be fiction or non-fiction. I'd say there's room for humor in this one if you are so inclined!

One Word Prompt

I've shared first sentence prompts here at Pumping Your Muse Prompts, but today we're going to try something a little different. A one word prompt. Based on this one word, write a scene or short story. Include:

*Sense of smell
*Emotion (your choice)
*Sense of hearing

Here's your word:

Popcorn

Name Your Poison

Murder is a popular plot thread that hooks the reader if written well. Research is part of the writing process if you want to create believable details when it comes to murder by poison. Poison makes for interesting reading because it can be easily slipped into an unsuspecting victim's food or drink. It can act slowly building tension, conflict and hope for discovery, or quickly while imitating a medical condition or event which leads the physician to misdiagnose the cause of death.

Poisons can be found in multiple sources. For today's prompt we'll look at poisons from plant sources. Unless the doctor in your story is suspicions and orders an autopsy with a drug screen, most likely your murderer will go free.

Research will help you find the right poison. To make your story believable you'll have to know how the poison affects the body. Research herbal poisons, research the following databases and choose a poison. Based on the information you find, develop a short scene.

Here are some links to help you find what you need to know:

*University of Florida Herbarium Library
*FDA Poisonous Plant Database
*Guide to Poisonous Plants
*Toxic Plants

Cutest Pet

Pets make a popular topic for short stories. Unfortunately, many writers want to focus on their favorite pets last days, but many publishers say "Please No Saying Good-bye" or "The Death of My Pet" stories. While these stories are healing for the writer, they are not usually what the markets look for.

If you have had the honor of having a great pet, write about a fun experience that paints your pet as the cutest most adorable. A story that will leave the reader saying, "Awwwww." There are plenty of markets for pet stories, so if you're looking for a way to get published, this prompt might just spark the memories and creativity to make that happen.

Just to get you motivated, here are a few markets:

Dog Fancy
Cat Fancy
Pet Brags.com
PetFinder

Superhero

If you were a superhero, what would you be?

You can have fun with this and take one of two directions.

*Give yourself or a character superhero powers. Things like you can: fly, see when people lie, know the future 24 hours in advance, walk through walls, etc.

OR

*Place your superhero in a contemporary non-fiction setting. Write about someone you consider a superhero, but don't TELL about it. Show it with engaging visuals.

(Photo provided by Ben Smith, American Fork, UT, United States)

Distractions

Today's prompt is a fun one based on distraction. You can say, "he was distracted" in your writing, but don't do that. It's passive and doesn't really create a visual for the reader. It's much more fun to SHOW your character is distracted. In fact, today, we will carry this them out a bit. Kind of like a Rube Goldberg machine...but instead human actions and reactions. Not only do I want you to distract your character once, but let's make a series of at least four distractions that eventually lead them back to what they were originally doing.

For example, if your character is in the middle of cleaning the hamster cage and the phone rings that's one distraction. They knock over a cup of coffee while answering the phone and wipe it up while talking. That's another distraction. They step in some of the coffee on the floor and bend to wipe that up as they hang up the phone and what do they see? The hamster scurrying across the floor. Now that brings them back to what they were doing in the first place or could turn into another series of distractions before the hamster is returned to its cage.

Of course, your story will be more detailed than this...but wasn't that much more fun than saying she was distracted by the phone ringing? Have fun. You may be surprised at the story you get out of this one.

Donna Sundblad
Author of Pumping Your Muse Windwalker, and soon to be released Beyond the Fifth Gate

The Big Birthday

When you read the title of this post what came to mind? Turning 30? Maybe 40 or 50? Or how about turning 16 or 21. Think back to a birthday you considered "the big one" and write two to three paragraphs about it. Include:

• Setting
• Theme
• Emotions
• 2 Senses

Motivation

What motivates you? I guess it depends on what it is that needs doing. For instance, if you need to lose weight, what motivates you to eat right or exercise? What motivates you to go to work...or clean the house...or any of those things that must be done. The reason I ask, is that if you stop to understand your own motivation, it will help you to create a character people can relate to. What keeps them going? Do they go to work only for the paycheck or do they get something more from it. See what I'm driving at?

So for today's prompt, I want you to write a journal entry. Write about what motivates you to:

*go to work
*go to school
*pursue a hobby
*write
*to help others
*choose one of your own

Completing this exercise will generate ideas now that you're looking at it this way. If you have ideas for characters and their motivation while you write, just jot the ideas down. This prompt can work as a springboard for a scene. Have fun!

First Sentence Story Starter

It's been some time since we did a "first sentence" prompt, and with camping on my mind I decided to go with this one:

Prompt:

The wind changed direction tugging the canvas that strained against the ropes and tent pegs to shelter me from the frigid storm.

Be sure to:

• Include the sense of smell
• Include sounds
• Avoid passive language--keep it visual

A World of Difference

High mountains serve as barriers separating the climates and their populations on opposite sides. For your scene today, the windward slope of the mountains has a damp, cooling winds from the sea and the people experience heavy rainfall and the landscape is densely forested. On the western side, the climate is dry and warmer by comparison and desert-like except in the valleys.

Prompt:

Take two characters of the same gender and age and place each on separate sides of the mountains and tell their stories.

Wish With a Twist

You've heard the old axiom, "Be careful what you wish for." Today's prompt will play on that saying. Grant your character a wish, but give the fulfillment a twist. For example, if you character has longed to have braces and finally gets that perfect smile but then takes a tumble and knocks out a front tooth. That's a simplistic example, but gives you a little fodder to get started. Be careful not to make the twist evident before it takes place. An unpredictable ending leaves an impression that makes the reader not only think about your story, but also gets them talking about it to someone else.

Here are a few prompts to stir your ideas in case you don't have one:

Wishes:

• a new car
• to get married
• to have a baby
• to become famous
• to have a baby brother/sister
  

Photo Prompt and More About Me

I fell in love with this little bug today as I searched for an appropriate photo for mood swings over at my Losing Weight From a Writer's POV blog . I won't say too much about this grub, because I don't want to influence your writing--I want the photo to do that. Here are some ideas to get you started. Write from:

• the grub's POV
• a gardener's POV
• a child's POV

While you're here, I want to announce that I'm featured over at The Fearless Blog: Seeking Courage and Inspiration. Take a moment and stop by. I'll be checking in over there. If you have a question you can ask it. :)

Knowing the Heart of Your Character

Creating characters is a process. You may think you know them when they first appear on the paper, but as they evolve and take on life you may be surprised to learn that they are much more interesting and unpredictable than you first thought.

Today's Prompt:

Take and existing scene, and on a separate piece of paper write down what your character is thinking throughout the scene. Thoughts are not always reflected in actions. In fact, actions can be misinterpreted...even the author may be surprised at what their character is thinking. This exercise not only brings about growth in your character but growth in the author's understanding of their character's heart.

Coming Soon:

Pumping Your Muse (second edition) watch for more details

Gone Fishing

This morning I went fishing for the first time since moving to Georgia. The freshwater methods and fish carried me back to childhood as I stared at the sunlight reflecting like rippling silver petals on the lake. A number of people came to mind...good times...funny times...people long dead. 

One thing I enjoy about fishing is that it gives me quality thinking time. Quality thinking time leads to all kinds of ideas. Ideas are the fabric of stories, both fiction and non-fiction. Take the time to get away from your computer, TV, telephone (Yes, even your cell phone) and walk, fish, bike...think! Jot down ideas that come to you. 

When you get home, pick one to write about. When you take the time to "fish" for ideas, you usually "catch" a good story. 

Today's Writing Prompt: Gone Fishing

If you feel like you're drawing a total blank, do this exercise: Sit with a piece of paper and write down a childhood experience. From there, write down the first thing that comes to your mind, and repeat this process for 2-5 minutes. For example:

• Pulling a loose tooth
• angry nun
• riding the bus
• favorite lunch box
• the magic of Santa
• walking to school
• moving in 7th grade
• being flat chested
• school uniforms
• first car

Okay, you get the idea. As a reader, you won't begin to understand the thread that connects these items. Who would think a loose tooth could lead to a first car! I call it mining for memories. What I want you to do with this list is to pull one idea and write about it. Your piece can be fiction or non-fiction. Have fun.

Come From Behind

Everyone's a sucker for the underdog in a good story...though it isn't always so in real life because people don't take time to know the underdog. That's an advantage to reading or writing a good story. You gather information from all kinds of sources. You KNOW and care about the character.

Take advantage of the writing tools available and create a story about an underdog. If you're not sure where to begin here are a few ideas. This story can be fiction or non-fiction. Your underdog:

• Helps someone who has bullied them
• Comes through in a sporting event (doesn't necessarily mean they are playing the sport)
• Gets the girl (or guy)

Be sure to show the reader WHY your character is an underdog...don't tell.

First Sentence Prompt

I just finished revisions for Pumping Your Muse and approved the new cover. Can't wait to share it with you all. All the resource links have been updated along with some other updates and an appendix for homeschoolers. Should be available by the end of the month. I'll keep you all informed as the day draws near.

Today let's have some fun with a first sentence. Start a story with:

"You've got to look at what's going to keep you in the game when things get challenging," George said.

Switching POV on Purpose

Switching places is a popular theme that makes for an interesting story, whether it is a husband and wife switching roles, or a child and parent accidentally swapping bodies and experiencing each other's lives first hand. But today, we're going to walk in someone else's shoes to learn about our characters.

Prompt:

Take a scene you've already written and rewrite it switching to another POV. I did this when I wrote Windwalker and my protagonist, Manelin, narrowly escaped the monster chasing him through the woods. This threat broke trees like they were toothpicks! When I forced myself to write from another POV, I learned some interesting facts about that monster. In fact, I learned a weakness. Have fun as your POV character walks in someone else's shoes! You may be surprised what you learn!

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July to all my readers. I've been on vacation this week, but be sure to check in on Monday for a new prompt. For those of you in the states, enjoy the day. For those who have served our country or are currently serving our country, thank you!

Durn Pests

A friend of mine is dealing with ants. They're showing up in the strangest places--like in the shower. She cleans them up but a new trail shows up elsewhere. Treating for pests cant be a frustrating saga, and we'll use that as our springboard to get the creative juices flowing. Write a brief scene about human vs. foe. You can choose what pest you want to use. Here's a few ideas if you need one:

• termites
• flies
• ants
• rats
• mice
• mites

Now here's the real challenge. Take your brief scene and write it from the pest's POV. This will help you see a whole new world of details. You might even ask yourself, which is really the pest? Have fun.

Time Travel Fun

I enjoy time travel stories. Time travel doesn't always have to be explained if it is shown. For instance, in my fantasy novel, Dragonborn, there is a portal that leads to Wyoming back before the white man showed up. I don't say it is Wyoming, but there are elements such as the Wind River, the people who live there and their culture and language that history buffs will recognize. 

 

Today's creative writing prompt: 

I thought we'd have some fun today by pulling a character from the past to bring them in to today's culture. What would they think? How would they adapt, and would they want to stay? To get you started, I've included a picture of three of my uncles who grew up on the streets of Chicago. This is in the early 40s. Notice the lack of traffic? What else would be different if we brought these street kids forward to our time in Chicago? How do you think they would react? Do you think their street smarts would be enough to make the adjustment?

Whether you use the photo prompt or not is up to you. Either way, include one or more of the following in your writing to show a difference from past to the future you bring your characters to:

• car
• television
• telephone
• electricity
• computer
• fashion

Embarrassed

Embarrassment is one of those things writer's often use in their stories, and sometimes poses a problem when you want to show embarrassment rather than passively say what a character feels. Write a short scene that shows an embarrassed character and include one of the following:

• shoe
• wallet
• passing gas
• a touch

Remember that the POV character cannot see their own face blush, so if they are the one who is embarrassed they will have to feel it rather than see it.

Homecoming

The term homecoming has several different meanings. I just returned from a whirlwind trip loaded with long hours and catching up with family I haven't seen for years. This story could be written from two views. The first is going back to my roots for a family reunion and the second could be written about how good it feels to be home.

Write a story that includes the theme of homecoming. Be sure to include emotion and sensual information including scents and sounds. If you want to challenge yourself, write the story from two POV.

Fish Story

Exaggeration is often used in speech and can be an effective tool in writing humor, horror, establishing character traits and more. Write a scene using hyperbole as a form of exaggeration.

Photo Prompt

I came across this photo and just couldn't pass up the opportunity to use it as a prompt.

Today's Prompt:

Based on this photo, have three children/young adults walk through the woods where this tree is located. They find a crystal sword embedded in the tree...then what?

What is That?

Describe by showing a detail in this photo in about 50 words. This prompt will help develop your skill at showing not telling. The key is, don't name the object itself. For example if you're describing the book--don't use the word book. If you describe the hand, don't use the word hand.

Writing a Mystery

Hope you're doing well and will have a minute to read a great post in MURDER BY 4 by author R. C. Burdick titled "Tools of the Writer's Trade." You'll find plenty of practical information for writers.

Bob began writing for publication in 1982. He has published dozens of articles and short stories and also counts two mystery novels among his credits: THE MARGARET ELLEN (2004) and TREAD NOT ON ME (2005). Additionally, his short story collection, STORIES ALONG THE WAY, won the 2002 Royal Palm Book Award. As a contributing writer his work has appeared in the Chatsworth Times, The Time Courier, and The St. Petersburg Times. His work in progress includes Death At Bear Creek Summit and Bottom Feeders, a sequel to The Margaret Ellen. Since 2001, Burdick has also been a columnist and contributing writer for Inky Trail News.

With this in mind, today's prompt deals with writing mystery. For those who follow my writing, you know that I most often write fantasy, speculative fiction or inspiration non-fiction. However, my first published story was a mystery which came about as the result of a writing prompt. Today, I share a similar prompt with you.

Today's Prompt:

Write for 15 minutes. Don't stop to make changes, just write. Use one or more of the following as a springboard:

• A crime that happens at a wedding
• A crime that takes place in a garden
• Involves a missing person or pet
• Crime that takes place while hiking
  

New Dads and the Baby Blues

Another prompt from the news and the upcoming celebration of Father's Day.

Did you know new dads can get the "baby blues" too? Write a story about a father adjusting to life as a new dad.

OR

Write an article about the latest research on health issues affecting dads such as:

• depression
• tips on how dads can enjoy the wonders of fatherhood AND protect their physical and mental health

For more information and a list of experts check out:

Expert Alert - Dads get the baby blues, too

Tornados and Other Severe Weather

I grew up in the tornado belt and experienced more than one tornado in my childhood and lived through hurricane Charley. They spawn stories I tell to this day. With the rash of severe weather experienced around the world this year, there's all kinds of stories in the news. Write a true experience, or take a detail from the news and use it as a springboard for a story. It doesn't have to be a disaster story. Just think, without a tornado, Wizard of Oz wouldn't work. Use a natural event as a catalyst for change in your character's world.

Gasoline Prices

Choosing a hot news topic for your fiction writing gives your story an audience and plenty of PR opportunities. For today's writing prompt, I figure there's nothing hotter than the current gasoline prices.

Today's Prompt:

Write a story using gas prices as your central plot theme. If you want to really challenge yourself, write a humorous story. This twist will make your story marketable because it not only touches on a topic close to everyone's pocketbook but will help them laugh to reduce the stress of filling their gas tank.

The Phone Call

The phone is an instrument. How it is used depends on circumstances. When a telemarketer calls it can add frustration or irritation to a scene. When a character calls with news, what happens next depends on what the news comes through the receiver.

Today's Prompt:

Write a scene that depicts day-to-day life until the phone rings. Use the phone call as an agent of change. What changes is up to your and your muse. Changes can build slowly with repeated calls, or all at once with one call. Riiing...the phone is for you.

List Links - Pulling From the Past

Today's link will be a quick list. Start with a childhood memory. It can be anything. Then write down the next thing that comes to mind and the next, and the next. Do this for 3-5 minutes. Here's a sample list:

• stung by a wasp
• bus shelter
• pulling pranks
• riding cousins bike
• brother falling off bike
• job slowdown
• brother's roommate committing suicide
• enabling
  

This list is connected. The average reader won't see the connection, and the list ended no where near where it started. But in the process, ideas were pulled from the past and any one of them can be developed into the story. This is a great exercise for those who want to write inspirational stories.

Three Word Writing Prompt

Write a scene using three of the following words:

• packing
• sad
• pregnant
• garden
• computer
• dog
• tea or coffee

Parking Place

Have you ever had your eye on a parking place only to have someone swing into it by coming down the lane the wrong direction! Parking places offer plenty of stories. Where are the people going? Are parking places hard to come by? Is your character in a hurry? Is the weather a factor?

Write a scene centered around a parking place. Include the following:

• Emotion
• Smell
• Sound

Tales With a Twist

I grew up watching Twilight Zone, Outerlimits and other thought provoking shows that many times caught me unaware with a twist at the end of the story. The one that comes to mind right now is the tale of a man who undergoes torture of an earwig implanted in his ear. He survives the agony as the bug makes it through his brain and exits the opposite ear. I breathed a sigh of relief with the character and then the bombshell hit. The bug is female and has laid her eggs in his brain!

Today's prompt is to write a short story with such a twist. If you're looking for ideas here are a few to get you started. Use one or more of these elements:

*Missing pet
*Buying the car you always wanted
*Hiring a PI
*Falsifying records

Around the Table

Set a scene using a kitchen or dining room table as the central focus. For today's prompt, write three short scenes around the same table. Have each scene take place 10-20 years apart. Show detail that reveals the decade. What color are the walls? Is there a floor covering? Is the table top Formica? Is there an ice box, an old Frigidaire? What hairstyles do your characters have? What toy is the child playing with at the table?

This will be as much fun as watching the manikin change clothes in the original Time Machine movie!