It's Not Funny

Today's prompt is an exercise in creating tension and building conflict through an unlikely agent: laughing.

Have you ever laughed because you were nervous or scared...or just at an inappropriate time? I remember collecting frogs for my biology teacher for extra credit. A friend and I waded around in the muck and I decided to climb into a tree to see if I could spot any frogs from the air. I pointed here and there while my friend sloshed around...and then it happened. She lost her balance and landed in that slimy water! What did I do? I laughed. The more I laughed the angrier my friend became. "It's not funny!" She screamed it, but the more she said it, the more I laughed, even though my brain told me she was right. It wasn't funny.

Pumping Your Muse Prompt

For today's prompt create a scene involving two to three main characters. One of those characters will laugh at an inappropriate time that causes others to react in a way that raises conflict and tension. If you feel a little stuck, here are a few scenario suggestions to pump your muse:

*Giving birth
*Attending church
*On the job
*Run out of gas
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Finding a Treasure

If you're like me, you've got plenty of stories you've started and never finished. Sometimes you can tell they just arent' going anywhere, other times, you know it needs polishing, but then you forget about it. For today's prompt, I want you to pull out one of these old, unfinished stories and dust it off.

Pumping Your Muse Prompt

Before you start to tread through your story, take a blank piece of paper and draw lines to create three columns. Title the columns:

*Strengths
*Weaknesses
*Ideas

At the bottom of the page, write "What I liked" and "What I didn't like."

Choose one of your unfinished stories and read through it. Make notes on your worksheet as you do, noting the strengths/weaknesses and any ideas or thoughts that are inspired by the story. Often pulling out a previously written story after a long rest can be a real eye opener. You'll be able to view it with a fresh perspective.

Once you've read it, take a look at your notes and apply your new ideas to strengthen the weaknesses and add meat to the story. If there is anything you didn't like about the story, now is the time to fix it. When you're done, you may have found a real treasure by dusting off a relic found in your files.

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Check out my latest interview at Stories That Read You.And my 4 star review at Teens Read Too!

Interview Your Character

Writing is a process and character development is part of that process. It is so much easier to know what your character will do when you understand them. One way to know your character, even a new or complex character, is to interview them.

Questions to include should be about their backgrounds, interests and other things than give them history.



Pumping Your Muse Prompt

Choose one of your characters and interview them. Ask the following questions or others to get the information you want to know.

1. Where were you born?
2. Who are your parents?
3. Are you close to your mom or dad?
4. Do you have any sisters or brothers?
5. What level have you completed in school?
6. Do you have a trade?
7. What do you do for a living?
8. What's your favorite food?
9. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
10. What would you like to accomplish in life?
11. Who is your best friend?
12. What is your favorite mode of travel?
13. What bothers you most?
14. Do you play a musical instrument?
15. Do you have a love interest?
16. What do you do to relax?
17. What do you read most often?
18. Do you have a secret?
19. If you could change something about your life, what would it be?
20. (Choose your own question(s)...I'm sure what you've learned has generated one or two.

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Check out my latest interview at Stories That Read You.And my 4 star review at Teens Read Too!

Watch What You Wish For

I remember a moment in time when my pre-teen daughter said, "If I could only get braces, I'll never want another thing in my life."

I said, "I wish I had a recorder."

Man by our very nature never seems never to have enough, as our current economy testifies. For today's prompt, the theme will center on a wish come true...but let's add a twist. The reality wished for is not what the wisher intended.


Pumping Your Muse Prompts

Choose one of the following wishes to use as a springboard for your story:

*I wish I had a husband just like...
*I wish I could be as thin as...
*I wish she loved me like I love her.
*I wish I could get that car, then the girls...
*I wish Sci-fi was real
*I wish I could get pregnant

I'd love to hear what you do with this one! Have fun!

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Check out my latest interview at Stories That Read You.And my 4 star review at Teens Read Too!

The Story Behind the Lyrics

Songs are inspired and inspiring. Today, we'll use a song as the prompt. Turn on the radio or use one of the following songs as the springboard to develop a new short story or maybe a poem. I've picked songs with plenty of possibilities. Have fun!

Today's Pumping Your Muse Video Prompts:

Spring Is In the Air

After enduring winter's cold, snow, and winds for months, we all look forward to spring! Here in NW Georgia splashes of color decorate the dead-looking landscape as the first signs of spring bloom. Daffodils, Bradford pear trees, and even dandelions renew that feeling of hope that comes with the newness that bursts forth.

Yesterday was the first day of Spring and while buds and blossoms burst on the scene, that doesn't mean the cold is gone. I've learned not to put my garden in until April, because covering the plants to protect them from the hard frost is not--well let's say it's not fun.

Pumping Your Muse Prompt
Spring will be the platform for today's prompt. The setting is Springtime. Where you are in the world is up to you. The element to add to your story: Irony.

The definition: "a technique of indicating, as through character or plot development, an intention or attitude opposite to that which is actually or ostensibly stated." (Dictionary.com)

Write three to five paragraphs. This one should be fun!

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To support the author of this blog, Donna Sundblad, consider buying her books.

Pumping Your Muse (Creative writing book)
Windwalker (Fantasy) - Check out the latest 5 star review at Amazon
Beyond the Fifth Gate (Fantasy) - Check out the latest 5 star review at Amazon

The Birds

We've enjoyed some much needed rain here in NW Georgia, and yesterday afternoon when the sun decided to come out for a little while the cacophony of bird calls was amazing. When I moved to FL I experienced a whole new world of feathered friends, and now in GA my feeders attract even another variety. Today's prompt is inspired by these beautiful creatures.

Pumping Your Muse Prompt

Different birds frequent different parts of the world. That in itself can be used as a way to introduce where your characters live. Their reaction to the creature can also tell the reader something about the story. For example, if your character sees their first bluebird ever, that tells you they are new to the area, and it also introduces the setting.

The character's reaction can also introduce more personal details. If the bluebird brings to mind the song "Hey Mr. Bluebird" that gives a clue to the character's age, or a relationship with an older person who taught them the song. If the bird's striking colors amaze them as they watch it land in the bare branches of a tree in the back yard, it gives an idea of season.

Write a scene or short story in which you use a bird to introduce details of the story.

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To support the author of this blog, Donna Sundblad, consider buying her books.

Pumping Your Muse (Creative writing book)
Windwalker (Fantasy) - Check out the latest 5 star review at Amazon
Beyond the Fifth Gate (Fantasy)

Subtle Sounds

Incorporating details that feed the reader's sensory receptors draws them into the story and helps them live within the pages. The trick is to feed the senses in a way that the reader can experience what is happening rather than telling them what is going on. For today's prompt we'll use a subtle sound as a springboard.

Today's Pumping Your Muse Prompt:

Use one of the following sounds to introduce your story:

*Dripping water
*Stomach growling
*A sneeze
*Clearing the throat
*Blood pulsing in the ears

* * *

To support the author of this blog, Donna Sundblad, consider buying her books.

Pumping Your Muse (Creative writing book)
Windwalker (Fantasy) - Check out the latest 5 star review at Amazon
Beyond the Fifth Gate (Fantasy)

Enter the Unexpected

Have you started a story that you like, but don't know where to take it? Has your interesting character lost his/her flavor? Today's prompt is designed to help you get that story unstuck and infuse the plot with an unexpected element of conflict that will increase tension and the need to for resolution.


Today's Pumping Your Muse Prompt

Take an unfinished scene or short story that remains incomplete because you don't know what to do with it. Pump new life into it with the unexpected. Add one of the following unexpected elements and see where it takes you:

*Lost job
*Pregnancy
*Lost child
*Puppy
*Car wreck
*Death of a loved one

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To support the author of this blog, Donna Sundblad, consider buying her books.

Pumping Your Muse (Creative writing book)
Windwalker (Fantasy) - Check out the latest 5 star review at Amazon
Beyond the Fifth Gate (Fantasy)

The Story You See - Video Prompt

Today we'll try a video prompt. As individuals we take in sensory information and our imaginations absorb what we see guiding each of us down different creative paths. Watch the following video without sound. Based on what you see, write a short story or scene.

Today's Pumping Your Muse Prompt:

Watch the following scene without sound. Based on what you see, write a short story or scene. Be sure to include the senses--including the sense of smell.



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To support the author of this blog, Donna Sundblad, consider buying her books.

Pumping Your Muse (Creative writing book)
Windwalker (Fantasy) - Check out the latest 5 star review at Amazon
Beyond the Fifth Gate (Fantasy)

Welcome to My World

Where do you start your story? Once you write the first draft of a story, it's not unusual to find the hook in the third paragraph or even the third page. Before you can identify the hook, though, you have to write the story. Today's prompt gently carries us into a new scene or short story, and then identify your hook. Determine where the story really starts and cut what isn't needed.

If you want to write a novel, a prompt introducing your world may produce an exciting scene that ends up in the middle of your book. For example, in my fantasy novel Windwalker, my protagonist heard a noise. Something large crashing through the forest. The ground rumbled beneath his feet. When I started writing, I had no idea what made that noise.

Whether you're writing a short story or a novel, the key is to write!

Today's Pumping Your Muse Prompt

Use one of the following to introduce your world:

*A leaf falling from a tree
*A deer raising its head, ears alert
*A butterfly dancing on a summer's breeze
*The sound of water trickling
*The smell of smoke

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To support the author of this blog, Donna Sundblad, consider buying her books.

Pumping Your Muse (Creative writing book)
Windwalker (Fantasy) - Check out the latest 5 star review at Amazon
Beyond the Fifth Gate (Fantasy)

Wake Up Call

It's almost time to change the clocks again, and we lose and hour. Not that we really lose it, but we shuffle it around in way that thrusts us into the dark when the alarm goes off. Marking this "special" occasion today's prompt is a first sentence prompt.

Today's Pumping Your Muse Prompt

Write a scene or short story using the following sentence as your first sentence:

Dawn's light crept across the cold floorboards and in the distance the old rooster crowed.

* * *

To support the author of this blog, Donna Sundblad, consider buying her books.

Pumping Your Muse (Creative writing book)
Windwalker (Fantasy) - Check out the latest 5 star review at Amazon
Beyond the Fifth Gate (Fantasy)

Childhood Nightmares

As children, things that go bump in the night can be very real. I have one sister who refused to sleep next to the wall for years following a Twilight Zone 1962 episode Little Girl Lost where a girl slips though the wall next to her bed into another dimension. When her father hears her cries and figures it out, to his dismay he realizes the hole is closing. Can he pull her back to her life in the real world in time?

Today's Pumping Your Muse Prompt

Travel back to the fears you lived as a child. Pull one of those from the memory shelf in your mind, dust it off and pump it up with a dose of high adrenaline imagination! Now take that fear and put it in a setting where it can grow. Write a scene that makes your fear real to anyone who reads it. BOO!

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To support the author of this blog, Donna Sundblad, consider buying her books.

Pumping Your Muse (Creative writing book)
Windwalker (Fantasy) - Check out the latest 5 star review at Amazon
Beyond the Fifth Gate (Fantasy)

Beyond Writer's Block

Some writers say there's no such thing as writer's block, but for others it is a REAL dilemma. Today's prompt offers three ways to get beyond writer's block.

Today's Pumping Your Muse Prompt:

If you're experiencing writer's block, choose one of the following to inspire your muse:

Challenge yourself to write 100 words a day for 7 days on any subject
Choose a character from your work in progress and interview them
Write a scene from your work in progress from another character's POV (point of view)
Choose a scene from your story and rewrite it at another time of day

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To support the author of this blog, Donna Sundblad, consider buying her books.

Pumping Your Muse (Creative writing book)
Windwalker (Fantasy) - Check out the latest 5 star review at Amazon
Beyond the Fifth Gate (Fantasy)

Three Word Writing Prompt

Following a three word prompt is a great way to discover a story you never knew was in you. While the words may seem unrelated at first glance, once they find their way into your prose you may be surprised by the world and characters they generate.

Today's Pumping Your Muse Prompt:

Use these three words in a short story:

• smile
• test
• dog

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To support the author of this blog, Donna Sundblad, consider buying her books.

Pumping Your Muse (Creative writing book)
Windwalker (Fantasy)
Beyond the Fifth Gate (Fantasy)

F E A R

Fear. A real emotion that affects people in different ways. Sometimes it's a motivator and for others it may paralyze.


Pumping Your Muse Prompt:
Today's prompt is to write a four-paragraph scene dealing with fear. The first paragraph should begin with the, letter "F", paragraph two with the letter "E", number three with "A" and the concluding paragraph with the letter "R".

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To support the author of this blog, Donna Sundblad, consider buying her books.

Pumping Your Muse (Creative writing book)
Windwalker (Fantasy)
Beyond the Fifth Gate (Fantasy)

Family Photo Prompt

Family photos freeze a moment in time--though many of them are quite unnatural, little hits can tell the real story. Today's prompt takes an old family photo. Your challenge is to tell a story based on what the photo shows you.

Today's Pumping Your Muse Prompt:

Write a short story based on this photo.

If you're wondering where to start pay attention to the following:

*Whose coat is buttoned and why?
*Are shoes shined?
*Where are their hands?
*Who is smiling--or trying not to smile?
*What does the body language tell you?

Every family has it's little secrets and those who know them can tell a very good story. Have fun!

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To support the author of this blog, Donna Sundblad, consider buying her books.

Pumping Your Muse (Creative writing book)
Windwalker (Fantasy)
Beyond the Fifth Gate (Fantasy)

The Unexpected

Today's prompt is inspired by the news. Did you hear the story about the man making his first skydive who found himself strapped to an instructor who died midair from a heart attack? Talk about the unexpected!

The skydiver drew from what experience he did have to survive: army training not to panic and what he learned from TV about pulling toggles to steer the parachute.

What can we take from this true story?

Fictional characters draw on past experience to make it through the unexpected.

 

Today's Writing Prompt: The Unexpected

Place your character in an everyday situation where things go wrong. This will be a "growing" experience. It stretches them beyond their original parameters and leaves them changed. It also creates conflict within the plot and draws a reader in to find out what happens next.

Choose one of the following situations (or one of your own), add an element of the unexpected and bring your character through it. Create the element of conflict and tension and bring it to resolution.

*First date
*Learning to drive
*Babysitting
*First day on the job
*Deep sea fishing

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To support the author of this blog, Donna Sundblad, consider buying her books.

The Inheritance (Christian Fantasy)

Dragonborn (Epic Fantasy)

Story Starter

Engaging the senses as a writer is an important element whether you're writing fiction or non fiction. Some senses are more neglected than others. One of these is hearing. In chapter 3 of my book, Pumping Your Muse, I include an exercise to help develop sensory balance in your writing. It doesn't always come naturally, but with practice it will.

Consider this: If you write a scene with no sound...no smells, it's not a realistic world and you give your readers and incomplete experience.

Today's prompt is a "First Line" prompt that includes a sound. As subtle as this sound is, it can be used to create suspense, introduce humor...well I won't say more. I want it to be your idea. The flavor of the story will depend on the characters. Who is making the sound and who is hearing it. I'd love to hear what you do with this one!

Pumping Your Muse Prompt:

Footfalls shuffled across the hardwood floor.

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To support the author of this blog, Donna Sundblad, consider buying her books.

Pumping Your Muse (Creative writing book)
Windwalker (Fantasy)
Beyond the Fifth Gate (Fantasy)

Character Reputation

New writers often hear from editors that their character's are "thin" or "two-dimensional". Part of developing a character is to create a reputation that comes through on the written page. It helps the reader form an opinion of whether or not they like or trust the character. This doesn't mean you tell the reader that your protagonist is a tough guy or a sweet girl. Instead, the key is to let the reader rub elbows with your characters so they walk away with their own impressions.

Pumping Your Muse Writing Prompt:

Today's prompt challenges you to create a character's reputation. It may or may not reflect who they really are, but that's not issue for this prompt.

Write up to three paragraphs which introduce a character. Visually develop the character's reputation--but here's the snag. Write this scene without the use of dialog. Instead use:

*Setting
*Body language
*Manner and style of dress
*Other people's reaction to the character

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To support the author of this blog, Donna Sundblad, consider buying her books.

I Remember

At a recent Writer's Guild meeting we did an exercise called, "I Remember". This exercise prompted a number of good story ideas, and it amazed me how I started with one memory and ended up recalling things long forgotten and seemingly unrelated to where I started. For today's prompt, we're going to remember prompted by topic.

Pumping Your Muse Prompt:

Choose one of the topics below. Take five minutes to write your memories. If you choose politics, you may start with: I remember where I was when Kennedy was shot. Your memories don't have to stay on topic, but instead each one will be used as a trigger. For example, if you were in seventh grade when Kennedy was shot, your memories may include: the name carved in my desk or the fountain pen I used. Let the memories flow. Here are the topics to get your started:

• Politics
• Family
• Childhood
• Work
• Vacation
• Things that scare me

Once you finish your list, choose one memory and write one to three paragraphs on the subject.

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To support the author of this blog, Donna Sundblad, consider buying her books.

Pumping Your Muse (Creative writing book)
Windwalker (Fantasy)
Beyond the Fifth Gate (Fantasy)

Simple Pleasures

When you read the title of today's prompt what came to mind? I don't want to say too much to color you're thoughts, but will give you the example that inspired this prompt.

I live in northern Georgia where the weather is usually moderate. Last night we had a dusting of snow that had disappeared by morning, but it's still below freezing. My son-in-law sprayed part of the driveway with water to form a slick surface and this morning the grandkids are slipping and sliding. A simple pleasure.



Today's Pumping Your Muse Prompt:

Close your eyes and recall your childhood. Things that thrilled you then that may seem "childish" or "mundane" may actually shine the creative light on simple pleasure. For example, I used to have a specific bedtime, but one night a week I was allowed to stay up and keep my mom company and watch Twilight Zone and the Untouchables. The rest of the kids were in bed. I shared popcorn and TV with mom. A simple pleasure.

Here are a few idea prompters:
*Playing outside (pick a season)
*Tasty delight
*Using your imagination
*Favorite place to go
*Your bedroom
*Favorite toy

Once you decide on a single simple pleasure write a paragraph or two describing the experience. Include the senses and write it from a child's POV.
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To support the author of this blog, consider buying her books.

Pumping Your Muse (Creative writing book)

Windwalker (Fantasy)
Beyond the Fifth Gate (Fantasy)

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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To support the author of this blog, consider buying her books.

Pumping Your Muse (Creative writing book)

Windwalker (Fantasy)

Beyond the Fifth Gate (Fantasy)

Current Events

In my book, Pumping Your Muse, you'll find a writing exercise that deals with watching the news to help you develop your evil character. For today's prompt will turn to the news one more time.

Pumping Your Muse Prompt:

Choose a news story that really grabs your attention? As yourself why? Why do you care?

Now take this element and weave it into a story. Start your character in the ordinary world and use your news element to thrust him into the special world that will test him.

For example, if the story is about people held hostage, the story may grip you because you fear for the people. That's the element you would want to bring to your story. You would create a slice-of-life scene that gets turned upside down to grab your readers because they fear for your character's lives.

Let me know if you have questions on this one. I know it is a little outside the box.

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To support the author of this blog, consider buying her books.

Pumping Your Muse (Creative writing book)

Windwalker (Fantasy)

Beyond the Fifth Gate (Fantasy)

What Was Your Favorite Childhood Story?

What was your favorite childhood story?

I count myself lucky. My mother used to read to me. I know she tired of reading the same stories over and over, but I did have my favorites. Before I could read I had standard favorites including The Three Little Pigs, The Three Bears, The House that Jack Built, and Rose Red and Rose White. Nursery Rhymes (I don't know why they call them that with some of the gruesome content), painted all kinds of pictures. Spiders scaring young girls off their tuffets, little men claiming the first born if you couldn't guess their name, and a boy trying to drown a pussy cat in the well. Yet, these "poems" captivated me. Why? Because they told a story. And they left me thinking. For example, I always wondered how the fork felt when the dish ran away with the spoon.

Today's Pumping Your Muse Promp:Take your favorite childhood story or nursery rhyme. Ask yourself why you liked it, then ask what you can learn from it now. For example:

Ding dong bell
Pussy's in the well
Who put her in?
Little Johnny Flynn
Who pulled her out?
Little Tommy Stout
What a naughty boy was that
Try to drown poor Pussycat,
Who ne'er did any harm
But killed all the mice
In the Farmer's barn!

This poem offers conflict and resolution, good vs. evil, and a hero and a villian. It also creates an image in my mind. Doing a little more research, I learned this was written in the time of Shakespeare and the original version left the cat to drown in the well.

Once you can identify what you like about a written piece, it is easier to incorporate it in your own writing.

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To support the author of this blog, consider buying her books.

Pumping Your Muse (Creative writing book)

Windwalker (Fantasy)

Beyond the Fifth Gate (Fantasy)

Time Rift

Wormholes, portals, time rifts, tear in time and other magical gateways make for interesting possibilities in the world of fiction. Today's prompt will make use of this concept.

Pumping Your Muse Prompt:
Develop a character within a short scene of two-three paragraphs. Then with the use of a portal of some kind transport them to another time. It can even be the same place, but doesn't need to be.

This prompt will most likely require a little research if you want to be authentic.

If you wonder where to start here are a few ideas to play with:

• WWII soldiers carried to battle in the Civil War
• Career woman of the 1990s transports to New York of the 1890s
• A tired mother of three has the chance to visit her great-grandmother
• A middle-aged business man without family and few friends travels to the future

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To support the author of this blog, consider buying her books.

Pumping Your Muse (Creative writing book)

Windwalker (Fantasy)

Beyond the Fifth Gate (Fantasy)

Create mood with setting

If you write character driven fiction, it's easy to overlook setting details that add to your character's mood. Today's prompt practices pulling details from the world around you and using them to set the mood. For example, yesterday I noticed a bird:

Charcoal clouds blanketed the sky where it met with the pale yellow horizon. The silhouette of a single bird flapped steadily toward the light. Does it feel as alone as I do?

When I saw the bird, I didn't feel alone. I thought the bird might feel alone. No flock. This opening creates a lonely, perhaps dark feel but offers hope (the light). It provided potential as a great story starter.

 

Today's Pumping Your Muse prompt

Throughout the day, practice looking at the world around you. Look for small details that might otherwise go unnoticed like the yellow mushrooms above, and pull them into a sentence or two to create mood within a setting. What made you notice the detail? Was it a sound, color, a fragrance, or the way the light hit it? These small details engage the reader.

Save your sentences in your story starters file to use when you need a jump start for a new story.

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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.

Don't Go There

How often have you read a book or watched a movie where a character heads into the dark cellar, up to the rooftop, or steps outside to check out a noise and your mind screams, DON'T GO THERE. If that has happened to you, then the writer has done their job. They've laid the groundwork to create that tension and conflict. Today's prompt will help you practice those skills.

Today's Pumping Your Muse Prompt:

Create a scene involving risk. If you don't have an idea, use one of the following story prompts:

*Character peers through a crack in the curtains
*Door banging in the wind
*First babysitting job
*Meeting a blind date
*Look for missing pet
*Running from one bad situation into another
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To support the author of this blog, consider buying her books.

Pumping Your Muse (Creative writing book)

Windwalker (Fantasy)

Beyond the Fifth Gate (Fantasy)

For more about the author of this blog check out Theinkslinger.net.

I'm Late

Collecting details from real life offers realism to your writing. The trick is to learn to pay attention to those details so you can incorporate them. In the busyness of the holiday season, it's easy to get caught in traffic, a long line, or have the phone ring when you're walking out the door.

Pumping Your Muse Prompt:

Keep a notepad with you and keep notes on running late. (This can give you something to do when your stuck in traffic, or even waiting in line.) To collect the details, answer the following questions:

• How do you feel physically?
• What thoughts run through your mind?
• How do you feel toward those around you?
• How do you treat those around you?
• Do you do or say anything you regret later?
• How do you deal with the stress?

These kinds of details can help deliver an active, engaging scene even when you're character is standing still.

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To support the author of this blog, consider buying her books.

Pumping Your Muse (Creative writing book)

Windwalker (Fantasy)

Beyond the Fifth Gate (Fantasy)

For more about the author of this blog check out Theinkslinger.net.

Light and Shadows

The use of light and shadows makes for an interesting setting. Today's photo prompt doesn't offer a lot of detail for setting. Use light and shadow to create a paragraph or short story based on this Pumping Your Muse photo prompt.
If you need help, ask yourself these questions:

Where is the person going?
Where are they coming from?
How do they feel?
What do they smell?
Why are they there?
Are they from this world?

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If you enjoy prompts, check out Pumping Your Muse. The prompts included in this creative writing book challenge the imagination to take new direction and if followed to the conclusion of the book, provide a detailed outline along with completed scenes and developed characters for one novel, as well as a solid start for a second novel. Also available in ebook.

Also check out my fantasy novels: Windwalker and Beyond the Fifth Gate.

Three word writing prompt

The first story and only mystery I ever had published came about from a three word prompt. These three unrelated words become embedded in the story threads. It's a fun way to pump your muse to head in directions it might not have otherwise considered. Readers will never know where your inspiration came from!

 

Today's Pumping Your Muse 3-word prompt

• Nose
• Yellow
• Sour

 

Photo credits: Anita Gould, pxhere.com

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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.

 

Character interview questions

When you start a new story or get bogged down in a work in progress, this creative writing prompt can help you get to know your characters on a new level. Whether you interview your protagonist, antagonist, or a newly forming secondary character, it may draw out the detail that sparks your creativity and not only to further develop your character but adds fodder to pull from as the plot unfolds. 

Today's Writing Prompt: Character interview questions

These character interview questions are broken into three categories: relational, personal, and a which-describes you best section.
 
Relational:

1. How old are you?
2. Where were you born?
3. Who do you look like? Your mother, father, or someone else?

   

   Creating Character Arcs Workbook

4. Do you have any brothers or sisters?
5. Are you married or single?
6. Do you have someone you care about?
7. Did you or do you know your grandparents?
8. Is anyone in your family famous?
9. Are your parents still living?
10. Are you adopted?

Personal:

1. What do you like to drink?
2. Are you a morning person?
3. What are your hobbies or interests?
4. What do you do for a living?
5. What is your education level?
6. What's your favorite food (or drink)?
7. Where did you grow up?
8. What do you hope to accomplish in the future?
9. Do you like to read?
10. Where are you going?

Which describes you best?

1. Nervous or calm
2. Teacher or student
3. Leader or follower
4. Brave or fearful
5. Religious or superstitious
6. Humble or proud
7. Tall or short?
8. Long hair or short?
9. Honest, stretch the truth when necessary, or all out liar
10. Introvert or extrovert

If you have other questions or suggestions to add to this list, please be sure to comment.

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.

Photo credits: pixabay, pixabay

* * *

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.

Verbal Brushstrokes

Have you ever happened upon an artist with their easel set up painting the local scenery? Today we're going to do much the same with verbal brushstrokes.

Pumping Your Muse Prompt:
Today's photo prompt is an exercise in introducing your setting. Over and over, we are warned to show not tell. Today's prompt is no different. Show this scene on paper. Feel free to incorporate characters, for one of the best ways to actively introduce detail is through a character's eyes. Within the scene you develop answer these questions:

*Why are they there?
*What do they see?
*How do they feel?
*What do they smell?

Of course you can answer plenty more questions if the scene takes off.

* * *

If you enjoy prompts, check out Pumping Your Muse for Kindle. The prompts included in this creative writing book challenge the imagination to take new direction and if followed to the conclusion of the book, provide a detailed outline along with completed scenes and developed characters for one novel, as well as a solid start for a second novel.