Pending Disaster

Hope you all enjoyed a blessed Thanksgiving Day. Fond memories are kindled by the gatherings, scents and sitting around talking of things past. Today's prompt will center around such a day, but the prompt will challenge you to introduce a sound or smell that foreshadows pending disaster.

For example, amid the busyness of preparing a meal for a large gathering, amid the laughter, threads of conversation, children playing...a wisp of smoke curls from the oven. That scent paints the picture of a pending disaster.

Pumping Your Muse Prompt:

Have fun with this one. It doesn't have to be a catastrophic disaster. It could just be the rolls burning after the turkey or ham has been taken from the oven, or something like adding too much spice to a dish. This does not have to be a true story, but you'll most likely pull from past experience or design characters with traits similar to some of the real-life characters in your life.

Also, your story does not have to be about Thanksgiving. It can be any gathering where people are getting together for a meal. Here are some other ideas:

*Fourth of July barbecue
*Wedding rehearsal dinner held in someone's home
*Sunday afternoon dinner at Grandma's
*First meal cooking for Inlaws

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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.

Bullet

Today in the news there's a story about a man cutting his grass. Riding along on his mower, something hit him in the chest. He thought it was a rock, but when he checked it out found a bullet stopped by his cell phone which instead of carrying in his hip pocket, he clipped on the front of his shirt. There's a story in that bullet. Where did it come from? Who fired it? Was this an accident or intentional? Does this experience change the man's life?

Pumping Your Muse Prompt

Today's prompt includes a bullet. The flavor and theme is up to you. If you want further information, use one of the following phrases:

*Bite the bullet
*Faster than a speeding bullet
*Silver bullet
*Magic bullet
*Bullet with my name on it

To add to the challenge, include at least one detail for the sense of smell, hearing and sense of the unknown.

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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.

Unprepared? Maybe, Maybe Not

In our last prompt we talked about expectations. Today we'll continue on this theme, but we're going to add a twist. Write a scene in which it seems obvious that your character is unprepared for lies ahead. Your goal is to make it appear the character is careless, unprepared or just not ready when in fact, they are following a calculated a plan which leads to a surprise ending.

Pumping Your Muse Prompts

Use one of the following character profiles to get you started:

• Person of faith walking into a trap
• Teenager walking out the door in anger
• Child lost in a crows
• Truck driver breaks down
• Person who can't swim goes out in a boat

Write a story between 1000 and 1200 words

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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.

Misdirected Expectations

One of the skills needed to keep a plot interesting is to create questions in the readers mind. Why? Who? What? Where? When? Along with that is the ability to misdirect expectations. You want to avoid predictability. Consider this blurb from a recent review of my novel Beyond the Fifth Gate:

"There are plenty of plot twists along the way and the ending is a real shocker which truly caught me off guard just when I thought I had it all figured out." (Read the entire review here)
Writing a plot that makes readers expect one thing and delivers a different reality is challenging but fun. It leaves the reader pondering and talking about your story. Today's prompt is designed to practice this skill.

Today's Pumping Your Muse Prompt:

Choose one of the following starting points and ending point and write a scene:

Starting Points:
*First day of school
*Learning to drive
*First date
*Finding a bone fragment

Ending Points:
*Making a profit
*Discovering a deadly secret
*Disappointment in the truth
*Character discovers a truth within

Use starting and ending points from the list or your own, but in the end leave your character and your reader changed.

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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.

Fleeting Thought

Did you ever experience a burst of inspiration...a great idea...just before falling asleep? It's so good you don't have to get up and write it down. I mean it's brilliant!

I experienced just such a moment last night. Something to share with all my faithful readers. Except when I awoke only threads remained. Not threads of the actual idea, but of the memory that there once existed a great idea. Don't trust your memory! Write it down.

Today's Pumping Your Muse Prompt:

Place a note pad and pen by your bedside and write down the last ideas of the day. Do this for at least three days. Select one of your ideas and write a short story or essay based on it.

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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.

Lexus Magazine Story Prompt

Today's prompt is for a specific market.

Lexus magazine is asking readers everywhere to come up with the ending to
their cross-country adventure story. So far, nine installments have been
written by award-winning authors, and the ending is up to any aspiring
writer out there. The best ending will be posted in the next online issue
of Lexus magazine alongside some of the country's best. It should be no
more than 1,000 words and the deadline is fast approaching-- November 16.

Those eager to write should post their stories at:
http://www.lexus.com/magazine/lifestyle-pursuits/itbotb/index.html#top
Click the red "How Would You End It?" tab, fill in the necessary
information and paste in the story.

Lexus magazine's site can be found at: http://www.lexus.com/magazine

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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.

President's DNA

In my book, Pumping Your Muse, some of the writing exercises take you to the news...past or present. Today in the news they talked about the fact that one thing the Secret Service is responsible for is making sure the President doesn't leave behind his DNA. If he drinks from a disposable coffee cup, the cup must be destroyed. This is an interesting story premise. What would the enemy do with the President's DNA?

Today's Pumping Your Muse Prompt:
Write a story that involves collecting the President's DNA. This has the potential of a thrilling Whodunit. Today's prompt only requires the collecting of the DNA, but I challenge you to figure out what the plans are beyond that...answer these questions:

• Who harvested the DNA?
• Are they working for someone else?
• What do they plan to do with it?
• Do they accomplish their goal?

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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.

Change of Seasons

It's a beautiful time of year. Ribbons of color climb the foothills here in Georgia as leaves mark the change of seasons. The display inspires contemplation.

Pumping Your Muse Prompts:

Use the change of seasons to introduce changes in your character's life. Are they invigorated, or does melancholy overtake them? Here's the fun part. Show it, don't tell it.

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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.

Write a Scene Photo Prompt

Pumping Your Muse Prompt:

Write a scene inspired by this photo. Originally I was going to write a prompt about breaking a habit, but this photo opens the door to a variety of options. Here are a few questions to get your started:

*Whose hand is this?
*How do they feel?
*Where are they?
*Why do they smoke?
*What does the room smell like? Or the character's hair and clothes?

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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.

I Love Your Blog Award!

I Love Your Blog Award!

It's Wednesday, and the the middle of the week. I have a midweek blessing to share. Yesterday I Pumping Your Muse Prompts received the I Love Your Blog Award from the gifted Chiron O'Keefe's blog The Write Soul. She's a fiction writer who also writes a motivational essay for writers each week.
Thanks, Chiron, you made my day!

In return, I'd like to do the same for others and pass on to you some of favorite blogs for writers. Today I award them with the "I Love Your Blog" award. Be sure to check them out for your inspiration today, and along the way you'll gather some great resources:

Mike's Writing Workshop and Newsletter

Advanced advice for writers of all genres: Publish, Earn Money, and Improve at the Craft.

Muze's Musings

Nikki Leigh, author of Book Promo 101 – Basics of Book Promotion shares all kinds of promotional and articles with links to more information for writers on her blog Muze's Musings.

The Fearless Blog
This blog challenges its readers to be courageous and attempts to inspire, motivate and celebrate life, its challenges, obstacles and joys.

Murder By 4

Here you'll find interesting articles, author interviews, articles by guest bloggers, reviews, and an insider's look at the publishing world.

The Writing Nag

An almost daily blog of writing quotes, inspiration and writing exercises from a beginning freelance writer.

Sharon's Writing Lab

Experimental writing from Sharon Hurley Hall. Includes creative writing, freelance writing, book reviews, travel tales and much more.

Foot In Mouth Disease, Content Writing for the People

A content writing advice blog with helpful tips on how to write compelling content that is effective in the search engines and converts traffic into customers.

Creative Writing Corner

With weekly writing exercises, inspirational photos and poems, and daily thoughts on the writing life, Creative Writing Corner is for the writer in all of us.

Confident Writing

Join the conversation about what it means to write with confidence. Tips, suggestions, examples and a chance to make connections with other writers, readers and learners. Hosted by Joanna Young, The Confident Writing Coach - because our words count.

Single Source Writing

Single source for writing, thoughts, and social networking

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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.

Election Day

For the Pumping Your Muse Prompts readers living in the U.S., today is election day. You may or may not have time to write, but for those who voted early, here's a prompt that pertains to today.

Pumping Your Muse PromptsWith all the spin put out by the talking heads media, wouldn't it be great if someone, somehow created a way that only the truth could be spoken on election day...even by the candidates...win or lose. And would the truth make a difference in the outcome of the race? Interesting concept, eh?

Write a short story about an Election Day where all the journalists, news anchors and politicians can't lie. It's all about the truth and nothing but the truth. Sad but true, this could be a humorous story so have fun with it.

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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.

First Frost

We had our first frost last night. How things change in a day! I brought in plants, and to my surprise a little bird had taken shelter in one of them. A surprise and adventure ensued as I worked to get the bird out of the house.

Pumping Your Muse Prompt:

We've talked about foreshadowing recently, and this is another exercise that incorporates nature as an agent of change that foreshadows things to come. For example, your piece doesn't have to be the actual frost...it can be about a bird flying around your house. Here are some ideas to get your muse peculating:



*Elderly person rubs arthritic hands expecting a long winter
*Individual who busies themselves covering garden plants to protect them a little longer
*A child wonders at the white coating covering the grass on the way to school
*Character mentally compares frost on the ground to manna in the Bible (never know where this one will take you!)

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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.

Story Starter--Black Cat

Pumping Your Muse Prompt:

Today's prompt is a story starter in keeping with the theme of superstitions or Halloween. Write a short story that starts with or includes this paragraph:

The overcast day chased me under the throw on the sofa where I sat with my laptop and a hot mug of coffee. I settled in; the heat from the laptop warming my legs. A blur of movement drew my attention to the sheers at the deck doors. A black cat peered into the house with darting golden eyes. I stopped and stared. A black cat...

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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.

Dysfunctional Family Holidays - Photo Prompt

Most people tend to think they come from a dysfunctional family. With this in mind, writing a holiday story that involves family tradition and all the ins and outs that make for "interesting" relationships can be anything from serious to inspirational.

Pumping Your Muse Prompt

Submitting holiday stories should be done months in advance, but now is a great time to write one with a market in mind. As the holidays near, memories will surface. Be sure to jot them down. For today, your writing can be fiction or non-fiction. Base it on this photo, and be sure to include that dysfunctional element.

Chicken Soup for Soul is looking for Christmas and Holidays stories for their next holiday book. Currently, there is no deadline date for story submissions.

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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.

Flip Side Scene - Take Two

Those of you who own my creative writing book Pumping Your Muse may remember the flip side exercise that generated a new female character. That character grew to become the protagonist in my novel Beyond the Fifth Gate. Look what the latest review says about her:

Beyond the Fifth Gate has a strong female main character who reminded me of Xena without the long hair or possibly Seven-of-Nine without the spandex. Elita starts off a little weak in her fighting skills (but realistically, how hard would it be to practice when you live in a hive and are guarded day and night by big bugs?) but her first mystical gate provides two teachers who not only give her a crash course, but join her on her quest to freedom. There are plenty of plot twists along the way and the ending is a real shocker which truly caught me off guard just when I thought I had it all figured out.

You can read the entire review at Queen of Convolution.

Review written by:

Caprice Hokstad

Author of the fantasy novel, The Duke's Handmaid, and its sequel, Nor Iron Bars a Cage.

Website: www.Latoph.com

Pumping Your Muse Prompt:

With this review in mind, take an existing scene and practice the flip side exercise by changing at least three details. For more information look at our last exercise Flip Side Scene. If you haven't written your flip side scene do it! You'll be more than pleased at what you learn and who you meet.

Flip Side Scene

I want to take a moment to thank everyone for letting me know how much they enjoy the prompts here at Pumping Your Muse Prompts. You just make my day!

When I was a child, I shared a bedroom with four sisters. My bed, was the top bunk bed next to the window. Bed times were early, and I'd often spend the time before sleep, sketching what I saw outside. I noticed details I normally wouldn't notice. How tall the cypress trees were, the wire climbing the back of the neighbor's house, laundry left out on the line. Outside that window I could see stories to be told. 

With that said, let's get writing. Take a look out your window. What do you see?

Outside my window, raindrops splash in a small puddle on the sidewalk. A gray tabby stands at the door waiting to come into the house.

Pumping Your Muse Prompt:

For today's prompt we're going to write a flip side scene. For those of you who own my writing book, you'll know what this means. For those who don't: Write a short scene incorporating the weather outside your window. Then rewrite it flipping at least three details. For example, I'd look out the window in my flip side realm and see the cat sleeping in the front garden in the shade of the azalea bush, while squirrels forage for nuts they'd buried. This changes rain to sun, cat waiting to come in to cat sleeping, cat at the door to cat in the garden. Or, I could bring the cat inside waiting to go out!

Creating a world in the flip side gives birth to new ideas. Give it a try! You'll soon realize you're not in Kansas anymore.

Photo credits: wikimedia, personal photos

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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.

Sense of the Unknown

I posted a two part article on Five Senses in Your Writing over at Pumping your Muse Fantasy Writer. Can you name them?

• sight
• smell
• touch
• hearing

That's the top four, but todays prompt will center on the fifth: the sense of the unknown. A creative element that keeps the pages turning in a good book.

Pumping Your Muse Prompt:

Write a a slice of live scene. It's a normal every day kind of scene and then something happens that changes that...something that creates a sense of the unknown. Use one of the following agents of change to usher in the circumstances that raise questions and change life with an element of uncertainty.

*Out hiking and realize you don't know where you are
*The phone rings
*Laid off from work
*The power goes out
*A doctor's visit

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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.

Melting a Hardened Heart

Continuing on the agent of change theme, today's prompt will melt a hard heart. Not an easy task in many cases. You can pick the hardened heart from the following list or one of your own:

*Divorced woman who caught her husband cheating repeatedly
*A young man who grew up in an abusive home
*Ex-con who was innocent but paid his time
*Person living in poverty without hope

Pumping Your Muse Prompt:

Now you have an idea of the heart you're going to be dealing with in this scene. The truth is, that each of these people want to hope, want to dream, and want to be part of a relationship. Bring in an agent of change that starts to melt that heart and renew the hope that once burned there.

Ideas for Agent's of Change:

*a pet
*an abandoned baby
*a child in the park offering a hand-picked wild-flower
*a stranger who treats them kindly with no strings attached

Be sure to include elements of tension and internal conflict within your protagonist and then bring it to resolution.

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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.

Agent of Change

A good story introduces an agent of change. An element that stirs the plot, touches the characters and creates a question of what will happen in the readers mind.

Pumping Your Muse Prompt

For today's exercise write a short scene of 4-5 paragraphs and add one of the following as an agent of change:

*bird
*speeding car
*an unexpected letter
*words
*a chance meeting

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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.

Hungry

Hunger...how do we know you're character is hungry? If you say, "Joe was hungry", you get the point across in a passive way. Writers should work to rid their work of passive telling language and today's prompt will work on showing the hunger. in an active way that pulls the reader into your story.

Pumping Your Muse Prompt

Write a scene with a character who is hungry. Include the senses of smell, taste and one other...sight, sound or the unknown.

For example:

Sounds: stomach growling, food sizzling, people talking about food

Taste: taste of food while cooking

Smells: turkey roasting, cookies baking, gilling burgers

Sight: stopping at the bakery window, pies cooling

Unknown: Dieter heading into an unknown scenario, when will they get their next meal

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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.