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.

* * *

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?

* * *

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

* * *

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. 

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.

* * *

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.

* * *

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.

* * *

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

* * *

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.