It's Alive

Before we talk about today's prompt, I want to point you to a story based on the Flyswatter prompt from last week. The Day of Small Things can be found on "My Scattered Stories". It has a Twilight Zone feel to it, so if you like that kind of thing, be sure to stop by for a break from reality.

Today's prompt is inspired by my childhood when I believed my toys came to life at midnight while I slept. I used to line up stuffed animals on my pillow until there was no room for my head. After all I wanted them to be comfortable! I converted other kids in the neighborhood to be believers. Mothers would call my mom to complain their children would not go to sleep at night because they were waiting for their toys to come to life!

Pumping Your Muse Prompt
Many a horror movie depicts inanimate objects that come to life. We have the car in Christine...houses that take over with garbage disposals, stoves and other items taking charge, or the classic Frankenstein. In space, things like the computer Hal takes over in 2001. I could make a list of such stories, but I don't want to tarnish the path your muse will follow for this one. For today's pumping your muse prompt, breathe life into something unexpected. If you choose something from the plant world give it the ability to reason and make it mobile. The same goes for choosing anything from the insect world. This can be fun, scary or somewhere in between. Enjoy!

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Check out Donna Sundblad's latest interview at Authors Unleashed

Buy Donna Sundblad's books:
Windwalker
Beyond the Fifth Gate
Pumping Your Muse

Dirty Water

Writing prompts that include a verb and noun that don't seem to logically go together can stimulate new creative paths that grow into an interesting plot or storyline. Today's prompt was inspired by an old song I heard on the radio this morning when my dreams met the half-light of dawn.

Pumping Your Muse Prompt:

Here are a couple of word combinations that will collide to ignite your muse!

• Love that dirty water.
• Itch I don't want to scratch.

Write a paragraph or scene based on one of the above.


Today's photo provided by SEPpics's

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Check out my latest radio interview: Back Story - The Behind the Scenes Look at Writing

Flyswatter Prompt

Sorry I've been absent. I'm immersed in writing the sequel to Beyond the Fifth Gate and working on a non-fiction book for the homeschool market on top of my freelancing...and then there's family, the garden...well you get the drift.

Even with all that, I've thought of a few different prompts that I should have stopped by to post. Here's one to have fun with.

Pumping Your Muse Prompt
Write a story based on a man or woman obsessed and carrying a flyswatter. I don't want to say more or I may taint your imagination rather than inspire it. Have fun with this one.
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Check out my latest interview at Stories That Read You.And my 4 star review for Beyond the Fifth Gate at Teens Read Too!

One Sentence

 While helping my husband apply film to our south-facing windows today, I stared at my image as I grasped the sheet of film with my hands over my head. I held and he sprayed it with water. My image reflected clearly but adding the water changed the reflection. As he sprayed, it shimmered like in a pond...but clearer. Of course my mind went to the possibility of a fantasy story. In my book, Dragonborn, some characters have the ability to scry--to see or predict the future by means of visions seen in water or a ball of crystal. What they see can be encouraging, frightening, and at times even confusing.

 

Today's Pumping Your Muse Prompt

Your challenge today is to use this sentence in a short story. Don't just tell what your character sees, but show how they feel. How does it affects their actions based on their feelings and decisions. Write from a first person point of view, or change things up and show it from a different POV.

"The image shimmered as if in a liquid mirror. "

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News to Muse

You never know what it is that strikes inspiration into the heart of the muse. We have an intersection near our home that is dangerous. Hills that make it hard to see, narrow roads, only a two way stop. Driving through that intersection has planted the seed for a story, but my story involves time travel. The ways of the muse are marvelously creative.

Pumping Your Muse Prompt:

Today we'll expose our muse to the news. Take a look at the following headlines and see which one tickles your muse. Write down ideas as they come to you and write an opening paragraph to capture the idea generated by the news story.




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• Mysterious, Glowing Clouds Appear Across America’s Night Skies
• Solar Eclipse Pits Superstition Against Science
• 3 Men Injured by Falling Tree During Sonoma County Triathlon
• San Diego Judge Orders Seals Out of Artificial Cove

There are a variety of choices here. I'd love to hear where your muse takes you on this one!

Donna Sundblad
Author of Pumping Your Muse

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Check out my latest interview at Stories That Read You. And my 4 star review for Beyond the Fifth Gate at Teens Read Too!

Then and Now

Today's writing prompt we're going to use history to help develop a scene. This prompt was inspired by the most recent Twilight Zone marathon. One of the episodes had a scene of children playing. Some on a teeter totter, a few jumping rope, and other such activities. Simple...active and having fun. I thought of children today and how the scene might be in front of a screen of some sort...TV, computer, maybe even a game of some sort to which they are plugged in electronically.

Pumping Your Muse Prompt

Today's prompt will will generate two scenes. One "Then" and one "Now". Have fun with it. If you want to go back to the 1940's, medieval times...or whenever you want, that's fine. OR if you want to flip the exercise you can go into the future for your "Then" scene. Use the following triggers for an idea, or create one of your own.

*Eating Dinner
*Going to a place of worship
*Getting married
*Buying groceries
*Visiting a hospital

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

Video Prompt: Night Moves

Yesterday I heard this song on the radio and was actually listening to the lyrics. Images of life flashed memories of other times and then the song surprised me. It applied to today...but that's for me. It stimulated my muse to write an inspirational story. Not that I'm saying that's what you'll write, but I challenge you to listen to this whole song and while you do, jot down your thoughts. From that list of thoughts develop a story or poem.

Pumping Your Muse Prompt:


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

Picture Prompt: The Doll

Subtle details weave through a story line to give readers the information they need to know, to engage them, as they not only wonder what happens next but also what has happened in the past, Such a detail may lead to the ah-ha moment that brings the entire plot together. I think of the Planet of the Apes when they found the doll that said, "Mama."

Pumping Your Muse Prompt:

Today's prompt is The Doll. Write a three to five paragraphs scene based on this photo. I'd love to hear what you did with this one!

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Stop by Dayana Knight's blog for my guest post on The Why Behind the Setting.

Pacing and Sentence Structure

Good writers use varied sentence structure for effective pacing. When you use repetitious sentence patterns it is much like talking in a monotone...boring.

Pumping Your Muse Prompt

For today's prompt choose something you've already written and check your sentences. The most common pattern you see is a simple subject and verb sentence. Include shorter sentences to add tension, While working on your sentences check for the following:

Omit the and how, or and then

Check your pronouns to be sure they reflect back to the correct noun

Look for awkward sentences -- these become clear when you read your work outloud

Vary the length of your sentences to keep the story interesting and moving forward.

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Stop by Dayana Knight's blog this Friday where I'll be stopping by for a guest post on creating an effective setting.

The Itch

Learning to show rather than tell your story takes practice. Today we'll use an itch to practice this skill. Today we'll take a little itch and use it as a prompt to help develop a scene that challenges you to show the itch.


Pumping Your Muse Prompt
Think about it. If you say your character has an itch people know what that means, but they don't necessarily feel it or understand if it is a slight sensation that's going away or something more. Is it a deep itch that almost drives your character crazy? Is it a foreshadowing of something more to come? Such as the first symptom of a pandemic? Or something less threatening like lice or poison ivy?

Write a short scene or story based on the itch.

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

Beyond the Norm

When I was a kid my imagination often crossed the barriers reality tried to keep in place. As a writer, prompts help me cross those barriers today so I can tap into that carefree imagination. Today we're going to kindle our senses with the use of various settings.

Today's Pumping Your Muse Prompt
Use the following settings to tickle your senses. Write down the smells, sounds, and less noticeable sights you'd see.

*Fresh water lake
*The gym
*Church
*Cafeteria
*National park

When your done, make a list of possible story ideas that come to mind.

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

First Sentence

I received good news from one of my Pumping Your Muse Prompts followers. She has had a story accepted! The only way to have a story published is to write and submit! Congratulations Amy

Pumping Your Muse Prompt:

Today we have a first sentence prompt. Use it as the first sentence of a short story. This one can take all kinds of directions. Have fun.

First sentence: Angela wanted to cry.

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

3 Words Writing Prompt

I know I've been more sporadic than ever with posting prompts, but I must confess--the characters in my Beyond the Fifth Gate sequel have taken me captive! The working title for the new book is Lost Cantos and I'm loving the creation process--but it certainly is time consuming. In the meantime, I just have to post a prompt.

Pumping Your Muse Prompt:
It's been awhile since we've done a three word writing prompt. I have a fondness for them because such a prompt was behind one of the first stories I ever had published. The idea is to use these three words in a story:

*spark
*garden
*phone call

OR

*tooth
*broom
*television

Have fun!

Laughing at Back Trouble

Back trouble is not a laughing matter in real life, but it can be used for comedic effect in your writing. Placing a character in an unexpected situation can cause conflict, growth and all that, but if you use it right, it can make the reader laugh. Writing for comedic effect is like breathing for those who have the knack, but for those of us who like to laugh but don't have that gift, it takes some work. Today's prompt is designed to help us flex our comedic writing muscle.

Pumping Your Muse Prompt:

Place your character in a setting where they think they are asserting their independence--and then it strikes--back trouble. They can't straighten up, or can't walk. Can hardly move. You get the picture. If you don't know where to start, try one of the following settings:

*The garden
*The shower
*A public restroom
*A job interview
*Camping
*The kitchen

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

Mother's Day Special from the Heart

One thing that's true. We all have a mother. What that means to each individual is different. In honor of Mother's Day, today's writing prompt is a story generator and the topic will be mothers.

Pumping Your Muse Prompt:

Set the timer for 10 minutes. Sit down with a sheet of paper and make a list. Write down memory snippets, whatever comes to mind with the word mother. Here's an example of what I'm talking about:

Mom
homemade cookies
making lunches
the ringer washer
folding diapers
rinsing diapers
chipping my front teeth and afraid to tell you
the time I said I hate you when I was seven
putting on plays and watching you laugh
cooking for family gatherings

This list is a short example to help you see exactly what I want you to do. Once you have your list, use it over the next couple of days to write a short story. If you get it polished enough, slip it into your Mother's Day card as a Mother's Day Special gift from the heart.

If you get it done, you can submit it to Cup of Comfort for Mothers, but the deadline is May 15. You can check out the details at my Anthology News and Reviews blog.

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

Mug of Memories

Hold that steaming mug in your hands and there's something comforting, something that carries you away to another time, another place...let's you think through things going on.

Today's Pumping Your Muse Prompt:

Today's prompt offers two choices. One for the fiction writer and one for the non-fiction writer. Both include a mug:

For the fiction writer:

Place your character at a table with a steamy mug. Use it to get him thinking, but be sure to include senses other than visual. How does the mug feel? What's the smell...or taste? What memories does it bring back?


For the non-fiction writer:

While you enjoy your own steamy mug, write down whatever comes to mind. Keep it up as long as there is liquid in your cup. You'll be surprised where it takes you. Just make a list and then use one of the items on your list to write a short essay.

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

First Impressions

First impressions of people aren't always on target, but what about first impressions of inanimate objects? Today's writing prompt will include such a first impression.

Wondering what on earth I'm talking about? Here's one example:

When we moved into our house the white porcelain sink brought back memories of childhood. Even though it was a double sink, unlike the sink I remembered, I thought it was perfect.

Then everyday reality set in. Pots and pans left gray streaks that needed regular cleaning with lots of scrubbing, coffee stained the sink, and the the middle section that divided the two sinks combined with the curve of the faucet made it difficult to rinse the coffee carafe. I after about the third clink of glass to porcelain I started to question the functionality of this sink.

I could go on, but you see what I'm getting at.

Pumping Your Muse Prompt

For today's prompt include an inanimate object the character thinks is perfect at the onset. Develop a scene or short story about a first impression and how that impression changes through circumstances.

If you don't have something in mind, choose one of the following:

*Dress for a special occasion
*A new or used car
*Television
*Bowling Ball
*Shoes
*Lawn Mower

Use This Sentence Prompt

Today's prompt is a take off of the first sentence writing prompt, only this time you can use the sentence anywhere in your story.

Pumping Your Muse Prompt

I stood stunned; the body of our guide in a pool of blood in the secret room.

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

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!