Writing Prompt #347: Small Audience

Someone performs for an incredibly small audience on a regular basis.

Is it one person at the back of the coffee house? Is it an old lady in a nursing home? Is it one stranger on the internet who never comments but you see that they clicked through?

Writing Prompt #346: Container

Your character has a container and doesn't know what's in it.

Writing Prompt #345: Teaching Methods

Today, the little boy I tutor in kung-fu decided that instead of following normal procedures, it would be really fun to just punch me.

Normally, I take punches. He needs the practice and the satisfaction of contact, and as of yet he's not really strong enough to leave a bad bruise. But today was out of turn. Today was unruly. And this was a precedent I couldn't let him set.

So, I changed tacks. I told him it was time to strengthen his bone density. And every time he attempted to punch me, I whacked his arm out of the way, hard. We went back and forth for 2 or 3 minutes of frustration, until he was rubbing his sore little forearms.  (Admittedly, darting in to kiss his cheek while he was trying to punch me was probably too much of a toll on his ego.)

Write about a teacher who has to change methods. Is it choosing a gentler method to encourage a stumbler? A harder focus to maintain respect? Have fun.

Writing Prompt #345: Sides of Brightness (part III)

Pick a person, any person, and write out ten things that you like about them.

Writing Prompt #344: Sides of Brightness (part II)

Pick a task you really loathe.

Write from the point of view of a character who loves doing it.

Writing Prompt 343: Sides of Brightness

Pick someone who ticks you off.

Find something you like about him or her, and write about it.

Writing Prompt #342: Minimum Communication

You know that a huge part of good story telling is just leaving out the stuff that doesn't matter.

Have characters communicate using the minimum number of words.

Writing Prompt #341: Ignoring Warning Labels

Someone misuses a household product.

Writing Prompt #340: Secrets Kept

Someone is keeping a secret from your character. Is there a circumstance where that's okay?

Writing Prompt #339: Interrupting God

Your character has to interrupt someone. What is the need? What are the risks? How will he go about this?

Writing Prompt #338: Invisibility is Bliss

Someone is ignored. How do they turn it into a good thing?

Writing Prompt #337: Needy People

Someone clamors for attention.

Can you be kind to them?

Writing Prompt #336: Missed Appointment

Someone misses an appointment.

Writing Prompt #335: Mistakes

Someone turns a mistake into a good thing.

A stain becomes art.

A broken thing is made something better.

A wound between friends becomes a deeper trust.

Can you do it?

I know Someone who does.

Writing Prompt #334: No Feedback

Someone communicates without receiving any feedback.

No expressions.

No responses.

No blog comments. *cough*

But for some reason, they keep speaking into the void. Why?

Writing Prompt #333: Loathsome Task

A character has to do some disgusting or otherwise distasteful job.

You're welcome.

Bonus Prompt: Misnomer

Someone's name doesn't fit them.

[...and I accidentally posted this on the wrong day. So, bonus prompt. For you. Happy Birthday.]

Writing Prompt #332: Love Language (2)

Yesterday we thought about your love language. Today I'm challenging you to think about the language of caring of someone who's different than you.

One of my close friends is made very happy by hugs and words of affection. Another friend is task-focused; he'll feel loved if I take a task off his plate (and many times that is just "I am fine; ignore me"). One best friend, the best way to love on her is to drop absolutely whatever I'm doing and help her do something else.

Find a love language that is not your own, and write about reaching and loving a character that owns it.

Writing Prompt #331: Love Languages (1)

Different people express and receive affection different ways, right? What's your way? When do you feel the most valued and appreciated? What makes you feel loved?

Write about someone going out of their way to communicate to a character in your love language.

Writing Prompt #330: Coin Flip

I'm challenging you to write a scene, and every time you're about to make a decision, flip a coin.

Does he put his hand on her arm? *flip*

Does she threaten to kill him? *flip*

Is the dog wearing a polo shirt? *flip*

This exercise forces you to come up with more ideas than you normally would, to consider options beyond your comfort zone. And, it lends writing an element of unpredictability that can be a lot of fun.

It might be the second-best thing to a really amazing co-writer.

Have fun.

Writing Prompt #329: Parental Revelation

A character finds out something that a parent never told him.

Writing Prompt #328: New Name

Someone is given a new name.

Writing Prompt #327: So Serious

Write a story where people take something that you'd normally consider light or casual very, very seriously.

Best example of this? The 80's movie Strictly Ballroom. Absolutely brilliant.

Writing Prompt #326: Saving Kittens

Give a scary character something that they love.

Writing Prompt #325: One-up

Your character one-ups someone else.

Writing Prompt #324: Receiver

Your character is hurt by someone. Then that someone makes it better.

Writing Prompt #323: Tested

Someone is being tested.

I'm sorry this is late. College finals intervened. I pray you pass everything with flying colors.

Writing Prompt #322: Found in Translation

Someone thinks another character cannot understand what they're saying.

Writing Prompt #321: Numbers

The character has to figure out something to do with numbers.

Give him a distraction that makes this difficult.

Writing Prompt #320: The Worst Thing

The nice thing about The Worst Thing you can imagine happening to you, is that there is nothing more to worry about. Nothing more to lose. Nothing more to hold you back.

My worst thing is probably a lot smaller than your worst thing, but I failed. I face-planted. I did everything I didn't want to do. And here I am. It hurts. And it's okay.

Write a scene where your character's worst possible thing has happened. What do they do now?

Writing Prompt #319: Behavior Modification

Someone tries to change someone else.

Writing Prompt #318: Nothing Back

Someone does something for someone who can't do anything for him.