Writing Prompt #89: Time Shift

The saddest thing about the present is the way it changes the past.

My writing prompt for you today is two scenes. One scene offering a central event, a relationship, and an image, and a second scene occurring later that changes the way we view the elements of the first.

Our present always colors our memories. New experiences with people change the way interpret past experiences. Even if we remember the same pictures and details and faces and words, what we've felt since colors and changes everything. Laughter lends golden hues to awkward moments, comfort lulls and softens the darkest hours- and betrayal washes sunny portraits out to gray.

Moments of clarity are best portrayed in writing prompts. The poetry doesn't last past 4 am very well.

Writing Prompt #88: Whoa, what? Haircut? o_o

It's actually been several weeks since I wrote yesterday's prompt- that's how the workflow on these goes. I walked into the first week of college ignoring the existence of my wretched haircut, cocky in the knowledge that as I had been ignored almost completely the semester before, I had nothing to worry about.

Then, everything got weird.

People were noticing me and making the effort to talk to me and learn my name and pressing my hand instead of shaking and what on earth, was that guy flirting? Then this one guy introduced himself and talked to me on purpose and I was so surprised that all I could think of to say, over and over, was "Glad to meet you." That works great till like, the fifth time you say it.

But what on earth? I was invisible last semester. And NOTHING about me has changed. I'm wearing the same shirts, the same pair of jeans, the same scuffed-up shoes. I have the same zits, the same weight, the same slap-dash makeup design I pulled out of an 80's book in tenth grade. What could possibly be different that would change the way people saw me so much?

I'd like to think I suddenly developed poise and confidence and chutzpah over the summer, but my mom laid it out for me. I walked in exactly the same- except for hair like a Shetland pony.

Prompt: A physical change alters the way your character is perceived by others.

Is that cliche? Yes. But it happens. And, boy, is it weird when it does.

Writing Prompt #87: Bad Hair Cut

I look like a Shetland pony.

My coping mechanisms for haircuts (which are inevitably horrible, and fall exactly when I start liking my hair again) are pretty simple. They start with martyrdom.

"This is more important to the stylist than to me. What they want is more important."

The coping continues through denial, "It'll grow in no time. I can use bobby pins. If I use enough hairspray it'll work. If I don't wash it for days it'll fit in a pony tail."

Then I hit frustration. "Stop asking me if I like my hair. Stop wanting me to like it. I will like it when it has grown out to where it was a half hour ago."

And inevitably, more denial. "Hair? Who cares about hair? I can see through this fringe. ...almost."

I am challenging you to take a character who is very sure of who he or she is and his position relative to others, and change some part of his physical expression. Is the way he relates to his environment the same? How does it change his interactions with others?

And how does not looking like yourself change the way you look at the world?

Writing Prompt #86: Twisted Metaphor

Create a metaphor that is completely opposite to your story, and make it work. If your story is about asylum escapees fighting werewolves with ice-picks, go for kindergarten and ice-cream and Silly Bands. If your story is about duck hunting, go for International Diplomacy.

If your story is about International Diplomacy, I suggest bodily fluids. Everyone loves a good metaphor with bodily fluids.

Writing Prompt #85: Recurring Setting

Re-purpose a location in your story. The happy-jolly family dining room from Act I is now headquarters for Hitler's command staff. Last chapter's ballroom is the setting for a kung-fu battle. Last chapter's torture chamber is the site for a tryst.

Mad props to Michael Grant's book, BZRK, for the most subtle use of this I've ever seen.

Actually, mad props to Michael Grant's BZRK for almost everything.

Writing Prompt #84: Comforting Presence

Have a character find comfort in someone's presence.

What's the weirdest person for them to be comforted by? Can you pull it off?

Writing Prompt #83: Betrayal

I offered to betray my dream today.

It still feels odd, residual terror squeezing my lungs. It's been nine hours since I said I'd walk away.

I'm still spinning.

I got out this time. But what about your character? What would make him do that? Is there a price he could be offered? Is there a person whose pain could sway him? Because it isn't all Star Wars and giant lasers and "I will never talk." Sometimes it's "Joy, I'm scared," and "Don't be. What do I have to do?"

I hope if a day like this ever comes to you, that the person you love is as merciful as the person who had power over me. I hope that even if you're weak, your quest stays strong. Mostly, I hope you chose the right quest. I hope I have.

Bring your hero to his weakest. Find the things he didn't know drove him. Torture him with them. Crush his will. What is more important than his quest?

See if he comes out strong.