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Something funny is going on at Whitfield’s Funeral Home and your character is going to find out what.
Write the scene where your protaganist discovers the funeral home’s secret. Aim for 2 pages.
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This isn’t so much of a writing prompt as it is something to think about. If you have a few minutes today, think about what your character(s) like to eat. What do they crave when they want comfort food? What do they grab out of the fridge or pantry to munch on in the afternoon? What type of dessert do they always choose at restaurants? It’s these little details that often help to define real people, and it works for characters too.
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I cross a lot of train tracks where I live, but most aren’t used during the day so I sail over them without stopping. Sometimes when I’m crossing a track I think, “what if I get hit by a train this time?” That gave me the idea for this prompt.
Your character crosses the same train tracks without thinking every day for work. Today is different. Today he gets hit by a train. What was he thinking about up until that point? What had his day been like so far? Was he in a hurry? Write a short story based on this concept in 500-1000 words.
>If you have 15-20 minutes this weekend, try this prompt:
Your character picks up the phone to make a call and hears someone she knows planning a criminal act. Who’s making these plans? And what will your character do about it? Aim for 2-3 pages.
>Imagine an ice skating rink that appears in your backyard every night, regardless of the season, then disappears at dawn. Write about when you discovered it and what happened next.
>In 300-500 words, write about a young gymnast representing her country in the Olympics. What is her life like behind-the-scenes? What does she think and feel? How does she act once the cameras are gone?
>What would it be like to drive into a lake (or river or sea)? How would you react? What would be your first thought? Second thought? Think about it and then write the scene in 500 words.
amy saunders 