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Kung Fu prompt
The bad news today is that David Carradine has died at 72.
Whether or not you were a fan of his mid-70's show Kung Fu, imagine yourself with some monks who meditated on Life and trained in Martial Arts. How's your day been?
Whether or not you were a fan of his mid-70's show Kung Fu, imagine yourself with some monks who meditated on Life and trained in Martial Arts. How's your day been?
Crickets prompt
I'm feeling guilty for not plugging away at DWP as I was doing a couple of months ago. And the sound of Crickets when I check in is becoming oppressive. So, the prompt that occurs: write something that will quiet down the Crickets.
Here is mine: I had a dream last night. I'd drifted to sleep after reading some of the excellent CRAFTY SCREENWRITING by Alex Epstein, and MAN, was there a cinematic, screenplayish quality to the dream!
BALSA BOY
FADE IN:
A BOY
of about ten, slight, wearing glasses, is talking on his cell phone, focused, intent. He is murmuring, obviously trying to keep his voice down. CAMERA MOVES IN and the boy's voice becomes audible.
BOY
. . . and delivery was guaranteed on the 12th of April. It is the 26th of March, gentlemen. I'll be at the hangar at 6am tomorrow morning. (listens) Well, I'm afraid that is more your problem than mine. As I said yesterday as I was hiding my eyes: Ready or not--here I come!
FADE TO BLACK
(to be continued)
Here is mine: I had a dream last night. I'd drifted to sleep after reading some of the excellent CRAFTY SCREENWRITING by Alex Epstein, and MAN, was there a cinematic, screenplayish quality to the dream!
BALSA BOY
FADE IN:
A BOY
of about ten, slight, wearing glasses, is talking on his cell phone, focused, intent. He is murmuring, obviously trying to keep his voice down. CAMERA MOVES IN and the boy's voice becomes audible.
BOY
. . . and delivery was guaranteed on the 12th of April. It is the 26th of March, gentlemen. I'll be at the hangar at 6am tomorrow morning. (listens) Well, I'm afraid that is more your problem than mine. As I said yesterday as I was hiding my eyes: Ready or not--here I come!
FADE TO BLACK
(to be continued)
I See You prompt
A recent news item indicated that, thanks to nanotechnology and a surveillance-based law enforcement mindset, the air will LITERALLY be Filled with Eyes, watching our every move. Yes, horrifying as it may seem, it's time to behave as if ANYONE, emphatically including someone who doesn't like us, can turn a NastyCam on us at will. Even in the bathroom. Even in the bedroom. Even in the War Room.
Grandmaster Science Fiction author Damon Knight imagined such a society, more than THIRTY years ago, with his landmark tale "I See You." Now it's your turn. What is the circa-2030 society going to be like?
Grandmaster Science Fiction author Damon Knight imagined such a society, more than THIRTY years ago, with his landmark tale "I See You." Now it's your turn. What is the circa-2030 society going to be like?
Instruction Manual prompt
Write an instruction manual for some activity you're an expert on, but write it as if you and English have at best a nodding acquaintance. Have all that fun you want!
Three-Day-Egg Prompt
[Thanks to Ray Bradbury for "Chrysalis" and to MalteseColleen for her Easter wishes]
You fainted from pain three days ago. Now you find yourself naked, immersed in breathable brine, enclosed by a hard, smooth, cornerless wall.
It's Eggshell, and you're about to emerge, reborn. As you start punching through the shell, you realize there are delightful differences in yourself.
What are they?
You fainted from pain three days ago. Now you find yourself naked, immersed in breathable brine, enclosed by a hard, smooth, cornerless wall.
It's Eggshell, and you're about to emerge, reborn. As you start punching through the shell, you realize there are delightful differences in yourself.
What are they?
Get Out Of Dodge prompt
In today's mail there's a travel voucher for anywhere on Earth BUT the United States, and back again, and a debit card with $10,000.00 earmarked for Travel Expense, usable anywhere BUT the United States. In a week the voucher will be worthless and the debit card will be canceled. The benefactor has chosen to remain anonymous.
By amazing coincidence, your employer-if-any has put everyone on one week's furlough, and your kids-if-any and/or spouse-if-any and/or lover-if-any will likewise be out of the picture--for exactly one week.
What next?
By amazing coincidence, your employer-if-any has put everyone on one week's furlough, and your kids-if-any and/or spouse-if-any and/or lover-if-any will likewise be out of the picture--for exactly one week.
What next?
Deity Day prompt
Suddenly, all over the Earth, the air was filled with Gods--Eastern, Mideastern, Western, Ancient, Modern, all colors, shapes, sizes, and most of them unrecognizable as such, or surprising: Jesus looked a lot like a young, skinny Yasir Arafat. All spoke all languages. All hovered intangibly.
Thor passes his hand through your head, and suddenly you can understand his Old Norse. He wants to talk to you in his language.
Now what happens?
Thor passes his hand through your head, and suddenly you can understand his Old Norse. He wants to talk to you in his language.
Now what happens?
In Medias Res prompt
"In medias res" is Latin for "in the middle of things." When writing a story, sometimes it's good to throw the reader into the action, showing but not explaining--explanations can wait; grabbing the reader by the throat is the #1 priority.
Try writing two paragraphs describing some interesting, chaotic situation, and the more action the better!
Try writing two paragraphs describing some interesting, chaotic situation, and the more action the better!
Greatest Hits prompt
Describe:
Your best night's sleep
Your most satisfying breakfast
Your most gratifying unexpected phone call
Your nicest stroll
Your most uplifting instant while holding hands with someone
Etc.
Or whatever else your "greatest hits" memory book contains . . .
Your best night's sleep
Your most satisfying breakfast
Your most gratifying unexpected phone call
Your nicest stroll
Your most uplifting instant while holding hands with someone
Etc.
Or whatever else your "greatest hits" memory book contains . . .
Out of Dental Floss prompt
Like thinking there's one more step to the stairway, and getting that gravitic jolt, Joelle had pulled hard on the dental floss end in the dispenser, to find there was only a four-inch piece left . . .
