Everyone runs into a wall at some point. EVERYONE. In fact, it was running into that wall that got Stephen King run over later in life!
He was stuck while writing The Stand. What did he do? He went for a walk. Along his walk he figured out what he had to do. He killed a major character and everything flowed out from there. He liked his daily walk so much that it was a habit that he carried on until that fateful day when he was run down by a guy driving to the store for a Mars bar.
I don't want anyone in here run over because they hit a wall!
So, why don't we just post random plot twists, and generic writing prompts that will spur someone into writing something so they don't go for a walk and later get run over doing it!
Hey, I'm trying to save lives here!
Here's a few to get the ball rolling:
A minor character has something dark and nasty about their past that they would rather not have come out.
The toaster has a vendetta against you. It burns only your toast and no one else's. Also, it knows it gets under your skin!
Incorporate the line "With Havoc cried, the dogs of war were let loose."
I'd love to see others post here and it would be cool if anyone uses one, let us know how it went!
Happy Writing!
-Scotty
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5,861 / 50,000
Oct 27, 2009 - 14 55
Pick your favorite local restaurant or club and set a scene there. Describe well enough that locals will recognize it.
Have your characters discuss favorite books; bonus points if it's during a very inappropriate time...like hiding from zombies or during white water rafting.
----------"Between me and life there is a mist of words always." Wilde
32,477 / 50,000
Oct 28, 2009 - 05 32
I couldn't wait to start writing so I gave myself a warm-up exercise. I wrote a short-short story last night.
It's called Work Tensions. Check it out here -> www.bleedingsweat.com
It's based on a writing prompt I found online.
Here's some more for the list:
Have one of your characters live with a handicap and try to cope in a world that doesn't accommodate them.
Have a monkey fling poo at someone.
Use the word : Procrasturbate
Have a character accidentally fart at a very inappropriate time and have to explain their way out of it.
Happy writing!
-Scotty
32,477 / 50,000
Oct 28, 2009 - 13 11
Now naming your characters is EASIER THAN EVER!!!!
http://www.qwantz.com/index.php?comic=1221
Seriously, kicking myself for not thinking of that!
D'oh!
-Scotty
37,677 / 50,000
Nov 3, 2009 - 09 27
I am trying to use the Urban Dictionary or the Merriam-Wester's word of the day as a prompt to keep things interesting. I have to use the word at least once in my 2100 word daily goal.
Today's choices are:
right-of-stay
----------regimen
What do you think of the buzzards?
11,154 / 50,000
Nov 12, 2009 - 19 01
I've just come to the conclusion. When in doubt? Add a natural disaster. An earthquake, blizzard, or hurricane makes every plot more fun!
----------Far away in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead.
~Louisa May Alcott~
22,503 / 50,000
Nov 16, 2009 - 15 23
My favorite stumped move? Toss 'em all in a bar and let the booze settle it; extra points if the bartender used to be a nun or a school teacher. ^_^
----------"If my doctor told me I had only six minutes to live, I wouldn't brood. I'd type a little faster."
~Isaac Asimov
10,500 / 50,000
Nov 17, 2009 - 08 02
Around the middle of the book, it alwasy nice to have a dead body fall through the roof. Oh, here's another, throw in a fake ally character...you know, the alleged dutiful friend who turns out to be working for the villain. And of course, that true lovable friend...kill him. --kimberly
----------www.writersconferenceinabox.com
Next Workshop: 11-21-09 Oldsmar, FL 10-3