Showing posts with label #writingprompt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #writingprompt. Show all posts

Monday, September 11

Writing Prompt: What if scientists could tell what a person looked like from a sample of their blood?

Writing Prompt: What if scientists could tell what a person looked like from a sample of their blood?

I read about advances in science and technology and think, ‘This would make an interesting prompt.’ For example ...

Although the technology doesn’t exist yet scientists agree that in a few years we’ll be able to tell what a person looks like from a sample of their DNA. [1]

The writing challenge: Write a piece of flash fiction—fewer than 500 words—that involves the use of this technology. Keep in mind that (IMHO) the essential characteristic of very short stories is that it hints at a complete story. For example:

“I just stood there, in the stifling and cramped semi-darkness, listening to the frenzied beating of my heart. Or perhaps it was the bear’s heart.” [2]
by Tatyana Talstaya, August 9, 2017

If you’re feeling brave, please leave either your story or a link to it in the comments. Good writing!

If you have ideas for writing prompts, please send them my way! Also, if you have any feedback about this prompt, please share. Thanks in advance! 😀

Notes:
1. Does Your Genome Predict Your Face? Not Quite Yet.
2. Flash Fiction: A summary of very short stories.

Photo by Sweet Ice Cream Photography on Unsplash

Saturday, October 1

Writing Prompt: Her parents had always been odd, but ...


Writing Prompt: Nicky's parents had always been odd. Different. But she didn't realize how different until her 21st birthday.

Hi! I thought we'd do something a bit different today, so here's a writing prompt.

It was inspired by a story I've been rushing to finish. Currently, I'm at the stage, my least favorite, where I have to write the description. Arg!

Anyway, here's the prompt:

Nicky's parents were always odd. Different. But she doesn't realize how different until her 21st birthday.

That's it! I'd love to read what you come up with. :-)



If you love writing prompts as much as I do and want more, here a few books with write-worthy prompts:

642 Things to Write About
1,000 Awesome Writing Prompts
The Amazing Story Generator: Creates Thousands of Writing Prompts

Disclaimer: Yes, those are affiliate links, but I have each of those books. Affiliate links are a great way to contribute to a blogger's caffeine habit because, while the cost of the product doesn't change, the blogger gets a few pennies/crumbs from the sale.



Saturday, September 3

Let's Write! Writing Prompt: You wake in the dead of night ...


You wake in the dead of night, deep in the forest with no idea how you got there.
You’re holding a dead flashlight and enough [fill in the blank] to choke an elephant.

Challenge: Write 250 (or more) words and try for a twist ending.

These challenges are designed to help us all improve our skills as writers. And, let’s face it, 250 words doesn’t take all that long to write!

I’d love to see what you come up with, please share!

Thursday, August 4

Writing Prompt: You Are Lost


Before I jog, I warm up by stretching. Before I begin my writing day, I often warm up by completing a writing prompt. For a year or so I posted a prompt a day on Google+. I loved reading the responses folks shared as much as I enjoyed crafting my own.

I decided to continue the practice by posting the occasional writing prompt, starting with this one:
You go for a hike and become irrevocably lost. It's twilight. The sounds of the forest turn from enchanting to ominous. A twig near you snaps, the sound echoing through the trees like a gunshot.

What do you do?
(My apologies. I said that today I would write about Stephen King's best advice for writers. At present I'm going through the slow torture of moving and life has become barely controlled chaos. I will write about Stephen King's advice on Monday.)

Want more writing prompts? Try these:

 642 Things to Write About, by San Francisco Writers' Grotto
1,000 Awesome Writing Prompts, by Ryan Andrew Kinder