October 2009 Story Prompts

[Carol Clark]

I thought we could get some activity started here again. Here are some prompts, from writingforward.com, to get us going. Just put that pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard, and see what you come up with! Could be a flash piece (less than 1000 words), or a longer story. Who knows where it could lead... So, pick a prompt, any prompt:

1. There's a guy sitting on a park bench reading a newspaper...

2. There are three children sitting on a log near a stream. One of them looks up at the sky and says...

3. And you thought dragons didn't exist...

4. Silvery flakes drifted down, glittering in the bright light of the harvest moon. The blackbird...


Have fun...!

[Dan Goodwin]

Thanks for starting this Carol.

I liked prompt no4, and expanded into a fifty word story:

Silvery flakes drifted down, glittering in the bright light of the harvest moon. The blackbird settled, silently, on the broken hay cart, its shape silhouetted by the snow. This was the place the horses fell, that dark January morning, the same place a mother lost both of her beautiful boys…

[Carol Clark]

An excellent piece, Dan, I love it! It truly is a story in itself. I love the image of the blackbird on the hay cart, silhouetted on the snow - I can see this picture so well. And such a powerful ending. Everything in this piece is dark, and I like that...

Carol

[Dan Goodwin]

Thanks, I don't write enough dark stuff. Love the fifty word format as it gets you so focused on making the imagery and story memorable...

[Carol Clark]

I don't write enough dark stuff either, although I'm starting to get more into that. I think it's good for the soul, to write it all out. Maybe I'll post some Halloween-type prompts next time around.

You really did tell a full story. And just a thought, take it or leave it. Put a period at the end of that piece, so it really does stand on its own as a full story. You know me Dan, with those ellipses... LOL

Carol

[Dan Goodwin]

By ellipses you mean the three dots? ...

I don't really think, I just do them ha ha. Guess it does imply there is more to come or it is to be continued. No that fifty is done, it's complete in itself, I didn't intend to write a follow on. I'll stick to full stops in future! (Oh that's "period" in the US!)

I like dark stuff that is implied, rather than just full on gore or torture or terror. I read Stephen King's epic "The Stand" a few years ago, and it left me with a few gruesome images that haunt me more than any film actually. Very powerful, but kind of wish I'd not read them!

[Carol Clark]

Yeah, the ellipses are the three dots at the end. I just think your story would have even greater power that way! Especially this piece, the horses fell, she lost her boys... it's all over.

I tried watching SK's movie The Green Mile , and had to get up and leave the room. There's times I think he just goes too far...

[Dan Goodwin]

Haven't seen that. But I don't like anything scary or gory! The few Stephen King books I've read can suddenly turn very nasty and you've read the gruesome bit almost before you've realised it. I don't read them anymore!

[Lin Neiswender]

Wow Dan, that was quick! Makes me want to know more!

[Lin Neiswender]

Nice ones, Carol, bound to get some good stories out of these!

[jane]

yes agree lin... i particularly like the dragon one! watch this space later tonight..... 8)

[Anne Westlund]

Thanks for posting these, Carol!

[Carol Clark]

There are three children sitting on a log near a stream. One of them looks up at the sky and says, "Do you see that big black bird? It is a raven, and it can mean no good for us. I cannot hear them, but my father shows them to me and tells me they are bad signs. Look at how ugly that black bird is!"

The second child looks down and says, "I cannot see this bird, for I am blind. But I can hear its cry, and it can mean no good for us. It sounds like it is hungry, and we are close-by. It must be a very bad bird."

The third child looks at the other two, and points to his mouth, shaking his head. The other two understand that he cannot speak, so they all sit quietly. Then the third child stands up and walks towards the stream. He bends over, cupping his hands so he can fill them with the fresh water. He drinks, then turns to face his friends. He points at the stream, smiling and nodding his head.

He then walks over to the tree where the raven has landed to rest. He points up at it. He smiles again at his friends, then slowly lifts his arms from his sides, and begins flapping them like a bird. He begins to run, farther and farther from the stream and the log, arms outstretched and flying on the ground. His friends watch him disappear over the hill, and he never returns.

The first child looks at the second, and says, "He is free like the raven. How can that be bad?" And they both sit in silence, unable to speak.


Carol Clark
October 10, 2009