How does your story end? I was reminded of how JK Rowling said, somewhere, that she wrote the epilogue of the Harry Potter series first, before writing book 1. She knew she wanted Ginny and Harry to end up together, that kind of thing. So how does your story end? How do your characters continue … Continue reading Scene Prompt #44: Resolution
Author: Megan
Scene Prompt #43: In the mood
For these last couple months' worth of scene prompts, I'm going to throw in some prompts that might actually work better as scene revision passes rather than prompts for new scenes. But you do whatever you want. So, if you're ready to write a new scene, have it in mind. Otherwise, pick a scene you've … Continue reading Scene Prompt #43: In the mood
Scene Prompt #42: No Pressure
Sometimes, and I don't know about you, but sometimes we get so caught up in creating a perfect story, a perfectly salable product, that we aren't willing to allow ourselves to fail and discover happy accidents of genius (that would probably make for a more salable product). So today, we're going to step back from … Continue reading Scene Prompt #42: No Pressure
Scene Prompt #41 : Bust a Move
For this prompt, pick a scene where your characters have to move about for a few paragraphs. It could be a fight scene. Could be an extraction scene. Could be a scene where your character slips and falls into a pond. Whatever's going on, pick a scene where you have to describe some kind of … Continue reading Scene Prompt #41 : Bust a Move
Scene Prompt #40: Hey, watch your tone
Tone is described as the writer's attitude toward the material. In fiction it might be more helpful to think of it as the narrator's or point-of-view character's (POVC) attitude toward the story they're telling. For example, the narrator's view of the events might be cynical, satisfied, resigned, resentful, optimistic, wry, sincere, reverent . . . … Continue reading Scene Prompt #40: Hey, watch your tone
Scene Prompt #39: Gimme the Goods Redux
What's you're genre? If you were here last week, you probably already know. You might even have a list of your genre's characteristics and conventions, what the reader expects to see, experience, and feel, plus a list of how your story--its concept, plot, and characters--fulfills those requirements. Last week we looked at the opening scene. … Continue reading Scene Prompt #39: Gimme the Goods Redux
Scene Prompt #38: Gimme the Goods
What's your Genre? Genre helps people who like the kind of stuff you write find your book. So . . . What's your story's genre? (If you're not sure, give it a google or check out one of the books below.) Now ask yourself: What kind of goodies are part of your genre? What are … Continue reading Scene Prompt #38: Gimme the Goods
Scene Prompt #37: Sounds Right
Does your story have a soundtrack? For this prompt, pick a song that resonates somehow with the story you're telling. A song without words is probably best, but pick whatever you want. Listen to it, over and over if you need to, until you can feel it affecting you, summoning a scene in your mind … Continue reading Scene Prompt #37: Sounds Right
Scene Prompt #36: Sniff, Sniff
You smell that? It's in your story. Run through your story, in your mind, and find the scene with the greatest amount of scent. It might smell good. It might not. It might be in the setting. Or maybe it's from a person. Or an object. The scent could be familiar, or maybe it's not. … Continue reading Scene Prompt #36: Sniff, Sniff
Scene Prompt #35: 9 to 5
You might also call this prompt Ordinary World. Think of your main character. What was he doing before the story snuck up on him? What was his typical day like? What problems was he dealing with even before the story's main problem appeared? Now, think of a scene that would show all the essentials a … Continue reading Scene Prompt #35: 9 to 5
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