While watching the show recently, I wondered what a “mystery
basket” of ingredients for a writer might contain? Which reminded me of when
I participated in a writers group in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
At each meeting, we began our time with the setting of a timer
in 5 minute, then 15 minute periods in which we were given a prompt, then wrote
until the buzzer sounded.
These prompts were like “mystery baskets”; our ingredients, a
string of words.
Placing a character in an imaginary world in answer to the
question of “what if?” is Speculative Fiction.
I thought it might be a fun exercise to offer you a couple “mystery
baskets” in the speculative genre as writing prompts. Prompts are a great
writers tool, especially helpful to stir inspiration when you are stuck, or in need of a recharge.
- What if?- a young man raised as an orphan, finds out he is a twin, and meets his sister when he is given an assignment on Tatatui.
- What if?- a conservative bible thumping dog reads his masters mind and feels compelled to foil a jewel heist his owner has planned.
- What if?- a fairy named Shitza embarks on a quest to find a schroom needed to brew a tea, that if drank by her fiancé, could release him from a spell.
- What if?- Eric’s name is drawn and he must engage in a war he is staunchly against.
- What if?- a toad and a kitten fall in love.
May you be greatly inspired, and wildly imaginative in your writing endeavors.
7 comments:
Love your imagination! What if is also a great question to use in discernment and spiritual growth. The idea of a mystery basket intrigues me and think I will use that at an upcoming local writers group as a prompt. Thanks for the idea! Happy New Year!
Mary Higgins Clark (magazine? I think) had a short story contest and you had to pick 3 or 4 words to incorporate into a short stoy. This was about 18 years ago...sigh! I did it, and it has since turned into a full novel. Lots of fun to see what comes out. I'm no good at timers, because my thoughts just don't jump at me like that. I need time like the old coffee pots. I have to percolate a bit.
You are welcome Jean. Linda, that is exactly the outcome we hope to come from prompts :-)
Chopped is one of my favorites! Wow--you have given food for thought. *excuse my pun* Couldn't help myself. Very fun blog. Thanks!
What a fun idea!
I was an art teacher. One way to see who were the most creative students in my class was to draw a door on the chalkboard (yes, it was that long ago) and tell the class to draw what they would see if they opened the door. I always got at least 40% who drew the classroom on the other side of the wall. I think those kids turned out to be engineers or CPAs. The others were wildly creative.
My favorite writing prompt for mystery: A white Styrofoam cup sits on the table, a dark liquid inside and the imprint of pink lipstick on the rim.
Karen, I like that door prompt. I am going to ask my small group bible study that question. Isn't it cool how diverse we all are? And your mystery prompt? I want to read the book it inspires.
I am going to add these to my list :-)Thanks for sharing.
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