The Stars Are Not Made of Fire

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writing prompts

Writing Prompts

Writing, writing prompts

I have been reading writing prompts this evening. Here are a few of the ones that I have come across. I think these are good for getting the creative juices flowing.

1. Write a made-up magic spell, including ingredients, chants, and actions. Now, turn it into a poem.

2. You wake up in a darkened circus tent, wearing a bright blue and yellow clown costume and a fluffy red wig. There is a dwarf standing over you with bucket of water. “You okay?” he asks. Write this scene.

3. Only two weeks into the New Year had passed and Sean had already broken his first resolution: Don’t kill anyone. Write this scene.

4. You wake up chained to the wall of a medieval torture room. The torture devices are laid out on a table in front of you. Write this scene.

5. Write a letter to yourself that you will open in six months. Include your current accomplishments and concerns, and remind yourself of one thing from today that you want to make sure “future you” does not forget.

More of these writing prompts can be found at Writer’s Digest Writing Prompts at: http://www.writersdigest.com/WritingPrompts/?p_nStart=1

New Fantasy Elements Challenge: What is taking over Detroit?

Writing, writing prompts


I recently wrote about the movie Wizards which is a movie that I very much like because it broke some of the stereotypes of fantasy and created new combinations. I have decided that I am tired to death of the old fantasy tropes. I am bored with reading about the faeries of European folklore transported into an urban environment virtually unchanged. Tolkienesque fantasy to me feels very outmoded.

Time magazine’s latest issue is about the disaster that is Detroit. The unemployment rate as of August 2009 was over 30% and the population is dwindling. Or is it? What could be claiming Detroit? Gremlins were invented in the last century. They were not traditional folklore. What new spirits haunt Motown and shuffle to the old beats? What wheels are turning? Who is drinking the blood of the whitetail deer in the metroparks? How is the foliage overcoming half burnt out and deserted crack houses who creak under the burden of the Virginia Creeper? What hammer taps are heard and who is making them?

We are the dreamers of dream and the voices to bring forth the new from imagination. We can create anything.

What if there is a rust flake who pisses on parked cars and causes the undercarriage to rust?

What if the green goddesses’ youngest children have been listening to the anger of the streets and are rising up with thorned arms and tendrilled fingers? Dancing to a more raucous beat than the quiet hush of meadow grasses.

What if every time you hear the sound of breaking glass another dozen shrieks are born that run off to incite violence to quench their blood lust?

What if the will-o-wisp has evolved into a screaming blue and red flashing symbiote that assists a nightcrawler who dons the uniform of a policeman and together they ride the night looking for isolated couples who they can prey upon?

Just some ideas. Up to the challenge to create more? Mine are just off the top of my head.

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