Dragon Writing Prompts

Whether you’re gearing up for NaNo or want to try your hand at flash fiction, NaNo liasons have passed on Plot Generator for the beginning of your story and Plot Twists.

Flash fiction are stories less than a 1000 words and come in many varieties with sometimes very specific rules. Some other names are: short-short stories, sudden, postcard, minute, furious, fast, quick, and skinny fiction. Many have websites where you can share the torture of confining your writing by word count:

365 Tomorrows posts a new flash fiction everyday. You may submit your (science fiction based) stories for consideration.

Camille Renshaw provides a good overview of the craft in The Essentials of Micro-Fiction.

Here are a few types of flash fiction with specific limitations:

• pinhead stories (50 words or fewer)
• nanofiction (less than 50)
• 55 word (55 or fewer but must include a setting, character or characters, conflict, resolution, so it’s not, for example, a slice of life piece.) You can read the 2008 winners of the 55-word contest run by New Times magazine for inspiration.
• 69er, 88er, 99er
• microfiction (under 100)
• drabble (100 exactly and its spinoffs: dribble - exactly 50 words, droubble - exactly 200 words) The Drabble Project has some examples from drabble’s beginnings.
• ficleys (64-1024 words but you can continue someone else’s story).

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I should have guessed there would be lists of costumes based on puns on the internet! Once I started gathering, I couldn’t stop. :-) If you’d like to guess what they are, you can reveal the answer by highlighting the line.

Gathered from around the internet, particularly Pun Intended: Costumes with a Punch Line.

• Get a bunch of watches and tie them around your waist, like a belt. Waste of Time
• Pin a bunch of sponges to your clothes. Self-Absorbed
• Wear pale blue and pin cotton batting to it in random places. Carry a small spray bottle filled with water. Partly Cloudy With A Chance of Showers
• Wear all black and attach to your clothes things like chewed up gum, candy wrappers, popcorn, empty paper cups, etc. Floor of a Movie Theatre
• Go as a purple pumpkin. The Grape Pumpkin
• Attach stuffed dogs and cats to an umbrella. Raining Cats and Dogs
• Attach a P to your shirt and paint your eye black. Black-eyed Pea
• Attach 7 Cs to your shirt. (Or do it with 7 friends each wearing a C.) The Seven Seas.
• Don a pig mask, wrap yourself in a blanket. Pig in a Blanket
• Attach arms to a coat. Coat of Arms
• Attach fake hair to your arms, chest and neck, carry a flower pot filled with dirt and a little shovel. Hairy Potter
• Attach a bunch of (small) cereal boxes to your shirt with plastic knives stuck in them. Cereal Killer
• Wear a BIG band-aid on your butt. Pain in the Ass
• Attach a yellow circle to your stomach. Add some devil horns and a pitch fork. Deviled Egg
• Wear a gold outfit, gold accessories, gold hair, carry a shovel. Gold Digger
• Attach a dollar to each ear. Buck-an-Ear
• Strap a doll to your rear-end and sit on it. Babysitter
• Wear a brimmed cap with a leaf (or snowflake) dangling down in front of your face. When someone asks what you are, blow on the leaf (or snowflake). Leaf Blower or Snow Blower
• Carry a quarter and a hammer. If someone asks what your costume is, put the quarter down and pound it with the hammer. Quarter Pounder
• Attach a throw rug to your head. Carry a broom. Swept Under the Rug
• Drench yourself in water and carry around two sticks, a scarf and a carrot. Melted Snowman
• Cut out a large “1″. Cut a hole in the middle of the 1. Attach it to your chest. Hole in One
• Put “Hello my name is…” tags with random names all over your body. Multiple Personalities
• Attach a pack of Tic Tacs to the tip of your shoe. Tic Tac Toe
• Pin men’s underwear to your shirt front. Chest of Drawers
• Dress as a girl. Form a large arrow pointing up with safety pins. Pin Up Girl
• Wear all black, and attach a postage stamp to your chest. Black Mail
• Dress up as a present. Attach a tag that says “From: God, To: Women.” God’s Gift to Women
• Attach large labels that say “Shirt: $30…Jeans: $50…Shoes: $70……Halloween costume that took minimal effort: Priceless. Mastercard Ad
• Glue a poker chip to your shoulder. Chip on Your Shoulder
• Carry a toy aircraft in a basket. Aircraft Carrier
• Write “Go Ceilings!” on the front of your shirt. Add other gear (pom poms, big foam finger, etc.) Cheer! Ceiling Fan
• Tie a computer CD around your neck and carry a lighter. When someone asks what you are, hold the lighter up to the CD. CD burner
• Attach dollars to stars on your shirt (or make dollars into origami stars). Starbucks
• Attach a guitar pick to your pocket. Pick Pocket
• Attach pictures of Robert De Niro all over yourself. Mucho Dinero
• Dress as a man. Tape an “E” on your chest. “E”-male
• Carry fake eye balls. When someone asks you what Halloween costume you’re wearing, drop them on the floor. Eye Drops
• Wear buttons and carry signs that say “Devil is #1″ and “Vote for Satan,” etc.. Devil’s Advocate
• Write the number 3.1415926 on an orange pumpkin shape. Attach it to your shirt. Pumpkin Pie
• Attach some quarters to hairclips, and place in your hair. Headquarters
• Attach an empty M&M candy wrapper to your chest. Eminem the Rapper!
• Attach white trash to yourself. White Trash
• Carry several bags filled with construction paper “B”s. Bee Keeper
• Wear all black clothes. Cut out big, bright numbers and attach them to your clothes. Someone You Can Count On
• Tape a quarter to your back. Quarterback
• Attach a quarter to your back and a dollar to each ear. Quarter back for the Buckaneers
• Wear a nice suit. Attach legal documents all over yourself. Lawsuit
• Carry a stuffed dog. When someone asks about your costume, throw the dog up and catch it. Dog Catcher
• Wear a name tag that says “Susan.” Paint your eyes black. Black-eyed Susan
• Wear a bra on the outside of your shirt and attach the letter “Z” to it. Zebra
• Wear a name tag that says “Johnny”. Cut a circle out of cardboard or plastic, big enough to stand on. When someone asks you what you are, throw the circle on the floor and stand on it. Johnny on the Spot
• Attach a large brown “E” to your chest. Brown-E (Brownie)
• Take two round circles of brown fake fur and attach them to the back of your pants.. “Bear” Bum!
• Attach an empty bag of Wise potato chips to the back of your pants. Wise Ass
• Tape a disposable razor to your back. Razorback
• Wear pink clothes. Add a name tag that says “Floyd.” Pink Floyd
• Dress in normal clothes and carry a sign that says “Strike.” Nudist on Strike
• Attach a nickel to your back. Nickelback
• Wear a large garbage bag over your body. Attach a large letter “T” to the front. Tea Bag
• Make the letter “I” out of cardboard, write “Beauty” on it, and attach it to your shirt. Carry a beer. Beauty is in the Eye of the Beerholder
• Wear a pot on your head. Pot Head
• Put a picture frame around your neck and sign your shirt. Self Portrait
• Carry a small dumbbell. Stare at it intently when asked what you are. Weight Watcher
• Attach a large picture of yourself to the front of your shirt. “Stuck on Myself”
• Wear an extra-large bra over your clothes. Stuff it with jars of spices. Spice Rack
• Attach Smarties candies all over your pants. Smarty Pants
• Dress up as a bug and a lady. Lady Bug
• Attach stuffed animals (and horseshoe magnets) to yourself. Animal Magnetism
• Attach chicks to yourself. Chick Magnet
• Wear a slip with Freud written across the front. Freudian Slip
• Dress as a basketball player. Wear 2 large donuts around your middle. (Even better with 2 people, each wearing a donut.) Dunkin’ Donuts
• Put peas or peapods all over you. “I Come in Peace.”
• Color your neck red. Redneck
• Dress as a bunny and carry a feather duster. Dust Bunny
• Dress as monk and carry chips. Chipmunk
• Attach a bunch of green Ns and Vs all over you. Green with Envy
• Wear scrubs with pepper packets attached. Dr. Pepper
• Dress as a cat. Attach trash you’d find on the street. Kitty Litter
• Dress in black. Attach a strip of yellow tape from right shoulder to right ankle and left shoulder to left ankle. (And a dotted line down the middle if you wish.) Attach a fork to your chest. Fork in the Road
• Dress as a star made out of “rock”. Rock Star
• Dress in a somber suit, attach women’s panties, tucked into pockets. “Undy Taker.”
• Dress as a bat or Batman. Carry a customer service bell. Ding Bat
• Write “Bless You” on your shirt. Wear nose glasses. Blessing in Disguise
• Attach fake thumbs to all your fingers. All Thumbs
• Attach a picture of an anchor to your chest. Anchorman or Anchorwoman
• Drag a picture of the Queen of England or a Queen CD. Drag Queen
• Paint your face white and draw a musical staff and notes on it. Face the Music
• Attach a chick (or picture of a chick) to your hip. Hip Chick
• Dress in shades of green. Attach a bottle of dressing to your side. Mixed Greens with Dressing on the Side
• Attach a pink I to your chest. Pink Eye
• Carry knives, splash yourself with fake blood. Attach a B to your chest. Killer Bee
• Drip fake blood on yourself. Wear a “Mary” name tag. Bloody Mary
• Wear hospital scrubs, under a brown hooded cloak, carry a light saber and a speculum. OB-GYN Kenobi
• Wear an orange toga with a laurel crown. Orange Julius
• Wear bat wings with a baseball uniform. Baseball Bat
• One half of the couple wears an army shirt, and the other half wears army pants. Digestive Tract (upper and lower GI)
• Wear nerdy glasses, a toga, and a pocket protector. Geek Goddess
• Pin socks all over your normal clothes and SMILE. When people ask, flash a manic grin. Ecstatic Cling
• Cut out many pictures of porpoises. Fan them out around your face with a headscarf. All Porpoise Flower
• Get a Scott Baio mask or print out a picture of his face. Dress as a wolf. Beowolf
• Guy dressed in a maid’s costume. Trans-janitor
• Dress as a bee. Attach words to you. When people ask, spell the words. Spelling Bee
• Wear a trench coat. Inside attach lots of flowers. When people ask, look around as though being secretive then flash open the coat. The Secret Garden
• Dress as Gene Simmons of Kiss with a French beret. French Kiss
• Dress as a skeleton. Carry a bell. Dead Ringer
• Hang a Welcome sign around your neck. Wearing Out Your Welcome
• Carry Zs around in a fish or butterfly net. Catching Some Zs
• Dress as a poop with angel wings. Holy Shit
• Dress up as a cow (horns, bell, udder) and angel wings and halo. Holy Cow!
• Wear normal clothing and tell everyone, “I’m a homicidal maniac. We look just like everyone else.”

Come up with a zombie party plan — for real zombies. Invitations (date, time, place). Special instructions for guests (as in bring your own brains, dress). Food. Games.

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For each letter of the alphabet write a sentence that’s ghoulishly alliterative.

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A bit overkill for this ;-) but as I searched for a link for the picture, I found Wikipedia’s List of monsters by culture.

Like Star Wars? Like zombies? Click the picture. :-)

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Create your own comic strip with the Historic Tale Construction Kit. There are people, buildings, animals and text from the Bayeux Tapestry to play with. When you’re done you can submit it to the gallery. (Though I couldn’t get the email or gallery to work. I had to save all the images and paste them together in Photoshop.)

Don’t let the historic images limit you! Googling images for the kit I see several Harry Potter comics. (Like this bit of Harry Potter slash: A Chance Meeting. Note: preview it before you show it to your kids so you’re not surprised by unexpected questions! ;-)

If all the possibilities leave you stuck for a story, begin with the foundation of storytelling: a desire, a want, a need. One of those characters wants something. Other characters will get in the way with desires of their own. One of those desires will triumph. Or not. Maybe a dragon will eat them all ;-)

(Click the image to see mine.)

Two tips:

If you like your backgrounds consistent from panel to panel, line images up with flaws on the fabric.

Sometimes the images misbehave. (At least they did for me in Safari.) Back up to the previous panel then return.

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“Morning.”
“Morning.”
“Sleep well?”
“Yeah.”

Somewhere in your piece will be those lines of dialogue. (You can build up to the first “Morning.”)

Not much to go on. Or, really, too many possibilities! This is from an exercise on subtexting from Getting Into Character by Brandilyn Collins. The point is that we often don’t say what we mean … and it builds tension when our characters don’t either.

The first “Morning,” might really mean, “Where were you last night?” or “I know where you were last night (heh, heh, heh),” or “I’d like to bash your head in with a 2x4,” or “I wish everything were as normal as I’m trying to make it feel.”

One challenge of hinting at what’s beneath the surface is that only one character, the point of view character, reveals their thoughts to the reader. The other character offers only a tiny, foggy window into what they’re thinking through their body language, facial expression, tone and what they’re saying instead of what they mean. What’s going on beyond the fog is open to interpretation by the reader and by the, not necessarily objective, other character. (The point of view character is often not objective about their own thoughts and feelings either!) But the cool thing is that not knowing builds tension also and raises questions in the reader’s mind that makes them want to read on and find the answers. (Which are all the current skills I’m working on!)

As always, and as mundane as the lines are, don’t feel tied to a contemporary setting.

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October 31 at midnight, NaNoWriMo begins!

National Novel Writing Month is a time when people all over the world withdraw from life to crank out a 50,000 word novel in one month.

At first it seems insane and impossible. After doing it a few times, it’s really not so bad! :-)

Everything you need to know about it is at the NaNoWriMo website.

I’ll be posting prompts that are usable for Nano (or other writing) throughout the month. (If anyone wants to drop me a “Hi!”or add me as a buddy, I’m JFetteroll (so original, I’m always JFetteroll!) at the NaNo website.)

In the forums are online and face-to-face support. (Check out the regional boards to see if there are writing groups near you.) There are word wars (to see who can churn out the most words within a certain time) and prompts and people to help if you get stuck either emotionally, logically or factoidally.

And most people do get stuck around week 2, at the 15,000 word mark. Expect to hit that wall. At that point you’ve let your characters run rampant setting up their relationships and you suddenly realize you’ve written 15,000 words of crap and you’ve pushed the characters as far as you can go and alphabetizing your spices would be a much better use of your time. Every novelist hits that point. What separates the failed novelists from the successful ones is that the successful ones keep going. :-)

If you think you don’t have time, I found this week’s posting at the NaNo website inspiring :-) Cylithria Dubois — what a great fantasy name! — wrote her last novel while part of a forward observation team stationed in Iraq: Cylithria Dubois, Marine Corps novelist

Some tips:

✓ Don’t worry about quality. Your goal is quantity not quality. Send your internal editor on vacation. This month there’s no such thing as bad writing. (Or it’s all bad! Whatever mindset keeps the words flowing for you.) Note: No one will read it. Bots at the website count your words to see if you’ve gotten at least 50,000.

✓ Don’t worry about getting the beginning right. Jump into the middle of the story. Write the end first. Write the middle first. Doesn’t matter!

✓ Don’t worry about going in order. If you get stumped, or another scene is begging to be written, jump ahead. (As you find out more about your characters, you’ll know how to fill those jumps in — which might be after NaNo.)

✓ Don’t worry about finishing the story. The goal is 50,000 words of a single work (eg, not a bunch of short stories). It doesn’t have to be a complete novel. It’s a way to get you started. (Novels are closer to 100,000 words, though it depends on the genre.)

You can plan as much or as little as you want, but no actual writing before November 1. Some people like an outline. Some people don’t want to know where their characters are taking them. Whatever works for you.

Happy writing!

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Is this unexpected?

Is this normal in your world?

Are other animals fighting or just the squirrels? Fighting over what?

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Roll a die and pick one from each of the four following categories. Use them as the starting point of your piece.

Time

1. Dead of winter
2. During a thunderstorm
3. The morning after
4. When the moon is full
5. Just before dawn
6. Midnight
7. Height of summer
8. In the middle of a battle
9. In the middle of a storm
10. The night before

Situation

1. A death
2. A secret needs to be told
3. Someone has or will hurt someone
4. A crime has occurred or is about to
5. Someone has lost/found something
6. Someone is falling in love
7. Reminiscing on how things change
8. There has been a family emergency
9. Something embarrassing happened
10. Someone holds a medication

Character

1. A match maker
2. A nerd
3. A barista
4. A visitor
5. A homeless man
6. A novice
7. A mechanic
8. An eccentric
9. A musician
10. An actress

Setting

1. A theater
2. A wedding
3. A cemetery
4. A restaurant
5. A dungeon/jail
6. A mountain peak
7. An inn
8. A cave
9. A sporting event
10. A convention

Adapted from 6 Creative Writing Prompts to expand them beyond contemporary topics. All the situations except the last that mentioned a doctor were amazingly universal :-)

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“Listen, we’ve got a proposition for you.”

As always, let you imagination take you where it will. Don’t let it be hampered by 3 real monkeys staring at it. ;-) They could be aliens! Or products of a deteriorating mind. (Or so you think!) Or a sentient species in a fantasy world. Or …

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Write a resignation letter.

You could use it to tell the boss what you really think about him or her and the job and your co-workers.

Or resign from being the boss and tell your underlings what you think of them.

Or from:

• being the country’s ruler.

• • being God. Or the Devil.

• • • being a hero. Or the bad guy.

• • • • being someone’s fan. (You’ve moved on? They’ve disappointed you?)

• • • • • the “perfect” job that didn’t even give you a call.

• • • • • • being a slave. Or being a prisoner. Or school.

• • • • • • • a marriage or family.

• • • • • • • • association with a race or species.

• • • • • • • • • a religion or political party or life style.

• • • • • • • • • • being someone’s pet.

• • • • • • • • • • • being someone’s possession (car, television, stove ….)

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What’s a warm up?

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What’s a warm up?

Pick your favorite recipe. Your character has been planning to create this dish for quite some time as a special event or celebration. The dish can be grand but needn’t be — like the last ballpark hotdog with relish eaten with Dad, the “special” last maggoty meal the evil overlord served his prisoners — but it’s emotionally tied into the character or someone the character feels strongly toward and holds some special importance. Each ingredient has been carefully chosen or overseen from its beginning.

As you go through each ingredient, have your character talk about where it came from, why and what its importance is. Maybe they’re far from home — a ship? another planet? an alternate universe? — and the ingredients aren’t easy to come by.

Then describe what it’s for. It could be something sweet :-) It could be twisted Wherever it leads you.