Writing Prompts!

    Does anybody here have a particular fondness for writing prompts? You know, the short sentences that give inspiration for a short scene (or even a whole story).
    It's fun to try to come up with some oneself, but if a person wants a new writing prompt they've never thought of before, they can always be found on the internet. Interestingly, there are not only millions of original writing prompts, but there are completely different kinds of prompts, each special in their own way. Like for example . . .
    Specific writing prompts. This would be where you're given a specific character, setting, time, and issue to write about. A basic example of this would be: "A young man wakes up on an island that looks oddly like Hawaii, only there isn't another living soul there." We're given the character (the basic concept of one anyway), we have a very specific location, and we also have a specific problem for the character to face. Some might find it restricting to have to stick to all the given rules provided by such a direct prompt, but the provision of such specifics can really be liberating (especially if you don't feel like coming up with a completely new story out of the blue). These kind of prompts are also really good for dipping into new writing adventures head first, with surprises around every corner.
    Bare bones prompts. These are very different than specific writing prompts. Rather than getting an already outlined story , this kind of prompt provides only a handful of terms. A basic example would be just: "Kenny, Valentine's Day, and cinnamon rolls." It's very vague, but this vagueness leaves a lot of power to imagination, because there's no absolute necessity for these things to have their traditional meaning in the story being written. "Kenny" can be the name of an airship instead of a person, "Valentine's Day" can be the title of a music album playing in the background rather than a holiday, and "Cinnamon Rolls" could even be the name of a town instead of food! Everything about a bare bones prompt is a wild card, an invitation to take concepts and get really creative in using them--or, of course, to write a nice, regular scene in which the terms are used in their traditional sense.
    Visual story prompts. These are basically pictures you look at to build a story from--like a picture of a sunny beach with tall plastic flamingos sticking out of the sand. A great thing about this kind of writing prompt is that it's cool to be able to have an actual picture to connect with the story, like when you find an actor or other kind of celebrity who looks exactly like you've envisioned a character in your story. Plus, with a picture, it's easier to imagine what exactly is happening in the scene while writing it.
    Dialogue prompts. These are the prompts that are just bits of dialogue. Basically something like: "I told you we should have taken the flying horseshoes!" which tasks the writer with coming up with a situation to fit this bit of dialogue into. A lot of these prompts that can be found on the web are really funny, meant to instantly catch attention so that a person will want to invest their time and effort in making a story of it. Personally, I think it kind of seems like a lot of work, but dialogue is a fantastic way to showcase a character's personality, and this type of prompt continues to be really popular.
    Isn't it cool how there are so many ways to get inspired to write? Which kind of writing prompt is your favorite?  Can you think of a type that's not mentioned here? :)

Clothes!

    Clothes are a daily part of everyone's lives, whether it means a lot or little at all to them. Some books include descriptions of the character's outfits--though creative description isn't the only purpose clothes can serve in stories.

I knit a cardigan to wear around the
house--it's really cool to read
about hand-made clothes in books!

    For one, they show the personality of the character. People pick their own clothes, and those choices can reflect something about them. A favorite color, for example, might show up in most of their outfits, or a favorite style (flowing sleeves, dark colors, stripes, a particular brand, etc.). A bubbly girl with an eye for cute things might wear a frilly blouse, bright-colored skirt, and quirky shoes, while a teenage guy with a sense of humor might wear regular jeans, a baseball cap, and a T-shirt with a pun on it.
    Clothes also show the financial condition of the character or their family. Not always, but at the very least it gives an opportunity to write about any money issues the character has. Are the character's outfits cheap, mismatched, or hand-me-downs? Where do they go clothes shopping, and do they love it or dread it? Do they donate clothes whenever they start to get tiny holes, or do they keep wearing them even when their friends mention growing tears?
    In many situations, a working character has a specific outfit that they end up wearing all the time. In Kiera Cass's Selection series, the girls of the Selection were always wearing fabulous dresses (which had great descriptions!). And it wasn't just to make the girls look pretty; as competitors for marriage to the country's prince, it was their job to look royal and beautiful. Their outfits pertained to what they were doing and what they were training to do.
    In addition, clothes can showcase an aspect of the setting--particularly if the character's government is different than the reader's. If the genre is historical fiction, depending on the time period, clothes could be handmade. In a dystopia, clothes made for the wealthy would definitely be different than the clothes of the poor/ordinary citizens, and sometimes clothes are linked directly to other forms of social classes (like how in Veronica Roth's Divergent series, people wore outfits that had the color of their faction). And of course, if the character's world is different than real life, there's an opportunity to create a completely new fashion style.
    On some occasions, outfits can also be used as tools. A jacket could cover something up, you could catch a scurrying creature/device with a hat, glasses can be used to start a small fire. And I've read more than one novel where the character cuts strips of cloth to use as a makeshift bandage when they have a cut.
    And if you're writing an action/adventure/suspense story where there are fight scenes, clothes can be grabbed or yanked by the character's opponent. It's an option for when punches and kicks start to get overused.
    There are things to keep in mind, of course, when writing about clothes. For one, they've got to match the story's terrain. Someone living near the top of a mountain probably wouldn't be wearing thin clothing. The style should also be in tune with both the character and the situation--if a female character hates girly things, she would try to avoid dances where she'd have to wear a dress. A writer's also got to keep in mind that as action or events happen in the story, clothes can get affected. When you tumble down a steep hill, there's going to be dirt/grass stains on those jeans; if you're wearing the same jacket for a long time, it's going to get worn out, particularly at the elbows. Also, when writing about clothes, unless it's linked to the plot, genre, character, or the setting, one might not want to include too many detailed descriptions. To some people, what the character is wearing isn't very interesting, and they'd skip over entire scenes thinking it wouldn't be important.
    So there are a few observations. What do you think?
    Do clothes play a significant  role in your story? Does your character have a favorite outfit? What is it? :)

Ways to Make Characters Loveable (Part One)

 Likability is a necessity for main characters--the reader's got to at least tolerate him/her since they're the person they're going to be going through the story with. Fandoms are a mass of people who adore a book/TV/movie series, and a majority of that adoration is for the characters.
    Here are a few things I've noticed that tend to make characters really likeable:
    -Heroic qualities. Depending on the type of person the protagonist is, his/her actions should at least be somewhat noble. Even if the protagonist's an anti-hero, they could have some sort of soft spot for certain people/situations/beliefs that make them do nice things occasionally. I can think of many a story where the protagonist is a thief who likes stealing from unsuspecting people, but sometimes gives what they take to others with severe need. It doesn't justify their thievery, but it does make them less selfish and more likeable.
    -Pets (dogs, cats, birds, lizards, etc.). Some people adore animals. And though a puppy or a charming parrot in a novel isn't bound to make just anyone's heart melt, it could show a softer side of the protagonist, and therefore make him/her more sympathetic to a reader who likes animals. Plus, the animal itself could also be a really cool minor character or sidekick. There's a very interesting character in Jackaby by William Ritter who happens to be a duck!
    -Romance. Who doesn't want to fall in love? And when the couple in the story is right for each other, it's very possible for readers to get excited about them getting together. And when a particularly compatible pair who have been oblivious to each other for most of the story finally notice the other person, it's like you want to punch the air and shout "yes!" right?
    -Humor. Laughing is fun! As long as the humor is appropriate for the genre, it can make the reading adventure even more enjoyable. Funny people in real life are very likeable, and fictional characters who make people laugh on multiple occasions are liked and welcomed into scenes. That doesn't mean a "funny" character is one who's always making wisecracks or slipping on banana peels, but maybe they could just say something hilarious every once in a while. The Lunar Chronicles series by Marissa Meyer has lots of pulses of humor from various characters, giving it lots of humor without (at least in my opinion) forever labeling one particular character as the "funny sidekick."
    -Happiness. Along similar lines of the humor, a character who's happy is a character lots of people would like to be around. Think of the Eleventh Doctor from Doctor Who--not only is he funny, but he's constantly happy and it's contagious. It can make the viewer of the show grin with anticipation as he yanks his fellow characters into his TARDIS for another adventure.
    -Underdog. When a character's an underdog with a disadvantage, it can make their stories even more inspiring and interesting to people. Having to overcome multiple obstacles to achieve a dream is interesting, and it sweetens the moment when the protagonist attains their goal. Rocky is a movie that comes to mind, and a book series that could also be considered an underdog story is the Selection series by Kiera Cass.
    Do characters in your current project have any of these traits? Do any of your favorite characters in novels/movies/TV shows have them? :)

Ideas Sure Can Be Elusive

    In one ear and out the other, they say. A great idea suddenly comes, a burst of inspiration, and you realize it's perfect for something you're planning . . . and then you forget. Quite suddenly, maybe after thinking about another subject for just five seconds, and try as hard as you might, the great idea just won't come back. The sliver of inspiration vanishes, and is no more.
    It's so disappointing when that happens, and a little guilt-racking.
    An ideal solution, of course, is to write the idea down or draw a picture depicting it as soon as it comes. Something to indicate the big picture of the idea, if not the details. When paper's not at hand, saying the idea out loud is also helpful--even more helpful when saying it to someone. Maybe repeating it to oneself over and over under their breath.
    Putting up a safeguard like that seems like the best thing to do. Ideas may, in form, just be figments of thought, but they're precious. Losing one, especially for the creative type, is like letting a five dollar bill fall into the gutter. A loss of potential. Ideas must be gripped when they appear, otherwise they could slip away . . .
    Does anyone have any methods other than these for remembering ideas?

Jack London: Keep A Notebook

I've found that composition books are the best kind of journal to use for writing--they're flexible, have lots of lines to write on, and they're inexpensive! :)

"Keep a notebook. Travel with it, eat with it, sleep with it. Slap into it every stray thought that flutters up into your brain. Cheap paper is less perishable than gray matter, and led pencil markings endure longer than memory."

~Jack London

    Writing journals are awesome! It's one of the most valuable tools a writer can have--something to write, sketch, and brainstorm in. A notebook is extremely useful when you want to have something to use as a reference for your story, and you can write short blurbs of fiction inside of it, and it's a nice place to quickly scribble about an interesting fact, location, or story you hear.
    True, you could use your phone or computer to do this, and typing is a lot quicker and easier to edit than handwriting. But writing something down in a book with graphite or ink has its own sort of romantic factor, and there's something about holding a book filled with your own words that's special. Writing journals have their own beauty from the worn-out covers, the word-filled pages, and to the string binding it all together. Don't you agree?
    Do you have a notebook that you carry around with you? Have you personalized it with artwork, quotes, or anything else like that? :)

Writing Games: Holiday Songs

    Everybody likes games, right? And for writers, writing prompts are kind of like that. A creative challenge with an outline.
    Songs tell stories of their own, or deliver a message of some kind--especially holiday songs. Christmas songs in particular tend to tell stories. Lots of them are about Christ's birth, painting pictures of that wonderful and monumental night, and other songs are about different and often modern-day topics. Like "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus," "Rudolph The Red-nosed Reindeer" (admit it, you know the lyrics by heart :)), and "All I Want For Christmas Is You."
    With those kind of songs, it could be really fun to try to think up and write a story based off of it. It's just like a game, a writing challenge!
    What kind of story would you write based off of, say, "Last Christmas" or "Jingle Bells?"

Sources Of Conflict

    Every story needs conflict. It's got to have at least one kind of problem that the main character(s) spend the story trying to solve.
    Though almost always, there's more than one conflict going on. As there are different aspects of life, a character may have problems from multiple areas in their "world." Like for example, a character could be trying to solve a bullying problem at school while trying to deal with a family issue at home, and maybe also trying to remedy their own feelings of insecurity.
    A handful of problems keeps a character on their toes--which is good for a story.
    Here are a few ideas for sources of conflict:
    Finances. A shortage of money can mean losing a lifestyle or moving away from a beloved area; and a sudden gain of money (while it has its charming benefits) can attract unwanted attention or threaten to make the protagonist shallow.
    A figure/secret from the past. A mistake the character made long ago that could cause serious damage to their life and/or their reputation; an old enemy who's come to rock the boat.
    Visitors. A mysterious stranger, a new student, the crazy uncle . . .
    Troublemakers. Someone who likes to play games with people and their lives. People like this aren't common in real life, but they can make things a little more interesting in fiction.
    Relationships. Arguments with friends, rivalry between coworkers, having issues with the boyfriend/girlfriend, etc.
    Family: Why can't they just get along with each other? Does the protagonist verbally battle their sibling or their parents? Is there some kind of competition for attention?
    Someone else having a problem: What if the best friend got dumped by her boyfriend and started clinging to the protagonist like a wet rag? What if the protagonist's sibling got in trouble with the law?
    Death: It touches everyone. And it is always horrible to go through.
    Changing society: These are especially useful in historical novels. How would the main character react to the world around them becoming totally different? Maybe they would have trouble adjusting to changes.
    Was this list helpful at all? Please feel free to leave comments! :)

Letting An Idea Sit

    It's awesome when you come up with an idea for a new story. And sometimes it's a chain reaction: you get an idea for a character, then a setting, then other characters, then a villain, then a story plot (or in completely different order). And when those ideas do strike, the characters seem awesome, the plot sounds easy to write about, and you may want to start writing the first draft immediately.
    Although, you might want to wait a few days or so first. Let the idea sit in your mind for a while.
    Doing so can give the idea some time to mature a bit, time to solidify the characters and the plot in your mind. You may also come up with some crucial details to add to the story, saving serious re-writing time. Also, in waiting a little while, when the initial excitement fades a bit, it can be a lot easier to focus on writing one chapter at a time (you know, instead of trying to write your way through a hurricane of what-ifs that pop up whenever you think of the story).
    How long do you usually wait before beginning a first draft?