So here on Secret Life we want to interact with everyone! We want to engage, grow, have fun. Now I feel like I'm standing in front of a classroom, so I'm sorry about that, but anyway. Here's how it works. You stare long and hard at the image I've picked out, and write something. Anything. A paragraph, a poem, a short story, a conversation, or just a simple description. The purpose is to get some down on the page. After all... we're writers. We're supposed to write at some point, right?
And remember. This isn't about writing something perfect. The word choice can be off, the dialogue can be cheesy, the characters can be two-dimensional. Basically, feel free to suck. Prompts aren't about being awesome; they're about being productive.
Without further ado... be inspired!
My (awful) piece:
I stand at the side of the road and gaze up at the church. It's been two years since I've been back. So much has changed. Everything has changed, really. The bricks are charred, the roof caved in, and the wind carries the forlorn feeling of a thing forgotten. By all appearances, no one survived. But I'm here anyway, because I have to know.
I walk toward the doors.
Your piece definitely isn't awful. It really captures something in so few words.
ReplyDeleteI just did a photo prompt for a contest actually and had fun doing it. Maybe I'll try this one too tomorrow :) I definitely like the idea of having these.
Haha aw, thanks Z. Hope you do try it!
DeleteOkay, so I really loved this image and writing prompt. Mine started out as a simple paragraph then demanded it wanted to be lengthened into a small short story. =) I always listen to my stories when they speak to me. Thanks so much for the fun idea! Any feedback is welcome. Remember, it was a quickly written short! =)
ReplyDeletehttp://cmalbert.blogspot.com/2013/02/dissipation-mondays-writing-prompt.html
Oh, good, I'm glad I picked something out that inspires everyone. I was a little worried that I would be the only one who thought it was cool. I went and checked out your piece. It was so good! As I was reading I couldn't stop thinking about how true it is, that writers can look at the same thing yet come up with completely different ideas.
DeleteOoooh yes! :D I am so going to check out everyone's when I am more awake tomorrow. This is crazy fun. Thanks for the prompt, Kelsey!
ReplyDeleteHere's mine~
http://alexyuschik.blogspot.com/2013/02/prompt-calm-and-terminal-kind-of-care.html
Haha isn't it?! Thanks for stopping by and participating! Checking out your piece now...
DeleteI'm afraid I'm already up to my neck in writing, but wanted to say this photo is lovely! Kelsey, "the wind carries the forlorn feeling of a thing forgotten" is a beautiful, emotionally evocative line, perfect for the scene. Cold and lonely definitely came through in your piece.
ReplyDeleteFor future prompts, you might want to look into inlinkz, to make finding everyone's stories easier. (Each blogger can post the link on her blog, and it updates as writers add links to their blogs to the collection).
If I don't get back for future stories, I hope you all have a blast!
Thanks Waitingforaname! You're so sweet :) And I forwarded your suggestion onto the other Secret Lifers; it's a great idea. Hope you can stop by next time!
DeleteI do this all the time, stare at a picture long enough until the characters speak to me :) Thanks for posting.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I can get inspiration from pretty much anything if I look at it long enough... even a paper bag. Haha. Thanks for reading :)
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