Dragon Writing Prompts

Two journeys home

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce Fetteroll) — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 05:00:00 +0000

To better relations between the Kingdom of Lothessa

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and the Kingdom Of Granel

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the rulers and nobles send their children to homes of equivalent status to be raised as their own for five years.

Write the initial letter home and the final letter before returning of these two children:

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The green Manalishi

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce Fetteroll) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 05:00:00 +0000

The green Manalishi

What's a warm up?

Match, made in heaven

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce Fetteroll) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 05:00:00 +0000

These are all from Six Word Stories. Two possibilities: Expand on them. Or come up with your own six word story. (Or both of course!)

Match, made in heaven, ignited hell.

Lonely man. Artificial intelligence. Lonely machine.

My wedding invitations. My hit list.

Human slaves. Robot slaves. Human slaves.

Two wives, one funeral, no tears.

Right place. Right time. Wrong dimension.

Head cheerleader, star quarterback: produce nerd.

Man builds computer. Computer builds man.

Past deadline, reporter finds the story.

Time traveler kills himself. Ruled homicide.

Loved her enough to pretend otherwise.

Lonely scientist grows his own women!
Or, less cliché, Lonely scientist grows her own man.

Children of illusion

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce Fetteroll) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Children of illusion

What's a warm up?

See you in Hell

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce Fetteroll) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 05:00:00 +0000

See you in Hell

What's a warm up?

A Witch Without a Broom

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce Fetteroll) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 14:35:00 +0000

Come up with essentials for a story entitled "A Witch Without a Broom."

Begin anywhere but work towards a Lead character. Keep it sketchy at first. Don't burden the story or characters down too much. You want them to be flexible to change as the other elements change.

Once you have a character come up with (or add) several possible goals. What does this character have a burning need for? What will drive her or him through any and all obstacles thrown their way? The obvious choice is a broom. Why does she want one? Is there a looming event that he will need one for? Why doesn't she have one? He's broke? Her witch family is anti-broom? Why? He's been banned from riding? Why?

The less obvious choice is determination to get by without a broom in a world dependent on the broom? Why? What would drive him against the norm?

As you're filling in essentials, you'll probably find yourself tweaking other aspects. This is good :-) Everything should fit together. A change in goal will affect character, will affect who will oppose him, will affect her character flaws.

Once you've filled in everything ... change the Lead! Change the sex. Do the goals, flaws, opposition, obstacles still fit? How does it change the story? Add more that fit this character better.

Then .. change the Lead again :-) Make him or her 7. Then make her or him 83. Add new goals, opposition. Play around. Have fun with it. :-)

Once you have a good collection, you can cut them up, and draw randomly until you find a combination that feels fresh.

The Lead . . .
Keep it basic and let the goal, the flaws, the antagonist and everything else contribute to the shaping.

The Goal and why the Lead really really must have it . . .
What will happen if she doesn't get it?
What will his life be like if he gives up?

Character flaws that will get in her or his way . . .
Think in terms of character traits that have helped her up until now. Perhaps begin with strengths. But his circumstances have change and what once worked isn't working so well. (But it's part of his identity so he won't give it up easily!) Or she's carried the strength too far and pushed out traits that could have balanced it.

Examples of Traits and traits gone too far:
Confidence/Pride
Frugal/Cheapskate
Self-sufficiency/Not a team player
Spontaneous/Not a planner

How has this trait been valuable up to this point?

The Antagonist who will throw some of the obstacles between the Lead and the goal . . .
Not necessarily the villain! It could be the Lead's best friend. It's anyone who doesn't want the Lead to reach the goal. If a villain, they want the goal themselves so must prevent the Lead from getting it. If a loved one, perhaps they want to save the Lead from the consequences of these obvious bad choices. (Maybe the Antagonist is right! Maybe the Lead can figure out a way to make it all work.)

Obstacles between the Lead and what he or she wants. . .
Especially ones designed to challenge his or her character flaw.

Superheroes don't take prank calls

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce Fetteroll) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Superheroes don't take prank calls

What's a warm up?

"If you haven't got ..."

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce Fetteroll) — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 11:57:00 +0000

Insanity and genius

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce Fetteroll) — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Insanity and genius

What's a warm up?

Fairy detail

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce Fetteroll) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 05:00:00 +0000

You're the Goddess of Fairy Tales. Each generation, new people are born into the fairy tale roles. It's your job to make sure the main events of the fairy tales play out as written in the Golden Fairy Tale Compendium. The characters are all primed to say the necessary things, do the necessary things, all they need is the right set up.

But wickedness is afoot. Each time you set something up, some changes happens and the characters make the wrong choice. You must find a way to ensure the necessary events happen while you search out who is sabotaging your work.

Heaven can wait

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce Fetteroll) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Heaven can wait

What's a warm up?

Curiosity

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce Fetteroll) — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 11:29:00 +0000

Ms. Cammy Tutu, who has the quickest paws within wandering distance, has been concerned about suspicious behavior in the neighborhood.

Source: buzzfeed.com viaCheryl on Pinterest

She's asked the quite attractive private detective who lives around the corner if he might look into what's going on.

Mr. Quizzical Mytsz, who it's rumored, contrary to his quiet polite ways, once ran feral, is pleased to. He takes along his sometimes overly eager assistant Tollifer.

Source: buzzfeed.com viaDragon on Pinterest

It's quite possible that sometime during the investigation that these two, the curiously dependent Banner Baloo and his reticent companion Jullien, will be involved.

Source: Donna on Pinterest

Pixar's 22 rules to phenomenal storytelling

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce Fetteroll) — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 05:00:00 +0000

These rules were originally tweeted by Emma Coats, Pixar’s Story Artist. (Click image for larger view.) (There's a text version here.)

PB&J Publishing (click for download and poster)

Call me a dog

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce Fetteroll) — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Call me a dog

What's a warm up?

An impractical traitor

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce Fetteroll) — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Generated by RanGen. If there's a piece you don't like, click on the link to go to that generator.

Character 1 (Lead, Opposition, 2nd Lead, Side kick)
Archetype: Traitor
Personality: Impractical
This man has dark skin, dark green eyes and long, wild brown hair.
He has a small nose and a round chin.
He is 6' 1" and has a heavy build.
His clothes are usually quite stylish and he prefers them to be revealing.
He often wears an emerald earring in one ear.

Character 2 (Lead, Opposition, 2nd Lead, Side kick)
Archetype: Sports obsessed
Personality: Independent
This woman has fair skin, green eyes and curly white hair.
She has thin eyebrows and a softly shaped jaw.
She is 5' 11" and has a medium build.
Her clothes are usually quite stylish and she prefers them to be modest.
A notable feature is her distinctive accent.

Family Tree
Grandmother: In good health
Grandfather: Status unknown
Mother: Estranged
Father: Deceased
Brothers: 1
Sisters: 3
Sons: 3
Daughters: 1

Plot premise: Just a few days from retirement, the main character loses what's dearest to them when they accidentally commit a minor crime that could cost them their life.

Goal: Determined to set things right, and in a race against time, the main character comes up with a cunning plan to find out the truth.

How it ends: In the end, after the development of a surprising relationship, the main character loses what they had, but gains a new opportunity.

Plot device (driving force of the story): A mysterious young woman who doesn't speak the native language

Evil has no boundaries

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce Fetteroll) — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Evil has no boundaries

What's a warm up?

The Ghost People

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce Fetteroll) — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 15:01:00 +0000

Princess Nuwara, the new leader of the small republic.

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She is proud and unsure of herself. She has been thrust into leadership too soon after her mother succumbed to an illness that shouldn't have been fatal.

Eliya, her older sister.

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Eliya has voluntarily exiled herself to what was a protected area of the republic to be with the nearly one hundred others of her kind, often referred to as the Ghost People. She is looked to as a leader by them.

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There have always been rumors of the Ghost People being sorcerers but the land has been so peaceful, the rumors had remained murmurs, creating discomfort but little else. Before Eliya and Nuwara's mother died, Ghosts would find their way to the Ghost enclave once a year. But ever since Nuwara's ascension, Ghosts have been arriving more frequently, rising to once a month bringing with them tales of persecution.

To dig into the matter Eliya arrives at her sister's palace, once her home too.

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The atmosphere feels different as though it's no longer her home. Eliya's unsure if it's the place that has changed or herself. She's greeted by Menifer, the sisters' nurse, caretaker and companion since they were born, who is now her sister's advisor.

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They spend some time reminiscing in an antechamber before she's escorted -- allowed? -- to see her sister. Eliya can't shake the feeling of being controlled and manipulated as she enters her sister's receiving room.

Leave in silence

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce Fetteroll) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Leave in silence

What's a warm up?

The shadows are alive

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce Fetteroll) — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 05:00:00 +0000

The shadows are alive

What's a warm up?

"When an elder dies ..."

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce Fetteroll) — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 11:59:00 +0000

Step out of Hell

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce Fetteroll) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 06:00:00 +0000

Step out of Hell

What's a warm up?

Getting in the spirit

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce Fetteroll) — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 20:50:00 +0000

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Draganhelm Manor, the most haunted spot in the country, is up for sale. The owners have finally agreed to allow True Spirit Investigators to check into the phenomena that's been reported ever since the series of mysterious disappearances 73 years ago. Unfortunately True Spirit just lost two of their investigators in a big dust up that resulted in both of them quitting.

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Currently the team consists of Amy Clarry, the founder of the team. She works as an ambulance driver during the week.

Source: Uploaded by user via Dragon on Pinterest

And Sammi Nordstrom, their electronics expert, who works full time as the homeschooling daughter of a couple of free spirit parents.

Source: cookiesound.com via Dragon on Pinterest

And Harry Nakamura, their media expert. He works as a photographer reluctantly specializing in family portraits.

Against her better instincts, but pressed for time, Amy puts out an ad, knowing that it will draw all sorts of nut cases.

I am Amy, the founder of a small but well-established paranormal team. We are seeking someone who is comfortable with electronics and ideally has a background in marketing. We are looking for serious-minded individuals ONLY.

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After a dozen of the expected nut cases, Zazzy Draganov shows up. After a morning of wasted time, she doesn't receive him well. (Her, Zazzy corrects her.) But his credentials are quite impressive, having worked as a paranormal investigator for five years. And it turns out that his last name isn't merely coincidentally like the name of the manor house. So she hires him and arranges for the team to spend the weekend at Draganhelm.

Courtesy of Dusk to Dawn Paranormal Investigators:

Equipment
Definitions
Protocols

"I don't know where ..."

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce Fetteroll) — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 09:00:00 +0000

Russian winter

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce Fetteroll) — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 06:00:00 +0000

Russian winter

What's a warm up?

Would you rather ... 2

noreply@blogger.com (Joyce Fetteroll) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 15:21:00 +0000

Image inspiration

Would you rather...

Never have to worry about money?
Or live in a world with Pokemon?

(If you'd rather consider a different dream fantasy world it's cheating to pick the universe of Star Trek since money isn't an issue in the Federation! ;-))

Create a list of pros and cons for each. The more convincingly you can argue both sides of an issue, the more effective your writing. :-)

This came from The 15 Hardest "Would You Rather" Questions You Will Ever Be Asked (undoubtedly just one of many repostings). When I hit the dragon one then this one, my interest was piqued! As I read the rest, I realized why I don't like "Would you rathers". They're almost always picking between two horrible things. I'd much rather ponder the quandary of two equally tempting things!