Tag Archives: 365 days of writing

Writing Prompt: Day 211

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Copy of 211 (1)Day 211 of 365 Days of Writing Prompts: Write about a spy’s perspective.

Erin: When I found out that my assignment was to spy on my clients spouse I could feel my eyes wanting to roll all the way to the back of my head. When I got to school pickups though I felt her concern being solidified. One of the other child’s mothers got into her husband’s car. For a split second my heart thought she looked like or was my wife. I knew my kid didn’t go there and it was illogical, so within a minute I was assured. The second of rage stayed though and I was set on making things right for this guy’s wife.

Shannon: Whenever I’m sent out on one of these assignments I always try to detach. I pretend like I’m watching a movie, and not a real person, but sometimes it’s hard to look past the truth. When you spy on someone they’re not putting on some fake face they show the rest of the world. They don’t see your eyes, so they let their guard down, and you don’t just see what they’re doing wrong. You see every piece of their life from their pain to their kindest moments. After watching people for as long as I have, you’d think I’d be discouraged by all the bad things people do. Instead I’ve learned that it’s not that simple. No one is all good, or all bad. They’re complicated. They have their own motivations for everything they do, and you realize everyone is really just a person trying to get by.

What is your spy figuring out?

Writing Prompt: Day 210

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210Day 210 of 365 Days of Writing Prompts: Write about a character’s family.

Shannon: My dad is a quiet, but caring man. He’s not the type you rant to about your week, or the type to pry with enough persistence to find out why you’re upset, but he’s always there and you can depend on him for that. He’s there to teach, there to fix your problems, and there to make you smile at every twist and turn.

My mom is so gentle with us, along with the rest of the world. Don’t take that as if she’s weak. No, I’ve seen her protect her loved ones with a vengeance. I’m just saying she does her best to do no harm in this world, and I admire her big heart. I feel lucky every day I get to feel that kind of love wash over me.

My sister is a honey badger, as that is the only way I could possibly describe her to make you understand. If you have ever met someone so sure of themselves that they’re not trying to please anyone’s expectations but their own, then maybe you understand what I’m talking about. She’s the most refreshing type of person you will ever meet. I’m so lucky she’s my sister, and I always find myself hoping a little more of her rubs off on me everyday.

Erin: Our family was small. Just my mom and me. It didn’t feel small most days, but as I got older it seemed to be shrinking. With age, it started to become very clear that my mother was trying incredibly hard to be every other person we could have had in our home. She would be stern like a father, we would bicker and play like sisters, she would look out for me like a bother. Sometimes she seemed to have a hard time distinguishing who she should be. I wish she would believe me when I told her, “just mom is enough.”

Even when your character is gone they are not fully gone.

Writing Prompt: Day 209

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209.jpgDay 209 of 365 Days of Writing Prompts: Write about hate at first sight.

Erin: “The only thing that could make you prettier is a smile,” the slim ball at the corner by my work called out to me.

“I can think of a whole bunch of things that could make you more pleasant,” I spat back.

“Care to elaborate,” he asked with what seemed like an almost cocky smile.

“No, I don’t care to speak to you for even a second longer,” I rushed across the street knowing I hated him already.

Shannon: “This isn’t going to work,” I shook my head, and retreated away from the dumb look on his face.

“What’s not going to work,” he followed, unable to comprehend that he was the one I was running from.

“Us,” I circled my finger. “I can already tell I don’t like you.”

His brow furrowed. “You just met me.”

“I know. I have a good intuition about people, and I already know you’re no good. Find someone else to help you,” I shooed him away.

He huffed, and stood there speechless for a few seconds. “You’re wrong,” he finally argued.

“Am I?” I gave him one last chance to realize the truth.

Dose your character believe in hate at first sight?

Writing Prompt: Day 208

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208.jpgDay 208 of 365 Days of Writing Prompts: Let “New Rules” by Dua Lipa inspire you.

Shannon: My phone lit up, and I’ll admit I still felt a jolt of excitement, thinking it might be him. I wanted to answer as soon as I saw his name flash across the screen, but I stopped myself. It’s your choice I reminded myself. Why should I jump every time he decided he missed me? The phone stopped ringing, and I determined it was for the best.

I saw the message icon appear and again I decided it could wait. I got up to get my mind off of the interruption, but the phone was ringing before I could leave the room. I checked the screen and found his name again. What if he needs me? I jumped to the worst-case scenario and almost picked up.

NO my mind restrained me and I flipped the phone over. That wasn’t our relationship anymore. If I wanted him to stop, and if I wanted to stop loving him, then I had to stop being there for him. I had to disappear from his world, no matter how hard that would be.

Erin: “We can still be friends,” my ex suggested. I took it as his way of lightening the blow.

“Yeah. No thanks,” I nearly chuckled.

“Wait why not,” he tried to make me sound like the delusional one.

“I have no interest in you keeping me on the line and slowing my healing process,” I got up to start that growth immediately.

“I’m not going to string you along, I still love you. We could still be great friends,” if I wasn’t there for the beginning I would think I had just dumped him.

“Nope sorry. I’m a love all of me or none of my type of person,” I began to walk away. “Lose my contact information,” I shouted back without looking. I could feel he had taken a few steps in my direction. I wasn’t going to break until he was out of sight though. Once I closed the door behind me I dropped the strong act and started weeping.

How is your character going to get over their last partner?

Writing Prompt: Day 207

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207.jpgDay 207 of 365 Days of Writing Prompts: Start with the line, “This gives the ‘you are what you eat phrase a whole new meaning.”

Erin: “This gives the ‘you are what you eat’ phrase a whole new meaning,” my friend chuckled.

I just rolled my eyes and turned my body away.

“How does it feel to be a cannibal,” he just continued to chuckle.

“How does it feel to be an idiot,” I re-adjusted my work costume and grabbed the giant advertising sign.

“Shut-up and eat your pizza, Pizza Slice.”

Shannon: “This gives the you are what you eat phrase a whole new meaning,” my friend joked, happy to see her experiment working.

“What,” I scowled, with no control over my own facial muscles, “Are you saying I’m salty?” I felt a burning feeling throughout my body.

“Exactly, and if you eat this,” she handed me a cupcake. “You should be sweet.”

What is your character eating?

Writing Prompt: Day 206

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206.jpgDay 206 of 365 Days of Writing Prompts: Write about the impact a character left behind.

Shannon: She believed in me, and I guess I didn’t realize how valuable her faith in me was until I discovered she was the first one to set me on this path. If she hadn’t been in my life, I wonder if the same things would still matter so much to me these days. Would I have the same dreams, or would I have given up long ago? They were a few simple words on her end, but they meant the world to me, and I just hope she knew.

Erin: “Why do I feel like I can’t do anything right in this position?”

The new girl looked at me with such concern. “Because you’re Jade and not Tanner.”

“Excuse me,” she leaned on my cubical wall.

“Your boss had the biggest man crush on Tanner,” I chuckled as I pressed sort on my spreadsheet. “Even if you were ten times better than him, your boss doesn’t want to see it.”

“So, you are saying I’m doomed,” I questioned with a raised brow.

“No, you’re like fifty billion times better then Tanner. Your amazingness is going to slap him across the face one of these days and he’ll come to his senses,” and I believed that whole heartedly and she would prove me right.

Even when your character is gone they are not fully gone.

Writing Prompt: Day 205

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205.jpgDay 205 of 365 Days of Writing Prompts: Write about a passionate, but unpopular artist.

Erin: People always looked at me a certain way when I would show them my work. I could see their judgements: I was wasting my time, no one would ever pay me, and I should focus on my “real” job. That didn’t stop me though. My art was for the love of it, not for any other gain. I bleed onto my canvases, sharing my view of the world was my only goal and that is what I was doing.

Shannon: “Why do you always have to get so upset when people don’t understand your pieces? I know you think you’re this creative genius, but welcome to the world. People are allowed to have their opinions. Everybody gets criticized, you’re not the exception,” I blew up after he punched a hole through days of hard work.

“I know,” he snapped the wood panels over his leg a few times. “I know,” he repeated, throwing it to the ground. I’d never seen him this upset as he stopped down again and again until I forced him to stop. “I just want one person to get it,” he pleaded, begging me with his eyes.

“I get it,” I reminded him.

He shook his head, “No, I want someone who doesn’t know me. A person who doesn’t have a reason to get it,” he looked down. “Maybe it’s time to move on,” he shrugged and I saw the pain on his face right before he stormed off.

“What about your work,” I called after him. When he didn’t turn around, I took it upon myself to clean up. That’s when something strange happened. I picked up the canvas he destroyed, expecting the worse, but I saw the exact opposite. He had to see this.

Create a character that is creating something of their own.

Writing Prompt: Day 204

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204.jpgDay 204 of 365 Days of Writing Prompts: Write about swimming.

Shannon: He pulled me under the water and I attempted to slip past his side, but his arms engulfed me and drew me into him for weightless kiss. If only I could live in that moment a little longer, but I needed air. I broke his hold and kicked my way to the surface, which might as well have been a different world. I immediately wanted to go back down to him, but he’d be up soon too, and that was where I really wanted to be, in whichever world contained him.

Erin: Swimming was one of my favorite things to do. The constant sensation of the water on my skin made me fully aware of my existence at every moment. My weightlessness was freeing. The waves rocked me back and forth. When I was under the water I couldn’t think of a place I would rather be.

Put your character in the water.

Writing Prompt: Day 203

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203.jpgDay 203 of 365 Days of Writing Prompts: Write about a character going somewhere late at night.

Erin: For my eighteenth birthday, my dad opened our water park up after dark. It was my favorite place and my favorite time. Going down the slides with only the stars and moon lighting the sky was a completely different experience. Water and darkness were my two biggest calming sources. Putting them together was the perfect present and a night I would never forget.

Shannon: Being outside late at night always puts me on edge. My senses heighten and I notice every sound, every movement, and it feels likes I’m in the wrong place. I’m my only defense and I’m not enough, not for all that’s awake at this time of night. Still I went to the woods. I wanted to be scared. I wanted to feel something else, and when you’re terrified that’s all you feel.

What is your character doing at that hour of the night?

Writing Prompt: Day 202

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202.jpgDay 202 of 365 Days of Writing Prompts: Share some items on your character’s bucket list.

Shannon:

  1. Fall in love.
  2. Swim with dolphins.
  3. Compete in a game show.
  4. Publish a book.
  5. Create something beautiful.
  6. Take a risk.
  7. See the Northern Lights.
  8. Help a stranger.

Erin: Scuba dive

Sew a full outfit

Dye my hair a crazy color

Go on a road trip with my best friends

Climb a mountain

Help us understand your character’s dreams better.