Writing Prompt: Create a Myth

Throughout human existence, humanity has come up with myths to explain creation, the afterlife, love, war, and many aspects of life that are not easily understood.  Often a pantheon of Gods, heroes, and monsters were responsible for many things that happen in our world.  

Today, we'd like to think we've become more sophisticated.  However, a quick look around reveals that we explain things that are difficult to understand through conspiracy theories and folk wisdom that isn't always very wise.  In retrospect, mythology seems like much more fun than conspiracy. 

Thor photo by Kyle Cassidy / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

For today's writing prompt, explain something that happens in our modern world by creating 

a myth.

Sensory Writing Prompt: Touch

The most vivid descriptions in fiction engage multiple senses and sometimes engage unexpected senses.  Personally, I find it most challenging to describe something in terms of smell or touch.  For today's writing prompt, write a short piece of fiction where the story hinges on the sense of --

touch. 

To Touch Another Dimension - photo by Alan Levine from Mortlach, Canada / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)

Writing Prompt: The Typo as a Catalyst

In a world where computers think they are smarter than us and where our fingers move faster than our pre-coffee brains, typos are to be expected.  For some reason, my phone keeps changing "No" to "Now."  In this era of "No means No," I'm surprised that "No means Now" hasn't caused some sort of litigation.  In real life, typos have caused some rather serious problems.  For example, police departments have sometimes served warrants on the wrong home based on a typo, misspelling, or data entry error.

photo by Richard Croft / Strickly No Parking / CC BY-SA 2.0

For today's writing prompt, create a short piece of fiction based on a misunderstanding caused by a -

typo.

Writing Prompt: The Eccentric Character

In recent times, the quirky girl has become a fiction trope.  She always wears glasses and often hides a gorgeous figure under the most nerdy attire.  She specializes in something technical or arcane and often saves the day.  At least, that's the way it works on television shows.  However, eccentric characters have long been a staple of literature, television, and movies.  The eccentrics are the inventors, the philosophers, and the slightly crazy people who invent gadgets, solve vexxing problems, or point out obvious absurdities in the conventional world.

For today's writing prompt, spin a short story or flash fiction tale that involves an -

eccentric character.

A vintage car in Croatia - photo by photographer Mia Felicita Bertelli from Firenze, Italia / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)

Writing Prompt: Mythical Creatures

Once upon a time, our world was filled with dragons, flying horses, unicorns, centaurs, and minotaurs.  We had fairy tales, legends, and myths.  They are gone now.  We replaced them with corrupt politicians and confused scientists.  In our post-modern times, if we see a myth we feel a need to explode it.  In the end, we feel empty as the pick our way through the cultural shrapnel.  Perhaps it's time to bring back fairy tales, legends, and myths?  Of course, we can't start them without the creativity of writers just like you.  

For today's writing prompt, invent and write a short story about a -

mythical creature

Pegasus - photo by Lex Loeb / Public domain

Writing Prompt: Bitchin' Camaro

According to a recent article in Hot Rod magazine, development of the 7th generation Chevy Camaro may be delayed.  That leaves it to writers to envision the future or the past of the great American hot rod.  For today's writing prompt, write a story that features 

any generation of Camaro and a hero.

A 1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS Hotrod - photo by Bull-Doser / Public domain

Come on people.  We can't have an Oprah-story writing prompt every week!

Writing Prompt: Flying Monkeys

Narcissists project a false sense of self in order to get a constant stream of attention (also known as their narcissist supply).  If they aren't getting the adulation, admiration, respect, fear, applause or affirmation that they seek, they will  manipulate situations and pit people against each other in order to create drama and garner attention for themselves.

Of course, narcissists don't always work alone.  Sometimes they enlist the help of family and friends who believe their stories and do the bidding of narcissists.  "Please just do this for the so-and-so," they'll ask the narcissist's target.  Alternatively, they'll spread gossip and rumors in order to help the narcissist achieve his or her goals.  The helpers of a narcissist are known as "flying monkeys."

For today's writing prompt, spin us a short tale of -

flying monkeys and the damage they can do.

Three Wise Monkeys - photo by Ray in Manila / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)