Armageddon (writing prompts!)
And some inspiration from the obit pages.
Inspiration is everywhere. Case in point:
Before we get to today's prompts, I want to share a quote from the obituary of Renay Mandel Corren of El Paso Texas. Just because she sounds like an incredible character. May we all write characters as rich as this woman:
“We thought Renay could not be killed. God knows, people tried. A lot. Renay has been toying with death for decades, but always beating it and running off in her silver Chevy Nova. Covid couldn't kill Renay. Neither could pneumonia twice, infections, blood clots, bad feet, breast cancer twice, two mastectomies, two recessions, multiple bankruptcies, marriage to a philandering Sergeant Major, divorce in the 70's, six kids, one cesarean, a few abortions from the Quietly Famous Abortionist of Spring Lake, NC or an affair with Larry King in the 60's. Renay was preceded in death by her ex-boyfriend, Larry King.”
Today’s prompts were inspired by the movie ARMAGEDDON.
EXERCISE #1: “Can they *physically* survive the trip? That's all I need to know here, okay?”
JOURNALING PROMPT: Write about the most difficult physical activity you’ve ever mastered. What did it take to complete it?
FICTION PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a scene that involves a difficult physical activity and a debate between two characters about something they NEED.
EXERCISE #2: “With the proximity of the asteroid, and no prep time, none of our primary plans can work.”
JOURNALING PROMPT: Write about a time when you had to solve some sort of problem…but your solution didn’t work. What was your “plan b” and how did things turn out? Write about the act of PIVOTING.
FICTION PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, what is the central question your protagonist needs to answer? Make a list of possible solutions to this question.
EXERCISE #3: “I wanted to say that I'm sorry about everything, and... I got something coming up, something kinda big.”
JOURNALING PROMPT: Write an apology to someone who you’ve owed an apology to for a very long time. Maybe this person isn’t even in your life anymore.
FICTION PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a scene that includes both a deep heartfelt apology and a character talking about something they’re looking forward to.
EXERCISE #4: “Guess what guys, it's time to embrace the horror! Look, we've got front row tickets to the end of the earth!”
JOURNALING PROMPT: Write about something you wish you didn’t see.
FICTION PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a monologue where your protagonist tells the story of “the worst thing” they ever experienced.
EXERCISE #5: “None of you have to go. We can all just sit here on Earth, wait for this big rock to crash into it, kill everything and everybody we know. United States government just asked us to save the world. Anybody wanna say no?”
JOURNALING PROMPT: Write about a time when you felt heroic.
FICTION PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a scene where your protagonist has to give some sort of INSPIRING SPEECH. See how impassioned you can make them.
EXERCISE #6: “GET OFF the nuclear warhead.”
JOURNALING PROMPT: Write about the dumbest thing you’ve ever done.
FICTION PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a scene where your protagonist makes a really dumb mistake.
EXERCISE #7: “Putting cheese on something is sort of a defining characteristic of what makes a cracker a cracker.”
JOURNALING PROMPT: Write about your relationship with snack foods. And what do your snack food choices say about who you are as a person?
FICTION PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a scene where two of your characters talk about food. Let it be sensual and flirtatious.
EXERCISE #8: “Just for the record, this is a very bad idea.”
JOURNALING PROMPT: Make a list of things you want that you feel like, maybe, just maybe you shouldn’t have. Then pick one thing from your list and write about why you want it so badly.
FICTION PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a scene where your protagonist is faced with a choice and another character is adamant that they’re making the wrong choice.
Get my prompt books: https://www.camdenhighstreetbooks.com
Attend a writing sprint with me on Zoom: https://www.patreon.com/erikpatterson
Commission a prompt via Cameo: https://www.cameo.com/erikpatterson
Read one of my plays: https://www.camdenhighstreetbooks.com/plays