I, Tonya (writing prompts!)
And some inspiration from Diksha Basu.
Your Daily Creative Inspiration
Let's start with this quote from novelist Diksha Basu talking about why she loves dialogue:
“I love the space between what people say and what they think they are saying and what they actually want to say. That space is where the stories are.”
I always think of dialogue as what's said vs. what's unsaid, or text vs. subtext, but I like that she breaks it down into three categories: what IS said, what the character THINKS they are saying, and what they WANT to say.
Okay, so at this weekend’s Sprint, I asked everyone to share their obsessions. Sharing their replies here with you in case any of these obsessions prove to be inspiring. Maybe use one of these things in your writing this week:
Theater, soup dumplings, Bridget Everett, Euphoria, food, Inventing Anna, theatre, notebooks, cats, musical theater, coffee mugs, A Little Life, astrology, human design, enneagram, reading, music, singing, cooking healthy food that no one else will eat, turmeric lattes, Attack on Titan, method acting, baseball, Harry Styles, dark chocolate covered cherries, how colors got their names, psychology, chickens, and puppies.
Pick one of those things. Think of it like an ingredient. You decide how much goes into your writing this week.
Your Daily Writing Prompt
Today’s prompts were inspired by the movie I, Tonya.
EXERCISE #1: “What’s people’s impression of me? That I’m a real person. That I didn’t ever apologize for being a red neck which is what I am.”
PERSONAL PROMPT: Imagine you’re someone else meeting you for the first time. Write down what you think their first impression might be – then write about WHY you think they might see you in those ways.
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a scene where two characters talk about how their first impressions of each other have changed since they’ve gotten to know each other better. Other ingredients to include – a song, something eaten, a compliment
EXERCISE #2: “I thought you wanted to do Ice Capades.”
PERSONAL PROMPT: Write about a dream or a hope that you forgot you had. Something you used to want really bad.
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, do some freewriting about a hope or a dream that each of your characters had when they were younger.
EXERCISE #3: “We met in an ice rink where I was practicing. I was 15.”
PERSONAL PROMPT: Think of someone who’s really important to you and write about how you met. Try to remember every detail. Where were you, what were you wearing, what was the weather like, what did you talk about. Make up the things you can’t remember.
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, pick two of the characters from your work-in-progress and write THEIR FIRST MEETING.
EXERCISE #4: “I was doing six hours a day of practice while I worked a drill press, I did welding, I ran a fork lift.”
PERSONAL PROMPT: What activity have you spent the most hours of your life doing? Write about your relationship with this activity and the ways it brings you joy.
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a scene where your protagonist is in the middle of an ACTIVITY that they’re really good at – and then have them tell someone why they’re so good at it, let them brag.
EXERCISE #5: “The Jeff I fell in love with was gone.”
PERSONAL PROMPT: Write about the end of a relationship (it could a romantic relationship or a friendship) – how did you know things were souring?
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a monologue that includes the line “and that’s when I knew I didn’t love them anymore.”
EXERCISE #6: “People don’t take me seriously, Jeff. But I am in control of the situation.”
PERSONAL PROMPT: Write about a time when you felt underestimated.
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, start a scene with the line “I am in control of the situation” and then see what comes after that. And let’s say that whatever the situation is, this character definitely is NOT in control of it.
EXERCISE #7: “Tonya Harding could make Olympic history...right...here.”
PERSONAL PROMPT: Write about a way in which you would like to make history – it can be a big or small thing, just something you would like to do that would feel “historic” to YOU.
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a scene where your protagonist confides in someone about one of those dreams or hopes you brainstormed for them earlier.
EXERCISE #8: “That’s the story of my life, and that’s the fucking truth.”
PERSONAL PROMPT: Imagine there was going to be a biopic made out of your life and make a list of moments from your life that you would want them to include.
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, pick a character and write a monologue where they tell someone the story of their life so far.
Thank You For Being Here
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