Twin Peaks (writing prompts!)
And some inspiration from David Lynch.
First, as always, we'll start with a quote. This is David Lynch:
“The ideas tell you everything. So sometimes you get an idea, and it’s a fragment of the later whole thing. You see it in your mind’s eye, like on TV in your mind—and you hear it and you know it and you see the mood of it, even if it’s just a fragment. Or if it’s a character, they start talking.” [and] “You desire, and the desire starts pulling ideas in. There’s trillions of ideas. If we just keep one little fish that we love, that becomes even more bait. Now more will swim in. If you’re writing a script or a book, scenes will start emerging. Characters will start coming alive. And if they don’t come, just like with fishing, move to a different part of the lake. Get some different things going and think from that place. They’ll start pouring in.”
Tonight's prompts were inspired by Twin Peaks.
EXERCISE #1: “Up the stairs and into the room.”
JOURNALING PROMPT: When you hear that, what’s the first room you think of? Maybe it’s a childhood home, or where you currently live, or a building at your school, or a friend’s place. What goes on in there?
FICTION PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, put two of your characters in this room. They’re doing something they should not be doing.
EXERCISE #2: “Bad news travels fast...and painfully.”
JOURNALING PROMPT: When was the last time you received bad news? Think about the moment before and the moment after.
FICTION PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, deliver some bad news to your protagonist. Write two short scenes: a scene before they get that news and a scene later that night.
BONUS ELEMENT: INTIMACY
EXERCISE #3: “Diner dalliance.”
JOURNALING PROMPT: You can either write about the last dinner date you went on or plan/imagine the next dinner date you’d like to go on.
FICTION PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, pick two of your supporting characters, it’s after midnight, they’re at a late-night diner. Ingredients to include: a key, a bunny, and a necklace.
EXERCISE #4: “Phone calls in the dead of night.”
JOURNALING PROMPT: Try to recall a a meaningful phone call you’ve had. Make up whatever you don’t remember. Fill in the blanks.
FICTION PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, your protagonist is awoken in the middle of the night by a phone call. It’s someone they do not want to hear from. This person has big news. Write that scene.
BONUS ELEMENT: “Are you decent?”
EXERCISE #5: “Opening a safe deposit box.”
JOURNALING PROMPT: What are your most important possessions and why? Pick five.
FICTION PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, imagine that each of your characters has a safe deposit box. What’s inside each of their boxes?
EXERCISE #6: “An interrogation.”
JOURNALING PROMPT: I want you to imagine you’re interrogating yourself. What are the hardest questions you could ask yourself?
FICTION PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, imagine you’re sitting across from one of your characters—pick a character who you feel like you know the least—and ask them the hardest questions you can. See how they answer.
BONUS ELEMENT: HEIGHTENED LANGUAGE
EXERCISE #7: “The person we’re looking for is a...”
JOURNALING PROMPT: There is someone you need in your life who you haven’t met yet. Who is this person? Whoever comes to you first. Visualize them. Imagine who this person might be.
FICTION PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, complete that sentence: “The person we’re looking for is a [BLANK].” That’s your first line of dialogue. Write that scene.
BONUS ELEMENT: a visual cue!
EXERCISE #8: “25 years later.”
JOURNALING PROMPT: Where do you see yourself 25 years from now?
FICTION PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a scene that takes place 25 years after the end of your story.
BONUS ELEMENT: BALANCE
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