A year of writing prompts: 3 April

How to use these prompts

Who are these people?
Where are they going?
What is inside the pink buildings?

Prompts

1. "Every individual has a role to play." Jane Goodall
2. Today is the day, traditionally, when the first cuckoos arrive in England. Write a story entitled "The Cuckoo in the Nest."
3. In 1860 the Pony Express began operating. They'd advertised for "young, skinny, wiry fellows" who were under 18 , expert riders and "willing to risk death daily - orphans preferred." Write about a young man who answers this ad.
4. Some astronomers have theorised that April 3 was the date of the crucifixion. Write a story about that. A couple of suggestions - an entry in the private journal of someone who was there, an eyewitness, or one of the characters in the Bible story; or some time travellers who go back to this day to try and save Jesus.
5. According to Iranian folklore, it is unlucky to stay indoors today. Write about someone who suffers some misfortune because they choose not to go out.

Character Names

Richard, Rick, Ricky, Dick, Mavis, Ferdinand, Florence

Character Traits

• People who are destined to be alone. Perhaps they are a leader who cannot count on their friends, or they may be unpopular, even outcasts.
• May travel far from home or live in exile.
• May be deprived of power or action in some way.
• They will be luckiest if they move south east of their birthplace.
• Enjoy sport, especially tennis.
• Good judges of character - it is hard to lie to them.
• Tendency to eat too much. May be overweight.
• Full of initiative and will forge ahead but often fail to learn from their experiences.
• Act according to instinct rather than judgement.
• Resourceful and ingenious, full of good ideas.
• Carefree people who live in the moment.
• Careers: agriculture, especially wine growing, cookery, nutrition, health; law, waiters or waitresses, astrologers, athletes.
• Tend to be tuned in to what they are interested in, and tuned out to everything else.

Possible Themes

Love of words.

Sexual energy.

Opposites coming together.

Integration.

Objects

A coiled serpent; a glass of wine; a bag of gold; an apple tree; a temple of wisdom.