A Year of Writing Prompts: 3 August

How to use these prompts

Who are the people walking through the arch?
What is on the other side?

Prompts

1. "If I should die think only this of me: that there's some corner of a foreign field that is forever England." Rupert Brooke
2. It's Spend the Day in a Cemetery Day. Your characters decide to spend 24 hours in a cemetery. Why? What happens?
3. Today was the day, in 1492, when Columbus set sail from Spain. Your character is one of the sailors on board his ship.
4. In 1963, a hotline between the White House and the Kremlin was installed. Write a story featuring a hotline between two leaders, whether of countries, companies or between a criminal organisation and the police or whatever else you can think of. On the day of your story, the two leaders need to have a conversation about something that will affect hundreds, thousands or even millions of lives.
5. In 1985, a nudist colony in Florida got their postal service back after promising they'd put clothes on or stay hidden when the postman called. Your character is a postman/woman whose round includes a dangerous or embarrassing drop off. S/he has to deliver mail there daily.

Character Names

August, Marvin, Leigh, Lydia, Tanya, Hermina

Character Traits

• Easily led astray into bad habits.
• Pleasant, sociable and bright.
• Show a promising talent in their youth which may not be carried through to adult life.
• Lack concentration, discipline and self control.
• Enjoy sports.
  
• Impulsive and spontaneous, act on instinct.
• May be eccentric.
• Poor planners. More dreamy than practical.
• Interested in the occult.
• Are devoted friends.
• Attractive, especially their hair.
• Have a character flaw which goes against all they seek after and hunger for.
• Do not stand firm and back themselves up in their own truth. Pretend to be more superficial and easy going than they actually are.
• Nostalgic, see the world as a magical place and are unwilling to grow up.
• Can be bossy and lead others into dangerous situations.
• Work best in organisations and groups.
• Inclined to jealousy, complacency. laziness and resignation.

Possible Themes

Childhood memories and activities. 

Family.

Protection, support.

A safe place to express creativity.

Objects

A swing; a sumptuous meal; a new moon; a thorn; a fairy door.