A year of writing prompts: 8 August

How to use these prompts

What is happening here?
Why do the people at the bottom of the picture look surprised?

Prompts

1. "No-one worth possessing can be quite possessed." Sara Teasdale
2. It's International Cat Day. Write a story featuring a cat, or cats.
3. It's eight seconds past eight on the eighth of August. The temperature is 88 degrees F or 8 degrees C if you prefer. What happens?
4. In 1988, an Iranian refugee named Mehran Karimi Nasseri began living in the terminal of Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, because he had no papers and couldn't leave. He is said to be the inspiration for the Tom Hanks film "The Terminal". Your character is in a similar position. How do they survive? Do they ever manage to leave the airport?
5. The first ever hot air balloon flight took place in 1709, and the Bristol Hot Air Balloon Festival is taking place around now. Write a story featuring a hot air balloon. Who rides in it and why? Where do they take off from and land? Does the flight go to plan?

Character Names

Sylvie, Sylvia, Laszlo, Gustave, Howard, Irma, Emilia, Cyprian, Dominic, Myron, Oscar

Character Traits

• At their best, open hearted, generous and affectionate; at their worst, stubborn, self-centred and bad tempered.
• Can be headstrong and rash.
• Dislike discipline and advice.
• Have many interests and enjoy study.
• Also enjoy many different sports.
• Tend to be large and tall with big heads and hands.
• Can be mature, cautious and frugal, but childlike in some areas of life and will waste time and energy on frivolous things.
• Not always wealthy, but have learned to live off very little.
• Tendency to suffer from stage fright or self-consciousness when asked to display their talents. Tend not to believe that others value their gifts.
• May be better suited to work behind the scenes than in the public eye. Possible fields are psychology, science, philosophy, athletics, social work or teaching art.
• Possibility of disabilities - being deaf, blind or even both.
• Possibility they will end up serving a life sentence in prison.
• Opinionated and talkative - could be described by some as "loud".
• Will devote themselves to causes they believe are worthwhile.
• Can be unreliable and lack self-control.
• May suffer from manic depression.
• May be affected by four-legged animals, plumbing problems, envious or dishonest employees.
  

Possible Themes

Rebellion.

Ferocity; temper.

Extreme weather.

Optimism

Objects

Raindrops; rainbows; a doll; a giant; a ram; a donkey.