A year of writing prompts: 17 September

How to use these prompts

Who is this goddess?
Who worships her, and what are their rituals?
What makes her angry, and what must her followers do about it?
Or is she benevolent?
Perhaps pilgrims come here to ask boons of her.

Prompts

1. In 1859, Norton I unofficially crowned himself Emperor of the United States. Your character decides to make him or herself king or queen of a place which doesn't traditionally have a monarch – a republic, a town, a county, a planet.
2. The Red Wheelbarrow.
3. “He who marches out of line hears another drum.” Ken Kesey
4. Today is the birthday of Francis Chichester, famous for sailing single-handed around the world. Write a story about sailing around the world.
5. Around this time is Prisoner of War Recognition Day. Write a story about a prisoner of war.

Character Names

Vera, Selena, Wesley, Justin, Robert, Olympia, Hildegard

Character Traits

• Strong in mind and body.
• May achieve wealth and honours. However, the more successful they are, the more enemies they make.
• Have the ability to focus on the long term and far future but are bad at planning for the immediate future and are often tripped up by obstacles they didn't foresee.
• Have an instinctive understanding of people.
• Good cooks. Food is important to them.
• Always look for the ideal in every situation, even in the middle of wars and disasters.
• May be psychic, but do not trust their intuition.
• Happy to spend their lives serving others. Are pleasant and smiling.
• Lovers of nature with artistic ability.
• Can be easily offended which results in them shutting people out.
• Sometimes have physical problems and are not always present in their own body. Gout, arthritis and eye problems are likely health issues.
• Working with magic, art, writing or helping children become self-sufficient are possible career choices.
• May consider suicide at some stage; violent death is possible.
• May avoid positions of authority because they do not feel they are good enough.

Possible Themes

Painting.

Apprenticeships.

Distrust and disagreement.

Purification.

Religious ceremonies.

Objects

A censer; a priest, an altar; a meteor; an antique temple; a waterfall; gold coins; a candle.