A Year of Writing Prompts: 19 May

How to use these prompts

Who is this performer?
Write about the show she is appearing in.

Prompts

1. In 1870, most of New England went dark in the middle of the day, for no apparent reason. The people of the time blamed a witch's curse. Write about someone who was around at that time, or imagine that the same thing happens in the modern age - what explanations do people come up with this time?
2. In 1934, a Sherlock Holmes crossword puzzle was published in a literary magazine. Men who solved the puzzle were invited to become members of the Baker Street Irregulars. Write about a club or organisation, which uses irregular methods to recruit people.
3. "I married beneath me. All women do." Nancy Astor
4. An ancient Egyptian calendar states that today was a day for sailing on the river. Your character goes on a river-boat holiday.
5. It's notebook day. Write a story featuring a notebook. What does the owner write in it and why? What happens when they lose it? Who finds it, and what do they do with the information?

Character Names

Ivo, Emelia, Emma, Milla, Saul, Gertrude, Trudy, Dustin, Brittany

Character Traits

• Could achieve fame and high status.
• Life may be filled with strange events.
• Good organisers but may be indecisive.
• Intelligent and self-reliant.
• Strong willed and proud, with moral courage.
• Honest to the point of bluntness.
• Ambitious and want to be in charge, but can become a bully or a tyrant if their ambitions are frustrated.
• If female, they could become a henpecking wife.
• Can be bigoted and narrow minded.
• Not always popular, even with their families.
• Good looking and fond of fashion and showing off their possessions.
• May resort to violence if argument fails; danger of violent death or suicude.
• Danger of accidents affecting the face or sight.
• Not good listeners - always want to have the final word.
• Careers could include property development, administration or reflexology.
• Danger of heavy drinking and/or addictions, including co-dependence.
• Possibility of debauchery and sexual perversions.

Possible Themes

Equal opportunities and responsibilities.

Making things work.

Arguments, showdowns.

Objects

A whip; a billy goat; a crucifix; cross roads; a black spirit and a white spirit.