A Year of Writing Prompts: 6 May

How to use these prompts

Write a story about this statue. Perhaps it has been transported from Egypt.
If so, who by, and why? Could it be cursed?

Prompts

1. Sigmund Freud was born in 1856. Write a story featuring a psychiatrist.
2. Also born on this date was Orson Welles, who brought us the infamous broadcast of War of the Worlds, which made many people believe it was a news programme, rather than a drama, and that we really were being invaded by Martians. Write a story in which someone mistakenly believes a fictional film or play is real and acts accordingly.
3. "I'm worth more dead than alive." Marlene Dietrich
4. It's No Homework Day. Concoct an elaborate excuse a child might come up with for not having done their homework.
5. Today in 1937 the German airship Hindenburg exploded on arrival at New Jersey from Frankfurt. 36 out of 97 passengers were killed. Write a story about someone who was on the airship, or watched events unfold from the ground.

Character Names

Lucius, Benedicta, Karina, Karl, Karla, Carly, Jan, Judith, Rita, Sigmund

Character Traits

• For the first half of their life, at least, they will be lucky with money and in love.
• Their fortunes may be reversed later on, possibly die to a false sense of security.
• Stubborn and sure of themselves - likely to hold strong views on religion or philosophy, which they are not afraid to express, even if it results in them making enemies. At times, though, they may have something to say but not know how to say it.
• Hard working, dedicated and shrewd.
• Find it hard to think in abstract terms.
• Tend to hold on to secrets even when it would be of benefit to them to share.
• Like the good things in life. A tendency to over-indulge.
• Will help those less fortunate than they are.
• Health conscious.
• May have a musical talent. There is a possibility they will become singers.
• Other career choices could include business or diplomacy.
• Can be taken in by their own dreams and fantasies.
• Tend to be over-optimistic.

Possible Themes

Tenacious persistence.

Duality.

Experience.

Sharing a vision.

Challenging the status quo.

Objects

Two white cows; a tiger; a white rose and a black rose; a donkey; a perfume counter; a white dove with a ribbon and a bell.