Some people find it hard to work with words that belong to someone else, while others can gain a kick-start, if another writer contributes a few lines. They might otherwise have been sitting in front of a blank page all day. It’s especially useful when the prompt has a built-in ‘hook’ to catch readers and set the story in the right direction. Here are some never-published, non-copyright paragraphs that any ‘blocked’ writer may take and use. Once the story is under way, the writer can then change the opening lines and make the story entirely his or her own. The prompt will have served its purpose.
Write a Romance Short Story
At first it was unnerving. The suave-looking gentleman sitting alone at a nearby table had been staring at her since he first came in. If she looked in his direction, he immediately buried his face in the menu. Bella tried to ignore his behaviour, but even when she studied her own menu, she felt certain his eyes were on her. She had such a sense of being stared at that she felt compelled to move her head swiftly and catch him. Catch him she did! He jumped nervously and his elbow caught the glass of red wine that the waiter had recently poured for him. The dark liquid fanned across the crisp white cloth and Bella heard his gasp from three tables away. Red-faced, he finally held her gaze and grinned sheepishly at her.
Write a Mystery Short Story
Sally loved her early morning jog along the leaf-littered path beside the river. But for traffic noise from the nearby highway, she often had a sense that she was the only person in the world. Not this morning, however. Through the dense brush, she could glimpse a figure now and again moving towards her on the path ahead. When she rounded the bend, she was startled to find that it was a tall, middle-aged man wearing striped pyjamas and an old-fashioned corded dressing-gown. He appeared just as startled to see her and averted his face as they passed one another. Sally suddenly realised that he was clasping his arm and blood was flowing profusely from his right sleeve down over the back of his wrist. She spun round and called: “Hey! Do you need help?” The man’s only response was to break into a run.
Write a Fantasy Short Story
Cladach sat on the rock ledge and stared down at the smoke rising from the cooking fires in the compound. He kicked angrily at a loose stone and heard it clatter down the rocky cliff face. As night fell, they would be safe behind barricades and he was out here with nothing but a sharpened stick for protection. He was sixteen; it was his Nahina Night – one night to prove his manhood or live in shame for another year. Last year it had been his brother’s turn. The elders had given him the task of stealing the eggs of a Tana bird. It was hardly dangerous at all – it just involved a tree climb. But Cladach’s task was to steal a bone from the Drool’s cave. He had just been to the cave mouth and the putrid smell told him the Drool was in. The low growl that he felt through the soles of his feet told him he wasn’t a welcome guest.
These three cliff-hangers should provide dozens of different paths for a story-teller to tread. Another good prompt, using the writer’s own subconscious thoughts, is to further one of these prompts until there is a sense of direction and a few ideas flowing – but stop at one page. Then, take the last two sentences written and, forgetting the original, use those sentences as a fresh start for an entirely different story. Further 'first paragraph' - style prompts can be found on Suite101. Novice writers who have difficulty finding ideas for new stories might also appreciate one of the free writing newsletters that offer prompts, advice, tips and competitions.
