Here are some prompts. Don't be afraid to modify them, play with them, use one or use all. Also, try the prompts out on different characters. Maybe it's not your main character that asks the question or makes the remark generated by the prompt, but a supporting character.
Remember, the idea is not to be rigid about it, but to give your mind a "hook" or a "springboard" to use to get back into the scene.
Alright, let's get started. Here are this week's prompts. If you're stuck, why don't you have your character:
1. Offer to do someone a favor
2. Admit to something they've been hiding
3. Turn an argument around
4. Ask someone if they know about something
5. Get defensive
6. Follow a hunch
7. See clearly what others in the room don't
8. Call someone out as a traitor
9. Warn someone about something
10. Fill someone in on what just happened
************************************************
If you're still confused as to how these prompts can work for you, here's another example, using #7 - "See clearly what others don't." Now, this is something I'm making up on the fly as a scene starter, not from any of my current works; but hopefully, it'll still help illustrate how you can use these prompts. And note, I'm using the prompt for another character in the scene, not the main POV character (me) because that's how the dialogue formed in my head.
Okay, so when I think about #7 - "See clearly what others don't," here's the dialogue that begins playing in my head:
"Do you people not see what's going on here?" Peter threw his hands up in the air. "He's lying to us! He wants us to believe he hadn't spent any time with Danielle lately. But he was seen--by several different people--taking her home from the New Year's party just two days ago!"
Stunned, I turned to face my oldest and dearest friend, my heart hammering in my chest. "Eric, is that true?"
"Well, yeah, okay...maybe it is..." Eric stammered. "Sure, I might have given Danielle a lift. But that doesn't mean I know what happened to her later that night!"
Eric cracked his knuckles unconsciously, something he always did whenever he felt uncomfortable, especially when he found himself in the middle of a lie.
Oooh...now that's kind of interesting! If I were writing a mystery, I'd keep going with that one! :-)
YOU ARE READING
Scene Prompts - What Should Your Character Do Next?
Non-FictionThese are NOT your typical writing prompts. I find most writing prompts too general or specific to be helpful. The ones in this book are just generic enough to spark your imagination and everyone's response will be completely different. Depending on...
