Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Writing Prompt: Red Dress

I'm going to take the next few Wednesdays to share quick and easy writing prompts with you. If you choose to use them, great! If  not, that's okay too! It's just good to throw new things at our brains. I'll bet thoughts come to you about this even if you don't write anything down!

If you haven't tried writing prompts, you're in for a treat. You're basically writing the first thing that comes to you. No plotting, outlining, or sitting for an hour thinking of something. Just write whatever comes to mind. No one has to see the results but you! And the best part? You don't have to edit!

I'm being brave. Every time I share a writing prompt, I'll include what I came up with. This is free-writing, unedited, and usually off-kilter. Do NOT feel obligated to read!

Writing Prompt: Red Dress

You spot this girl coming out of the drug store.




Here's what I came up with:

That's the third Taylor Swift look-alike I've seen this morning. This one's even wearing red. She must have taken the whole "Red" album to heart. I want to yell, you can still be a fan and wear blue, but I don't.

Checking my watch, I speed up. I can't afford to be late today, not with my district manager sniffing out potential fire-ees. I toss the Taylor imposter a quick glance as I get ready to pass her. What in the world? I frown, craning my neck for a better look.

It's her, Taylor Swift! I can't help myself--I peek into her plastic Rite Aid bag. I think I see Neosporin, or wait, is that anti-itch cream? Does she have an infection? A rash?

She clutches the bag to her and gives me a you-look-like-a-stalker stare. Hey, honey, I don't have time to stalk anyone, and if I did, it would be someone like Channing Tatum. Someone without a raging fungul infection. 

I resume my pace, this time smiling widely.

***

Okay, I found it VERY hard not to edit this after I read it! My inner critic yelled to change the word "speed" to "hustle as much as my four-inch heels would let me." And, frankly, the POV is catty and mean. But, hey, this is what free-writing is all about. :)

Do you ever use writing prompts? What do you naturally tend to write?

Happy Wednesday!

16 comments:

  1. Funny story. I like to use the Writer's Digest prompts. I usually forget though to send them in.
    You're going to make Wednesdays fun.

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    1. I haven't tried those, Em! I'll check them out!

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  2. I giggled and I thought the character was great! I was nodding with her. Fun stuff! Yep, I'm looking forward to reading your Wednesday prompts. Gonna be entertaining for sure! :)

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    1. Thanks, Jess! I'd forgotten how liberating writing prompts could be. :)

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  3. Taylor Swift has a raging fungal infection? No, I know, I'm being goofy w/ you but this is how rumors get started. ;-)

    Fun prompt response. I love that you wanted to know what was in her bag!
    ~ Wendy

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    1. Yes, Wendy Miller, she does. You heard it hear first! Ha!!

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  4. Woo Hoo for you and your writing prompts! I really like how you started out wanting to let her know that she should be her own person, not a copy cat. That's wise no matter the situation!

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    1. That's true--and I didn't even realize it! Thanks!

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  5. Tehehe, that's so cute!! I love your writing voice, and if I like it here in unedited form, then I know I'll love your polished books when they're published. ;)

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    1. Thanks, Lindsay! Sometimes odd things come out with writing prompts--like the POV will be a retired squirrel or something. That's what you get, I guess!

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  6. You may have just started the rumor of the year...ha!

    This cracked me up.

    I do a lot of free writing. It's fun to see where it takes you.

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    1. I'm doing more this year. I got very stale and blah last year, so I want to have more fun. Thanks!

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  7. This is fun, Jill! And now I've got "We are never, ever, ever getting back together..." in my head. I love that song against my will. It's just so catchy.

    Fun writing!!

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    1. "Like Ever." I know! I always turn it, but it finds me anyhow... :)

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    2. Melissa, I was so trying not to sing that song and then you HAD to write it out ... darn. Off to revert to being a teenager and like, totally dancing in my office. :)

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  8. Your free writing is darn awesome! When I think of a red dress, now I think of Taylor Swift :)

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