[Write on Wednesday] Fun With Vitriol

Ever hated a place? I mean really hated it?

I’ve been reading a few books recently where a character pours his emotions about his life and everything in it, into his description of where he is.

The authors used the character to write passionate, scathing, vitriolic critiques of the places. Reading them gave me a gleeful, naughty chuckle because I am so darned polite and evenhanded that I could never say that kind of thing about any one, place or thing. But maybe my characters could…

The Prompt

Write a story in which one of your characters rips the setting to shreds.

For inspiration you could take a look at how the various characters look at the locations in Ken Follet’s sprawling Fall of Giants. At one point Billy, going home to the town he has longed for, suddenly finds it “small and drab, and the mountains all around seemed like walls to keep the people in.” [1. Follett, Ken (2011-08-30). Fall of Giants: Book One of the Century Trilogy (Kindle Locations 15428-15429). Penguin Group. Kindle Edition.]

Or look at how another Billy sees the towns he visits as a returning Iraq war hero in Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk.

For a more extreme version, (and if you can take some furious-but-funny foul language), have a look at the opening section of A Big Boy Did It And Ran Away by Chris Brookmeier. Keep reading until you get to the bit about Aberdeen. (I will refrain from comment as I have family in Aberdeen. But tell me that writing doesn’t leap off the page!)

Ready to let a character trash something?

Go!

Post your writing in the comments, if you dare!

The Rules:

• You should use the prompt in your story (however tenuous the connection).
• You must write the story in one 24 hr period – the faster the better.
• Post the story in the comments — if you’re brave enough.
• Find something nice to say about someone else’s story and leave a comment. Everybody needs a little support!

Optional Extras:

Share this challenge on Twitter or Facebook

Some tweets/updates you might use:

This week’s #WriteOnWed short story #writingprompt is up! #storyaday http://bit.ly/ZmAKDq

Come and write with us! #WriteOnWed #storyaday #writingprompt http://bit.ly/ZmAKDq

See my story – and write your own, today: #WriteOnWed #storyaday #writingprompt http://bit.ly/ZmAKDq