My Facebook feed and RSS reader are full of posts from angst-ridden parents who already—three days in—hate their stupid Elf On The Shelf[1. A craze that took off a couple of years ago and is like the Tooth Fairy crossed with an advent calendar, and a nightmare for parents].
People seem to be held hostage to this thing at the same time that they are plagued[2. thanks to Pinterest postings from uber-mommies] by a sense of inadequacy and overwhelm.
The Prompt
Imagine a character who is trapped in a situation beyond their control for a finite amount of time. Write their story.
Tips
- What is the situation and why is it so torturous for THIS particular character?
- How do they react on Day 1. How does that change by Day 15?
- What is the crisis point? What brings things to a head?
- What hilarious (or terrifying) events happen at the climax?
- What fallout does this have for the character and the people around him/her?
- What lessons are learned at the end? What vows are made?
- Think about something that drives YOU crazy. Create a character who is also driven crazy by this thing, but make them more extreme. Amplify everything. Make the lows lower than they ever get for you. Make the highs higher.
Go!