Story Prompts
Golden Meadows
As a writer, I have found many of my characters have originated from the people around me. Golden Meadows sprung from the memories of watching my grandparents grow old together. In my mind's eye, they will be forever young and spry, carting eleven of my cousins and me to Opryland, Cedar Pointe, and on other exciting vacations. Yet, I watched them age, grow more cautious with stairs, and eventually use a cane and then a walker. I think the reason they are forever young in my mind is that they didn't change on the inside. My grandmother always greeted me with a smile and my grandfather always had a romp of a story to share. This story grew from a concentration on the place in my memories where I watched their bodies age, even as their minds did not.
Think about someone you know well: a family member, a close friend, or someone in your community. What memories do you have about what that person was like as a member of your family or community? What are some of the characteristics about that person that you haven't paid much attention to or noticed before? Begin writing a list of characteristics, and then make up a situation that person has never been in and write a scene with your "character" demonstrating those characteristics.
Bonus Prompt – Symbols
In Golden Meadows, one of the major symbols was the man's camera. At different points in the story, the camera was a representation of time. The camera elicited memories from the man's younger years, was a direct representation of outdated technology, and demonstrated how the man's eyesight had deteriorated over the years.
Roll the Dice
Roll a six-sided dice and incorporate a symbol from the corresponding number below into your story or scene:
Time – clock, watch, hourglass, tree changing through seasons
Distance – long road, train, staticky phone call, sound from far away
Love – bracelet, teddy bear, a heart-shaped item, roses
Security – locks, keys, home, heavy jacket
Freedom – flag, open door, car, eagle
Wealth (or lack of) – amount of money, type of home, language, item most valued (eg: a boat vs a book)
Golden Meadows Page 2
