So, it wasn't tomorrow. (It was today.)

Picture prompt! I was attracted to the bright light of it -- how does it inspire you?

Tomorrow, a Picture Prompt

So, I'm switching up a the format a bit. Instead of giving you all a ton of prompts each post, I'm going to surprise you each day with something a little different.

Today, a Specific Prompt:

Write about the most hilarious thing that's ever happened to you -- whether it's good, bad, or embarrassing -- and be as utterly detailed as possible. Make sure to let your writer's voice shine through as much as possible. The goal? Keep it humorous and entertaining -- something ANYONE would want to read.

Verboten

Specific Prompt:

Go to the movies. What do you see? And what happened before that makes it where it's entirely impossible to pay attention to the movie?

Fan Fiction Prompts:

Harry Potter prompt: Tonks/Lupin. Tonks' love for Lupin. Where did it come from initially? Shippers always had a hunch, but the general fandom was surprised. What happened?

Heroes prompt: Sylar/Claire. With the impending premiere of Heroes, a Sylaire prompt is obviously in order. So, we know that Sylar is currently Nathan and his ego/inner self is in Parkman's head. (That's based on the previews, at least. And what we've seen so far.) Now...Claire obviously had a traumatic experience with Sylar in the finale, and now she thinks he's dead. Wouldn't this haunt her?

Write a story including the phrase:

"I forgot my pants."

Use this song for inspiration:

"I Think We're Alone Now" by Tiffany

Picture Prompt:



One Word Prompts:

Smitten
Peace
Solitude
Verboten
Sing

Ice (Now with Picture Prompts)

Specific Prompt:

Earlier, I challenged everyone to write a post containing only dialogue. Now, your challenge is to do the opposite. You can use descriptions or internal narration -- basically, whatever floats your boat. Speaking of boats, include a boat somewhere in there.

Fanfic Prompts:

Being Human prompt: George/Nina. So, judging by the end of series one, Nina's got a secret she's keeping. Play with that. Also, have Mitchell/Annie act vaguely parental towards George.

Harry Potter prompt: Snape/Narcissa. I still can't leave it alone. I somehow picture them together, even though he's technically dead. So, write a story about an unspoken affair between them years ago, perhaps when Snape was a Deatheater or something.

Stargate Atlantis: Ronin/Teyla. Ronin and Teyla are stranded on an icy world, unable to communicate with the others. How do they keep warm?

Write a story including the phrase:

"You'd better be joking."

Use this song for inspiration:

"Rehab" by Amy Winehouse

One Word Prompts:

Ice
Melt
Stay
Numb
Liquid
Pierce

And presenting picture prompts!:



Image via Wikipedia

Wasted

Specific Prompt:

Your hero finds out he has a deadly disease. What does he do with the last year of his life?

Fanfic Prompts:

Being Human prompt: Mitchell/Annie. Most of what is Mitchell and Annie (or Mitchie, as I call them, and wonder if others do too) is always conveyed through subtle cues. Delve into these and show us what the characters are thinking during these subtle onscreen moments. You can write a scene from the show from their POV or you can make up your own little moment.

Harry Potter prompt: What we know that the Boy Who Lived settles into a relatively normal/happy life after the story ends. But, wouldn't that make him restless? I think it would.

Write a story including the phrase:

"It stuck to my pants."

Use this song for inspiration:

"The Ghost in You" by The Psychedelic Furs (though I prefer Counting Crows' cover)

One word prompts:

Tickle
Wasted
Shine
Slim
Incense

Choice

Specific Prompt:

Write a story using only dialogue. No descriptions. No narrations. Just dialogue. There has to be a beginning, middle, and end -- not to mention hefty conflict to make it compelling. The story has to be told through the characters words and it has to mean something. Think you can handle it? I wouldn't mind reading it, if you could.

Fan Fiction Prompts:

Being Human prompt: Mitchell/Annie. There's always been some tension there. Heck, even the BBC's Being Human Blog mentions it. So, write a very tension-filled moment. Don't make them kiss. Don't make them have any sexual relations of any kind. Tension is the key here. Make the story ooze tension. (And totally link me.)

Skins prompt: Effy. Pure Effy. Dig into her psyche and make her make an important choice.

Torchwood prompt: Jack/Gwen. I always found Gwen's sudden pregnancy in series three a bit suspicious. It's like there's a little something MORE too it. It was just too random, you know? Might Jack somehow be involved?

Write a story including the phrase:

"This is a horrible mess. It's time to make a choice."

Use this song for inspiration:

"The Rifle" by Alela Diane

One Word Prompts:

Choice
Fear
Company
Force
Significance

Implications

Specific Prompt:

I want you to travel through time and space (but not to the world of the Mighty Boosh, because that would be copyright infringement, which is a no-no). Instead, I want you to create your own universe. Think of what inspires you. What are you interested in? Fairies, outer space, talking trees? Whatever it is, use it to your advantage and think of something interesting. Create a world. That's your challenge. Create a rich, unique, and interesting world. It could be a long term project, ideally. Half-ass attempts rarely come off as unique or interesting.

Fan fic Prompts:

Mighty Boosh: Yes, now I'm telling you to travel to the world of the Mighty Boosh (since it's fanfic and not for profit). Howard and Vince come into contact with vampires. Be as cracktastic as possible, please.

Battlestar Galactica: AU. What would've happened if Starbuck never died? Would they ever have found Earth? Think of all the implications of what would've been and create an alternate universe based on that.

Being Human: Mitchell/Annie (my new lovely ship). Mitchell and Annie can't die (they're both already dead). What are the implications of that? Unlike George, they're essentially immortal (barring any stakes through the heart or another one of those Death Doors). How does their immortality connect them?

Write a story including the phrase:

"Well, isn't this a right loading of f*cking piss?" (Forgive the asterisks. I'm unsure of Blogger's policy on swearwords and I don't want my blog taken down over something silly.)

Use this song for inspiration:

"That Thing You Do" by The Wonders (Yes, it's a movie song. But I love it, and I just got done watching the movie.)

One Word Prompts:

Implications
Standard
Restless
Creep
Solvent

Secrets

Specific Prompt:

Think of the career you would most hate to work in. Think hard. Thought about it yet? Good. Now, write a story where your main character is in that career and LOVES it. Write why they love it. Open your mind and try to think of good things about that career, even if it doesn't appeal to it. For instance, if you're a creative person, maybe your character is an accountant who loves crunching numbers. Be inventive. Oh and -- give them a plot and a story.

Fanfiction Prompts:

Being Human: Write your bestest Mitchell/Annie story. (I adore them!) Make it tender, without being fluffy. That's the way I see them on the show. (And I sound like a dictator or something, but yeah -- totally, I would love to read a sweet Annie and Mitchell story.)

Heroes: Sylar/Claire. Smut. Somehow include the word "lick" (because I like it so much) three times in the story. The catch? It still has to make sense. It's not cracky smut. Also, include the word throb twice. Why? Because if you can do it without being repetitive, it's a good exercise/challenge.

Star Trek: Spock/Uhura smut. Yes, that's right. SMUT. In the movie, you could sense the smoldering passion beneath the surface. You, brave fanfic writer, must bring that passion forth. (And totally link me through an email or else a comment.)

Write a story including the phrase:

"I thought I would faint if I looked at him again."

Use this song for inspiration:

"I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" by The Proclaimers

One Word Prompts:

Liquid
Anguish
Front
Secrets
Like
Centurion

Zombie Chicken Award!

As I mentioned in my last post, I got a second award that day: Al at Publish or Perish awarded me the Zombie Chicken Award.



The Details:

The blogger who receives this award believes in the Tao of the zombie chicken – excellence, grace and persistence in all situations, even in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. These amazing bloggers regularly produce content so remarkable that their readers would brave a raving pack of zombie chickens just to be able to read their inspiring words. As a recipient of this world-renowned award, you now have the task of passing it on to at least 5 other worthy bloggers. Do not risk the wrath of the zombie chickens by choosing unwisely or not choosing at all.

My Nominations Are:

Andrew at Musings and Mullings.

Rebecca Emrich at Living a Life of Writing (even though she's already received this award from someone else, I believe she deserves it all over again).

Cindy R. Wilson

Jennifer Neri

Tim at Wizard's Keep

Kreativ Award

Hi guys! A big thanks goes to everyone who reads this blog.

Rebecca Emrich at Living a Life of Writing has nominated me for the Kreativ Award! I'm very excited as this is the first award Prompt Romp has won (the next post will be about the second). If you haven't already done so, I highly recommend that you check out Rebecca's blog. There, she posts in-depth about the life of writers; it's a great, wonderful, and thought-provoking read.

So, now it's time for me to do some nominating.



Here are the rules for the award:

1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award.
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award.
4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting. (see below)
5. Nominate 7 Kreativ Bloggers.
6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know they have been nominated.

7 Thing People Might Find Interesting About Me:

1. I can sing. I've been singing all my life and I love it.

2. I'm writing a modern fantasy series. Fantasy is my favorite genre to write followed by horror and scifi.

3. I'm obsessed with real-time strategy games. My favorite is the Age of Empires series; recently, I've become fascinated with Imperivm Romanvm.

4. My top three favorite shows (in no particular order) are: Torchwood, Heroes, and Being Human.

5. I've been playing the Sims for many years. My IQ is 160; still, I can't figure out how to make my own meshes. (Shut up -- everyone has their own different type of smarts.)

6. I drink a lot of coffee. I mean, a lot. I've been drinking coffee since I was seven.

7. If I had to say what influences me in respect to creativity the most, I'd say life -- particularly that which touches me and makes me think.

My Nominations for the Kreativ Award:

1. Andrew at Musings and Mullings.

2. Al at Publish or Perish.

3. Cindy R. Wilson.

4. Write and Earn a Living.

5. Kait Nolan.

6. Pink Ink.

7. Writing About You.

Suggest

Specific Prompt:

Go out into the forest. Something bad happens. What is it? How do you deal with it?

Fan Fiction Prompts:

Star Trek prompt: Spock/Uhura. There's danger on the Enterprise when Uhura becomes enamored by a strange alien with a secret. Meanwhile, Spock is suspicious of the newcomer.

Heroes prompt: Sylar/Claire. PWP. Cake is somehow involved.

Being Human prompt: Mitchell/Annie. Write a story describing their common ground.

Write a story including the phrase:

"This is hopeless."

Use this song for inspiration:

"F**k Forever" by Babyshambles

One Word Prompts:

Stun
Surround
Technique
Forge
Suggest

Instinct

Specific Prompt:

What happens when nightmares become reality? Do they consume us, or do we overcome them? And if we overcome them, what happens after that?

Fanfiction Prompts:

Heroes: Sylaire (Sylar/Claire). Smut. Sylar breaks into Claire's dorm room and demands ALL of her valuables. ;)

Harry Potter: What becomes of the son of Tonks and Lupin after the end of Deathly Hallows?

Star Trek TNG: Crackfic. Data becomes infected by a computer virus that causes him to think he's the king of France.

Write a story including the phrase:

"I never thought this would happen."

Use this song for inspiration:

"Strawberry Fields Forever" by The Beatles

One Word Prompts:

Instinct
Fathom
Madness
Control
Neglect
Wicked

Battle

Specific Prompt:

If you had a time machine, what would you do with it? Where would you go? Would you be with the ones you love? Would you watch your great-grandparents get married? Would you visit Pompeii on that fateful day?

Give reasons for why you would do what you would do, and where would you go. Would you mess with time? Would you fix something you think is broken? What would you do?

Fanfiction Prompts:

Torchwood: Jack/Gwen. Jack and Gwen reunite after the Children of Earth series. What happens next?

Harry Potter: Harry/Hermoine. AU. What happened if they got together in Deathly Hallows instead of the way it REALLY happened?

Spock/Uhura: A dangerous drug has been introduced into the USS Enterprise.

Write a story including the phrase:

"It will change you."

Use this song for inspiration:

"Across the Universe" by The Beatles

One Word Prompts:

Bite

Charge

Battle

Courage

Fear

Surmise

Man in the Moon

Specific Prompt:

Go to the man in the moon (he can be Noel Fielding, if you like) and ask him a question. You only get to ask one, so make sure it's a good one. (And if he is Noel Fielding's man in the moon, remember that Harrison described him as an "alabaster retard".)

Fanfiction Prompts:

Torchwood: Jack and Gwen are alone on a deserted island due to some sort of spacial anomaly. Preferably set in series 1.

Being Human: General fic. What happens right after the first episode? Drabble, if you like.

Stargate SG1: Was their something going on between Anubis and Adria? You be the judge.

Write a story including the phrase:

"I planned for this. Really, I did."

Use this song for inspiration:

"Sonnet" by The Verve

One Word Prompts:

Green
Orbit
Sanction
Fun
Ridiculously

Taste

Specific Prompt:

Use your imagination. Imagine you are an elf. What's the world like?

Fanfiction Prompts:

Torchwood: Owen and Toshiko. Smut. Set before their deaths, describe an almost intimate moment. Include the word "lick" somewhere in there.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Crackfic. Jack comes to visit Elizabeth. Set after At World's End.

Write a story including the phrase:

"You, sir, are an incredible moron."

Use this song for inspiration:

"Warrior" by The Yeah Yeah Yeahs

One Word Prompts:

Taste
Long
Cruelty
Ravish
Engage
Prince

I wrote a drabble!

It's a Star Wars Obidala drabble. Exactly 100 words. I'm rather proud of it (though I didn't edit it, so we'll see how proud I am when I look at it in the morning). I meant to use one of my own prompts I posted here recently, but I diverged.

And without further ado...here it is at my Livejournal.

And never fear. More prompts will follow in the morning, when I'm more awake. (I've had a busy week this week. I turned 21! And my youngest sister turned 2! And my dad turned 51! So yeah, lots of birthdays. =D)

I got the St. Louis Blues. (W.C. Handy fest post)...plus other stuff!

Specific Prompt:

Write about an event in Henry the Navigator's life. The key? Do it from the POV (point of view) from somebody of a lesser rank than his, like a servant or some other subordinate.

Historical works are usually filled with people who were famous. Me, I've always found the "little people" interesting, too. So, sometimes it's fun to mash the two worlds together, because it comes off in a surprisingly realistic way (after all, these people were flanked with lesser knowns). Do your research. Your protagonist could be a real person or someone believable that you make up. Whatever you do, give them their own voice and make them, and their opinions, important.

Fanfiction Prompts:

Caprica: Based on the pilot, what do you think happens next? Whatever you do, make it as nitty/gritty as the pilot was. Somehow, I don't think Caprica fluff would work. (Though, if you can make it, please link me.)

Heroes: Sylaire. Crackfic. Sylar and Claire (don't ask me why/how -- it's a crackfic) get a hold of some spoilers for this coming season. What are their reactions?

Harry Potter: Snape/Narcissa. AU (sadly -- I thought they had chemistry). Set before Snape dies, obviously. In fact, set it between the death of Dumbledore and Deathly Hallows. And go from there.

Write a story including the phrase:

"They killed her. Just like that."

Use this song for inspiration:

"St. Louis Blues" by W. C. Handy

It's the W.C. Handy festival this week in my hometown. Mr. Handy was born in Florence, AL (right by where I live) on November 16, 1873 and we celebrate his life and accomplishments every year around late July/early August (which happens to be my birthday timeframe, so I usually get to see good music when I go out on my birthday). So, yeah. I had to share his work today.

I love this song, because it's a story in itself set to one of the most iconic musical compositions of all time. "I hate to see that evening sun go down," is such an honest phrase for the way the song's protagonist feels, it's still more than relevant today. As is, "My man's got a heart like a rock cast in the sea". It's so poetic, you can just FEEL the pain. They don't make them like that anymore.

One Word Prompts:

Edge
Tender
Voice
Peel
Rage
Sorrow

What else?

Specific Prompt:

The idea for this one was inspired by Andrew's newest post. His vivid descriptions are the perfect example of how descriptions in fiction should be; they show, without telling, and without tiring the reader.

So, my challenge for the Specific Prompt is to write a story set in the 20's. Saturate it with vivid descriptions which SHOW the reader the world. It was a different time then, describe it and breath into it life with your pen (or keyboard).

Fanfic Prompts:

Family Guy: Crackfic. (What else?) Peter invents a new kind of telescope. Use your imagination.

The Mighty Boosh: Crackfic. (What else?) Howard and Vince travel to Naboo's homeworld.The Head Shaman tags along.

Star Wars: Obidala. AU. Padme survives Episode III. What happens afterward?

Write a story including the phrase:

"Well, this was one trippy experience."

Use this song for inspiration:

"Daydream Believer" - The Monkees

One Word Prompts:

Spill
Fever
Chills
Sing
Laughter
Sanguine
Eloquent

Heat (Sylaire+Spock/Uhura)

Specific Prompt:

Write a story about how you would survive being plopped out in the middle of nowhere in the Appalachian mountains with no supplies or anything. How'd you get there? How do you survive? Are you a loser or a winner? Be creative. If you don't know anything about the wilderness (or Appalachia for that matter), stretch your research skills. Every writer needs research skills.


Fan fiction prompts:

Harry Potter Prompt: Write an AU story in which bad things DIDN'T happen in Dumbledore's childhood. What kind of man does he become if his father wasn't imprisoned and his sister and mother were never killed. (Keep in mind that Dumbledore grew up in the 1880's/90's so write accordingly.)

Heroes Prompt: Sylaire. Sylar and Claire decide to "come out" as a couple to the Petrelli-Bennett clan. What kind of chaos ensues. Be creative and be cracky. In fact, I think I might write this one myself (but feel free to do the same -- the more the merrier!).

Star Trek: Spock/Uhura. Crackfic. Uhura might have a talented tongue, but what happens when Spock develops an uncontrollable case of glossolalia? He seems to be trying to say something important.

Write a story including the phrase:

It was the strangest thing I'd ever seen.

Use this song for inspiration:

"Man of Constant Sorrow" -Traditional (or possibly by Richard Burnett)

One Word Prompts:

Cantankerous
Jovial
Prankster
Sickle
Heat
Leaky

Prompt Romp's First Degrassi Prompt!!! *squee*

Specific Prompt:

Write a story involving a trip to the beach. The catch? Make it a genre combo of romance and scifi. And make sure the beach is central to the plot.

Fanfiction Prompts

Daria Fanfiction: Daria is in college. Lawndale people start showing up, desperate for her omnipotent words of wisdom. What ever must she do?

Degrassi Fanfiction: As we all know, Joey and Caitlin are no longer on Degrassi TNG. Write about what's going on in their lives now. Perhaps throw Craig in too. (I miss those characters.)

Stargate Atlantis Fanfiction: Write some Ronin/Teyla PWP. Specifications? They're stranded on the beach of a deserted world.

Write a story including the phrase:

"Keep those muddy, filthy hands off of me, or I swear you'll lose them!"

Use this song for inspiration:

"You're So Vain" by Carly Simon

One Word Prompts:

Sticky
Tickle
Endless
Return
Smoke
Paper

Mod Hat Post 2

I'm going to start giving fanfiction prompts for multiple fandoms in a given post. That way, there's more fan fic goodness all around!

Temptation

Specific Prompt:

Go the way of the werewolf. Make them your protagonist. Make the antagonist someone unexpected (i.e. NOT a vampire or a werewolf hunter). Get into the psychology of what a werewolf must go through in their daily life and don't use Harry Potter as a werewolf resource.

Fanfiction Prompts:

Lexana: Write an alternate viewpoint of season six with a favorable outcome for Lexana. I'm not saying make Lex a good guy (though you may, if you wish -- as long as you keep it IN CHARACTER).

Battlestar Galactica: Write a post-finale fic following Lee Adama's journey on his new home world. What happens to him? How does he deal with losing both his father and Starbuck? Make it a character study.

Star Trek: Spock/Uhura. General fic. Spock has been captured by the Klingons, who use him as bait for the USS Enterprise.

Write a story including the phrase:

"People are like mushrooms."

Use this song for inspiration:

"Sex and Candy" by Marcy Playground

One word prompts:

Lucrative
Forgiving
Faithful
Temptation
Shallow
Inevitable

Shadow and Fang

Shadow and Fang

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Mod Hat Post

Here is where I put on my modding/administrative hat...or whatever.

Anyway. I'm going to start linking pics to selected One Word Prompts. Think of these related pictures as Picture Prompts. Picture prompts are a great way to get the creative juices flowing. So, stay tuned.

Do you feel the way I feel?

Specific Prompt:

Write about the most ancient ancestor of yours you know about. Make them your protagonist. Imagine their daily life and tell their life's story in a dramatic, thought-provoking way.

Fanfiction Prompt:

Sylaire crack!fic. Sylar asks Claire a question. She dislikes questions. But no, this question is important. The catch? He's NOT proposing to her -- even if she thinks he is.

Write a story including the phrase:

"Do you feel the way I feel?"

Use this song for inspiration:

"Pretty Girls Make Graves" by The Smiths

One Word Prompts:

Rough
Solid
Demure
Feature
Womanhood
Denial
Envy

Ice Age

Specific Prompt:

The world plunges into a new ice age. Describe events from the point of view of a teenage protagonist. What happens? Be as detailed as possible, without being cheesy.

Fanfiction Prompt:

Lexana fic. Setting: Season 3. Lana has a surprise for Lex.

Write a story including the phrase:

"Just kidding!"

Use this song for inspiration:

"Gypsy Rose Lee" by The Distillers

One Word Prompts:

Instigate
Chaotic
Ride
Pick
Kiss
Moist
Fun

Starbuck

Specific Prompt:

You never know what the person next to you is thinking. But, for the sake of the prompt, pretend you do. It could be from your point of view as you're out in public, sitting near a stranger. Or it can be from your character's. Interpret it any way you wish.

Fanfic prompt:

Battlestar Galactica. Starbuck/Apollo fic prompt. Starbuck disappeared in the finale. Where did she go? What's your take?

Write a story including the phrase:

"You'll never feel the way I do about this."

Use this song for inspiration:

"Kiss With a Fist" by Florence and the Machine

One Word Prompts:

Smell
Like
Fortitude
Enclosure
Lake
Plume
Flicker

Like a Zombie

Specific Prompt:

Your main character's spouse has been turned into a vampire. Is this a tragedy, a comedy, or both?

Fan fiction Prompt:

Heroes. Pick three characters (none of which you ship) and write an unconventional look at their lives and how they're intertwined from the POV of your story (and not necessarily the canon of the show).

Write a story including the phrase:

"Peas are the devil."

Use this song for inspiration:

"Walk Like a Zombie" by the HorrorPops

One word prompts:

Careless
Whimsical
Evolve
Love
Relent
Hope
Magic

Andrew's Guest Blog!

Andrew from Musings and Mullings is here with us today as a guest blogger. Make sure you check out his awesome blog, which is home to wonderful insights and original fiction.

Andrew writes:

When I first found Prompt Romp I knew right from the start that Carrie had a good thing going here. Before I start getting too carried away; let me just say thank you, Carrie, for allowing me to share my thoughts on your blog.

Writing prompts are a really great way to kick-start a tired or, uncreative brain. For a few years now I’ve had a really great paperweight of a book called The Writer’s Block by Jason Rekulak, sitting on my writing desk. It is a collection of 786 different writing prompts whose sole purpose is to provide a fragment of an idea to an author. Some of the ideas are a lot better than others in the book, but the point I am trying to make is I’ve turned to it on a few occasions.

Now, naturally, if I’m hard at work on my novel or another one of my own projects my brain is already churning out ideas and material and I have no need for prompts, but I’m sure we’ve all had those moments where we sit down to write and just don’t feel like the ideas are coming. I’ve had countless times where I’m forcing myself to write and nothing is turning out in a satisfying manner. It is moments like that when I set aside my project and turn to prompts.

Monday, June 22^nd was one such day. I had spent all morning working on my novel and had gotten quite a bit done, but I hit a snag and just felt exhausted with the project. I wasn’t ready to quit writing for the day, but I had reached a point where I could not go on. While I was doing my daily blogging I saw Carrie had updated her blog and when I went over to check it out I read one of her prompts “write a sentence including the phrase: ‘I can’t take the stench anymore.’”

I didn’t know why and I didn’t know how, but for some reason I liked that. Personally, I’ve noticed that with prompts, some move you and some don’t, but this particular one certainly did move me. I immediately opened a word document and put the sentence in. As I was typing it I was already asking myself who was saying it and why.

I’d like to share what I wrote based on that prompt now, and below, I’ll go a little deeper into my thought process throughout the exercise.

"I can't take the stench anymore." Dawson said as she waved the disk frantically in front of her accomplice’s face.

Trin looked nonplused. "What the hell, Daw? What are you going to do? Where are you going to go?" He looked at her for a minute, his thick blonde eyebrows knitted together as his forehead crinkled. "More importantly," he was practically screaming at her now, "what are you going to tell them?"

Dawson Gills shrugged her delicate shoulders and brushed her matted red hair away from her bright green eyes and leaned forward towards her partner in crime, Trinity Logan. She batted her long lashes and smiled sweetly; she had a pretty, slender face and it was a disarming look to most, but Trin had seen it far too many times before. He took a step back.

She used that particular tone of voice she always got when he was dangerously on the verge of pissing her off. "I'm going to tell them the truth. I'll give them the disk and get the hell outta here, that's what I'll do."

"Dammit Trin, we need that disk! There's a lot more on the line here than just our jobs ya know!" He made a grab for the disc and she spun around gracefully, miraculously keeping her footing and managing to keep it out of his reach. He fell off-balanced into one of the rooms many piles of refuse.

She scowled as she felt the heels of her own thigh-highs slip on the slime that coated the entire room, but she held her ground.

“Well we can’t stay here to rot with the rest of this trash.” She called over her shoulder as she began to beat frantically on the solid metallic door. “Hey,” she called to whatever was on the other side, “hey, let us out of here! I have what you wanted!”

Dawson had been too busy drumming upon the door with her fists to notice when Trin pulled himself out of the trash and rushed at her.

He ran at her half falling, his feet unable to find traction on the disgusting, grimy floor. They collided and his arms caught around her waist. Her feet shot straight out from under her. Her arms flew wide, and the two toppled down together rolling in a jumble of arms and legs in the muck.

They both turned to see the disc flying through the air and sink as it disappeared into the thickest pile of some particularly rotten looking substance on the other side of the room.

“Great. Just frikken great.” She said shoving him off of her. She stood up, not wanting to think about the nastiness she could feel dripping down her hair and soaking into her dress. She was sweating profusely and that alone was bad enough. It was stifling hot under the burning red lights of the room. “Nice job, you prick.” She said, giving him a sharp jab to his doughy stomach with her toe.

Trin shrugged it off and came up spitting. His face was covered in slime. Dawson looked at him in disgust and turned away retching.

“Oh, please!” He groaned. “You went through a lot worse than this that time we were on Delta-7.”

“Shut up!” She hissed, spinning around like a viper her charade quickly forgotten. “Either way we can’t stay here. Look at that,” she said pointing to something rotten in the room with them. “That used to be alive! Another few hours and we’ll look just like it! Now we’re stuck here thanks to you, Mr. Tackle-Happy!” She took a careful kick at his shin, not wanting to risk another slip to the floor. He dodged and she frowned.

Just then the door popped open behind them with a loud clunk. She pulled at the top of her dress revealing more cleavage and spun around smiling and batting her lashes. “Hiya, you--”

She fell silent as she came face to face with the most hideous, rotund and lumpy creature she had ever seen. It was barely humanoid; its gray appendages stuck out of its body like lards of fat. It stood unmoving. The lines that she guessed could only be the folds of the creatures lips were pressed into an impassive straight line. Only its beady, little red eyes kept blinking beneath the clumps of gray fat.

After an awkward silence, Dawson Gills, never one to be kept off guard for long, regained her composure. “Well, hello.” She said, clearing her throat mildly. “I guess you came to let us out of this,” she fumbled slightly, searching for the word, “this… room.”

“Compost.” The thing grunted and turned on its stubby legs faster than Dawson could have guessed possible. The door stayed open behind it.

She glanced back at Trinity who shrugged his broad shoulders and the two stepped out of the door.

So I had “I can’t take the stench anymore” written and I was asking myself, who said it. I answered the question quickly for myself because I didn’t want to interrupt any from the creation's flow. So who said it?--a cool chick, I answered as I continued to write.

Next was the obvious why is she cool? I had to show that, and I tried to do so by jumping right into her head. I decided very quickly that I wanted to portray someone tough, and headstrong and tried to demonstrate that in how she spoke and how she behaved. Already the back of my subconscious was starting to figure out more about who she was and where she came from, but for the purpose of the prompt, I ignored most of it and I kept going along with that very first thought; "I can't take the stench anymore."

I had to explain the source of the stench, and I already had a visual of Han Solo and Luke Skywalker bickering inside a trash compactor way back in “A New Hope” so I tried to write a similar situation.

I used the disk as a hook and intentionally left it open, wanting the readers to wonder what was so important about the disc and how they ended up in that room. By the time I had finished writing this single scene I had already answered a lot of the questions for myself, even if I didn’t reveal everything in that short scene.

Thanks to Carrie’s prompt I have what I feel is a really interesting idea for a short story and two rather well-fleshed out characters to work with in the future. This is just one small example of my own personal experience using prompts.

The point is prompts are nothing to feel limited by. Enjoy them and let your imagination run wild when you use them. Remember, the purpose of the exercise is to get your brain working in a direction you weren’t ever considering before. The key is to have fun and, who knows, you may find yourself like me and really impressed with the results.

Talented Tongue

Specific Prompt:

Your main character wakes up from a coma, not knowing who they are, only to find they are king/queen of a country. How do they deal with this? Do they foolishly spend all of their money? Or are they freaked out? Perhaps a combination?

Fanfic Prompt:

Spock/Uhura fic. Uhura has a talented tongue. That's your prompt. Talented tongue. Make it smutty, cracky, or just plain fluffy. I don't care.

(And if you write it, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE link me.)

Write a story including the phrase:

"It hate the heat."

Use this song for inspiration:

"Piece of My Heart" by Janis Joplin

One word prompts:

Delicate
Peace
Forage
Sacrifice
Trend
Pickle
Last

Waterloo

Specific Prompt:

Your main character is a time traveler. They go to the Battle of Waterloo; the Butterfly effect occurs and they travel back to the present. What events change? What has happened to their reality after changing the past?

Fanfic Prompt:

Write a Heroes fic about the Company Man himself, HRG. Set it back when Claude was his "one of them". Other specs: must be at least 2,000 words. Must have something to do with Claire and Kaito Nakamura.

Write a story including the phrase:

"This is just a disclaimer."

Use this song for inspiration:

"Total Eclipse of the Heart" - Bonnie Tyler

One word prompts:

Fiction
Endanger
Create
Laugh
Force
Agitate
Breathe

Is there life on Mars?

Specific Prompt:

Say there was life on Mars. Say there was intelligent life there at some point. When did they live? What was their culture like? And what lead to their destruction?

Fanfic Prompt:

#1

Prompt Romp's second Sylaire prompt. Write a PWP. Sylar has gained Claire's trust by shapeshifting into someone she knows and gets into her bedroom. Who is it?

#2

Write a Battlestar Galactica story where the fleet is celebrating Matronalia. What does the holiday mean to each of the characters? Dig deep. Make it a character study.

Write a story including the phrase:

His breath was like ice.

Use this song for inspiration:

"Life on Mars" by David Bowie

One Word Prompts:

Channel
Jail
Lick
Wanderlust
Heat
Cologne

Let a Chrous Girl Sing Me a Song

Specific Prompt:

You go to a book store and see a book that offends you. What is the book? Why is it offensive? And what comical thing do you do in protest of said book? (Catch: the book can't be real. Make up a title and a premise.)

Fanfic Prompt:

Write a Star Trek TNG fic. Data has discovered a new life form, but he is weary of revealing its existence to the rest of the crew for a specific reason. What's the reason?

Write a story including the phrase:

If I jumped, I knew I wouldn't have made it.

Use this song for inspiration:

"St. James Infirmary Blues" - Traditonal

One of my all-time favorite songs (and my great-grandma's), because it's timeless.

(Note: Because it's traditional, countless versions exist. Two specific versions speak to me, but go with whatever speaks to you. Research it.)

One word prompts:

Forbidden
Express
Delete
Engage
Lackluster
Fever

Linger Punch

Specific Prompt:

Your protagonist wakes up to find a gun in his hand. S/he's shot someone, but has no memory of doing it. What happens? Do they get captured? Tell us the story.

Fanfic Prompt:

Write a Spock and Uhura Star Trek fic. Spock is missing and Uhura has to find him. The catch? Don't make it purely romantic. Add some general elements to the fic to make it readable for any audience.

Write a story including the phrase:

"I never said that!"

Use this song for inspiration:

"Hells Bells" by ACDC

One word prompts:

Wet
Eager
Punch
Indefinite
Static
Crush
Linger

Sticky

Specific Prompt of the Day:

Write a story about life's most severe afflictions having a positive effect on your character. Be creative. Be even more creative and write it set in an unexpected place. Be even more creative than that and set it on a different planet. But yes, whatever you do: be creative.

Fanfic Prompt:

Okay, so there's TONS of stories set in the BSG-verse. But write a fic using the characters from the new prequel Caprica. Get creative. It can be any genre -- whatever.

*Edit: Okay, so I originally wrote next "don't include the Adamas" because they're not part of the Caprica story. Well, I watched Caprica tonight. And now I'm saying: Definitely include the Adamas!

Write a story including the phrase:

"I can't take the stench anymore."

Use this song for inspiraton:

"Young Love" by the Mystery Jets ft. Laura Marling

One word prompts:

Sticky
Plump
Aching
Tension
Eloquent

Prompt Romp News: Guest Blogging

As you may have noticed, I've been featuring Rebecca Emrich as a guest blogger this week. I would like to start featuring a guest blogger each month, as a way to promote a sort of community here at Prompt Romp. Furthermore, if you're a new blogger and you're stuck on a way to get noticed, this is a great opportunity.

I'm not a big fan of rules, so we shall just call this a guideline: Your guest post must be somehow related to my blog.

You can:

1. Write prompts, like Rebecca did.

2. Write an article about how prompting has helped you.

3. Write an article about how prompting helps writers in general.

4. Write about fiction writing. That's a very broad topic, I know. But if you do that and you don't write about prompts, make sure you're writing about something that's a niche topic on your blog. That way a link to your blog can be used as a writing resource for Prompt Romp readers.

Interested in guest blogging? Drop a comment or email me at: prettysiren@gmail.com

NOTES ABOUT EMAILING ME

Please. If you email me, keep your email on topic. Don't pimp your blog to me in a email unless it's about writing and you're proposing to write a guest blog here. Also, no forwarding. Seriously. Don't forward things to me. I don't want to read about unicorns granting wishes.

On a lighter note...

I'm more than happy to guest blog on your site in return, if that's what you want. Just let me know in advance what topic you want me to blog about.

With all of that said, have a wonderful Sunday and check back tomorrow for more prompts!

Rebecca's Log: Day 3

Rebecca Emrich is back for the third and final day of her promptathon. Be sure to check out her her blog - Living a Life of Writing.

As always, if you'd like to share what you've written in response to the prompts on this blog, feel free to drop a link in comments.

Rebecca writes:

1. Your favorite author emails you and wants an interview, after saying yes, what are your five interview questions and why?

2. Your favorite author meets you, and you want to give them a book, what book will that be and why?

3. Connect these three things: authors, writing and animals.

Question?

Rebecca's Log: Day 2

Today is our second day with Rebecca Emrich's (@ Living a Life of Writing) promptathon.

Rebecca writes:


1. Dracula comes to visit. What happens?

2. Where would you go in Transylvania?

3. Connect these three things: Romance, Dracula, and Santa.

Stay tuned for part three of Rebecca's promptathon!

Guest Blogger!! Yay!

This week at Prompt Romp, we have a very special treat. Rebecca Emrich at Living a Life of Writing is going to be our guest blogger, delighting us with her imaginative prompts all week!

From Rebecca:

1. Your favorite historical character has come to life. They sit down in period costume and ask for an interview what kinds of questions would you ask them?

2. You walk back in time to your favorite history period. What is the first thing you would need to do?

3. Connect these three things: French Revolution, Queen Victoria, and the Beatles.

Check back in two days time for the next issue of Rebecca's epic promptathon.

Luck

Specific Prompt:

Today's specific prompt is to take your most boring original character and turn them more interesting. Make them the exact opposite of who they are. Also, throw a scary clown into the story. See how that goes. Think of it as an exercise in character manipulation.

Fanfic Prompt:

Write a Heroes fic about the Company founders when they were young.

Write a Story Including the Phrase:

The sores were protruding from his skin like thorns on a rose.

Use this Song for Inspiration:

"Fernando" by Abba

One Word Prompts:

Theatre
Disgrace
Abhor
Sensitivity
Luck

Cracktastic

Specific Prompt:

Pick a mythical creature. This is your new pet. What kind of chaos ensues? To clarify, you live your current life. How would these mythical creatures fit into your world? How does your unicorn get along with Fido? What kind of destruction does your manticore cause? Tell us about it.

Fanfic Prompt:

I'm still in Star Trek mode (well, technically I have been my whole twenty years of life, but yeah). Write a Spock/Uhura crack!fic. Spock is obligated to meet Uhura's parents. How does this meeting go? How does he feel about this? Why is she even making him do this? Be creative, be cracky...but please, keep Spock logical. Spock can be logical even when he's cracktastic.

Write a story including the phrase:

Their hands were pale and dead.

Use this song for inspiration:

"Bad Moon Rising" by Creedence Clearwater Revival

One Word Prompts:

Lazy
Inefficient
Drooping
Tedious
Carnival
Chocolate

Delightfully Frustrating Use of Words Prompt! Yay!

Specific Prompt:

Write a story about two people who are in love, but don't belong together. Make up whatever reasons you like for them not belonging together, but make them important reasons, so as to cause friction between them and any other characters in the story. Think of it as an exercise in creating internal conflict.

Fanfic Prompt:

In light of ABC Family's delightfully frustrating use of words in their commercials for the "new" episodes of Gilmore Girls, write a Gilmore Girls fic taking place three months after the series finale. Where are the characters by that point? How are Luke and Lorelei doing? How is Rory's career? Any new beau in her life? Use your imagination, because yeah...there's not any new episodes. The commercial really did have a poor choice of word use.

Write a story including the phrase:

"No, I don't know what a muskrat is."

Use this song for inspiration:

"Y Control" by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs

One Word Prompts:

Sweaty
Distance
Taste
Touch
Sense
Smell
Color

Time is of the Essence

Specific Prompt:

Write about what time means to you. Is it something tangible that you can sense? Or is it a measurement if distance that bears little impact upon our lives? What are your opinions? How does time effect your life? Is it in the mundane ways, such as not having time to grab coffee on Tuesday, because you have to pick up the kids from soccer. Or is it more metaphysical, such as...sometimes it really does just plain old stop? Let us know.

This is a prompt I would particularly like links to if you decide to write on it. I'm always interested in learning about people's thoughts on time, because it's one of my absolute favorite subjects.

Fanfic Prompt:

Delve deep into the Whoniverse. Write a Doctor Who story about what happens to Rose and the Doctor's clone in the Bad Wolf dimension. How does she relate to this clone? Does she miss the REAL doctor? After all, she loved the bit of alien in him. What are your thoughts?

Write a story including the phrase:

I was mad. Very mad.

Use this song as inspiration:

"No One Knows" by Queens of the Stoneage

(Google it, if you don't know the lyrics.)

One Word Prompts:

Sky
Life
Perpetual
Vivid
Composition
Taking
Motor

Helter Skelter

Specific Prompt:

Write about humanity from the point of view of an alien species. Would aliens find us weird, charming, evil -- or a combination thereof? The possibilities are endless, so make the most of it. Be descriptive -- describe everything like it's foreign and different than what the narrator is accustomed to.

Fanfic Prompt:

Anyone remember the 90's sardonic cartoon Daria? Write a Daria/Trent fic -- those are the best. But set it in the future -- after the show ended.

Include the phrase:

People are like puppets.

Use this song for inspiration:

"Helter Skelter" by The Beatles

One Word Prompts:

Delicious
Melting
Logic
Ideal
Longing

Prosperity

Specific Prompt of the Day:

Tell us how the world ends. Draw from religious themes, alien scenarios, natural disasters -- or create your own. Include a character narrative in the story to humanize it.

Fanfic Prompt of the Day:

Write a drabble from the point of view of Uhura from the new Star Trek film.

Write a story including the phrase:

The ocean looked like a sheet of glass.

Use this song for inspiration:

"Creep" by Radiohead

One Word Prompts:

Seed
Give
Take
Shelter
Warmth
Anger
Prosperity

Lottery?

Specific Prompt:

A character, based on yourself, has just one $20,000,000 in a lottery. Describe how they burned through the money in less than a month. Give realistic reasons. Them buying the world's only unicorn makes for a very boring, very short story. And since the character is based on yourself, it would help to make the reasons ones you, personally, would have for blowing that much money in that short amount of time. How does this impact your characters family? Does it benefit them (because they all got new houses or something?) Or does it make them angry that your character squandered their fortune?

Fanfic Prompt:

Smallville Lexana. Drabble, Lex's POV. Setting, season 3. Write your best fluffiness set in the Talon.

Write a story including the phrase:

Strange and unusual people were everywhere.

Use this song for inspiration:

"Hotel California" - The Eagles

One Word Prompts:

Whimsical
Fortitude
Languid
Elf
Gray
Chime

Dysfunction

Specific Prompt:

Write about the closest inanimate object to you (might even be your computer), and make the argument how it might be considered evil. Your arguments could be based on facts, both scientific and sociological, or they could be based on personal observation.

This exercise will also make you ponder: what does it mean to be considered evil? Or at least it should. Especially if you're going to attempt to demonize your computer.

Fanfic Prompt:

Prompt Romp's very first Sylaire Challenge! Sylar proposes to Claire RIGHT after she finds out that Nathan is dead (and Sylar killed him). Why does he think this is a good idea? Does he even think this is a good idea? Does she say yes or no? And if she says yes, tell us what has happened to make her want to marry the man who killed her father.

I could see this going in a cracktastic or angsty direction. Both would be awesome! I could see it being fluffy too -- that would be good too. Point is, take it in whatever direction you please. Variety is interesting.

Include the phrase:

"His offer was temping, but I'm not a killer."

Use this song for inspiration:

"Music Box" by Regina Spektor

One Word Prompts:

Sanguine
Purple
Rapid
Dancing
Grateful
Puppy
Dysfunction

On a side note:

You guys can totally link me to your stories. I'm really interested to see what directions people go with my prompts. =)

The Aliens Are Coming!

Specific Prompt:

Write a sci-fi story about an alien invasion. The catch? It's human beings who are the invading aliens. Exercise your world-building muscles by writing a story from the point of view of a people whom human beings conquer as they claim the stars.

Fanfic Prompt

Write the ending of Battlestar Galactica the way YOU wanted to see it. And if you liked the ending they gave you, write what happens between the time we last see our fleet on Earth and the time when Angel!Six and Angel!Baltar are walking around modern day Earth.

Write a story including the phrase:

"The aliens are coming! The aliens are coming!"

Use this song for inspiration::

"Life on Mars" by David Bowie

One word prompts:

Elemental
Psychic
Terrestrial
Lava
Foreign
Ship

To All of the Trekkies Out There...

Today's Specific Prompt:

Imagine the worst thing that could ever happen to you. Make it happen to your character. How do they feel? Will they triumph over the situation? Or will it bring them to ruin?


Fanfic Prompt of the Day:

With all this Star Trek buzz, the fanfic prompt of the day is to boldly go where no man has gone before and write a good fic, set in the Trek universe, using ONLY ORIGINAL CHARACTERS. Yes, that's right. Only characters of your own creation. Every other element must come from the Trekverse. Think of it as an exercise in character creation, using a familiar territory (if you're a Trekkie like me) as a fun and convenient backdrop. And ships count as characters too, so think up your own ship name. Have fun with it. Remember: the goal is to write a convincing, compelling Trekverse story using your OWN characters. Avoid Mary Sues like the plague.

And if anyone writes such a fic, link me in the comments and I'll read it. =)

Write a story including the phrase:

All of the sunshine left the world the day the war took him away.

Use this song as inspiration:

"If You Could Only See" by Tonic

(You can Google the lyrics if you don't know it.)

One Word Prompts:

Jovial
Lonely
Infinite
Perplexing
Woman
Chance

Of Frost Giants and Zombies

Specific Prompt:

According to the ancient Norse, the earth was carved out of the carcass of Ymir, a frost giant. Explore this myth by telling your own tale JUST FROM THE INFORMATION I GAVE YOU. Don't look anything else up. Fill in the other details yourself.

Alternatively, you can tell your own creation tale of how the earth was made.

Write a story including the phrase:

The people looked looked like slimy, gray zombies.

One Word Prompts:

Air
Lizards
Lugubrious
Rapid
Change
Feeling
Protrude

Day 1

Specific prompt of the day:

Character A. has just killed character B., because character B. insulted character A.'s mother. What was the insult? What was the method of killing? And how does character B. feel, postmortem, knowing their life ended over something so trivial?

Write a story including the sentence:

"I can never seem to howl at the moon properly."

One Word Prompts:

Angels
Taboo
Replicate
Gendarme
Insanity
Ice
Alcohol

Welcome to Prompt Romp

- This blog is here because...

1. Writers like prompts.

2. I like typing random shit on the internet.

and

3. Writer's block is the devil.


- What we aim for?

To cure your writer's block woes. Whether you you write your own original stuff or fanfiction, this is your one stop romp to prompt city.

- How often will I update?

At least once a week -- more if I get any traffic.

- Are there any rules?

Crediting is nice. Especially if it's an extremely detailed prompt (like for a specific fandom or an extremely specific idea). Otherwise, there's not really any other rules than that. I tend to be minimal on the whole "rules" thing.