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Photo credit: M. M. Kastanek
Prompt: She looked down from her perch... Words: reflected, rhythm, skin, bite, lazy, metallic My Paragraph: She looked down from her perch, squinting as the sun reflected off the cerulean waters. Boats bobbed on their bright orange poles and thunked lazily against the stone docks to the rhythm of the waves. Biting her lip, she peered closer at the boats, counting them by the vibrant red numbers on their hulls. But no matter how many times she counted, number 24 was missing. She glanced back out to sea, but the waters were calm and only fishing boats puttered in the deep. Where was boat 24? She bit her lip again, tasting metallic blood as she bit off a piece of dried skin. Realization sank in the pit of her stomach. Boat 24 hadn't come to shore yet. Which meant her brother was dead. Photo credit: M. M. Kastanek
Need some inspiration for Camp NaNoWriMo? Check out my writing prompts! Today's prompt is inspired by the beautiful shores of Cinque Terre, Italy. Prompt: Stacks of houses protruded out of the sea cliffs.... Words: sketch, salt, tail, winding, sharp, stalk My Story Start: My breath caught in my throat and my hands clutched the algae-covered rock I hid behind. I barely heard the waves as they crashed against the cliffs and rocks, the spray coating my face with sticky salt. They were there, clear as the stalks of ferns that surrounded me: the buildings of Astra. I swallowed a sticky mass that had built in my throat. Would the Priests even believe me? I snatched my sketchbook from my bag and sharpened my pencil before rendering a quick drawing of what I saw before it disappeared. I made sure to capture the style of houses, the winding streets, the jetty and high-tailed boats on the mooring. A crab skittered up my algae-covered rock, clacking it's claws at me. A warning. Even the sea knew I was here. Photo credit: M. M. Kastanek
Prompt: Skeleton trees stood sentry on the shoreline.... Words: negative, rocks, knees, tapped, quipped, threat My Paragraph: Skeleton trees stood sentry on the shoreline. Eephriel peered through the branches, her daemon leopard's tail tapping the back of her knees, reminding her he was still there. "They're not coming, young one," the daemon finally growled in a voice like waves crashing rocks on shore. "Hush," Eephriel scolded him as the wind tore at her hair. She didn't need his negativity, not now, not today. The daemon hadn't been with her long, but he'd let her know his opinions daily, regardless of if she asked for them. "I'll throw you back to the abyss if you keep it up." She threatened the same threat she had since the daemon's first quip. The tail hit the back of her legs a bit harder. Eephriel set her hand between the creatures ears until it faded into shadows and her hand dropped to her side. But as she peered again between the branches to the water below, the daemon's voice tugged at her heartstrings, they're not coming. Photo credit: M. M. Kastanek
Prompt: The door shut with a hollow thud. Words to use: lap, scrape, hope, treat, alone, almighty My Paragraph: The door shut with a hollow thud. My fingers scraped against its hammered brass as I sunk to my knees. "Please," I whispered, but no one, not even the Almighty Eil, was there to hear me. "Please." I closed my eyes, squeezing out fresh tears, though part of me still held on to hope. This couldn't be right. Soon the doors would open and my husband would storm out, appalled at his first wife being treated this way. My hands fell into my lap. But that would mean Resed lived. And as sure as the sun rose, I knew my husband was dead. Him and everything he stood for gone overnight in an onslaught of feigned patriotism. Leaving me alone. Almighty Eil, what had I done to deserve this? I'd love to see your paragraph or snippet of a story inspired by this prompt in the comments! Photo credit: M. M. Kastanek
Prompt: A pair of eyes poked out from between the leaves. Words: slit, iris, mouse, ember, dart, cover My Paragraph: A pair of eyes poked out from between the leaves. The amber irises widened as I crouched down. Blinked. Lids peeled open and closed like the dragons of the south. But it wasn't a dragon. Of that I was sure. Instead of being slitted like a dragon's, the eyes were wide and round like Ember's eyes when she saw a mouse. Whatever it was didn't seem afraid, more just curious. A clump of leaves fell in front of it, causing it to dart beneath a moss covered stone. It chittered and then the eyes reappeared closer than before. Photo credit: M. M. Kastanek
Prompt: Cairns of porous rock line the path down the mountain. Words: scared, family, cloud, mother, guess, room My Snippet: Cairns of porous rock line the path down the mountain. It unnerves me a bit, to see such evidence of their presence. Whoever they are. We're still not quite sure. But these little stacks have started appearing all over the village. People are scared. Hell, I don't blame them. When you open the door to your baby's room and there's a cairn of stones stacked in his bed, you can't help but be a bit freaked out. That's what happened to Iri's family the other day. He said his mother went white as clouds and collapsed. Shit, if that happened to my mother, I would've gone out searching for them, too. But now Iri hasn't come back. So I guess it's my turn to go out there. I promised I wouldn't leave him to the "them." But now as I look at all the cairns down the path, I second guess my decision. Photo credit: M. M. Kastanek
Prompt: When the ice coated the trees, the fairies came out to play.... Words: maid, soil, words, forest, dripped, garment My Snippet: When the ice coated the trees, the fairies came out to play. At least, that's what M'Dola always said. And she would know. M'Dola was my nursemaid, but I've far outgrown the need for nursing or maids. So I suppose now she's just a friend. Though it feels weird to think of her as that. I mean, do you really call someone a friend if they changed your soiled undergarments as a babe? She taught me my first word, 'fairy', because that's all the old woman spoke of from the time she was changing my undergarments to today as we walk through the forest of Nihlo, the branches weighed by dripping silver-white ice. Photo credit: M. M. Kastanek
Prompt: How long had this place been abandoned? Words: fragrance, paint, porous, shape, holy, must My Paragraph: How long had this place been abandoned? There was no stench of the dead, no fragrances of the living. Statues had toppled and doorways now looked more like frames missing their paintings. I allowed my hand to linger for a moment on the porous lava rock before snatching my hand to my chest. I mustn't touch. The gods would be angry that I desecrated their holy temple. I steal a glance to the sky, but I do not see their shapes emerging from the low-hanging clouds. Photo credit: M. M. Kastanek
(If you're new to my style of writing prompts, head over to this blog post for more information. Feel free to use just the picture, just the prompt, just the words, or a combination of any of the three write your paragraph!) Prompt: Legend spoke of a path, as plain as a boardwalk through the woods, that led to the world of the dead.... Words: clutch, thud, layer, burst, footfalls, motion My Paragraph: Legend spoke of a path, as plain as a boardwalk through the woods, that led to the world of the dead. That was the only thing that gave Ipseel pause as she saw the path curve into the forest of bamboo. She clutched the sunburst pendant at her breast, feeling the thud of her heart through the layers of silk fabric. Gods protect me. Heavy footfalls echoed behind her, jolting her into motion. If this was indeed the path to the world of the dead, then she was about to be the first person to enter and come out alive. Comment your practice below! Photo credit: M. M. Kastanek
(If you're new to my style of writing prompts, head over to this blog post for more information. Feel free to use just the picture, just the prompt, just the words, or a combination of any of the three write your paragraph!) Prompt: His hands trembled at his first glimpse past the cerulean doors.... Words: brass, shut, swirl, handling, ward, wild My Paragraph: His hands trembled at his first glimpse past the cerulean doors. He almost shut them. He shouldn't look. He shouldn't have even opened them in the first place. But as his hands reached for the brass handles, he paused. Wind swept the sand in spirals across the dunes that lay beyond the doorway. Prioress Vreyda had told him and the other wards that the sand swirls were made by wild kitsune. Would he see one if he waited just a bit longer? Comment your practice below! Photo credit: M. M. Kastanek
(If you're new to my style of writing prompts, head over to this blog post for more information. Feel free to use just the picture, just the prompt, just the words, or a combination of any of the three write your paragraph!) Don't forget to comment with your practice! I give feedback to every paragraph posted! Prompt: I remember the marvels that once stood in this valley.... Words: luster, separate, steam, oil, close, bathe My Paragraph: I remember the marvels that once stood in this valley. When I first arrived here, the land smelled of lavender and lemon and ginger. I can still smell it if I close my eyes. Just over there grew cypress trees that framed pink granite pillars carved with images of the Goddess Eipo. Silk hung between those columns, separating the outside world from the steam baths and lounging rooms of royalty. The mosaic floors were always damp, but it gave them a sort of luster when the light from the oil lamps flickered. Photo credit: M. M. Kastanek
(If you're new to my style of writing prompts, head over to this blog post for more information. Feel free to use just the picture, just the prompt, just the words, or a combination of any of the three write your paragraph!) Don't forget to comment with your practice! I give feedback to every paragraph posted! Prompt: The clay shingled roofs shone with flecked bronze as the sun rose.... Words: tendril, muscles, hours, attention, haze, flit My Paragraph: The clay shingled roofs shone with flecked bronze as the sun rose. Though the city below him gradually awoke with the light, Orme had been awake for hours. He rubbed the backs of his hands, massaging the muscles and joints. His eyes flitted over the rooftops, scanning, searching, inspecting. A pink-breasted bird flitted into the corner of his vision, pulling his attention for a moment before he saw it - the thin tendril of pale smoke that barely contrasted with the morning haze settling on the roofs as the sun rose higher. Photo credit: M. M. Kastanek
(If you're new to my style of writing prompts, head over to this blog post for more information. Feel free to use just the picture, just the prompt, just the words, or a combination of any of the three write your paragraph!) Don't forget to comment with your practice! I give feedback to every paragraph posted! Prompt: She pursed her lips and let the dirt fall through her fingers.... Words: shiver, general, foothills, rose, grace, discovery My Paragraph: Preyva pursed her lips and let the dirt fall through her fingers. The alchemic properties here were unbelievable. She could smell it flitting through the air like pollen in the spring. What Dorsta wouldn't give for alchemic powers such as this.... The thought sent a shiver down her spine. What Dorsta wouldn't give to the person who brought her alchemic powers such as this.... That thought swelled a prideful hope in her chest. "General Ormaya, is everything alright?" Preyva stood, dusting her hands on her tan britches. "Yes, captain. Return to the men. Have them set up base at the foothills of that mountain." "Right away, general." Unclasping a spyglass from her belt and holding it to her good eye, Preyva bit her lip, looking over the valley to where the clouds touched the rising mountains. This discovery would be just what she needed to fall back into Dorsta's good graces. And, Goddess help her, she would not mess this one up. Photo credit: M. M. Kastanek
Prompt: I saw him on the ridgeline.... Words: slink, grass, plum, chew, cross, pale My Paragraph: I saw him on the ridgeline. He watched me for a moment as the colors of the clouds shifted from pale blue to plum. I couldn't quite see his eyes at that distance, but I'm sure those eyes followed me. Even as I slunk lower into the tall grass his head turned to follow my movement. And then he slipped out of sight behind the ridge as quickly as he had appeared. I chewed my bottom lip. No one crossed that ridge. Goddess Ipsil had cursed it. So who was this man? And how did he have the power to cross Ipsil's Ridge?
Photo Credit: M. M. Kastanek
(If you're new to my style of writing prompts, head over to this blog post for more information. Feel free to use just the picture, just the prompt, just the words, or a combination of any of the three write your paragraph! Don't forget to comment with your practice!) Prompt: My eyes rose to the scalloped pillars that seemed to graze the clouds... Words: wisdom, senior, goldenrod, brow, focused, comforting. My Paragraph: My eyes rose to the scalloped pillars that seemed to graze the clouds, but I quickly averted my gaze, afraid of the senior magi seeing my wandering gaze. My hood of deep goldenrod fell further down my brow, focusing my vision on the rough sandstone floor beneath my feet. Always focus on the now, I hear in my mind the voice of my lieutenant magi, Elverie. His words of so-called wisdom are always playing in my head. I have yet to find them to be a comfort. Let me see your practice below! Photo credit: M. M. Kastanek
(If you're new to my style of writing prompts, head over to this blog post for more information. Feel free to use just the picture, just the prompt, just the words, or a combination of any of the three write your paragraph! Don't forget to comment with your practice!) Prompt: Illusions were common after so many months at sea. Words: gale, crusted, whatever, reached, life, direction My Paragraph: Illusions were common after so many months at sea. Orellion knew that. But as the gale snapped his sails taught, he grit his teeth and steered his boat in the direction of the land. Or illusion. Or whatever it was. He licked his salt-crusted lips and squinted his eyes at the palms on the horizon, wanting desperately to will the illusion to life. As he maneuvered the ship over crests of white waves toward the swaying palms, he noticed that they definitely grew larger. Orellion almost slipped off the edge of the boat. Illusions did not do that. Illusions stayed one size, forever out of reach no matter how far or how fast you sailed. His lips cracked and bled as he smiled. This was no illusion. This was land. I want to see your practice below! Have any of your writing prompts grown into longer works?
Photo Credit: M. M. Kastanek
(If you're new to my style of writing prompts, head over to this blog post for more information. Feel free to use just the picture, just the prompt, just the words, or a combination of any of the three write your paragraph! Don't forget to comment with your practice!) Prompt: Her wings twitched as she let the sand fall through her fingers. ... Words: dunes, coils, morphed, squinted, eager, twitch Paragraph: Her wings twitched as she let the sand fall through her fingers. The little grains rolled against one another, creating a little mound much like the large dunes before her. Coils of weeds and spikes of dune grass held the sand into rolling shapes as the landscape reached the water. She thought for a moment about how the waves pulled the sand that these plants tried so hard to grasp back out to sea, but dismissed it from her mind when it started morphing into something personal. She squinted, peering out over the water. No ships today. Her wings twitched again, as if eager for a good fly, but she couldn't. Not today. She couldn't risk another beating. Couldn't risk having her wings stripped. I want to see your practice! Comment for some feedback! Finished with this prompt? Click here for Prompt #9! |
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