Writing Prompt

As a ghostwriter, my skill set must be fluid enough to handle any kind of writing, any kind of material, any kind of author. Is yours? Take this little test drive and find out.

Below is a four-line exchange between two people. A conversation. It could pass quickly or slowly. It could be lighthearted, angry, or something in between. It could establish a relationship for the reader, or merely reinforce one already presented.

Notice that each line is a flat statement, i.e., its punctuation does not give away the speaker’s attitude. That’s your job as you play with the four prompts. (Hint: every time you modify the characters’ perspective, motive, and agenda, you should come away with an entirely different scene.)

Conversation

A: No, I don’t want to go dancing.

B: But it’s a brand-new class, and they say the instructor is hot.

A: I’d rather stay home and sort my sock drawer.

B: You never want to do anything fun.

Prompts

1. Write brief character studies for each speaker and a 300-word max scene between any of the following: two females, two males, a male and a female.
2. Change the word “dancing” to “hunting,” the word “hot” to “savvy,” and the phrase “sort my sock drawer” to “scrub the floors.” Rewrite the character studies and scene.
3. Change one of your characters to or from being LGBTQIA+ and rewrite your studies and scene.
4. Change one of your characters to or from being BIPoC and rewrite again.

Reflection

So... how'd you do? Was it fun? Easy-peasy? Inspiring, tricky, tough? More to the point, what did you learn?