INKsters Competitive Writers Literary Salon 
Daily Writing Prompts for August 2008
Use these prompts to develop a portfolio of your unique vision as an author. Share your results with others and brighten their lives. Choose only ONE prompt each day and submit your 500 word (max) assignment in Second Life before midnight. We encourage you to copy and paste your entry onto the blog comments. All items posted on this blog are for private study, scholarship, or research only. Clicking on images will enlarge them.
Click HERE for a text-only version to print and carry with you. Comments and criticisms regarding the topics are gladly accepted and considered. Please IM them in-world.

Dummy
Ever needed somebody to talk to you honestly who was having a hard time telling the truth? Tell your favorite story about a dummy (or a mannequin). How did your last visit to the hospital go?

Side by Side
They began as strangers, side by side, and their differences seemed ...

 Wings
Where's your favorite place for wings? What is your favorite winged animal? What is your choice of winged-being in Second Life? Describe a summertime barbeque.

Stone
When the stone statue took a deep breath and stretched, they knew ...

Ozzies
Who do you identify with most closely among the inhabitants of Oz? If you could have a meeting with them, what would you say?

Fallout Shelter
 Although the situation seemed like certain doom, they still wanted to put on a cheery face, and so ...

First Draft
What is your process for editing? Write the rest of the first draft of Hamlet in 500 words or less. If you could write by candle light, what would you write about?

Cyborg
It roared into town on a stolen motorcycle and it ...

Country Folk
Tell your story of country bumpkins gone bad, or tell your story of city folk gone bad. Describe a road trip or holiday with the relatives.

In Hell
The flames, the anguish, the torture, it all bored her lately and so she ...

Beaches
Ever leave something at the beach you really needed later? Ever find something weird at the beach? Does your family love you no matter what you look like?

Interview
She felt a little silly waiting for ... 

Drunk
Make a list of all the stupid things you've ever done with alcohol involved and write a single episode relating all the incidents as one really bad night.

Tire Swing
In the heat of the afternoon, she should have been safe on the back yard swing, but ...

Don't Answer
Ever answer the phone or the door and later regret it? What dangers lurk in your neighborhood or your house? Ever had a friend or relative sell you out?

Canoeing
Using the canoe was his last hope before ... 

Forgetfulness
What part of your life would you love to forget? What part do you hope you'll never forget?

Frieze
He stood in front of the wall sculpture and smiled ...

Cavemen
Who is your favorite caveman? Who is the most demanding person you know? What should you have done yesterday?

Alone
She knew there'd be questions about her husband death on their wedding day, but as she descended the stairs from their bedroom ...

Sponsorship
Who is supporting your medical treatment? What logos and brands would you love to eliminate from your life? Describe a life where every move is dictated by a corporate identity.

Ejection
Leaping from the single engine plane without a parachute ...

Horror
What's your favorite creepy movie? What's the dumbest horror movie you've ever seen? If your life was a horror movie, how would that go?

Helicopters
If running drugs on her helicopter hadn't been so easy, she might never have ... 

Theme Rides
What do you have sex about? What would you like to have sex about? Are we obsessed by sex as a culture?

Fallen Angels
A hall of fame for fallen angels didn't seem necessary, and yet ... 

Exterminator
Tell your favorite bug story, your best "kill that thing" story, your best "my job is awesome" story, or your best "here's a cool innovation I thought up" story.

Monorail
The monorail zipped through the abandoned section of town and he ...

Distracted
Have you ever been distracted? Have you ever gone whale watching? How about a fun boat story? Or a tragic one?

Earning It
She'd married for money, and now as she waited in the new house for his arrival she knew she'd be earning it. Her hope was ...

Organs
If you could get somebody's organs, which ones would you like and from whom? Tell us about your local theatre. Write a monologue for an actor.

BBQ
All those memories burned away quickly in the fire as she ...

Disconnected
What things surprise you in life? Describe a time in life when you've read about something and later found the reality to be different. How did you get so rich (poor)? What would you do if you suddenly became rich (poor)?

Feed Me
The flower garden seemed innocent enough, but ... 

Studio
What would your ideal studio look like? What would you do there? If you sold hot dogs, where would you put your stand and what would happen there?

Discotheque
The music filled the night air, the energy of the building electrified the dancers, but ...

Booze
Remember a time when you bought something from an ice cream truck. Remember a time when you bought something from a liquor vendor. Compare and contrast with sinister and hilarious effect.

Crocodile
It would never work out, she thought as she reclined next to him. Her family almost certainly would think ...

Hate
What is your list of pet peeves and how do you live with them? What is great or terrible about your living arrangements?

The Maid
He'd told her to have tea and muffins ready, and this time ...

Oprah
What do you want Oprah to give you? What do you want your latest date, lover or spouse to give you? If you could have a free car, which one would you like?

Pool
The bar was empty and the pool table unused; she wondered ...

Trophy
What trophies have you won? What trophies would you like to win? Who would be your ideal mate? 

The Book
She poured over the ledgers only to discover ...

Shag
Describe your favorite memories from the 70s. Describe your home renovation plans.

Diving
He felt free as he discarded his clothes, jumped onto the diving board, and ...

Gangsters
Who scares you? What scares you? Know any good gang stories? Know any good birthday stories?

Organ
The groaning maniacal sounds booming out of the pipe organ served to ...

Lawn Care
How is your yard looking these days? What has been good to you? If you could ride in a limo, where would you go?

Sailing
The tiny boat arrived on the tiny island just in time for ...

Pillows
How many little pillows are in your house and why? What would you do to redecorate your bedroom? What's the worst interior decorating decision you've ever made?

Vacation
She awoke from her sleep to the million-dollar views and ...

English
What are the most common grammar mistakes that drive you crazy? Describe a clerk at the grocery story, coffee shop, or someplace else, whom you've come to know simply by doing repeat business with him or her.

Kittens
The place served as a refuge for young ladies who ...

Ranking
Are you the oldest? Youngest? How has your ranking in the family played out in your life? What do you want to tell a family therapist or psychologist?

Loch Ness
The monster turned out to be ...

Fangs
What do you know and love about vampires? How do you get an edge in business? Who is the meanest supervisor you ever had?

Stairway
The short walk up the stairs led to the building where ...

Clichés
What would you like to evolve into? What is on your island? Pick a dozen of your favorite clichés and include them in a story.

The Other
He'd left her alone that morning and as she wandered the house, she knew she wasn't alone, and she knew ...

Ink
Before we computed, we used ink. Remember a time when you and ink found your happy place. Or, failing that, tell a good golf story.

Contact
She locked herself into the communication pod and entered the codes to reach ...