A writing prompt, Write Club style

Image credit: Pixabay

Write Club continues! We are heading into Session 3, which is weeks 5 and 6 of the 16-week boot camp. Today is writing prompt day. This post provides a bit of background, an invitation, and the new writing prompt.

If you want to go straight to the prompt, scroll on down to "Write Club Session 3 story prompt."

What is Write Club?

If you have heard of Write Club, then you may know these things:

• We’re a small group of dedicated writers.
• @Jordan.Lesich launched this group, and it is sponsored by The Writers’ Block, of which we are all members.
• Write Club lasts 16 weeks, and includes 8 two-week sessions.
• In each session, we spend one week writing a story, based on that session’s writing prompt, then a week reviewing and critiquing the other stories.
• Each member gets a turn to come up with the prompt.

Most importantly: We welcome unofficial participants! We invite you to use the prompts for your own writing.

We have just completed the second session, and I am up as the prompt supplier for Session 3, which starts today, 2/4/18. I have what I think is an absolutely awesome prompt!

About Write Club prompts

Each prompt is based on a story. To quote Jordan, from his original “How to Make a Write Club Prompt” post: “Find a story. Perhaps your favourite short story. Find out what makes it so good. Make that 'thing' into a prompt, and make us all write stories around it.”

We find stories that are in the public domain or publicly available (e.g. The New Yorker online) so everyone can quickly follow a link to read the background story.

Past prompts

Our Session 1 prompt, provided by @tanglebranch, contained the theme of a sacrificial gift and was based on The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry.

Our Session 2 prompt, provided by our fearless leader, @Jordan.Lesich, contained the theme of a big metaphor and was based on Chicxulub by T. Coraghessan Boyle.

Note: Most of us are planning to fine-tune our stories and submit them to mainstream publishers, so you won't see them on Steemit. But if you connect with us at The Writers' Block, you may see them in the editing queue.

And so, without further ado, let’s have that prompt.

Write Club Session 3 story prompt

For this prompt, I’ve chosen this gem: The Riddle, a charming and disarming short story by Thomas McGuane.

Wait! Spoilers follow, so you must read the story and then come back here for the prompt assignment!

Image credit: Pixabay

A little bit about this story and prompt

First, I’m in love with this story--the voice of it, the wry wit, and the question it poses. The author noodles on a riddle, but it is essentially unanswerable. It just asks why something is the way it is.

The story is very short--less than 3,000 words--but puts us so completely into the little world of the narrator that the story can be an inspiration to any writer trying to master the craft of fiction writing. In particular, it demonstrates the first person perspective, and “deep POV.” Another thing that I find very interesting about this story is that it feels resolved in the end, even though he doesn’t get an answer to his question.

Your challenge:
Write a story in which your main character ponders an imponderable. It doesn’t matter if the question is answered, or left unanswered, as long as the story concludes in a satisfying way. The question can be anything you like, from the simple and mundane to the bigger philosophical questions of life. Examples:

• "Why do bad things happen to good people?"
• "What is the meaning of life?"
• "Why does my dog roll in dead stuff?"

It's totally up to you.

Questions? Feel free to ask in the comments below. Good luck!

Are you a writer seeking community or help with your writing? If so, please check out The Writers' Block on Discord. Or check out @thewritersblock.