Category Archives: Writing Prompts

The Other Side

Posted on by under Realistic, Short stories, Uncategorized, Writing Prompts

by Christian Theodossy

I see them.

I see them through the fog. Behind the glass. Across the vastness of a chasm.

They say things to each other, things I want to hear, things I have to hear.

But they’re too far away, the fog is too thick. I can’t break through.

I try to say something to them, just so they’ll know I’m here, but I’m too quiet, they don’t hear me.

I’ll say it a little louder, maybe they’ll hear this time.

They don’t.

I shout, and a few of them look around like they noticed something.

But still, the glass stands. Unbreakable.

But I have to hear. I have to know.

So I work up as much voice as I can, and I take a deep breath.

And I shout. Continue reading →

Definition of evil

Posted on by under Realistic, Writing Prompts

By, Jack Joseph

I’m fairly certain you can figure out which prompt to written this is in response, but if not, this is for the “evil” prompt.

__________

What is evil? The Oxford English Dictionary (yes, I looked it up before writing this) defines evil as “morally depraved, bad, wicked, or vicious.” It’s a fine definition, but it lacks specificity about “morality.” I believe Kant has the right take on it, or at least comes close. The German philosopher sees evil as using other people as a means unto an end. One should see that each person has their own intentions and beliefs and that each person is an end in and of themselves, not a means to fulfill one’s own intent. Continue reading →

spiders

Posted on by under Writing Prompts

A dibble dabble in the stream-of-consciousness style, by Alan Osmundson. All  punctuation errors are intentional

——

they skitter, they skitter around, they make the sound of a thousand clicks and a million clacks in the quietest room, clicks and clacks and ticks and tocks draining away, sucking away the seconds minutes hours of life. they click and clack and tick tock with the spiny legs the legs that are long like the ocean and sharp like knives, like pushpins ready to be inserted into the wall, the skin. do they bite or are they sneering, do they pinch or is it a caress like the devil the devil whispering murder bloody murder into my ear, murder for your own sake crush the opposition like a gnat under an elephants foot. i want it away I want it gone but how does one approach a thing that cannot be human but only malice only the embodiment of the worlds hatred sitting standing stationary at the corner sneering not biting not yet. will it go away if I leave it, if I shut my ears and close my mouth and sleep will it still be there in the morning will it sneer will it bite me in my sleep and if it does will it hurt like the knives and the pushpin in the wall but will I even know. but I don’t cover my ears and I dont close my mouth and I am wide awake and its hatred comes into me and I hear the whispers and I crush it like a gnat under an elephants foot and it sneers but it doesnt bite

Dark Natures

Posted on by under Writing Prompts

by Declan Quinn

Blink. Blink. Blink.

This had been my routine for the past 45 minutes. Blink. Repeat. Blink. Repeat. Occasionally I’d cast a glance to my clock, if only to break the monotony. Its soft green glow penetrated the dark much like how cold slowly seeps through the frail bones of the ancients. Slowly, and with a dark foreboding that hints at something more, well, sinister. The blinking digits of the digital face were akin to the winking eyes of some unseen beast, taking refuge in the shadows.

This, however, was not as important as the fact that these demonic numbers read “12:38.” I had lay down to rest nearly three hours ago. Yet sleep did not come. Continue reading →

Simplicity

Posted on by under Writing Prompts

Life is not black and white, but rather, it is made up of many shades of gray. So, quantifying words such as good and evil requires very simple definitions. Otherwise, there is too much potential for debate, and the words “good” and “evil” lose their potency. So, simply put, I believe that evil is any action done intentionally to harm another being.

Weekly Prompt: Evil

Posted on by under Uncategorized, Writing Prompts

In this week’s prompt, we asked our writers to write about the concept of evil. Does it exist? How is it manifested in the world, and what is your understanding of it? As a famous sardonic comedian once said:

“May the forces of evil become confused on the way to your house.”

~George Carlin

Shades of Gray by Angela Guo

Dark Natures by Declan Quinn

Evil by Natalie Rich

Simplicity by Maya Asregado

Definition of Evil by Jack Joseph

Daydreams

Posted on by under Writing Prompts

Long, long ago, a man named Spester lived a quiet life in a quiet village in a quiet world. The village was fruitful, for each and every man, woman, and even child, knew his or her place in the flow of things. There was Eira the weaver, Anqa the smith, Sola the guard, Stratos the leader, and a host of others who made life safe and comfortable. Everyone was specialized. Everyone was efficient.

But something in Spester set him aside from the other villagers. His job was to hunt game that would go to sustain the many stomachs of the village. Indeed, Spester was specialized. Indeed, he was efficient. But he quietly denied his place in the village. Many a time he would find himself in the plains at night, not hunting, but looking to the stars sailing over the faraway mountains. He would gaze and wish he was standing atop those mountains, so close to the world’s ceiling that he could run his hand through the fabric of the heavens.

Wish as he might, Spester knew he would never stand atop the mountains, knew he would never touch the heavens, so a wish was the closest he would ever come, so a wish was all he ever made. And he would sigh with the moon and he would hunt once more. Continue reading →

Weekly Prompt: Myths and Legends

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This week, we challenge our writers to craft a myth or legend. Typically passed through the ages by word-of-mouth, these stories helped explain unknown phenomena and philosophical questions. Today, religion can play a big role in people’s lives, shaping our worldview, our ambitions, and our life’s meaning. Said Alan Watts, British philosopher,

A myth is an image in terms of which we try to make sense of the world.

A crafted myth or legend should carry some sort of message or meaning, and offer interpretation. However, it must also be simple in its most basic form or idea.

Cosmogonia by David Xie

Aurelia by Maya Asregadoo

Daydreams by Alan Osmundson

New Man of Moral

Posted on by under Short stories, Writing Prompts

by Alan Osmundson

“Ah, there he goes! Hello! Can you hear me all right?”

I struggled to open my eyes, but despite the effort the light only blinded me, and the lids shut again.

“Heavy sleeper, huh? Understandable… that’s understandable.”

I heard footsteps moving away and slowly began to regain my senses. I became conscious that I was lying on my side on what felt like sand, though it seemed excruciatingly rough on my skin. I began to hear a dull consistent roar that was at once calming and deafening. I tried to open my eyes once more, this time only to find that I was hampered by a pervasive pain that seemed to course from my bones to my skin and back again. Continue reading →

Leaves

Posted on by under Realistic, Short stories, Writing Prompts

I have to say, this was somewhat expected. Throughout all of my adolescence, adults have always told me, “Wear a helmet! You think you don’t need it, but some day it might save your life!” As the usual stubborn ass that I was, I refused to listen. Yet here I am, eyes glued to the sky, helmetless head on the concrete, laying limp in a pool of my own warm, trickling blood. My crumpled bicycle is out of my line of sight, although I think it’s gone. So is the car, so is the crying family that saw the accident, the paramedics who deemed me already lost. All gone. Though these events seemed to last mere minutes, everyone has left me here. Continue reading →