Three Writing Prompts

Arcane

Member
I love writing prompts for the instant inspiration they provide. I have a few written down that I haven't done anything with and the problem with that for me is that they've become stagnant so I'll share them here.

1. After the first snowfall of the year, a person who lives alone in the woods finds a giant set of footprints leading up to their barn.

(My initial idea was to turn this into some sort of monster mystery that took place over the course of the entire winter)

2. A kid asks Santa Clause for superpowers and gets them.

(I don't remember where most of my writing prompts came from but I got this idea from a YouTuber who said that when he was a kid, he wanted to be a superhero so badly that he asked Santa Clause for powers because that seemed like the most logical course of action. This is one of my favorites.)

3. From the perspective of a child, they are rescued by a Good Samaritan draped in a wet tarp but whom they believe is actually a superhero wearing a cape.

(The prompt itself gives away the entire story but this one is more about how you write the story and how far you want to take the analogy.)

So take these and do what you will with them. I noticed a few other threads encouraged trying to write a story right then and there and posting it so give that a shot if you want. Good luck!
 
I know i am really late to the party, but i really like writing prompts so I thought i am going to revive this regardless.

3. From the perspective of a child, they are rescued by a Good Samaritan draped in a wet tarp but whom they believe is actually a superhero wearing a cape.


Heavy rain splashed on the pavement, the noise draining out the soft sobs coming from a small boy, huddled under a cardboard box. Its soaked walls barely withstanding the onslaught of water coming from above. Tired, tear-streaked eyes looked out onto the road, small hands desperatly clutching a small wooden horse. Rats scurried by, not paying much attention to the boy glancing at them with open fear. Hunger gnawed on him, just as he imagined the animals would, if he turned his back on them. The fear and the cold made him shiver, a desperate cry escaping his swollen throat.

The sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the alleyway. The sparse lighting only reveiling the shadow of a cloaked figure. The boys eyes grew wide. He remembered. Remembered the dazzling stories of heroes in capes his dad had read to him when he had still been with them. Remembered the striking images he had gawked in awe upon in the comic books he had read. The person stopped in front of his makeshift shelter, face hidden in the shadows.

Strong hands lifted him up and cradled him. He could feel the mans warmth, he had almost forgot what warmth felt like. He closed his eyes and held onto the sensation. Kindness seemed to radiate from this person and he felt safe. He felt at peace. Weariness washed over him in waves and he was barely able to fight the exhaustion that had build up in him. A hand brushed through his wet, dirt-stained hair. "It's going to be okay." a soft voice sounded and he trusted it. Trusted it with all the faith he could muster. The hero had come and he had been rescued. It was going to be okay. The voice had promised it. His mother had been wrong. There was someone in this world that loved him. It was going to be okay.
 
I know that I'm even later still to this party but prompt number one just got to me.

The first bright white of the snow made the lake sparkle. The lake is always so peaceful this year. No one here to disturb us. I put on my heavy coat, always mindful of momma's words. The path to the lake had become over grown so i set out to make a new one.
My trusty machete in hand, I cut my way down to my lake when I saw them. Huge, ugly foot steps, leading to my place. To momma's place. I heard momma's voice, telling me to get this intruder. To drive him from our home.
With my weapon in hand, I followed the steps. Observed how deep they are. Blood drops growing more frequent the closer to momma's home they got. Who ever was here would find help.
They wouldn't find anything but death here.

Been watching a few too many slashers lately. Pardon the shortness of this. :emoji_skull:
 
2. A kid asks Santa Clause for superpowers and gets them.


Late late late???

I do hope I'm not super late to this but I saw this one and thought I'd do it.


I remember it was the day before Christmas. My parents took me and my sister to that overly decorated mall, where we saw a long line of kids waiting to sit on the big man's lap. Honestly..I wish we never went... Something felt off about him and my sister felt it too, but even when we begged not to go our parents shoved us over there. As we neared him I noticed something clear about him that still haunts me to this day. His eyes. They seemed like they were full of life and color from afar, but his looked completely lifeless.

Glassy and almost unseeing, his gaze constantly flicked over to me and my sister and I held her hand protectively. Even though I was about eight years old, my sister six, I felt uncomfortable but I chalked it up to me being afraid of a harmless man and making it worse by thinking to much. I wish I listened to my instincts telling me to run, to just get away from that strange man. But I'm getting ahead of myself. It was then my turn to sit on his lap and my sister was sobbing. I gave her a hug to calm her down and reassured her that is be ok. I was going first to show her that nothing was wrong, but even I was terrified. There was a stool to walk up to sit down on him so with every set I took a breath and tried to calm myself down.

"And what do you wish for young man?" Santa's voice boomed, making me jump. At that moment I looked at my parents and saw their warm smiles and forgot about my fear and I smiled.

"I want superpowers!" I exclaimed joyously and he laughed. I turned to look at him but could fear rushed down my spine. His eyes..were gone. Black voids filled their empty spaces and tears began to rise and I swallowed to stop them.

"What kind of superpowers would you like?" He asked his lifeless eyes, mere inches from mine, drilling into me, and it was all I could do to not jump off his lap and run.

"U-um..I want.." I hesitated, my fear preventing me from saying anything, "Invisibility..I think it's cool..". Even though I mumbled the last part, Santa grinned knowingly.

"That is a very nice choice, young man!" He said happily, and he turned towards the parents and kids waiting on the other side of the ropes, "actually I'll give you a prize for that wish!"

He reached into his coat and gave me a paper. I guess he noticed my confusion when he told me "go to my helpers over there and they'll give it to you!"

I was happy, and a bit proud of myself for getting a prize but I had overlooked the weird situation I was in. I walked towards the "helpers" he told me about and noticed other kids there. We talked for a few minutes about what our prizes are when if feel something crash into me. Or someone. A giggle sounded out of the person and I realized it was my sister.

"That's all of 'em?" One of the elves grunt out and our heads snap to him. A rather large man obviously towering over us and we back away from him and to the other elf. This one was a woman, and I took a bit of a liking to her since she reminded me of my mom. That was our second mistake.

"All the ones that would let me" Behind us Santa had walked towards us after waving to our parents, "Ready kids?" He said to us and we squealed with joy. My sister slipped her hand into mine and I held it lightly, giving a slight squeeze to reassure her that I'm with her.

"Alrighty then kiddos! Let's be off then!" The woman elf said holding two kids hands and we cheered. As we walked we waved to our parents and went on to chittering excitedly about our prizes.


None of us knew at the time...but that would be the last time we saw our parents. Well, except me.



Hope you liked this!! I wanted to add more but ill just post that as a full story. So it shall be left on to be continued!!
 
1.
I knelt over the worrying sign. Snow swirling, flowing, eddying over my hood, over my boot. Over my rifle. For there upon the ground dusted with flakes lay a print. The depression bore three toes tipped with claws, like that of a bird. Only wide, splaying and as large as a bear's pawprints.
Another. Another. I began to follow hurrying before the snow could swallow such a menacing, threatening sign.

The thin gauzy trees lay burdened with snow, the dark fir's blanketed white, yet along the trail green needles glittered, clumps of crushed snow beneath as though this beast's shoulder had brushed against it.

Spoor. Still fresh. White and runny, like wild turkey droppings. Bigger.

Still I crept onwards till I came to the barn. Snow blanketed the roof, drifts clinging to it's dark brooding sides, clattering sills echoing into the forest silent. Nosing the door with my rifle bore, eyes adjusting to the gloom... grain sacks tossed to the dirt packed floor, belly's split, bleeding golden kernel's.
My ear's pinpricked at the soft shifting of grain, little kernels skittering across the silent floor, organic pulsing, gulping, swallowing. An animal feeding.
I advanced further in, eyes searching listlessly my companion the dreary wind, and shuddering heart.

Movement.

Far within the recess of the dark languid gloom, two yellow eyes stared back, predatory, hungry.
From the darkness, death emerged. It stood taller than I, taller than any man, as tall as the african elephant, thick shaggy coat, not fur but feather's sodden with snowmelt, thick muscled legs, scaled and sallow, feet tipped with ripping talons.
Only the beast's eyes lay upon me, cruel and searching, great head tipped in a questioning tilt, curved savage bill clicking slightly as the creature shifted forward. Two little wings tucked to it's sides flared in realisation, in terror. In hunger. Cavernous mouth widening, hooked bill raised as it charged.
Legs pounding, as it closed the short gap. My fingers skittering over the trigger worming into position. My bore flashed fire. Flashed again scarlet in the beast's hide.
The cry keening, fear shattering, monstrous.
Like a rabbit sighted by the hawk I dove back. Back out into the freezing wilderness.

Soft padding footsteps the beast began to follow...
 
Back
Top