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An Elf (written) Fantasy Newsletter
Fantasy prompts are fun but how do you come up with one? What if you love a contest but struggle with the prompt? This time, we talk about fantasy prompts and some tips on writing for them. |
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Prompts: they can be fun or the bane of contest existence for both the creators and the ones attempting to write for them. Anyone who runs a contest for an extended length of time knows that it can be a challenge some rounds to come up with prompts. I know for the one I run that's weekly, even though I don't judge every week, after 3 years it is more challenging to come up with prompts without being too repetitive. With my longer contest that I haven't had open for a while (looking to have a round this summer), it's a little easier to come up with prompts still. As a writer, the prompt can be a challenge, particularly if you plan or are in a challenge to enter a contest before knowing what you need to write in order to enter. Here are some general areas for fantasy (and sci-fi) prompts along with my own thoughts about writing for them. (This is more of an overview but if one section in particular catches attention, I can always write a more specific one next time.)
Character based prompts
Pretty straight forward here. These are prompts based on characters that include, but aren't limited to: types of fantasy characters, tropes, specific characteristics and full character descriptions. There is a contest that does one of these every round, as their prompts are mythical creatures and the rest of the story is up to the writer. Other contests, however, will use character specific prompts as well. It can be fun because certain characters catch our attention and make for interesting stories.
Writing this can be easy enough, depending on the type of character prompt and whether it's building a new idea or getting to write an older one. The hardest part will be when the prompts are so specific on character that it starts to feel like you are just writing the story for someone else. I don't recommend a contest do a full list of character details as a prompt because it dictates too much of the character and that will only work really for specific types of contests and writers who are wanting the challenge of taking someone else's character in order to create a story. Otherwise, even I avoid contests that dictate too much of the character because I have enough of my own in my head to manage, with no need to add more. I do find character prompts fun though, as it can make for an interesting result depending on the type given.
Situational
This type of prompt is more focused on the overall story and conflict. The prompts will often suggest a situation or something specific to happen. It's useful because it does help direct the story, at least to a certain degree, while still providing plenty of wiggle room and story creativity from the writer. Judging wise, some may like having similar stories and being able to judge based on the criteria a little easier because a broader range can bring entries that are hard to compare (even more so when it's poetry and story against each other but there are less extreme cases as well).
Having a situation dictated can both work and hinder. If it's not the type you write but are set to enter for some reason, it can prove challenge. However, often situation prompts can be made to work and you get to decide the other details such as world and characters. Again, detail is best when not super restricted because while prompts are great for sparking a story, too much into a prompt and it starts to feel like being asked to write someone else's story. Which in small ways that's what contests do, but having ones that don't dictate too much helps keep the creativity and ownership balance on a good level. Finding ways as the writer to make this type work can be easy, it will just depend on how you view the prompt and make sure that you don't spin the suggestion so much the judge can't link it to the prompt anymore.
Setting
Less common, this type of prompt puts forth more of a world then anything else for the writer to use. At least one aspect of the story setting or more will be required. It's a simple prompt in a way because everything else is left to the writer's imagination, so all the contest does is list parts of the world they want to see within the story. It can also be geared towards specific subgenres like: middle earth, set on a spaceship, steamboat and steamtrain main transportation and such. This is less common in part because unless the one picking the prompts is big on world building, it may just not come to mind, but maybe it still has its place in types of prompts.
As the writer, this can be nice because the aspect not as focused on is already decided while you get to play and determine the big factors of character and plot. If you already have the world all set up and want to write a scene for a contest, this can either hinder or be an excellent option. It also can be a challenge at times because you want the prompt still findable withing the story but it not only can't get lost, it also needs to seem like it fits within the story and isn't just thrown in as an addition in order to enter. Another balance act to a degree.
Visual/Music
These are great but also hit and miss. There is a plethora of speculative image images available online that can make for great prompts. One just has to be careful to remember site ratings as some images may not be E friendly (since clothes aren't often practical or are very minimal in some cases). The image prompt can provide many of the already listed prompt types: setting, character and conflict. Plus, they are just fun overall. Music is similar but also more difficult when it comes to being used as a prompt. There are some excellent bits available online through youtube that would make for great prompts. Some writers, like me, love listening to music while writing and having a prompt of a song can be quite a challenge.
While both are fun, each can have problems. Music, in particular, is difficult because some may struggle to find the prompt. While one might see it easily in a story, in particular with instrumental pieces, others who read it will not see the prompt at all. I had this come up once, where I wrote the story while listening to the song over and over, dictating the parts based on the rise and fall of the piece. Review came back and they didn't feel the prompt in the story. So it can be difficult both on the writer and the judge. Images are also a struggle at times because they dictate something specific, and while easier to place may not always garner interest. Some images will spark a story and others will just draw a blank.
Speculative fiction, overall, has a wide range of options when it comes to prompts and potential stories to write. There are many kinds to use and hopefully, it's not too much of a challenge to come up with the next one when the time is needed. Pick a prompt and if you haven't written in a while, check out different types of prompts and maybe something will light the fire of a story idea for you. Until then, keep writing.
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Which kinds of prompts do you use in your contest? Which prompts do you like to write for when entering contest?
From last week's newsletter about character descriptions, here are a couple comments people sent in:
Comment by Tileira 
I think some people get carried away with how much visual information to include. I normally stick to hair, build and eye colour as an afterthought followed by anything unique to the character.
But I think the two most important things to remember are to avoid making them too visually unique (unless its directly relevant to the story) and to avoid dumping it all in one place. Spread it out.
If the character has slender fingers, don't mention them until she actually need to do something with her hands. Don't add fiddling with her pencil just to describe her fingers. Or if his eyes are 'the deep blue of a cloudless twilight' only mention 'cloudless twilight' once and only when someone is really focused on his eyes. The chances are no-one would notice if you never mentioned the colour of his eyes.
Comment by Joto-Kai 
Physical descriptions should be kept minimal, especially with people. Ideally, you tie every physical detail into plot, as many ways as possible. Every detail should have somebody either causing it, reacting to it, or be somehow poetically resonant to the plot.
Scarlett's red hair, for example, is trivial in the grand scheme. But, somebody chose her hair color - either actively or passively - for a reason. And people treat her different than her as a brunette. It also fits with her name, and furthermore, red hair provokes associations in people's minds: Rebellion, passion. A strict contrast to the oppressive regime Brannon finds her in.
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Fantasy: March 04, 2015 Issue [#6862]
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