Writing Prompt Challenge #3 - Get Physical!

This is an international swap for ALL writers, whether you write fiction, essays/journal, letters, or poetry/prose.

You will be given a prompt below. You will then write a piece using that prompt. This piece does not have to be long, just enough to fill at least one side of a sheet of 8.5 x 11 paper (or equivilant size). Of course, you are welcome to write more if the muse hits your over the head hard enough to do so.

If you do short poetry, maybe write more than one piece, to fill up the page.

If you write fiction, you might write an opening scene or a piece of dialogue, but you do not need to write an entire story.

You could write an essay on the topic or a journal-type entry. Or you migth use it as a the basis for a fictional news article.

If you are a letter writer, be creative and write a letter to or from a fictional character relating to the prompt, or something along those lines. Or you could relate the prompt to an event or situation from your real-life, and tell your partner about that.

The whole idea of this challenge is to get you thinking and putting words to paper. You can use it to help beat that nasty case of writer's block that's hit you. You can use it help you develop characters or scenes for a larger work. You can use as part of your daily writing practice. As long as it gets you writing, that's all that matters.

You will then send that piece of writing to your partners, via snail mail. Since this only needs to be one page (but again, you are welcome to write more), the cost of sending won't break the bank.

**Writing Prompt #3: (For this swap, you can choose either options, totally up to you.)

Option 1 -- Set a timer or have someone time you for a short interval (15 seconds to two minutes). Make sure you have a mirror or large reflective surface within view. Start moving around, gesturing, twisting, jumping, making facial expressions or contortions. Don't look at yourself in the mirror, just keep moving.

When the time is up, freeze. Look at your reflection and note your posture, stance expression, etc. If need be, have someone take a picture of you so you can refer to it later.

Option 2 -- Using either your computer or your television, turn on a show, a video, or just commercials, where there will likely be at least one person in the shot, and turn off the sound. Close your eyes and let it play for a random amount of time. Pause it. Note the person's facial expression, pose, posture, etc.

Challenge -- Use the description from your chosen option to create a character. Now, put that character into a scene where he or she may find themselves in just such a pose or making just such a facial expression. How you work that is up to you.

(If you take a picture of yourself, or if you can get a screen shot of the paused video, feel free to include that with your piece, or you can email the picture to your partner if you want. But you must send the written piece by snail mail.)

This is open to all swappers, new and old-hats. Whether you write regularly, or if this is your first jump into the word waters, you are welcome to join. But please, if you don't plan to send, don't sign up. It's just rude.

If something comes up and you find you won't be able to send, please be sure to let your partners and I know so that I can arrange angels. Because even though we won't have made a huge financial investment, we will have made a time investment. I want everyone to get something in return for their time.

Have ideas for future Writing Prompt Challenges? Private Message me and I'll take your ideas into consideration.