Write a scene where [CHARACTER A] feels [EMOTION] about [CHARACTER B].
Include [important object] and [random line of dialogue]
For my 2019 novel ‘The Price of Immortality’ I got:
First letter of MC’s name = A = your MC
Last letter of MC’s name = A = your MC
Last digit of WC = 6 = irritated
Dice roll = 14 = Not your cat
Novel genre = Fantasy = “I have to do something to help that child”
That gives me:
“Write a scene where Alexia [my MC] feels irritated towards herself. Include a cat that’s not hers, and the line “I have to do something to help that child”.
Try it with your novel!
CHARACTER A – The first letter of your MC’s name
CHARACTER B – The last letter of your MC’s name
ABCD – Your main character
EFGH – Their best friend / sidekick
IJKL – The antagonist / villain
MNOP – Their mentor / trusted authority figure
QRST – Their love interest
UVWX – A femme/homme fatal
YZ – The MC’s foil / the rebel / that person they really want to punch in the face all the time
EMOTION – last digit of your wordcount
- jealous
- loving
- resentful
- frustrated
- trusting
- lustful
- irritated
- grateful
- disgusted
- guilty
Important Object – roll a d30 at rolz.org 2
- a comfy chair
- a box of old letters
- someone else’s diary
- a broken ring
- a big drink
- a found purse
- an unpaid hotel bill
- too much money
- a baby
- the master key
- a photograph/painting
- an urn
- an overheard conversation
- It’s not your cat
- an adoption certificate
- a holy text
- a legal notice
- a brewing storm
- half of a map
- a hidden love poem
- an improvised weapon
- a musical instrument
- a favour
- an unexpected invitation
- a property deed
- a family medal
- an unsigned confession
- a birthmark
- a vial marked ‘poison’
- someone’s underwear
A random line of dialogue – the genre of your novel
…or the closest genre to it. Pick one line, or use both!
More than one genre? Take a line from each if you want!
(from Random Dialogue Generator 1)
Adventure:
“Tell me what you saw, for their sake”
“Don’t be scared. I just need you to come with me for a minute.”
Erotic Fiction:
“If you leave now, you lose everything.”
“Whatever you’re going to ask, the answer is No!”
Fanfiction:
“Don’t be scared. I just need you to come with me for a minute.”
“Does he know about the baby?”
Fantasy:
“I have to do something to help that child.”
“You got a package for me?”
Historical Fiction:
“I want to be there when you get what’s coming to you.”
“We could get arrested for this.”
Horror & Supernatural:
“Could you be happy here with me?”
“What have you done with my pills? I need them!”
LGBT+ Fiction:
“You’re too good for this world.”
“I miss moments like this more than anything.”
Literary Fiction:
“You’ve taken her back? You can’t be serious?”
“I hope that what I’ve said hasn’t hurt you too much.”
Mainstream & Realistic Fiction:
“You make me feel like I’m not good enough.”
“How dare you look down your nose at me like that.”
Mystery, Thriller, & Suspense:
“I want them out of my house!”
“Would you come to my funeral?”
Other:
“You have his eyes.”
“Am I under arrest, or not?”
Religious, Spiritual, & New Age
“I’ve been waiting a long time for you.”
“Do you ever think we should just stop doing this?”
Romance:
“If you do this, you will be dead to me.”
“Perhaps you’ll take me out one day – or do I have to make an appointment?”
Satire, Humor, & Parody:
“I’m ready to try again, if you are?”
“Why did you scream like that?”
Science Fiction:
“You must find it before the others do.”
“Go and live with her, then! See if I care.”
Women’s Fiction:
“You embarrassed me this evening.”
“You don’t want to live in a society like this, yet you don’t want to do anything about it!”
Young Adult & Children’s Fiction:
“Try focussing more on your life and less on mine!”
“You were meant to be watching him!”
Want More? Okay…
So you’ve written this scene already and you’re still looking for another challenge? Here’s what I suggest:
- Use a different character’s name
- Use your current scene’s word count, or your current daily word count- or random.org!
- Use the dialogue generator at: Random Dialogue Generator 1
I love seeing what people come up with! Post your custom prompt in the comments, and then give us a snippet of what you write from it if you like!
And remember, there’s no ‘challenge police’ so adapt what you get to fit your setting and characters however you want! The inspiration is more important than the exact details!
