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There are heaps of writing prompt sites, out there. Really: the Net is a-swarm with them – and, under other circumstances, I might have missed Writing Prompts…
And it would have been a shame – because, you see, I came across it via this prompt…
…And, while I don’t particularly think that London is a teenager, I was definitely hooked. I followed the link, and found the site’s page of prompts for history and social studies, filled with other equally interesting and unusual prompts.
The site’s author, you see, is a teacher, and uses these prompts in the class, but they are perfect for grown-ups too, I find – all the more because it’s not so often that one finds history-geared prompts. I’m most definitely giving a few of them a try – either for my own freewriting, or with my Scribblers group…
What about you, o Readers? What is, for instance, your city? And why?
Scribblings 
Castelnuovo Belbo is the wrecked body of an old peasant left on the Belbo river bank by the flood of ’48, soaked and broken, life, spirit and initiative slowly and steadily pouring out of it year after year – closed shops, empty houses, silence. Only carrion birds live here.
But also…
Turin is a woman in her late forties, that still tries to keep up appearances but would really love to just let herself go. One that hides sexy lingerie underneath her severe bottle-green overcoat as she goes through the cold fogs of winter, and keeps her vices to herself. Strangers mistake for melancholia her nostalgia for a wilder youth she missed, and are baffled by her Egyptian make up.
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Lovely! Well, no… perhaps “lovely” isn’t the word I’d use for the Castelnuovo one – but still, you see what I mean. Very effective.
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Thank you!
I did three more on my blog, because good ideas are worth stealing.
Your opinion would be appreciated and all that, but don’t consider it an obligation 😉
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I ran over – and gave my opinion. And no, I didn’t feel any obligation – especially not after you squarely threw the blame on me – no, no obligation at all… ;-D
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Asti is a farmer in his fifties. He keeps apart from the rest of his family and is suspicious of strangers. He likes his wine strong. He reads Mediaeval poems and practices fencing, longing for long-lost youth. He used to live in a castle, but now all he’s got is a vineyard.
I agree with Davide on Turin, although I would say that she’s also torn between living a secluded life in her palaces and going out to party like she used to in her youth.
Saint Petersburg is in his mid-thirties, although he feels much older. He’s masculine, but with a strong feminine side. He plays the part of the proud, collected cadet, but in reality he’s and odd fellow. He acts weirdly and can be quite creepy, especially after sundown. He follows a logic of his own. He drinks way too much. He has a disturbing obsession with Egypt and the occult. He justifies his behaviour by saying that he’s an artist.
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Oh, I like this!
Youknow, your Asti makes me think of Sigognac, had he never become the Captain Fracasse… In time he would have been forced to sell the castle – and this is exactly how he would have ended up. Except that he would have no family left to shun.
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