A single tree on the horizon. It’s an enigmatic setting. This exercise is about how setting can add to the context of your story, adding layers of complexity and mood. This is a writing prompt from the Writers’ BLOCKbusters series. First, decide what you want the tree to symbolise. Is it a meeting place, the place of a confrontation for your rights, a liaison with a lover, a battle? Write a paragraph, a page or however much you need, to work out the details. Give the tree some history, a legend, a rumour. Is treasure buried there? Was a murder committed beneath its branches? Is it a portal to a different world? Do its leaves have magical powers? Work out how your description of the tree can add to the story. Consider all parts of the tree, its roots, branches, leaves, in all four seasons, in different weather. Choose the species of tree – deciduous or evergreen, young or old – and think about this can add hints about your theme. This is not a story about a tree. It is a story in which a tree features. You just need to decide how to use the tree to help you tell your story. © ‘Writers’ BLOCKbusters’ by Sandra Danby Want more inspiration? Try these other FlashPICs:- Ethereal Rubbish At this Mark on the Pavement Nothing of Value Left Overnight What are‘Writers’ BLOCKbusters’? I want to help you put words on the page. Those words won’t necessarily be the first line of your novel, or indeed anything to do with your novel, but they will be words to fill that intimidating blank space. And it couldn’t be quicker. Writers’ BLOCKbusters is a collection of three ebooks of writing prompts. Why are they different? Precisely because they are short, easy to use, and flexible. Designed for writers of fiction, any genre, novels, short stories, flash fiction, they are suitable for all genre of fiction precisely because each exercise is based on a subject unrelated to whatever you are struggling with. I am not looking over your shoulder. Ebooks coming soon at Amazon… Writers’ BLOCKbusters: #500 FirstParas Writers’ BLOCKbusters: #500 FlashPics Writers’ BLOCKbusters: #500 WordStorms And if you’d like to tweet a link to THIS post, here’s my suggested tweet: #FlashPIC 43 A Tree Alone #writingprompt https://wp.me/p5gEM4-44h via @SandraDanby
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