The Prompts

[JenNipps]

Again, you don't have to answer here unless you want to. This is just meant to serve as a springboard to get you thinking, if you need it.

First prompt:

What is your main character's definition of success?

[JenNipps]

Sheesh. I start this and go away for the weekend. Good one, Jen! lol.

What's the weather like when your MC has to do an important errand?

[JenNipps]

What secret from their past is your character hoping to keep hidden? Why?

[JenNipps]

One word: rain.

[JenNipps]

What is your character's Achilles heel?

[JenNipps]

Yesterday was another day of server problems (seems like there's a lot of those lately). At least I could get in here to read. I couldn't even do that much at a couple other places yesterday. Today is a 2-for-1 because of that.

1 - Your child-phobic very single character is asked to babysit and there's no one else who can do it.

2 - One word: chocolate

[JenNipps]

Here is another 2-fer since I wasn't around yesterday. They're both one word-ers.

1. Fatigue
2. Pain

[JenNipps]

What is your character's favorite song (if they have one)? Why?

[JenNipps]

Technical difficulties keep your character from doing their job. What are they? What do they do to get around it/cope with it?

[JenNipps]

Your character is running late for an important meeting. Does s/he make it on time? What happens if they are late?

[JenNipps]

One word: Fashion

[JenNipps]

Your character has an unexpected day off. What does s/he do?

[JenNipps]

Your character got their income tax refund and is going shopping. What do they splurge on?

[JenNipps]

What is your character's favorite past-time or hobby?

[JenNipps]

Yikes! I owe five prompts. Here they are:

1. What is your character's favorite season?
2. Your character receives an invitation to their high school reunion. Do they go? How do they feel about it?
3. Your character has a high-stress job and the boss gives them more that has to be done NOW (like everything else on their to-do list, it seems). What do they do?
4. Your character has a night on the town. Where do they go?
5. One word: Haircut

[JenNipps]

What is your character allergic to?

[JenNipps]

What kind of cold medicine does your character have in their medicine cabinet? Why?

[JenNipps]

Your character is stuck in the middle of rush hour. What does s/he do, think, or say?

[JenNipps]

What has your character's worst injury been?

[JenNipps]

Your character & their significant other had a big argument. Who apologizes first?

[JenNipps]

Oh, geez. I came in here to post this prompt earlier and I forgot.

Your character has misplaced their keys. Where do they find them?

[JenNipps]

1 - Your character has been up for 24 hours and can't sleep yet. How do they act?
2 - What does your character collect?
3 - What is your character's favorite childhood memory? Why?
4 - Does your character have any brothers or sisters? Where does s/he fall in the birth order?

[JenNipps]

After years of good eyesight, your character has to get glasses -- for reading, to start, but progressing. What do they feel/think about it?

[JenNipps]

One word: breakfast

[JenNipps]

1 - Your character gets a letter in the mail. Who is it from?
2 - It's time to send out holiday cards. Does your character send any or not? Why?
3 - Your character has been volunteered for a job. What is it?

[JenNipps]

1 - What does your character do for his/her significant other for Valentine's Day?
2 - Your character gets an invitation for a TV talk-show taping. Do they go? Are they in the audience or on the show itself?

[JenNipps]

One word: candy

[JenNipps]

Your character is given the opportunity to telecommute. Do they do well working from home or not?

[JenNipps]

It is (fill in your sport of choice) season. Who does your character root for?

[JenNipps]

Your character has a long weekend. Do they have plans to go away or do they stay home?

[JenNipps]

One word: snow

[JenNipps]

Your character is feeling like a homebody and wants to cook. What does he/she make? Is it a main course, appetizer, or dessert?

[JenNipps]

You're one of those guests who snoops a bit, be it looking in the shower or the medicine cabinet. What is in your character's medicine cabinet?

[JenNipps]

I'm leaving tomorrow to go out of town for a couple days, so I'll include prompts through Friday in this one.

These all seem to be really basic, kind of silly on the surface, but I've found that if I don't know the answers to these, I have a hard time imagining my characters as actual people. If you don't see your characters as real people, why should the people who pick up your book?

1. What is your character's favorite smell?
2. What is your character's favorite color?
3. What is your character's family like? (Close, large, etc.)
4. What is/are your character's hobby/hobbies?

[JenNipps]

First, the prompts to cover since last I posted.

1. Your character has a bad cold. How do they cope with it?
2. Your character has lost their pet. Do they put fliers up to find it, go to the animal shelter and adopt another one, or just forget about it because it was more trouble than it was worth anyway? Why?
3. Your character is at a bar. What do they order to drink?
4. Your character is redecorating their house/apartment. What color do they paint the walls? Why?

Second, an invitation.

If any of you think of anything that you think would make a good (or even not-so-good -- look at how lame some of these are) prompt, feel free to post it.

[chicagogal]

What has your character's worst injury been?
a broken heart