WRITING MASTERY:

FOUNDATIONS OF FICTION

WRITING PROMPT: “BUILD A LIVING ROOM”

 

In  this  prompt,  you’ll  practice  writing  familiar  settings.  We’re  going  to  build  a  
character’s  living  room  together  and  then  write  a  scene  that  takes  place  in  that  living  
room.    
 
1) Write  down  in  your  notebook  or  computer  the  5  things  below  that  Jess  and  Jo  
added  to  the  living  room:      
 
1. An  old-­‐fashion  record  player  
2. A  dog  bed  
3. A  bucket  of  snails  
4. A  copy  of  Le  Petit  Prince  (in  French)  
5. A  broken  vacuum  cleaner  
 
2) Make  a  list  of  5  more  things  to  add  to  the  living  room  and  add  them  to  the  list  in  
your  notebook  or  computer.    
 
3) Circle  or  highlight  1-­‐3  things  from  the  full  list  that  you  want  to  focus  on    
 
4) Start  thinking  about  what  kind  of  character  would  have  this  living  room  with  
these  chosen  items.  
   
(For  example,  if  you  chose  the  dog  bed,  perhaps  the  character  has  a  dog…or  
really  wants  a  dog,  or  maybe  their  dog  has  just  died.  L )  
 
5) Set  a  timer  for  10  minutes  and  write  a  scene  that  shows  the  character  who  has  
this  living  room  (mentioning  the  things  that  you  picked  above  in  step  3)  
 
(For  example,  maybe  this  character  just  got  back  from  a  hard  day  at  work,  or  
maybe  they’re  having  a  party  in  the  living  room,  or  they’re  on  a  date!)  
 

©2016  Jessica  Brody  Entertainment.  All  Rights  Reserved.     Page  1  

 WRITING MASTERY:
FOUNDATIONS OF FICTION

LIKE  THIS  PROMPT?  TRY  THESE  BONUS  OPTIONS:    

 
• Pick  1-­‐3  different  things  from  the  list  and  try  the  prompt  again.  
 
• Brainstorm  a  whole  new  list  of  things  to  add  to  the  living  room  and  repeat  
 steps  3,  4  and  5  above.    
 
• If  you  wrote  a  funny  scene,  try  writing  a  sad  or  serious  scene  using  the  same  
things  that  you  chose  in  step  3.  (Or  if  you  wrote  a  sad  or  serious  scene,  trying  
writing  a  funny  one.)  
 
• Team  up  with  a  writing  partner  and  challenge  each  other  by  adding  items  to  
the  other  person’s  list  and  then  write  a  scene  featuring  a  character  who  lives  
in  that  room.  

©2016  Jessica  Brody  Entertainment.  All  Rights  Reserved.     Page  2