Creating a Storyworld

Sci Fi/Fantasy Narrative Prompt

BRAINSTORM YOUR STORYWORD

Physical Description Rules and Values

• Time—past, present, future, day, night, summer, winter, iconic era, etc.

• Place—Real or imaginary, country, planet, sea, land, room, community, ship, satellite, island, etc.

• What does it look like?• What does it feel like?• What does it sound like?• What does it smell like?• What does it taste like?

• Laws, Rules, Behavior Codes• Do people have advanced

abilities? • Is society barbaric,

sophisticated, or both?• Language?• Wealth or Poverty• Freedoms? Religious Views?

Political Climate?• Goals • Society events and

circumstances?

1

Imagine you are in a world other than ours. You are currently at the home you have lived in your entire life. It is all very familiar in your world. Describe your immediate surroundings.

2

You are planning to leave today, but you feel anxious about what to bring. You go through several possibilities. Gratefully, you make a decision and place the object(s) in your bag. Describe.

3

You are thinking about all you will leave behind. Much to your dismay, less than a minute later, your solitude is shattered. Describe what you were thinking and the subsequent interruption.

4

Who does the interruption come from? And what does this person/entity want from you?

5

You are ____________ (uncomfortable, afraid, excited, confused, annoyed) by the request. Describe your reaction through your body language.

6

How do you respond to the request? What do you do? What do you say to the person/entity?

7

Your response is not well received by the requester. Describe the requester’s voice and response to you. What is said? How is it said?

8

As you think about the request, your mind drifts to the reason(s) you are leaving. Where are you going? And, why are you leaving?

9

You are trying to make sense out of it all, and then you realize you are going to be late. Describe what you do next.

Prompt created by Elizabeth Nelsonfor Writing Workshop on “Creating a Storyworld and

Character”April 2013