Writing Prompt 63: Desert
Whether fiction or non-fiction, this prompt invites you to create a narrative that captures the inner thoughts and emotions of a character or the landscape itself.
Have you ever been in an environment that is unfamiliar to you, almost alien? A desert, a rainforest, open plains, a lake, the ocean, a mountain, a cliff-top.
For many people, a place of natural beauty can invigorate the soul and clarify any thoughts about personal growth.
The desert landscape in the photograph above feels calm and serene, the light pushing the foreground into shadow while the haze over the mountains in the background leaves only an outline of their shape. I remember in art classes at school taking a lesson in tone, drawing trees in the foreground with the blackest pencil while the ones that fell back deeper into the wood became lighter and lighter creating a feeling of depth. I think of this when I look at this photograph.
Write a story using vivid descriptions and sensory details to describe the inner thoughts and emotions of someone or something — could be the landscape itself. Try to create a narrative that explores either themes of personal growth or the power of nature. This could be either fiction or non-fiction — a wellness centre in the desert where only a wealthy clientele can stay or an exploration of fearful wonder in a place you don't know. Perhaps there’s a single moment of inspiration that transforms a character while in this place. What is the significance of a place to a story to a people?
Have a think and then just write.
California desert. Photo:Tanya Clarke 2016
