It’s hard to escape that most talked-about and often clichéd theme: love. It’s a fundamental part of many stories, whether it’s love between people, love for a thing, or love that was lost.
Image Credit: Giacomo via Flickr Creative Commons.
But how do we approach the topic of love in our writing without sounding sappy or following too closely in the footsteps of the many authors who have written about ‘love’ before us?
This week’s writing prompt is about battling the clichés and writing something original.
Write a scene where two characters show love for each other.
Sounds simple enough, right? Here are the rules:
- Set your scene somewhere completely unromantic (the dump, a fish market, a funeral – it’s up to you).
- You cannot use the words, ‘love’, ‘beautiful’, ‘overwhelming’, ‘heart’, or ‘butterflies’.
- You cannot use a ‘love at first sight’ or ‘let’s make love’ plot (keep it PG-13, people!).
- Avoid clichés at all costs!
Writing about love (and making it sound sincere rather than silly) is a difficult thing, so cut out the clichés and broaden your imagination.
For more exercises to test your skills, check out our writing prompts page. Happy writing!