Interpretation of object prompt
Printed From: NYC Midnight : Creative Writing & Screenwriting
Category: GENERAL DISCUSSION
Forum Name: Questions & Answers
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Printed Date: 27 Mar 2026 at 12:19am
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Topic: Interpretation of object prompt
Posted By: ZoeLou
Subject: Interpretation of object prompt
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2020 at 12:20am
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Hi there, this is my first time doing flash and I'm stuck on how to incorporate my object. I know it has to appear physically, but how typical does its appearance have to be? My object is a doorbell so does it literally have to be a bell hanging on a door or can I play with that interpretation and have some other object acting as a makeshift bell/alarm in the entrance? I also have one idea that consists primarily of a sequence of flashbacks/memories - can the doorbell appear in a memory or does it have to appear in the present? Thanks in advance! ------------- All my NYCM work: https://bit.ly/3QV6sHG" rel="nofollow - Author Archive |
Replies:
Posted By: poplock10
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2020 at 8:06am
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For last year's FF challenge my prompt was a "boat anchor". In my head I managed to switch that to a "ship anchor", and in my story it was the anchor on a space ship (my genre was Sci-Fi). None of the comments I got back from the judges said that I hadn't used a "boat anchor", so they seemed fine with it. I'm guessing on your second part, but to me having the doorbell be in a flashback should count. It's still physically there in the flashback. I think the issue is if you just mention the word (ie "he always thought 'Doorbell' would be a good name for a dog") but don't physically have it. An entire story could take place in a flashback, or a dream, so as long as it's a physical object, I don't think the time matters. ------------- https://forums.nycmidnight.com/topic65718_post701809.html#701809" rel="nofollow - Sweet Smell of Success |
Posted By: ZoeLou
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2020 at 11:41pm
Thank you! ------------- All my NYCM work: https://bit.ly/3QV6sHG" rel="nofollow - Author Archive |
poplock10 wrote:Posted By: Archaeo
Date Posted: 13 Jul 2020 at 2:03am
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Hi, It is really hard to know, there are comments on the web page about genres, objects, and locations and the writing brief. You are supposed to use your object explicitly not just mention it. But to me, they seem more worried about the location of the story. This is my third year doing these and I do all the comps except screenwriting. Last year I got an ATV, which I had one of my characters riding, and then for Round 2, I got a chocolate bar. This round over the weekend I got a compass. Each time, I have specifically used the object as is, except in my story last year, the chocolate bar wrapper was what I focused on and not the chocolate bar. No one said boo. I am more concerned with how the genres are being interpreted and these seem to cause more ruckus than anything else. Good luck! |