Writing Prompt: A Knock on a Door

 

 Writing Prompt: A Knock on a Door

 

These exercises were written by IWW members and administrators to provide structured practice opportunities for its members. You are welcome to use them for practice as well. Please mention that you found them at the Internet Writers Workshop. 

 

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Exercise: In less than 400 words, show a character who hears a knock on a door. If the door is opened, what ensues? If the door remains closed, what's the
reason? Your main character can be a person, a house pet, a robot, or
anyone or anything able to hear or respond to a knock on a door.

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A knock on a door can cause different reactions. A knock can startle a listener. Sometimes, a knock might be expected, or perhaps ... dreaded.

This prompt may open your imagination to a plethora of locations. You might dream up a situation that takes place in the past, future, or perhaps, out of this world. Example: In 2003, the first Chinese astronaut, Yang Liwei, made a 21-hour space trip aboard Shenzhou 5.
 

During a 2016 interview with China Central Television, he described
hearing strange noises during his mission: loud knocks coming from
nowhere, from time to time. After his revelation, other Chinese astronauts revealed that they had also heard loud knocks during their space flights. No one could tell them what might have caused the knocks.

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Critique: Were you intrigued by the intro? Could you picture the
scene? Did the dialogue ring true? And how did the ending work for
you? Would you read further? Do you have suggestions for the writer?

 

 Some more writing prompts for you to try.