Question about a piece of feedback I got on a prompt

I had a writing partner tell me my prompts were too open, like 'a person finds a key.' They said it gave them nothing to grab onto. So now I try to add one specific detail, like 'a librarian in Omaha finds a key that's warm to the touch.' Anyone else get told their prompts needed more focus?

2 comments

2 Comments

lisa_jones2118d ago

A writing blog I follow calls that a "seed detail." It's the one weird thing that makes the whole story start growing. Your warm key example is perfect. It makes me wonder why it's warm and what it opens.

craig.parker18d ago

That's a good way to put it. You see that seed detail thing in old cars all the time, like a worn spot on the steering wheel. It tells a whole story about the driver before you even meet them.