This is something of an established theme in the art community, but I think there is space here for writers as well. I wanted to explore each of the monthly themes a little bit more this year. So rather than a daily prompt, I thought we could try a weekly challenge. While this gives a bit more time to create depth to the written piece, I also believe it should be short enough not to distract us from our main writing projects (we writers are easily distracted folk).
You can write them as bestiary entries, poetry, first-hand accounts and close encounters. Of course, artists can use them for inspiration too, and I’d love to see your work! If you’re writing, try to keep them under 1,000 words. Again, it shouldn’t interfere with your main projects.
Week 1: Physical Features
Fur, scales, eyes, claws, horns and tails. Does it inspire fear? Is it beautiful to behold? The visual description of the creature is the feature of the story.
Week 2: Habitat
Tells us about where it lives. What is the terrain like? How about the climate? What vegetation is there? How does this impact the creatures living there?
Week 3: Behaviours
Is it solitary or a herd beast? What is the pack hierarchy? Is it nocturnal? Aggressive? What is mating season/hibernation/hunting season like? The story feature should focus on the behaviour of the creature.
Week 4: Care and Feeding
Is it kept as a pet? In a zoo? Is it too wild to tame? How does one look after it and how does the creature respond. The story should feature caretaking as a focal point.
C.M. Wellsmore 