Historical Fiction writing prompt
The Soldier's Hidden Diary
Set in the backdrop of the American Civil War, write from the perspective of a teenage girl whose brother is fighting in the war. She finds a hidden diary belonging to a mysterious soldier and decides to return it, learning about the harsh realities of war and human nature along the way.
Suggested length: A short story: 1,500 to 5,000 words, or flash fiction under 1,000
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Pick a sprint, start the clock and keep going until it stops. Momentum beats polish on a first draft.
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Three ways to take this prompt somewhere nobody else will.
- 1Use the way your hero texts to show who they are.
- 2Write in close first person, as if it's happening right now.
- 3Put a first in the story: a first job, kiss, loss or lie.
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