February’s weather has been like a stew pot–snow flurries, ice pellets, freezing rain, more snow, bitter winds–and rarely a glimpse of the sun as if it’s the bay leaf in the meal. The days still feel too short with the grey skies and whiteout blizzards and the nights are long and chill the bones. Snow days cancel plans and keep us home. Forget snow shoveling and chipping away the ice built up on your step. It’s a perfect time for writing.
On our last snow day I did exactly that. I stoked the fire, brewed a cup of coffee with warm whipped milk and settled into my favourite writing chair with a blanket and my laptop. I wrote. It felt wonderful to watch the snow falling outside but I was far away in my novel.
It’s a good time to write a short story for one of the many spring writing contest. Don’t have an idea? Here is a story starter for you. Feel free to change gender or change the main character’s initial reaction. The purpose is to inspire you to write a winter time story:
“He stood in my doorway with snow dusting his head. I clenched the doorframe with anger simmering in my stomach. Three years with no letter, email, or phone call and now the snowstorm has blown him into my home with every road in the county closed.”
What happens next?
Does she close the door in his face or maybe he pushes himself in without further invitation? Why was he gone for so long? Who is he? Ex-lover? Son or maybe someone who killed the main character’s son? I would love to hear what you do with this story starter. For Ascribe members, bring your stories to the next meeting.
Here’s to hoping for more bad weather and happy writing!
