Creative Writing Prompts: Significant Objects

Using significant objects is a great way to add subtext to your writing, plus, every time that object comes out, the reader will be reminded of the meaning and emotion behind it without being told. This draws a reader in and brings them into interaction with your story. Objects are an important part of fiction that often times have more meaning than what they appear to be on the surface. So why not use them for creative writing prompts?

When I wrote First, There is a River I used a teddy bear as a significant object that had much meaning for my protagonist, Emma. First, she sees her son rip the toy bear to pieces after he watches her husband abuse her. The teddy bear signified what her husband’s violence was doing to her family and children. The pieces were the life she couldn’t put back together. Then when she took the toy bear with her on her journey, all she had to do was pull it out and the reader was reminded of her longing for her children and why she had to leave. When another character found the toy bear or Emma gave it to a young woman in the story, the meaning changed and deepened with each passing.

Think of the ring in Lord of the Rings, the key in Sarah’s Key, the heart necklace in Titanic (movie) or the ruby slippers in The Wizard of Oz. If you’ve read the books (or seen the movies) you can speak paragraphs on what those significant objects mean.

Significant objects can bring depth and meaning to fiction. Where can your story use an object of significance? Here are some writing prompts to brainstorm and help you discover yours. You can turn this into a character meditation and write in your character’s voice journal, keeping to first person. The point is to get your character talking to you because once that happens, you are in the zone! Let your character do your writing work.

1. Start with your lead character.

Get into his or her head. Look around the room (or landscape if you are outside) and begin listing what he or she sees. Staying in your character’s head, write the answers to these questions in his or her voice in first person.

• Where are you?
• How do you feel about this place? What happens here?
• What do you see? Make a list.
• What is taking your attention? Why?
• What do you see that is important to you? Why?
• What problem do you have right now? Why does what is happening worry you?
• Where do your eyes settle as you are talking? On what object? Why?
• Does it give you comfort? Why?
• Does it unsettle you? Why?
• What does it mean to you?
• Do you have any valued possessions? What are they?
• Why do you keep them? Why are they important?

2. Now, in your character’s body, travel to another landscape in your book. Continue to write through your character’s voice.

• Where are you?
• What do you see? Make a list.
• What is taking your attention? Why?
• What do you see that is important to you? Why?
• Why did you come here? What happened here?
• How do you feel about this place?
• Where do your eyes settle while you are talking? On what object? Why?
• Does it give you comfort? Why?
• Does it unsettle you? Why?
• What does it mean to you?

3. Next (and still inside your character) travel to all the places in your book where scenes happen.

Look around and investigate. Ask the questions and answer in your character’s voice.

You can do these exercises during any part of your writing process—whether you are at the beginning of your story, middle, or end. In addition to exploring what the objects in your story might mean, you will connect to your character on a deeper level and discover more than you set out to find. And what writing experience will be better than that?

Click here for more creative writing prompts.

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Award-winning novelist Kathy Steffen teaches fiction writing and speaks at writing programs across the country. Additionally, Kathy is also published in short fiction and pens a monthly writing column, Between the Lines. Her books, FIRST THERE IS A RIVER, JASPER MOUNTAIN and THEATER OF ILLUSION are available online and at bookstores everywhere. Check out more at www.kathysteffen.com