101 Drabble Starters
by
Kurt D. Frazier Sr.
SMASHWORDS EDITION
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PUBLISHED BY:
Kurt D. Frazier Sr. on Smashwords
101 Drabble Starters
Copyright © 2011 by Kurt D. Frazier Sr.
ISBN # 978-1-4660-3428-0
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
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Here is a list of Drabble starters that I have compiled for you to use as a jumping off point for your writing. It is free because I want to be a help to my fellow writers in getting their next project up and running. There will be contact information at the end of this book and I would appreciate it if you use these to begin a work that you would contact me with the link to your writing and let me know where I can obtain a copy of your work so that I can see which direction you went with the prompts. I plan on publishing a collection using these prompts around Christmas time, I hope that you will check back to see where they led me.
Just what is a Drabble? I’m glad you asked there has been much discussion about the subject and I lean toward the explanation that it is a short story containing exactly 100 words. I have written a few and find it quite a challenge to do so. Look at the example below:
Cold glass spheres tumbled together in the container on the book shelf. Jon felt for the weapon at his side and found nothing. He had awoke surrounded by darkness, how long had he been here? The answer eluded him; replaced by this one thought, escape.
In the distance he could hear someone speaking unknown words. What was that he heard? "Collection." one was heard to say. The amused form moved toward and examined his prize upon the shelf.
Try as he might the marbles in the jar rotated and Jon fell into them again and again; trapped forever?
Notice that there are three words that have been highlighted in BOLD letters; these are the prompts that I used to get the story started. You may choose to do 100 words, or 250-500 words or more. I find that 100 words is a challenge to write because it helps me to choose the best words to get the point across. I have written some that are longer and enjoyed doing that also.
A letter; post apocalypse; pencil
Youth, maps, the sun
The number six, one hour, a list of reasons
Concerned, buried fruit jar, sleeping bag
More, felt, earthquake
Into, grapes, guide
Movement, crowbar, Hans
Cd’s, fury of a storm, unclaimed object
Crouching cat, light, repair manual
Blueberries, cape, Amanda
Credit card, boards, door
Knights, hubcap, baby
Hammer, ice cream, desk
Watches, Christian, Jesus
Enemy, love, carry
Lochinvar, careless, mother
Loud, fortress, draggled
Glasses, time-keeper, one legged chicken
Trash, flowers, wardrobe
Polished stones, pile of dirty laundry, chess board
Mid drawer of six, blank paper, postcard collection
Cassette player, bed, toddler
Wire basket, cat, and pile of leaves
Horse, magnet, apple pie
Donut, computer, mystery guest
A, b, and c
$100.00 dollar bill, cigar box, revolver
Family photo (B&W), rusty nail, green paint
Book collection, train, a man in yellow
A plane, a spider, leather jacket
Fire, 5 minutes, jello
Rabbit, monkey, elephant
Dictionary, circles, raisins
Business card, the moon, a whistling boy
A flag, apple, the letter b
Watermelon, lighthouse, 2 heroes
Cowboy, tiger, thunderstorm
A list, crying baby, strawberries
A garden window, orange juice, Lil Ed
Squeaky chair, mouse, cracked floor
A face, food, hat box collection
Stamp collection, radar, CIA
Stop sign, parking lot, and umbrella
Roaches, a brick, movie star
An idea, pen, tin can
Island, coffee can, pirate
Skateboard, noodles, chocolate
Term paper, dog, 3 dollars
Light switch, sprinklers, candy
Bowl of soup, spider, and waiter
Gambler, green, software
Woman in car, treatment, doorknob
Powder, hideous wallpaper, seaman
600 rubles, pavement, ice
Spike, phone, memo
Elevator, apple, flashlight
Smile, ring, hotel
Revolver, knife, greenhouse
Camera, crowd, squeaky shoe
Dictator, pineapple, college
Blank check, fly, banana peel
Video tape, old hat, desk
Four walls, loose board, island
Crooked picture, a single light bulb, pocket watch
Hubcap, missing slat in a blind, garbage can
Stuffed animals, clown, hot dog
Rain, sleet, snow
Sunshine, loud bird, poodle
File cabinet, orange soda, desert
Calendar, a secret, radio
Keys, chess board, bearded man
Chef, paint brush, grape jelly
A spot on the floor, whistle, liver
Graffiti, suits, puppy
Stones, museum, clouds
Doorway, target, evidence
Brooklyn, woman, snow
Notepad, breakfast, sunglasses
War, noodles, trumpet
Missionaries, ladder, water
King, sleep, leak
Secret passage, bank note, vegetable cart
Sticky note, purple crate, spool of string
Parents, guitar, hole in the wall
Tent, bacon, blade of grass
A head, phone number, button
Light bulb, one legged chicken, worm
A list, a bug, soldier
Keyboard, a conversation, tie collection
Your first name, your middle name, your last name (be creative)
Blue, magenta, grey
An inch, donut, vacation
A novel, short story, comic strip
Coughing, radio, worm
Baseball, lamp oil, tomatoes
Cruise ship, nail, storm
Dark stormy night, your favorite book, surprise
Pickles, cow, manual typewriter
Dictionary, secret code, fish
Antenna, pocket change, wet grass
Worms, trap, honeymoon
Fleas, snake, spider web