Prompts

Song Prompt

IWSC

Song prompts are some of the hardest prompts to nail. The reason is that you have to make them significant to the story, but you cannot just dump loads of lyrics into your text. This is something that is against FanFiction.net rules, so when considering using these prompts you should bear in mind how you will use it.

Song Prompt Techniques

  1. Listen to the song and use the overall theme of the song as an integral plot point
    1. ‘Tom Walker: Leave a Light On’ is about a friend who is promising to always be there for a friend and to help them through their struggles, leaving a light on being an image that says you can always come to me. This idea can be easily translated into a story. 
    2. This could also be the genre of the story, sadness, tragedy, fun, disco and nights out etc.
  2. Using one line that is of significance to the song, and your story as dialogue for a character
    1. Taking the same song, I could use the lyrics from this song such as ‘Tell me what’s been happening, what’s been on your mind. Lately you’ve been searching for a darker place to hide.’ This could be used for a friend who is confronting another and letting them know that they are there for them regardless of the mistakes that they have made
  3. Using lyrics as headings to highlight issues being addressed in various areas of your story
    1. A song often tells a story, and it has a progression, using the progression of the song can punctuate the progression of your story:
      1. ‘The second someone mentioned you were all alone, I could feel the trouble coursing through your veins. Now I know, it’s got a hold’ — This can highlight the part of the story where a friend is becoming aware that someone is in trouble
      2. ‘But if you carry on abusing, you’ll be robbed from us. I refuse to lose another friend to drugs. Just come home, don’t let go’ — this section can highlight the concerns that the friend has and how they confront their troubled friend
      3. ‘If you look into the distance, there’s a house upon the hill. Guiding like a lighthouse, it’s a place where you’ll be. Safe to feel at grace and if you’ve lost your way. I will leave the light on’ — this section could highlight the hope they are giving to a friend.

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