Prompt: Something Small, Something True
Techniques to Develop
1. Strategic character softening through action
2. Implied interiority through external gesture
3. Tension between perception and revelation
Writing Prompt
Write a 500-word scene that begins with a protagonist who is abrasive, arrogant, cold, bitter, or morally compromised. Within the first third of the scene, your character must take an unexpected, unselfish action that contradicts the reader’s initial impression. The action should not be explained or justified in the narration. Instead, the moment must stand alone, observed without commentary, forcing the reader to reassess the character. The shift must feel earned—subtle but undeniable—and must not resolve the tension of the character’s contradiction.
Possible scenarios:
• A corrupt lobbyist stops to quietly fix a vandalized roadside memorial.
• A high-powered litigator buys soup for an unhoused man—then throws away her own.
• A burned-out surgeon skips an awards dinner to sit in a hospital hallway with a patient’s child.
Do not use backstory, memory, or exposition to explain the moment. The gesture must speak for itself. Avoid overt sentimentality. Keep the prose tight, grounded in sensory detail, and filtered through your character’s behavior and decisions—not their thoughts.
Evaluation Criteria
Strong responses:
• Establish a compelling negative trait early through dialogue, setting, or action
• Feature a contradiction that reveals nuance without moralizing or softening too much
• Allow the reader to feel the complexity of the character without direct commentary
• Create space for reader empathy without sacrificing ambiguity
Weak responses:
• Explain the redemptive action through internal monologue or narrator intrusion
• Make the action too dramatic, unrealistic, or heroic
• Use backstory or trauma as justification for behavior
• Try to fully redeem the character rather than complicate them
Workshop & Revision Questions
• Is the softening action earned by what came before it?
• Does the redemptive gesture introduce tension or resolve it too neatly?
• What emotion does the reader feel toward the character before and after the moment?
• Is the action too obvious or overt in its attempt to change perception?
Recommended Reading
“The Kindest” by Rebecca Makkai (from Music for Wartime)
A sharp portrait of a woman who appears cynical and detached, whose small acts of care emerge only in the margins—quiet but devastating.
Time Management for 2-Hour Session
0:00–0:15 — Brainstorm character flaws and possible redemptive actions
0:15–0:30 — Freewrite possible openings
0:30–1:15 — Write the 500-word scene
1:15–1:30 — Quick read-through and light revisions
1:30–2:00 — Reflect on workshop questions and revise one key paragraph to sharpen the emotional contradiction
Strong vs. Weak Response Snapshots
Strong:
He stepped out of the black town car, ignoring the intern’s question. On the corner, a sagging balloon twisted in a puddle near a crumpled bouquet and a photograph, face down. He didn’t speak, didn’t kneel. He just bent, slowly, smoothed the photograph flat with the side of his hand, set it upright in the grass, and walked on.
Weak:
He was known for being a monster in court, but deep down he had a heart. Seeing the memorial reminded him of his sister, long dead. He placed the photo upright and wiped away a tear, thinking about all the good he might’ve done if things had gone differently.
AI Disclosure Statement:
This writing prompt was created in collaboration with ChatGPT, an AI model by OpenAI, to support creative practice. ChatGPT assisted with idea generation and drafting; the final text was edited by the author. The illustration was created using Google Gemini.
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