This writing prompt is a celebration of football and the themes it invokes.
The “Friend” team were blown away recently with the response to a question we asked about the beautiful game on our Facebook page. Turns out, we have rather more than a few fans among our number!
With Euro 2024 kicking off – literally – over weekend, we’ve been thinking about how we might tie a creative project into the excitement.
Writing Prompt: Football – Getting Started
The Stadium
Invoking the atmosphere of match day is a rich seam to mine. Think about all five senses:
Sound
The clatter of the turnstiles, the roar of the crowd… It’s rarely a quiet affair! What are the other sounds you might hear?
Sight
From the action on the pitch to dramas in the dug out to camaraderie and conflict in the stands, there’s a lot to take in.
Smell
When large crowds gather, there’ll always be something that tweaks your nostrils… What is that? Sweat? Aftershave? Freshly-mown grass?
Taste
Perhaps it’s a pie and a pint kind of day. Or perhaps nothing else will keep nerves at bay than some soft, minty gum. Or is it something more metaphorical – victory, perhaps?
Touch
What is your character doing with their hands? Are they holding something? Maybe they’re rubbing the soft knots of their team’s scarf between their fingers as they nervously survey the pitch. Or maybe they don’t realise they’re digging their fingernails into their palms before it’s too late!
Watching A Match At Home
What is the domestic scene playing out while the big game is on the telly? Think about how what’s happening in the match might relate to what’s happening in the home.
What are those relationships? What are the set pieces? Is there a curveball?
Playing Football
Of course, for the purposes of this writing prompt, football needn’t conjure up something as grand as an international contest.
A sunny day, a couple of jumpers for goalposts… Where could a friendly kick-about it take you?
Submitting your stories
At “The People’s Friend”, we welcome your story submissions.
Please read these story submission pointers before sending us a story.
More writing prompts
If you enjoyed these ideas, why not take a look at more of our writing prompts and story starters?
Leisa Millar I'm a digital editor with experience of writing and editing for some of the UK's best-known women's lifestyle titles - and I'm delighted to count "The People's Friend" and "My Weekly" among them! A busy mum of three young children, I also host a parenting podcast called The SEN Mums' Career Club.
