This week for my Writing Prompt Story Starter, I was inspired by this castle, and this quote:
“Rocks in my path? I keep them all. With them I shall build my castle.” Nemo Nox.
Castles! They conjure up all sorts of ideas, don’t they? Some dark . . . vampires, prisoners and mysteries, all the way to fairy tales, princesses and brave knights.
Like photographer Nemo Nox says above, she will build her castle with the rocks in her path.
It’s a little bit like writing, isn’t it? The rocks could be the rejections, a crisis of confidence, a writing block or just a lack of time. But sticking at it can be so worthwhile.
Castles can be the setting for so many different kinds of stories. Period or contemporary. Romantic or dramatic. Perhaps a mystery would spring to mind.
A Royal connection
The picture above is of Glamis Castle, birthplace of the Queen Mum and Princess Margaret. Great credentials indeed! It’s also supposed to have a hidden room and a ghost. William Shakespeare even mentions Glamis in “Macbeth”.
As a setting for a story, you really can’t beat a castle and it’s surroundings.
The stories and legends are plentiful and the wonderful descriptions of the room inside can make a story jump off the page.
Staircases, fireplaces and old libraries simply spark the imagination even more. A short story, a serial or a pocket novel could all be set around the goings on of a castle during any era. What do you think?
Click here for more Story Starters from “The People’s Friend”.
Tracey Steel Having worked on a number of magazines over the years, I have found my perfect place on the “Friend” as I’m obsessed with reading and never go anywhere without a book! I read all of our stories with a mug of tea close by and usually a bit of strong cheese too!
