Prompt #47

I love to explore setting with my writing students. We work together to flesh out the worlds of their series and explore how their settings can be unique and specific, which can help them generate story ideas for their pilots! Here’s a simple starter exercise that I do with them. I also use this myself to come up with new ideas for shows, plays, and other projects.

Make a list of 5-10 Settings/Environments/Locations you’ve experienced in your life that you haven’t seen represented in media (TV, Movies, Novels, pick your pleasure) or at least well represented in media.

Here are some examples of projects I’ve done that have benefitted from this exercise!

• The DMV area is rarely the backdrop of stories that aren’t political (Scandal, West Wing, House of Cards, etc) or crime-related (The Wire). (I wrote a pilot set in a mega-church in a Virginia mining town and another pilot set in Annapolis— that’s not about the Navy)

• I went to a Quaker school (Wrote a play set there!)

• Historical Re-enactment theme parks are very popular on the East Coast, and they are so silly, and I miss them so much (I wrote my first comedy pilot about one!)

The locations can be as specific as you want; for example, “New York” has been done before, but maybe not a specific neighborhood you’re familiar with, or a place like Stardust Diner in New York hasn’t.

When you finish brainstorming, pick one from your list and write something set there in the medium of your choice.

Set a timer and write for at least 10 minutes!

I’m watching these two Tikoks/Reels my manager sent me. The first of which makes me want a new Punk Goes Pop album, and the other makes me want to rewatch Theater Camp... and National Treasure. Tomorrow, I’ll be watching the Super Bowl (Go Birds!).

I’m reading about using tarot cards for writing and this insane Reddit post that one of you should turn into a movie.

I’m listening to… Pop! Music!! I’m in a mood after the Grammy’s and want to cleanse the palate before Kendrick’s Superbowl show.

My resolution for this year is to grow our community here! So, if you wouldn’t mind sharing this newsletter with a creative friend, I would so appreciate it!

Also, a reminder: we moved to Beehiiv!! Welcome!! I feel bad for making everyone download the Substack app just for them to turn it into an un-moderated social media hellscape. This is better.