Writing Prompt #20
Each week, ORW will feature a new writing prompt meant to spark your creative juices. Use it to generate new fiction, creative non-fiction or poetry, or apply the prompt to a current project. Even if you don’t create a scene that fits with your project, you may find that you’ve learned more about your story.
When in Red Cloud, this was the desk Willa Cather used.
As part of my summer vacation, I visited Red Cloud and toured some of the places that were dear to Willa Cather. I thought a lot about the importance of work in her novels, and I decided that should be the focus of this writing prompt. Wherever and whenever your novel is set, every character works. Whether that work appears on the page is another thing. In 750 words, write a scene showing your character at work. Spend a lot of time on describing the workplace, a typical workday, and how the character interacts with others while on the job. Next, write another scene with your character NOT at work. Without referencing the character’s job, show how the job shapes the character. Does s/he love the job? Hate it? Struggle? Excel? Consider the influence of work on your character.
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I study and practice the craft of writing for multiple audiences and purposes. Through my experience in public relations, grant writing, and academia, I have acquired the ability to create text that garners results. I hold a MA in English literature and a MFA in Creative Writing. Having taught nearly 900 students in classes ranging from business writing to creative writing, I believe in writer-centered instruction as the most effective way to empower my clients. 
