Big Sky Country Writing Group

@bscwriting.bsky.social

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A writing group based in Lincolnshire, UK. Others welcome too. Posting last week's writing prompts from our discord server. ❌️Never AI❌️

A panel displaying a prompt by Big Sky Country – Writing Group. Prompt type: Artwork Prompt & Instructions: No words for this one. Let the artwork below inspire your writing. The artwork shows a rural, pastoral scene of a scattering of thatch cottage buildings either side of a dirt track. Cows roam free and lay in the roadway. Prominently in the foreground stands a horse drawn cart, a man on a second horse – maybe the leader – and an inn with some patrons standing around outside.
A panel displaying a prompt by Big Sky Country – Writing Group. Prompt type: Value Prompt & Instructions: Grounded. Bare feet amongst the grass and clover. Yellow flowers bob above the greenery.
A panel displaying a prompt by Big Sky Country – Writing Group. Prompt type: First Line Prompt & Instructions: The boat wriggled in the wake of a passing tour boat. Image shows a small rowing boat at a tiny dock, connected to stairs up to a small riverside house.
A panel displaying a prompt by Big Sky Country – Writing Group. Prompt type: Time & Place Prompt & Instructions: Start of the Summer holiday, on an outdoor adventure with the family. The top image shows a series of tents at the edge of a lake or river in the sun, under tall pine trees or firs. Beyond the lake is a tree covered hill.
A panel displaying a prompt by Big Sky Country – Writing Group. Prompt type: Obscure Word Prompt & Instructions: Irenic. adjective tending, or intended to create peace Includes image of above text from a philavery.
A panel displaying a prompt by Big Sky Country – Writing Group. Prompt type: In A Word Prompt & Instructions: Loquacious. Tending to talk openly, freely, excessively. Below is an image of a frustrated woman with her fingers at her temples and screwed up eyes. Behind her is a man gesturing energetically, open mouthed.
A panel displaying a prompt by Big Sky Country – Writing Group. Prompt type: Character Prompt & Instructions: A vlogger who’d fallen into a little bit of investigative journalism. Image shows typewriter, mug of coffee, SLR camera, and glasses on top of a magazine article.
A panel displaying a prompt by Big Sky Country – Writing Group. Prompt type: Views & Vistas Prompt & Instructions: Be inspired by what you see in the image. Image of a pine forested mountain with thick fog climbing the incline between the trees with a backdrop of grey sky.
A panel displaying a prompt by Big Sky Country – Writing Group. Prompt type: Value Prompt & Instructions: Bravery. Try and find a discrete or subtle form of bravery. Illustration of a fist of solidarity in a scratch pencil style.
A panel displaying a prompt by Big Sky Country – Writing Group. Prompt type: Time & Place Prompt & Instructions: A deep forest place, with a dark cave entrance, the middle of the night. Only moonlight or fire lights the way or a phone torch (until they run out of charge). The image is from within a cave looking out at the forest. In black and white, trees are backlit.
A panel displaying a prompt by Big Sky Country – Writing Group. Prompt type: Artwork Prompt & Instructions: No words for this one. Let the artwork below inspire your writing. The artwork is of a woman in a hooded shawl, weighing coins. On the table is fine blue silk cloth, a box with overflowing jewellery and a large piece of artwork on the wall.
A panel displaying a prompt by Big Sky Country – Writing Group. Prompt type: Object Prompt & Instructions: Nail File Is this object important to the scene? Or only set dressing? Is it at home or an object out of place? Is it what the character has? Or what they want? And is it the real purpose of the object, or is it a makeshift, make-do? Image shows a person using an emery board.
A panel displaying a prompt by Big Sky Country – Writing Group. Prompt type: Character Prompt & Instructions: This character is at a gathering, they’ve just been told something and sworn to secrecy. Can they keep it to themselves? Image below shows four women sat on a coach at a party, sat in pairs. One pair is sharing a secret behind the cover of a hand, the other p[air share a look of a shared thought.
A panel displaying a prompt by Big Sky Country – Writing Group. Prompt type: Obscure Word Prompt & Instructions: Dapatical adjective sumptuous, lavish (in provision of food and drink) The word is derived from Latin dapaticus, from daps meaning feast. Includes image of above text from a philavery.
A panel displaying a prompt by Big Sky Country – Writing Group. Prompt type: Views & Vistas Prompt & Instructions: Text reads: Be inspired by what you see in the image. Image below is of river flowing between high cliffs and craggy terrain.
A panel displaying a prompt by Big Sky Country – Writing Group. Prompt type: In A Word Prompt & Instructions: Foible A foible is a minor, relatively harmless weakness, quirk, or eccentricity in someone’s character or behaviour. Rather than a serious moral failing or severe flaw. Black and white image of a man looking into a cracked mirror or through cracked glass – still visible on the other side, a minor flaw in the surface.
A panel displaying a prompt by Big Sky Country – Writing Group. Prompt type: Object Prompt & Instructions: Use one, or both. Take sun hat to be any head clothing you'd wear for protection from the heat. Could it be an electric fan? Silk/paper folding fan? Or a giant fanning frond? Image of a summer sun hat, white sunglasses, reed sandals and a green silk hand fan.
A panel displaying a prompt by Big Sky Country – Writing Group. Prompt type: Obscure Word Prompt & Instructions: Incrispated adjective stiffly curled; wrinkled Image below shows above text taken from a philavery.
A panel displaying a prompt by Big Sky Country – Writing Group. Prompt type: First Line Prompt & Instructions: Text reads: It was nothing like the salesman had promised. Image below text shows a man using a phone in front of a vehicle with the bonnet open.
A panel displaying a prompt by Big Sky Country – Writing Group. Prompt type: Views & Vistas Prompt & Instructions: Image of a train track reaching into the distance where, through fog, a train approaches. Rough early autumn foliage damply hangs on the encroaching bushes and trees.
A panel displaying a prompt by Big Sky Country – Writing Group. Prompt type: Value Prompt & Instructions: Rigor: The quality of being extremely thorough and careful. Severity or strictness. Harsh and demanding conditions. Image showing precise and detailed geometric shapes, similar to architectural drawing or technical drawings. A ruler, pencil and circular guide are also in the image.
Big Sky Country, a Lincolnshire-based writing group promoting a supportive atmosphere; Lists Discord server, daily prompts, critique groups, in-person & online meetups, says "All welcome" (hateful & bigoted excluded), includes a QR code, social icons and "No AI, No Ads. Find a real voice and the confidence to share it."
A panel displaying a prompt by Big Sky Country – Writing Group. Prompt type: Character Prompt & Instructions: This person is young, working part-time as wait-staff, serving customers or in retail. This job is only part of their life, and the other part of their life is demanding attention right this moment - mid-shift. Image of a barista holding up fruit in front of their eyes next to the coffee machine.
A panel displaying a prompt by Big Sky Country – Writing Group. Prompt type: Obscure Word Prompt & Instructions: Handsel. noun A good-luck present given at the start of a new year, new undertaking etc verb 1 - to give a handsel to someone 2 - to inaugurate someone The word comes from Old English handselen 'giving into someone's hands' and Old Norse handsal giving of the hand in promise'. 'Handsel Monday' was an important holiday celebrated in Scotland and northern England on the first Mondav of each new year. Small presents were exchanged and labourers enioyed a welcome break from work, passing the day feasting and visiting friends. Includes image of above text from a philavery.
A panel displaying a prompt by Big Sky Country – Writing Group. Prompt type: Object Prompt & Instructions: A Box. It could be wood, metal, plastic, solid, woven, whole or broken. Is it long lost? A treasured find, with a mystery inside? Or never been seen before? The image shows a wooden box with a carved design of vines and flowers. In the very centre of the lid is the largest flowerhead; might be a sunflower. The wood is stained a reddish brown.
A panel displaying a prompt by Big Sky Country – Writing Group. Prompt type: In A Word Prompt & Instructions: Skew. A word meaning distorted or biased. Image of gridlines, distorted and warped – similar to how the effect gravity has on spacetime is shown.
A panel displaying a prompt by Big Sky Country – Writing Group. Prompt type: Views & Vistas Prompt & Instructions: Be inspired by what you can see in the image. A black & white image of rural Lincolnshire in summer. A sea of crops in the foreground, with focus on the field boundary. In the centre of the image is a tree on the left which is full of leaves. On the right is a tree without most of its leaves, dying perhaps. A bird can just be seen as a black speck on the bright sky; it looks like it has flown out of the dying tree. Beside this is a metal drum for storing water.
A panel displaying a prompt by Big Sky Country – Writing Group. Prompt type: Emotion Prompt & Instructions: Keen. Describes a powerfully felt emotion as in "Keen sense of sorrow". It can also be used to demonstrate eagerness or enthusiasm as in "Keen to begin". Can also refer to a finely honed skill or ability as in "Keen eye" and "Keen awareness".
A panel displaying a prompt by Big Sky Country – Writing Group. Prompt type: Time & Place Prompt & Instructions: A tropical, isolated island (or islands), as the sun sets. Maybe consider: Why are your characters there? Are they alone? Do they know that? Do they want to leave the island or stay? Image shows a tropical island with white sand and the sun setting in the distance.
A panel displaying a prompt by Big Sky Country – Writing Group. Prompt type: Artwork Prompt & Instructions: No words for this one. Let the artwork below inspire your writing. Maybe consider: What is happening in this image? Or who is the observer? The image is overlooking ruins beside a stream or river. In the distance is a hill with a building on top, shrubbery or trees at the foot. Some people are at the edge of the water.
A panel displaying a prompt by Big Sky Country – Writing Group. Prompt type: Views & Vistas Prompt & Instructions: Be inspired by this view, and what it means to you. Image of white beachfront hotel or apartments, typical of the Southern England style.
A panel displaying a prompt by Big Sky Country – Writing Group. Prompt type: Emotion Prompt: Preoccupation An idea or subject that someone thinks about most of the time. Consider why a character is preoccupied and how that makes them behave. How does it feel in their body? Are they anxious? Do they make more mistakes? Black And White image of young woman stood near a wall looking at her phone, entirely absorbed in what is on her screen.
A panel displaying a prompt by Big Sky Country – Writing Group. Prompt type: First Line Prompt: Then there were three. Image of three red pandas in a raised log hut. One panda has their tongue poking out, another looks at the distance to the ground and the third is rolling on their back.
A panel displaying a prompt by Big Sky Country – Writing Group. Prompt type: In A Word Prompt: Croon. Used as a verb or a noun, in both instances describing the soft low tone of singing or speaking. Use the word in your writing, or let it inspire a character, an action, or the general tone of your writing. Image is black and white of the famous His Master’s Voice photograph of a white dog looking into a gramophone speaker, recognising the voice.
A panel displaying a prompt by Big Sky Country – Writing Group. Prompt type: Value Prompt: Restraint This prompt is based on the value of Restraint. This could be a quality of a character, the value at the heart of your story. It could be the theme, the cause of the inciting incident, or it could be your approach to the storytelling and writing. One image shows an illustration of leather bondage hand restraints in purple. The other image shows a hand using a paintbrush to paint careful lines of colour. The first line is red followed by a line each of: red-orange, orange and yellow (partial).
A panel displaying a prompt by Big Sky Country – Writing Group. Prompt type: Artwork Prompt: No words for this one. Let the artwork below inspire your writing. Your story could take place within the scene depicted, or the artwork could be an object within your story - or anything else in between. Image: Of a group of people leaving a public house, one is carrying a lamb over their shoulders. To the side a woman searches for something lost on the ground and in the distance there is another group of people possibly celebrating?
A panel displaying a prompt by Big Sky Country – Writing Group. Prompt type: Time & Place Prompt: In a station late at night, it is almost empty. It could be a bus station, train station, petrol, space, wagon, omelette. Image: of an empty modern metro station
A panel displaying a prompt by Big Sky Country – Writing Group. Prompt type: In A Word Prompt: Fidelity 1. devotion to duties, obligations, etc; faithfulness 2. loyalty or devotion, as to a person or cause 3. faithfulness to one's spouse, lover, etc 4. adherence to truth; accuracy in reporting detail 5. electronics the degree to which the output of a system, such as an amplifier or radio, accurately reproduces the characteristics of the input signal See also high fidelity
A panel displaying a prompt by Big Sky Country – Writing Group. Prompt type: Object Prompt: A leather journal with a broken fastening strap. Image of a leather journal tied with a leather thong around the middle. Other objects in frame like hessian money purse, metal coins and a feather. Image by Magnific - Free License.
A panel displaying a prompt by Big Sky Country – Writing Group. Prompt type: Time & Place Prompt: It is early morning, workers are rising like an orchestra tuning before a performance. In the moment of silence before the day truly begins, you awake. Two images from the 1968 film Oliver! Show workers in the street of a Georgian Square during the performance of the song “Who will buy?”
A panel displaying a prompt by Big Sky Country – Writing Group. Prompt type: Character Prompt: An office worker in badly fitting clothes, clutching a briefcase or satchel to their body. This could be the POV character, a passing extra, or the narrator. Use as much or as little of the character as described as you like.
A panel displaying a prompt by Big Sky Country – Writing Group. Prompt type: First Line Prompt: A stillness settled, like a warning from the universe. Accompanying image is desaturated, but not black & white, of a wooden pier, jetty or wharf on a still lake. At the very end of the pier are two handrails for a ladder down to the surface of the water. Image by Magnific – Free License.
A panel displaying a prompt by Big Sky Country – Writing Group. Prompt type: Emotion. Prompt: Chrysalism. The peaceful comfort of being inside while a thunderstorm rumbles outside where the sound of rain on windows feels like the world slowing down and everything suddenly becomes still, quiet, and safe. Black and white Photo by German Suarez from Pexels of rain on window facing a back yard.
A panel displaying a prompt by Big Sky Country – Writing Group. Prompt type: Obscure Word. Prompt: Mew. noun 1. A cage or other quarters for hawks, especially when they are moulting 2. A secret place; a place of concealment, retirement or confinement verb 1. To confine, coop up, conceal 2. (of a hawk) to moult The word 'mews came to be used of stabling for horses because royal stables were built on the site of hawks' mews at Charing Cross in London. Includes image of above text from a philavery.