“What if” posts are not simple writing prompts but supercharged explorations into the many directions a simple prompt can take you. Here you will find conventional questions and “what if” questions surrounding a prompt to help get the creative juices flowing.
Prompt comes from phobias
The Trickster in mythology is an archetypal character. A mischievous type that bends or breaks rules in the form of tricks or illusions. Skilled in thievery and cunning.
What if a Trickster played on peoples’ phobias?
But before we get into some phobias, what is the end game for the Trickster? Is he doing it for good, helping those to overcome their fear, or for evil, pleasure for his own self?
For good could be a heartwarming story that could involve the connection of people together that didn’t previously know each other. What if their fears play into how they met and why? What if one person in the group has anthropophobia, the fear of people?
For bad could be a thrilling novel of trying to catch the Trickster before he causes more harm. What if the pursuer suffered from a detrimental phobia that causes his chasing the Trickster to be that much harder?
What if the Trickster had his own phobia?
Some phobias in their simplest terms
Claustrophobia – fear of confined spaces. First thought comes to mind is an elevator. What if a character has to use the elevator to ascend to the top floor of a building? What if he/she is having a brave moment and the elevator ride didn’t seem so bad because as he/she rode up to the top by stopping at each floor and getting off? What if halfway up, it stops? What if a person with a fear of confined spaces is in an elevator with a person with a fear of people?
Acrophobia – the fear of heights. What if the Trickster created situations that someone who has the fear of heights could find themselves in? What if the acrophobic stands on a platform over a cliff and the platform is made of glass? With all the phobias, what extreme situations can a Trickster put them in?
What if people who suffer from different phobias are brought together? The Anthropophobic – fear of people and the Monophobic – the fear of being alone. The Claustrophobic – the fear of confined spaces and the Agoraphobic –the fear of open spaces.
Using phobias can allow some interesting situations and gives a character a flaw that maybe they can overcome. Pairing people with different phobias offers opportunities for conflict.
Pairing phobias in one person could create an interesting serial killer.
What if you are writing Sci-fi or fantasy? What if you create new phobias?
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