Fiction

Concept Art Writing Prompt: The Nightmare with a Clipboard

Some nightmares come armed with fangs and talons and fat, wiggling tongues, while others take a more bureaucratic approach to terror. Tell us your tale of the demon who came from under the bed with paperwork. This piece, titled “Nightmare” comes from Imaginism Studios’ Bobby Chiu and Chris Sanders, via The Art of Animation. See…

io9 Lauren Davis Jul 27

Concept Art Writing Prompt: The Creature Waiting at the Bus Stop

You can encounter some odd characters while waiting at the bus stop, but few are quite as odd as this fellow. What happens at this unlikely bus stop meeting? This piece is by illustrator Michelle Lamoreaux, via The Art of Animation. See if you can come up with a story inspired by this drawing, and…

io9 Lauren Davis Jul 13

Concept Art Writing Prompt: Time Machine for Sale

What do you do with that old unwanted time machine? In this week’s writing prompt, this clunker of a time travel device is going up for sale. This piece is titled, quite directly, “Time Machine For Sale” by Tom Colbie, via Geek Art Gallery. It’s part of Colbie’s surreal series, Shots from a Parallel Dimension,…

io9 Lauren Davis Jul 6

Concept Art Writing Prompt: The Monsters Wore Terrible Disguises

So creatures try to infiltrate humanity with sophisticated costumes that make them indistinguishable from humans. Others…not so much. Let’s hear your stories about these poorly disguised creatures. Artist Michael Dziekan created “Disguise” for an exhibition on child slavery (via reddit). Post your stories inspired by this piece here in the comments. (My piece is posted…

io9 Lauren Davis Jun 29

Concept Art Writing Prompt: Destruction of the Wasteland Churches

A couple of kids go after some odd-looking creature draped in religious trappings. Is it an ideological battle or is this just a post-apocalyptic monster hunt? Let’s hear your stories. This by Sergi Brosa is titled “Wasteland Churches,” and Brosa insists that he’s not trying to make any sort of anti-religious commentary with it. What…

io9 Lauren Davis Jun 22

Concept Art Writing Prompt: The Monsters that Crashed the Prom

Depending on where you live, prom season might be just coming to a close, and in this gymnasium, prom included a few special guests. What happens when a flood of horrors comes to boogie down? This is an older piece by artist Sam Bosma, via The Art of Animation. So does this end in blood…

io9 Lauren Davis Jun 15

Concept Art Writing Prompt: The Robot Barista

This coffee jockey finds herself far from Starbucks, astride an espresso machine that doubles as transportation. What stories happen in the course of her day? This illustration is “Coffee Robot” by Amelia Vidal, via reddit. As always, come up with your own story inspired by this piece of artwork and post it in the comments.…

io9 Lauren Davis Jun 8

Concept Art Writing Prompt: Flight of the Fish Airships

We love a good airship, but what about airships made of giant floating fish monsters? What kind of stories take place in a city in which these creatures fill the skies? This week’s concept art piece is “Floating Fish” by Mats Minnhagen, via The Art of Animation. You can see the full image below. Study…

io9 Lauren Davis Jun 1

Concept Art Writing Prompt: Aliens Encounter the Cavepeople

While most stories about alien encounters set our first meeting with extraterrestrials in the future, some plant those early encounters firmly in the distant past. What happens when early humans come face-to-space-helmet with beings from another world? This digital painting by Chris Rallis is titled, simply, “Alien Invasion” (via reddit). Tell us your tale of…

io9 Lauren Davis May 25

Concept Art Writing Prompt: The Dragon Walker

It’s a lovely day for a walk, especially if your walking companions happen to be of the fire-breathing variety. Let’s hear the tales you have in store for this lovely lady and her unusual entourage. This week’s piece is “Afternoon Walk” by Julie Dillon (via The Art of Animation). I highly recommend checking out more…

io9 Lauren Davis May 18

Concept Art Writing Prompt: Rocketing Octopodes take flight

They emerge from the oceans, tentacled creatures blasting from the seas toward the skies. What’s behind this octopus air show? Tell us your story. Artist Aaron Jasinski‘s painting “Rocktopi” is currently showing at the Tentacle Show at LTD Gallery in Seattle (via Ian Brooks). Come up with your own tale of high-flying octopuses, octopi, or…

io9 Lauren Davis May 11

Concept Art Writing Prompt: The Wall of Helmets

In a shadowy corner, lit by a strand of blue and purple lights, sits the wall of heads. Perhaps they are trophies from a long-forgotten war, perhaps helmets that have been retired, perhaps robotic heads waiting for someone to talk to. This piece, by concept artist Eddie Del Rio, was actually made for the film…

io9 Lauren Davis May 4

Concept Art Writing Prompt: Superhero Grandma

Meet the superpowered nonagenarian who is still donning the tights and fighting (or committing) crime. Now spin your own story about this spandex-clad lady. Is she a hero? A villain? Or simply a woman with excellent fashion sense? We’ve featured Sacha Goldberger’s Mamika series in the past, and it comes with a really sweet backstory.…

io9 Lauren Davis Apr 27

Concept Art Writing Prompt: The House on Crab Legs

Some houses prefer not to put down roots and instead travel the world under their own steam. Tell us your tale of this unusual abode and the people who live inside. Vukasin Bagic created this speed painting, which he titled “To Infinity and Beyond,” and which says was inspired in part by Gorillaz and the…

io9 Lauren Davis Apr 13

Concept Art Writing Prompt: The Alien at the Dinner Table

Guess who’s coming to dinner? Actually, don’t guess; tell us. Write a story based on this picture of an alien apparently breaking bread with a human couple at the dinner table. This piece, titled “The Meal,” was created by concept artist Geoffrey Ernault. As always, we invite you to post your own story inspired by…

io9 Lauren Davis Apr 6

Concept Art Writing Prompt: The Jellyfish That Came from Space

What on Earth is that jellyfish doing out there in space, a regular cnidarian out of water? Is it a B-movie monster? A tentacle-waving spaceship? A hyper-intelligent creature come to change our ideas about life on other planets? Share you story of this space-faring creature. This digital painting, titled “First Contact,” was created by Plymouth…

io9 Lauren Davis Mar 30

Concept Art Writing Prompt: The Man and His Moon

Some people have a special relationship with the moon, one that goes beyond the typical enjoyment of moonlit evenings. What kind of tale can you cook up based on this fantastical photograph? This photo is part of Leonid Tishkov and Boris Bendikov My Private Moon series. Head over to their blog for more magical realist…

io9 Lauren Davis Mar 23

Concept Art Writing Prompt: Potions that let you relive life’s most bittersweet moments

If we could experience our favorite or most distressing emotions and memories by drinking a potion, what would the consequences be? Would we lose ourselves in a fog of our past? Or would this ability prove comforting and even useful? Would you want to live someone else’s emotional memories? Tell us your tale of these…

io9 Lauren Davis Mar 16

Concept Art Writing Prompt: Shadows Inside an Abandoned Coal Mine

This week’s concept art writing prompt takes us to a real location, inside the creepy bathroom of an abandoned coal mine. It could be the setting for a spooky story—or some other kind of tale entirely. What do you imagine takes place inside this unnerving room? This photograph, titled “Imprisoned II” is by Abandoned Zone…

io9 Lauren Davis Mar 9

Concept Art Writing Prompt: Machine of Death Edition

We’re doing something a bit different for this week’s Concept Art Writing Prompt. In fact, it’s less a concept art prompt than a concept writing prompt. We’ll be playing Machine of Death, the game of creative assassination. David Malki! of Wondermark and Machine of Death has given us a target to kill and a handful…

io9 Lauren Davis Mar 2

Concept Art Writing Prompt: The Nightmare with a Clipboard

Concept Art Writing Prompt: The Creature Waiting at the Bus Stop

Concept Art Writing Prompt: Time Machine for Sale

Concept Art Writing Prompt: The Monsters Wore Terrible Disguises

Concept Art Writing Prompt: Destruction of the Wasteland Churches

Concept Art Writing Prompt: The Monsters that Crashed the Prom

Concept Art Writing Prompt: The Robot Barista

Concept Art Writing Prompt: Flight of the Fish Airships

Concept Art Writing Prompt: Aliens Encounter the Cavepeople

Concept Art Writing Prompt: The Dragon Walker

Concept Art Writing Prompt: Rocketing Octopodes take flight

Concept Art Writing Prompt: The Wall of Helmets

Concept Art Writing Prompt: Superhero Grandma

Concept Art Writing Prompt: The House on Crab Legs

Concept Art Writing Prompt: The Alien at the Dinner Table

Concept Art Writing Prompt: The Jellyfish That Came from Space

Concept Art Writing Prompt: The Man and His Moon

Concept Art Writing Prompt: Potions that let you relive life’s most bittersweet moments

Concept Art Writing Prompt: Shadows Inside an Abandoned Coal Mine

Concept Art Writing Prompt: Machine of Death Edition

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