Writing Prompt
WRITING OBSTACLE
Write a first person narrative from a character who has lost, or struggles with, their memory.
Protagonists who have lost their memories are often hard to characterise because they lack backstory and long-term links with other characters. Think about elements of their personality, speech, and behaviour that you can use instead of backstory to build and develop them.
Writings
Tex
Ness remembers something.
It’s the first time one of us remembered anything about our past before the science experiments and dangerous powers.
I hate Dr. Fucking Marken.
He took everything from us and gave us shitty powers. Super strength is fine. But not when you can’t control how much strength you use.
“Come on, Landen. Controlled blasts, right here,” Penny instructs gently. She has old...
Dementia
Why don’t I remember things?
So many memories
Gone
Gone
Gone
I remember my childhood
I remember the military
But recent memories?
Nope
Gone
Disappeared out of nowhere
I can’t seem to talk normally
The words get lost in my mind
And
I’m angry
I’m paranoid
But no one seems to know why
They look at me as if I’m crazy
But don’t they realize?
My ...
Window
I know there’s things I’m missing, things that have been stolen from me by my own being.
That feeling of being left out, of knowing you can’t share your past with others and making connection almost impossible _is_ me.
It characterizes me.
Embodies me.
I don’t feel drowned, no, I feel blasted into oblivion whenever I try to search for things that aren’t there—erased from existence because I do...
The Choice
I can’t remember the last time I was happy. Yet I remember the last time I wanted to die. What can I do with that because no one can help me and I they can I’m sure they are like 4 years too late. Yo asked me what I wanted to do but I don’t want it I don’t want any of this. I want to be happy and free and full of life but now look at what I have fear and loneliness and misery. So really the only ...
Another Excerpt From Novel
We plunged into the freezing cold water, and swam there, trying to find something to hold on to. I had no idea where we were, or even who we were. All I knew was that I was in a freezing cold ocean with a little boy in my arms that I knew I had to protect. Luckily, I saw a table that had blown off before we did and managed to swim to it and climb atop. It barely floated with our combined body weig...
Memory Loss
I woke up screaming. Blankets and clothes stuck to my skin, drenched with sweat. I ripped the covers off, knees bashing the concrete floor. Air. I needed air. I couldn't breathe. I was dying. Where was I?
Doors slammed shut in the distance, footsteps pounding. I didn't care. I couldn't breathe. My stomach twisted in on itself, and I hurled. Hands tried to lift me off the floor, but I fought, lash...
When Will It Happen?
“Where is it?” I mutter to myself. It was right here, or over there. GODS! Why can’t I find it? I don’t even know what I’m looking for but I need to find it.
“Dad?” A little girl said. I think her name was Alice. My daughter? I don’t know. She looked like me, I think. I haven’t looked in a mirror in a few day or so.
“What is it child?” I said “Can’t you see I’m busy.”
“What are you looking for...
The Memory Is Like A Grain Of Sand
“I can’t take care of you like this.”
His voice rumbled with disappointment.
Was he disappointed in me? I wondered.
“I’m fine.” I assured him.
“You’re not fine, you have dementia!”
It was then I realized for the first time that I was deteriorating like a sandcastle abandoned on the beach. The worst part was that my family was taking the toll. The doctors say it’s mild but progressive.
“I’m s...
The Ancient Art Of Listening
The frosty air bit at my cheeks, nipped my fingers. It shot through my arms and surrounded my bare feet. It wasn’t a temperature, it was an entity, inescapable, unstoppable and with a mind entirely of it’s own. It would help if I wore a fur. Why wasn’t I wearing a fur? It lay in the snow, right behind me. Why am I out in the middle of the village? Because I sensed something. I needed to be here. T...
Lost
My eyes opened and closed. Opened and closed. Desperately not wanting to return to painful consciousness, but some primal part of me feeling the necessity of it.
After many tries, I was able to keep my eyes open long enough to get a look. There wasn’t much to see, it was so dark. I feared I might be blind.
“N-n-no, oh God no,” I was able to mutter through freezing, dry lips. I raised a trembli...