People die. Or they don’t. This article from Harvard Business Review is about succession planning for businesses, but I find Zara’s story intriguing as a plot line. She’s reacting to a perceived “deadline,” in the most literal sense. With some tweaks, her story could lend itself to a variety of interpretations or genres — mystery, thriller, magical realism, main stream fiction. And imagine the points of view — Zora’s, her husband’s, her children’s, her father’s, the list goes on.
Try it for 1,000 words and see where it takes you.

Executives Must Face Their Own Mortality – Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries – Harvard Business Review

http://blogs.hbr.org/2014/03/executives-must-face-their-own-mortality/

Really.
I can’t take credit for finding these puctures. Mystery writer Dana Stabenow posted this link on her Facebook page with a comment about the first shot.
But as soon as I saw them, I realized the photos are a trove of writing prompts. More than two dozen.
What a great antibiotic for writer’s block. Take one today. Write 1,000 words. Repeat.

2014 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest, Part II – In Focus – The Atlantic

http://m.theatlantic.com/infocus/2014/06/2014-national-geographic-traveler-photo-contest-part-ii/100764/

This study has some interesting information for writers of YA books and for others who have young characters in their fiction. It maps interesting character arcs with room for variation.

Cool at 13, Adrift at 23 – NYTimes.com

http://mobile.nytimes.com/blogs/well/2014/06/23/cool-at-13-adrift-at-23/?h=PAQFnEVZm&s=1&enc=AZPhPpvSaQEMFN3ei64bbYNXpbN4N1NNfr9mXvcKQIyqVo_ek2nDTnZcLwIa_S7wPJ2UUzp1ySS8yqzp-dJoZ6r7EZV5bxJyH0gt9j3TXU65ZQ∣=fb-nytimes&WT.z_sma=HL_CA1_20140624&bicmp=AD&bicmlukp=WT.mc_id&bicmst=1388552400000&bicmet=1420088400000&_r=2

Your characters need to talk. What happens when they put it off? How do you show them going through any of the negative reactions described here? How does their delay build dramatic tension?

3 Reasons You Should Have Difficult Conversations Now | Entrepreneur.com
http://m.entrepreneur.com/article/233580

Whether your main characters are adults, children or their pets, there’s not much story without relationships. Which of these skills do they have? Or lack?

The 3 Relationship Skills You Need to Practice | Psychology Today

http://m.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-squeaky-wheel/201401/the-3-relationship-skills-you-need-practice