A Word Crawl: The Hunt for Your Muse

A word crawl is a themed set of writing prompts and challenges. This one was inspired by some of the amazing crawls in NaNoWriMo’s Word Wars forum. A special shoutout to the Harry Potter crawl, the Hunger Games crawl, and the NaNoWriMo-themed crawl for being so incredibly creative, motivating, and inspirational. 

If you’d like, you can follow this word crawl using this YouTube video.

Today, we’re on the hunt for your muse. There have been sightings reported across all the Fictional Realms, from Diagon Alley to Pemberley. We’re deep into November already, so there’s no time to waste.

Let’s get started with a quick and easy warm-up sprint:

Warm up (3 minutes)

Get those creative engines revving!

Write for three minutes, continuing your novel where you left it!

Want a prompt? Have a character seek advice or consultation in your next scene. Perhaps they seek that advice from a mysterious stranger? Two heads are better than one, people say.

­Set-up

Okay! Time to get our sleuthing hats on. But first, what kind of detective are you?

Your title:

• If you wrote less than 80 words: You’re a wise-cracking, eagle-eyed Amateur Detective
  

• If you wrote 80 - 120 words: Hardboiled and dogged—you’re a PI.
  

• If you wrote more than 120 words: Join the force—you’re a bonafide Agent of the word
  

Your M.O.:

• Ignore the prompt? You’ve got a novel and you’re sticking to it. You’re strictly By the Book.
  

• Use part of the prompt? You like a lead or two, but you also stick to your instincts. You’re a Hunch Follower.
  

• Followed the prompt thoroughly? You like to go where the wind takes you. You’re a Loose Cannon, and we admire it.

It’s your first day on the job, and your partner meets you in the rain outside the Fictional Realm’s Bureau of Investigation.

“I’ve been waiting ten minutes,” you say. You take a long drag off your candy cigarette, squint at your partner, and mutter, “I’m too old for this.”

“It’s literally your first day,” your partner reminds you.

“The depth of my jadedness knows no bounds. Like pre-distressed jeans, I come torn up.”

“Solid analogy,” your partner says approvingly.

First Challenge (5 min)

There have been sightings of your muse in Panem, so that’s where you and your partner go. It’s got its charms, if you like totalitarianism, PTSD, and excessive plastic surgery.

Everdeen has a thousand-yard stare if you’ve ever seen one. “In my experience,” she says, “muses tend to enjoy sparking rebellions. I’ve heard rumors of whistling in District Four. But then again, they’re just rumors. And Four is out of both our jurisdictions.”

If you’re By the Book: There’s plenty to investigate here in Twelve. Katniss’s lone piece of advice? Take aim before you let fly. Set a word-count goal for the next 5-minute sprint before you start writing.

If you’re a Hunch Follower: Get in touch with your agent on the ground in Four. Cressida offers her eyewitness account. Get inspired by the rebellion you find there: write a scene where a character explodes into a righteous fury.

If you’re a Loose Cannon: You don’t have time to deal with the bureaucracy of jurisdiction. Go to Four, so you can see every detail with your own two eyes. Write a scene where a character explodes into a righteous fury, and include a “triton”.

You have 5 minutes. Let’s go.

­Break

Which path did you take? Share a sentence.

• Didn’t use any of the challenges? No worries!
  

• Used a challenge, but not the one meant for you? Great!
  

• Attempted a challenge, but didn’t quite achieve it? You’ll get ‘em next time.
  

• Successfully completed your appropriate challenge? You earn one Muse Clue.
  

Second Challenge (10 min)

You get another hot tip, and you hightail it out of Panem. Pemberley, at first glance, is the polar opposite of District Twelve. The estate is beautiful and sprawling… but eerily quiet.

“Not to worry,” says Elizabeth Darcy, née Bennett. “Things will liven up soon.” The words are meant to be cheerful, but they echo forebodingly in the great hall.

“There is to be a ball tonight,” says Mr. Darcy. He grimaces. “They require… stamina.”

If you’re By the Book: Your mission at the ball: to scope out every jacketed gentleman and corseted lady in search of a clue. Don’t stop moving—write for ten minutes non-stop, without a single pause.

If you’re a Hunch Follower: Balls are ripe for romantic tension and heated passions. Write a scene where the chemistry sizzles.

If you’re a Loose Cannon: You always anticipate the unexpected. Write a scene that sizzles… then introduce “zombies”.

­Break

Which path did you take? Share a sentence.

• Didn’t use any of the challenges? No worries!
  

• Used a challenge, but not the one meant for you? Great!
  

• Attempted a challenge, but didn’t quite achieve it? You’ll get 'em next time.
  

• Successfully completed your appropriate challenge? You earn two Muse Clues.
  

Third Challenge (9 min)

You’ve got one last lead for the day. Professor McGonagall, headmistress of Hogwarts, has heard of your search, and has invited you to the school to offer her assistance.

“We have an old tome on the natural habits and tendencies of the muse that could be of use. You may find it in the Room of Requirement, though as of late it’s in the habit of presenting itself pitch black and devoid of light.” She sniffs. “I suspect Peeves has something to do with it.”

It’s a good thing you keep a wand handy. Choose which spell you’ll use to find the book in the dark:

Lumos: Write a scene in which a secret comes to light.

Accio Book: Who needs to see? Turn your font white, or write with your eyes closed.

Expecto Patronum: So it’s a little flashy… but it glows, doesn’t it? Write a scene that involves a major clash of wills.

Everyone will write for the full 9 minutes, but:

Agents: At the three-minute mark, please put an asterisk at the end of the word you’re typing.

PIs: At the six-minute mark, please put an asterisk at the end of the word you’re typing.

Amateur Detectives: When we end the sprint, please put an asterisk at the end of the word you’re typing.

­Break

Which path did you take? Share a sentence.

• Didn’t use any of the challenges? No worries!
  

• Attempted a challenge, but didn’t quite achieve it? You’ll get 'em next time.
  

• Successfully completed your chosen challenge? You earn one Muse Clue.
  

• Count the words between where you began writing for this sprint and the asterisk you placed. If that totals 200 words or more, you earn two Muse Clues.

Top photo by Flickr user Martin Gommel.