Clicking Gears

Here’s a writing exercise to do with your morning coffee, or over iced tea at lunch, or with a drink late at night. Study the pictures below and imagine all the clicks and creaks and moans and pounding that could accompany the workings of a machine with such ancient innards. What would it sound like up close? From far away? What if it could move? What would it sound like crossing an asphalt road? A field? A cobblestone alley?

Then set your timer for 20 minutes (make sure the alarm is LOUD) and scroll down for the prompt.

Write a scene that incorporates the following line: “With every click of the gears, he knew that something–no, someone–was coming closer.”

Start your 20 minute timer. Ready, set, write!

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