Creative writing prompt

Something Happened on the Way to…

BCW Writing Session – 13.01.2026

At our BCW writing session on 13 January 2026, we explored a deceptively simple but powerful prompt: Something Happened on the Way to…

Choose a Familiar Journey

Think of a journey you know well — one you have travelled at least once before (and perhaps many times).

Type of journey (path, train, car, walk, etc.):

Where does it start?

Where does it end?

Visualise the Journey

Imagine this journey as if you are watching a film.

Fill in the details below:

Time of day:

Time of year / season:

Weather:

Colours / atmosphere:

Scenery passed along the way:

Focus on the Character

Pause the film and focus on the person making the journey.

Who is it?

Age:

What are they wearing?

Have they made this journey before?

☐ Yes ☐ No ☐ Not sure

Motivation and Stakes

Why are they making this journey now?

What are they hoping to find at the end of it?

Why does it matter that the journey ends the way they hope it will?(What’s at stake for them?)

Emotional State

One word to describe their mood:

What has made them feel this way?

 The Obstacle

Something happens that threatens to stop the journey.

What is the obstacle?(e.g. a meeting, accident, memory, fear, or interruption)

Is the obstacle:

☐ External

☐ Internal

☐ Both

The Outcome

How does the character deal with the obstacle?

What happens next? (tick one or describe)

• ☐ They overcome it and reach their destination

• ☐ They are diverted somewhere else

• ☐ They reach the destination by a different route

Do they get what they hoped for?

☐ Yes

☐ No

☐ Partially

How do they cope with the result?

Writing Task

Write the scene for 30 minutes.

Why not have a go yourself?

This prompt is ideal for uncovering character depth, raising emotional stakes, and discovering stories hidden inside everyday moments. Sometimes the most interesting stories aren’t about where we’re going — but what happens on the way there. ✨✍️