One Image, Two Story Ideas: Suspension Bridge
Jen and Tina love writing prompts. Sometimes they turn into stories, sometimes they just get our creative juices flowing. Either way, they’re a lot of fun.
Jen’s Idea
My first thought when I saw this bridge was some sort of evacuation in a dystopian land. And that’s too dark a premise for me to want to spend time imagining it.
I kept thinking, and I decided the crowd of people weren’t fleeing a disaster, they were tourists on their way to some fabulous destination. Groups of strangers brought together on a trip are the backbone of many of Agatha Christie’s most famous books (Murder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile, and Murder in Mesopotamia, are just a few.)
Instead of the usual adult cast of characters, I made my story one with teens on a summer trip. There could be a murder or a violent attack that leaves one of the kids in a coma unable to ID their attacker, but I wanted it to be lighter, so I went with a theft.
Tina’s Idea
I’m afraid of heights but I am fascinated by them on my own terms – like in a hot air balloon. When I first saw this image, I thought how much fun and scary this kind of expedition could be. Then I wondered what if the height was only a minor scare compared to other things. What if the bridge was the comfort and the fear was elsewhere. And then I wrote.
Jen’s Back Cover
Jim Norris was looking forward to spending his summer vacation playing baseball, horsing around at the town pool, and basically living up every moment of freedom before returning to school to start eleventh grade.
His parents had other plans. They announced he would be spending ten weeks on an eco-adventure on the other side of the planet. It was a done deal: tickets purchased, non-refundable fees paid. They claimed it would be a chance for Jim to broaden his horizons, but he knew full well they wanted to separate him from the friends they blamed for Jim’s poor grades and run-ins with his town’s law enforcement officers.
The kids on the trip weren’t as bad as he expected, and he surprised himself by how much he enjoys setting up tents, cooking over a fire and generally becoming the type of nature-nut he used to make fun of.
Just as he’s getting into the swing of things, his newfound peace is shattered: a museum display case is smashed during the kids’ visit and Jim gets blamed. He’s got a record as a juvenile delinquent, he was seen fooling around in the gallery, and his parents have the money to make it all go away. The accusations were inevitable.
But Jim didn’t do it, and for the first time in his life, he’s not willing to go with the flow. He vows to clear his name, and in the process discovers the accident was a cover for an elaborate theft that the museum has yet to recognize. Jim faces a race against the clock as he tries to determine who he can trust among this group where no one is who they say they are.
Tina’s Back Cover
Emma Collins is a tour group guide specializing in nature expeditions, but when tourists mysteriously vanish during her first rainforest trip, Emma is determined to keep her remaining group safe.
As Emma leads her group deeper into the remote rainforest, the atmosphere grows increasingly eerie and unsettling. Strange sounds echo weakly through the trees, and Emma is sure she sees shadows lurking just beyond every bend. With each passing day, the number of missing tourists rises, leaving Emma and her ever-dwindling group on edge. Infighting increases the tension and Emma is concerned that if she doesn’t solve their problems soon, someone will oust her as leader. Those most likely to claim that role are an unsavory bunch.
She embarks on a race against time to uncover the truth behind the disappearances and bring everyone to safety. Faced with mounting desperation, Emma decides that the fastest route to safety lies in crossing a suspension bridge that spans a treacherous ravine. However, as the group approaches the bridge, they discover a shaman waiting for them at the entrance of the bridge. He convinces Emma to camp one more night before crossing. The shaman explains that local legend says that the rainforest itself is alive with a supernatural power, demanding sacrifices to maintain its equilibrium. He warns her that if they cross they will never survive.
Emma is faced with an impossible choice. She must decide whether the shaman is correct or whether she should get her group out by the fastest route possible.
Tina’s Response
I really loved how Jen took this prompt opportunity to write about a young person who is turning a new leaf and discovering things about himself. This is the kind of story that fed me through my younger years, that gave me the confidence to try new things and try on new personas. It’s a special time in the life of an adolescent and I think Jen is the perfect person to write this kind of story. Brava!
Jen’s Response
What a thriller! I love the tension that Tina has built into such a small space: missing tourists, infighting and a supernatural power. It’s a blend of Michael Crichton and Lost written with a woman’s touch. Tina, please write this one!
Photo by Anita Cavalcanti on Unsplash