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Gregory Blair's avatar

Neuschwanstein Castle, 1886

The heartbroken man tasked with locking up the unfinished castle upon the death of King Ludwig II, makes his final walkthrough of the massive creation, including the empty throne room that never got its throne.

Graeme Brandham's avatar

Ooh this is a great one. That castle has long been in my thoughts to understand its back-story a bit more, given hopw beautiful and relatively 'new' it is. This is a great excuse to start learning more. Thank you :D

Gregory Blair's avatar

Huge Ludwig fan, here, ever since vesting the castles and writing a screenplay about him. Excited to see what you do with my fictitious caretaker character.

Graeme Brandham's avatar

That is incredibly cool that you have developed a screenplay about this. Is it something you are still working on. Or have you been seeking to get it optioned?

Gregory Blair's avatar

It’s one of my babies I’m still trying to get made.

Graeme Brandham's avatar

I really hope you get there! This feels like an idea that would be popular in the EU film funding circuits, so I have all my fingers crossed for you. Would you be acting in it yourself, or more in the writing chair for this idea?

Gregory Blair's avatar

The script is done. They should get big names for the main roles, but it's a huge cast (obviously), so I wouldn't mind playing something if that opportunity opened up.

Sarah's avatar

This is so fun!

Herculaneum, early 79AD

Cassius, a 14 year old boy, son of a tavern owner, who dreams of one day setting sail on the open seas.

Graeme Brandham's avatar

Oh I had hoped that someone would finally scratch the Roman Itch, thank you! This is a fantastic prompt. I will schedule this for day 17 😊🎄

Norm DePlume's avatar

December 1819, a broken down, abandoned barn in Geneva Switzerland. Adam, age 1, who wants a mother and father for Christmas but is afraid no one wants him. Adam is the name used by the creature that was created by Victor Frankenstein in 1818.

By the way I love your idea and what you're doing with it.

Graeme Brandham's avatar

Ooh this is a very intriguing prompt, and it has immediately kick-started a nugget of an idea. Sometimes a story doesn’t appear right away with these prompts until I have dug into the history and the references. But this….

Hmmm… Leave it with me ^^ Thank you for this one.

Im also really happy to hear you are enjoying the format. I did wonder if it was a bit self indulgent, not making it as much of a contribution from others. But its december, most people are busier than ever. And honestly, I am finding that even a few short sentences from someone can create a whole world.

Norm DePlume's avatar

I think it’s a very shrewd idea. A lot of the people that write here like to collaborate with and support each other. I don’t think you’ll have any trouble getting all the prompts that you need. I’m probably lucky I got mine in before you get swamped.

Graeme Brandham's avatar

Ive noticed that, and I absolutely love the community feeling of this place. Its the only corner of the internet where I have found this. So I feel super lucky to be a part of it.

Shadows of an Afterthought's avatar

16th Century, Spanish Arch, Galway, Ireland. Gráinne (Gr-awh-nya) waits patiently in the shadows of Spanish Arch, to catch a glimpse of a Alonso, a Spanish boy who trades goods everytime his ship docks.

Graeme Brandham's avatar

Yus! This one made me giddy with excitement. I have had some very good times in Galway, with a group of amazing people back when I lived in Ireland. Cans by the sparch. This brings back a lot of great memories. I cannot wait to start this one. This will be the day 12 😊

Jonathan Hogue's avatar

1993. Somewhere between Pittsburgh, PA and State College, PA. Two 19 year-olds, driving back to college in a 1984 Ford Mustang GT through the "Storm of the Century." This one might be too difficult for you!!!

Graeme Brandham's avatar

I love it. It already creates such a compelling visual. I will have to do some research on this one I am sure, but I am excited for the challenge. And hey, at the very least I now get to attempt the challenge, writing how a Mustang GT sounds.

Thomas's avatar

Bank Street, London 1907

An astonished young broker seeing the euphoria happening across the Atlantic on wall street and plans to cross the ocean to New York for the opportunity only to get on the ship and learn of the great crash of 1907 while on his way.

Sarah Tinney's avatar

2018, New Year’s Eve. Edinburgh. A family (mum and 2 daughters, 58, 30, 28) experiencing their first family holiday since the death of the dad/husband earlier in the year.

This may not be fictitious…

Graeme Brandham's avatar

Oh gosh, this has got so much resonance and emotional energy. Given the caveat that this may not be fictitious, I will do my utmost to make sure it is sensitive. Thank you for sharing this. I hope I can do it justice. 😊

Sarah Tinney's avatar

If it helps to take the pressure off, my boyfriend (now husband) was also with us and we brought in the new year singing along to Franz Ferdinand and Take Me Out live at Hogmanay while drinking whiskey. And a few days later we were in Norway seeing the northern lights 😊

Graeme Brandham's avatar

haha, that does sound very fun. I am glad it was a celebration as much as a catharsis. The Franz Ferdinand feat. a god glass of whiskey feels like a perfect start to a new year!

Jenifer Jorgenson's avatar

Time: 1983

Place: Centralia, Pennsylvania (now mostly abandoned mining town with fires burning underground)

Witness: Danny, age 10

Graeme Brandham's avatar

Oh I have off-hand heard about this. It sounds insane that this was a thing. I will absolutely be taking a deep dive into that history. Also, I think it suits this theme particularly well given the similarity between mines and rabbit warrens. Thank you for contributing this!

Jenifer Jorgenson's avatar

You're very welcome Can't wait to read it!

Maryellen Brady 💗📚's avatar

1922 Baltimore City, Maryland

A lost child was out sliding and snow fell so fast and furious, one minute play & the next fearful & freezing... near Lock Raven....for historical context....

Graeme Brandham's avatar

I love the specificity of this one. It is really a part of the world I know little about... yet. But that I think will be a big part of the fun for me with this challenge. To learn so much about people all around the world. Thank you for the suggestion. This will be the day 4 I think 🎄

Maryellen Brady 💗📚's avatar

I grew up in Baltimore & miss the history of the place. THANK YOU!

Graeme Brandham's avatar

Hehe sadly the only thing I know about Baltimore is ‘The Wire’ and ‘The Ravens’. So hopefully this will add a lot more texture.

Maryellen Brady 💗📚's avatar

Oh my! Well, 1922 was a frozen winter so it will add to your history. My Grams told me about it.

Graeme Brandham's avatar

Well, this has literally just sent me on a google mission. I hope there are photos as well. And that it was by and large a good thing, rather than something that affected people badly.

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Nov 29, 2025
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Graeme Brandham's avatar

This is great! Thank you. I will make this my day 2 ‘letter’.