(Tarot Prompts for Writers)
Keep the image and meaning of The Empress in mind as you develop a story. But go beyond the card — don’t stress about any aspects you “should” include. The card is just a tool to prompt ideas. You can take it anywhere. Wield your writerly powers.
First line prompts
- It was always sunny when I saw her.
- He hungered for power like hers.
- What’s with the wings?
Continue the scene for another 500 words, in any direction you wish to take it. Change to third or first person or switch genders as you see fit. Make this an opening to a longer work or a complete flash fiction.
Character and Setting Prompt
Your protagonist rules over some dominion where everything seems perfect.
Where does their power come from? Did they inherit it? Do they enjoy it?
Exactly what and whom do they rule over? How do their subjects feel about them? Is someone challenging their power? Does an end to their rule loom? What will they do to keep their power?
Are things as perfect as they seem? Think about this world’s social structure. Is it equally perfect for everyone? What forces or invaders might cause everything to change? Who might want to keep things as they are and who might want to tear things down?
Think about the Empress — those wings, that sun — and imagine a strange world where she rules. It’s a special day, when all her subjects can come to see her and beg favours. Who is in the crowd? What do they want from her? Is there someone here who doesn’t belong?
Start with either the Empress herself or her subject (or take the point of view of her heir or bodyguard or pet eagle). Consider the character’s exterior (species/gender/age/abilities) and interior (temperament/interests/beliefs/fears). Think about their life story — family, friends, education, employment, secrets, burdens. Think about their goals and what stands in their way.
Now show that character to your reader.
Planners can write a character sketch and a diary entry about what they want and fear on this day.
Pantsers can write a scene of the character in the gathering on this special day in this strange world.
Thematic Prompts
- Having wings but being stuck on the ground.
- The sun, the sun, and all we can become!
- Power corrupts (and absolute power corrupts absolutely).
Freewrite for five minutes on any of these themes. Wax poetic. Wield your pen with grace and power.
Happy writing!
Images on this page are by the following artists:
Banner, left to right: Marseilles deck engraved by Nicolas Conver; Dragon Tarot illustrated by Roger and Linda Garland; Tarot Balbi by Domenico Balbi; Gilded Tarot by Ciro Marchetti; Radiant Rider-Waite deck illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith (also featured alone in mid-page); Druid Craft deck illustrated by Will Worthington.
Catherine Austen 