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Prompts [If you are a New Orleans Librarian looking to leave a prompt, please click here.] Below are the prompts as given to us by New Orleans librarians. They are meant to inspire you more so than limit you to write a specific story within their parameters. You do not have to meet all the requirements of a prompt. A story can be a combination of several prompts, just as a story can contain multiple characters, each based on a different prompt. You may pick and choose whichever you like; no prompts will be assigned. For more information, please read our FAQ, For Writers and For Artists sections before submitting. Participation is open to all, not just those in the United States. Prompt 1 The Head of the African American Resource Center at the Main Branch enjoys helping people solve problems they are facing, whether that is with information needed from resources in the library or resources needed from another agency in the community. Some of her favorite authors include O Henry short stories, Langston Hughes biographies and poems, Toni Morrison, Bernice McFadden and Diane McKinney Whetstone fiction. Her favorite quote is: " I am the vine and you are the branches. He that abides in me and I in him will bring forth much fruit; for without me you can do nothing.” Her non erotic/non gothic short story would feature Imani, a hard worker who doesn’t mind lightening the loads of others and who loves to see others laugh. She would like her character be definitive and say something like, "why shouldn't I be here (or go back) it's my home." Prompt 2 Aa Library Associate III - Automated Services, at the Main Branch enjoys being able to provide users and staff with a clean database, and help train staff to provide good service to the users. C.S. Lewis tops her favorite author list and her favorite character is Spock. Her favorite quote is: Always try to go through life a little hungry; you never know when you'll meet something edible." - T J Bass She’d like a comedy featuring Chesney Forbanter, a perfectionist with high expectations of others, impatient with inaccuracies and inefficiency. While suspicious of the motives of others, she is willing to take a stand for what she feels is right. The story would be about a teacher verses a mean library where the library itself is the antagonist and how the teacher manages to pacify it. Prompt 3 An Assistant Acquisitions Librarian at the Main Branch enjoys the fact that she's as often as not the first person to see the new books and discovering new authors and subjects. “Yeah, for me, it's about the book.” Her favorite author is H. G. Wells and her favorite character is Count Franciscus St. Germain (Yarbro). Her favorite quote is "I may not agree with what you say, but I'll defend with my life your right to say it." In her story, set in the realm of fantasy, Jan the sidekick would be good looking, intelligent, shy, prone to depression and anxiety attacks. She would love animals and 60s music. She can be a bit bouncy at times and funny. Length and plot is up to the author. Prompt 4 A Librarian with the Mid-City Branch enjoys having access to any book she wants, whenever she wants it, or shortly thereafter. She also likes working with computers and having a profession that is about helping people and not about “filthy lucre, getting and spending — libraries are free to all!” Though she loves too many to name just one favorite author or book, her favorite character is Sherlock Holmes. Her favorite quote is: "The truth shall set you free." In her story, Kirsten, inquisitive and loyal, smart but shy, would be in New Orleans where whatever happens is up to the author. Prompt 5 A Cataloger at the Main Branch likes being a librarian because of the access to books she gets, and she enjoys working alone. Her favorite author is Virginia Woolf. She requests a comedy in which a female character is the anti-hero. Prompt 6 A Librarian Associate at the Main Branch, enjoys reading to children and helping them read, doing arts and crafts with them, and “working with the great people who work with me.” Her favorite author is Barbara Kingsolver, and her favorite character is Harry Potter. “When you're going through hell, keep going” Is her favorite quote. Her prompt involves, Winn, a man blind in one eye, who joins other handicapped characters in an action/mystery. Prompt 7 A Student Library Assistant at the Law Library of Louisiana (located in New Orleans) likes being a librarian because it allows “shushing unruly patrons and wearing my hair in a bun.” Her favorite author is Ralph Waldo Emerson and her favorite character is Sue from Jude the Obscure. Her favorite quote: "I have no response to that." -- Meg Ryan in Joe vs. the Volcano. In her comedy, Tara is sarcastic, stubborn, moody, strong-willed but well meaning antihero. Things don't usually go her way, and she often puts her foot in her mouth. She doesn't fit in with any particular group, and she's kind of happy on the fringe, but she doesn't have many friends, although she always thought she would. She loves movies and tv shows and has believed their romantic notions of barbecues and dinner parties and brunch on Sundays with a bunch of girlfriends. She hasn't had a lot of friends since college, and she misses that cameraderie, but hasn't found anyone that she likes to be around as much as her old college friends. Tara's 35, and still in library school, and is a little wary about finding a job after graduation. She has a 4 year old son named Nate and a husband from Massachusetts named Kevin. Tara lived near the London Ave. Canal in Gentilly (an area of New Orleans) and lost her house. She now lives in the suburbs, which she hates. She can't wait to get a job and get out of the suburbs and maybe New Orleans. Prompt 8 A Special Collections Librarian at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, John T. Christian Library, loves doing different things every day. "Helping people find what they are looking for is nice as well. I work as an archivist, so finding things in old papers and collections that nobody else has seen before is fascinating!” This person’s favorite author is J.R.R. Tolkien, character is Treebeard , and quote is: “All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost. The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost. Renewed shall be blade that was broken, The crownless again shall be King." Fellowship of the Ring, written by Bilbo Baggins. In this short story, a character named Quickbeam, who is hasty, entertaining, valorous, and friendly appears. Prompt 9 A Librarian at Holy Cross School Library, works at an all boys' school loves “making the boys excited about reading and books. I love sharing my passion for books!” Her favorite author is D.J. MacHale (the Pendragon series) and her favorite character is Harry Potter. Her favorite quote: “Life is a roller coaster-hold on and enjoy the ride.” In her action/fantasy/mystery flashfic, Creola Dejean, a 30-year-old beautiful, overweight, Creole woman with long, curly hair and hazel eyes is intelligent, psychic, and sometimes treacherous if crossed. The story is set in New Orleans. Prompt 10 A Humanities Reference Librarian at Tulane University says the best thing about being a librarian is helping people and “being around interesting people engaged in learning about the world and helping the rest of us understand it,” not to mention beautiful, wise books and amazing databases. Her favorite author is Joseph Brodsky and Her favorite character is Bridget Jones. Her favorite quote is "Wherever you go, there you are." In an action/horror/mystery, Grace, a striking, intense, warmly human, brave, wise, but secretly devious and powerful woman, is seen helping people in situations that show her humanity, the best and worst of it. She worst of it. She should be caught in a dilemma and lead herself and others out of it, but does she lead people into the light or the dark? Prompt 11 A Reference Librarian at John P Isché Library, LSU Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, likes helping people, answering questions, and the ability to shush people with a single raised eyebrow. Her favorite authors include Philip K Dick, Jonathan Lethem, and Louisa May Alcott, to name a few. Her favorite characters are Nick and Nora Charles from Dashiell Hammet's “The Thin Man.” Her favorite quote is from Thomas Paine: "We have it in our power to begin the world over again." Her story would feature Zombrarian. Like any zombie, Zombrarian needs braaaaaaainsss to live (un-live?), but it's only the juicy mental meat of book lovin' library patrons that gets Zombrarian's gumless lips smackin'! What's that you're reading...Proust? Potter? Pippi Longstocking? Better keep quiet or Zombrarian will give you a shushing you won't forget. Just remember what they say: "Better read...than un-dead!" Zombrarian has some capacity for speech ...especially the word "BRAIIINNNSSSSZZZ" and 'SHHHHHHHHzzzzz' (for shushing unruly patrons etc). Zombrarian works in a library at the medical school, so to see her lurking around the anatomy lab cadavers - looking for friends no doubt - or the autopsy books section of the library - where there are many pictures of glorious brains - is quite common. (The call numbers for anatomy lab books are QS 4 - QS 17 in the Library of Congress National Library of Medicine cataloging classification, in case you wonder). Prompt 12 A Branch Manager of the Hubbell Branch and the Algiers Regional Branch enjoys helping people, especially kids, find a book they really like. “The thank you after they've read it and enjoyed it really makes me feel like I'm doing my job well. But what I like best: I learn something new every day in every field imaginable!” Her favorite authors include Jane Austen, Carl Hiaasan, Tom Robbins, David Sedaris, and Christopher Moore to name a few. Her favorite character is Elizabeth Bennett, and her favorite quotes are: “The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom.” (William Blake) and "It seems to me to show an abominable sort of conceited independence, a most country-town indifference to decorum." (Jane Austen) In this comedy, the anti-hero would be witty and unconventional with a dark sense of humor. Though she can be over-critical, she enjoys life (maybe too much sometimes), surrounds herself with interesting and eclectic people, but is still very independent, and tends to get into "situations." She is clumsy, daring, maybe sometimes too impulsive, very self-confident, laughs at her own expense frequently and, of course, loves New Orleans with a passion. Bonus points if the bar Aunt Tiki's, a dive bar in the French Quarter on Decatur St. (we refer to the area as Lower Decatur) was somehow incorporated. The bartender's name is Brian. Prompt 13 A Library Associate at the Main Branch in New Orleans says his favorite part of the job is his Reference work. His favorite author is Charles Dickens and his favorite character is Edmund Dantes from "The Count of Monte Cristo." His favorite quote is: “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.” His characters name would be Kevin O’Neal, and he would be the hero of the story, a “child” of the ‘60s who never lost his political fervor. His motto would be “Liberal and proud of it.” His story would take place in a court of law where Kevin proves it was the Bush Administration's deliberate negligence which caused the city of New Orleans to be flooded, and its poorer citizens to be stranded. He donates his contingency fee to New Orleans Public Library for rebuilding, restoring, and restocking purposes. Prompt 14 A librarian at the Keller Branch in New Orleans' favorite part about her job is “guiding children to new authors and titles to expand their worlds.” Her favorite author is Andre Norton and her favorite character is The Star Man’s Son. In her fantasy story, her character’s name would be Elizabeth, and she would be dependable, hard working, and a perfectionist who is curious and always trying to keep order. The length and plot would be up to the author. Prompt 15 A Librarian at the Children’s Resource Center says her favorite part of the job is “seeing kids get really excited about reading a book and getting to learn something new almost every day.” Her favorite character (Marvin) and quote comes from her favorite author’s (Douglas Adams) book, "The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy": “In the beginning, the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move.” In this mystery-comedy, the anti-hero is Crystal Weary, who is cynical but lovable despite herself. She's not overly happy or optimistic but keeps a sense of humor about it all. The plot is left to the author, but it should take place in New Orleans if that is possible. Prompt 16 A Branch Manager at the Alvar Library in New Orleans enjoys answering reference question and assisting patrons on the computer. “I especially like learning about new authors, titles, and topics of public interest. I also enjoy helping people learn about new information resources. In her mysterious short story her character, Melody, would be the hero who is young and smart, seeking answers to life’s questions. She would be intuitive and inquisitive; loyal, creative and dependable too. She would like her story set at university. Here the character must live her life consistent with her teaching although the mystery plot causes her to justify her decision. Her clarity of thought, facts and persuasiveness wins the day. She would like her character to utter the line, "Life has a life of its own." Prompt 17 A Branch Manager at Nix and Mid-city Branch of the New Orleans says his favorite part of his job is that he "gets to play and boss people around." Some of his favorite authors are Alan Dean Foster, Gregory Benford, and William Shakespeare. His favorite character is Donald Duck and his favorite quote is: “A good friend will come and bail you out of jail, your best friend sits next to you and says, ‘Damn, that was fun!’” His character’s name would be Lance, the anti-hero in this fantasy where a small colony on a distant world discovers the first alien artifact and it's deadly. Lance would be reliable, educated, strong, friendly, knowledgeable, good looking, and in his 30s. Prompt 18 A Library Associate at the Main Library in New Orleans says her character’s name would be Sarah Truly, and she would be stubborn, clever, funny, and argumentative and would be the anti-hero involved in a mystery. Prompt 19 ASerials/Government Documents Librarian
at Loyola University Law Library loves her job which deals with the details of published information. Prompt 20 A Library Associate at the Latter Branch New Orleans Public Library says his favorite part of his job is “being around people who like to read books, helping to promote freedom and sharing of knowledge, and being part of a service which is not partisan, politicized or commodified, something quasi-socialist. His favorite author is Amy Sedaris and his favorite character is Jerri Blank. His favorite quote is: "Is it so different to be new? And is it so strange to be different? Now, I'm not saying that new isn't bad; of course it is. But on this St. Arbor's Day week, we must realize that the new sapling grows into the mighty old oak, which we cut down to make our new ax handles which, in turn, we use to chop down our mighty old oaks." In his action/mystery/fantasy short story his character’s name would be Alex Raclitson, and he would be a hero who has a great deal of learned knowledge, trivial to pop culture, yet elemental and advanced regarding the sciences, cultures, and literatures of the world. This makes him appear aloof and emotionally detached to others. Just on the gay side of bisexual. He knows karate and kung fu and speaks fluent French and Japanese. His family lived in Japan when he was a child and having studied French in high school. Doesn't suffer fools gladly unless has to spend time with them at work or such where he tolerates them, yet when he is required to assist someone can be accommodating and pleasant, but of course with the understanding he doesn't have to go home with that person. Can be mean towards those who achieved power, fame, influence but find themselves vulnerable (takes joy in the plight of those who perhaps deserved their fall from arrogance and self-importance). Does like to joke around with friends, usually jokes that would offend religious hypocrites (sex, money, interpretation of god, etc.) He will go out of his way to help even co-workers who are vulnerable due to age or health issues. In the end he really resents the self-righteous rich and will fight for the majority who are poor and working class. He is vegetarian, but will eat meat to not offend humble simple hosts, but will refuse meat offered by owners of say agribusiness slaughterhouses. He is having just helped solve a crime. He is on vacation in the Loire Valley in Anjou (Angers).
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