The Weight Before the Rain

1. Begin by describing a character standing in the open air, noticing a sudden shift in the atmosphere. You might focus on the oppressive, heavy feeling of the pressure in the ears or a change in the weight of the wind as it travels across the water. 2.

Write a few sentences about an incoming storm cloud, heavy and dark like a bruise against the horizon. Try to describe the way this thunderhead towers over the landscape, perhaps casting a pale, lavender light over the rocky ground below. 3.

Capture a brief moment of frantic movement when a hummingbird darts across the character's field of vision. You could mention the contrast between the bird’s shimmering, organic energy and the stillness of the waiting islands around it. 4.

Sketch a sensory detail where the character suddenly encounters a scent that feels entirely out of place. Describe how the flowers smelled but were not seen, drifting from some hidden garden or unexpected crevice in the earth. 5.

End the scene with a small, concrete action as the first drop of rain finally breaks the tension. The character might reach out to touch a cold stone or simply look down at their own hands as the air begins to cool.

More prompts in the gallery · Make your own prompt with Opaline