Fictional Fixation

Prompt of the Day:
Your protagonist stumbles upon an old, antique mirror at a flea market. The mirror is strikingly beautiful, but there’s something unsettling about it—it seems to have a faint, ever-changing reflection that doesn’t quite match the real world. One night, while gazing into the mirror, your protagonist sees something they weren’t expecting: their own reflection, but it’s not them. The reflection is a stranger, someone who looks exactly like them but with a different life, different memories, and a different past. As they investigate, they realize the mirror can show them glimpses of alternate lives and parallel universes. But the more they look, the more the reflection begins to interfere with their own reality. What is the true purpose of the mirror, and why is it showing your protagonist these alternate lives?

Tips for the Prompt:

1. The Mirror as a Gateway: The mirror should be more than just a reflection. It acts as a portal to other versions of reality. Describe the unease the protagonist feels when they first notice the anomaly. How does the reflection change? Does the protagonist’s real-world environment subtly shift each time they look into the mirror? This adds to the unsettling feeling that something is off.
2. The Stranger’s Life: The alternate reflection in the mirror should be a distinct person, with their own history, habits, and personality traits. How does the protagonist react when they see someone else in their reflection? What details about the stranger’s life make them feel connected or distant from this alternate version of themselves?
3. Escalating Tension: As the protagonist continues to use the mirror, the stakes should rise. Perhaps they begin to see more disturbing versions of themselves—versions who made drastically different choices, or lives that ended tragically. With each glimpse, the reflection may begin to influence their thoughts and actions, creating a tension between who they are and who they might have been.
4. The Mirror’s Intentions: The mirror’s true purpose should remain a mystery. Does it offer a chance to explore alternate realities, or is it trying to manipulate the protagonist into a particular outcome? Maybe the mirror is a tool for revealing lost parts of the protagonist’s psyche. The deeper they delve, the more they’ll need to uncover its origins.
5. The Consequences of Peering Into Alternate Lives: As the protagonist’s grip on their own reality begins to slip, the consequences of interacting with the mirror should become apparent. Perhaps they lose touch with their true identity, or the parallel lives they observe start to merge with their own. What is the cost of learning these alternate realities? Is it worth the risk?

This prompt is ideal for writers who love to explore themes of identity, parallel universes, and the psychological effects of alternate realities. It offers a great mix of suspense, mystery, and existential exploration. Happy writing!