Write about something that terrified you as a child.
Your move, writer.
There's the obvious route — the closet door that wouldn't stay shut, the shape under the bed, the basement light with the pull-string too far away — and it's obvious because it works, so don't skip it just to be clever. But you could also go quieter: the fear that wasn't a monster at all, just a grown-up's raised voice, a hospital hallway, the first time you understood a parent could be wrong about something. Or flip it sideways and write about a fear that turned out to be ridiculous in hindsight, and let the humor sit right next to how real it felt at seven years old. The best version probably admits you're still a little afraid of it now.
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