Writing Prompt: Best Compliment

What’s a compliment you’ve received that really made your day? And I mean REALLY made your day. Maybe your mind goes to one specific thing or maybe you think of something you wish someone would compliment you on? Either way, let us know!

For me, well, I’ve got a pretty specific memory that comes to mind with this question. If you don’t know by now: I’m a geek. I play video games, watch movies, read books, and all. And the first compliment I think of when considering this question comes from all the way back when I was in junior high. It was probably 7th grade. My friends and I are sitting around the lunch table. I have no idea what we were talking about, but one of my friends–one of my preppy type of my friends–looks at me and says: “you know, if you had pointy ears, you look like that princess from the video game my brother plays.” Naturally, my interests were peaked and my first thought was that she meant the Legend of Zelda video game series. However, I always hid how much of a geek I was way back when. My friends didn’t know I played video games and was into all the stuff that society would frown upon. You know how it goes: “Oh, you’re a geek? What a nerd. Video games rot your brain. Play a real sport. Etc. Etc. Etc.” I hid all that stuff so that I wouldn’t get picked on or look down on. So, when my friend told me I look like some princess from a video game I tried to hide the fact that I probably knew exactly what she was talking about. I awkwardly shrugged and asked: “which game?” She just shook her head and said: “I don’t know. I don’t remember.” I tried to pry: “was it the Legend of Zelda? I’ve heard there’s a pointy eared princess in that one.” She shrugs and says: “probably.”

Given the fact that Princess Zelda from the Legend of Zelda series is my all-time favorite character, I was feeling pretty good after that compliment! I know she could’ve been thinking of a different video game and I know she was just trying to pry my geekiness out of me and prove that I’m not as preppy as she is, but there was a chance that I got compared to Princess Zelda so I didn’t care one, stinkin’ bit!

Things have definitely changed since those days. Princess Zelda is still my favorite character, but nowadays, I hope to be complimented on my writing over my looks. I would especially love to get complimented on when it comes to my book. It would be nice to hear: “hey, Nikki, your book was fantastic! I can’t wait to read the next one!” Being a writer, people compliment you all the time on your writing whether it’s a blog post, a poem, or just a note in a card, but for non-published authors, it can be hard to find someone who will read your book all the way through and honestly tell you they really liked it. If beta readers (other writers) read it to help with feedback, they might hold back their opinion because they’re intimidated or they don’t want to hurt your feelings. Beta readers know how much heart gets put in a book, and no one wants their heart crushed. Then, if family members read it, they often soften their opinion. Tell you its good just because you’re family. Hopefully, one day, my book will get published and I’ll be able to look online for that one review that says this book was really good.

So, that’s my best past compliment and hopeful compliment for the future. What about you? What unique compliment have you been giving? And, what about your neighbor? Your sister? Brother? Mother? Friend? What unique compliment do you think they would like? I dare you to share your stories either in the comments below or on my Facebook or Twitter pages. Oh, and I double-dog dare you to give someone the best compliment today. Let them know something that they’ll be smiling about when they remember it years from now.

Make someone’s day.