Daily, genre-inspired writing prompts for authors, teachers, and journaling

Literary – May 22

Peter Matthiessen, co-founder of The Paris Review, was born on this date in 1927. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist learns that someone s/he believes is acting for purely altruistic and...

Big Questions – May 22

Does your influence on your friends make them better people? Journaling prompt: Spend 15-20 minutes writing your answer in the spirit of exploring yourself and the world around you. If you can answer with a...

Journaling + Fiction – May 22

“Do stuff. Be clenched, curious. Not waiting for inspiration’s shove or society’s kiss on your forehead.”Susan Sontag Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about the costs and benefits...

Romance – May 22

Mary Cassatt was born on this date in 1844. Writing prompt: Describe from your protagonist’s point of view what’s happening in Cassatt’s painting The Long Gloves.

Mystery – May 22

It’s the 1859 birthdate of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist makes a series of completely ridiculous deductions based on a person’s...

SciFi/Fantasy – May 22

“After a short flurry of national and international concern over the ‘death of the Sun,’ the human race settled down to solving the insoluble problem in the best way that they knew –...

Secondary – May 22

On this date in 1972, Richard Nixon became the first president to visit Moscow, the capital of the USA’s enemy during the generations-long Cold War. Explain your opinion about whether it’s a good...

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