Beat Your Muse with a Club

Inc. magazine has an interesting profile of the CEO of the country’s largest independent advertising agency in its November issue. Here’s what the reporter took away: Creativity doesn’t need a muse. It needs a drill sergeant. The article is good – worth reading – but doesn’t actually spend much time going into the counterintuitive nature of that headline (my thoughts on the...

Literary – February 1

Langston Hughes, born on this date in 1902, said, “Humor is laughing at what you haven’t got when you ought to have it.” Writing prompt: Write a scene proving he’s correct.

Journaling + Fiction – February 1

“There is only one duty, only one safe course, and that is to try to be right and not to fear to do or say what you believe to be right.”Winston Churchill Journal prompt: Reflect on your previous journal entries and spend at least 20 minutes writing about a moment during which you could have been braver than you were. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist creates more problems by choosing...

Big Questions – February 1

What’s your theory of everything? 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 simple “yes” or “no,” explain the sources or implications of your response. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene that forces a character in your story to answer the question, or spend 15-20 minutes answering the question in the...

Romance – February 1

“It is impossible to persuade a man who does not disagree, but smiles.” -Muriel Spark, born this date in 1918. Writing prompt: Write a scene proving she’s correct.

Mystery – February 1

“Directing is not a mystery, it’s not an art. The main thing about directing is: photograph the people’s eyes.”- John Ford, born this date in 1894. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must gauge the truthfulness of a person’s words by observing body parts and physical behaviors.

SciFi/Fantasy – February 1

“Don’t forget what happened to the man who suddenly got everything he always wanted.” -Willy Wonka, who at 10:00 AM on this date welcomed Augustus Gloop, Veruca Salt, Violet Beauregard, Mike Teavee, and Charlie Bucket and their chaperones at the gates of his chocolate factory. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist receives a reward only because s/he is the last person to be...

Secondary – February 1

On this date in 1865, Pres. Abraham Lincoln abolished slavery when he signed the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution. If you were advising Pres. Lincoln, what would be your strongest argument for abolishing slavery?