Journaling + Fiction – August 10

“The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers.”Ralph Nader Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about a leader who inspired you to become a leader. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist fails to persuade a follower to stop following and start leading.

Romance – August 10

“Nobody can take away your future. Nobody can take away something you don’t have yet.” – Dorothy B. Hughes, born this date in 1904. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which  your protagonist talks about how to solve a particularly vexing problem with a close friend and comes to realize that it’s the friend who is causing the problem.

Mystery – August 10

“The poor dope — he always wanted a pool. Well, in the end, he got himself a pool.”- Joe Gillis, narrating Sunset Boulevard, which premiered on this date in 1950. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist discovers that s/he doesn’t actually want what s/he thought she wanted.

SciFi/Fantasy – August 10

“Even years later, she would remember it as the day her life began.” Mariesa Gorley van Huyten watched a meteor cross the sky on this date in Michael Flynn’s 1974. Writing prompt: Write the scene in which your protagonist is inspired to his/her life-long quest.

Literary – August 9

“Originality is being different from oneself, not others.” -Philip Larkin, born this date in 1922. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist creates a problem by being completely original.

Journaling + Fiction – August 9

“Happiness can exist only in acceptance.”George Orwell Journal prompt: Reflect on your previous journal entries and spend at least 20 minutes writing about something you once found unacceptable that you’ve found the courage to accept. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist settles.

Big Questions – August 9

How would you respond if you found out your closest friend earned money by selling illegal drugs? 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 voice of a character you want to know more about. Photo from Unsplash, the internet’s source of freely usable images.

Romance – August 9

“It boxes you in, the way people perceive you.” -Sam Elliott, born this date in 1944. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is prevented from doing something s/he is capable of achieving because no one thinks your protag can do it.