Primary – October 20

If you could change one of your family’s rules, how and why would you change it?

Words Not Pages

I frequently hear from writers who are interested in a manuscript review or editing services, or who want to pitch an agent or publisher, and they tell me their book is 200 or 425 or howevermany pages long. When I’m feeling indulgent and patient, I’ll spend some time explaining why I don’t care how many pages their manuscript is – and why they shouldn’t, either. What counts is the number of words in the manuscript,...

Literary – October 19

“Betrayal can only happen if you love.” -David John Moore Cornwell, better known as John le Carré, born this date in 1931. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist learns s/he has been betrayed.

Journaling + Fiction – October 19

“The first step in becoming a global citizen is stripping away the preconceptions of how things should be in order to see things for what they are.”Colleen Mariotti Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about the moment in your life that most crystalized the difference between reality and preference. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist comes to understand that things are not...

Big Questions – October 19

Is karma an actual thing, or just an attitude to make us feel better? 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...

Romance – October 19

“It was a painful thought, but the truth often is.” -Tracy Chevalier, born this date in 1962. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist refuses to acknowledge a truth that a slight acquaintance tells your protag.

Mystery – October 19

“You just don’t know writers. They’ll use anything, anybody. They’ll eat their own young.” -Philip Marlow in The Singing Detective as portrayed by Michael Gambon, born on this date in 1940. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist gets embroiled in a dispute between an authority and the authority’s child.

SciFi/Fantasy – October 19

“Very few people think that what they’re doing is bad, and usually for the people who think what they’re doing is bad it has more to do with guilt.”- John Favreau, born this date in 1966. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist gets caught doing something bad and refuses to admit any guilt about it.