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Literary – January 28
David Lodge, who wrote “it is impossible to be excessive in flattery of one’s peers,” was born on this date in 1935. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist proves Lodge wrong.
read moreJournaling + Fiction – January 28
“I don’t trust anyone who doesn’t laugh.”Maya Angelou Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about the warning sign you find most glaring in another’s behavior or personality. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist wins an important victory using humor.
read moreBig Questions – January 28
Who will miss you when you’re gone? 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 voice of a character you want to know more about. Photo from Unsplash, the internet’s source of freely-usable...
read moreRomance – January 28
Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette, author of Gigi, was born on this date in 1873. Her first fame as an author came in the form of stories ghost-written for her husband Willy, who locked her in a room until she completed them. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist discovers that her/his partner has been taking credit for something your protag does.
read moreMystery – January 28
“I’m late for my daily spanking at One Police Plaza.”- Lt. Anita Van Buren as portrayed by S. Epatha Merkerson, born this date in 1952. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must convince her/his boss that s/he is doing one thing when s/he is, in fact, doing exactly the opposite.
read moreSciFi/Fantasy – January 28
“Right action is better than knowledge; but in order to do what is right, we must know what is right.” – Frankish emperor Charlemagne, assassinated on this date in Denis Dyack’s eternally dark 814 by followers of Pious Augustus. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist discovers a clue in a hidden room.
read moreSecondary – January 28
“Because of the diverse conditions of humans, it happens that some acts are virtuous to some people, as appropriate and suitable to them, while the same acts are immoral for others, as inappropriate to them.” -Thomas Aquinas, who was born on this date in 1225. Explain to Mr. Aquinas why you think he’s wrong or right.
read morePrimary – January 28
Jackson Pollock, a painter famous for giant canvases covered in colors he spattered randomly across them, was born on this date in 1912. Explain why you think his work is or is not art.
read moreLiterary – January 27
Musical prodigy Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born on this date in 1756. He believed his ideas flowed best and most abundantly while undertaking boring routines. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which the process of following a daily routine causes your protagonist to unravel a knotty problem.
read moreJournaling + Fiction – January 27
“We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.”Kurt Vonnegut Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about what you would pretend to be if no obstacles to your pretension existed. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist gets caught faking it while trying to make it.
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David B. Schlosser is an author of award-winning fiction and non-fiction, and an editor of award-winning fiction and non-fiction.
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