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Literary – January 26
“There is not a physicist in the world who can perceive when a parlor magician palms off playing-cards.” -Charles Hoy Fort, who on this date in 1931 attended the first meeting of the Fortean Society. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s expertise in one area makes it impossible for her/him to see s/he is being fooled in another.
read moreJournaling + Fiction – January 26
“Fairness is man’s ability to rise above his prejudices.”Wes Fesler Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about a time you treated another unfairly because you’d been treated unfairly. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which a person from whom your protagonist expects little accomplishes a lot.
read moreBig Questions – January 26
What does your family name mean to you? 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 26
Lucinda Williams was born on this date in 1953. Writing prompt: Write a diary entry in which your protagonist ponders something s/he can’t let go.
read moreMystery – January 26
“As I would not wish convicts to lay the foundation of an empire, I think they should ever remain separated from the garrison and other settlers that may come from Europe; and not be allowed to mix with them, even after the seven or fourteen years for which they are transported may be expired.”- Arthur Phillip, the British naval officer charged with leading the First Fleet of ships transporting prisoners to Australia, which landed at Port Jackson on this date in 1788. Writing prompt: Write a scene that forces your protagonist to...
read moreSciFi/Fantasy – January 26
“This story is about love, which means that it is also about hate.” -Philip José Farmer, born on this date in 1918. Writing prompt: Write a scene exploring your protagonist’s most vexing duality.
read moreSecondary – January 26
“Genius is nothing but continued attention.” -Claude Adrien Helvetius, born on this date in 1715. Explain why you think Helvetius is wrong or right.
read morePrimary – January 26
“The outrageous is the reasonable, if introduced politely.” -Charles Hoy Fort, who was born on this date in 1931. Tell a story about a time this happened to you.
read moreLiterary – January 25
“On the outskirts of every agony sits some observant fellow who points.” -Virginia Woolf, born this date in 1882. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which one of your protagonist’s acquaintances describes in detail his/her observations about something your protag would rather not have been noticed.
read moreJournaling + Fiction – January 25
“Without execution, thinking is mere idleness.”Winston Churchill Journal prompt: Reflect on your previous journal entries and spend at least 20 minutes writing about something you’ve been thinking about doing but have not yet done. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist suffers a setback because s/he did not do something s/he had been procrastinating doing.
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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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