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Literary – February 27
“In this world a man must either be anvil or hammer.” -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, born this date in 1807. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist transitions from one to the other.
read moreJournaling + Fiction – February 27
“We live on a planet that has a more or less infinite capacity to surprise. What reasoning person could possibly want it any other way?”Bill Bryson Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about a time you were delighted to be surprised. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is surprised to be surprised.
read moreBig Questions – February 27
What truthful thing would your best friend say about you behind your back that you would consider most painful? 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...
read moreRomance – February 27
“A woman’s best love letters are always written to the man she is betraying.” -Lawrence Durrell, born this date in 1912. Writing prompt: Write a love letter from your protagonist to a person s/he is betraying.
read moreMystery – February 27
“Our inventions mirror our secret wishes.”- Lawrence Durrell, born this date in 1912. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist describes the impact of a thing s/he invented.
read moreSciFi/Fantasy – February 27
“… because they were lonely and perplexed, because they had all come from a place of sadness and worry and defeat, and because they were all going to a mysterious new place … a strange thing happened….” Writing prompt: Describe what strange thing happened by writing a scene that finishes this line from John Steinbeck, born on this date in 1902.
read moreSecondary – February 27
John Steinbeck was born on this date in 1902. His novel Of Mice and Men is one of the most challenged and banned books of the 20th Century. Under what conditions would you support or oppose banning a book?
read morePrimary – February 27
One of America’s earliest and most famous poets, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, was born on this date in 1807. He once wrote, “A single conversation across the table with a wise man is better than ten years mere study of books.” What does this mean to you?
read moreLiterary – February 26
“Architecture has recorded the great ideas of the human race.” -Victor Hugo, born this date in 1802. Writing prompt: From your protagonist’s point of view, describe his/her favorite building.
read moreJournaling + Fiction – February 26
“Curiosity takes ignorance seriously, and is confident enough to admit when it does not know. It is aware of not knowing, and it sets out to do something about it.”Alain de Botton Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about a time you learned the hard way that you did not know as much as you thought you did. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s ignorance about a topic s/he previously was incurious about proves dangerous.
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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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