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Literary – February 6
Christopher Marlowe, renowned playwright and celebrated influencer of Shakespeare, was born on this date in 1564. His most enduring work is Doctor Faustus. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist contemplates selling her/his soul to your antagonist in exchange for something s/he values more highly.
read moreJournaling + Fiction – February 6
“Nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.”Calvin Coolidge Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about a talent you believe could make you successful at something you’re not currently doing. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist fails despite doing the most and best s/he possibly could do.
read moreBig Questions – February 6
What’s the worst disease you can imagine getting? 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 – February 6
The originator of the self-help genre, Walter “Life Begins at Forty” Pitkin was born on this date in 1878. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist describes the self-help book s/he would write.
read moreMystery – February 6
Patrick Macnee, best known as The Avengers’ Mr. Steed but who also played both Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson (among dozens of similarly mysterious roles), was born this date in 1922. Writing prompt: Finish the scene that starts with this line from John Steed: “Six bodies in an hour and twenty minutes. What do you call that?”
read moreSciFi/Fantasy – February 6
“I’m armed with more than complete steel, / The justice of my quarrel.” -From Lust’s Dominion, originally attributed to Christopher Marlowe, reknowned playwright and celebrated influencer of Shakespeare, born on this date in 1564. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s emotions make him/her braver than justified.
read moreSecondary – February 6
Eric Partridge, author of A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English, was born on this date in 1894. Think about a slang word that was popular when you were younger, or with your parents, that has fallen out of use. Explain why that happened — and what slang that’s currently popular you think will fade from use in 10 or 15 years.
read morePrimary – February 6
Babe Ruth was born on this day in 1895. He hit more home runs than any player in major league history (until recently), but he also struck out more times than any player. What do those two records tell you about your life?
read moreLiterary – February 5
“Every man has inside himself a parasitic being who is acting not at all to his advantage.” -William S. Burroughs, born this date in 1914. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s parasite reveals itself to her/his detriment.
read moreJournaling + Fiction – February 5
“If you want something new, you have to stop doing something old.”Peter Drucker Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about a new habit you plan to adopt to displace a current habit. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist misses an opportunity because s/he could not stop doing the same old thing.
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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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