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Literary – March 21
“Words can sting like anything, but silence breaks the heart.” -Phyllis McGinley, born this date in 1905. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist learns that the opposite of love is not hate but indifference.
read moreJournaling + Fiction – March 21
“Keep your fears to yourself, but share your courage with others.”Robert Louis Stevenson Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about what you learned from observing a leader’s fear spread to others in the group. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must put a brave face on his/her abject terror to maintain calm among others in his/her group.
read moreBig Questions – March 21
What’s the most important value you learned from your father? 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...
read moreRomance – March 21
On this date in England in 1617, Pocahontas died in her early 20s after she’d converted to Christianity, taken the Biblical name Rebecca, and married Englishman John Rolfe. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which a potential lifemate asks your protagonist to give up something central to her/his identity as a condition of sharing a life.
read moreMystery – March 21
“Imagine living in a country where the cops are all people who’re cut out for the job.”- Michael Dibdin, born this date in 1947. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist accomplishes a task honestly while appearing to accomplish it corruptly.
read moreSciFi/Fantasy – March 21
“Ethics change with technology.” The Chamberses will be kidnapped on this date in Larry Niven’s 2123. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must steal from a corpse.
read moreSecondary – March 21
Modest Mussorgsky, who composed the 10-movement suite Pictures at an Exhibition, was born on this date in 1839. Describe the qualities that make your favorite work of art mean so much to you.
read morePrimary – March 21
Modest Mussorgsky, who composed the 10-movement suite Pictures at an Exhibition, was born on this date in 1839. What makes your favorite painting or photograph mean so much to you?
read moreLiterary – March 20
“It’s the choosing that’s important, isn’t it?” -Lois Lowry, born this date in 1937. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which the act of making a choice is more important to your protagonist than the choice or its outcome.
read moreJournaling + Fiction – March 20
“Vitality is radiated from exceptional art and architecture.”Arthur Erickson Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about the first time you remember being affected by your experience of another person’s creative expression. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist realizes that someone s/he cares about does not share your protagonist’s enthusiasm for a work of creative expression.
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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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