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Literary – February 9
“In order to be cruel we have to close our hearts to the suffering of the other.” -JM Coetzee, born this date in 1940. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s compassion towards another appears cruel.
read moreJournaling + Fiction – February 9
“If you aren’t at the table, you’re on the menu.”Ann Richards Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about a situation in which you were disadvantaged because you did not know what role you were playing in the moment. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist discovers s/he is not in the power position s/he’d assumed.
read moreBig Questions – February 9
Where would you vacation if only you were going? 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 9
“Nobody is as powerful as we make them out to be.” -Alice Walker, born this date in 1944. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist challenges the person who most intimidates her/him, and discovers that person is even more powerful than your protag feared.
read moreMystery – February 9
“Maybe if I stick your head through that window over there you’ll get unconfused.”- Joe Pesci, born this date in 1943, as Nicky Santoro in Casino. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must unconfuse someone.
read moreSciFi/Fantasy – February 9
“Exploring the unknown requires tolerating uncertainty.” – Brian Greene, born date in 1963. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which a crackpot describes to your protagonist the “theory of everything” that predominates in the world you’ve created.
read moreSecondary – February 9
The Beatles appeared on Ed Sullivan’s show for the first time on this date in 1964. 73 million people watched – about 40% of the US population at the time, and more than the percentage of people who watch the Super Bowl. What do you think could get that many people to do the same thing at the same time, and why would they do it?
read morePrimary – February 9
The first sitting president of the United States to have his photograph taken, William Henry Harrison, was born on this date in 1773. If you could be the first person to take a picture of someone or something, who or what would that be, and why is it so important?
read moreLiterary – February 8
“The only greatness for man is immortality.” -James Dean, born this date in 1931. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist reveals what s/he would like to be remembered for.
read moreJournaling + Writing – February 8
“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak, it’s also what it takes to sit down and listen.”Winston Churchill Journal prompt: Reflect on your previous journal entries and spend at least 20 minutes writing about a time you learned more by speaking than by listening. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist talk to disguise his/her fear.
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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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