Blog
Literary – January 27
Musical prodigy Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born on this date in 1756. He believed his ideas flowed best and most abundantly while undertaking boring routines. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which the process of following a daily routine causes your protagonist to unravel a knotty problem.
read moreJournaling + Fiction – January 27
“We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.”Kurt Vonnegut Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about what you would pretend to be if no obstacles to your pretension existed. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist gets caught faking it while trying to make it.
read moreBig Questions – January 27
What’s the best way to say thanks to someone? 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 27
On this date in 1926, John Logie Baird gave the first public demonstration of a television system. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is challenged by her/his love interest’s preference for something on TV.
read moreMystery – January 27
“A politician will do anything to keep his job.”- William Randolph Hearst, born this date in 1908. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist learns how far a politician will go to avoid losing the next election.
read moreSciFi/Fantasy – January 27
In the midst of the word he was trying to say,In the midst of his laughter and glee,He had softly and suddenly vanished away—For the Snark was a Boojum, you see. – Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, born this date in 1832. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which nonsense reveals more about what’s going on for the characters than their actual circumstances.
read moreSecondary – January 27
Would you rather be remembered for your character, or for your accomplishments, and why one instead of the other?
read morePrimary – January 27
List the three qualities you like best about yourself and explain why each one is important.
read moreInteresting Times and Heavy Lifting
A college friend who is an avid reader and married to another college friend and avid writer sent this story to me with this note: “Interesting times ahead.” Big Six publishers decline to renew contract with Amazon over unfavorable terms He, several friends, and I engaged in some commentary on the article. Here’s an edited/condensed version of my thoughts: Isn’t that an old Chinese curse – interesting times? Regardless, you’re right. The publishers are at war with their biggest retail channel, which is increasingly competing with...
read moreLiterary – 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 more
David B. Schlosser is an author of award-winning fiction and non-fiction, and an editor of award-winning fiction and non-fiction.
Read More...