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Literary – April 7
“Nature never did betray the heart that loved her.” – William Wordsworth, born this date in 1770. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist suffers a profound relationship with nature.
read moreJournaling + Fiction – April 7
“Night is a time of rigor, but also of mercy. There are truths which one can see only when it’s dark.”Isaac Bashevis Singer Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about the truth you’ll see tonight after you turn off your lights. Fiction writing prompt: Write the scene in which your protagonist first stayed up through the night and into the next day.
read moreBig Questions – April 7
Is that all there is? 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 – April 7
Eleanora Fagan, the singer we know better as Billie Holiday, was born on this date in 1915. Writing prompt: Write a scene that leaves your protagonist feeling like singing the...
read moreMystery – April 7
“You don’t need qualifications as an actor or a politician. And I didn’t want to be a politician.”- James Garner, born this date in 1928. Writing prompt: Write a scene contrasting what your protagonist now does habitually or professionally that is the opposite of something that once caused him/her to get in significant trouble.
read moreSciFi/Fantasy – April 7
“The best way to live is by not knowing what will happen to you at the end of the day.” – Donald Barthelme, born this date in 1931. Writing prompt: Write a complete short story in which your protagonist experiences an inexplicably absurd, life-changing event.
read moreSecondary – April 7
“I agree that there are things that should be kept secret.” -Daniel Ellsberg, the U.S. Defense Department analyst who leaked the Pentagon Papers, born on this date in 1931. Describe where you think the line is between what your government should keep secret and make public.
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As, Because, and Since Are Not the Same Words
I did not understand various components of English until I learned Spanish and French.* Similarly, I didn’t think much about three words that English speakers use interchangeably until I worked with people for whom English was not their first language: As Because Since Years editing non-native English speakers’ submissions to engineering and scientific journals and technology conferences taught me to appreciate significant differences among these words. Most of us comfortably use them as synonyms for one another.This creates...
read moreLiterary – April 6
Raphael was born on this date in 1483. His painting The Three Graces depicts Aglaea (splendor), Euphrosyne (mirth), and Thalia (good cheer). Writing prompt: Write a scene in which a person your protagonist believes epitomizes those graces proves utterly graceless.
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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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