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Literary – February 17
On this date in 1913, the Armory Show forever changed the world of art by forcing Americans to confront modernism. Writing prompt: Describe from your protagonist’s point of view the scene portrayed in this work from that show, George Bellows’ painting Both Members of This Club. Link to larger image.
read moreJournaling + Fiction – February 17
“To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart.”Eleanor Roosevelt Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about an experience in which you observed the impact of using the head when the heart was called for, or using the heart when the head was called for. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist arouses a hostile response by applying his/her head when the heart would have been a better solution.
read moreBig Questions – February 17
What national or global event caused the most change and growth in your life? 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...
read moreRomance – February 17
On this date in 1913, the Armory Show forever changed the world of art by forcing Americans to confront modernism. Writing prompt: Describe from your protagonist’s point of view the scene portrayed in this work from that show, Henri-Edmond Cross’ Cypresses at Cagne. Link to larger image.
read moreMystery – February 17
On this date in 1847, Edgar Allan Poe was awarded $225 in damages — plus 6 cents for legal costs — in a libel case in which Thomas Dunn English called him “thoroughly unprincipled, base and depraved . . . not alone an assassin in morals but a quack in literature.” Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must defend her/himself from charges about her/his character that are subjective matters of opinion justified by the facts in evidence.
read moreSciFi/Fantasy – February 17
“Regarding your assignment to survey innovative plant automation processes on planet Nor’Dyren, third degree member of Civilized Unity, you will report to Lesser Columbus embarkation base.” On this date in Sydney van Scyoc’s universe, Tollan Bailey leaves earth to survey Nor’Dyren. Writing prompt: Write the scene in which your protagonist first encounters a community in which all artistic creativity has been abolished.
read moreSecondary – February 17
Choose an historical figure you have learned about whom you would most like to be for a day, and explain what you would do on a day you pick from that person’s life.
read morePrimary – February 17
If you could be invisible for only one day, what would you do on that day?
read moreMany Beginnings
Many writers start from a brilliant opening line – an inspiration to craft an entire story from a dazzling line of prose. Other writers use the opening line as a placeholder, knowing they will revise or replace it when they finish telling the story. Although I prefer the second approach, there is no wrong or right way to write an opening line – truly, deciding must be the best and worst of times for a storyteller. Different approaches by different authors have rewarded us with some of the most compelling, memorable sentences in...
read moreLiterary – February 16
“Things you did. Things you never did. Things you dreamed. After a long time they run together.” – Richard Ford, born this date in 1944. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist learns a long-treasured dream is a nightmare.
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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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