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Literary – April 24
“The poem is a little myth of man’s capacity of making life meaningful.” -Robert Penn Warren, the only person to win Pulitzer Prizes for both fiction and poetry, born this date in 1905. Writing prompt: From your protagonist’s point of view, write a poem about what makes your protag’s life most meaningful.
read moreBig Questions – April 24
What pest would you eradicate if you could? 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 moreJournaling + Fiction – April 24
“Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.”John D. Rockefeller Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about what happened after a moment that you now believe you should have taken a bigger risk than you did. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must let go of something valued and trusted to obtain something that’s only potentially better.
read moreRomance – April 24
“Let your mercenary tendencies be combined with honesty, and they cannot take you astray.” -Anthony Trollope, born this date in 1815. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s greed for someone or something earns criticism from an observer.
read moreMystery – April 24
Sue Grafton was born on this date in 1940. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist defines the solution necessary to commit the perfect murder.
read moreSciFi/Fantasy – April 24
On this date in 1981, IBM introduced its first personal computer. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is forced to solve a problem using a laughably antiquated bit of technology that seemed miraculous when it was first developed.
read moreSecondary – April 24
The United States Library of Congress was established on this date in 1800. The Library’s mission is to support the Congress in fulfilling its constitutional duties and to further the progress of knowledge and creativity for the benefit of the American people. About half its collection if 152 million items is in languages other than English. Why do you think the US Library of Congress should or should not collect media in languages other than English?
read morePrimary – April 24
The United States Library of Congress was established on this date in 1800. It adds 10,000 items to its collection of 152 million items every day. Why do you think humans should or should not collect all that information, and what do you think they should do with it?
read moreLiterary – April 23
“He that loves to be flattered is worthy o’ the flatterer.” Today is the accepted birthday of William Shakespeare in 1564. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which flattery persuades your protagonist to make a decision that s/he would not have otherwise made, and for good reason.
read moreBig Questions – April 23
What does your best friend have that you wish you had? 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...
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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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