Blog
Big Questions – November 25
What question would you anonymously ask a professional advice-giver like Dear Abby? 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...
read moreRomance – November 25
“Sometimes you have to go above the law.” – Fawn Hall, who on this date in 1986 smuggled government documents out of the office of her boss, US Navy officer Oliver North. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist makes a small bad choice at the request of a superior who will made a big bad choice.
read moreMystery – November 25
“A piece of happiness should never be taken as due.” -Charlaine Harris, born this date in 1951. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is relieved of something valuable s/he has always taken for granted.
read moreSciFi/Fantasy – November 25
“I have yet to see any problem, however complicated, which, when looked at in the right way did not become still more complicated.”- Poul Anderson, born this date in 1926. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s simple analysis of, and response to, a problem ends up making the problem worse.
read moreSecondary – November 25
“As I grow older, I pay less attention to what men say. I just watch what they do.” -Andrew Carnegie, born on this date in 1835. What wisdom can you take from Carnegie’s age?
read morePrimary – November 25
“You cannot push anyone up the ladder unless he is willing to climb.” -Andrew Carnegie, who was born on this date in 1835. Explain what you think he meant when he said that.
read moreParadox: Limitations Drive Creativity
If I ask you to tell me a story, or to draw me a picture, what’s your first reaction? If you’re like most people, it’s another question: “About what?” Few things are as intimidating as a blank sheet of paper. All the hopes, fears, dreams, tragedies, climaxes, and denouements you plan to spill forth in lyrical and dazzling prose … where, oh where, to begin? That’s one reason prompts are such powerful, proven drivers of writing. Rather than confronting a blank page, a prompt challenges or inspires with something you’ve got to push against...
read moreLiterary – November 24
“That’s what careless words do. They make people love you a little less.” -Arundhati Roy, born this date in 1961. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist unknowingly says something unforgivable to a loved one.
read moreJournaling + Fiction – November 24
“True empathy is rooted in humility and the understanding that there are many people with as much to contribute in life as you.”Anand Mahindra Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about the most important thing you learned from the least expected person. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is surprised to be out-contributed by someone who appeared to have little to contribute.
read moreBig Questions – November 24
What’s the ideal long weekend look like to you? 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 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...