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Big Questions – February 21
How do you feel about a romantic partner being significantly less intellectually capable than 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...
read moreRomance – February 21
“We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.” -Anaïs Nin, born this date in 1903. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist sees a young child as no one else does.
read moreMystery – February 21
“He dreams about being wanted and desired. So he changes people into beings who want and desire him.”- William Petersen, performing as Will Graham in Manhunter (Hannibal Lecter’s first film), who was born on this date in 1953. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is laughed at for explaining a transgressive person’s true motive.
read moreSciFi/Fantasy – February 21
“We have met the Alien and it is us.” – Judith Merril, in whose 1953 on this date is born a child to Maggie and Hank Marvell. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist meets a child that only a mother could love.
read moreSecondary – February 21
“The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles.” The Communist Manifesto was first published on this date in 1848. Explain what you think Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels meant when they wrote this, and whether you agree.
read morePrimary – February 21
The poet W.H. Auden was born on this date in 1907. He once wrote, “Learn from your dreams what you lack.” What does that mean to you?
read moreAs, 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 – February 20
Ansel Adams was born on this date in 1902. Writing prompt: Describe this photo of his from the perspective of your protagonist but in your antagonist’s voice, and then from the perspective of your antagonist but in your protagonist’s voice.
read moreJournaling + Fiction – February 20
“Who cares? Do your thing, and don’t care if they like it.”Tina Fey Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about a time you’re proud that you did a thing others didn’t like. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist fails to do the right thing because s/he is intimidated by the opinions of others.
read moreBig Questions – February 20
Who would you most regret not telling what if you were to die tomorrow? 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...
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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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