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Mystery – January 2
On this date in 1981, British police caught serial killer Peter Sutcliffe, better known as the Yorkshire Ripper, after he killed 16 women during a five-year spree. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist catches a bad guy for a minor crime unrelated to his/her more dastardly deeds.
read moreSciFi/Fantasy – January 2
“If knowledge can create problems, it is not through ignorance that we can solve them.” -Isaac Asimov, born this date in 1920. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which an exception proves this rule.
read moreSecondary – January 2
On this date in 1860, the discovery of planet Vulcan was announced at a meeting of the French Academy of Sciences. Think about the last time you had to admit you were wrong and write how you’d do the same thing today.
read morePrimary – January 2
The Japanese traditionally celebrate January 2nd with kakizome, or “first writing.” Write 10 good things you expect will happen this year.
read moreLiterary – January 1
“All you have to do is say something nobody understands and they’ll do practically anything you want them to.” -Holden Caufield as interpreted by Jerome David Salinger, who was born this date in 1919. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist jabbers nonsense to trick someone into accomplishing your protag’s goal … and fails.
read moreJournaling + Fiction – January 1
“Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties.”Erich Fromm Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about one or more certainties complicating your creative sensibilities. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist struggles to let go of a certainty.
read moreBig Questions – January 1
For what should you be more grateful? 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.
read moreRomance – January 1
“Only connect! That was the whole of her sermon. Only connect the prose and the passion, and both will be exalted, and human love will be seen at its height. Live in fragments no longer. Only connect, and the beast and the monk, robbed of the isolation that is life to either, will die.” -Edward Morgan Forster, born this date in 1879. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist resolves to better connect with someone who’s equally resolved that s/he will never connect with your protag.
read moreMystery – January 1
The crime that inspired Judith Rossner’s Looking For Mr. Goodbar occurred on this date in 1973. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist encounters a crime so pointless and tragic that just s/he gives up.
read moreSciFi/Fantasy – January 1
“The Queng Ho counted from the instant that a human had first set foot on Old Earth’s moon.” -Vernor Vinge, describing the moment the UNIX operating system began keeping time on this date in 1970. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s life depends on carefully tracking time with no means to do so.
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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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