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Romance – October 25
Pablo Picasso was born on this date in 1881. Writing prompt: Describe in your protagonist’s and antagonist’s words his painting Les Demoiselles d’Avignon.
read moreMystery – October 25
Leo Carroll, most identifiable as Mr. Waverly on The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and The Professor in North by Northwest, was born on this date in 1886. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist engages with a kindly older person who is not what s/he seems.
read moreSciFi/Fantasy – October 25
“OK, here’s your motivation. You’re lost, you’re angry in the woods, and no one is here to help you.”- Joshua Leonard, whose car was discovered by Burkittsville police on this date in 1994. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is the first among the group to comprehend that help is not coming.
read moreSecondary – October 25
On this day in 1854, the Crimean War Battle of Balaclava that inspired Alfred, Lord Tennyson to write his famous poem “The Charge of the Light Brigade” took place. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzpW3u8XR6s[/youtube] Describe the point at which your obligation to follow the orders of your boss ceases.
read morePrimary – October 25
The actual birthday of Geoffrey Chaucer, the first great English poet and author of The Canterbury Tales, is unknown, so we celebrate him on the anniversary of his death, which occurred on this date in 1400. He once wrote, “Forbid us something, and that thing we desire.” Explain why you think that’s true or false.
read moreLiterary – October 24
“All the mistakes I ever made were when I wanted to say ‘No’ and said ‘Yes.’ ” -Moss Hart, born this date in 1904. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist says “yes” to a proposition s/he knows from experience to reject.
read moreJournaling + Fiction – October 24
“It takes something more than intelligence to act intelligently.”Fyodor Dostoyevsky Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about what more it takes. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist does something dumb for a smart reason.
read moreBig Questions – October 24
Why did you give that title to your autobiography? 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 moreRomance – October 24
“But for us the road unfurls itself, we don’t stop walking, we know there is far to go.” -Denise Levertov, born this date in 1923. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist takes the first step of a long journey.
read moreMystery – October 24
“Dead is not guts, dead is just dumb.” -Telly Savalas as the title character in Kojak, which premiered on this date in 1973. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is lauded for bravery when s/he knows the act in question was sheer stupidity.
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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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