Literary – January 14

“I’m very comfortable with failure. I’m very comfortable being the guy who disappoints people.” -Steven Soderbergh, born this date in 1963. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must persuade everyone that s/he doesn’t care about completely failing at an important task.

Journaling + Fiction – January 14

“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.”William Arthur Ward Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about the person in your life for whom you feel the most gratitide. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist misses a chance to express gratitude to a person who in the future will have great influence over your protagonist’s...

Big Questions – January 14

What’s the biggest secret you’ve ever kept? 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...

Romance – January 14

On this date in 1954, Marilyn Monroe married Joe DiMaggio. Although their marriage lasted only nine months, DiMaggio had roses delivered to her crypt a few times a week for 20 years after her death in 1962. Writing prompt: Write the scene of the most pointless romantic gesture ever undertaken by your protagonist.

Mystery – January 14

“The essence of fascism is to make laws forbidding everything and then enforce them selectively against your enemies.”- John Lescroart, born this date in 1948. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist manipulates the outcome of a conflict by selectively enforcing rules to favor one of the participants.

SciFi/Fantasy – January 14

“The hardest lie I’ve ever told is that I could live without you.” -Hana, who on this date in 4358 will realize she loves Oh So-jin. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s expertise is reversed on your protagonist to achieve an unexpected outcome.

Secondary – January 14

Albert Schweitzer, born on this date in 1875, strove to define a universal ethical philosophy. Describe the implications of a credible exception to an ethical belief you consider universal.

Primary – January 14

What do you think is the most interesting thing you will do this year?