Literary – January 12

“There ain’t no journey what don’t change you some.” -David Mitchell, born this date in 1969. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist describes to a stranger how your protag changed as a result of her/his most memorable journey.

Journaling + Fiction – January 12

“Being good is easy, what is difficult is being just.”Victor Hugo Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about a time you had to choose between being good and being fair. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is treated unjustly by a person doing good.

Big Questions – January 12

What achievement do you most strive for? 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...

Romance – January 12

“Whatever it is you’re seeking won’t come in the form you’re expecting.” -Haruki Murakami, born this date in 1949. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist realizes s/he failed to find what s/he was seeking because it came unexpectedly.

Mystery – January 12

“It was a great game, and exciting and dramatic and even at times tragic — but funny it emphatically was not.”- John Cecil Masterman, author of An Oxford Tragedy among several acclaimed mystery novels and head of the Twenty Committee, born this date in 1891. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist fails to find any humor in another person’s wit.

SciFi/Fantasy – January 12

“This mission is too important for me to allow you to jeopardize it.” – HAL 9000, which went online on this date in Arthur C. Clarke’s 1992. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which a technology your protagonist relies on for protection becomes her/his greatest mortal threat.

Secondary – January 12

“Taking crazy things seriously is a serious waste of time.” -Haruki Murakami, born on this date in 1949. Use examples from your own experience to prove this statement is false.

Primary – January 12

Describe the three most important qualities you want your best friends to have.