Literary – January 22

On this date in 1973, the US Supreme Court invalidated state laws prohibiting abortion in its Roe v. Wade decision. The Supreme Court overturned that decision in its 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s counsel is sought by a pregnant friend desperately seeking support for a decision that runs contrary to your protag’s...

Journaling + Fiction – January 22

“Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see and wonder about what makes the universe exist.”Stephen Hawking Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about a question you think doesn’t have an answer. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist fails to see something small but important while because s/he is too focused on...

Big Questions – January 22

What did you want to be when you grew up? 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 22

“Why do they call me misanthrope? Because They hate me, not I them.” – George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron — better known as the Romantic poet Lord Byron, born this date in 1788. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist meets someone s/he has been told is one type, but who turns out to be completely the opposite type.

Mystery – January 22

“He felt that the job was not particularly hazardous physically but was incredibly hazardous emotionally and too often led to divorce, alcoholism, and suicide. No, policemen were not danger lovers, they were seekers of the awesome, the incredible, even the unspeakable in human experience. Never mind whether they could interpret, never mind if it was potentially hazardous to the soul. To be there was the...

SciFi/Fantasy – January 22

“Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.” -Robert E. Howard, born this date in 1906. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is treated discourteously by a person your protag believes to be much weaker.

Secondary – January 22

“A man that studieth revenge keeps his own wounds green.” -Francis Bacon, born on this date in 1561. Explain your understanding of this idea.

Primary – January 22

“Truth emerges more readily from error than from confusion.” -Francis Bacon, born on this date in 1561. Explain why you think Bacon preferred to be wrong rather than to be confused.