Literary – February 28

“Good days, they come around the oddest corners.” -Colum McCann, born this date in 1965. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which rounding an unfaimilar corner launches the best day your protagonist can recall.

Journaling + Fiction – February 28

I must be cruel only to be kind.Thus bad begins and worse remains behind.William Shakespeare Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about a time when a friend or family member told you something that seemed cruel in the moment but later turned out to be valuable. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s kindness turns out to be inadvertently cruel.

Big Questions – February 28

Would you prefer to die the painful death of a martyr to cause about which you’re passionate or peacefully in your sleep? 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...

Romance – February 28

“The thing about love is that we come alive in bodies not our own.” -Colum McCann, born this date in 1965. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which someone’s love for your protagonist comes alive in her/his body.

Mystery – February 28

“He lied with a smile that paralyzed reason.”- Steve Martini, born this date in 1946. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which an obviously guilty person persuades your protagonist that s/he is innocent.

SciFi/Fantasy – February 28

“Your account with the Treasure Book Club, of $4.98 plus interest and charges, has been turned over to our agency for collection. The amount due is now $6.83. Please send your check for this amount or we shall be forced to take immediate action.” – from a letter to Walter Child on this date in Gordon R. Dickson’s 1966. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is imprisoned at...

Secondary – February 28

“Fate is like a strange, unpopular restaurant filled with odd little waiters who bring you things you never asked for and don’t always like.” -Daniel Handler, better known as Lemony Snicket, born on this date in 1970. Describe an event you think fate brought you, and then a response that’s better than the response you actually had.  

Primary – February 28

“I do myself a greater injury in lying than I do him of whom I tell a lie.” -Michel de Montaigne, born this date in 1533 and considered the creator of the personal essay. What do you think he meant when he wrote this?