Literary – April 5

“All generous minds have a horror of what are commonly called ‘Facts.’ They are the brute beasts of the intellectual domain.” -Thomas Hobbes, born this date in 1588. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which facts contradict everything your protagonist wants to believe about her/his closest friend.

Journaling + Fiction – April 5

“Silence is a lesson learned through life’s many sufferings.”Lucius Annaeus Seneca Journal prompt: Reflect on your previous journal entries and spend at least 20 minutes writing about what you learned from an experience when you’d have been better off saying nothing instead of saying what you did. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist faces escalating consequences because s/he...

Big Questions – April 5

What decision your father’s parents made has most influenced your life? 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...

Romance – April 5

“From the moment I was six I felt sexy. And let me tell you it was hell, sheer hell, waiting to do something about it.” -Bette Davis, born this date in 1908. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist feels sexy but can do nothing about it.

Mystery – April 5

“The man who smiles when things go wrong has thought of someone to blame it on.”- Robert Bloch, who based his character Norman Bates on a serial killer and Bloch’s publisher, born this date in 1917. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist discovers something that prompts him/her to imagine a colleague is a psychopathic murderer.

SciFi/Fantasy – April 5

“It is obvious to the most simpleminded that Lokai is of an inferior breed.” -Frank Gorshin, born this date in 1933, as Commissioner Bele in the Star Trek episode “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield.” Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is challenged by someone who believes your protagonist is inferior for cosmetic reasons.

Secondary – April 5

“Excellence is to do a common thing in an uncommon way.” -Booker T. Washington in 1856. Describe what you do with more excellence than anyone else, and how you do it.

Primary – April 5

Booker T. Washington was born on this date in 1856. Born a slave,  at age 9 he started working in a salt factory and then a coal mine after the Civil War freed him. Describe what you think you’ll do in your first job.