Literary – June 18

“When you’re sure of what you’re looking at, look harder.” -Richard Powers, born this date in 1957. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist mistakes what s/he sees for what is.

Journaling + Fiction – June 18

“The task is…not so much to see what no one has yet seen; but to think what nobody has yet thought, about that which everybody sees.”Erwin Schrödinger Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about a perspective on or solution to a challenge you know all your friends would think at least a bit odd. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s hugely innovative, fantastically...

Big Questions – June 18

Is news or entertainment more influential in the world today? 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...

Romance – June 18

“Love at first sight is easy to understand; it’s when two people have been looking at each other for a lifetime that it becomes a miracle.” -Amy Bloom, born this date in 1953. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist realizes s/he despises someone s/he spent a long time believing s/he loved.

Mystery – June 18

“There’s nobody who ever entertained who didn’t finally have his career one day cut short.”- Alan Berg, shot and killed in his driveway on this date in 1984. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is called to investigate the murder of a person everyone hated.

SciFi/Fantasy – June 18

“I got it all.”- Mouse, who will spy on Berk Neilsen on this date in N. Lee Wood’s 2242. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist finds him/herself stranded in a place where all vestiges of civilization have been burned off.

Literary – June 17

Igor Stravinsky was born on this date in 1882. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is swept up in a dangerous riot caused by public response to a creative work.

Journaling + Fiction – June 17

“Hope is patience with the lamp lit.”Tertullian Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about a hope you’ve held long enough to grow impatient. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s patience with hoping finally runs out.