Literary – July 19

The Rosetta Stone was discovered on this date in 1799. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must cooperate with someone who speaks no common language to locate a specific book in an unfamiliar location.

Journaling + Fiction – July 19

“Sometimes the first duty of intelligent men is the restatement of the obvious.”George Orwell Journal prompt: Reflect on your previous journal entries and spend at least 20 minutes writing about an experience when you should have restated the obvious to avoid negative consequences. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist fails to avoid being gaslighted by restating the...

Big Questions – July 19

What event in your life is closest to a supernatural experience? 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...

Romance – July 19

“Your body remembers, each time, every man, even if you try to forget.” -Jayne Anne Phillips, born this date in 1952. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s memory of a prior partner disrupts an intimate moment with your protag’s current partner.

Mystery – July 19

“I’ve been as bad an influence on American literature as anyone I can think of.” -Dashiell Hammett, whose The Dain Curse was first published on this date in 1929. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist tries and fails to convince a person who could tilt either bad or good that the person’s friends are a bad influence.

SciFi/Fantasy – July 19

“The good Lord made men, but Sam Colt made them equal.”Apocryphal conventional wisdom about Samuel Colt, born this date in 1814. Writing prompt: Write the scene in which your protagonist first used a weapon considered a great equalizer in the universe you’ve created.

Literary – July 18

“Make the horizon your goal; it will always be ahead of you.” -William Makepeace Thackeray, born this date in 1811. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist realizes that achieving her/his ultimate goal proves it wasn’t her/his ultimate goal.

Journaling + Fiction – July 18

“Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”Desmond Tutu Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about the impact of a person in your life who continuously distributes little bits of good. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist earns an unexpected advantage because of a little bit of good s/he’d long...