Literary – January 23

Marie-Henri Beyle, better known among his scores of pen names as Stendahl, was born on this date in 1783. The first practitioner of realism in fiction, he was also a voracious plagiarist. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s most loyal friend discovers your protag cheating.

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...

Literary – January 21

“We like to invent ‘what if’ scenarios — what if x had never happened, what if y had happened instead? — because we like to believe that individual decisions make a difference: that, if not for x, or if only there had been y, history might have plunged forever down a completely different path.” -Louis Menand, born this date in 1952. Writing prompt: Write your protagonist’s...

Literary – January 20

“Absurdity is what I like most in life,” said David Lynch, born on this date in 1946, “and there’s humor in struggling in ignorance.” Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist flails at something in ignorance and appears funny to everyone except your protag.

Literary – January 19

The mother of Julian Barnes, born on this date in 1946, complained that his first, and critically acclaimed, novel was nothing more than a bombardment of filth. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s mother derides your protag’s greatest accomplishment.

Literary – January 18

“You will be better advised to watch what we do,” advised Alan Alexander Milne, born this date in 1882, “instead of what we say.” Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist says one thing while doing its opposite.

Literary – January 17

“Love, friendship and respect do not unite people as much as a common hatred for something.” – Anton Chekhov, born this date in 1860. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which a particular contempt shared by your protagonist and antagonist leads your protag to make a costly mistake.

Literary – January 16

“As photographs give people an imaginary possession of a past that is unreal, they also help people to take possession of space in which they are insecure.” -Susan Sontag, born this date in 1933. Writing prompt: Write the scene during which the photograph most important to your protagonist was taken.