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.

Literary – June 16

“Mistakes are the portals of discovery.” -James Joyce, who is celebrated on Bloomsday, June 16th, each year. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist tries to persuade a close friend that a devastating mistake will, in the long run, be a net positive.

Literary – June 15

A dandy Boston Brahmin, Francis Parkman, arrived at Fort Laramie — in what is now Wyoming — on this date in 1846 and spent the next six months unlearning everything he’d formerly believed about the Sioux. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is shocked to unlearn something about which s/he is absolutely confident.

Literary – June 14

“When you’re in a competitive environment, always give out the impression that you don’t care. It makes people want you more. If you act desperate, it’s over.” -Diablo Cody, born this date in 1978. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist plays hard to get and ends up not getting got.

Literary – June 13

“All empty souls tend toward extreme opinions.” -William Butler Yeats, born this date in 1865. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist gradually escalates the extremity of her/his opinion about something s/he doesn’t care about just because someone else does.

Literary – June 12

Writing prompt: Write a scene explaining what’s happening in this photo:

Literary – June 11

“Mysteriously and in ways that are totally remote from natural experience, the gray drizzle of horror induced by depression takes on the quality of physical pain.” -William Styron, born this date in 1925. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist experiences Styron’s gray drizzle.

Literary – June 10

“A fool can throw a stone in a pond that 100 wise men can not get out.” -Saul Bellow, born this date in 1913. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s goal is put irredeemably beyond reach by someone else’s foolishness.