Literary – December 23

“Romantic vision can also lead one away from certain very hard, ugly truths about life that are important to know.” – Donna Tartt, born this date in 1963. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s idealized notions prevent him or her from recognizing the truth about an uncomfortable situation.

Literary – December 22

Fyodor Dostoevsky, led to his scheduled execution on this date in 1849, was pardoned at the last moment. On this and other topics, he said, “To live without hope is to cease to live.” Writing prompt: Write a scene in which events cause your protagonist to lose hope.

Literary – December 21

F. Scott Fitzgerald died on this date in 1940 at age 44, leaving unfinished The Love of the Last Tycoon. The protagonist of the novel was based on Irving Thalberg, who once said, “Credit you give yourself is not worth having.” Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist figures out someone else is taking credit for his/her essential and important contribution to a group...

Literary – December 20

Novelist and essayist Elizabeth Benedict, born in 1954 and author of The Joy of Writing Sex: A Guide for Fiction Writers, says “every fiction writer knows that material is about energy, emotion and obsession.” Writing prompt: Write a scene that reveals your protagonist’s obsession to a person s/he would prefer remain ignorant of the issue.

Literary – December 19

“A man must dream a long time in order to act with grandeur, and dreaming is nursed in darkness.” – Jean Genet, born this date in 1910. Writing prompt: Write the scene of a moment when your protagonist developed an idea important to him or her because of hatred.

Literary – December 18

“Sometimes you can do things for others that you can’t do for yourself.” -A.M. Homes, born this date in 1961. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist achieves for an ungrateful friend the very thing your protagonist knows s/he must do for her/himself but cannot.

Literary – December 17

“The right to do something does not mean that doing it is right.” -William Safire, born this date in 1929. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist chooses to do something wrong that breaks no laws or rules.

Literary – December 16

“Vanity working on a weak head, produces every sort of mischief.” – Jane Austen, born this date in 1775. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist confuses belief with reality because of a mistaken confidence in her/his abilities.