Literary – August 13

“From a distance, it makes perfect sense that the people and the things you think will save you are the very ones that have the power to disappoint you most bitterly, but up close it can hit you as a bewildering surprise.” -Tom Perrotta, born this date in 1961. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is disappointed by the only person your protag believes will never do so.

Literary – August 12

“You keep saying that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.” -William Goldman, born this date in 1931. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s improper use of a word creates a complicated misunderstanding that threatens an important relationship.

Literary – August 11

“Shyness has a strange element of narcissism, a belief that how we look, how we perform, is truly important to other people.” -Andre Dubus II, born this date in 1936. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is crippled by the belief that other people care about what your protag is saying or doing in the scene.

Literary – August 10

“This is why no one lets you make the plans.” -Suzanne Collins, born this date in 1962. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist learns that his/her plans are completely inadequate.

Literary – August 9

“Originality is being different from oneself, not others.” -Philip Larkin, born this date in 1922. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist creates a problem by being completely original.

Literary – August 8

“Even aardvarks think their offspring are beautiful.” -Roger Penrose, born this date in 1931. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must defend his/her conception of something beautiful that everyone else considers hideous.