Literary – December 5

“Life changes in the instant. You sit down to dinner and life as you know it ends.” -Joan Didion, born on this day in 1934. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s life as s/he knows it changes in such an instant.

Literary – December 4

Writing prompt: Write the scene of your protagonist’s most paralyzingly terrifying mistake during high school.

Literary – December 3

“A man’s most open actions have a secret side to them.” -Joseph Conrad, born this date in 1857. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist hides her/his motives in plain sight.

Literary – December 2

“Humor is what happens when we’re told the truth quicker and more directly than we’re used to.” -George Saunders, born this date in 1958. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist fails to see the humor in a situation that everyone around him/her finds hilarious.

Literary – December 1

“If it turns out that there is a God, I don’t think that he’s evil. But the worst that you can say about him is that basically he’s an underachiever.” -Allen Stewart Konigsberg, better known as Woody Allen, born this date in 1935. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which circumstances cause your antagonist to struggle with her/his faith or lack thereof.

Literary – November 30

“People may or may not say what they mean … but they always say something designed to get what they want.” -David Mamet, born this date in 1947. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist persuades another character to do something, using only statements that are technically true but have more than one meaning, that is contrary to that character’s best...