Literary – May 12

On this date in 1937, George VI was crowned king of England, succeeding his brother, who abdicated to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist receives something s/he doesn’t much want because of a frenemy’s bad decision.

Literary – May 11

“The first principle is that you must not fool yourself and you are the easiest person to fool.” -Richard Feynman, born this date in 1918. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist knows s/he must not fall prey to self-delusion but does so anyway.

Literary – May 10

Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your antagonist describes the event s/he considers to have been most profoundly spiritual in her/his life.

Literary – May 9

“The best moments in reading are when you come across something — a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things — which you had thought special and particular to you. And now, here it is, set down by someone else, a person you have never met, someone even who is long dead. And it is as if a hand has come out, and taken yours.” -Alan Bennett, born this date in 1934, in History Boys....

Literary – May 8

“There was no difference between the behavior of a god and the operations of pure chance.” -Thomas Pynchon, one of the world’s most notoriously reclusive authors, born this date in 1937. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which a random event forces your protagonist to consider whether making any plan at all is pointless.

Literary – May 7

“A battler is someone who struggles forever and will never, ever, really get anywhere.” -Two-time Booker Prize recipient Peter Carey, born this date in 1943. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must confront her/his fear that s/he will never amount to anything more than a battler.

Literary – May 6

Sigmund Freud was born on this date in 1856. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s best friend tries to explain your protagonist’s behavior to your protag in terms of sexual frustration, even though the explanation is far more complicated.

Literary – May 5

“Anxiety is the dizziness of freedom.” -Soren Kierkegaard, born on this date in 1813. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is paralyzed by an embarrassment of choices.