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.

Literary – August 7

“A lovely thing about Christmas is that it’s compulsory, like a thunderstorm, and we all go through it together.” -Garrison Keillor, born this date in 1942. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is trapped at a family holiday gathering from which s/he must, but cannot, escape.

Literary – August 6

Tim Berners-Lee posted a description of a project he called the “World Wide Web” to an online newsgroup on this date in 1991. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s life is altered by a new technology your protag doesn’t understand.

Literary – August 5

“A legal kiss is never as good as a stolen one.” -Guy de Maupassant, born this date in 1850. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist creates trouble for him/herself by doing something the wrong way that would have been just as easy to do the right way.

Literary – August 4

Florence Dowell ended her life on this date in 1913, transforming her husband’s previous nine years of uninterrupted tranquility into the saddest story he ever heard. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which another person’s death reveals the lie shrouding everything important your protagonist believes about his/her relationship with that person.

Literary – August 3

“It is extremely important to know what you don’t want to find.” -Leon Uris, born this date in 1924. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist finds or learns exactly what s/he knew s/he did not want to find or learn.

Literary – August 2

“Be careful what you set your heart upon — for it will surely be yours.” -James Baldwin, born this date in 1924. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist realizes her/his heart has rewarded her/him with something s/he doesn’t really want.