Literary – July 1

“Vanity is the quicksand of reason.” -George Sand, a pseudonym for Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin, born this date in 1804. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s reason fails because of his/her vanity.

Literary – June 30

“You have to be taught to be second class; you’re not born that way.” -Lena Horne, born this date in 1917. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which a superior makes your protagonist aware of the real or perceived class differences between your protag and her/his...

Literary – June 29

“Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction.” -Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, born this date in 1900. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which a person your protagonist dearly loves refuses to believe s/he and your protag are not looking the same direction.

Literary – June 28

“All of my misfortunes come from having thought too well of my fellows.” -Jean-Jacques Rousseau, born this date in 1712. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist learns s/he cannot trust the well-intentioned efforts of a close friend.

Literary – June 27

I know why the caged bird sings, ah me, When his wing is bruised and his bosom sore,— When he beats his bars and he would be free; It is not a carol of joy or glee, But a prayer that he sends from his heart’s deep core…. -Paul Laurence Dunbar, born this date in 1872. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist tries to persuade someone caging your protag that the cage exists even though the...

Literary – June 26

“Every great mistake has a halfway moment, a split second when it can be recalled and perhaps remedied.” -Pearl S. Buck, born this date in 1892. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist knows that halfway moment is in her/his grasp but fails to seize it.

Literary – June 25

“People can foresee the future only when it coincides with their own wishes, and the most grossly obvious facts can be ignored when they are unwelcome.” -Eric Arthur Blair, better known as George Orwell, born this date in 1903 in India. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist misses every glaring signal that s/he is making the wrong decision.

Literary – June 24

Pablo Picasso was first exhibited in Paris by art dealer Ambroise Vollard on this day in 1901. This painting is among Picasso’s creations that year: Writing prompt: Describe from your protagonist’s point of view what this painting shows, and then do the same from your antagonist’s POV.