Literary – September 18

“Depend upon it, sir, when a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully.” -Samuel Johnson, born this date in 1709. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist spends a night in anticipation of a certain reckoning.

Literary – September 17

“I’d rather be a lightning rod than a seismograph.” -Ken Kesey, born this date in 1935. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must choose between being a strange attractor and a recorder.

Literary – September 16

“I think that love must be the ability to suspend one’s intelligence for the sake of something.” -James Alan McPherson, born this date in 1943. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist suspends his/her intelligence.

Literary – September 15

“Get down, get naked, get savage.” -Ron Carlson, born this date in 1947. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist does all three.

Literary – September 14

Lewis, Ed, Bobby, and Drew drove into the north Georgia woods for their canoe trip on this date. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which an innocent situation turns sinister.

Literary – September 13

“Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.” -Roald Dahl, born this date in 1916. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is incapable of seeing what is obviously right in front of her/him.

Literary – September 12

“Truth, at the wrong time, can be dangerous.” -Michael Ondaatje, born this date in 1943. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist discovers at the worst possible moment an important truth about her/his childhood.

Literary – September 11

“Whenever he saw a dollar in another man’s hands he took it as a personal grudge, if he couldn’t take it any other way.” -William Sidney Porter, who achieved fame writing as O. Henry, born this date in 1862. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist tries and fails to disguise his/her envy at another person’s possession.