Literary – October 11

“If you would tell me the heart of a man, tell me not what he reads, but what he rereads.” -François Mauriac, born this date in 1885. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must defend regularly rereading a particular book.

Literary – October 10

“There are some things one remembers even though they may never have happened.” -Harold Pinter, born this date in 1930. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist relates an important memory to someone who denies it ever happened.

Literary – October 9

“We must make demands of reason and create a life worthy of ourselves and of the goals we only dimly perceive.” -Andrei Sakharov, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on this date in 1975. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which reason fails your protagonist in her/his quest to understand her/his life’s goal.

Literary – October 8

“Lie gently and wide to the light-year stars, lie back, and the sea will hold you.” -Philip Booth, born this date in 1925. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is forced to share a meal with someone who was once a friend and became far more successful in your protag’s field of endeavor than your protag did.

Literary – October 7

“We are a society strangling in unnecessary words, circular constructions, pompous frills and meaningless jargon.” -William Zinsser, born this date in 1922. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist uses frills and jargon to disguise an important truth from a close relative.

Literary – October 6

“Progress is man’s ability to complicate simplicity.” -Thor Heyerdahl, born this date in 1914. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist cannot make progress because s/he needlessly complicates a situation.

Literary – October 5

“We are all worthy of one another.” -Edward P. Jones, born this date in 1951. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist rejects the kindness of a person trying to demonstrate your protag’s worth.

Literary – October 4

“You can become a winner only if you are willing to walk over the edge.” -Damon Runyon, born this date in 1880. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist balks at waking over the edge.