Literary – June 9

“Decisions are made by those who show up.” -Aaron Sorkin, born this date in 1961. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist wins an important victory because no one opposes her/him.

Literary – June 8

Algernon died on this date. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s fate is revealed in a way that only your protag understands.

Literary – June 7

“They were so strong in their beliefs that there came a time when it hardly mattered what exactly those beliefs were; they all fused into a single stubbornness.” -Louise Erdrich, born this date in 1954. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist fails to achieve a goal that s/he could have achieved easily were s/he not so stubborn.

Literary – June 6

Nobel laureate Thomas Mann was born on this date in 1875. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is forced to choose between work and her/his creative passion, and makes the wrong choice.

Literary – June 5

“It was like zen, but not as subtle.” -Spalding Gray, born this date in 1941. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist performs an essential act in precisely the wrong way.

Literary – June 4

Writing prompt: Write the first page of the story that follows this famous opening line, which appeared in print for the first time on this date in 1940: “In the town there were two mutes, and they were always together.”

Literary – June 3

“It isn’t enough for your heart to break because everybody’s heart is broken now.” -Allen Ginsberg, born this date in 1926. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s attempt to share some deep emotions with a friend fails because your protag’s friend plays an escalating game of one-upmanship.

Literary – June 2

“And yet to every bad there is a worse.” -Thomas Hardy, born this date in 1840. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is astonished to learn that her/his circumstances can, in fact, get worse.