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.

Literary – September 10

“Someone I loved once gave me a box full of darkness. It took me years to understand that this too, was a gift.” -Mary Oliver, born this date in 1935. Writing prompt: Write the scene in which your protagonist received the the box of darkness that s/he eventually will realize is the greatest gift of her/his life.