Literary – November 4

Writing prompt: Write a brief scene in which your protagonist uninterestedly relates the routine of her/his day to a parent. Then rewrite the same scene from the perspective of the parent.

Literary 120528

“It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us.” -Abraham Lincoln in his Gettysburg Address. Writing prompt: Describe in the voice of your protagonist and your antagonist each one’s great remaining task.

Literary 120520

“All sins tend to be addictive, and the terminal point of addiction is damnation.” -WH Auden, who became a US citizen on this date in 1946. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist realizes that her/his favorite activity has become an addiction that s/he must break.

Literary 120404

Writing prompt: Write a dialogue in which your protagonist shares with a trusted friend or family member what your protag believes is the single greatest obstacle to achieving her/his most important goal.

Literary 120219

“Nerds are just deep, and neurotic, fans. Needy fans. We’re all nerds, on one subject or another.” -Jonathan Lethem, born on this date in 1964. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist demonstrates his/her nerdiness on meeting an iconic figure in the subject on which your protag is most deeply and neurotically obsessed.

Literary 120108

Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your antagonist reminisces with close friends about what, when a child, s/he wanted to be as an adult, why it did or didn’t turn out that way, and your antag’s associated feelings and thoughts on the matter.

Literary 120105

On this date in 1895, Henry James was booed and hissed off the stage after the premier of his play Guy Domville. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist decides to give up something s/he loves because of critical reactions by others.

Literary 120104

Writing prompt: From your antagonist’s point of view, describe the place s/he most wants to visit and why that location is so important.