Literary – November 3

“Whether he is an artist or not, the photographer is a joyous sensualist, for the simple reason that the eye traffics in feelings, not in thoughts.” -Walker Evans, born this date in 1903. Writing prompt: Describe your protagonist’s estimation of what the person in this iconic Evans image is feeling:

Literary – November 2

Writing prompt: Write the scene of your protagonist’s most self-deceptive presumption of victory.

Literary – November 1

“Literature differs from life in that life is amorphously full of detail, and rarely directs us toward it, whereas literature teaches us to notice.” -James Wood, born this date in 1965. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your character misses the forest for the trees.

Literary – October 31

“I would sooner fail than not be among the greatest.” -John Keats, born this date in 1795. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist avoids failing by not trying.

Literary – October 30

The apparition of these faces in the crowd; Petals on a wet black bough. -Ezra Pound, born this date in 1885. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which all your protagonist’s emotions are conveyed as images.

Literary – October 29

“The more you leave out, the more you highlight what you leave in.” -Henry Green, born this date in 1905. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist inadvertently reveals a secret by what s/he leaves out of the story.

Literary – October 28

“Other nations use ‘force;’ we Britons alone use ‘Might.’ ” -Evelyn Waugh, born this date in 1903. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist desperately tries to prove that what’s sauce for the goose is not, in fact, sauce for the gander.

Literary – October 27

“They cannot escape their history any more than you yourself can lose your shadow.” -Zadie Smith, born this date in 1975. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist tries and fails to help a friend escape history.