“You’re on your own, you’re just another idiot out there who is going to get plucked to death like anyone else.” -Martin Amis, born this date in 1949. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist comes to understand that something s/he expected would be granted to her/him because of who her/his mother or father is instead will be denied to her/him.
“The original is unfaithful to the translation.” -Jorge Luis Borges, born this date in 1899. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist realizes an object, belief, or memory s/he venerates was forged unfaithfully.
“Immortality is not a gift, immortality is an achievement; And only those who strive mightily Shall possess it.” -Edgar Lee Masters, born this date in 1869. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist imagines an achievement that would immortalize her/him, and also the obstacle your protag thinks will prevent her/him from achieving it.
“If you can’t fix it, you have to stand it.” -Annie Proulx, born this date in 1935. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist finally exhausts her/his patience with standing it.
“If you haven’t fought for your life for something you want, you don’t know what’s life all about.” -Robert Stone, born this date in 1937. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist learns what her/his life is all about.
“You are what you leave behind.” -Greg Bear, born this date in 1951. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is forced to listen to a detailed accounting of what s/he left behind at the end of an important relationship.
“Happiness is hard to recall. It’s just a glow.” -Frank McCourt, born this date in 1930. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which a painful current moment shatters the fond memory of a happy moment earlier in his/her life.
“Complacency is a state of mind that exists only in retrospective: it has to be shattered before being ascertained.” -Vladimir Nabokov, whose Lolita was published on this date in 1958. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which an unexpected and painful experience makes your protagonist realize s/he directed vigilant self-protection in the wrong direction.