Literary – March 1

“It is the still, small voice that the soul heeds, not the deafening blasts of doom.” -Dean of American letters William Dean Howells, born this date in 1837. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist mistakenly heeds a deafening blast while ignoring a still, small voice.

Journaling + Fiction – March 1

“He who has great power should use it lightly.”Lucius Annaeus Seneca Journal prompt: Reflect on your previous journal entries and spend at least 20 minutes writing about what you learned from an experience when a lighter touch would have been more successful than the heavier hand you applied. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist fails to achieve a major goal because of her/his...

Big Questions – March 1

What’s next? Journaling prompt: Spend 15-20 minutes writing your answer in the spirit of exploring yourself and the world around you. If you can answer with a simple “yes” or “no,” explain the sources or implications of your response. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene that forces a character in your story to answer the question, or spend 15-20 minutes answering the question in the voice of a character you...

Romance – March 1

“Some people can stay longer in an hour than others can in a week.” -William Dean Howells, born this date in 1837. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which a house guest your protagonist was looking forward to hosting for a week wears out his/her welcome in the first hour.

Mystery – March 1

“Should, however, my death serve for the purpose of abolishing capital punishment—such a punishment being arrived at only by circumstantial evidence—I feel that my death has not been in vain.”- Bruno Hauptmann, executed in 1936 for the kidnapping and murder of Charles Lindbergh’s son on this date in 1932. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must deal with a parent whose child...

SciFi/Fantasy – March 1

“More weight!”- Giles Corey On this date in 1692, the Salem witch trials commenced, resulting in the eventual execution of 19 people. Writing prompt: Write a scene invoking an historic injustice in the world you’ve created that reverberates, centuries later, during a crisis for your protagonist.

Secondary – March 1

Ralph Ellison was born on this date in 1914. Describe a time when you felt invisible.

Primary – March 1

Write a short story about what you would do if you had an entire day just to do anything you wanted to.