Literary – November 23

“I cannot praise a fugitive and cloistered virtue, unexercised and unbreathed, that never sallies out and sees her adversary, but slinks out of the race where that immortal garland is to be run for, not without dust and heat.” -John Milton in Areopagitica, one of the most influential and impassioned philosophical defenses of the right to freedom of speech and expression, published on this date in 1644...

Journaling + Fiction – November 23

“The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing. If you can fake that, you’ve got it made.”Groucho Marx Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about a time you used deception to achieve a fair outcome. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist persuades an ally that your protagonist is acting in the ally’s best interest even though the best interest served is...

Big Questions – November 23

What made the best boss you’ve ever had so terrific? 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...

Romance – November 23

I’ve seen a lot of what the world can doAnd it’s breaking my heart in two – Stephen Demetre Georgiou in “Wild World,” released on his album Tea for the Tillerman on this date in 1970. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist fails to persuade a romantic interest that s/he would be better off with your protagonist than without.

Mystery – November 23

“It was a game of two and I got there first.” -Billy the Kid, born Henry McCarty on this date in 1859, on his murder of Texas Joe Grant. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which a bad guy gets there first during a showdown with your protagonist.

SciFi/Fantasy – November 23

“The least important things, sometimes, my dear boy, lead to the greatest discoveries.”- The first Doctor, who appeared on this date in 1963 when BBC broadcast the first episode of Doctor Who. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist discovers an unimportant item that will make the difference between success and failure in the climax.

Secondary – November 23

Describe the aspect of your life for which you are most grateful.

Primary – November 23

For what in your life are you most grateful, and why?