Literary – November 22

“To speak behind others’ backs is the ventilator of the heart.” -Marjane Satrapi, born this date in 1969. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist ventilates without knowing the subject of his/her vituperation is standing behind him/her.

Journaling + Fiction – November 22

“If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, ‘thank you,’ that would suffice.”Meister Eckhart Journal prompt: Reflect on your previous journal entries and spend at least 20 minutes writing about how someone has most helped you during the past year. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which someone from whom your protagonist needs help refuses because your protagonist failed to express sufficient...

Big Questions – November 22

What’s the most annoying pop-culture trend of your lifetime? 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...

Romance – November 22

“We are all apt to believe what the world believes about us.” -George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans), born this date in 1819. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which the lie that defines your protagonist emerges at an inopportune moment.

Mystery – November 22

“Ignorance gives one a large range of probabilities.” -George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans), born this date in 1819. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist learns, part-way through a project, that s/he started from a state of complete ignorance.

SciFi/Fantasy – November 22

“You get trapped by stories.”- Terry Gilliam, born this date in 1940. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is trapped in a dangerous situation by nothing more than a story.

Secondary – November 22

Rodney Dangerfield was born on this date in 1921. Describe the essence of humor.

Primary – November 22

Born on this date in 1898, Wiley Hardeman Post was the first pilot to fly around the world by himself. He did that in 1933. If you could be the first person to do something – something new, or something that’s already been done – what would you choose, and why?