Literary – November 19

On this date in 1863, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address on a Civil War battlefield in Pennsylvania. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which an obstacle comes into direct conflict with that for which your antagonist would give her or his last full measure of devotion. You can listen to Sam Waterston recite Lincoln’s immortal words in this video.

Journaling + Fiction – November 19

“What you learn today, for no reason at all, will help you discover all the wonderful secrets of tomorrow.”Norton Juster Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about your most serendipitous learning experience. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist uncovers a secret because of something s/he considered insignificant when s/he learned it years before.

Big Questions – November 19

How do you explain the persistence of your relationship with the person you’ve considered a friend the longest? 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...

Romance – November 19

“A romantic, I think, picks the rose and is careless with the thorn.” – Gene Tierney, born this date in 1920. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist realizes that her/his romantic partner is in love with a distinctly unreal version of your protagonist.

Mystery – November 19

On this date in 1930, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow carried out the first of their series of bank robberies. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist observes the opposite of the adage, “No honor among thieves.”

SciFi/Fantasy – November 19

“No part of the highlands of Peru has been better defended by natural bulwarks—a stupendous canyon whose rim is more than a mile above the river, whose rock is granite, and whose precipices are frequently a thousand feet sheer.”- Hiram Bingham, born this date in 1875, describing the Incan city of Machu Picchu, which he is credited with discovering. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist...

Secondary – November 19

If a time-traveling visitor from the future offered you the chance to ask one question, what would you ask and what would you do with the answer?

Primary – November 19

Which of your five senses is your favorite, and how could your other four senses make up for that if you lost your favorite one?