Literary – November 16

“I looked at her and wondered what I am except appetite.” -Andrea Barrett, born this date in 1954. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s gluttony leads to an excruciating aftermath.

Journaling + Writing – November 16

“Citizenship is a tough occupation which obliges the citizen to make his own informed opinion and stand by it.”Martha Gellhorn Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about the informed opinion you find it toughest to stand by. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which reality painfully informs your protagonist that it’s time to change an opinion s/he’s stood by for too...

Big Questions – November 16

Who in your life brings you the greatest joy? 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...

Romance – November 16

W.C. Handy, the “father of the blues,” was born on this date in 1873. He described his relationship to his trumpet beginning this way: “Setting my mind on a musical instrument was like falling in love.” He concluded by describing the feeling. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist and antagonist describe what it’s like to fall in love.

Mystery – November 16

“I used to ask for an easy life, now I ask to be strong.” -William Kent Krueger, born on this date in 1950. Writing prompt: Write the aphorism your protagonist would use shortly before dying to describe what s/he learned during the course of her/his life.

SciFi/Fantasy – November 16

“It’s just that my wife won’t let me read at home. See, when I get home at night and try to pick up a newspaper, she yanks it out of my hand! And then after dinner, if I try to find a magazine, she hides them. Well, I got so desperate found myself trying to read the labels on the condiment bottles on the table. Now, she won’t even let me use the ketchup.”- Henry Bemis, portrayed by...

Secondary – November 16

On this date in 1907, Oklahoma was admitted to the United States. If you had to set a story in Oklahoma, what kind of story would it be – and what would happen?

Primary – November 16

W.C. Handy, who is considered the father of blues music, was born in Alabama on this date in 1873. He once said this: “Life is like a trumpet – if you don’t put anything into it, you don’t get anything out of it.” What do you think he meant when he said that? You can listen to a recording of W.C. Handy’s Memphis Blues by clicking on song the title.