Literary – January 1

“All you have to do is say something nobody understands and they’ll do practically anything you want them to.” -Holden Caufield as interpreted by Jerome David Salinger, who was born this date in 1919. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist jabbers nonsense to trick someone into accomplishing your protag’s goal … and fails.

Journaling + Fiction – January 1

“Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties.”Erich Fromm Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about one or more certainties complicating your creative sensibilities. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist struggles to let go of a certainty.

Big Questions – January 1

For what should you be more grateful? 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...

Romance – January 1

“Only connect! That was the whole of her sermon. Only connect the prose and the passion, and both will be exalted, and human love will be seen at its height. Live in fragments no longer. Only connect, and the beast and the monk, robbed of the isolation that is life to either, will die.” -Edward Morgan Forster, born this date in 1879. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist resolves to...

Mystery – January 1

“It was like someone else was doing it. I remember I’m looking down at her just before I bring it down and I’m looking at her face . . . she’s so scared . . . but it’s like I had nothing to do with it. It’s like I’m a million miles away.”- Judith Rossner, who was inspired to write Looking For Mr. Goodbar by a crime that occurred on this date in 1973. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your...

SciFi/Fantasy – January 1

“The Queng Ho counted from the instant that a human had first set foot on Old Earth’s moon.” -Vernor Vinge, describing the moment the UNIX operating system began keeping time on this date in 1970. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s life depends on carefully tracking time with no means to do so.

Literary – December 31

“It’s never the changes we want that change everything.” -Junot Díaz, born this date in 1968. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which a the results of a change your protagonist worked hard to achieve are reversed by a change your protag didn’t expect.

Journaling + Fiction – December 31

“Look at everything as though you are seeing it either for the first or last time, then your time on earth will be filled with glory.”Betty Smith Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about the last time you saw something for the first time. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist sees a valued colleague for what s/he knows will be the last time.