Literary – September 24

“In a real dark night of the soul, it is always three o’clock in the morning, day after day.” -F. Scott Fitzgerald, born this date in 1896. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist awakes at 3:00 for the seventh straight morning.

Journaling + Fiction – September 24

“The urge to destroy is also a creative urge.”Mikhail Bakunin Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about the most creative destruction you’ve ever undertaken. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must destroy something s/he created to create something better.

Big Questions – September 24

What’s the greatest thing since sliced bread? 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 – September 24

“The whole secret of life is to be interested in one thing profoundly and in a thousand things well.” -Horace Walpole, whose The Castle of Otranto launched the romantic horror genre, born this date in 1717. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist discovers her/his profound interest in the detritus of thousands of other things.

Mystery – September 24

Three Days of the Condor, a film based on James Grady’s book Six Days of the Condor, premiered on this date in 1975. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist realizes s/he cannot trust anyone.

SciFi/Fantasy – September 24

“This world is a comedy to those that think, a tragedy to those that feel.”- Horace Walpole, born this date in 1717. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s tragedy causes his/her colleagues to laugh.

Secondary – September 24

F. Scott Fitzgerald was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, on this date in 1896. He believed “there are no second acts in American lives.” Use examples to prove him wrong.

Primary – September 24

The person who created the Muppets, Jim Henson, was born in Greenville, Mississippi, on this date in 1936. Explain whether you think people can learn from puppets.