Literary – September 20

“Every good thing that comes is accompanied by trouble.” -Maxwell Perkins, born this date in 1884. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist rejects something good because s/he fears the trouble that might accompany it.

Journaling + Fiction – September 20

“Anyone who challenges the prevailing orthodoxy finds himself silenced with surprising effectiveness.”George Orwell Journal prompt: Reflect on your previous journal entries and spend at least 20 minutes writing about a time you were prevented from speaking about an important subject. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which The Man shuts up your protagonist.

Big Questions – September 20

What memory do you hold most dear? 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 of...

Romance – September 20

“Sex appeal is fifty percent what you’ve got and fifty percent what people think you’ve got.” -Sofia Villani Scicolone, better known as Sophia Loren, born this date in 1934. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s romantic partner discovers the 50% s/he thought your protag had doesn’t exist.

Mystery – September 20

Television premieres on this date include Hawaii Five-O (1968), Vega$ (1978), and Spenser: For Hire (1985). Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist finally gets fed up with hearing a colleague’s stupid catch-phrase.

SciFi/Fantasy – September 20

“In real life, the hardest aspect of the battle between good and evil is determining which is which.”- George RR Martin, born this date in 1948. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist discovers s/he made the wrong determination.

Secondary – September 20

“It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it.” -Upton Sinclair, born on this date in 1878. Write a story about a situation in which you’ve observed Sinclair is wrong.

Primary – September 20

Reading instruction pioneer Rebecca Smith Pollard was born on this date in 1831. Compare how reading makes you feel to how listening to music makes you feel.