Literary – September 19

“The true magic of this broken world lay in the ability of the things it contained to vanish, to become so thoroughly lost, that they might never have existed in the first place.” -Michael Chabon in The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, published on this date in 2000. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist finds something her/his family considered irretrievably...

Journaling + Fiction – September 19

“When words are both true and kind, they can change the world.”Siddhārtha Gautama Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about the fallout of the kindest act you ever committed. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist makes the mistake of telling an ally something that is kind but not true.

Big Questions – September 19

What’s the best part of traveling away from home? 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 19

“History is the study of lies, anyway, because no witness ever recalls events with total accuracy, not even eyewitnesses.” -Nancy Pickard, born this date in 1945. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist recounts an important family story to someone who tells your protag the real story.

Mystery – September 19

“Travel broadens, they say. My personal experience has been that, in the short term at any rate, it merely flattens, aiming its steam-roller of deadlines and details straight at one’s daily life, leaving a person flat and gasping at its passage.” -Laurie R. King, born this date in 1952. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist packs for a trip s/he doesn’t want to...

SciFi/Fantasy – September 19

“What a man does defiles him, not what is done by others.”- William Golding, born this date in 1911. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist mistakes what she’s done to herself as something her antagonist did to her.

Secondary – September 19

William Golding was born on this date in 1911. He said, “Sleep is when all the unsorted stuff comes flying out as from a dustbin upset in a high wind.” Describe the last dream you remember.

Primary – September 19

Tell a story about the dream you’d like to have tonight.