Literary – September 17

“I’d rather be a lightning rod than a seismograph.” -Ken Kesey, born this date in 1935. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must choose between being a strange attractor and a recorder.

Journaling + Fiction – September 17

“You can never solve a problem on the level on which it was created.”Albert Einstein Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about a breakthrough solution that occurred on a different level than the problem it fixed. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must enlarge a problem to solve it.

Big Questions – September 17

Would you be willing to be facially disfigured to acquire great financial wealth? 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...

Romance – September 17

“But I have noticed this about ambitious men, or men in power, that they fear even the slightest and least likely threat to it.” – Mary Stewart, born this date in 1916. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist poses a slight and unlikely threat to an ambitious man.

Mystery – September 17

“Both our opinions are rooted in our experience,” I said. “Both of them are true, it’s just that we’ve had different experiences.” -Robert B. Parker, born this date in 1932. Writing prompt: Describe the same inciting incident in the voices of your protagonist and your antagonist.

SciFi/Fantasy – September 17

“When I was a boy, my father was a victim of identity theft. The wyden murdered Father, took over his identity, and had Mother killed.”- Damien Nshogoza, born this date in Don Sakers’ 2017. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist realizes a trusted relative is not.

Secondary – September 17

“It is not what you say that matters but the manner in which you say it; there lies the secret of the ages.” -William Carlos Williams, born on this date in 1883. Explain why you agree or disagree.

Primary – September 17

On this date in 1787, the US Constitution was signed by a majority of the 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention. The Constitution is the highest law in the USA — the law on which all other laws are based. If you could write a law that every other laws would be based on, what would that law say?