Literary – April 30

“Experience is never at bargain price.” -Alice B. Toklas, born this date in 1877. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s mindless choice on an insignificant matter turns into a costly experience.

Journaling + Fiction – April 30

“I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.”Albert Einstein Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about the most interesting thing you’ve learned after being diverted from your goal by curiosity. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s curiosity leads her/him to uncover something s/he would have preferred remain covered.

Big Questions – April 30

What’s a sure-fire mood lifter for you? 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...

Romance – April 30

“It could be that our faithlessness is a cowering cowardice born of our very smallness, a massive failure of imagination…. If we were to judge nature by common sense or likelihood, we wouldn’t believe the world existed.” -Annie Dillard, born this date in 1945. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist refuses to believe what is obvious because it makes no sense to...

Mystery – April 30

Starsky: “We’re a team, Hutch.”Hutch: “That’s what I’m afraid of.” Starsky and Hutch premiered on this date in 1975. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must get essential information from someone who shares your protagonist’s language but is nevertheless unintelligible.

SciFi/Fantasy – April 30

“The conquest of space is worth the risk of life.”- Gus Grissom The spaceship Raduga launched from Baikonur on this date in William Barton and Michael Capobianco’s 2002. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist does something dangerous just to prevent an enemy from doing the same thing first.

Secondary – April 30

On this date in 1939, Franklin Delano Roosevelt became the first US president to appear on TV during opening day at the New York World’s Fair. Explain why you think politicians perform their public services worse or better because of television.

Primary – April 30

On this date in 1789, George Washington took the oath of office to become the first president of the United States. In a letter to his niece, he wrote, “It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one.” What does this idea mean to you?