Literary – September 15

“Get down, get naked, get savage.” -Ron Carlson, born this date in 1947. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist does all three.

Journaling + Fiction – September 15

“Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world.”Miyamoto Musashi Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about a moment you realized you were thinking too deeply of yourself instead of everything around you. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist misses a chance to do good for others because s/he’s thinking too deeply of her- or himself.

Big Questions – September 15

How would you cover the unexpected loss of US$1,000? 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 15

“An archaeologist is the best husband a woman can have. The older she gets, the more interested he is in her.” -Agatha Christie, born this date in 1890. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which an innocuous comment by your protagonist’s partner causes your protag to imagine the dire consequences of growing old alone.

Mystery – September 15

“Evil is not something superhuman, it’s something less than human.”- Agatha Christie, born this date in 1890. Writing prompt: Write the scene in which your protagonist first encountered pure evil.

SciFi/Fantasy – September 15

“I have not told half of what I saw.”- Marco Polo, born this date in 1254. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist learns that the oft-repeated tales of an earlier traveler are completely fictitious.

Secondary – September 15

On this date in 1812, Russian soldiers and their leaders set Moscow on fire to deny the city to the invading French army under command of Napoleon Bonaparte. Argue the logic of destroying someone so someone else cannot have it.

Primary – September 15

“Enthusiasm for a cause sometimes warps judgment.” -William Howard Taft, the 27th president of the United States, who was born on this date in 1857. Write about a time you were too enthusiastic about something to make a good decision.