Literary – November 30

“People may or may not say what they mean … but they always say something designed to get what they want.” -David Mamet, born this date in 1947. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist, using only statements that are technically true but have more than one meaning, persuades someone to do something that is contrary to that someone’s best interests.

Journaling + Fiction – November 30

“A good general not only sees the way to victory; he also knows when victory is impossible.”Polybius Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about a moment you gave up for the right reason. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist proves a bad leader by refusing to see victory is not possible.

Big Questions – November 30

What’s the biggest, boldest signal that you can trust someone? 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...

Romance – November 30

“Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.” – Sir Winston Spencer Churchill, born this date in 1874. Writing prompt: Write a scene that that makes your protagonist realize s/he’s at the end of the beginning of the relationship with her/his partner.

Mystery – November 30

Celebrated mystery author and Arthur Conan Doyle biographer John Dickson Carr was born on this date in 1906. Writing prompt: In memory of the master of locked-room mystery genre, write a scene describing the circumstances of a crime that to your protagonist appears impossible to solve.  

SciFi/Fantasy – November 30

“Audiences are less intrigued, honestly, by battle. They’re more intrigued by human relations.”- Sir Ridley Scott, born this date in 1937. Writing prompt: Write a scene that explains an entire battle — who’s fighting and why, what the stakes are, and who’s likely to prevail — in a conversation between your protagonist and another character.

Secondary – November 30

“Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others.” -Jonathan Swift, born on this date in 1667. Explain what this quote by the author of Gulliver’s Travels means to you.

Primary – November 30

Samuel Langhorne Clemens was born on this day in 1835. He is better known by his pen name: Mark Twain. Write about what you think he meant when he said, “It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.”