Romance – November 29

“Girls are so queer you never know what they mean. They say No when they mean Yes, and drive a man out of his wits for the fun of it.” -Louisa May Alcott, born this date in 1832. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which a man who believes this to be true tries to make time with your protagonist.

Romance – November 28

“I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a man swear he loves me.” – William Shakespeare, who on this date in 1582 bonded his marriage to Anne Hathaway. Writing prompt: Write a dialogue in which your protagonist expresses the same sentiment to her or his best friend.

Romance – November 27

“I cannot stand the idea of people mincing around the subject rather than just getting on with it.” – His Royal Highness Henry Charles Albert David Duke of Sussex, who on this date in 2017 became engaged to Meghan Markle. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s mincing creates more problems than if your protagonist had just got on with it.

Romance – November 26

Annina: Monsieur Rick, what kind of a man is Captain Renault? Rick: Oh, he’s just like any other man, only more so. -From Casablanca, which premiered on this date in 1942. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist does something s/he shouldn’t do for all the right reasons.

Romance – November 25

“Sometimes you have to go above the law.” – Fawn Hall, who on this date in 1986 smuggled government documents out of the office of her boss, US Navy officer Oliver North. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist makes a small bad choice at the request of a superior who will made a big bad choice.

Romance – November 24

“Courtship consists in a number of quiet attentions, not so pointed as to alarm, nor so vague as not to be understood.” -Laurence Sterne, born this date in 1713. Writing prompt: Write two brief scenes: one in which your protagonist’s suitor alarms her/him, and one in which his/her suitor’s efforts are frustratingly subtle.

Romance – November 23

I’ve seen a lot of what the world can doAnd it’s breaking my heart in two – Stephen Demetre Georgiou in “Wild World,” released on his album Tea for the Tillerman on this date in 1970. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist fails to persuade a romantic interest that s/he would be better off with your protagonist than without.

Romance – November 22

“We are all apt to believe what the world believes about us.” -George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans), born this date in 1819. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which the lie that defines your protagonist emerges at an inopportune moment.