Romance – December 23

“In our family, there was no clear line between religion and fly fishing.” – Norman Maclean, born this date in 1902. Writing prompt: Write a scene representing a practice in your protagonist’s family that is as important to the family as religious faith.

Romance – December 22

“Words themselves are all the ghosts we need.” -Donald Harington, born this date in 1935. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which the language a suitor uses to woo your protagonist prompts a traumatic memory.

Romance – December 21

“Angel, ha! She’s a female! And all females is poison! They’re full of wicked wiles!” – Grumpy, in Walt Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which premiered on this date in 1937. Writing prompt: Write a scene revealing your protagonist’s deepest, most secret opinion about the stereotypical damsel in distress.

Romance – December 20

“Shrinks will tell you there are only five problems: sex, money, intimacy, trust, children. No, six: add ‘parents,’ as in in-laws, Alzheimer’s, inheritance. And of course they are all related.” – Elizabeth Benedict, born this date in 1954. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist figures out that what s/he thinks is a problem is only a symptom of the real...

Romance – December 19

“I want to make people cry even when they don’t understand my words.” – Édith Piaf, born this date in 1915. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist causes someone to cry without speaking any...

Romance – December 18

Premiering on this date in 1892 in St. Petersburg, Russia, The Nutcracker ballet tells the story of a girl who so loves an inanimate object that it comes to life. Writing prompt: Tell the origin story of an object your protagonist loves so much it would come to life if it could.

Romance – December 17

“Duty is what no-one else will do at the moment.” -Penelope Fitzgerald, born this date in 1916. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is forced to do something necessary because no one else will, and as a result achieves the opposite of her/his goal.

Romance – December 16

“It’s discouraging how many people are shocked by honesty and how few by deceit.” – Noël Coward, born this date in 1899. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist refuses to believe something that’s true.