Romance – December 30

“The silliest woman can manage a clever man; but it needs a very clever woman to manage a fool.” – Rudyard Kipling, born this date in 1865. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist tries to get what s/he wants by playing dumb, and fails.

Romance – December 29

“It is the bliss of childhood that we are being warped most when we know it the least.” -William Gaddis, born this date in 1922. Writing prompt: Write the scene from your protagonist’s childhood that will most strongly affect her/his first experience of sexual intercourse.

Romance – December 28

Well—when I write my book, and tell the taleOf my adventures—all these little starsThat shake out of my cloak—I must save thoseTo use for asterisks! Cyrano de Bergerac in his eponymous play by Edmond Rostand, which premiered at the Théâtre de la Porte Saint-Martin on this date in 1897. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must give advice to a friend about how best to attract the romantic...

Romance – December 27

“The best sex education for kids is when Daddy pats Mommy on the fanny when he comes home from work.” – Dr. William H. Masters, born this date in 1915. Writing prompt: Describe the origination and evolution of an endearing, physical habit of expression your protagonist considers important.

Romance – December 26

“I haven’t got the slightest idea how to change people, but still I keep a long list of prospective candidates just in case I should ever figure it out.” -David Sedaris, born this date in 1956. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist recounts to a trusted confidant the changes s/he couldn’t impose on her/his first lost love.

Romance – December 25

“We hardly ever realize that we can cut anything out of our lives, anytime, in the blink of an eye.” -Carlos Castaneda, born this date in 1925. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is cut out of loved one’s life in the blink of an eye.

Romance – December 24

“Because I was promoted as a sort of a siren and played all those sexy broads, people made the mistake of thinking I was like that off the screen. They couldn’t have been more wrong.” – Ava Gardner, born this date in 1922. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which a person in whom your protagonist is romantically interested makes a faulty assumption about your protagonist because of her/his...

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.