Romance – January 6

“What most people think of as history is its end product, myth.” – EL Doctorow, born this date in 1931. Writing prompt: Describe an event in your protagonist’s life as it actually occurred, and then as your protagonist has mythologized it.

Romance – January 5

On this date in 1643, the first recorded divorce in the American colonies was granted to Anne Clarke on the basis of adultery. Writing prompt: Write a dialogue in which your protagonist and best friend debate whether a third friend should leave a cheating partner.

Romance – January 4

“I wanted to star in a western opposite Robert Redford. That was my plan for my life.” – Dyan Cannon, born this date in 1937. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s realization that failing to achieve her/his greatest desire enabled achievements greater than s/he knew worthy of desire.

Romance – January 3

“R-E-S-P-E-C-T” – Aretha Franklin, the first female artist inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on this date in 1987. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist addresses your her/his romantic partner’s lack of respect.

Romance – January 2

Johann Theile’s opera Adam und Eva opened Die Hamburgische Staatsoper on this date in 1678. Writing prompt: Write the scene in which your protagonist first encounters the embodiment of all things your protagonist could possibly desire in a romantic partner.

Romance – January 1

“Only connect! That was the whole of her sermon. Only connect the prose and the passion, and both will be exalted, and human love will be seen at its height. Live in fragments no longer. Only connect, and the beast and the monk, robbed of the isolation that is life to either, will die.” -Edward Morgan Forster, born this date in 1879. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist resolves to...

Romance – December 31

“I don’t know that love changes. People change. Circumstances change.” -Nicholas Sparks, born this date in 1965. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s love must overcome a changed circumstance.

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.