Romance – May 28

“You don’t write about the horrors of war. No. You write about a kid’s burnt socks lying in the road.” -Richard Price Writing prompt: Describe from your protagonist’s point of view and in your protag’s voice the most life-altering image s/he has ever encountered.

Romance – May 27

Nick: Don’t you think maybe a drink would help you to sleep?Nora: No, thanks.Nick: Maybe it would if I took one. Dashiell Hammett, born this date in 1894, who turned his relationship with Lillian Hellman into The Thin Man book, movies, and radio serial about Nick and Nora Charles. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist imagines that s/he and and her/his partner engage in the wittiest and most...

Romance – May 26

Writing prompt: Write a scene that concludes with your protagonist telling someone, “You’re drunk — I’m not talking to you.”

Romance – May 25

“On their way to freedom, some people find riches, some people find death.” -Jamaica Kincaid, born this date in 1949. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist refuses to make her/his way to freedom because s/he fears the risk of death more than s/he desires the reward of riches.

Romance – May 24

“People seldom do what they believe in. They do what is convenient, then repent.” -Bob Dylan, born this date in 1941. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must repent for having done what was convenient instead of what your protag believed in.

Romance – May 23

“It seems that it is madder never to abandon one’s self than often to be infatuated; better to be wounded, a captive and a slave, than always to walk in armor.” -Margaret Fuller, born this date in 1810. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist misses an opportunity because s/he refuses to walk unarmored.

Romance – May 22

Mary Cassatt was born on this date in 1844. Writing prompt: Describe from your protagonist’s point of view what’s happening in Cassatt’s painting The Long Gloves.

Romance – May 21

“The awful thing, as a kid reading, was that you came to the end of the story, and that was it. I mean, it would be heartbreaking that there was no more of it.” -Robert Creeley, born this date in 1926. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist realizes a story s/he desperately wants to continue has reached an irreversible conclusion.