Romance – September 6

“Instead of establishing facts, we have to overthrow errors; instead of ascertaining what is, we have to chase from our imaginations what is not.” – Frances Wright, the great red harlot of infidelity, born this date in 1795. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s unconventional beliefs about relationships shock his/her family.

Romance – September 5

“How wonderful to be alive, he thought. But why does it always hurt?” – Boris Pasternak in Dr. Zhivago, published in the United States on this date in 1958. The book was banned in his home country even though Pasternak won — but was forced by Soviet authorities to refuse — the Nobel Prize that year. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is prevented from seeing a romantic suitor...

Romance – September 4

“True friends share everything, except the past before they met.” -Mary Renault, born this date in 1905. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist learns of an event in her/his best friend’s life that is a deal-killer for your protag.

Romance – September 3

Anna Owens: I’m afraid I haven’t been very understanding.Kralahome: Mem, I cannot promise that it will ever be easy for you. We have proverb here: “Go up by land, and you meet tiger. Go down by water, and you meet crocodile.” But for you, it will be place to put your life. -Sally Benson, born this date in 1897. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist learns her/his bad...

Romance – September 2

“Human nature will not deny its weaknesses, even where it is seemingly in the process of overcoming them.” -Joseph Roth, born this date in 1894. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is overcome by a weakness s/he believed conquered long ago.

Romance – September 1

“Never regret. If it’s good, it’s wonderful. If it’s bad, it’s experience.” -Eleanor Hibbert, who wrote as Jean Plaidy, Victoria Holt, and Philippa Carr, born Eleanor Burford this date sometime between 1906 and 1910. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which an experience your protagonist thought would be wonderful turns out otherwise.

Romance – August 31

“The rich of the earth indeed create misery, but they cannot bear to see it.” – Bertolt Brecht in his and Kurt Weill’s Die Dreigroschenoper (The Threepenny Opera), which premiered in Berlin on this date in 1928. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist looks away from the pain s/he caused.

Romance – August 30

“And make death proud to take us.” Cleopatra committed suicide on this date in 30 BC. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist breaks up with someone who threatens to kill him/herself if your protag doesn’t reconsider.