Romance – December 13

“You must be absolutely honest and true in the depicting of a totem for meaning is attached to every line.” -Emily Carr, born this date in 1871. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist deliberately mistakes the meaning of a loved one’s most important possession.

Romance – December 12

Old Blue Eyes, Francis Albert Sinatra, was born on this date in 1915. He believed in cocking his hat because “angles are attitudes.” Writing prompt: Write a scene from the point of view of your protagonist’s romantic target or partner in which s/he describes your protagonist’s angles to someone other than your protagonist.

Romance – December 11

“Women should stick together. Didn’t you learn anything yet?” -Grace Paley, born this date in 1922. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is forced to comply with a bad plan only because of a superficial resemblance to a group’s members.

Romance – December 10

“I am so anxious for you not to abdicate and I think the fact that you do is going to put me in the wrong light to the entire world because they will say that I could have prevented it.” -Wallis Warfield Simpson to Britain’s King Edward VIII, who on this date in 1936 abdicated to marry her. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s partner has to choose between something of...

Romance – December 9

“By laughing at me, the audience really laughs at themselves, and realizing they have done this gives them sort of a spiritual second wind for going back into the battles of life.” – Emmett Kelly, born this date in 1898. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist mistakes people laughing at her/him for friends laughing with your protagonist.

Romance – December 8

“Love is the strange bewilderment that overtakes one person on account of another person.” -James Thurber, born this date in 1894. Writing prompt: Write a scene of initial bewilderment for a secondary character in your story.

Romance – December 7

Harry Chapin, best known for his fantastically melancholic “Cat’s in the Cradle,” was born on this date in 1942. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist describes her or his deepest, truest feelings about her or his father to a trusted friend.

Romance – December 6

“Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding.” -Khalil Gibran, born this date in 1883. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your antagonist achieves an essential realization because of a painful experience.