Prompt Inspiration

Mystery – May 20

dbschlosser — Mon, 20 May 2013 10:00:55 +0000

Jimmy Stewart was born on this date in 1908.

Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist tries but fails to convince someone in authority that s/he witnessed a crime.

Secondary – May 20

dbschlosser — Mon, 20 May 2013 10:00:52 +0000

“A person may cause evil to others not only by his action but by his inaction, and in either case he is justly accountable to them for the injury.”

-John Stuart Mill, born this date in 1806.

Using examples from your own life, argue Mill is right or wrong.

Literary – May 20

dbschlosser — Mon, 20 May 2013 10:00:45 +0000

“Laws are spider webs through which the big flies pass and the little ones get caught.”

-Honoré de Balzac, born this date in 1799.

Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is punished for doing exactly the same thing for which your antagonist is rewarded.

SciFi/Fantasy – May 20

dbschlosser — Mon, 20 May 2013 10:00:33 +0000

Henry Miller said, “One can be absolutely truthful and sincere even though admittedly the most outrageous liar. Fiction and invention are of the very fabric of life.”

Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist fabricates a lie that tells more truth about him/her than what s/he’s trying to conceal.

Primary – May 20

dbschlosser — Mon, 20 May 2013 10:00:28 +0000

William Thornton, architect of the US Capitol, was born on this date in 1759.

Tell a story about a time your mood changed because of the building you were in.

Romance – May 20

dbschlosser — Mon, 20 May 2013 10:00:03 +0000

On this date in 1845, Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett met in person for the first time.

Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist imagines describing to a future child meeting her/his soul mate and true companion for the first time.

Mystery – May 19

dbschlosser — Sun, 19 May 2013 10:00:44 +0000

“Insane people are always sure that they are fine. It is only the sane people who are willing to admit that they are crazy.”

-Nora Ephron, born on this date in 1941.

Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s confidence that s/he’s the only right-thinking person in the room makes her start doubting whether s/he’s anything remotely close to normal.

SciFi/Fantasy – May 19

dbschlosser — Sun, 19 May 2013 10:00:34 +0000

On this date in 1588, the Spanish Armada left Lisbon for England, where it was devastated by the English navy under the command of Lord Charles Howard and Sir Francis Drake a few months later.

Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist learns that a prior celebration in which s/he participated has become a marker of profound tragedy.

Literary – May 19

dbschlosser — Sun, 19 May 2013 10:00:26 +0000

On this date in 1897, Oscar Wilde was released after two years of hard labor in prison, his sentence for having sex with the wrong kind of person.

Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s friends ostracize her from a dinner conversation because they think s/he’s with the wrong kind of person.

Romance – May 19

dbschlosser — Sun, 19 May 2013 10:00:09 +0000

Jodi Picoult, born on this date in 1966, once asked, “Could you really love someone who was capable of falling in love with someone else?”

Writing prompt: Answer in your protagonist’s voice, and then answer in your antagonist’s voice.