Primary – December 7

“There are some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm.” ―Willa Cather, born on this date in 1873. Describe what you think is the difference between what you can learn best in calm and what you can learn best in a storm.

Everything you write makes you a better writer.

I had the pleasure of meeting Jane Friedman at a Writer’s Digest program; she’s since left that august publication and joined Virginia Quarterly Review. Lucky for all of us, she still offers terrific advice to writers on her web site. I found this post particularly useful as we head into National Novel Writing Month:   3 Steps for Using Prompts to Write Better & Get Published By Gabriela...

Literary – December 6

“There’s a way of playing safe, there’s a way of using tricks and there’s the way I like to play which is dangerously where you’re going to take a chance on making mistakes in order to create something you haven’t created before.” – Dave Brubeck, born this date in 1920. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist creates something routine in an unorthodox way.

Journaling + Fiction – December 6

“Now that we are all so smart, we don’t easily find resolutions.”Dejan Stojanović Journal prompt: Reflect on your previous journal entries and spend at least 20 minutes writing about what you’ve persuaded yourself is the reason you’re not where you want to be. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist talks her/himself out of the right decision for all the right...

Big Questions – December 6

What’s the best practical joke that’s ever been pulled on you? Journaling prompt: Spend 15-20 minutes writing your answer in the spirit of exploring yourself and the world around you. If you can answer with a simple “yes” or “no,” explain the sources or implications of your response. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene that forces a character in your story to answer the question, or spend 15-20...

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.

Mystery – December 6

“Safeguarding the rights of others is the most noble and beautiful end of a human being.” -Khalil Gibran, born on this date in 1883. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist has to decide whether to sacrifice him/herself to save someone else.

SciFi/Fantasy – December 6

“You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.”- Khalil Gibran, born this date in 1883. Writing prompt: Describe the cultural assumptions about parents’ roles in their children’s lives in the world you’ve created by writing a scene featuring your protagonist and her/his parents.