“Excellence is to do a common thing in an uncommon way.” -Booker T. Washington in 1856. Describe what you do with more excellence than anyone else, and how you do it.
Booker T. Washington was born on this date in 1856. Born a slave, at age 9 he started working in a salt factory and then a coal mine after the Civil War freed him. Describe what you think you’ll do in your first job.
“The shortest route to courage is absolute ignorance.” -Dan Simmons, born this date in 1948. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist performs a praiseworthy act of courage because of witlessness.
“When we focus on ourselves, our world contracts as our problems and preoccupations loom large. But when we focus on others, our world expands.”Daniel Goleman Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about a personal preoccupation you believe is preventing you from focusing on a more important external topic. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s...
What cultural trend that never caught on would have made the world a better place? 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...
Posted by
dbschlosser on Apr 4th, 2026 in
Romance |
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“It was the men I deceived the most that I loved the most.” -Marguerite Duras, born this date in 1914. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist cruelly deceives a romantic partner for all the right reasons.
Posted by
dbschlosser on Apr 4th, 2026 in
Mystery |
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“She might have fooled me, but she didn’t fool my mother.”- Norman Bates as portrayed by Anthony Perkins, born this date in 1932. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist confronts an antagonist with mommy issues.
“If there is hope it lies in the proles.” – Winston Smith, who on this day in 1984 began illegally recording his thoughts in a diary. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s transgressive thought jeopardizes her/his life.
