On this date in 1960, the Soviet Union shot down an American U-2 surveillance plane and captured its pilot. Explain your opinion about whether spying on other countries is a legitimate or illegitimate use of a nation’s sovereign power.
Construction of the world’s first skyscraper began on this date in 1884. The Home Insurance Company building in Chicago would be 10 stories tall — about 100 feet. Today’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, is more than 160 stories tall — about 2,723 feet. Explain why you think it’s a good or a bad idea for people to keep building taller skyscrapers.
“Experience is never at bargain price.” -Alice B. Toklas, born this date in 1877. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s mindless choice on an insignificant matter turns into a costly experience.
“I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.”Albert Einstein Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about the most interesting thing you’ve learned after being diverted from your goal by curiosity. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s curiosity leads her/him to uncover something s/he would have preferred remain covered.
What’s a sure-fire mood lifter for 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 minutes answering the question in...
Posted by
dbschlosser on Apr 30th, 2026 in
Romance |
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“It could be that our faithlessness is a cowering cowardice born of our very smallness, a massive failure of imagination…. If we were to judge nature by common sense or likelihood, we wouldn’t believe the world existed.” -Annie Dillard, born this date in 1945. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist refuses to believe what is obvious because it makes no sense to...
Posted by
dbschlosser on Apr 30th, 2026 in
Mystery |
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Starsky: “We’re a team, Hutch.”Hutch: “That’s what I’m afraid of.” Starsky and Hutch premiered on this date in 1975. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must get essential information from someone who shares your protagonist’s language but is nevertheless unintelligible.
“The conquest of space is worth the risk of life.”- Gus Grissom The spaceship Raduga launched from Baikonur on this date in William Barton and Michael Capobianco’s 2002. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist does something dangerous just to prevent an enemy from doing the same thing first.
