Literary – March 31

Nikolai Gogol was born on this date in 1809. In 1834, he received an appointment to a job for which he was utterly unqualified: a professor of medieval history, a position he avoided and shirked onto colleagues until he quit the next year. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist undertakes a task that someone important has given him/her but which your protag has no clue how to...

Journaling + Fiction – March 31

“What lies in our power to do, it lies in our power not to do.”Aristotle Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about your power to say no. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist deploys The Bartleby Stratagem: “I would prefer not to.”

Big Questions – March 31

What do you have hidden up your sleeve? 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 the...

Romance – March 31

“Solitude is the profoundest fact of the human condition. Man is the only being who knows he is alone.” -Octavio Paz, born this date in 1914. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is acutely aware of being alone.

Mystery – March 31

“A state is better governed which has few laws, and those laws strictly observed.” -Rene Descartes, born this date in 1596. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must slice through a tangle of many small laws with a single value.

SciFi/Fantasy – March 31

“You’re trying to divide by zero.” On this date in 1951, the Remington Rand Corporation contracted to deliver the first Universal Automatic Computer, or UNIVAC, to the US Census Bureau. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist encounters the original example of a tool or technology that later transformed the world you’re created.

Secondary – March 31

Daylight saving time went into effect in the USA for the first time on this date in 1918. Defend your position on whether daylight saving time is a bad or good idea.

Primary – March 31

“The easiest thing to be in the world is you. The most difficult thing to be is what other people want you to be.” -Leo Buscaglia, born on this date in 1924. Describe the difference between what you are and what someone else wants you to be.