Literary – January 21

“We like to invent ‘what if’ scenarios — what if x had never happened, what if y had happened instead? — because we like to believe that individual decisions make a difference: that, if not for x, or if only there had been y, history might have plunged forever down a completely different path.” -Louis Menand, born this date in 1952. Writing prompt: Write your protagonist’s...

Literary – January 20

“Absurdity is what I like most in life,” said David Lynch, born on this date in 1946, “and there’s humor in struggling in ignorance.” Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist flails at something in ignorance and appears funny to everyone except your protag.

Literary – January 19

The mother of Julian Barnes, born on this date in 1946, complained that his first, and critically acclaimed, novel was nothing more than a bombardment of filth. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s mother derides your protag’s greatest accomplishment.

Literary – January 18

“You will be better advised to watch what we do,” advised Alan Alexander Milne, born this date in 1882, “instead of what we say.” Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist says one thing while doing its opposite.

Literary – January 17

“Love, friendship and respect do not unite people as much as a common hatred for something.” – Anton Chekhov, born this date in 1860. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which a particular contempt shared by your protagonist and antagonist leads your protag to make a costly mistake.

Literary – January 16

“As photographs give people an imaginary possession of a past that is unreal, they also help people to take possession of space in which they are insecure.” -Susan Sontag, born this date in 1933. Writing prompt: Write the scene during which the photograph most important to your protagonist was taken.

Literary – January 15

“Everything that we see is a shadow cast by that which we do not see.” -Martin Luther King, Jr., born on this date in 1929. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which an event or object means something entirely different to your protagonist than it does to everyone else.

Literary – January 14

“I’m very comfortable with failure. I’m very comfortable being the guy who disappoints people.” -Steven Soderbergh, born this date in 1963. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must persuade everyone that s/he doesn’t care about completely failing at an important task.