Literary – December 11

“Violence can only be concealed by a lie, and the lie can only be maintained by violence.” -Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, born this date in 1918. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s lie forces him or her to decide whether to confess the lie or commit violence to maintain it.

Literary – December 10

“If I feel physically as if the top of my head were taken off, I know that is poetry.” -Emily Dickinson, born this date in 1830. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist experiences a similar reaction to an aspect of her/his work or hobby.

Literary – December 9

John Milton was born on this date in 1608. He composed his masterpieces after he lost his vision at age 43. Seven years after going blind, he began dictating the 12 books of Paradise Lost, which took five years to complete. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist experiences the world exclusively through senses other than sight.

Literary – December 8

“All men should strive to learn before they die, what they are running from, and to, and why.” -James Thurber, born this date in 1894. Writing prompt: Write a bar scene in which your protagonist reveals what s/he is running from, and to, to someone s/he will never see again.

Literary – December 7

“Most of the basic material a writer works with is acquired before the age of 15.” -Willa Cather, born this date in 1873. Writing prompt: Write the scene of the most life-shaping event in your protagonist’s life before s/he turned 15.  

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.

Literary – December 5

“Life changes in the instant. You sit down to dinner and life as you know it ends.” -Joan Didion, born this date in 1934. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s life as s/he knows it changes in such an instant.

Literary – December 4

Writing prompt: Write the scene of your protagonist’s most paralyzingly terrifying mistake during high school.