Literary – December 3

“A man’s most open actions have a secret side to them.” -Joseph Conrad, born this date in 1857. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist hides her/his motives in plain sight.

Literary – December 2

“Humor is what happens when we’re told the truth quicker and more directly than we’re used to.” -George Saunders, born this date in 1958. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist fails to see the humor in a situation that everyone else finds hilarious.

Literary – December 1

“If it turns out that there is a God, I don’t think that he’s evil. But the worst that you can say about him is that basically he’s an underachiever.” -Allen Stewart Konigsberg, better known as Woody Allen, born this date in 1935. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which circumstances cause your antagonist to struggle with her/his faith or lack thereof.

Literary – November 30

“People may or may not say what they mean … but they always say something designed to get what they want.” -David Mamet, born this date in 1947. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist, using only statements that are technically true but have more than one meaning, persuades someone to do something that is contrary to that someone’s best interests.

Literary – November 29

“Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive.” -Clive Staples Lewis, born this date in 1898. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which a well intentioned ally harms your protagonist by trying to do good.

Literary – November 28

“Opposition is true friendship.” -William Blake, born this date in 1757. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which a friend fails to persuade your protagonist to make a different choice than the objectively bad choice your protagonist makes.

Literary – November 27

“Growth demands a temporary surrender of security.” -Gail Sheehy, born this date in 1937. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist misses a chance to grow because s/he refuses to relinquish her/his security.

Literary – November 26

“Because, once alone, it is impossible to believe that one could ever have been otherwise. Loneliness is an absolute discovery.” -Marilynne Robinson, born this date in 1943. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist finds her/himself unexpectedly and against her/his will alone.