Literary – March 18

“Dreams have as much influence as actions.” -Stéphane Mallarmé, the poet who inspired such revolutionary schools of creative arts as Dadaism, Surrealism, and Futurism, and even forecast hypertext, born this date in born 1842. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which a recurring dream causes your protagonist to reconsider the wisdom of her/his action.

Journaling + Fiction – March 18

“Hope sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible.”Helen Keller Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about a moment you were sustained by hope alone. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist discovers that hope is not a strategy.

Big Questions – March 18

With what animal do you most closely identify? 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...

Romance – March 18

“An affair wants to spill, to share its glory with the world. No act is so private it does not seek applause.” -John Updike, born this date in 1932. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which someone to whom your protagonist revealed a secret love uses that information to devastating effect.

Mystery – March 18

“The pleasure of sport was so often the chance to indulge the cessation of time itself.”- George Plimpton, born this date in 1927. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist tries to compete in a sport or event alongside its most accomplished practitioners, even though your protagonist has never practiced the sport before.

SciFi/Fantasy – March 18

“People don’t have fates. . . . Fates have people.” On this date in Sean Stewart’s 2074, Emily Thompsin is arrested. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is forced to trade something valuable to protect her/himself from a force s/he doesn’t understand.

Secondary – March 18

Neville Chamberlain, a British prime minister now most remembered for declaring “peace for our time” shortly before the start of World War II, was born on this date in 1869. Describe a time when someone told you a lie that person believed was the truth, and explain whether that person’s belief makes a difference in the impact of the lie.

Primary – March 18

“It is better to be defeated standing for a high principle than to run by committing subterfuge.” -Grover Cleveland, 22nd and 24th president of the United States, who was born on this date in 1837. Explain whether you agree or disagree that it’s more important to win by declaring your beliefs than by hiding them.