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.

Journaling + Fiction – December 11

“If one is lucky, a solitary fantasy can totally transform one million realities.”Maya Angelou Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about which of your fantasies would affect the most people around you were it to come true. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist comes to understand that his/her fantasy won’t transform anyone’s reality, including his/her...

Big Questions – December 11

How do you feel about a romantic partner earning significantly more money than you? 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...

Romance – December 11

“Women should stick together. Didn’t you learn anything yet?” -Grace Paley, born this date in 1922. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is forced to comply with a bad plan only because of a superficial resemblance to a group’s members.

Mystery – December 11

“Everything you add to the truth subtracts from the truth.” -Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, born this date in 1918. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which a character’s addition of details to his or her “truth” gradually reveals the character as a liar.

SciFi/Fantasy – December 11

“After a lifetime of world travel I’ve been fascinated that those in the third world don’t have the same perception of reality that we do.”- Jim Harrison, born this date in 1937. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist and a character from a different culture compare their perceptions of the same object.

Secondary – December 11

On this date in 1972, Apollo 17 landed on the moon. It was the sixth and last manned mission to the moon. Describe what happens to a place you visit but never return to.

Primary – December 11

Sir David Brewster, the Scottish scientist who invented the kaleidoscope, was born on this date in 1781. Write a story about a time you saw a common object from a different perspective and realized you could use it in a new and different way.