Literary – May 1

Joseph Heller, who famously asked “What does a sane man do in an insane society?”, was born on this date in 1923. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is trapped in an emotional Catch-22: regardless of her/his decision, your protag will devastate her/himself or someone s/he loves.

Journaling + Fiction – May 1

“Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free.”Jim Morrison Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about an experience that made you fear being free to make a choice. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must make a decision about that which s/he most fears.

Big Questions – May 1

What’s the difference between happy and normal? 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...

Romance – May 1

“Only one thing to it: a strong stomach. The guts to gladhand a man you’re going to stab in the back; pledge allegiance to principles you stomp on every day; righteously denounce some despot in the press and sell him arms under the table.” Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro premiered on this date in 1786. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist and a confidant conspire to expose...

Mystery – May 1

“What does a sane man do in an insane society?”- Joseph Heller, born this date in 1923. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist, regardless of her/his decision, will violate her/his sense of justice by failing to punish the wicked or allowing the innocent to suffer.

SciFi/Fantasy – May 1

“There is a tendency in 20th Century science to forget that there will be a 21st Century science, and indeed a 30th Century science, from which vantage points our knowledge of the universe may appear quite different than it does to us.”- J. Allen Hynek, born this date in 1910. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist encounters a being or event that is inexplicable in your...

Secondary – May 1

On this date in 1960, the Soviet Union shot down an American U-2 surveillance plane and captured its pilot. Explain your opinion about whether spying on other countries is a legitimate or illegitimate use of a nation’s sovereign power.

Primary – May 1

Construction of the world’s first skyscraper began on this date in 1884. The Home Insurance Company building in Chicago would be 10 stories tall — about 100 feet. Today’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, is more than 160 stories tall — about 2,723 feet. Explain why you think it’s a good or a bad idea for people to keep building taller skyscrapers.