Literary – December 12

“You can calculate the worth of a man by the number of his enemies.” -Gustave Flaubert, born this date in 1821. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s best friend describes your protagonist’s enemies to someone who does not know your protagonist.

Journaling + Fiction – December 12

“Whatever is begun in anger, ends in shame.”Benjamin Franklin Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about the best outcome you ever achieved from beginning with anger. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s anger devolves into a shameful expression of impotent rage.

Big Questions – December 12

Which of your routines do you dislike most? 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 the...

Romance – December 12

Old Blue Eyes, Francis Albert Sinatra, was born on this date in 1915. He believed in cocking his hat because “angles are attitudes.” Writing prompt: Write a scene from the point of view of your protagonist’s romantic target or partner in which s/he describes your protagonist’s angles to someone other than your protagonist.

Mystery – December 12

The Mona Lisa was recovered in Florence after having been stolen two years earlier from the Louvre. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which something of inestimable public value disappears and your protagonist must consider the event’s implications.

SciFi/Fantasy – December 12

On this date in 1980, Armand Hammer bought a 36-page Leonardo da Vinci notebook from 1508 for $5.28 million. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist learns a painful lesson about how people value and honor the creations of their culture’s most revered thinkers in the world you’ve created.

Secondary – December 12

The first Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court, John Jay, was born on this date in 1745. He was also co-author of the Federalist Papers. He wrote in Georgia v. Brailsford (1794), “The jury has the right to judge both the law as well as the fact in controversy.” What does this idea mean to you, and do you agree or disagree?

Primary – December 12

Gustave Flaubert, born on this date in 1821, said, “The future is the worst thing about the present.” What do you think he meant when he said this?