Romance – March 26

“A high station in life is earned by the gallantry with which appalling experiences are survived with grace.” -Thomas Lanier — better known as Tennessee — Williams, born this date in 1911. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist survives an appalling experience with more grace than anyone — especially your protagonist — expects.

Romance – March 25

“Nothing great is ever achieved without much enduring.” -Catherine of Siena, born this date in 1347. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist misses out on something great because s/he cannot endure.

Romance – March 24

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof premiered on this date in 1955. Writing prompt: Write a birthday party scene in which your protagonist gradually realizes everyone at the party knows something s/he does not.

Romance – March 23

“Mind who you love. For that matter, mind how you are loved.” -Julia Glass, born this date in 1956. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist realizes s/he is being loved the wrong way.

Romance – March 22

“Nice is different than good.” -Stephen Sondheim, born this date in 1930. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is forced to choose whether to be good or nice.

Romance – March 21

On this date in England in 1617, Pocahontas died in her early 20s after she’d converted to Christianity, taken the Biblical name Rebecca, and married Englishman John Rolfe. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which a potential lifemate asks your protagonist to give up something central to her/his identity as a condition of sharing a life.

Romance – March 20

Henrik Ibsen, born this date in 1828, wrote “the door slam heard around the world” as the conclusion to A Doll’s House, his play about a woman trapped in an unsatisfying marriage. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist responds to the very last straw.

Romance – March 19

Irving Wallace was born on this date in 1916. His best-selling The Chapman Report was based on the Kinsey Reports and made into a 1962 film that the studio intended to be a more frank discussion of sexual habits than television of the time permitted. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which a frank discussion of sexual habits reveals that your protagonist’s differ from what the rest of the group considers...