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.

Romance – December 10

“I am so anxious for you not to abdicate and I think the fact that you do is going to put me in the wrong light to the entire world because they will say that I could have prevented it.” -Wallis Warfield Simpson to Britain’s King Edward VIII, who on this date in 1936 abdicated to marry her. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s partner has to choose between something of...

Romance – December 9

“By laughing at me, the audience really laughs at themselves, and realizing they have done this gives them sort of a spiritual second wind for going back into the battles of life.” – Emmett Kelly, born this date in 1898. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist mistakes people laughing at her/him for friends laughing with your protagonist.

Romance – December 8

“Love is the strange bewilderment that overtakes one person on account of another person.” -James Thurber, born this date in 1894. Writing prompt: Write a scene of initial bewilderment for a secondary character in your story.

Romance – December 7

Harry Chapin, best known for his fantastically melancholic “Cat’s in the Cradle,” was born on this date in 1942. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist describes her or his deepest, truest feelings about her or his father to a trusted friend.

Romance – December 6

“Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding.” -Khalil Gibran, born this date in 1883. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your antagonist achieves an essential realization because of a painful experience.

Romance – December 5

“She believed in the principle of enoughness.” -Calvin Trillin, born this date in 1935. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist gives up getting what s/he really wants because a friend convinces her/him that what s/he has is enough.

Romance – December 4

“There are quantities of human faces, but there are many more faces, for each person has several.” -Rainer Maria Rilke, born this date in 1875. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist discovers a close friend has at least two more faces than your protag expected.