Romance – November 25

“Sometimes you have to go above the law.” – Fawn Hall, who on this date in 1986 smuggled government documents out of the office of her boss, US Navy officer Oliver North. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist makes a small bad choice at the request of a superior who will made a big bad choice.

Romance – November 24

“Courtship consists in a number of quiet attentions, not so pointed as to alarm, nor so vague as not to be understood.” -Laurence Sterne, born this date in 1713. Writing prompt: Write two brief scenes: one in which your protagonist’s suitor alarms her/him, and one in which his/her suitor’s efforts are frustratingly subtle.

Romance – November 23

I’ve seen a lot of what the world can doAnd it’s breaking my heart in two – Stephen Demetre Georgiou in “Wild World,” released on his album Tea for the Tillerman on this date in 1970. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist fails to persuade a romantic interest that s/he would be better off with your protagonist than without.

Romance – November 22

“We are all apt to believe what the world believes about us.” -George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans), born this date in 1819. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which the lie that defines your protagonist emerges at an inopportune moment.

Romance – November 21

“Fear is a question. What are you afraid of and why? Our fears are a treasure house of self-knowledge if we explore them.” -Marilyn French, born this date in 1929. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist learns the answer.

Romance – November 20

A dreary stillness broods o’er all the vale, The clouded Moon emits a feeble glare;Joyless I seek the darkling hill and dale, Where’er I wander Sorrow still is there. – Thomas Chatterton, born this date in 1752. Writing prompt: Write the scene in which your protagonist first fails to pull off something s/he has been faking successfully since s/he was a child.

Romance – November 19

“A romantic, I think, picks the rose and is careless with the thorn.” – Gene Tierney, born this date in 1920. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist realizes that her/his romantic partner is in love with a distinctly unreal version of your protagonist.

Romance – November 18

“I have seized the light. I have arrested its flight.” – Louis Daguerre, born this date in 1789. Writing prompt: Describe your protagonist’s most valued photo (or image) in your antagonist’s voice, and your antagonist’s most valued photo in your protagonist’s voice.