PROMPT: Mars

Posted on June 14, 2026 by B Gourley

Daily writing prompt

Do you think humans will ever colonize Mars? What would life there actually look like?

Probably, and life will probably be short and toilsome for quite a while. Short because there’ll be loads of unintended consequence and we will probably learn there are many more aspects of Earth that are consequential to our wellbeing than we ever understood. Toilsome because, as European explorers in Africa thought that everything was trying to kill them, Mars colonists will find that there is not one thing there that wants them alive. Every task involves pushing a boulder uphill.

PROMPT: Meaning of Life

Posted on May 23, 2026 by B Gourley

Daily writing prompt

What is the meaning of life?

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I don’t know that there is a meaning of life, and — if there is — I truly doubt that it’s one size fits all. I’ve got to give it to the Existentialists on this particular question.

PROMPT: Ideal Life

Posted on May 9, 2026 by B Gourley

Daily writing prompt

If you had to describe your ideal life, what would it look like?

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The implication being that I’m not living it? I’m outraged. Desire for things to be what they aren’t is the mother of all suffering.

PROMPT: Mystery

Posted on May 5, 2026 by B Gourley

Daily writing prompt

What’s a mystery from your own life that you’ve never solved?

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What should I do?

Does anything matter? If so, how so? If not… just, why?

In short, are all the noble lies we tell more noble than lie?

PROMPT: Moment

Posted on May 4, 2026 by B Gourley

Daily writing prompt

What’s a moment you wish you could freeze and live in forever?

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This sounds to me like a recipe for how to turn a great moment into Hell. Nothing special survives its moment. I’m with the Buddhists on impermanence — i.e. Everything is impermanent, (and the desire for things to be what they are not is the root of all suffering.)

PROMPT: Camping

Posted on April 29, 2026 by B Gourley

Daily writing prompt

Have you ever been camping?

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Many times. Of course, one could argue that living in a house is just camping in a sturdy tent with a lot of gadgets.

PROMPT: Productive

Posted on April 28, 2026 by B Gourley

Daily writing prompt

When do you feel most productive?

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Generally, I feel most productive when I’m in the act of producing something, but I have had some measure of success in tricking myself into feeling productive when I’m actually goofing off at high intensity.

PROMPT: Emojis

Posted on April 27, 2026 by B Gourley

Daily writing prompt

What are your favorite emojis?

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I use my own system of criticism that inverts the usual scale, meaning that getting a zero (turds) is quite good (and increasingly rare,) and — unlike stars — if you ever reach a five-turd rating you are truly the worst. It saves time in conveying my thoughts on all sorts of things.

Try to live your life: