Mystery – August 21

“Eliminate the impossible. Then if nothing remains, some part of the ‘impossible’ was possible.”- Anthony Boucher, born this date in 1911. Writing prompt: Set up a locked-room mystery your protagonist cannot solve without help from someone your protagonist does not trust.

Mystery – August 20

“I was dying long before the night I killed my parents.”- Erik Menendez, who with his bother Lyle murdered their parents on this date in 1989. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which a third-degree-of-separation witness tries to convince your protagonist of an unlikely explanation for a crime.

Mystery – August 19

“A bullet to the front of the head demonstrates good marksmanship. A bullet to the back of the head demonstrates good judgement.”- John Wesley Hardin, murdered this date in 1895. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist intercedes on behalf of a person who killed a person that needed killing.

Mystery – August 18

“Set a thief to catch a thief.” David F. Dodge was born on this date in 1910. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must persuade the authorities that s/he didn’t commit a crime that resembles in every detail your protagonist’s style.

Mystery – August 17

“We can honor what lies behind us without being a slave to it.”- Steve Hockensmith, born this date in 1968. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is dropped in the middle of an entirely different time, place, or genre.

Mystery – August 16

“It made her throat ache with unhappiness to meet that look of his that rested on her face without seeing it.”- Georgette Heyer, born on this date in 1902. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist realizes someone s/he cares about doesn’t reciprocate the feelings.

Mystery – August 15

“A few people, some of them sharp, said he ought to think about Brian Avery, so he thought about him. Avery was a promising cop, and Mrs Avery had promise too.”- Bill James, born this date in 1929. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which a citizen explains to your protagonist in no uncertain terms why the police are worse than the criminals.

Mystery – August 14

“I said to him one day, ‘Doctor, don’t your conscience ever trouble you?'” ‘No,’ he replied, with that peculiar cough of his, ‘I coughed that up with my lungs long ago.’ ” John T. Deweese, Doc Holliday’s attorney, was born on this date in 1851. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist realizes her/his colleague has no...