Mystery – August 29

Henry Bergh, who founded the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, was born on this date in 1813. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist discovers a clue in an instance of someone abusing a pet.

Mystery – August 28

The Killers premiered on this date in 1946. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist discovers that a double-crosser was double-crossed.

Mystery – August 27

Ira Levin was born on this date in 1929. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist suspects a suicide is actually murder.

Mystery – August 26

“Truth is rare fruit in garden of murder.” -Earl Derr Biggers, born this date in 1884. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist realizes that her/his assumptions about a person’s national heritage are incorrect, which requires reconsideration of the entire situation.

Mystery – August 25

“It was cold at 6:40 in the morning of a March day in Paris, and seems even colder when a man is about to be executed by firing squad.” -Frederick Forsyth, born this date in 1938. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s duty makes the weather seem more extreme than it is.

Mystery – August 24

“At night we are all strangers, even to ourselves.” -Alexander McCall Smith, born on this date in 1948. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which one night in particular causes your protagonist to become a stranger to him/herself.

Mystery – August 23

“Somehow our devils are never quite what we expect when we meet them face to face.” -Nelson DeMille, born this date in 1943. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist first confronts a transgressor s/he’s been searching for, but cannot believe the person actually committed the transgression.

Mystery – August 22

On this date in 1992, a federal law enforcement sniper at a stand-off with white separatist Randy Weaver in Ruby Ridge, Idaho, killed Weaver’s wife and wounded Weaver and another man. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist causes the wrong person to be shot.