Mystery – November 22

“Ignorance gives one a large range of probabilities.” -George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans), born this date in 1819. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist learns, part-way through a project, that s/he started from a state of complete ignorance.

Mystery – November 21

Indian tracker and translator, Pinkerton agent, and vigilante killer for hire Tom Horn was born on this date in 1860. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist locates an alleged bad guy after an alleged good guy.

Mystery – November 20

“I usually start with a repulsive character and go on from there.” -Chester Gould, born on this date in 1900, who spent more than 45 years drawing the Dick Tracy comic strip until he retired in 1977. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must play nice with someone s/he considers repulsive.

Mystery – November 19

On this date in 1930, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow carried out the first of their series of bank robberies. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist observes the opposite of the adage, “No honor among thieves.”

Mystery – November 18

“All the same, murderess is a strong word to have attached to you.” -Margaret Atwood, born this date in 1939. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is labeled painfully but accurately.

Mystery – November 17

“I love studying Ancient History and seeing how empires rise and fall, sowing the seeds of their own destruction.” -Martin Scorsese, born this date in 1942. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist makes a choice that will later cause his/her downfall.

Mystery – November 16

“I used to ask for an easy life, now I ask to be strong.” -William Kent Krueger, born on this date in 1950. Writing prompt: Write the aphorism your protagonist would use shortly before dying to describe what s/he learned during the course of her/his life.

Mystery – November 15

On this date in 1959, the Clutter family was killed in cold blood in Holcomb, Kansas. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist suffers a criminal act that occurs entirely because the criminal believes incorrectly that your protag has something your protag doesn’t have.