Mystery – November 7

“Do just once what others say you can’t do, and you will never pay attention to their limitations again.”- Captain James Cook, born this date in 1728. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist proves wrong someone who assumes your protagonist suffers from a limitation your protagonist actually suffers from.

Mystery – November 6

“A dozen convicts, who descended with their pistols in search of him, found him with a match-box in his hand seated beside an open powder-barrel, which was one of a hundred carried on board, and swearing that he would blow all hands up if he were in any way molested.” The Gloria Scott exploded near Cape Verde on this date in 1855. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist tells the story...

Mystery – November 5

“History is mostly guessing; the rest is prejudice.”- Will Durant, born this date in 1885. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist learns that a guess s/he’d made about a suspect was purely prejudice.

Mystery – November 4

“When Lord Carnarvon, unable to stand in suspense any longer, inquired anxiously ‘Can you see anything?’, it was all I could do to get out the words ‘Yes, wonderful things’.”- Howard Carter, shortly after his expedition’s water carrier stumbled over steps leading to the entrance to Pharaoh Tutankhamun’s burial chambers on this date in 1922. Writing prompt: Write a...

Mystery – November 3

“[Kali] does according to her wisdom in destroying what is useless or what has lived its destined time.”- Martin Cruz Smith, born this date in 1942. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist destroys something that has been around as long as necessary.

Mystery – November 2

“We are under attack.”- The University of California, Berkeley student who first noticed the Morris Worm on this date in 1988. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist and colleagues fail to communicate at an urgent moment because of delays caused by a poorly understood external influence.

Mystery – November 1

“Death is the only inescapable, unavoidable, sure thing. We are sentenced to die the day we’re born.”- Gary Gilmore, who on this date in 1976 waived his right to appeal his conviction and death sentence. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s least favorite antagonist becomes a celebrity by embracing punishment for her/his offenses.

Mystery – October 31

“Look at everything upside down. Take absolutely nothing for granted.”- Dick Francis, born this date in 1920. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which an unexpected new perspective offers your protagonist the insight necessary to solve a puzzling mystery.