Mystery – February 28

“He lied with a smile that paralyzed reason.” -Steve Martini, born this date in 1946. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which an obviously guilty person persuades your protagonist that s/he is innocent.

Mystery – February 27

Lawrence Durrell, born this date in 1912, said, “Our inventions mirror our secret wishes.” Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist invents something and describes its impact.

Mystery – February 26

Elizabeth George, creator of Inspector Lynley and Barbara Havers, was born on this date in 1949. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must accomplish a difficult task with someone who comes from a significantly different socioeconomic background.

Mystery – February 25

Anthony Burgess was born on this date in 1917. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must confront the fallout of an utterly senseless, pointless act of violence.

Mystery – February 24

The body of Laura Palmer was discovered in Twin Peaks on this date in 1989. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist solves one mystery that reveals a bigger one.

Mystery – February 23

Best-selling novelist John Sanford — who is also Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist John Roswell Camp — was born on this date in 1944. He compares the two disciplines: “When I was reporting crime … I never had the sense of clockwork conspiracies, or some kind of imposing order of evil. What I sensed was things just sort of falling apart. That’s my sense of how crime works, that...

Mystery – February 22

“If someone really interests you, you’ll learn about them yourself.” -Richard North Patterson, born this date in 1947, in his Edgar-award winning debut novel. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist sets out to learn about someone who really interests him/her after their first encounter.

Mystery – February 21

“He dreams about being wanted and desired. So he changes people into beings who want and desire him.” -William Petersen, performing as Will Graham in Manhunter (Hannibal Lecter’s first film), who was born on this date in 1953. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is laughed at for explaining a transgressive person’s true motive.