Mystery – August 21

Anthony Boucher was born William Anthony Parker White on this date in 1911. Writing prompt: Set up a locked-room mystery your protagonist cannot solve without help from someone your protag does not trust.

Mystery – August 20

Lyle and Erik Menendez murdered their parents on this date in 1989. They were caught when the girlfriend of Erik’s psychotherapist told the police about the confession the psychotherapist had recorded (against his profession’s ethics rules) in an attempt to impress her. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which a third-degree-of-separation witness tries to convince your protagonist of an unlikely...

Mystery – August 19

On this date in 1895, John Wesley Hardin — who killed at least 20 and perhaps as many as 40 men between 1868 and his death despite spending 14 of those years in prison — was murdered in El Paso, Texas. 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

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 protag’s style.

Mystery – August 17

Steve Hockensmith was born on 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

“[I]t 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, whose dozen novels are thought the best examples of “country house” English mysteries. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist realizes someone s/he cares about doesn’t reciprocate the feelings.

Mystery – August 15

Harpur and Iles series author “Bill James” was born on 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.’ ” -Col. John T. Deweese, the lawyer of Doc Holliday, who was born on this date in 1851. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist realizes her/his colleague has no...