Mystery – February 16

William Katt was born on this date in 1951. Writing prompt: Write a scene from your protagonist’s childhood in which s/he first pretends to be the superhero your protag want to be when s/he grows up.

Mystery – February 15

TV-show Batman’s The Joker, Cesar Romero, was born on this date in 1907. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist encounters a “bad guy” s/he’s confronted too many times to count.

Mystery – Valentine’s Day

On this date in 1929, in what became known as the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, gunmen believed to be working for Al Capone killed seven members of the rival George “Bugs” Moran gang in a Chicago garage. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist, investigating a brutal murder, discovers a clue suggesting the victim thought the killer was a cop.

Mystery – February 13

Georges Simenon, who averaged writing one book every 8 days — including more than a few about Inspector Jules Maigret — was born on this date in 1903. When once asked if he trusted a man, Inspector Maigret replied, “He’s a politician!” Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is forced to explain why s/he does not trust a particular type of person.

Mystery – February 12

Charles Van Doren, subject of the notorious quiz show scandals, was born on this date in 1926. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist discovers the perpetrator of the crime is someone who had no reason to commit the crime — and every reason not to commit the crime.

Mystery – February 11

“A parachute not opening … that’s a way to die. Getting caught in the gears of a combine … having your nuts bit off by a Laplander, that’s the way I wanna go!” -Lt. Frank Drebin, better known as Leslie Nielsen, who was born on this date in 1926. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist recounts a person’s undignified demise to a group of friends at a...