Mystery – June 5

“Culture clash is terrific drama.” -Ken Follett, born on this date in 1949. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which a character far down the socioeconomic ladder from your protagonist tries to get away with something by making your protag feel bad about their wealth disparity.

Mystery – June 4

“Sometimes, the only things that make you feel good are the same ones that worked when you were five.” -Val McDermid, born this date in 1955. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist behaves like a child.

Mystery – June 3

“Incompetents invariably make trouble for people other than themselves.” -Larry McMurtry, born this date in 1936. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist gets into a dangerous predicament because someone else is incompetent.

Mystery – June 2

“A life, Jimmy, you know what that is? It’s the shit that happens while you’re waiting for moments that never come.” -Lester Freamon to Jimmy McNulty in The Wire, which premiered on this date in 2002. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s life passes by while s/he’s waiting for it.

Mystery – June 1

“Don’t do something you won’t live to regret.” -Robert McCall as portrayed by Edward Woodward, born this date in 1930. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must risk his/her life to save another’s.

Mystery – May 31

“We boil at different degrees.” -Clint Eastwood, born on this date in 1930. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is brought to her/his boiling point by someone whose threshold is much higher.

Mystery – May 30

On this date in 1806, future US President Andrew Jackson dueled with and killed Charles Dickinson,  who had insulted Jackson’s wife. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist has to persuade two people intent on fighting that it’s not such a hot idea.

Mystery – May 29

“Thieves respect property. They merely wish the property to become their property, that they may more perfectly respect it.” -GK Chesterton, born on this date in 1874, in The Man Who Was Thursday. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must listen to a chatterbox thief justifying her/his theft in terms your protag finds abominably offensive.