Mystery – May 28

“You only live twice. Once when you are born and once when you look death in the face.” -Ian Fleming, born on this date in 1908. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist looks death in the face.

Mystery – May 27

“Being Indian is not blood as much as it is culture.” -Tony Hillerman, born this date in 1925. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist meets for the first time a partner who appears to be one thing and turns out to be something utterly unlike that.

Mystery – May 26

“Retrospective analysis is not a useful guide to current problems.” -David Ignatius, born this date in 1950. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist fails to resolve a critical problem because s/he can’t stop analyzing how s/he failed to resolve it before.

Mystery – May 25

“I have always preferred conflict of individuals over the battle of extreme ideologies.” -Robert Ludlum, bourne on this date in 1927. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist and antagonist try to have a conversation that is ultimately fruitless because your protag wants to talk about people and your antag wants to talk about ideas.

Mystery – May 24

“To live outside the law, you must be honest.” -Bob Dylan, born this date in 1941. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must turn in a criminal your protag respects more than law enforcement officials.

Mystery – May 23

On this date in 1934, a police ambush in Louisiana ended the lives and two-year crime spree of Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist ends a long, notorious string of crimes.

Mystery – May 22

It’s the 1859 birthdate of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist makes a series of completely ridiculous deductions based on a person’s hands.

Mystery – May 21

Jeffrey Dahmer was born on this date in 1960. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist discovers that a mild-mannered neighbor has for many years been committing unspeakable crimes without anyone noticing.