Mystery – November 27

Former San Francisco Board of Supervisors member Dan White murdered Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk at City Hall on this date in 1978. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist confronts a disgruntled and armed former employee at his/her place of former employment.

Mystery – November 26

Poet William Cowper was born on this date in 1731. He famously wrote, “Variety’s the very spice of life.” Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your antagonist comes to believe the exact opposite.

Mystery – November 25

“A piece of happiness should never be taken as due.” -Charlaine Harris, born this date in 1951. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is relieved of something valuable s/he has always taken for granted.

Mystery – November 24

DB Cooper hijacked a Northwest Airlines flight from Portland, Oregon, to Seattle on this date in 1971, parachuting out of the plane with a $200,000 ransom (worth about a million dollars today) and disappearing forever. Writing prompt: Describe what your protagonist would do if, unknown to anyone else, s/he found DB Cooper’s stash.

Mystery – November 23

“It was a game of two and I got there first.” -Billy the Kid, born Henry McCarty on this date in 1859, on his murder of Texas Joe Grant. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which a bad guy gets there first during a showdown with your protagonist.

Mystery – November 22

“Ignorance gives one a large range of probabilities.” -George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans), born this date in 1819. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist learns, part-way through a project, that s/he started from a state of complete ignorance.

Mystery – November 21

Indian tracker and translator, Pinkerton agent, and vigilante killer for hire Tom Horn was born on this date in 1860. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist locates an alleged bad guy after an alleged good guy.

Mystery – November 20

“I usually start with a repulsive character and go on from there.” -Chester Gould, born on this date in 1900, who spent more than 45 years drawing the Dick Tracy comic strip until he retired in 1977. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must play nice with someone s/he considers repulsive.