Mystery – May 20

Jimmy Stewart was born on this date in 1908. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist tries but fails to convince someone in authority that s/he witnessed a crime.

Mystery – May 19

“Insane people are always sure that they are fine. It is only the sane people who are willing to admit that they are crazy.” -Nora Ephron, born on this date in 1941. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s confidence that s/he’s the only right-thinking person in the room makes her start doubting whether s/he’s anything remotely close to normal.

Mystery – May 18

“A hair divides what is false and true.” -Omar Khayyam, born this date in 1048. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must split a hair to satisfy both justice and the law.

Mystery – May 17

On this date in 1978, authorities recovered the corpse and coffin of Charlie Chaplin, which had been stolen and held for ransom for more than two months. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist recovers something that no one can imagine anyone would want to steal.

Mystery – May 16

On this date in Daniel Defoe’s 1683, Robinson Crusoe heard a gunshot after having lived without human contact for a quarter-century. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is wrong about his/her belief that essential help is on the way.

Mystery – May 15

Former long-time Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley was born on this date in 1902. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which a public leader orders your protagonist to keep a secret that will compromise your protag’s integrity.

Mystery – May 14

“Illegal is always faster.” -Eoin Colfer, born this date in 1965. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist relies on a bad guy to do a good thing.

Mystery – May 13

“Women want love to be a novel, men a short story.” -Daphne Du Maurier, born on this date in 1907. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist and a person of the opposite gender disagree about something unrelated to gender, but which your protag’s opposite interprets as being about gender.