Mystery – March 21

“Imagine living in a country where the cops are all people who’re cut out for the job.”- Michael Dibdin, born this date in 1947. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist accomplishes a task honestly while appearing to accomplish it corruptly.

Mystery – March 20

“That’s not the way we operate around here. We do everything by the book, according to regulations, above board.”- Hal Linden, portraying New York City police precinct captain Barney Miller, born this date in 1931. Writing prompt: Write a scene allowing your protagonist to make abundantly clear his/her opinion of a bureaucracy that exerts enormous influence over your protagonist’s...

Mystery – March 19

“Fast is fine, but accuracy is everything.”- Wyatt Earp, born this date in 1848. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s interest in speed rather than accuracy creates a real problem for your protagonist and her/his closest colleague.

Mystery – March 18

“The pleasure of sport was so often the chance to indulge the cessation of time itself.”- George Plimpton, born this date in 1927. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist tries to compete in a sport or event alongside its most accomplished practitioners, even though your protagonist has never practiced the sport before.

Mystery – St. Patrick’s Day

Kurt Russell, born this date in 1951, starred in Escape from New York as Snake Plissken, to whom the movie’s universal greeting was, “I heard you were dead!” Writing prompt: Write a series of dialogues in which your protagonist must dismiss a similarly, obviously untrue rumor.

Mystery – March 16

“An hour of my time is a tiny price to pay for all the support I’ve gotten from my fans.”- Erik Estrada, born this date in 1949. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must accomplish a complicated task with someone who’s always gotten ahead on looks rather than ability.

Mystery – March 15

“The thorns of the rose are hidden by the bloom.”- Lynda La Plante, born this date in 1943. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist learns something or someone beautiful is concealing a source of great pain.

Mystery – March 14

“The ‘Ten Most Wanted Fugitives’ program is a publicity program founded by the FBI in March of 1950 in conjunction with the nation’s news media. It is designed to publicize particularly dangerous fugitives who might not otherwise merit nationwide attention. The FBI recognizes the need for public assistance in tracking fugitives. One hundred and sixty-three of the ‘Ten Most Wanted...