Mystery – April 7

James Garner was born on this date in 1928. Writing prompt: Describe what your protagonist now does habitually or professionally that is the opposite of something that once caused him/her to get in significant trouble.

Mystery – April 6

Barry Levinson, producer of Homicide: Life on the Street, was born on this date in 1942. Writing prompt: Describe your protagonist’s typical day — the sort of life s/he has when not embroiled in your story, and remember this writing rule of thumb: If you’re writing about routine, it better not be routine writing.

Mystery – April 5

Robert Bloch was born on this date in 1917. He based his character Norman Bates on two real people: a serial killer and Bloch’s publisher. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist discovers something that prompts him/her to imagine a colleague is a psychopathic murderer.

Mystery – April 4

Anthony Perkins was born on this date in 1932. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist confronts an antagonist with mommy issues.

Mystery – April 3

On this day in 1888, the first of 11 Whitechapel Murders occurred in London. At least five such murders were eventually attributed to Jack the Ripper. Writing prompt: Write the scene of the first in a series of unsolved crimes your protagonist desperately wants to solve.

Mystery – April 2

Émile Zola was born on this date in 1840. He published a front-page defense of the wrongly convicted Alfred Dreyfus, J’Accuse…!, and was himself convicted for doing so. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist risks his/her livelihood to defend a person your protag is convinced is innocent.

Mystery – April 1

“So much harm comes into this world when the wrong thing is said. But that’s nothing compared to the pain from what goes unsaid.” -Brad Meltzer, born this date in 1970. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist causes pain to someone s/he cares about because of something your protag didn’t tell that person.

Mystery – March 31

“A state is better governed which has few laws, and those laws strictly observed.” -Rene Descartes, born this date in 1596. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must slice through a tangle of many small laws with a single value.