Mystery – September 25

“A secret’s worth depends on the people from whom it must be kept.”- Carlos Ruiz Zafón, born this date in 1964. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s most important secret is discovered by the person your protagonist most wants to keep it from.

Mystery – September 24

“You think not getting caught in a lie is the same thing as telling the truth?”- Joe “Condor” Turner in Three Days of the Condor, a film based on James Grady’s book Six Days of the Condor, which premiered on this date in 1975. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist realizes s/he cannot trust anyone.

Mystery – September 23

“Trouble is a two-way street.”- Ben Matlock, who premiered on this date in 1986. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist plays dumb to get what s/he needs.

Mystery – September 22

“I didn’t want to kill anybody, but there comes a point when the only way you can make a statement is to pick up a gun.”- Sara Jane Moore, who on this date in 1975 failed to assassinate US President Gerald R. Ford only 17 days after Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme failed. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must complete a task for someone a lot of people want to kill...

Mystery – September 21

Television premieres on this date included Perry Mason (1957), Adam-12 (1968), and NYPD Blue (1993) featuring Det. Andy Sipowicz, who once told a suspect, “You got a lot of morons in your family? ‘Cause that could be genetic.” Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist tries to get information from a person who has an IQ that reminds your protagonist that half the people in the...

Mystery – September 20

“Book him, Danno. Murder one.” Television premieres on this date include Hawaii Five-O (1968), Vega$ (1978), and Spenser: For Hire (1985). Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist finally gets fed up with hearing a colleague’s stupid catch-phrase.

Mystery – September 19

“Travel broadens, they say. My personal experience has been that, in the short term at any rate, it merely flattens, aiming its steam-roller of deadlines and details straight at one’s daily life, leaving a person flat and gasping at its passage.”- Laurie R. King, born this date in 1952. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist packs for a trip s/he doesn’t want to take.

Mystery – September 18

“Missed it by that much.”- Maxwell Smart, who premiered in Get Smart this date in 1965. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must explain a dramatic failure to a superior.