Mystery – May 4

Robin Cook was born on this date in 1940. Writing prompt: Write the scene of your protagonist’s most recent visit to the emergency room.

Mystery – May 3

The originator of the maxim that the end justifies the means, philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli, was born on this date in 1469. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist reluctantly concludes the ends do not justify the means.

Mystery – May 2

“We don’t know who we are until we see what we can do.” -Martha Grimes, born this date in 1931. Writing prompt: Write the scene of the first time your protagonist is introduced to him/herself.

Mystery – May 1

Joseph Heller, who famously asked “What does a sane man do in an insane society?”, was born on this date in 1923. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is trapped in a Catch-22: regardless of her/his decision, your protag will violate her/his sense of justice by failing to punish the wicked or allowing the innocent to suffer.

Mystery – April 30

Starsky and Hutch premiered on this date in 1975. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must get essential information from someone who shares your protag’s language but is nevertheless unintelligible.

Mystery – April 29

Bernard Madoff was born on this date in 1938. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist informs the spouse of a well-respected professional that his/her spouse is nothing more than a common criminal.

Mystery – April 28

“It seemed to him a very Edinburgh thing. Welcoming, but not very.” -Ian Rankin, born this date in 1960. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is told s/he is being treated one way when s/he is, in reality, being treated very differently.

Mystery – April 27

Jack Klugman was born on this date in 1922. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist avoids a tiresome task by tricking everyone into thinking the process is so unpleasant that the outcome isn’t worth it.