Mystery – August 25

“It was cold at 6:40 in the morning of a March day in Paris, and seems even colder when a man is about to be executed by firing squad.” -Frederick Forsyth, born this date in 1938. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s duty makes the weather seem more extreme than it is.

Mystery – August 24

“At night we are all strangers, even to ourselves.” -Alexander McCall Smith, born on this date in 1948. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which one night in particular causes your protagonist to become a stranger to him/herself.

Mystery – August 23

“Somehow our devils are never quite what we expect when we meet them face to face.” -Nelson DeMille, born this date in 1943. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist first confronts a transgressor s/he’s been searching for, but cannot believe the person actually committed the transgression.

Mystery – August 22

On this date in 1992, a federal law enforcement sniper at a stand-off with white separatist Randy Weaver in Ruby Ridge, Idaho, killed Weaver’s wife and wounded Weaver and another man. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist causes the wrong person to be shot.

Mystery – August 21

Anthony Boucher was born William Anthony Parker White on this date in 1911. Writing prompt: Set up a locked-room mystery your protagonist cannot solve without help from someone your protag does not trust.

Mystery – August 20

Lyle and Erik Menendez murdered their parents on this date in 1989. They were caught when the girlfriend of Erik’s psychotherapist told the police about the confession the psychotherapist had recorded (against his profession’s ethics rules) in an attempt to impress her. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which a third-degree-of-separation witness tries to convince your protagonist of an unlikely...

Mystery – August 19

On this date in 1895, John Wesley Hardin — who killed at least 20 and perhaps as many as 40 men between 1868 and his death despite spending 14 of those years in prison — was murdered in El Paso, Texas. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist intercedes on behalf of a person who killed a person that needed killing.

Mystery – August 18

David F. Dodge was born on this date in 1910. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must persuade the authorities that s/he didn’t commit a crime that resembles in every detail your protag’s style.