Mystery – July 29

William Powell was born on this date in 1892. Writing prompt: Describe the emotional response of your protagonist to his/her favorite beverage.

Mystery – July 28

North by Northwest premiered on this date in 1959. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your antagonist chases your protagonist using an unorthodox vehicle.

Mystery – July 27

“When they’re all chasin’ the poor bloody fox, ’tis safer to be dressed like the hound.” -Jack Higgins, born Harry Patterson on this date in 1929. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s disguise fails.

Mystery – July 26

On this date in 1908, US Attorney General Charles Joseph Bonaparte ordered the immediate staffing of a new Office of the Chief Examiner, better known today as the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which officials of a higher jurisdiction take credit for your protagonist’s success.

Mystery – July 25

Margueretha Gertruida Zelle, better known as Mata Hari, was sentenced to die for spying on this date in 1917. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist discovers that a trusted friend has betrayed your protag.

Mystery – July 24

“A man with a credit card is in hock to his own image of himself.” -John D. MacDonald, born this date in 1916, in his first Travis McGee novel, The Deep Blue Good-Bye. Writing prompt: Write a scene from your protagonist’s life when money problems motivated your protag to do something wrong.

Mystery – July 23

“The law isn’t justice. It’s a very imperfect mechanism. If you press exactly the right buttons and are also lucky, justice may show up in the answer. A mechanism is all the law was ever intended to be.” -Raymond Chandler, born this date in 1888. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must decide whether to allow the machine of law to work or to break it.

Mystery – July 22

Edward Hopper, born on this date in 1882, painted Automat in 1927: Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must extract vital information from this woman in this setting.