Mystery – September 9

“To function efficiently, any group of people or employees must have faith in their leader.”- William Bligh, master of HMAV Bounty, born this date in 1754. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist conspires to undermine or overthrow a superior.

Mystery – September 8

“Facts, Hercule, facts! Nothing matters but the facts. Without them the science of criminal investigation is nothing more than a guessing game.”- Inspector Jacques Clouseau in A Shot in the Dark as portrayed by Peter Sellers, born this date in 1925. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist discovers a profound truth entirely because of his/her own foolishness.

Mystery – September 7

“Cynicism is what passes for insight among the mediocre.”- Joe Klein, born this date in 1946. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which an anonymous “fictional” story leads your protagonist to believe a non-fictional crime has been committed.

Mystery – September 6

“Because horror on Earth is real and it is every day. It is like a flower or like the sun; it cannot be contained.”- Alice Sebold, born this date in 1963. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist becomes convinced s/he is hearing the voice of someone demanding justice.

Mystery – September 5

“Surrender had played out for good with me.”- Jesse James, born this date in 1847. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist confronts an adversary who refuses to surrender.

Mystery – September 4

“The enemy of my enemy is my enemy.”- Dick Tracy, born this date in 1909. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist misses the opportunity for much-needed assistance because of moral rectitude.

Mystery – September 3

“We believed then that these leaks constituted a national security crisis and needed to be plugged at all costs. But we were wrong, and the price paid by the country was too high.” – Egil Krogh, one of Richard Nixon’s “Plumbers,” who on this date in 1972 conducted the gang’s first break-in when they burgled the office of Daniel Ellsberg’s psychiatrist to find dirt that Nixon’s...

Mystery – September 2

“Son, this is a Washington, D.C. kind of lie. It’s when the other person knows you’re lying, and also knows you know he knows.”- Allen Drury, born this date in 1918. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist and antagonist come to an agreement by lying to each other.