Mystery – September 4

Consider the most challenging issue that you must — but do not want to — confront in your own life. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist confronts that issue.

Mystery – September 3

On this date in 1972, Richard Nixon’s “Plumbers” conducted their first break-in when they burgled the office of Daniel Ellsberg’s psychiatrist to find dirt that Nixon’s cronies could smear around after Ellsberg leaked The Pentagon Papers to the news media. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist discovers one crime was committed to cover up another.

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.

Mystery – September 1

“Judges are the weakest link in our system of justice, and they are also the most protected.” -Alan Dershowitz, born this date in 1938. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which a judicial decision frees a person your protagonist knows to be guilty.

Mystery – August 31

Jack the Ripper killed his first victim, Mary Ann Nichols, on this date in 1888. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist realizes the event s/he is exploring is the second instance of a very particular antagonist’s activity.

Mystery – August 30

Anna Politkovskaya was born on this date in 1958. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which a crime committed against a reporter leads your protagonist to suspect larger forces are at work.

Mystery – August 29

Henry Bergh, who founded the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, was born on this date in 1813. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist discovers a clue in an instance of someone abusing a pet.

Mystery – August 28

The Killers premiered on this date in 1946. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist discovers that a double-crosser was double-crossed.