SciFi/Fantasy – May 13

“The universe did not invent justice. Man did. Unfortunately, man must reside in the universe.”- Roger Zelazny, born this date in 1937. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must settle for a universal justice that does not correspond to your protagonist’s sense of justice.

SciFi/Fantasy – May 12

“What egotism, what stupid vanity, to suppose that a thing could not happen because you could not conceive it!”- Philip Gordon Wylie, born this date in 1902. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is imperiled because an event of which s/he cannot conceive occurs.

SciFi/Fantasy – May 11

“Losing can persuade you to change what doesn’t need to be changed, and winning can convince you everything is fine even if you are on the brink of disaster.”- Garry Kasparov, who on this date in 1997 lost a six-game chess match to Deep Blue. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist fails to realize that something mechanical can replace him/her.

SciFi/Fantasy – May 10

“The only thing worse than a labyrinth is a labyrinth that doesn’t end.”- Mark Z. Danielewski, from whose House of Leaves Will Navidson is rescued byKaren Green on this date in 1991. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is lost inside a space bigger than your protagonist can conceive.

SciFi/Fantasy – May 9

“Never ascribe to an opponent motives meaner than your own.”- Sir James Matthew Barrie, born this date in 1860. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist realizes her/his antagonist’s motives are more noble than your protagonist’s.

SciFi/Fantasy – May 8

“It must be, I thought, one of the race’s most persistent and comforting hallucinations to trust that ‘”‘it can’t happen here'”‘ — that one’s own time and place is beyond cataclysm.”- John Wyndham describing the 8th of May, a day the he made better known as the Day of the Triffids. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must lead a group of...

SciFi/Fantasy – May 7

“There is no magic. There is only knowledge, more or less hidden.”- Gene Wolfe, born this date in 1931. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist learns that s/he is capable of something s/he considered impossible.

SciFi/Fantasy – May 6

“In life, everything comes with a price — even freedom.”- Steven Barnes, in whose 1996 Austin Tucker refused to fight another imprisoned inmate on this date. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is forced to fight for survival against someone your protagonist considers a sibling.