SciFi/Fantasy – August 21

“A lotta cats copy the Mona Lisa, but people still line up to see the original.”- Louis Armstrong On this date in 1911, the Mona Lisa was stolen from Musée du Louvre; two years later, it was found in the trunk of a former museum employee’s car. He thought the painting belonged in da Vinci’s Italy. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist liberates something that belongs...

SciFi/Fantasy – August 20

“The one test of the really weird is simply this — whether or not there be excited in the reader a profound sense of dread, and of contact with unknown spheres and powers; a subtle attitude of awed listening, as if for the beating of black wings or the scratching of outside shapes and entities on the known universe’s utmost rim.”- Howard Phillips Lovecraft, born this date in 1890, in his...

SciFi/Fantasy – August 19

“Time is the fire in which we burn.”- Gene Roddenberry, born this date in 1921. Writing prompt: Write the scene in which your protagonist first realizes s/he cannot accomplish everything s/he wants to before dying.

SciFi/Fantasy – August 18

“It is not sufficient that I succeed — all others must fail.”- Genghis Khan, who died on this date in 1227. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist discovers victory is so unsatisfying that s/he is driven to the next extreme.

SciFi/Fantasy – August 17

“A battle cry,” Mr. Bennet said, “is a warrior’s calling card. Only it does not say, ‘Good afternoon. I have come for tea and crumpets.’ It says, ‘Death has come for you! Flee or be killed where you stand!'”- Steve Hockensmith, born this date in 1968. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must decide to flee or be killed.

SciFi/Fantasy – August 16

“What description of clouds and sunsets was to the old novelist, description of scientific apparatus and methods is to the modern Scientific Detective writer.”- Hugo Gernsback, born this date in 1884. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which a powerful leader refuses to pay your protagonist for a job well done.

SciFi/Fantasy – August 15

“Long ago, I believed in higher powers. I took it as my purpose to heal and shepherd the world … but the world turned its back on me. And this is my reward for a lifetime of faith.”- Dr. Elliot Sinclair, who invents time travel on this date in 2315. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist gets rewarded in an unexpected way.

SciFi/Fantasy – August 14

“This was more than just a cow — this was an entire career I was looking at.”- Gary Larson, born this date in 1950. Writing prompt: Write the scene in which your protagonist is set on her/his future path in life by an odd item or event.