SciFi/Fantasy – March 2

“Why are you still here?” On this date in Allen Steele’s 2006, Jamie Rosen was born. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist figures out why someone who should have left a long time ago is still hanging around.

SciFi/Fantasy – March 1

“More weight!”- Giles Corey On this date in 1692, the Salem witch trials commenced, resulting in the eventual execution of 19 people. Writing prompt: Write a scene invoking an historic injustice in the world you’ve created that reverberates, centuries later, during a crisis for your protagonist.

SciFi/Fantasy – February 28

“Your account with the Treasure Book Club, of $4.98 plus interest and charges, has been turned over to our agency for collection. The amount due is now $6.83. Please send your check for this amount or we shall be forced to take immediate action.” – from a letter to Walter Child on this date in Gordon R. Dickson’s 1966. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is imprisoned at...

SciFi/Fantasy – February 27

“… because they were lonely and perplexed, because they had all come from a place of sadness and worry and defeat, and because they were all going to a mysterious new place … a strange thing happened….” Writing prompt: Describe what strange thing happened by writing a scene that finishes this line from John Steinbeck, born on this date in 1902.

SciFi/Fantasy – February 26

“I think precision in small things can be important.” – Elaine Metro, who on this date in Isaac Asimov’s 2076 identifies a spy sent from Earth. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must identify the one person who is not like the others in a group made up of lots of people who appear similar physically.

SciFi/Fantasy – February 25

“We can destroy what we have written, but we cannot unwrite it.” – Anthony Burgess, born this date in 1917. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s peers describe their vision of dystopia.

SciFi/Fantasy – February 24

“Have you got any vacancies coming up? You know, with Torchwood?” Saeed Taufeeq was born on this date in 1978 and spent the rest of his life cared for on Flat Holm after the Cardiff Rift took and returned him. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist seeks to join and organization that does not officially exist.

SciFi/Fantasy – February 23

“Nothing happens In contradiction to nature — only in contradiction to what we know of it.” – Dana Scully, born this date in 1964. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which a scrupulous skeptic makes merciless fun of your protagonist’s explanation for an apparently inexplicable phenomenon.