SciFi/Fantasy – February 17

“Regarding your assignment to survey innovative plant automation processes on planet Nor’Dyren, third degree member of Civilized Unity, you will report to Lesser Columbus embarkation base.” On this date in Sydney van Scyoc’s universe, Tollan Bailey leaves earth to survey Nor’Dyren. Writing prompt: Write the scene in which your protagonist first encounters a community in which all...

SciFi/Fantasy – February 16

“I’ve always thought that technology could solve almost any problem.” – Geordi La Forge, portrayed by LeVar Burton, born this date in 1957. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must use  tools and techniques to compensate for the loss of his/her most important sense.

SciFi/Fantasy – February 15

“In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual.” -Galileo Galilei, born on this date in 1564. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is humiliated by the authority of a thousand despite being correct.

SciFi/Fantasy – Valentine’s Day

“Figures don’t lie, but liars figure.” – (quoted by) Robert Heinlein, in whose 1907 on this date was born George Edward Smith. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your antagonist misleads your protagonist with data.

SciFi/Fantasy – February 13

“Literature becomes the living memory of a nation.” -Alexander Solzhenitsyn, expelled from the USSR on this date in 1974. Writing prompt: Write the scene in which your protagonist first encounters the literature of a culture that no longer exists.

SciFi/Fantasy – February 12

“The impossibility of conceiving that this grand and wondrous universe, with our conscious selves, arose through chance, seems to me the chief argument for the existence of God.” – Charles Darwin, born this date in 1809. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must confront a controversial heretic and ends up learning the heretic is right and your protagonist is...

SciFi/Fantasy – February 11

“I am not what you call a civilized man! I have done with society entirely, for reasons which I alone have the right of appreciating. I do not, therefore, obey its laws, and I desire you never to allude to them before me again!” – Captain Nemo, who on this date in Jules Verne’s 1868 piloted the Nautilus into the Mediterranean Sea through the Arabian Tunnel. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your...

SciFi/Fantasy – February 10

“All the best of the monsters played for sympathy.” – Lon Chaney, Jr., born this date in 1906. Writing prompt: Write the scene in which your protagonist first encountered the monster that most terrifies the children of the world you’ve created.