SciFi/Fantasy – April 15

“The map is not the territory.”- Alfred Korzybski On this date in 1924, Rand McNally released its first road atlas of the United States. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist finds him/herself in mortal jeopardy because a map isn’t accurate.

SciFi/Fantasy – April 14

“Moving forward in science is as much unwinding the distorted thinking of the past as it is putting a clearer idea on the table.” – J. Craig Venter, who led the team that completed the Human Genome Project on this date in 2003. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s parents describe how their culture originally explained hereditary traits.

SciFi/Fantasy – April 13

“A desperate disease requires a dangerous remedy.” – Guy Fawkes, born this date in 1570. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist to declares her/his opinion about a plot to kill a leader to a friend who responds unexpectedly.

SciFi/Fantasy – April 12

“To be the first to enter the cosmos, to engage, single-handed, in an unprecedented duel with nature — could one dream of anything more?” – Yuri Gagarin, the first human launched into space on this date in 1961. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is the first person ever to accomplish something spectacularly dangerous.

SciFi/Fantasy – April 11

“If I’m up there on that bar and you’re not, I’ll be looking down. I’ll always have your back.” – Commander Shepard, born this date in 2154. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagnoist lets down a friend who’s counting on your protagonist.

SciFi/Fantasy – April 10

“You see, to be quite frank, Kevin, the fabric of the universe is far from perfect. It was a bit of botched job, you see. We only had seven days to make it.” – Randall, who on this date in 1912 boarded RMS Titanic with the Time Bandits. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must procure a specific item from a location s/he knows is about to experience a...

SciFi/Fantasy – April 9

“Strangeness is a necessary ingredient in beauty.” – Charles Baudelaire, born this date in 1821. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist contemplates a small element of nature that appears in a location it doesn’t belong.

SciFi/Fantasy – April 8

“The time to act is now. This is not the voice of treason. These are your sons, your daughters, whose loyalties have never wavered, whose belief in this alliance has forced us to take extraordinary means. For justice, for peace, for the future . . . we have come home!” – John Sheridan announcing his intent to arrest President Clark, who on this date in Babylon 5’s 2260 declares martial law...