SciFi/Fantasy – November 5

“It works! Ha ha, it works! I finally invented something that works!”- Dr. Emmett Brown, who on this date in 1955 hit his head after falling off a toilet and envisioned a flux capacitor that would enable time travel. Writing prompt: Write the scene of your protagonist’s most undignified eureka moment.

SciFi/Fantasy – November 4

“Runs like a rocket up to sixty, at which point, I punch this little button here, the whole thing turns into an adult motel.”- Lyle Swan, sent by maser velocity acceleration to 1877 on this date in 1982. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist discovers the origin of an insoluble paradox.

SciFi/Fantasy – November 3

“Much of what has occurred puzzles me. But I think I am beginning to understand now. You call me a monster, but you are wrong. Utterly wrong!”- Adam Link, activated on this date in Eando Binder’s universe. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is surprised by the reaction of an inanimate, non-sentient object when s/he turns it on.

SciFi/Fantasy – November 2

“The gods’ most savage curses come upon us as answers to our own prayers.”- Lois McMaster Bujold, born this date in 1949. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist regrets not being more careful about what s/he wished for.

SciFi/Fantasy – November 1

“There is nothing in the world so easy to explain as failure — it is, after all, what everybody does all the time.”- Susanna Clarke, born this date in 1959. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist fails to describe a failure that was fatal to someone else.

SciFi/Fantasy – October 31

“The difference between stupid and intelligent people—and this is true whether or not they are well-educated—is that intelligent people can handle subtlety.”- Neal Stephenson, born this date in 1959. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist rightly suspects something dangerous is happening because everything appears so simple.

SciFi/Fantasy – October 30

“Ladies and gentlemen, we interrupt our program of dance music to bring you a special bulletin from the Intercontinental Radio News. At twenty minutes before eight, central time, Professor Farrell of the Mount Jennings Observatory, Chicago, Illinois, reports observing several explosions of incandescent gas, occurring at regular intervals on the planet Mars.” On this date in Orson Welles’ 1938, a...

SciFi/Fantasy – October 29

“lo”- Charlie Klein, who on this date in 1969 sent the first message over the connection that would become the Internet. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is denied access to all forms of communication while trying to solve a problem that exceeds her/his personal knowledge.