SciFi/Fantasy – September 9

“Let’s roll, Kato.” On this date in 1966, most Americans got their first look at Bruce Lee when The Green Hornet premiered. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is assigned to perform the most buffoonish version of her/his greatest talent by paymasters belonging to another culture.

SciFi/Fantasy – September 8

“No interference with the social, cultural, or technological development of said planet.” On this date in 1966, Star Trek premiered on NBC. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist ignores instructions not to interfere.

SciFi/Fantasy – September 7

“He searched for words to poison the shaft of his disdain.”- Margaret Landon, born this date in 1903. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which the way of another culture is cruelly explained to your protagonist after s/he makes the mistake of applying her/his own cultural values to another’s.

SciFi/Fantasy – September 6

“A scholar can never let mere wrongness get in the way of the theory.”- China Miéville, born this date in 1972. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which reality proves your protagonist’s theory wrong.

SciFi/Fantasy – September 5

“Facts sometimes have a strange and bizarre power that makes their inherent truth seem unbelievable.”- Werner Herzog, born this date in 1942. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist refuses to accept an experience as true.

SciFi/Fantasy – September 4

“We saw that a thousand results weren’t necessarily as useful as 10 good ones.”- Sergey Brin, who with Larry Page founded Google on this date in 1998. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is prevented from solving a significant problem because s/he cannot find the information necessary to do so.

SciFi/Fantasy – September 3

“Truly successful decision making relies on a balance between deliberate and instinctive thinking.”- Malcolm Gladwell, born this date in 1963. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s analysis and instinct tell him/her opposite strategies for escaping mortal danger.

SciFi/Fantasy – September 2

“Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.”- Gimli in The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien, who died on this date in 1973. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is abandoned at a perilous moment by someone s/he trusts.