Mystery – April 16

Henry Mancini was born on this date in 1924. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is paired with a notorious fool who nevertheless manages to make a valuable...

Mystery – April 15

“It takes an endless amount of history to make even a little tradition.” -Henry James, born this date in 1843. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s treasured family tradition is disrupted.

Mystery – April 14

New York police detective Frank Serpico was born on this date in 1936. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist realizes s/he cannot solve a problem because of official corruption.

Mystery – April 13

Robert LeRoy Parker — better known as Butch Cassidy — was born on this date in 1866. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist confronts an inveterate but lovable recidivist.

Mystery – April 12

“The prosecutor, who is supposed to carry the burden of proof, really is an author.” -Scott Turow, born on this date in 1949. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist has to explain to a dubious accuser a narrative of your protag’s trangression persuasive enough to avoid responsibility.

Mystery – April 11

“I don’t want to try analyzing what I do because I’m afraid that would lead me into some kind of formula. I think formulas squeeze the juice out of stories.” -Peter O’Donnell, creator of Modesty Blaise, born this date in 1920. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s formula for figuring out a run-of-the-mill problem creates a much more complicated...

Mystery – April 10

Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must confront the thing or issue that most terrifies you.

Mystery – April 9

Writing prompt: Plot the rest of the story that follows this famous opening line: “Someone must have slandered Josef K., for one morning, without having done anything truly wrong, he was arrested.”