SciFi/Fantasy – March 25

“Just because we’re three million years into deep space and the human species is extinct? That means nothing to these people. They’ll find us.” This is Gazpacho Soup Day in Red Dwarf’s 2180. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is humiliated when s/he proves ignorant of a commonly known fact.

SciFi/Fantasy – March 24

“The world is, no matter how we think it ought to be. You have to be with it.” George Orr dreamed up a solution to overpopulation on this date in Ursula K. LeGuin’s 2002. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist creates reality using her/his imagination.

SciFi/Fantasy – March 23

“My life has been full of labor; therefore, I look forward to a long rest and sleep.” – Josef Čapek, originator of the word “robot,” born this date in 1887. Writing prompt: Write a scene that defines the typical and most extreme cultural responses to automata in the world you’ve created.

SciFi/Fantasy – March 22

“You know, coming back in time, changing history … that’s cheating.” – James Tiberius Kirk, born this date in 2233. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist changes the conditions of a no-win situation.

SciFi/Fantasy – March 21

“Ethics change with technology.” The Chamberses will be kidnapped on this date in Larry Niven’s 2123. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must steal from a corpse.

SciFi/Fantasy – March 20

“There’s no defense against betrayal, and we all betray ourselves.” Alfred Bester’s Six Month War began on this date. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must defeat a foe with one more sense than your protagonist possesses.

SciFi/Fantasy – March 19

“I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed, or numbered!” Number 6, born this date in 1928. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist realizes that his/her freedom is only an illusion created by an unknown and unknowable force.

SciFi/Fantasy – March 18

“People don’t have fates. . . . Fates have people.” On this date in Sean Stewart’s 2074, Emily Thompsin is arrested. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is forced to trade something valuable to protect her/himself from a force s/he doesn’t understand.