SciFi/Fantasy – December 26

“On two occasions I have been asked, ‘Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?’ I am not able rightly to apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question.”- Charles Babbage, born this date in 1791. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which two wrongs make a third, bigger wrong for your protagonist.

SciFi/Fantasy – December 25

“I can calculate the motion of heavenly bodies, but not the madness of people.”- Isaac Newton, born this date in 1642. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your antagonist’s carefully considered analysis of another character’s likely course of action proves horribly mistaken.

SciFi/Fantasy – December 24

“The right to take a chance, the right to suffer. The right to be unwise, the right to die. These aims are hateful to the government, which values ever frightened mouse and falling sparrow as equal to a tiger burning bright.”- Fritz Leiber, born this date in 1910. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist discovers that an authority figure s/he thought was invested in your protagonist’s success...

SciFi/Fantasy – December 23

“Have you looked in the mirror lately?”- Anung Un Rama, summoned by Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin to East Bromwich on this date in 1944. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which a new acquaintance assumes the worst about your protagonist because of your protagonist’s physical appearance.

SciFi/Fantasy – December 22

“Roswell was a smoke screen — we’ve had half a dozen better salvage operations.”- Deep Throat, in an effort to reveal the truth that aliens were scheduled to begin colonizing Earth on this date in 2012. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist realizes that someone s/he considered a fellow member of her/his species is something else entirely.

SciFi/Fantasy – December 21

”We came all this way to explore the moon, and the most important thing is that we discovered the earth.”- William A. Anders, lunar module pilot of Apollo 8, launched this date in 1968. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist learns the true value of the most amazing voyage ever undertaken in the world you’ve created.

SciFi/Fantasy – December 20

“Beauty and ingenuity beat perfection hands down, every time.”- Nalo Hopkinson, born this date in 1960. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is judged the loser in a contest s/he rightfully won only because the opponent used appearances to win.

SciFi/Fantasy – December 19

“Truth is the one thing you can never intimidate.”- Brandon Sanderson, born this date in 1975. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist fails to intimidate truth and so must deal with its consequences.