SciFi/Fantasy – December 3

“It is infinitely better to transplant a heart than to bury it to be devoured by worms.”- Dr. Christiaan Barnard, who on this date in 1967 performed the first successful heart transplant. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must use an antiquated technology or process to accomplish a task that would be easy with any contemporary technique.

SciFi/Fantasy – December 2

Compton: The Italian navigator has landed in the New World.Conant: How were the natives?Compton: Everyone landed safe and happy. The Atomic Age began on this date in 1942 when Enrico Fermi and his colleagues demonstrated the first self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction in a crude pile of black bricks and wooden timbers under the stands at the University of Chicago football stadium. Writing prompt: Write a scene in...

SciFi/Fantasy – December 1

“Have you ever considered the analogy between an automatic telephone exchange and the human brain?” At 0150 GMT on Sir Arthur C. Clarke’s December 1, 1975, every telephone in the world started to ring. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which a ubiquitous system that everyone takes for granted in the universe you’ve created creates havoc by ceasing to work in its intended...

SciFi/Fantasy – November 30

“Audiences are less intrigued, honestly, by battle. They’re more intrigued by human relations.”- Sir Ridley Scott, born this date in 1937. Writing prompt: Write a scene that explains an entire battle — who’s fighting and why, what the stakes are, and who’s likely to prevail — in a conversation between your protagonist and another character.

SciFi/Fantasy – November 29

“The real problem is not why some pious, humble, believing people suffer, but why some do not.”- Clive Staples Lewis, born this date in 1898. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which a spiritual leader in the world you’ve created tries to justify your protagonist’s unjust suffering.

SciFi/Fantasy – November 28

“Anta odeli uta.” At 1517 hours tomorrow, every radio receiver in the world will receive the same transmission. Writing prompt: Write the message and describe its impact in your home.

SciFi/Fantasy – November 27

“If the quest was supposed to be easy, they would not have given it to someone who is supposed to be a hero.”- Michael Stackpole, born this date in 1957. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist refuses his/her quest.

SciFi/Fantasy – November 26

“History is, after all, based on people’s recollections, which change with time.”- Frederik Pohl, born this date in 1919. Writing prompt: Imagine a scene in which your protagonist triumphs over your antagonist, and then write that scene from the perspective of your antagonist.