SciFi/Fantasy – December 13

“We cannot resist the lure of that mortal brilliance. It is its own kind of glamour, that dazzles the senses. And once we have found it, we cannot turn away.”- Emma Bull, born this date in 1954. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist experiences a thing from which s/he cannot turn away.

SciFi/Fantasy – December 12

“I believe in the power of great art to transcend geographical boundaries, political differences and even the restrictions of time.”- Armand Hammer, who on this date in 1980 bought a 36-page Leonardo da Vinci notebook dated to 1508 for $5.28 million. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist learns a painful lesson about how people value and honor the creations of their culture’s...

SciFi/Fantasy – December 11

“After a lifetime of world travel I’ve been fascinated that those in the third world don’t have the same perception of reality that we do.”- Jim Harrison, born this date in 1937. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist and a character from a different culture compare their perceptions of the same object.

SciFi/Fantasy – December 10

“A necessary first step is that you show there are planets around other stars.”- Dr. Donald McCarthy, Jr., who on this date in 1984, announced through America’s National Science Foundation the discovery of the first planet outside our solar system. Writing prompt: In a dialogue between your protagonist and another character, describe how the citizens of the world you’ve created responded to...

SciFi/Fantasy – December 9

“I picked up a man the other day that certainly was a queer cuss.”- Jim Bendell, who on this date in John W. Campbell’s 1932 picked up a hitch-hiker. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist realizes that s/he will die if s/he doesn’t change.

SciFi/Fantasy – December 8

“The remarkable position in which we find ourselves is that we don’t actually know what we actually know.”- Bill Bryson, born this date in 1951. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your antagonist discovers that a belief common in the world you’ve created is absolutely false.

SciFi/Fantasy – December 7

“The TrollTrace website is set to go online in less than fifteen minutes — the world is in complete chaos!” Gerald Broflovski was exposed as Skankhunt42 on this date in South Park’s 2016. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist escapes accountability for actions on a date which will live in infamy.

SciFi/Fantasy – December 6

“You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.”- Khalil Gibran, born this date in 1883. Writing prompt: Describe the cultural assumptions about parents’ roles in their children’s lives in the world you’ve created by writing a scene featuring your protagonist and her/his parents.