SciFi/Fantasy – May 5

On this date in 1943, Mervyn Peake wrote of his discharge from the army to his wartime buddy Graham Greene, “I’ll be able to concentrate on Gormenghast. It’s a grand feeling.” Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist incites two unsuspecting accomplices to do his/her dirty work.

SciFi/Fantasy – May 4

“In the darkest corners of the Earth, ancient beings lie in wait, biding their time.”- Howard Phillips Lovecraft, whose Nathaniel Wingate Peaslee lost his memory on this date in 1908. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s senses drive her/him to believe s/he is losing her/his mind.

SciFi/Fantasy – May 3

“Society has to defend itself from its defenders, because what’s admirable in wartime is termed psychopathic in peace.”- John Brunner, whose Stand on Zanzibar opened on this date in 2010. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist ‘s instinctive response prives inappopriate to the context.

SciFi/Fantasy – May 2

“Absolute authority will be delegated. Full responsibility will be assumed. Those who succeed will receive advancement and satisfaction of desire. Those who fail will die.”- E.E. “Doc” Smith, born this date 1890. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist earns an honor s/he would rather not have.

SciFi/Fantasy – May 1

“There is a tendency in 20th Century science to forget that there will be a 21st Century science, and indeed a 30th Century science, from which vantage points our knowledge of the universe may appear quite different than it does to us.”- J. Allen Hynek, born this date in 1910. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist encounters a being or event that is inexplicable in your...

SciFi/Fantasy – April 30

“The conquest of space is worth the risk of life.”- Gus Grissom The spaceship Raduga launched from Baikonur on this date in William Barton and Michael Capobianco’s 2002. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist does something dangerous just to prevent an enemy from doing the same thing first.

SciFi/Fantasy – April 29

“I’ll pick my own name and my own life. I’ll find something worth passing on.”- Raiden, who on this date in Metal Gear Solid’s 2009 infiltrated the Big Shell to suppress the Sons of Liberty. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist realizes that his/her allies are using your protagonist for a reason entirely different than the reason they’ve told your protagonist they...

SciFi/Fantasy – April 28

“Stories of imagination tend to upset those without one.”- Terry Pratchett, born this date in 1948. Writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s fanciful tale is mistaken for fact.