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Writing Prompts

Join our ongoing contests and win up to $1,500. Flex those creative muscles with these writing prompts.

Showing 2680 prompts

Write a story from the POV of a child, teenager, or senior citizen.

– 55 stories

Center your story around an unexpected criminal or accidental lawbreaker.

– 42 stories

Write a story in which a character's true self or identity is revealed.

– 42 stories

Include the line “I don’t understand” or “I should’ve known” in your story.

– 34 stories

Write a story with the goal of making your reader laugh.

– 109 stories

Write a story about someone who gets lost or left behind.

– 69 stories

Your protagonist makes a difficult choice made for the sake of survival. What happens next?

– 43 stories

Write a post-apocalyptic love story.

– 59 stories

Start your story with the line: “Today is April 31.”

– 72 stories

Write a story from the POV of a monster, infected creature, or lone traveler.

– 75 stories

Write a story in which a character forms a connection with something unknown or forgotten.

– 60 stories

Include the line “Who are you?” or “Are you real?” in your story.

– 92 stories

Write a story in which a character receives a message from somewhere (or someone) beyond their understanding.

– 46 stories

Start or end your story with the sound of a heartbeat.

– 79 stories

Write a story about a character who begins to question their own humanity.

– 80 stories

Your protagonist discovers they’ve been wrong about the most important thing in their life.

– 98 stories

Write a story in which two (or more) characters want the same thing — but for very different reasons.

– 55 stories

A character breaks a rule they swore they’d never break. What happens next?

– 57 stories

Center your story around someone who finally achieves their biggest goal — only to realize it cost them everything.

– 68 stories

Write a story about a character who believes something that isn’t true.

– 158 stories

How to Write a Novel

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