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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 2604 prompts

You accidentally left cookies out on the table on Christmas eve. The next morning, they're gone — and you're the only person in the house.

Write about a character who is returning home for Christmas for the first time in a long time.

Write a murder story where the murder weapon is the knife used to carve a pumpkin.

– 49 stories

Write about someone finding a monster under their bed.

– 31 stories

Start your story with a blast of lightning casting a graveyard in a flash of brief, white light.

– 34 stories

Write a story where someone sees the shadow of someone standing behind them.

– 62 stories

Start your story with a character encountering a black cat.

– 72 stories

Write a story that includes someone saying, “Bon voyage.”

– 16 stories

Write a story about a character who misses a train, for better or worse.

– 33 stories

Make a train station an important part of your story.

– 72 stories

Write a story about a character who is moving on, literally or figuratively.

– 56 stories

Start your story with someone looking out a train window.

– 98 stories

Write a story about a character who can’t tell what’s real and what’s not.

– 80 stories

Write a story about someone who thinks their life is a romcom and they’re the protagonist.

– 15 stories

Set your story inside a character’s mind, literally.

– 58 stories

Write a story about someone who overthinks every single thing, blowing the tiniest incidents out of proportion.

– 16 stories

Start your story with a daydream sequence, before snapping back to reality.

– 63 stories

Write about someone who has long since quit but decides to go another round for old time’s sake.

– 36 stories

Set your story at a retirement or leaving party.

– 18 stories

Write about a rivalry between two coworkers that has unforeseen consequences.

– 26 stories

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