Menu

More apps built by Reedsy

Assemble a team of professionals

The writing app for authors

Writing courses, events and memberships

Get your book reviewed

Weekly writing prompts and contests

Menu
Prompts
Contests
Stories
Blog
Directory
Weekly Contest
Monthly Contest
Reedsy Literary Prize
Magazine
FAQ

Writing Prompts

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

Showing 2,786 prompts

Write a story with a color in the title.

– 86 stories

Write a story from the POV of a creator — or their creation.

– 58 stories

Include the words “That’s not what I meant” or “That went sideways” in your story.

– 34 stories

Write a story where everything your character writes comes true, just not in the way they intended.

– 25 stories

Center your story around a character who has lost their ability to create, write, or remember.

– 48 stories

Write a story in which something intangible (e.g., memory, grief, time, love, or joy) becomes a real object.

– 99 stories

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

– 53 stories

Center your story around an unexpected criminal or accidental lawbreaker.

– 41 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.

– 108 stories

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

– 68 stories

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

– 43 stories

Write a post-apocalyptic love story.

– 58 stories

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

– 71 stories

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

– 73 stories

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

– 59 stories

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

– 91 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.

– 76 stories

How to Write a Novel

Join Tom Bromley for a writing master class and finish your first draft in 3 months. Learn more →

How to Write a Novel

Explore more writing prompt ideas:

Adults Writing Prompts ⭢

Adventure Writing Prompts ⭢

Angst Writing Prompts ⭢

Character Writing Prompts ⭢

Christmas Writing Prompts ⭢

Dark Writing Prompts ⭢

Dialogue Writing Prompts ⭢

Dramatic Writing Prompts ⭢

Dystopian Writing Prompts ⭢

Fall Writing Prompts ⭢

Fantasy Writing Prompts ⭢

Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Fluff Writing Prompts ⭢

Funny Writing Prompts ⭢

Halloween Writing Prompts ⭢

High School Writing Prompts ⭢

Historical Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Holiday Writing Prompts ⭢

Horror Writing Prompts ⭢

Kids Writing Prompts ⭢

Middle School Writing Prompts ⭢

Mystery Writing Prompts ⭢

Narrative Writing Prompts ⭢

Nonfiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Novel Writing Prompts ⭢

Poetry Writing Prompts ⭢

Romance Writing Prompts ⭢

Sad Writing Prompts ⭢

Science Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Short Story Writing Prompts ⭢

Spring Writing Prompts ⭢

Summer Writing Prompts ⭢

Teens Writing Prompts ⭢

Thanksgiving Writing Prompts ⭢

Thriller and Suspense Writing Prompts ⭢

Valentine's Day Writing Prompts ⭢

Vampire Writing Prompts ⭢

Winter Writing Prompts ⭢

Reedsy | Default — Editors with Marker | 2024-05

Bring your publishing dreams to life

The world's best editors, designers, and marketers are on Reedsy. Come meet them.