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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 2610 prompts

Write a short story about someone watching a convincing infomercial. 

– 19 stories

Write a short story about someone searching for the perfect gift for their partner.

– 59 stories

Write a short story about someone in the middle of a very long and busy retail shift.

– 40 stories

Write a story about a very skilled pickpocket. 

– 63 stories

"It was just here!" you shout, frantically searching your pockets for the missing thing.

– 31 stories

Write a story about someone cleaning out their attic. They find an old piece of clothing, and inside of its pocket is an old keepsake.

– 52 stories

Your fingers tensed around the object in your pocket, ready to pull it out at a moment's notice.

– 44 stories

Write a story about a character who buys a secondhand coat and then discovers something in the pocket.

– 99 stories

Write a story about a family dinner that involves some kind of reconciliation.

– 30 stories

Write a story about a family dinner that takes place in any time period other than the present.

– 30 stories

Write a story about a "chosen family" dinner, where no one is related by blood, but they still feel like family.

– 39 stories

Write a story about a family dinner that includes someone unexpected showing up.

– 80 stories

Write a story about a family dinner from the perspective of an in-law who's married into the family.

– 33 stories

Write a story about a character on a quest, trying to "prove themselves."

– 30 stories

Write a story in which characters are warned not to go into the woods.

– 97 stories

Write a rags-to-riches story.

– 20 stories

Write a story that involves love at first sight.

– 87 stories

Write a story around the theme: Be careful what you wish for.

– 78 stories

Write about a character’s secret area of expertise, something most of their acquaintances would be surprised to learn they know tons about.

– 38 stories

Write about something you consider yourself an expert in, but do it from the perspective of a total novice.

– 14 stories

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