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Best Sad Writing Prompts

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

Showing 54 prompts reset

This week's contest:
Win $250

In Real Time

77 contest entries /
27 stories

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Closes at 23:59 - Sep 04 EST

Write about a character trying to heal an old rift.

– 40 stories

Write about a character who keeps ending up in the same place.

– 39 stories

Write a story that either starts or ends with someone (or something) saying, “Please, don’t do it.”

– 94 stories

Write about an apartment building being demolished.

– 42 stories

Write a story involving a noise complaint.

– 41 stories

Write about two neighbors who cannot stand each other.

– 42 stories

Start your story with two people sitting in a movie theater, waiting for the lights to come back on.

– 70 stories

Write about someone who has been nominated for a prestigious award, but isn’t sure they deserve it.

– 23 stories

Write a story that spans a month during which everything changes.

– 131 stories

Write about someone who grew up in a bunker, and lockdown life is all they’ve ever known.

– 81 stories

Write about someone who discovers the only family member they have left has just betrayed them.

– 159 stories

Write about someone who decides it’s time to cut ties with a family member.

– 258 stories

Write about two people who just can’t seem to understand each other, no matter how clearly they think they’re speaking.

– 79 stories

Write about a character who’s so afraid of making the wrong choice that their indecision ruins the very thing they were hoping to keep safe.

– 84 stories

Write about someone who’s so obsessed with a goal that it leads to the destruction of their closest relationship.

– 154 stories

Write about someone telling their family they won’t be continuing the long-standing family business.

– 173 stories

Start your story with the line, “This was supposed to be the happiest day of their lives,” and end it with, “By then it was too late.”

– 130 stories

Write a story that feels lonely, despite being set in a packed city.

– 230 stories

Write a story inspired by this quote from Ally Condie: "Growing apart doesn't change the fact that for a long time we grew side by side; our roots will always be tangled. I'm glad for that."

– 159 stories

Write a story about someone who loses their cat.

– 62 stories

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