I might be the oddest duck here, but who really needs another writing prompt like “describe a rainy day” or “write a letter to your younger self”? And no, I’m not saying those are wrong or useless, but (and hands up, I’ll fully own this one) they’ve sparked nothing in me stronger than a smirk, and not nearly enough to put fingers to keys. They didn’t flick that creative switch or launch me into an idea that felt sharp, wild, or like a real twist on the usual. And you don’t need 100 prompts, you need one, OK maybe 10, that actually gets you writing.
Why these prompts work? Because they’re the kind I use when I’m stuck and need to think sideways, or sometimes even outside my usual genre. I’m a new writer and need all the help and clarity I can get. So instead, maybe the prompt is about a bloodied body being discovered. I might write that scene from the perspective of a cheery cleaning crew brochure advertising their bodily fluid cleanup services. Yes, I’ll absolutely go there. It’s the boldness I explore, and challenge myself with on the page, and when journaling.
Other times, I use the same prompt in a more traditional way but focus on testing my voice, pushing the scene’s rhythm, or getting experimental with word choices. This kind of playing around helps me to no end.
The point? The prompt is set, but your viewpoint can go anywhere. And it should, so let it.
3 Prompts, 2 Angles, 1 Story. Let’s Begin.
Each of these story starters gives you:
- 1 tight premise
- 2 ways to explore it (pick one)
- 3 tone or genre shifts to make it yours (again, pick one)
Whether you’re writing flash fiction, journaling in character, or just trying to shake off the dust, these are designed to get you writing, not just thinking about writing. We’re getting unstuck or going off the rails.
Set a timer. Pick one.
Write 300–500 words.
Share your finished work with friends or a mentor for some good feedback, or drop your writing in the comments. I’m ready to read them all.
The Prompts
1. The House with the Guest
One Prompt:
You inherit a $5M home from a distant uncle. You can sell it—after living there for a year. One rule: the current guest, an elderly woman, cannot be evicted.
Two Scene Angles:
• Meeting the guest for the first time
• The last day, after one year when the truth comes out
Three Genre/Theme Options:
Thriller, Comedy, Children’s Fantasy
2. The Vanishing Star
One Prompt:
A beloved co-worker is called in late by your awful boss. Moments later, the boss is found dead. The co-worker vanishes. You were the last person they texted.
Two Scene Angles:
• You being questioned as the co-worker bestie
• Their POV: why they ran, and whether they’re guilty
Three Genre/Theme Options:
Mystery, Workplace Drama, Black Comedy
3. Checks and Dreams
One Prompt:
A mom of three gets into her dream college and starts receiving anonymous checks, exactly enough for tuition, on the first of every month. Then they stop. A letter arrives: “Come to this address if you want them to resume.”
Two Scene Angles:
• Arriving at the address
• Debating whether to go and what she’s hiding
Three Genre/Theme Options:
Domestic Thriller, Speculative Fiction, Suspense
4. The Voicemail
One Prompt:
One roommate gets a stunning bouquet on Valentine’s Day but no note. That night, the other roommate’s boyfriend sent a text: “Those were meant for you.”
Two Scene Angles:
• Answering the door and finding him there
• Flashback to an earlier moment that complicates everything
Three Genre/Theme Options:
Romantic Drama, Psychological Suspense, Millennial Horror
5. The Ghostwriter’s Regret
One Prompt:
You’re ghostwriting a memoir for a wildly successful client. Her life? Painfully boring, until you uncover one secret that could sell the book or destroy you both.
Two Scene Angles:
• The moment you decide whether to include the secret
• Her reaction to reading your draft
Three Genre/Theme Options:
Satire, Psychological Thriller, Literary Drama
6. The Wedding Vanish
One Prompt:
A wedding is canceled mid-ceremony. The bride and groom both disappear. You were the last person each of them spoke to.
Two Scene Angles:
• Flashbacks to both conversations
• A nosy guest confronts you during the reception chaos
Three Genre/Theme Options:
Mystery, Comedy of Errors, Romantic Suspense
7. The Journal That Wasn’t Yours
One Prompt:
You find a journal in your handwriting with future events you haven’t lived yet.
Two Scene Angles:
• You try to prevent one event and accidentally cause it
• You follow an entry exactly to see what unfolds
Three Genre/Theme Options:
Speculative Fiction, Sci-Fi Mystery, Psychological Drama
8. The Chess Champion Slip-Up
One Prompt:
To impress a date, you casually mention being a chess prodigy. A week later, you’re their partner in a company tournament. It starts in ten minutes. You don’t even know how the horse moves.
Two Scene Angles:
• Bluffing your way through round one
• Confessing, and then realizing, they’re faking too
Three Genre/Theme Options:
Rom-Com, Social Satire, Comedy
9. The Rewrite Room
One Prompt:
You wake up one morning to an odd and urgent email: “Your life has been rewritten. Please report to the nearest memory center.” Suddenly, your inbox is full of confirmations for a life you don’t remember living.
Two Scene Angles:
• Entering the memory center and seeing someone you recognize
• Trying to prove your old life existed, but it’s vanishing fast
Three Genre/Theme Options:
Speculative Fiction, Dystopian Drama, Sci-Fi Mystery
10. The Society of Strategic Liars
One Prompt:
You’re recruited by a secret society that hires professional-level liars. You’re thriving until a “test lie” you told starts coming true.
Two Scene Angles:
• The moment the lie becomes real
• Breaking one of their rules and then someone disappears
Three Genre/Theme Options:
Dark Humor, Supernatural Thriller, Spy Fiction
Bonus!
OK, I lied, a small one… here’s three more. Why? Because sometimes your brain also needs a goat in a hoodie, a petty aunt, or a messy peacock with emotional baggage. You get it. I know you get it.
Bonus 1: The Emotional Support Peacock
One Prompt:
Your cousin shows up with an emotional support peacock, Rufus, and says, “We can’t go back to Aunt Cheryl’s. Not after what happened at brunch. Mom won’t take my call either.” Rufus won’t stop staring at you.
Two Scene Angles:
• You try to get the full story
• A nosy neighbor drops by, just as things get worse
Three Genre/Theme Options:
Comedy, Offbeat Mystery, Family Drama with Birds
Bonus 2: The Family Group Chat Coup
One Prompt:
You’re removed from your family group chat. Later, you’re added to one called “The Real Ones.” Your favorite aunt is in it. So is your ex. No one explains.
Two Scene Angles:
• You scroll the media folder and find something unexpected
• You launch a group video call and it goes left, fast
Three Genre/Theme Options:
Dramedy, Satirical Fiction, Petty Political Thriller
Bonus 3: A Goat Named Rodney
One Prompt:
You win a contest you never entered. Your prize? A baby goat named Rodney and a weekend getaway. Rodney is cute, hoodie-wearing, and slightly allergy-triggering.
Two Scene Angles:
• Arriving at the destination and Rodney bolts
• Trying to find out who entered your name and why Rodney seems to know you
Three Genre/Theme Options:
Road Trip Comedy, Magical Realism, Chaos Fiction
New Writer Toolbox: Expand Your Perspective
Not sure which tone or genre fits you? Want to write outside your norm or add a fresh twist? These resources, from industry pros and inclusive experts, offer some quick inspiration and much deeper craft guidance. They know their stuff.
1. WritingWithColor by Colette Aburime
A trusted resource by a Black woman writer offering respectful, nuanced advice on writing diverse characters and cultures. Great for expanding character work and avoiding the boring.
2. LGBTQ+ Writing Prompts by H Noss Proofreads
Inclusive prompts across fantasy, romance, drama, and more curated by a queer, neurodivergent editor. Dive in and explore new perspectives with intention.
3. Reedsy: Genre Breakdown
A straightforward guide to lots of fiction and nonfiction genres with clear, visual breakdowns. Great for choosing your tone or switching things up.
How Did You Do?
Share your finished work with friends or a mentor for some good feedback, or drop your writing in the comments. I’m ready to read them all.
