Do you ever get stuck for a starting point when you want to write? Finding the right bolt of inspiration can be incredibly frustrating! Sometimes, all it takes is the right kernel of an idea to kickstart a new story. This post has some new prompts for creative writing that are guaranteed to get your imagination firing on all cylinders.
Writing prompts are used by many writers and creatives. They’re especially useful when the ideas just aren’t coming through naturally. Writer’s block happens to the best of us, so it’s important to find inspiration where you can.
Good prompts come in many forms, visual or written, but a good set of prompts is almost always a useful secret weapon to have in your writer’s toolkit. This post has a list of short ideas that are designed to get you thinking and set you off on a newly written adventure.
So if you’re in a writing mood, feast your eyes on these creative writing prompts. Let me know if you’ve found any of them to be particularly helpful. You can also check out my Pinterest board Writing Prompts For Creative Inspiration for more ideas.
Fifteen creative writing prompts
- You died in an accident but you’re still trapped on the mortal coil until you can find someone to help your spirit be free.
- One child inherits the power to cure all diseases and only you have to protect him.
- You’ve lived your life entirely blind, except for when you look into a mirror – what can you see through the glass?
- A runaway breaks into your house in the middle of the night, terrified. What does she want from you?
- The person you had an affair with years ago interviews you for a job. Do you still want it?
- You’re the leader of a collective who initiates an uprising against a vicious dictator. How are you going to raise an army?
- Falsely accused of a murder, you’re about to face execution. Is there time to save yourself?
More creative writing prompts
- Invent a new month in the year and explain how it affects the world.
- A nation ravaged by civil war in a far-flung future must negotiate peace after an otherworldly invasion.
- An earthquake eradicates all technological systems and the world is plunged into darkness. How do you survive?
- A band rises to stardom and begins to brainwash everyone who hears their music.
- You’re a cinema owner and every time a movie plays, the audience is turned into ghosts during the film.
- It’s winter every day where you live. If you don’t find a way to generate warmth, a plague will erupt from the snow when it falls.
- The planet you live on has a toxic atmosphere. You discover a way to purify it, but it comes at a terrible price.
- Trapped in a loveless marriage, an opportunity to escape presents itself.
Record some writing prompts for later use
These are only a few very simple ideas to get you thinking about the short stories you could write today, but I’d love to hear any of yours too. Let me know if you’ve had any inspiring thoughts based on the prompts listed here or if you’ve got any other suggestions.
Even if these particular prompts don’t spur any new plot points, it’s a good idea to jot them down in your bullet journal. You can add to the list of prompts whenever you feel like it and then refer back to it in future. You never know when you might be able to repurpose an old prompt for a future story.
Other resources and writing prompts
If you’re working on your worldbuilding for a novel or narrative project, you can check out my worldbuilding checklist as a starting point. Often, when I’m stuck for creative inspiration, I find that building a world and its backstory can help me form a basis for a new idea. Give it a try and let me know how you get on with it.
Additionally, working on character development can also give rise to fresh ideas for stories. Have a look at this character-building activity and see if fleshing out a protagonist (or other characters) helps you to get started.
You can check out some of my other writing prompts over on my Pinterest boards. Sometimes using an art or image-based prompt can really help to generate your ideas even further. Let me know how you get on with your writing efforts in the comments.
If you’ve found this post helpful, I’d love it if you gave it a share of a pin on Pinterest. You might also enjoy this post on how to develop engaging characters.
