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Welcome to Writing Exercises and Prompts.

This site provides (completely free) creative writing prompts and exercises to help you get started with creative writing and break through writing blocks - as well as some fun anagram vocabulary games.

Generate random story ideas, plots, subjects, scenarios, characters, first lines for stories and more. Did I mention it's all free? Have fun :-)

- Update March 2024: Random First Line - lots of new prompts and you can now choose a genre Creative Writing - First Steps - dive right in with some practical tasks to get you started.

- Update November 2023: New 'Guess The Word' game

- Update August 2023: Bite-size Writing Tips and Tricks. 3-minute reads

Random List of Contents:

Random first line prompts.

Generate a random first line for a story.

Random Subject

Prompts to encourage freewriting.

Generate a plot-line at the click of a button.

Random Plot Generator

Generate two characters, a setting, a situation and a theme. Change the elements until you are happy with your plot.

Generate elements for a murder plot. Change the elements until you get an interesting mystery to solve.

'Take Three Nouns'

Another freewriting exercise. Make connections between random nouns.

Random First Line of Dialogue

Writing prompts to help with dialogue writing.

Random Scenario

Create a 'What If?' scenario to write about.

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Browse my random list of writing exercises.

For poets and songwriters. Enter a word to find rhyming and similar-sounding words.

Generate a selection of words and use the suggestions to kick-start your writing.

Story Title Ideas

Create your own story title.

Create a character outline.

Create some interesting aspects to your character.

There's now a section dedicated to writing prompts for children of primary/elementary school age.

Generate a fictitious,'English-sounding' town name.

Get plot ideas for your own story-writing by looking at the plots of over 100 popular films.

Random Image Generator

Use images to help you write.

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Generate random traits for your characters.

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Generate an occupation for your character.

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Choose first and last names for characters.

Develop your character into a well-rounded person, quirky habits and all.

Anagram Puzzle Game

Exercise your brain and keep your vocabulary in good shape with this free anagram game.

Anagram Puzzle Game 2

Another anagram game - each word must contain the middle letter.

Enter a list of letters and discover all the words you can make with them.

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Have fun improving your Scrabble vocabulary.

Because every aspiring author needs a back-up plan...

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To encourage and empower in all endeavours.

Welcome to my website..

My long-term goal is to provide a comprehensive creative writing resource with both my blog and my books.  I will soon be writing art instruction books too, as I am an artist as well as a writer.

Copyright free writing prompts by Antony R James.

Creative Writing Beginnings Story Prompts Book 3

Introduction.

A collection of 250 copyright free creative writing prompts

that can be used to kick-start the creative process.

Ideal for self-study or with writing groups (ages 16+).

Please note this book includes 73 new prompts.

For group use, permission is granted for the reproduction

of up to 40 copies of this material either as pages

for handouts or copies of the book in its entirety.

Antony R James.

Prompt 1: On a visit to a quaint village you and your husband are invited to a traditional Roma wedding.

Prompt 2: Your 70th Birthday is approaching. You are feeling tired and left behind by the modern world. How can you regain your spark and vitality?

Prompt 3: An ancient village is uncovered at a peat works. Wooden walkways and perfectly preserved homes on stilts together with boats are found. The area was once wetlands where the inhabitants travelled and fished in small boats. Larger vessels were also found which were presumed to be for travelling longer distances. Imagine you are a young boy or girl living within this small community on the water. The fish are becoming scarce and it will soon be time to move on to find a new area to live. Will it still be wetlands or will your leader decide to settle on dry land?

Prompt 4: He stood in the middle of the wilderness, his arms stretched outright summoning energy from the natural forces around him. Soon he would be ready to face going to the Jobcentre.

Prompt 5: Due to poor timekeeping you lose your job. You are finding it really difficult getting work without a reference from your last employer. Do you take up the offer of cash in hand work from a man you met in your local pub?

Prompt 6: At a music festival you meet a handsome younger man. You enjoy a wonderful weekend together and you would really like to see him again. He only lives a few miles down the road from you. There's only one problem, you are a police officer and your new male friend tells you he has committed crimes in the past and he takes recreational drugs.

Prompt 7: A movie producer wants to include you in his latest film. You have never acted in your life and are worried he has ulterior motives.

Prompt 8: An occult group open your eyes to the truth about our existence on Earth.

Prompt 9: You move to a new area but are suffering from loneliness. It is hard to find people you can trust as the area is blighted by anti-social behaviour.

Prompt 10: You are a test pilot and asked to fly an advanced aircraft that is located on a secret base on the moors in the north of England. When you arrive you realise that this is something a bit special and no ordinary aeroplane.

Prompt 11: Twenty-one years have passed since you last saw your dad. He's been working away in other countries overseeing the laying of fibre optic cables over long distances. Now he is semi-retired he is heading home to catch up with you.

Prompt 12: For many years scientists had agreed that the existence of great cigar-shaped objects visiting our solar system could be explained away as rare types of meteorites. However, as time went on, leading scientists began to suspect that they may well be artificial in nature and they thought about the possibility that they might, in fact, be large probes gathering data on our solar system.

A four-year construction program resulted in a finished, manned explorer ship being launched to meet up with one of these objects.

June 1st 2029 saw the explorer ship Viking 20 draw closer to the chosen object attempting to slingshot around Jupiter. With a limited window of opportunity, Captain Gina Rose set an intercept course and pressed the confirm key. The explorer lurched forward pinning the eight crew members firmly in their seats. Two days later they came aside the object. Although initially, it did, in fact, look like an elongated meteorite, on closer inspection, the crew could see that it had a hatch.

Prompt 13: After years of singing for yourself and your family you decide to go busking in your local town centre.

Prompt 14: Suffering for years with depression you finally decide you can't go on any more. You write a note to your sister and are about to think of a way to end it all when a bright light fills the room. You adjust your eyes and stare in astonishment at the sight before you.

Prompt 15: A remote cottage in the woods proves to be the ideal family Christmas getaway until it starts to snow.

Prompt 16: Taking a wrong turn on the way to your holiday destination leads to a massive row between you and your husband. Is the holiday ruined or can you salvage it?

Prompt 17: To fit in with the lads on your new estate you are asked to take an initiation test before you can join their gang.

Prompt 18: Since you gave up driving due to ill health you’ve been struggling to get around. A woman you recently met offers to drive you to appointments and take you shopping. After inviting her into your house for a drink and to use the toilet a few times you’ve noticed a few things are missing. You may have just mislaid them, but you are starting to have doubts about your new friend.

Prompt 19: Lately he’d been noticing strange cloud formations over the sea. They were perfectly square or rectangle clouds, just sitting there in an otherwise cloudless blue sky. He was sure nature didn’t make such clouds; he’d been at sea over thirty-five years and he’d never seen anything like this before. It had only started happening in the last few months, he thought it was probably a government experiment to control the weather. He tuned in his radio for a weather report and poured himself another coffee. Young Jake was the only crew member still on board, he was tinkering with the engine. The captain had dropped the rest of the crew off on the mainland to catch up on rest. It looked like it was going to be a nasty night but the weather warning had come from nowhere. He could predict a storm two days in advance, this was the first time his sixth sense had let him down. He picked up his coffee and ran his fingers through his grey beard. He thought to himself old age must be creeping up on him.

Prompt 20: A road trip across India leads a group of businessmen to throw off their suits and adopt a Hippy lifestyle.

Prompt 21: Write an account of the fire which destroyed much of the Palace of Westminster in central London, including the Houses of Lords and Commons in October 1834. J.M.W. Turner painted the dramatic scene as it was happening to leave a pictorial record of the event. Research the event on the internet to find out how it happened.

Prompt 22: Space Boot Camp 3000 was considered the safest training centre/summer camp for children of all ages. There had never been an incident in the one hundred and fifty years it had been in operation. Founder Malcolm Dexter the third was to be present during the celebrations at the end of summer junior sky race, held on the third moon of Titan Major. This year, however, things started to go wrong early on in the season, leading to a major catastrophe at the end of the summer celebrations.

Prompt 23: A short hot air balloon ride went horribly wrong leaving you and your partner dangling from a tree. It's only now, years later, that you can look back and laugh about it. Tell the story to a friend in a pub.

Prompt 24: Your husband has donated a family heirloom to your local church for their summer bazaar. How can you get it back?

Prompt 25: A minor scuffle turns into a street brawl outside your local pub. You are caught up in it and are shown in the local news coverage on TV. How can you show your face at work on Monday morning with two black eyes and a bite mark on your cheek?

Prompt 26: Your husband always takes the bait when waiting at traffic lights next to boy racers. Finally, he's made a complete idiot of himself by ending up floating down the local river in the family car. Think of the many put-downs his mates can come up with when they next see him at the pub!

Prompt 27: An Easter egg hunt nearly ends in disaster when your little one hands you a live grenade!

Prompt 28: A wine tasting afternoon with your old school friend ends up with you both extremely drunk and in the local police station.

Prompt 29: Your dream of piloting a paddle steamer down an American river finally comes true when you win a television phone-in competition.

Prompt 30: The small village of Renfield had suddenly become the centre of world attention after practically the whole village witnessed an RAF jet chasing a UFO overhead at the village bring and buy sale on Saturday afternoon. The Vicar was interviewed at length on live daytime television and the national newspapers descended on the village soon afterwards. Within the week Renfield was truly on the map.

You are a UFO investigator and your job is to determine the truth behind this UFO encounter. Using your tried and tested methods extract factual witness statements from the villagers and wheedle out any embellishments that have arisen due to the media hype surrounding this episode.

Prompt 31: You are not normally envious, but when you see a friend of yours has grabbed herself a younger man, you set out to land a catch of your own with hilarious consequences.

Prompt 32: You are not quite ready to be written off at work. You embark on a mission to bag a new job that's been advertised on the internal noticeboard. The only problem is, you're up against a herd of applicants fresh from the local university and your most hated enemy Jess Taylor who belittles you at every opportunity, is on the interview panel!.

Prompt 33: ……….The boat’s compass began to spin wildly and the electronic equipment started switching on and off. Suddenly the lights and equipment turned off completely and they were left in darkness. There was no sound at all, not even the sea lapping against the boat. Then all of a sudden a foghorn sounded in the distance. The three of them jumped then laughed. Shortly they began to hear a knocking sound coming from below the boat, it was getting louder by the second. Now they started to get really scared.

Prompt 34: A blind man mysteriously gets his sight back. He visits his optician and doctor who both tell him it will only be temporary. He has a month to see as much as he can before he will lose his sight once again.

Prompt 35: A street beggar sees you coming towards him. He gets up and gives you the money he has collected that day. He says you need it more than he does. You are puzzled, you have a good job and a family, in fact, you consider yourself to be well off, it should be you giving money to him, not the other way round.

Prompt 36: In a conversation at a pub with your friends you are asked what era you would like to go back to. You choose the 1980s. The next morning your radio alarm clock comes on and starts blasting out electronic music from the 1980s. Your newspaper pops through the letterbox and you grab it on the way to the kitchen. You look at the headlines and check the date of the paper. You think that your friends must be winding you up as you've been delivered a paper from the 1980s.

Prompt 37: ……….Elfenmere was wounded in the leg, his attacker, a knight in heavy armour hunted him down mercilessly. Dragging his leg over the rough terrain the small elf reached down into a ditch to take a sword from a long dead man lying in the shallow water. As the knight stepped closer, Elfenmere thrust the sword upwards between two plates of armour and into the stomach of the knight. The knight paused a moment then sank onto his knees with the sword still embedded. Elfenmere pushed the knight over then withdrew the sword and placed it back into the hand of the dead man in the ditch. The blood from the sword mixed with the stagnant water and the dead man raised up his sword to salute Elfenmere.

Prompt 38: Long ago in ancient Britain, a young boy did as he was commanded by his cruel family. One day while cowering in some bushes a tall stranger came upon him. The stranger took the boy who was named Raven into his care and taught him everything he knew of the old ways. Soon the boy grew up to be a strong handsome young man. His friend and saviour Draylock grew old and weakened as the years fell away. Finally, the time came when Draylock passed into the next realm and Raven took his place as the greatest warlock in the whole of ancient Britain. Soon word of his great feats and skills reached the ruling king of the north who summoned Raven to his side. Now begins the story of Raven and his secret love for the king’s daughter Isabel.

Prompt 39: The winter wind blew the fine snow up against the small cottage in the woods. Two hungry children looking for sanctuary saw smoke coming from the cottage and headed towards it. A hungry wolf spotted the children and headed their way. The boy and girl dressed in rags ran as fast as they could in the snow and reached the door to the cottage before the wolf. The door opened and they both fell inside.

Prompt 40: The winter fair came to town bringing strangers from all corners of the county. This year it was to be held on the lake which was frozen solid just like in the winter of 1740. Colourful tents were erected and boats were converted into sleighs to give the children rides on the ice. Fires were set above the ice in iron cradles to warm the crowds. No one noticed the presence of the man dressed in the colourful costume who slipped in and out of the entertainer's tents collecting anything he could sell. He entered the tent of the fortune teller. It was empty so he took his time looking around. He opened all the draws in an old chest and rummaged until his hand landed upon a mystery object that he couldn’t identify. He put it into his shoulder bag and disappeared out into the crowd.

The fortune teller arrived back and saw his tent had been entered. He went straight to the chest and frantically looked for the object he knew mustn’t fall into the wrong hands.

Prompt 41: Thomas Edbert Maroon emptied his pipe on the heel of his boot. He was feeling lucky today. The resident beast in Lake Yarrow had eluded him for too long. He was finally going to catch the famous pike and prove his sceptical, mocking friends wrong. Well, that was the plan.

Prompt 42: The harvest was in and the local hands all sat around a large fire with their flagons of cider. It wasn’t long before the older lads started picking on Jess who was a bit slow to learn. Millie the ale house serving girl held Jess against herself in mock protection. A fight started and a pitchfork was thrust into Jess and he died later that night.

The next morning a lone sheriff rode into the village to find out what had happened the night before.

Prompt 43: A majestic barge slowly sailed the narrow waterway. On board lay a Prince in fine clothing. His servant stood at the foot of his master’s golden bed.

Prompt 44: Your boss wants to send you on a training course that’s the other side of the country. However, there is a bit of a problem. You’ve been secretly hiding your fear of travelling anywhere further than the outskirts of your own town.

Prompt 45: Your husband is acting suspiciously. You look at his phone to find he has been contacting a woman you went to school with. What could he be up to?

Prompt 46: Your family go missing whilst on holiday in an unfamiliar town. You contact the police when they fail to arrive back at your holiday park the next morning.

Prompt 47: You’ve won a makeover in a competition held by your local newspaper. When you arrive at the newly opened beauty salon you come face to face with the school bully who made your life hell.

Prompt 48: You are a member of the press and are invited to try out an anti-gravitation suit. This new invention will revolutionize personal travel, allowing the wearer to break free of gravity and fly like a superhero. Write a report on your experience.

Prompt 49: Riding the rapids in her canoe relaxed her, despite the danger. She was free of all cares and in her element.

Prompt 50: A school play fills your little one with fear. How can you work through the issues your child is facing?

Prompt 52: Your child is having nightmares every night. You think this is just a normal process of growing up but you soon discover there is more to the nightmares than you first thought.

Prompt 53: Memories of Lynnchester House are surfacing more and more. You have tried to bury them deep but now you must face your demons.

Prompt 56: Moped gangs have made life hell in your town. Since the police started clamping down on them in the city they have headed to the outskirts to find easier pickings. You have had enough of being a prisoner in your own home. You get together an unlikely band of old aged pensioner vigilantes to tackle this problem once and for all.

Prompt 57: The body of Marianne Hardy the eighteenth-century explorer was found last week. You are a descendant of hers and you set about finding out as much as you can about her life.

Prompt 59: You have managed to let yourself get double-booked for two pre-Christmas meals on the same day. Luckily one is in the afternoon and one is in the evening. You are feeling a bit bloated by the time you arrive at your work’s pre-Christmas meal in the evening and everyone is saying how peaky you look!

Prompt 61: September the twenty-fifth is the day you and your boyfriend have set for your wedding but increasingly you are starting to have doubts it will go ahead because of your boyfriend’s strange behaviour.

Prompt 62: A quaint village has a traditional sweet shop where you can buy any sweets from the last hundred years. When you stop there for a break your coach-full of seniors disappear inside quick as lightning.

Prompt 63: A tea dance with a 1940’s theme proves a hit in your small coastal village.

Prompt 66: You are organising a charity jumble sale. Out of the corner of your eye, you spot one of the volunteers pocketing items of jewellery meant for the sale later that day. Should you confront them or just let it go?

Prompt 67: Write about a wounded pony who was featured on your local news.

Prompt 72: You are a sixteen-year-old girl and four months pregnant. It is 1969. Your father finds out and wants you to leave the family home. Your mother tries to talk him around and says she will bring the baby up as hers. Your father won't change his mind. The young lad who is the father of your baby wants nothing to do with you or the baby when it's born. You set off on a journey that leads you to a commune in a wood where you are welcomed with open arms.

Prompt 73: Is skulduggery afoot at your local village fair? Everyone is impressed by the oversized vegetables on show at the “Best Of The West” competition but has there been an attempt to chemically enhance one of the entries? A large wheelbarrow is rolled in with the biggest pumpkin you and the other entrants have ever seen.

Downstairs he could hear an argument between the driver and someone trying to get on the bus. It seemed a man was trying to bring a flat-packed wardrobe on board. Carlos could hear the driver telling the man that it was a matter of health and safety. The item was too large and he should have asked for it to have been delivered to his home. Carlos looked out of the window. The man dropped the wardrobe and rushed onto the bus. Very loud shouting could be heard and then the passengers downstairs started shouting and screaming. Carlos was the only passenger upstairs so he slowly made his way downstairs to see what was going on.

Prompt 77: <Character name> sat huddled in front of a wood burning stove in the corner of the room. His phone had lain on the small table next to him all week, there had been no messages and no texts. It was as if he had been completely forgotten by the department. He was classed as tainted, damaged goods, he’d be lucky to get a job doing school crossing patrol. The hearing was coming up in a week’s time, so he’d just have to sit it out and bide his time. No one was going to contact him before then. Later that evening when <Character name> was preparing a meal the phone buzzed. He nearly dropped the pan he was holding. He looked over and saw it was the Captain. The text message read {URGENT, need you back at work tonight!}.

Prompt 78: Playing the piano soothed her nerves. It was going to be a long night waiting for the security guard to fall asleep. He usually started dozing around three in the morning so she still had a couple of hours to go. She got up from the piano stool and looked through the telescope that she had trained on the hotel across the street. The guard was chatting to Marie Santiago the well-known opera singer famous for her string of husbands. <Character name> was sure the security guard wasn’t in with a chance, even if he thought he was. Ms Santiago, as she liked to be referred to, as she was between husbands, waved goodbye to the guard and silkily entered the rotating door and out onto the street.

The guard got an adult magazine out of a desk drawer and started pouring over the pictures and articles. <Character name> shuddered, later on, she’d have to help Ricardo lift his sweaty body into the van after the switch. Their man could almost pass as the guard’s twin brother. The gang were banking on the hotel’s clients being so self-centred that they would hardly notice if you switched the security guard with a chimp.

Prompt 79: March 13 th 2035: The Mars12 space station has strayed out of its orbit. Twelve scientists and four crew members are aboard the space station and nothing has been heard from them in over a month. Two weeks ago both of the Mars rovers suddenly stopped working with a loss of feed.

A rescue mission has hurriedly been put together and redundant spacecraft have been transported to NASA control for safety checks and modification. The obvious choice for a team leader is <Character name> but he hasn’t been into space for over ten years and has said to anyone who has asked, that there was no way he was ever going to go back up there.

Brief: You are being sent to persuade <Character name> to head the rescue mission. Find out why he is reluctant to return to Mars orbit.

Prompt 80: A letter arrives to inform you that you are to be evicted from your social housing. You can't understand why. Your rent is all up to date, you haven't had any warnings about anti-social behaviour. The letter doesn't explain the reason why you are being evicted. You phone the provider of your social housing only to be given some very shocking news.

Prompt 81: Far from home with no money, Lilly could think of no other option but to accept the offer of a warm bed and food from the stranger she’d only just met that morning. He had said to her he would leave her to think about his offer and he would come back later to find out her decision. She looked anxiously at him coming towards her; she had no idea what his motives were but she’d have to take a chance, she was cold and hungry.

Prompt 82: A meeting with his accountant hadn’t gone as smoothly as it should have. The accountant struggled to tally the books. Fifty-thousand pounds was missing and couldn’t be accounted for. Matt thought it through, picturing each member of his small team. He trusted all of them but he knew one of them must have stolen the money. He knew this was far too serious to turn a blind eye and make up the difference himself, he had no other option but to call the police.

Prompt 83: Halloween has been and gone but you keep seeing a man walking around town wearing a monster mask. The mask seems to be stuck to his face. Are you seeing things?

Prompt 84: Piggleham was holding its fourth annual cheese push later that afternoon with over fifty entrants, mainly men. Denise Yen was up for the challenge and had been in training all spring. It had never been won by a woman but she was determined to be the first!.

Prompt 85: Revisiting Alex Farrington.

Link to the original idea (Story 1).

https://creativeblockbuster.blogspot.com/2016/03/story-ideas-2nd-batch.html

Two days had passed before anyone arrived back to attend to Alex. His mouth was bone dry and he was badly dehydrated. Although he couldn’t see his captors, he could tell they were well-built men; they were easily able to carry him from room to room. His blindfold was still in place when the leader of the gang entered the room.

“Mr Farrington, you still have not answered my question. Where is Lucy Everett?”

Alex could smell the expensive aftershave wafting off the man as he moved closer.

“This must be tiring for you Alex. How about you tell me what I want to know and we’ll all have a nice cold refreshing drink?”

Alex said nothing.

“You leave me no choice. Move him to the back room.”

Alex was hauled up and dragged for some distance along what must have been a passageway. He was well aware that he would soon need to drink but he wasn’t going to give them what they wanted. He would have to come up with a plan to overpower them, even though he’d never felt as weak as he did at that moment.

Prompt 86: Alex Farrington searched the classified section in the newspaper for the agreed code words. They weren’t there this week and hadn’t been in the paper last week either. Alex knew Armstrong was in trouble, he always left a coded message each week without fail. Alex sent a message to his commander at The Hub and awaited orders to be sent back. In the meantime, he grabbed his things and left his hotel room. The pokey room was starting to get to him. He needed to see some greenery and sky.

In a small park just yards away from his hotel he bumped into an old school friend who he hadn’t seen for years. Abbey Fletcher had been the school beauty with a brain and Alex was shocked to see she was still as stunning now.

Prompt 87: With a small bag filled with diamonds in the boot, Alex Farrington was feeling somewhat apprehensive driving towards the checkpoint ahead. He pulled up near the barrier and wound down his window. From a small makeshift office, a muscular man in uniform leant out of the window to talk to Alex.

“State your business!”

“Sightseeing.”

“You joke with me, eh?”

“No, I’m quite serious, you have some beautiful scenery. I’m a film director looking for locations. It’ll prove to be very lucrative for your village if I can find some suitable backdrops.”

The official thought for a few seconds then waved Alex through once he’d seen his passport.

Prompt 88: Ten years ago Alex Farrington’s father disappeared without a trace. Alex had tried to find him but he always drew a blank. A letter arrived from Paris from a man named Victor Boisson who claimed to have information on the whereabouts of Gerald Farrington.

Prompt 89: Sailing a small dinghy on your local river proves to be very exciting as you spot a rare bird has a nest in the reeds.

Prompt 90: You read in your local paper that a Viking sword has been found in marshland near your home. Write a story about the owner of the sword. Use the internet to research all you can about Vikings.

Prompt 91: Antarctica is often being featured on Youtube and the internet. Research the conspiracy theories. Keywords: Admiral Richard E. Byrd, lost civilization in Antarctica, Hollow Earth, the missing diary of Admiral Richard E. Byrd , Operation Highjump.

Prompt 92: A lone wolf has been spotted in woods surrounding your small village. Experts think it may have escaped from a wildlife park ten miles away but you later hear on the news that the park can account for all their wolves. As you are the head ranger for your area it is your job to assemble a small team to investigate these sightings.

Prompt 93: During a visit to a country house you notice an oil painting on the wall. The man in the painting looks just like you.

Prompt 94: A woman at your local pottery group is melting your cold heart. Over the months she begins to enter your thoughts more and more until you can stand it no more. You decide to ask her out for a date at a local restaurant with a movie to follow.

Prompt 95: A 1950’s expedition to the Gobi Desert uncovers a wealth of knowledge about Dinosaurs and their eggs. However, whilst visiting the Nemegt Basin, in particular, the team are amazed to find a rich source of fossil material and cannot believe their luck when they stumble across one of the most important finds of the century.

Prompt 96: A group of travellers are reported missing in the Atlas Mountains and you are charged with assembling a rescue team. The British government has provided aircraft and equipment together with a support team. You have two days to get your team together before your aeroplane leaves for Morocco.

Prompt 97: You have met your match when a formidable new member joins your local drama group. Will you be outdone by his acting?

Prompt 98: Sitting at his work desk in a portable office in the countryside a farmer is doing his accounts. He is suddenly aware of a low vibration underground below him. He jumps up from his seat and hurries to the other end of the office as a machine drills upwards and destroys his desk.

Prompt 99: This year you are asked to be Mummy Christmas and teamed up with the most annoying man at your local social group. Do you manage to get on with Father Christmas or do you two need to be separated for fear of a fight breaking out in the grotto?

Prompt 100: Sir Isaac Brent picked up the morning newspaper and noticed his friend Nathaniel Mortimer had once again made it onto the front page, this time with his latest escapade, a daring trip to the Congo Rainforest in search of a lost city.

Prompt 101: The “Harvest Home” in your village is a week away. You have two tickets but no one to go with you. You like a girl at your university but are a bit reluctant to ask her to go with you in case she thinks you are a bit of a “country boy” and not sophisticated enough as she lives in London. Does she agree to go with you? How does it turn out? Research online to find out what goes on at a “Harvest Home”.

Prompt 102: Mysty the medium is at your local funfair. She is giving readings in her small caravan. Your girlfriend persuades you to have a reading against your better judgement. It turns out you were right, Mysty says she cannot give you a reading because of a life-changing event about to happen in the next week; she says she will not give a negative reading to anyone only positive ones. This prediction has unsettled you. You are now being very cautious and looking out for anything out of the ordinary. This prediction is like a time bomb waiting to go off; your mood has changed from carefree to careful. Your girlfriend laughs it off and tells you they are all frauds, but you're not sure. You are having a very bad feeling about getting safely through the rest of the week.

Prompt 103: Write a letter to your past self. What advice would you give?

Prompt 104: The crew of a ghost ship rescue a little boy from the sea.

Prompt 105: Your Sunday morning lie-in is disturbed by a neighbour shouting for help.

Prompt 106: Write a story that includes the character Derek Wetherby who is a detective in 1960's London. On first inspection, he comes across as a dull ageing man who seems a little long in the tooth to be contending with the rise of violent gangs in the city. However, he has a secret; he's really a shape-shifting alien living on Earth!

Prompt 107: The stranger sat in front of a fire outside his tent. He had been living in the woods for three days and his presence hadn't gone unnoticed. The local police had visited him to make him aware that the council had started proceedings to get him removed from the local amenity. He wasn't doing any harm: He used to live in the area with his mother until they were both driven away from their house by an overzealous pastor and his followers. The man's mother was accused of being a witch and their hasty house move had aggravated a long-standing mental disposition and she was eventually locked away in a secure unit where she ended her own life.

A little boy with his puppy came up to the stranger. "What's your name?" he asked.

"Seth," the stranger replied.

"I'm Harry"

"Come on Harry don't disturb the man," said Harry's mum when she caught up.

"He's OK, you've got a fine boy and a lovely puppy," said Seth smoothing the dog.

"Are you here on holiday?" Harry's mother asked.

"I used to live here, I'm just visiting for a few days."

"Enjoy yourself, it's a lovely day."

"Take care of your mum Harry."

"I will, bye."

Seth had come back with a head full of bad memories and a heart full of fight but now he was actually here sitting in the warm sun all of those feelings had left him. He didn't feel like getting his own back anymore, he remembered that this was his home and he'd every right to be there.

Prompt 108: He was walking northwards in the pouring rain but couldn’t explain why. He’d left that morning and set off with no belongings at all. The house he’d left was unlocked and the TV and lights were still switched on. Every now and again a car would stop to ask if he needed a lift somewhere; they were probably feeling sorry for him walking in the rain without a coat. He blanked them and kept walking. He wasn’t himself at all that day, in fact, he wasn’t sure he knew who he was.

His wife came home from work to find the house unlocked and empty. Her husband was. nowhere to be seen. She initially thought that he might be speaking to one of the neighbours over the fence at the back of the house. Then when this proved to be not the case she wondered if he had popped to the corner shop and forgot to lock up. This also proved not to be the case. Then she became worried.

Prompt 109: Selina woke early and drew the curtains. She looked at the lake and was surprised to see a small inflatable dinghy with frogmen sitting either side. She could see they were testing their equipment and putting on facemasks. She scanned the rest of the lake and could see a police car and trailer parked on the ramp leading to the lake. She wondered if she ought to go and talk to the officers who had now got out of the car but she realised that they were heading her way. The knock at the door was soft, hardly enough to hear it. She answered and the two police officers showed their identification and asked if they could come in.

Prompt 110: The gallery doors unlocked and Milo the manager ushered the impressionist painter inside. Next week was to be a momentous occasion for Joe Slade. His first exhibition in twenty-five years was going to re-launch his career.

Milo guided Joe into his office. "We have a slight problem, Mr Slade. Last night we had a break-in. I've got some very bad news for you, Sir. The thieves have emptied the gallery; all your work has been stolen."

"What all of it?"

"Yes, Sir, all of it."

"But that's two years worth of work! I can't knock up enough paintings for the exhibition next week."

"We can't postpone, we are all booked up till next year!"

Prompt 111: Deep in a Scottish wood you attended a class on survivalist tactics. Little did you know that a few weeks later you would be putting the skills you learnt into practice!

Prompt 112: A circus comes to town. You and your college friends go for a laugh. One of the acrobatic groups has a young lady performing who takes your breath away; she is the most beautiful girl you have ever set eyes on. How can you get to meet her? Oh, by the way, there is a poster board outside the circus tent advertising job positions for trainee circus staff.

Prompt 114: You and your wife have a new neighbour. He is a bit odd and creepy and a bit of a loner. After a few months of him moving in you begin to hear scraping noises under your house. You call in a vermin control company to investigate. They can't find any evidence of a pest infestation. You forget about it for a few weeks until you hear what sounds like furniture being moved below your lounge. You and your wife had gone for a two week holiday about a month after your neighbour moved in. Could he have built a cellar that extends under your house? If he has what is the purpose of this underground space?.

Prompt 115: Sandra saw her husband's car outside the flats and her stomach churned. She steadied herself on the door frame and summoned enough courage to go up the stairs. The door to their flat suddenly opened taking her by surprise. Next, a fist met her face and she was dragged in by the hair.

"Where've you been all night?" her husband spat. "They let me out yesterday evening and you were nowhere to be found. Oh, and who's this Eric you've been spending time with while I've been inside?"

Prompt 116: The ‘Facility’, built in remote countryside in Yorkshire is causing problems for local farmers. They believe that it should never have been given planning permission and therefore should never have been built in an area of outstanding natural beauty. However, more concerning than that is the fact that their livestock has started to become unwell due to unknown emissions coming from the ‘Facility’.

You are one of the farmers still trying to make a living from your livestock. You are working closely with your local vet to get to the bottom of the mystery illness affecting your livestock.

Prompt 117: The small outbuilding had not been used for years and was the ideal hiding place for a body: it was deep in the wood and hard to reach. Inside the building, under a covering of mud and leaves, the body had been there for weeks. But eventually, curious eyes wanting to explore every nook and cranny stumbled upon the corpse.

Rance Broodberg took out his notepad and pencil from his overcoat. He was meticulous in his observations and wrote down the smallest of detail, even if it would never be called upon. Having been working for Sussex police for only three months he still felt like the outsider but it didn't seem to bother his fellow detectives; they seemed genuinely glad of the help and were willing to help him in any way they could. Leaving Iceland and taking up his one year exchange was proving a much smoother process than he had thought it would be. Now, he was in his element using all of his natural skill to assist the British police.

Prompt 118: Hester Larrin stepped out of his chauffeur-driven limo and fought his way through the swarm of flashing photographers. He entered his hotel then adjusted his eyes for a moment. He stepped up to the desk.

“Hi, Leah. Is there any post for me?”

“Loads,” she said, handing him a pile of letters.

“I'm expecting Duncan over later, let him up but head off anyone else.”

He pulled out his phone and looked through his messages. There were too many to read so he put it away. A couple came out of the lift and their faces showed they recognised him from the news. He said hello to them but they quickly scurried away. It seemed overnight he had become public enemy number one.

Prompt 119: Botanist Mickey Sander got straight on the phone to his colleagues at his Lab in Bristol. He stood up to his ankles in ditch water and held the phone near a plant with a lone flower.

“Can you see it clearly?”

“Yes, but I don't recognise it,” said the voice at the other end.

“I can't dig it out, there's only one. I'm going to have to take a cutting.”

“Get it back as soon as you can.”

“OK, see you later.”

Mickey found a small flower pot from the back of his van and planted the cutting in some compost. After using his water bottle to moisten the soil, he carefully propped the plant pot safely between his rucksack and the remaining compost that was in a plastic bag. He got into his 4x4 and drove across the boggy field to the gate that led to the road.

Prompt 120: Detective Inspector Ragnor Snell looked out at the snow, it was falling quite heavily and had started to bury the cars in the station car park. It looked like he would have to walk into town to interview Denise Wild. She had phoned early in the morning to report an unusual break-in; an intruder had forced the lock on the back door to the town museum, but as far as she could tell nothing had been stolen or tampered with. He’d asked forensics to go down first thing that morning to see if they could gather any evidence, they tried but said it was next to impossible due to the building being open to the public; there were too many different fingerprints, strands of hair and dry skin lying around to be able to narrow down a recent visit in the early hours by a would-be thief.

Prompt 121: Mulberry Close loomed near. Anita was dreading it; she hadn’t visited her sister in over twenty years but now she had no choice. Their mother had passed away suddenly the previous week and the journey to Scotland was mandatory. Anita parked up her car and gathered her composure. She steadied her nerves and opened the car door only to be met by Rose standing outside the car.

Prompt 122: Fortitude was docked on the west quay. Samuel checked his pockets for his boarding docket and handed it to the man waiting at the top of the steps.

“Any luggage?” the man asked.

“No, Sir. Just me as I am,” Samuel replied.

“If you need a change of clothes the ship’s doctor keeps a lost property trunk.”

“Thank you very much, Sir.”

Samuel looked for his designated bunk which was shown on his docket and once he found it he climbed in and fell asleep whilst the ship was still docked. Thirty minutes later Fortitude slowly set off for New York and a new life awaited Samuel Frost.

Prompt 123: The coach trip planned for that day was into the very heart of Southern Ireland. So far the coach party had sampled the delights of Cork, Waterford and Killarney. Now they were set for a mystery tour that would take them back in time to a lonely country pub where peat was still burnt on an open fire and the original farming decorations still hung on the walls. But they weren’t prepared for the dark force that wandered the desolate landscape with its abandoned crumbling cottages and rocky walls. This restless, malevolent spirit had been born out of the suffering and starvation during the potato famine of 1845-49. Its ferocious hunger for revenge had so far not been satisfied.

Prompt 124: The satnav was leading them on a wild goose chase that took them across wild and hilly landscapes far away from their intended destination of Farmer’s Point. Somehow the machine had got it into its electronic head that they wanted to go to Craggy Point instead. The couple could not be more lost, then the worst happened, their 1950’s Morris Minor Lowlight Convertible broke down. With nightfall quickly approaching and nothing but a rag-top roof for protection Jackie and Pete huddled under a picnic blanket for warmth. The old heater quickly drained the car battery and they were both in for an incredibly cold night in one of the remotest locations in Britain.

Prompt 125: The steamboat Neptune rounded the island and moored beside the jetty on Atlantic Beach. Bi-planes flew overhead to celebrate the return of the local heroes who played such an important part in overthrowing the occupiers who had dominated the Islanders for so long. Twenty years of occupation by the Imperial Truscan Force was now over and the Island of Tranquillity could now live up to its name and once again become a place of peace. Little did the people of Tranquillity know that another invasion force was on its way from the east.

Prompt 126: Star-catcher, the fastest and most powerful fighter ship in the seventh sector was sent to intercept an unknown vessel approaching Earth. Confident Star-catcher was the ultimate weapon, the command centre was surprised when they lost contact with Dac Masoon their best pilot. Weeks later the wreckage of Star-catcher was found by long-range scout ships. The unknown vessel was still on a heading for Earth and time was now of the essence to find a weakness. A team of scientists was picked to completely redesign the fighter ship class to produce the next ultimate weapon. In the meantime, a small group of peacemakers led by Triscon Drake decide that it might be wise to try to communicate with the unknown vessel and set out on board a D-class freighter to make contact.

Prompt 127: Whilst excavating the foundations of a condemned 1940’s house the building team stumble across human remains, a stash of gold, silver and weapons. Experts visit the site to give their opinions on the find.

Prompt 128: After colonising what was thought to be a lifeless planet, a team of oceanographers who were exploring a deep sea trench make an exciting discovery. But afterwards, the colonists are left with a moral dilemma.

Prompt 129: After causing a scandal for his party. A member of parliament is in hiding fearing for his life. A safe house is set up and he is taken to a remote part of the country to sit out the backlash. A lone gunman arrives a few days later and starts staking out the farm building where the MP is being housed with his security team.

Prompt 130: After spotting a very rare coin in an amusement arcade machine, you arm yourself with a bucket full of two pence pieces and set up for a long evening ahead.

Prompt 131: Whilst working for a major international company you stumble upon a file which includes details of inventions and cures for diseases that have never been put into production. You find that the company you are working for has paid large amounts of money to scientists and inventors to stop these revolutionary products ever seeing the light of day. What do you do now?.

Prompt 132: You find a strange boy wandering in fields behind your farm. You call the police in case he is a missing person. They come to meet him in your farmhouse. They say they have no reports of a missing boy. The police ask you to accompany the frightened boy to the local hospital, as he seems to be more settled in your company. After some basic checks, the hospital doctor whispers to the local police officers who start to act in a different manner altogether. The police officer in charge radios through a message that seems to be in code as you can't understand what he's saying. Within minutes the hospital is surrounded by armed police and specialist armed forces personnel. Helicopters buzz the hospital as you sit with the young boy in the waiting room. Members of the public are now being escorted out of the hospital by armed forces and you and the boy are left sitting on your seats, waiting.

Prompt 133: Exercise: Winter flooding of the Somerset Levels in 2013-2014 created headline news. Research and write about the impact the floods had on the local people who were affected.

Prompt 134: A two-hundred-year-old bottle washes up on your local beach. There is a map inside. You and some college friends decide to go on a treasure hunt to a remote Scottish island.

Prompt 135: A family river cruise holiday in Norfolk leads to the discovery of an ancient artefact that has the power to transport the holder to a time when the Vikings sailed their longboats inland in search of silver and gold.

Prompt 136: Memet waited outside the hotel, his taxi meter ticking away. The fine looking woman finally appeared at the doorway and waved to him. He got out of the car and climbed the steps of the Imperial Langdon Hotel. She pointed to her bags and he picked them up.

“Thank you, driver, you're so kind,” she purred.

Memet hauled them down to his taxi and dumped them in the boot.

When the woman got into the back of the taxi, he got in and asked her where she was going.

“Back to London, I've had enough of Scotland. One can only take so much sight-seeing. I want to shop, meet my friends and lunch!”

“OK, lady, but it's going to cost.”

“Money's no object, just get me back, you don't have to hurry, as long as I know I'm on my way.”

During the journey, the two of them put the world to rights and by the end of the journey to London, had become good friends. They agreed they would meet up a few weeks later in Manchester. Memet would drive from Scotland and his new lady friend, Lorrie, would fly from London to Manchester.

The day arrived and Memet met Lorrie at Manchester airport.

Prompt 137: Whilst watching a monster truck show with your family, one of the stunts goes wrong. Over the noise of the crowd, you think you hear your car number plate being called out.

Prompt 138: After helping your local pub quiz team to victory, unbeknown to you, your team send off your details and enter you into a well-known TV quiz show.

Prompt 139: The young lady got off the gilded barge, lifted her skirt and headed onto the moors. The bargemen looked at each other in disbelief.

“She’ll be burnt as a witch without a chaperone.”

“Or they’ll think her a whore,” said the other.

She strode on purposefully, jumping large puddles and ditches with ease. She knew the moors well, she was raised in the area and was used to the terrain. The night was drawing in and she knew she must reach her destination before nightfall. She could see lights in the distance about two miles away. As long as she kept heading for the lights she knew she would be alright. Eventually, the village came into view. She knew every house and all the families that lived in them. The pub and shop were kept by Mr and Mrs Jennings who always had a spare room available for a traveller, so she decided to head straight there. They would know who she was once she told them of her early life in the village. They were unlikely to have forgotten about the only person to have ever left the village and they would definitely remember her once she told them she had left to become an actress in London.

Prompt 140: Late autumn in Victorian London a spate of frightening attacks by the notorious villain ‘Spring-heeled Jack’ led to a gathering of like-minded citizens who wanted to reclaim the streets of London from such monsters. The meeting place was advertised on flyers and nailed to trees around London. The evening of 27 th November was the agreed date, an abandoned warehouse the meeting point. The evening arrived with one of the worst fogs London had ever encountered. Hardly an arm's length ahead could be seen, but that didn’t deter the gathered citizens. With flaming torches and dogs on leashes, they set about their business, to hunt down the deviant ‘Spring-heeled Jack’.

Prompt 141: Marge Dorlington placed her spectacles firmly on her nose. The Police Officer looked on as the elderly detective went about her investigation. She dusted the cups and saucers for fingerprints and tested the remaining tea in the cups for known poisons. She closed the doctor’s bag she used as a mobile laboratory and sat in the seat next to the table. Looking down at the two bodies lying on the carpet she declared that for once she was stumped. She was going to have to ask for help from the new pathology laboratory that had recently opened in London. The two deceased ladies would both need a proper autopsy to establish a cause of death.

Prompt 142: The Mayday festival was weeks away and mothers were busily making dresses for their daughters. The May Queen was to be chosen the week before the celebrations and as was the custom each year the Lord of the manor would spend an evening dining with the chosen girl at the manor house. However, this year when the time came for the chosen girl to be collected from the manor by a coach she was nowhere to be found. The local sheriff spoke to Lord Marchingale about the disappearance of the May Queen, Jess Turnpike, only to be told she had stormed off in a sour mood. The sheriff took this at face value and nothing more was done until she never arrived home that night or the next morning. An investigating official was despatched from London and he and his young assistant set about finding the truth behind the disappearance of Jess Turnpike the May Queen.

Prompt 143: Exercise: Continue the journal/diary.

Riding my beautiful horse along the banks of the local river was one of my favourite pastimes. Summers seemed to go on forever back then. Life was easy and carefree. Now I’m working in the city and don’t have the time for leisurely pursuits and I do so miss my small village in the countryside. Recently, I’ve been working on a project in London to help homeless people get into permanent homes so they can return to the community. One man I’ve been helping has mental health problems but I’ve found he has a love for the countryside like me. Over the past few months, I have got to know Tom really well and like him very much. We go for walks in the parks together and I now consider him to be a good friend.

Prompt 144: You had a lovely fourteen-year-old son. After he had suffered a year of torment by bullies at his school you decided enough was enough and visited the school in person; phoning them had proved ineffective. Shortly afterwards your son was set upon by bullies from his school on the way home and was beaten to death. You felt guilty over his death because you had gone to the school and they had apparently dealt with it. The same school bullies who were never sentenced often see you in the street and taunt you about your son’s death. This time you really have had enough. You know a local man who can ‘sort things out’. You go and see him.

Prompt 145: You are experiencing disturbing hallucinations. Everything and everyone you look at changes at a second glance. You see a couple walking hand in hand, the next time you look it's just one of them walking alone. Shop signage changes the moment you look away. Men become women, dogs become cats and trees become bushes. What is happening?

Prompt 146: The woods at Greengoss Spinney are set to become a centre for modern art with contemporary sculptures and installations; it’s been on the local news and featured in your village paper. Your community is split on this proposal with some in favour and some dead against it. Pick a side and write a letter to your local newspaper outlining your argument for or against the proposal.

Prompt 147: Fourteen months have passed since you lost your memory. You were found outside a bar with blood on your hands and a head wound. You haven’t remembered a thing about that night so your rehabilitation team decide to take you back to where you were found. It’s dark outside the car as the team member pulls up outside the bar. Your memories suddenly start to flood back and you let out a piercing scream.

Prompt 148: Your 60th birthday passed last week. You don’t feel old and you still think like a young person so you decide to throw caution to the wind and do everything a young person would do in a typical year. You start off by going clubbing.

Prompt 149: Detective Chief Inspector Montgomery Alexander Hughes looked at his pocket watch. He noted it was 8’ O clock when the knock came at his door. His maid introduced the caller as Sir Geoffrey Goddings calling about a most delicate matter.

“Show him in, Mrs Douglass.”

The gentleman took off his hat and stooped into the drawing room.

“What can I do for you this evening Sir?”

“I come about a matter that is most urgent, it couldn’t wait until tomorrow, hence I came straight to your lodgings, for which I can only apologize.”

“No apology is necessary. Pray, what is troubling you? You look shaken to the core my good fellow. Sit and tell me all about it.”

“Thank you. Well, last night I made a terrible mistake I spent time with a lady of ill reputation if you understand. Now she is threatening to expose me to the newspapers. I am soon to be wed to a lady of noble blood, my family will be disgraced and my reputation will be in ruins.”

“Come, come, no one has been injured or anything of the sort. We just need to silence the woman you met last night. After all, she is committing a crime by trying to blackmail you. Has she asked you for any money to keep her quiet?”

“No! That’s the thing, she said she wanted to ruin my family, I offered her hundreds of pounds, but she didn’t want the money. I asked her if a newspaper would pay her for her story, but she said they could keep their money.”

“How strange, are you sure she won’t take money?”

“She won’t. I suppose she’s not committing a crime if she’s not asking for money?”

“Well, as you’ve admitted to me you spent time with her last night, she’s not lying about that, so I don’t really see she’s committing any crime. However, I would like to get to the bottom of this, what has she got against you and your family?”

“Until yesterday I’d never seen the woman before. Sir, I am at a loss.”

“ You might not have met her before, but another member of your family may know of her.”

“That is quite possible.”

“Then I would suggest that we should both go to see your family and find out from them. Do they live far?”

“Two days by carriage.”

“I’ll send a messenger to have a carriage readied for us to travel as soon as possible.”

“Thank you very much.”

Prompt 150: Merit Green sat at the bottom of a tree-covered hill. The quaint houses were all mock Tudor and everything looked tidy and orderly. The small green was perfectly kept with the grass cut short and weed free. It felt as if it would be wrong to trample the uniformly cut grass even though it was obviously intended to be used as a communal amenity. No children were playing in the road that ran around the green and no play park had been provided by the developers.

A car pulled up outside number 34 Merit Green and an estate agent got out and lent against his car while vaping. Clouds of sweet-smelling vapour filled the air. It wasn’t long before another car pulled up. A couple got out and greeted the estate agent then after chatting a while they went inside the house. No one stirred, no curtains twitched. There was no sound at all.

“I’ll show you the kitchen, it has all the latest innovations, it was designed by the Swedish designer Morten Dent,” said the estate agent leading the couple through to the minimalist kitchen. “It really wouldn’t look out of place in one of those posh design magazines.”

“It’s lovely,” said the young woman.

“It’s quite stark, but I could see ourselves here,” the young man said as if he was knowledgeable about such things.

“Shall I leave you to look around upstairs yourselves?”

“Yes, we can measure up, I’ve brought a tape measure,” the young man said tapping a bulky bulge in his jacket.

They headed for the modern spiral staircase with its thick toughened glass steps. They hesitated slightly before stepping onto the first step wondering if it would support their weight.

“Go ahead, those steps could withstand an elephant standing on them,” said the estate agent.

Ten minutes later the couple came down the stairs and found the estate agent vaping in the back garden.

“We want to buy it,” the young man said confidently.

“We’ve fallen in love with it. It’s just what we’ve been looking for,” the young woman said.

“OK, we’ll meet back at the office and we can get the ball rolling.”

Four O’clock Sunday afternoon in early June, David and Sarah Blithe put the key into the front door of 34 Merit Green. They turned it together and listened to the sound of the lock click. The house was theirs. The removal van was due at Five so they shut the door and ran upstairs. Sex on the floor wasn’t quite as enjoyable as it looked in the movies. In fact, it was quite uncomfortable. Once dressed and with none of their possessions in the house, all they could do was wait for the removal van to arrive. It arrived at Six.

Prompt 151: (Warning: This prompt contains material only suitable for Ages 16+)

Don Brandenberg left his house and waited for a self-drive to arrive. He got in and asked to go to The Elevator. The car rose up and flew over London’s parklands and soon arrived at the glass lift in Britannia Park. He stepped out and the car flew away looking for another traveller.

The lift attendant raised his hat and welcomed him inside.

“Is it business or a vacation that brings you our way?” the attendant asked cheerfully.

“Business I’m afraid, a nasty business. I’ve been asked to assist in the investigation of the first Moon murder.”

“My word, this is terrible news for our company. We don’t want people to lose confidence in our premium destination. We have an outstanding safety rating at the moment. What will this mean now?”

“Well, hopefully, we’ll get it all sorted and your company won’t be affected. After all, crime is hardly out of control up there. This is a one-off. Not likely to happen again.”

“Well let’s hope so, but it is so dreadfully upsetting to hear of such a thing. I’d better show you to Reception where you can book your room.”

“Thank you, young man, it was very nice meeting you.”

The young lady at the reception desk looked up. “Can I help you, Sir?”

“Yes, I’d like to book a room please.”

“A single would that be? Or is someone joining you?”

“No just me.”

“Excellent, room 65 is lovely, very restful.”

“That sounds just fine.”

“Can I take your name?”

“Mr Don Brandenberg.”

“I Just need your finger on the plate. Excellent, payment’s gone through.”

“Will you be having dinner in the dining room or would you like it sent up?”

“I’ll eat in the dining room. What time is dinner served?”

“6.30 this evening. We’ll be leaving at eight o’clock on the dot. Do you suffer from queasiness at all?”

“I’m not sure, this is my first time in The Elevator.”

“We have a first-timer! I’ll get a bottle of complimentary wine sent up to your room. I’ll also include some anti-sickness pills just in case.”

Don doffed his hat, thanked the young lady and headed for the lift.

Room 65 turned out to be as restful as the lady at Reception had said it would be. He took off his hat and kicked off his shoes. He was a bit apprehensive now that queasiness was mentioned. He decided to try and forget about it and treat it like he was just in a proper hotel and not in a hotel that happened to be inside a glass lift about to propel him into space.

Dinner slid down well and Don enjoyed the entertainment that was laid on afterwards. The cabaret act was particularly good and relaxed him into a light sleep. He shook himself awake and looked at the dining room clock that had just started a countdown. It was on 87 seconds so Don made his way down to the viewing area in Reception.

The young lady at the reception desk waved at him and he nodded back. He joined a group of pensioners who were sat on seating facing the transparent glass walls of The Elevator. He stood behind them and leant back into a standing cradle and strapped himself in. The reception clock had said it was about 32 seconds to go, so he figured the launch was imminent. People started to get excited and counted the last 10 seconds down aloud. Looking through the glass, flames could be seen circling around The Elevator until finally, an explosion shot the whole structure high into the sky. Secondary rockets underneath The

Elevator fired and the glass lift left Earth’s atmosphere. The force holding Don firmly to the floor during the launch was beginning to wear off and soon everyone started getting out of their seats and standing restraints and began moving freely again.

The young lady from the reception desk was now out of uniform and came over to Don.

“Would it be too forward of me to ask you to join me for a drink, Mr Brandenberg?”

“I’d love to, but please call me Don.”

“Call me Suzy. I can just tell, we’re gonna have a marvellous evening!”

“Well, Suzy. Lead the way.”

Suzy linked arms with Don and led him to the late night casino and bar. After a few drinks and some fruity banter, she suggested they go to visit the Sex Games in the main entertainment and shopping emporium.

“Is it legal?”

“Don, you’re not on Earth now, it must be the Policeman in you, niggling away.”

“OK, let’s take a look.”

A pink neon sign above the door blazed the words ‘Sex Games’. The two of them, still arm in arm, walked in.

The dimly lit room was large and housed The Elevator’s shops. These were closed now and gave way to gyrating scantily clad young women and sexbots; both male and female who were simulating sexual acts to get the audience into the mood for more adventurous games later in the evening.

Suzy looked on with wide-eyed excitement. “Let’s find a table.”

Don signalled for a waiter as they sat down. He looked around and wasn’t sure if this was his sort of thing but looking at his young companion with her blonde bob and pretty flawless face, he thought he was willing to witness a few sleazy acts if it meant he could spend time with such a beautiful young woman. He figured he was at least fifteen years older than her and he wasn’t quite sure what she had seen in him for her to want to ask him for a drink.

The waiter arrived and took their order.

“Can I have a large Spacebomb cocktail to share with two straws please?” Suzy said.

“Anything else with that?” the waiter asked.

“Would you like some food, Don?”

“Why don’t we order some party nibbles?”

“Yes, some nuts and assorted nibbles, you choose for us,” said Suzy.

“I’ll bring that for you shortly,” said the waiter.

The sex acts in front of the shops were starting to hot up and Don loosened his shirt a little. Men joined the scantily clad women and danced provocatively around each other. A compere stepped up and asked for entrants for the sex games that were to take place after eleven o’clock.

Don blushed and hoped that Suzy wasn’t going to volunteer them. She noticed he was looking uncomfortable and told him not to worry, they’d perform their own sex games in her suite later on which made him blush even more. She laughed.

Their order arrived and they drank from what looked like a fish bowl with a floral display sprouting out of it.

When they had finished their food and drink Suzy took Don’s hand and led him out of the emporium and into a nearby lift. She pulled him close and kissed him passionately. “I’ve been wanting to do that all evening,” she whispered.

Don returned the kiss as the doors closed.

Suzy punched the button for her floor as they spun around in a locked embrace. The lift stopped and the doors opened. Suzy whisked Don out of the lift and ran down the corridor with him in tow.

They reached Suzy’s suite and crashed against the door. She touched a key panel and

the heavy lock snapped open. Inside, the large employee suite had everything needed for comfortable living. A small kitchen, a lounge area and a large bedroom with a big double bed. A separate bathroom and toilet led off from the bedroom.

Don looked around in amazement wondering how all this could be accommodated inside the glass elevator. He thought every employee must have a similar suite, perhaps a little smaller for the waiters, entertainment staff, shopkeepers and other less senior staff. But even so, it was a great feat of technological achievement to house such living quarters inside.

Suzy dimmed the lights and put on some music. She opened some wine and poured two glasses. She pulled back the bed covers and started to undress. Don looked on, unsure what to do, so she went over to him and started undressing him too. They took their time and savoured every moment. They caressed each other as if they had known each other for years. Afterwards, they lay in each other's arms like seasoned lovers. They watched TV and drank wine and fell asleep entwined.

In the morning Don wanted to know the progress The Elevator was making on its flight to the Moon.

“It takes three days to reach the Moon, so we should arrive Thursday evening,” Suzy said.

“Do you take milk with your coffee?”

“Yes, Don. But no sugar, I’m sweet enough.”

“How’s that bacon doing?”

“Nearly ready, you can start the eggs now.”

Between them, they soon had two full English breakfasts on the kitchen table and they ate heartily .

“I start work at seven, you don’t have to rush off to your room, stay here until your ready to go,” said Suzy.

“OK. Will I see you today on your lunch break?”

“Of course, I’ll come and find you either here or in your room. I take a lunch break at one if that’s OK for you?”

“I’ll look forward to it.”

Suzy kissed Don goodbye and shut the door behind her.

He ran a bath for himself and spent half an hour going through the Moon murder case in his head. The detective chief inspector on the Moon was Christopher Hopper who had requested help from Don. He had sent a briefing document by email on Friday which had given Don enough time to go through the included case notes over the weekend. It seemed until recently there had been no crime reported on the Moon at all. The murder was probably an isolated incident, but there was always the possibility that organised crime could infiltrate the holiday destination.

Prompt 152: Exercise: Complete the following children’s story.

Background.

Kyle and his friends are being bullied at school because they are members of the after-school chess club. They don’t like sports, instead, they like computers and gadgets. The sporty boys in their year call them names like “Geek” and “Wimp” because they like different things. One school morning the friends can’t take the bullying anymore and decide to escape school for the day. They set off on a journey to a nearby seaside town for an adventure of their own.

Write the beginning of the story where the members of the chess club are being picked on in the morning by the boys who have different interests and hobbies.

Kyle looked at the others when he realised it was a cave. “Let’s explore.”

“What if it collapses? We’ll be trapped and no one will know we’re inside,” said Nat.

“It looks sound enough, surely it would have already collapsed when the cliff fell,” said Ollie.

“Why don’t we just poke our heads in and take a look? We don’t have to actually go in,” said Morten.

“Come on, we might be the first people to have ever set foot inside. We’ve discovered a cave no one’s ever seen before,” said Kyle going inside first.

“Be careful Kyle,” said Nat.

“It’s OK, the roof’s solid rock!”

The rest of the boys followed cautiously inside. The cave was small near the entrance but opened up in the distance.

“How are we going to see?” said Ollie.

“There’s enough light from outside getting in, we won’t go too far, we haven’t got torches,” Kyle said.

Morten ran on ahead once the cave opened up. “Hey, I can see some lights he shouted, then he ran back towards them screaming. “Run, they’re after me!”

“Who are?” said Kyle.

“The robots!”

The other boys froze as the cave started to fill with all manner of robots and tiny flying drones. Morten kept running and landed on the heap outside the cave.

“Hello,” said a robot that walked upright like a human. “It’s very nice to have company. Would you like a nice cup of tea or squash to refresh you?”

“No, thanks. We had better go, our parents will be worried about us, they’re on the beach,” said Kyle.

“Oh, how strange we didn’t see anyone else on the beach except you,” said the robot puzzled.

A robot sniffer dog bounded forward and started sniffing the boys and wagging its tail.

“Do excuse Rover, he’s programmed to sniff.”

By now the boys were surrounded by all kinds of machines. There were some really quite frightening looking ones who didn’t look friendly at all but turned out to be very much like the first robot they met.

Morten crawled back into the cave after seeing the machines weren’t going to hurt them.

The first robot introduced himself as Archie and he went on to introduce each and every one of his robot friends.

“How come you’re living in a cave?” Kyle asked.

“Oh, it’s a very long story so I’ll tell you the short version. We were all made by a robotics company called Miera Systems. They made us and gave us electronic brains similar to yours. They wanted us to do mean things but we said no and because we were thinking machines they let us go. They told us we could be free if we lived underground away from people.”

“How long have you been living here?” Ollie asked.

“Twenty-five years,” said Archie.

“But robots like you weren’t around then,” said Morten puzzled.

“We were advanced prototypes back then, but we know of far superior models today.”

“Do you ever go outside?” Nat asked.

“Oh yes, we make bread and cakes for the homeless. We have to wait until the early hours before it’s safe to go out, most people are asleep, so we’re free to deliver our food to the needy. We have to buy our ingredients online, we can’t just walk into a shop,” Archie said.

“Can we see where you live?” Kyle asked.

“Of course, I’d be delighted to show you around our home.”

Archie and the other robots led the boys deeper into the cave system and they eventually came to a metal door. Archie waved his hand and the door swished open. Once inside they could see how the robots spent their time. There was a kitchen area and a nearby games area with table tennis tables and pool tables. A large library with comfortable seating was situated down a small corridor. A room full of batteries and charging points led off from the library and a television lounge was the final room they were shown.

Prompt 153: Exercise: Use the notes below to continue this story idea I first posted 7th July 2016. (Story 2) http://creativeblockbuster.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/science-fiction-extravaganza.html?view=magazine

The entrance to the underground base looked nothing special and was easily overlooked, and it almost certainly had been for thousands of years. Patterson looked back at his men, they had no idea what the mission involved, and as far as they were concerned it was just another hunt for terrorist cells hiding in the mountains; but this was much more of a threat than that, the underground base was found by locals a week earlier, who had entered the cave system when a sinkhole opened up. Little did they know the danger they were in when they entered. It seemed from information gathered by British intelligence, that they had stumbled upon a stasis chamber holding a handful of giants in suspended animation, together with a vimana, held in a time well. The last time Greg Patterson had come across a vimana was in Egypt and that didn’t end at all well: Over fifty troops were killed trying to break through the force field to get to the ancient craft. Now, it was all well and good reverse engineering alien technology that drops from the sky – Roswell for example, but this posed an altogether more difficult problem. How do you release a spacecraft that’s essentially been locked by the owners, who happen to be sleeping nearby?

Major Marcus Santini walked over, “Sergeant Patterson, are your men ready?”

“Ready as they’ll ever be Sir.”

Santini looked nervous, “Well….good luck with your mission Sergeant.”

Patterson saluted and then shook hands, “Thank you, Major.”

Now was not the time for nerves. Patterson had a job that needed to be done, and he mustn’t show his men he was afraid. He picked up his pack and swung it over his shoulder. “Johnny, leave the radio, it’s not going to work in the caves. Andy, get the PE-4 and detonators, we're going in.”

Sergeant Patterson and his men place plastic explosives around the ancient flying craft. They fall back and detonate. Patterson is the first to get close to the vimana and signals to his men to stay back as the door opens. The giants are still in suspended animation outside so he boards the craft. The rest of his men watch on as the craft powers up and disappears. The craft’s hull becomes transparent and Patterson, who is alone on the craft, sees different landscapes flash in and out of existence as the vimana travels dimensionally hopping from one version of Earth to another. Finally, it arrives at an alien looking land that is scientifically more developed than the Earth Patterson just left. The door opens and Patterson climbs down onto orange sandy soil. The air is breathable and he heads towards a great city in the distance just as the sun is setting. Flying orbs hover above him lighting his way as he slowly picks his way onwards.

Exercises: Sean Tanner adventures.

Prompt 154: (See Story 4) http://creativeblockbuster.blogspot.co.uk/2017/12/december-story-prompts.html?view=magazine

(Advanced Exercise 1) http://creativeblockbuster.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/february-writing-prompts.html?view=magazine

The airship silently cruised above the clouds. Tanner sipped his orange juice and looked over to the British delegates. The thin one was Arthur Reegan the ex-tycoon who once owned the biggest chain of casinos in Europe until he sold them all for a pittance to a wealthy unknown buyer. The other was Maxwell Dunce who lived up to his surname. He had managed to lose most of his fortune buying racehorses that failed miserably and ended up being sold as pets for rich kids. Tanner wasn’t here to judge them, he was here to look after them. The summit in China was one of the most important events in the last 100 years: It would tie all the countries attending into a deal on climate protection for the next 50 years. Things had taken a serious turn for the worst in the last 2 years what with the flooding of Venice and the disappearance of some coastal towns in England. This mission was crucial to the safeguarding of stable weather systems that so far had mostly saved us from an end of time scenario.

“Hello Tanner, how are things with you nowadays?”

Tanner slapped his friend and fellow spook on the back. “I can’t complain Rod. How’s life treating you at Berdbeck?”

“They’re working us hard, but the money’s better. You know the saying; work hard and play hard, that about sums up our team. We’re living the dream.”

“Well, looks like the move was right for you buddy. Are you looking after the Spanish delegates?”

“They’ve got their own guys in charge, I’m just here as a consultant. I’ve done a few jobs for them in the past and they trust me.”

An alarm sounded overhead, it wasn’t very loud but crew members started running in all directions. It seemed they were manning pre-planned positions which worried Tanner and Rod. They sought out the delegates they were with and tried to find out what was going on. It didn’t take long before they knew as they could hear a jet buzzing the airship.

“I thought this was a stupid idea, travelling in a ‘balloon’. We’re a sitting duck!” said Tanner to Rod who now had his Spanish delegates and their minders with him.

The small jet was clearly visible out of the windows as it repeatedly circled the airship. Tanner was taking no chances and suggested they look for a means of escape.

“Apparently they’ve got gliders held in the lower section of the airship,” said Rod pointing the way.

Tanner looked out of the window. “How many gliders?”

“Two I think.”

“Do you mean those?”

The small jet came into view and launched a missile at one of the gliders. It hit and the aircraft broke up in a fireball.

Tanner didn’t wait to watch the other glider being destroyed. “These guys mean business. Let’s find some chutes!”

Notes: Tanner and the others find emergency parachutes and escape the airship before it is hit by a missile. Look at a world map and find a suitably remote spot for the group to touchdown. Now they need to find a settlement with food, warm clothing and shelter!

Prompt 155: When Sean Tanner found out ‘Agent X’ was a woman it hadn’t lessened his determination to track her down and carry out his mission. However, now, with her in his sight he was unable or unwilling to pull the trigger. He tracked her through the rifle scope as she put on her skis and got on a ski lift. It shouldn’t matter to him how beautiful a target is; he should be able to pull the trigger and eliminate them. For some reason, this time, he couldn’t do it. He packed his rifle away and slipped into the nearby wood for cover. His snowmobile was parked on a ledge overlooking the pristine western slope. No-one dared ski down this side of the mountain because of the risk of an avalanche. Tanner started the snowmobile and launched himself over the ledge and onto the mountain slope. He knew the way ahead would be free of skiers so he was able to negotiate the trees with ease without fear of setting off a few mini avalanches along the way.

In his hotel room, Sean powered up his laptop and started looking for anything online about Serina Kovisko. He now had his own mission brief; to find out why she had been targeted for elimination.

Prompt 156: An abandoned shack in a wooded glade was the perfect resting place for the injured spy. The bullet had grazed his arm badly but not enough to warrant urgent attention. Sean Tanner just needed to rest overnight before seeking help. He found some bottled water in a cupboard and drank half of it in one long gulp. The bed didn’t look very comfortable so Tanner pulled up the rug and placed it on top before crashing exhausted onto it.

It had been a restless night but Tanner was glad to be up and about without too much discomfort. The shack had some tinned food in one of the cupboards but he couldn’t find a tin opener. He opened the shack door, placed two tins on the ground and pulled out his gun from his holster. Two shots later he had a breakfast of cold ham and beans.

Prompt 157: The sleeper train to Scotland was proving to be more eventful than Tanner had expected. A woman a few bunks down had woken everyone with a piercing scream in the early hours. Apparently, a drunk man mistook her bunk for his and he tried to clamber on top of her. Sean still had a few hours left to rest before his meeting with Major Burnsted of the newly formed Civil Protection Party. Tanner’s brief was to get close to the leader of the group and find out what he was planning. It could merely be that the group members were no more than a collection of misfits who met once a week to play at being bully-boy soldiers. On the other hand, Tanner had come across enough jumped up leaders over the years who turned out to be extremely dangerous both in thought and action. These types should never be underestimated.

Prompt 158: The small plane lay in shallow water just off the coral reef. When Tanner arrived he could see no-one was on board; the plane had suffered severe damage to one side and he was able to take a good look from his jet-ski. Sean had already checked for people and belongings in the water on his approach but he was at a loss; there should have been things in the water around the plane. He began to suspect that the passengers and other items may have been removed by locals who were loyal to Dwight Hershaw the owner of the island. Tanner didn’t know if anyone had survived the crash but if they had, he needed to find them quickly; he had to recover the stolen hard drive before it was sold to the highest bidder. Hopefully, Dwight hadn’t got his hands on the drive; he would be more than capable of using the data to construct a weaponised satellite.

Prompt 159: Sean Tanner was briefed about a team of private entrepreneurs who came into possession of a hoard of NASA photos of the moon that had not been airbrushed. A scientist passed away two years previously and his daughter found the photos in a metal tin. Since then the photographs had been studied by leading European scientists who declared that the moon had been occupied in the past and was most likely currently occupied by non-terrestrials.

The photos had clearly shown towers, bridges, domes, abandoned bases, mining equipment and activity that was current at the time in the late 1960s and early ’70s. A team had been put together after a year-long race between leading private organisations all over Europe. Tanner had been requested to join the team to revisit the moon using a new type of re-useable spaceplane that was fitted with a prototype nuclear propulsion system.

Prompt 160: Tanner's phone rang. He was dreading answering it, but he knew he had to. Minott was seriously ill in hospital with pneumonia and not expected to last the night. Antibiotics had not worked and apart from draining fluid away from his lungs, there was nothing else the doctors could do for him except make him comfortable in his final hours.

Sean answered. “OK, I'll be right over”. He switched his phone off and got into his sports car. The engine purred then roared as he put his foot down. Ten minutes later he was at the hospital and saw Minott's secretary waiting for him outside the front entrance.

“Amanda, take my jacket, you look frozen,” Tanner said, wrapping it around her.

“Thanks. I'm glad you're here,” she said, her eyes filled with tears.

She had stayed overnight by Minott's bedside holding his hand until it was obvious that she needed to call his closest colleagues. They would have the chance to say their goodbyes to their boss for the last time. Tanner guided her into Minott's room and they joined the other agents and workers who counted Steve Minott as both an employer and a dear friend.

Sean Tanner was not often moved to tears, but leaving the hospital he wiped the last of them away. It had felt like someone had plunged a dagger into his throat; every time he swallowed it hurt. Devastated, he got into his car and drove.

He seemed to have travelled nearly a hundred miles before he became aware of his surroundings. He could make out the familiar farm buildings and the quaint church in the twilight. Subconsciously he had driven himself to 'Dark Stream' the safe-house he used when he needed to remove himself from the fray. He supposed now he was here, he just as well set up a temporary headquarters of his own. He needed some time to himself. He couldn't face talking at the moment. It would be like clawing at an open wound; Minott's death had hit him hard, harder than he thought it would. He didn't want anyone seeing him in this lessened state. He was vulnerable and weak. Open to attack from anybody who was intent on revenge, and Tanner had a long list of people who would fit the bill.

Sean set up his laptop on the desk and connected it to the internet and printer. A message flashed up straight away. He opened it and quickly read it. Minott’s replacement had been found and was already sitting in his office. Sarah Serking was calling for a meeting to be held on Monday morning. All operatives were to attend for new assignments and training.

He was expected. But he wasn’t going. How could he face dealing with new management when Minott’s funeral hadn’t been arranged. The poor man was barely cold.

Tanner picked up the phone and started writing a text.

Prompt 161: Sean Tanner checked his compass. The cabin was south-west about seven miles into the forest. The remote location was proving very effective cover for the terrorist cell. So far attempts to destroy the cabin had failed due to the densely planted trees. The black budget was now a little lighter due to the recent loss of an experimental drone that impacted high above the cabin and put the cell on high alert. This was going to make Tanner’s job a lot harder and for once he was apprehensive. The area surrounding the cabin was likely to be booby-trapped so he was going to have to tread very carefully.

Prompt 162: Sean Tanner drove to Hiltgate House with his previous mission still on his mind. Although everyone said it wasn't his fault that Victor Sparks was killed and he should rest up over Christmas and forget about the mission, he still had loose ends that needed tying.

Prompt 163: Lying on the flat roof of a delicatessen Sean Tanner could get a good view of the warehouse a quarter of a mile away in the distance. There hadn't been much activity yet but the night was still young. The two prototype missiles were expected to be delivered sometime in the next two days. Sean came well prepared with supplies and a small tent. Luckily it wasn't windy, he wasn't sure if the tent could withstand a strong gust of wind without being staked into the ground. He didn't want to end up in a mangled heap three stories below.

Prompt 164: Six years ago Sean Tanner had crossed swords with Paul Delonge and only just escaped with his life. The crime baron was now out of prison and word on the street was that Sean was well and truly in his sights. Entering the logistics centre in Manchester, Tanner was met by Greg Marsdon who briefed him on the intelligence they had on Delonge and his associates.

Prompt 165: The small passenger jet was mainly filled with German tourists. Sean opened his phone and pressed an icon on the screen to eject the small keyboard that was housed inside. He quickly typed in his access code to obtain a secure link to HQ. He held up his phone and scanned one of the passengers sitting two rows forward to his left. HQ matched the man's face from a database of known international criminals and terrorists. The screen flashed the name Franchesco Draco. Sean had not heard of him before but from his file, it looked like he was their man. Tanner's brief was to stay close once they landed but not to make it too obvious that he was following him. That was the plan until the man got out of his seat about half an hour later and held a plastic gun to the flight attendant's head. Sean Tanner was used to such situations but that didn't stop the lurching feeling in his stomach. He would need a few seconds to steady himself before acting. He needed time to read the situation, it was no good wading in and ending up with a hole in the plane or worse still, a hole in the flight attendant or one of the passengers.

Prompt 166: Sean Tanner got into the boiler suit and packed a bag with suitable work tools. He wasn't quite sure about every tool a plumber would need but it looked convincing enough. HQ had provided him with a suitable van which he was to collect from a multi-storey car park down the street. The van looked just like any other white van on the road but it did have a few modifications. He looked at his watch, it was ten minutes past three. The schools would be turning children out onto the streets within minutes so he set off and switched on the detector to wide sweep the immediate area. After twenty minutes circling, he was sure that the tip-off must have been wrong. Suddenly a flash momentarily blinded Tanner. He stopped the van to clear his eyes but when he tried looking around he found his vision was still impaired. He fumbled for his phone but couldn't see the display properly. The van door opened and Tanner was dragged out.

Prompt 167: A fly fishing holiday had refreshed Sean enough to ease him back into work. His broken bones were mended and physically he was as good as new. However, those who knew Sean Tanner well enough saw a change in him. The trauma he'd suffered during his imprisonment had left psychological scars that would take longer to heal. HQ took things slowly with him. To begin with, they insisted on retraining missions and virtual assignments until they could gauge his mental fitness for active duty in the field.

Prompt 168: A letter had arrived in the post the day before that had shaken Sean Tanner's world. A female acquaintance had written to tell him he was a father to a one-year-old son.

Prompt 169: Sean Tanner checked his equipment one last time. He was the lone occupant in the back of the army transporter plane. A Jeep was to be pushed out first with him following shortly after. The pilot had a remote control switch for the Jeep and Sean was meant to jump out thirty seconds later. He had a locator on him in case he couldn't find the Jeep but that was the least of his worries; he didn't relish the thought of being bashed in the head by a three-ton vehicle.

Prompt 170: Deep in an underground bunker, Sean Tanner and other agents are briefed on the situation that had arisen overnight. A small nuclear missile was mistakenly fired by one of our allies and had to be destroyed by British fighter planes. There was some fallout over a small area in the North of England. Britain was immediately put on heightened alert due to the possibility of another country using this incident to their advantage.

Prompt 171: Tanner lay flat on his back embedded in the muddy riverbank. He was not sure how he had survived but he was definitely alive. Being thrown out of a plane at three-thousand feet should have killed him instantly, but he remembered the saying "falling in shit and coming up smelling of roses". He slowly sat up with every nerve in his body screaming from the fall. He was not only alive, but nothing was broken.

Prompt 172: Sean Tanner was beginning to believe that the day must have been cursed. In the morning he had managed to lose an automatic pistol during a fight with a local gang that led to the police being brought in to recover the firearm. Now he was handcuffed to a pole in a sewer somewhere under the streets of London. He remembered watching the local weather report that morning which reported the high chance of flash flooding. It was not often that he was out of ideas but today was a rare exception.

Prompt 173: A laboratory in east London was flagging up on HQ's computer surveillance system. Purchases online were so out of the ordinary that the system ran a model of possible uses for the biological materials that were bought. Sean Tanner was assigned a tactical team to enter the laboratory after dark to check for possible ethical breaches.

Prompt 174: They were being driven to a secret base somewhere in the mountains. The windows were covered with black duck tape but Sean could make out some landmarks through the gaps. The other members of his team were not faring too well. Smithy had a bullet wound in his right shoulder and was losing blood fast. Collins didn't look good at all; he had been hit in the stomach and Sean was not sure if he was going to make it. The new recruits were pretty much unscathed, but they looked like they were both going into shock. Tanner thought it was a mistake to send them into the fray with only eight weeks of training. Minott would never have allowed it.

Prompt 175: Sean Tanner punched the wall then cradled his bloodied hand with the other. What were they thinking of to leave Susan Milligan there as bait? How was he going to find her now? She could be anywhere in the country. The jet probably had enough fuel to reach North Africa and he figured by nightfall she could be in the hands of white slave traders. He kicked the waste bin across the room and then sat down at the bedside table. His laptop was charging so he opened it and signed in to HQ's mainframe. He'd need to calm down and use his head if he was going to be of any use.

Prompt 176: Targeting the speedboat was proving to be very tricky. Sean had a rifle but he needed to steer his boat as well. It looks a lot easier in films he thought to himself. Claiton DeMorgan was frantically weaving from left to right in a bid to escape. Tanner decided to head toward him at full speed to take out his boat. Tanner's speedboat was within feet of DeMorgan's when DeMorgan turned around pointing a flare gun. Tanner dived overboard and from underwater, he could hear his boat explode. He waited underwater until the fire burnt itself out and then surfaced. DeMorgan was nowhere to be seen.

Prompt 177: Revisiting Don Brandenberg & Suzy - character development .

Link to the original idea.

https://creativeblockbuster.blogspot.com/2018/09/to-get-you-in-mood-for-sci-fi-fest-ive.html

It's the second story and contains material only suitable for Ages 16+

Dressed in a long green trench coat and trilby hat, Don Brandenberg walked through the pouring rain towards Suzy’s apartment. The streets were deserted apart from the few taxis that were still flying. Suzy wouldn’t mind him calling this late as he was in London for a few days and she would scold him if he didn’t come straight over. He arrived at her building and was greeted by Bob on the front desk.

“Good morning to you Mr Brandenberg. Are you in London for long?”

“Just a few days Bob, but it’s nice to be back.”

“I’m sure Suzy will be glad to see you, she talks about you all the time!”

“Only good things I hope?”

“Oh, she’s smitten, hasn’t got a bad word to say about you.”

“You take care Bob, you’ve got your vacation soon haven’t you?”

“I sure have, I’m looking forward to it. Next month the wife and I will be lying in the sun in the Caribbean.”

Don clapped Bob on the shoulder. “You deserve it, enjoy every moment, all my best to Alice, send her my love.”

“I will Mr Brandenberg.”

Don climbed the stairs to Suzy’s apartment which was on the second floor. He had a pass key so went straight in.

He could hear Suzy stirring in the bedroom.

“Is that you Don?”

“Yes, I know it’s late but I thought you’d want me to come straight over.”

Suzy came out of the bedroom looking bleary-eyed. “Of course I would want you to come here to see me first. I love you, Don Brandenberg, you’re my man. I’ve been counting down the days all month. I hate it when you’re on assignment. I know you’ve got an important job to do and you’re one of the best detectives in the country, but I need my time with you too. I hate sharing you.” She wrapped herself around him and breathed him in. “You’re mine now for how many days?”

“Two, maybe three at the most.”

“Then I’m going to get my fill Don Brandenberg. I’m going to wear you out so you won’t be able to go back to work!” she joked.

Don lay in bed with Suzy fast asleep next to him, he didn’t want to move his arm which was draped across her for fear of waking her. The early morning sunlight was shining on them both and he felt at home. Suzy Cross was the daughter of wealthy parents originally from America who moved to London almost thirty years ago. Suzy had only known life in London; her parents didn’t go back to America with her for visits or holidays and they had no living relatives left there. They made Britain their home and fitted in well with the wealthy upper echelon. Suzy’s father Hugo Cross was well equipped with a background in finance and slipped straight into the London financial sector eventually becoming CEO of Darlington Finance, a leading provider of multiple financial services. Suzy’s mother Fran, was a well-known fashion photographer in America and carried on her career when they moved to London. Now in their late sixties and semi-retired, they were both spending more time helping out with charitable causes. Don had met them both on a number of occasions and they both seemed to accept him as a suitable choice of 'boyfriend' for Suzy.

ALL NEW MATERIAL

Prompt 1: Cedric Bosh checked his shirt. It was covered in blood splatter. He threw his handgun down the nearest drain and got into his car. He hadn’t intended to shoot his tormentor, he had only intended to frighten him off. However, seeing his smirking face set something off inside that must of lay dormant; the months of torment Raymond Baker had unleashed was enough to make the calmest person snap.

Prompt  2: The dark alley was becoming a regular resting place for her. She wasn’t on view and open to all sorts of abuse from the other homeless people on the streets or from drinkers on their way home who liked nothing better than kicking a 'homeless bum' for fun. At least she could sleep soundly in the alley with the narrow walls affording her some protection from the elements.

Prompt 3: The two girls watch a figure slowly emerge from the sea and walk up the beach towards them.

Prompt 4: Working in the flower shop was proving to be therapeutic for her. The troubles of the previous year were starting to soften in her memory. She was beginning to make friends and get her life back on track but she still had a niggling feeling that something wasn’t right.

Prompt 5: His destiny lay in his hand. He blew on his closed fist and threw the dice down the table.

Prompt 6: A housemaid is led away from a stately home by police surrounded by a crowd of villagers who cry out “Thief!”. What has she stolen and why did she do it?

Prompt 7: At a boarding house in Paris at the beginning of the twentieth century a young artist is struggling to pay his way. A couple of unscrupulous villains take him under their wing with the promise of great riches.

Prompt 8: A tall tree is felled for use as a mast on a great ship that is being built. Write a story that follows the tree from the forest to the dry dock and then out to sea.

Prompt 9: The maiden flight of a new aircraft encounters difficulty.

Prompt 10: You are shocked to hear that your ex-neighbour has passed away. You are even more shocked to find that you are the sole beneficiary in her will despite the fact she could have left her fortune to close members of her own family.

Prompt 11: A New Year’s Eve party ends on a sad note.

Prompt 12: The last train of the night breaks down after travelling just half a mile. You and the other passengers walk back to the train station to wait for the morning train. The small café is opened up by the railway staff and they start to serve hot drinks and sandwiches. It’s going to be a long night, but it isn’t long before the café stove begins heating up and someone starts a sing-song.

Prompt 13: You take a day off work to go fishing but witness a brutal attack on a young woman by a thug. The thug looks your way and starts walking towards you.

Prompt 14: Having won an award for your first novel you are invited to an award ceremony in London. The only problem is you suffer from acrophobia.

Prompt 15: You settle down on your sofa with a mug of coffee and a book to read. The weather is damp and cold outside and you have a crackling fire going. Suddenly the phone rings which disturbs your relaxation. Your mother has left your father and wants you to pick her up at the train station.

Prompt 16: The mist rolls onto the moor from the calm river. A one-armed man walks his dog towards a small white-washed cottage. The man is worried about his children. They are about to start work at the mill aged only 6 and 7 years old. He lost his arm in an accident at a watermill in the past, but now the industrial revolution is in full swing and news of terrible accidents involving young children are abound. He and his wife have no choice but to send their two children to the local mill. They are poor and can hardly feed themselves. He cannot work because of his injury but is worried sick at the thought of his precious boy and girl being injured like he was.

Exercise: Research the Industrial Revolution and complete the story of the two children having to go to work at such a young age to help support their family.

Prompt 17: Hundreds of miles of countryside lay before him, but that and his injuries from the battle weren’t going to stop him reaching home and his darling Laura. The war was now over and he had dumped his musket days before. His heart ached to feel the warmth of her body against him and to lie with her. That was what had kept his spirits just high enough to get him through the bloody battles he’d fought, but now he had to reach her, it was going to take every ounce of his remaining strength.

Exercise: Research about the English Civil War. Continue the story of the man’s journey home to return to his wife.

Prompt 18: The sun disappeared behind the distant hills and the clouds took on the appearance of flames in the sky. The spectacle lasted twenty minutes. All this time he sat in an old rocking chair smoking a clay pipe. The stream babbled before him and he was at one with nature. His woman came out to hand him a tankard of ale and sat down beside him on a bench. The man drank his ale and turned to his woman to speak but was suddenly struck by a sharp pain in his head. He closed his eyes and slumped forward onto the veranda. All was dark. An hour passed and he was now in his bed with neighbours and his woman gathered around the bed as if he was about to expire any minute. He told them he was quite well, but he wasn’t telling the truth. He was suffering a strange optical abnormality, he could see different things out of each eye; if he closed his left eye everything was normal it was what he was expecting to see – his familiar view. However, if he closed his right eye and looked through his left eye, he saw something completely different. He found it hard to comprehend, but it was definitely not his homestead.

Exercise: Think of things he could be seeing, choose your favourite and continue the story.

Prompt 19: Friends over from America joined the folk musicians in the small public house to blend their not so dissimilar music styles and a wonderful evening was had by all. Evelynne Kelly linked arms with her oldest friend Michael Murphy and they walked back to her place. Michael was over for a few weeks from New York where he had now made a life for himself. She was lost for many years when he decided to leave Ireland, but she eventually got used to the idea of her best friend and potential husband leaving her life for better prospects abroad. She had no choice but to forget about the idea of them ever getting together. He had never shown any sign that he was interested in her in that way and it seemed he was happy to let their friendship remain as it was.

Now that he was in the same room with her, face to face, she couldn’t suppress the latent feelings she had buried so deep. The excitement she had felt all those years ago was beginning to surface again. She hoped she wasn’t giving herself away by her exuberance, she couldn’t help herself, she was just so delighted to see him.

Prompt 20: The sailing ship came into port and its cargo was off-loaded onto the quayside. Denver King showed his import slip to the Harbour Master and they both searched for his crate. The Harbour Master found it and opened it up with a crowbar. Inside surrounded by straw was the most incredible Chinese porcelain vase. The two of them looked at each other, both realising the item didn’t match the one that was expected. The import slip clearly stated that the crate should contain a ship’s compass and not a vase. This mix up was to lead to an exciting adventure for Denver king that would take him across two continents and on numerous occasions nearly cost him his life.

Prompt 21: A retirement cabin at White Gull Bay turns out to be very traumatic for a quiet couple. They inadvertently upset a local gang member and suffer the consequences.

Prompt 22: A broken arm meant your job as a factory machine operator was given to someone else while you recovered. You were put in the office to work as an additional receptionist. This move started a chain of events that shut down the whole factory when workers called for a strike.

Prompt 23: A homeless woman turns up at your workplace and claims to be your mother. You attended your mother’s funeral twenty years ago after you were called back from Canada.

Prompt 24: After being struck by a lorry and hospitalised you realise you made a mistake divorcing your wife.

Prompt 25: After years of charity work you are invited to a special tea party at Buckingham Palace.

Prompt 26: Hitching across America you are picked up by a handsome young businessman in a convertible.

Prompt 27: All your local children’s services are cut to the bone. Playgroups are hit especially badly leaving only a leaky wooden community centre available for under-fives. You are so angry about this that you decide to take action.

Prompt 28: Your favourite band are coming to a large town near you. You have a ticket but no way to get there. A friend offers to lend you his motorcycle. You have no insurance. Do you take a chance? If so what are the consequences?

Prompt 29: A strange submersible is washed up on your local beach. Authorities quickly visit the beach and set up a cordon around the mystery machine.

Prompt 30: At lunch, with a friend, you are told that she wants to end the friendship. You are in shock. You have been friends since school. You ask her why, but she is unwilling to explain her actions. You contact her sister so she can help with an explanation.

Prompt 31: You are invited to a party together with fellow workers from your factory. You suffer from Anxiety but are determined to attend.

Prompt 32: The pressure of your university course is becoming too much for you to cope with. You don’t know where to go for help as you can’t talk to your family. Eventually, you can’t take it anymore and you go missing. Write about what happens next.

Prompt 33: You are the Mayor of a small town. A woman has gone to the press with a made-up story about your private life.

Prompt 34: An eccentric Neighbour likes to set up camp in his garden during the summer. He erects a tent and has a campfire every evening throughout the warmer months. You didn’t mind the first year this happened but it’s now the fourth year of this ritual and you’ve had enough!

Prompt 35: From a European satellite in space, a heat signature from a fiord is detected. The shape suggests a sunken craft of non-terrestrial nature. Lead a team of scientists and European Space Agency staff on a reconnaissance mission to discover the true nature of this anomaly.

Prompt 36: Your long term boyfriend suddenly breaks up with you over the phone. You want to speak to him in person to find out the reasons behind his decision. However, when you go over to his flat there is a police officer guarding his door. He asks you who you are and then goes on to inform you that your boyfriend has committed suicide. You spend the next two months piecing together the events leading up to this tragic event.

Prompt 37: A tram journey leads to a new friendship when you find a lost purse.

Prompt 38: At the end of a rainbow you find a beautiful young lady. However, the sky suddenly darkens and before you stands?

Prompt 39: You are a fearless knight ready and willing to prove yourself worthy to marry a fair lady. A rich merchant has three daughters who are renowned for their beauty and quick-witted minds. The merchant sets you a most unusual task that will test not only your strength and courage but also your guile.

Prompt 40: A new spacecraft needs testing by a seasoned astronaut. You are chosen to take a small team into the unknown as this craft can travel so fast it is able to leave our known universe and reach beyond. Will you enter a neighbouring universe or a parallel universe similar to our own?

Prompt 41: Somewhere in Antarctica a borehole is drilled deeper than ever before tried. After months of drilling, scientists hit a large pocket and decide to send down a camera attached to an all-terrain drone. The drone is lowered down the borehole attached to miles of high tensile steel cable. This operation takes days until finally the drone can be released from the cable to explore the cavity using onboard Artificial Intelligence to make sense of what it sees. Pictures soon start appearing on giant monitors placed around the borehole. A technician fine-tunes the display and everyone gasps at what they see.

Prompt 42: You are brought in to help with the investigation into the murders of a teacher and her daughter. They disappeared two days before Christmas and were found after the New Year celebrations washed up on a small beach in Devon.

Prompt 43: You are swept out to sea on an inflatable lilo. After spending eight hours surrounded by water you spot a small island in the distance. You paddle with all your remaining strength and land on an exotic sandy beach. The island looks nothing like the British coastline you left eight hours before. If you’re no longer near Britain then where have you ended up?

Prompt 44: Severe sandstorms in the Sahara Desert uncover a buried city.

Prompt 45: Your daughter commits suicide after regular visits to a website that offers encouragement to troubled teenagers. You find out that she was encouraged to end her life by 'Trolls' running the site. You join the site as a volunteer, but instead of encouraging young people to end their lives, you secretly encourage them to find something to live for.

Prompt 46: Your first son is born. The hospital where you are staying is having to turn away strangers bearing gifts for your baby.

Prompt 47: A school trip to a safari park nearly ends in disaster when one of your problem pupils goes missing.

Prompt 48: Your ex-husband contacts you after seven years living with his 'girlfriend'. He says their relationship is over and he would like to come home to you.

Prompt 49: You are a new employee at a bank. After working there for three months you realise that a bank robbery is being planned by two of the bank’s employees who are working on the inside.

Prompt 50: Your best male friend suddenly passes away. After the funeral people start to talk about him. It seems he had a side to him that you never knew about.

Prompt 51: A new airline company has set up in Britain offering short haul flights. The first day of business ended badly when all their planes were grounded due to mechanical problems. The newspapers had a field day. You are a public relations guru brought in to hold a press meeting. Can you convince the media that the airline company can get back on their feet and deliver the service they promised?

Prompt 52: ( A Sean Tanner adventure ). Brandy got into her wetsuit. The fine weather was not going to last so she had a tight deadline. The wreck of the Jupiter lay about a quarter of a mile from the beach so she didn’t need a boat. She checked her equipment one last time and set off towards the sea. HQ had given her a locator to find the ship in the murky water. It wasn’t going to be easy finding Tanner once she got there though. It didn’t help he had dropped his communicator when the ship rolled over. She knew he had enough air for the rest of the day; the boat was now stable and no high winds were predicted until later in the week. Sean Tanner was locked in the engine room and she presumed his captors had all perished when the ship capsized. She entered the water and tested her cylinders were working. She then made sure her small cutting tool was to hand, she’d need it to open the engine room door to free her colleague. HQ had promised a full backup team would arrive by 10.00am but they didn’t come, so she had no choice but to attempt the rescue on her own.

Prompt 53: The scariest theme park ride to ever be conceived is about to be opened at a disused coal mine in Wales. Testers have reported disturbing side effects lasting weeks after going on the ride. You are the safety officer employed by the theme park and are at loggerheads with the owner over the side effects the ride produces. The owner wants to go ahead regardless but you want to postpone the opening and try to figure out what is causing these problems.

Prompt 54: Men are planning to come back. Last time they were here they tried drilling into the structure of our world, when that didn’t work they set off charges. Then they crashed one of their craft into our home. We politely warned them last time to stay away but now we have learned they have plans to set up their own bases. If that happens it won’t be long before they start mining operations and then begin to send up their kin to live on our surface.

Prompt 55: The latest cargo shipment of waste plastic on its way to the Sun for incineration, experiences problem after problem and the crew on board are starting to think that this latest mission is cursed.

Prompt 56: Carlton De Morgan head of Earth evacuation sits at the head of the board meeting table. Leaders from across the globe wait patiently to hear the quotas for their countries. He takes a deep breath as he knows they are not going to like what he has to say.

Prompt 57: Molly sits looking across to the meadow. If only she could crawl in the long grass and look at the pretty wildflowers. Music emanates from the cottage behind her. Her daddy has picked up his fiddle, the first time in ages.

Prompt 58: A land speed record attempt goes horribly wrong. The wreckage of the vehicle is spread across an area about a mile in radius but there is no sign of your son who was driving. You set out to find what happened to him. Is there a chance that he escaped alive?

Prompt 59: The pleasure barge drifted slowly in space. The captain lay slumped over the control panel on the flight deck. His crew were missing and the passengers were partying in the main lounge oblivious to their predicament; there was nobody on board who knew how to pilot the spacecraft.

Prompt 60: A private company wants to start trips to the Moon. NASA contacts them with a warning.

Flash fiction exercises:

Prompt 62: Write about a relationship breakup and the outcome in no more than 500 words.

Prompt 63: Write about a ferry crossing in bad weather in no more than 1000 words.

Prompt 64: Write about your first trip to the dentist in exactly 400 words.

Prompt 65: Research and write about “Foo Fighters” (not the band!) use no more than 1500 words – this could be a story set in World War 2, or it could be a factual piece examining the phenomenon.

Prompt 66: Write a brief story in less than 300 words detailing a day in the life of an unemployed person.

Prompt 67: You are the leader of a mountain rescue team. You are based in Scotland. A college group are known to be climbing a nearby mountain and a report has come in that there has been an avalanche in the area. Gather all you need to lead a search and rescue. Your finished account must be written in no more than 800 words.

Prompt 68: One of the UK’s leading banks ceases trading which leads to a financial meltdown with other banks closing soon after. Write about life in the months to follow the breakdown of the financial sector in the UK. Your story should be no more than 1000 words.

Prompt 69: You are taken into care by social services. Write an account of what happened and how your life has changed. Use no more than 1000 words.

Prompt 70: Your father wants you to join a youth football team in your town like he did when he was a teenager. You are not keen on sports. Can you convince your father that you’d rather pursue other interests? Write him a letter as he won’t listen when you talk to him face to face. Make your letter no more than 200 words long.

Prompt 71: You live in a large country house with your parents and a brother and sister. It is the end of the 1960s. Your parents are finding it difficult managing the house and gardens financially. They decide to open up the house and gardens to the public. This will increase their earnings and go towards the upkeep of the property. Write about the impact this decision is having on you and your siblings. Please use no more than 800 words.

Prompt 72: A robot has been developed that is so smart that it has some leading scientists worried. Could a machine outsmart its creators and leave us evolutionary behind? Write an essay that examines the possible outcomes of us creating such machines. Please write no more than 1500 words.

Prompt 73: Imagine you are sat around an open fire in a roundhouse. All the children in your settlement are gathered around with you. You are the village storyteller. Can you conjure up a story for the children using less than 500 words?

TINY BOOK OF SPY PROMPTS BOOK 1  - (Download)

Download: TINY BOOK OF SPY PROMPTS BOOK 2

85 Creative Writing Prompts for Adults

"If you want to write and you want to get ideas, you have to be alert and open to everything.  Everything you read. Everything you listen to. You have to allow these things to inspire you."

Fun creative writing prompts to inspire and educate

These 79 creative writing prompts for adults and teens are designed as story starters to inspire you. They will also help you write on specific topics and develop important skills you need as an author.

A good writing prompt will jump-start your creativity, help you come up with new ideas and may even give you the inspiration you need to write a full story. Feel free to dive straight in without too much thought. Simply choose the topic that appeals to you, pick one at random and start writing.

If you have a novel, screenplay, or other large project you're working on, I recommend using a prompt for 10 minutes before moving onto your main project. This will help get your creative juices flowing. If you don't have an existing project, spend as long as you want on a single prompt, or try a few different ones. Have fun, be free, and trust yourself.

The following prompts also include some for business, if you're looking for writing ideas to help with your content marketing or creating a blog.

Most of these prompts are written about 'you'. If you'd prefer to write them in third person, choose a name, and write them about a fictional character instead.

If you're looking to use these prompts as part of a class, or for a writing group, you might prefer to check out the  Creative Writing Exercises for Adults and Teens  instead. These include 43 group and solo exercises that are 10-15 minutes each, with more detailed instructions. We also have 42 science fiction and fantasy prompts  for those looking for good story ideas with a touch of magic (or technology).

Choose the topic that fires your imagination

So you can plunge straight into the topic that most interests you, these writing prompts are split into the following categories:

Overcoming writer's block

• Creative writing prompts for a young adult audience
• Creative writing prompts for adults

Expressing emotion

Fantasy and sci-fi prompts

• Visual prompts for world building
• Ideas to develop your online business writing

If you feel blocked, I recommend using one of the following prompts and writing for ten minutes in a stream of consciousness. In The Artist's Way, Julia Cameron recommends you write 3 pages every morning as your 'morning pages'. She calls this, " The bedrock tool of a creative recovery. " 

To write in a stream of consciousness while using a creative writing prompt, simply start writing and don't stop! If you don't know what will happen next, write, "I don't know what will happen next!"  Then write what the options are, why one option might be better than another, etc. This kind of spontaneous creativity is an incredible tool to help move your book or short story forward and to overcome writer's block. If you read back over your stream of consciousness after just ten minutes, you'll find some nuggets of gold in your writing and may have resolved a difficult decision about a particular piece of text.

All authors face a challenge in getting in touch with their creativity from time to time, so don't feel that you're alone.  

Here are the first set of prompts:

• You're on holiday in a new city and you were walking along talking to a friend, when you suddenly realise they're no longer with you. What happens next?  
• You have invented a time machine and set off to the time you would most love to visit.  
• Think of three conflicts - an internal conflict where the protagonist has doubts, an interpersonal conflict with another character, and an external conflict like a natural disaster, physical barrier, or bad weather. Now write a scene that encompasses all three.  
• You are sitting, reading a list of story writing prompts when a character from your favourite book opens the door and looks at you. They say, "I've been looking for you."  
• You are a security guard at a secret lair. It's a cold winter's night and there's a foot of snow. You notice a set of footprints leading straight to you, but you could have sworn that they weren't there a moment ago.  
• What's a flaw that one of your friends has? Imagine if that flaw was exaggerated and create a character around that flaw.  
• You get a newspaper delivered to your door every morning, then one day it's tomorrow's paper, telling you what will happen today.  
• Think about a favourite book or movie. What was the character's main goal? Now give that character a different backstory that explains his/her goal.  
• You are about to fly on a dragon for the very first time.  
• Everyone has a superpower based on the topography of where they were born (i.e. mountains, deserts, etc.). You are the first person to be born in space. (This prompt, copied from  Reddit , was the inspiration for a novel, that then became the first in a successful book series).

Prompts to help you write for a young adult audience

These story prompts are ideal for teen authors and for those looking to write for a Young Adult audience.

• You're at the best party you've ever been to, when your worst enemy walks through the door and heads straight towards you.  
• One morning you wake up and you can see people's feelings as halos of colour around them. You discover that a friend has been hiding how they feel.  
• You're playing with a toy car when it comes alive and starts driving around by itself. It can only make car sounds, but you have a feeling it wants you to follow it.  
• Think of 3 animals. A creature has just entered your room that is a magical combination of these 3 animals.  
• What's the most exotic place you've ever visited? Your adventure starts there.  
• A genie grants you three wishes. You wish for an unlimited supply of your favourite food, then for an unlimited supply of your favourite toys. Instead of appearing next to you, they start falling out of the sky. You have one wish left.  
• Imagine an ant is looking up at you. What would they see?  
• You're dreaming of flying and when you wake up, you're hovering above your bed.  
• The internet and all the mobile phones in the world stop working. Choose a character and give them a goal. What happens?  
• Write about a time when you saw a dark aspect of humanity. How it feel and how did your behaviour change as a result of it?

Writing prompts for adults

• You turn up for a job interview, but instead of being offered a job, you are invited to join an illegal activist group who are fighting to right the wrongs in the government.  
• You have had a crush on Rowan for ages. One night your car breaks down. Cursing that your phone is out of charge, you hitch-hike home and a car pulls over to pick you up. Rowan's driving it and is alone. You get in feeling relieved and delighted, only to discover that Rowan isn't the person you thought.  
• Write the names of 3 friends or family members who don't know each other. Now describe a scene where the 3 of them meet.  
• You are a tree and are scared of losing all your leaves. Autumn is fast approaching.  
• A rhinoceros is charging down a crowded city street.  
• You have studied hard to be an opera singer. You are opening the show and forget your lines. In desperation, you sing the song to a different opera. The orchestra know it and play along with you. What happens next?  
• Look at different clues for a murder mystery , then write a unique clue that could be the first hint to set your detective on the trail.  
• Write a list of seven exotic or dynamic sounding verbs and number them 1 to 7. Now write a list of seven nouns. Now connect them together by joining the first verb with the first noun, the second verb with the second noun, etc. Choose one of the seven verb-noun pairs to create a piece of fiction.  
• Choose a sport you love and write a scene about a character starting where they are preparing to perform in the Olympics, or another major competition.  
• Your character discovers that their best friend is a murderer but chooses to keep it a secret. Create a back story that explains why. What happens next?

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart”

Hellen Keller

• Describe the emotion the woman in the above image is feeling.  
• You are tired and arguing with your best friend over whose turn it is to wash the dishes. It gets out of hand.  
• You receive a letter saying, "We would like to publish your novel." How do you react?  
• What was the last strong emotion you felt? If this emotion was a type of weather, what weather would that be? Now place a character feeling the  opposite  emotion in those weather conditions.  
• Your teenage daughter gets on the train to go to uni, you wave her off, then stand on the platform as the train pulls away.  
• Think of an emotion. Now describe how your protagonist's body reacts when they feel this emotion.  
• Your white friends have just left the supermarket and the security guard ignored them. You're black and as you leave, he demands to see your receipt.  
• A beautiful rainbow shines in the distance, but the storm is headed your way and you're miles from cover.  
• Your character takes a drug (medicinal or recreational, you choose) that changes their personality radically, making them feel happy but uncaring. While on it, they decide to end a friendship in a dramatic fashion. Afterwards, they try to rebuild that friendship. Write the conversation that follows.  
• Three friends arrive at a crossroads. All three want to go in different directions. Create a scene where they argue about where to go. Now rewrite the scene from different points of view. See if you can show different motivations and personalities as you write.

Love Stories

Love comes in many forms and is written about in every genre. It goes beyond romantic love, though romance books are the best-selling genre. As so many people have written about love, it can be a challenge to describe love without sounding cliched. 

Before we get to the prompts, here are some quotes about love to inspire you:

“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” ― Lao Tzu

“One is loved because one is loved. No reason is needed for loving.” ― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

“Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.” ― William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream

Now the prompts themselves from 10 different genres.  Choose whichever you feel inspired by! Many of the following say 'poem', but feel free to write a short story or letter if you'd prefer.

• COMEDY - Choose 2 objects in your house. Write a love poem from one to the other.  
• ROMANCE - Write a love poem to someone you love.  
• LGBT+  - Write a scene from the perspective of a transgender teenager about everyday life at high school. Remember that in the modern world, depending on the country, they will encounter both people who support them completely and those who don't, so keep that balance in mind.  
• SELF-REFLECTION - Write a poem to yourself when you were a child.  
• SCI-FI - Write a poem from yourself 10 years from now to yourself today.  
• LEGEND  - Write a poem from the Loch Ness Monster to Nessie, the female monster who also lives in Loch Ness.  
• HISTORICAL FICTION  - Choose a famous character from history and research if they were married. Write a scene where they disagreed with their partner on a major decision.  
• ADVENTURE - Write a poem about an amazing adventure in a place you, or your character, loves.  
• MURDER MYSTERY  - Someone is poisoned in a coffee shop. Write the scene when the detective first arrives.  
• THRILLER  - Your character wakes to find they are trapped in a dungeon after a first date. Their partner is with them. How do they escape?

Many great story ideas are based on a what if question. What if we're living in a virtual world? What if you gained a spider's abilities when one bit you? What if toys came to life when no-one's there?

Here are some prompts in the form of what if questions. Enjoy!

• What if plants robustly expressed their opinions?  
• What if women ruled the world?  
• What if money became meaningless overnight?  
• What if you and your friends murdered someone?  
• What if a news channel gave a fictional story that became reality 24 hours later?  
• What if you were an alien and had been adopted by humans?  
• What if food was replaced by 'nutrition pills' to help stop global warming?  
• What if sound manifested as physical beings?  
• What if you had a recurring dream about someone, then you met them in real life?  
• What if characters from history started to appear alive and well in a small town?

• Bored with your immortal existence, you are gathered with your godly friends to create the ultimate virtual reality game ever. A game you have called 'Earth', but just as your first friend enters the game you realise that the game has a terrible flaw.  
• You are an orc who wants to do good. You have fled your hometown and arrive at a human village wondering whether you will be welcome.  
• You character is approaching a castle. What unusual reason do they have to be there? What do they say to the two guards standing outside it?  
• Evil narcists rule the world, but a wizard is determined to stop them by wiping their memory and the memory of everyone who knew them. This allows them to safely re-enter society. You have just found one of your old diaries and discovered that you were once a warlord who commit terrible evil.  
• A war between the vampires and werewolves has been going on for centuries in ancient Europe, but you have just found a way to turn the battle. If a werewolf eats garlic, they remain human. You're about to spread a false rumour that will change history and give vampires the advantage forever.  
• You are an alien visiting Earth and chose to assume an anonymous form as a dog. Now someone wants to adopt you.  
• Gravity has just reversed itself.  
• A wish generator fulfils a wish every time you touch it, but the wish it fulfils isn't your own.  
• Look around you and imagine that an object, plant or piece of furniture you can see is enormous. Decide what this object means to a character. Your character is walking towards it.  
• Imagine a fantasy world where there is one type of magic. What knock on repercussions does this have on daily life? Write a scene showing this.

If you enjoy this genre, then you can discover more sci-fi and fantasy creative writing prompts . These focus on world building, creating exotic characters and developing plots with an out of this world element.

Visual writing prompts for world building

Sometimes an image can be more of a prompt than words. As it's a different medium, it allows you complete freedom to choose how to write about it. Here are 4 visual writing prompts to help with your world building, along with a suggestion of how to use them for each.

• You've entered this room for the first time. Decide what your purpose was in entering it, then start writing.

• Imagine a conversation is occurring here between people who work here all the time. Write the conversation, setting the room as the background.

• I find the following image so evocative, it shouldn't need a prompt to go with it!

• Who lives here? Write their story.

As well as visual writing prompts, you can come up with good story ideas using musical writing prompts. Simply take the name of any song below and write a story from it. Focus on sounds in your writing.

Ideas to develop your online business writing

• Mix work and pleasure! Write about something you love to do as a hobby in the style of writing that you do for your work. A sales pitch about your favourite holiday destination, or an analysis of the last board game you played, for example.  
• Choose a product you recently bought from the supermarket and see if you can sell it in 160 characters or less. This is useful if you're writing Meta Descriptions for a web page.  
• If you had to choose a single issue that determined how you would vote in every future election, what issue would it be? Why?  
• Write a short review of your favourite movie and a movie you hated.  
• Write a short autobiography of your life in the form of an interview, where paragraphs alternate between question and answer.  
• Choose a random article on Wikipedia and write a press release to promote it.  

• What is your favourite book set in a fictional universe? Write a tourist's guide to one area of that universe.  
• What was a favourite toy you had as a child? What appealed to you about it? Write a sales blurb for that product with you as the target audience.  
• Find a page selling a toy you loved as a kid. Now rewrite that page as if it was a product designed for adults.

To discover more creative writing prompts, please click the image below.

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Writing Prompts

POEM STARTER

Write a haiku or series of Haikus capturing the essence of a moment in an ancient civilisation.

STORY STARTER

"We're in this together, but I'm not sure I can trust you," he confessed under his breath.

Continue the story from this line.

WRITING OBSTACLE

Use the following objects in a narrative about how your character got a job that they are completely unqualified for:

Submitted by The Author

'When nightmares are all you’ve ever known, dreams can be a truly frightful thing.'

Write a story or poem inspired by this phrase.

Submitted by 'a.'

It’s been five years since you have seen the moon, five years of never ending sun...

Submitted by CSW

Death’s favourite human comes to visit. The young girl has a medical condition where her heart stops for a few minutes every once in awhile. Death is the girl’s favourite friend.

A quiet, unassuming librarian has an interesting and unhinged train of thought...

Write this character's internal monologue as they perform their normal, mundane jobs. How do their thoughts fit in around their actions and visible characteristics?

VISUAL PROMPT

By Andy Kelly @ Unsplash

Write a story inspired by the first thing you think of when you look at this image.

The Travelling Medicine Man

Write a poem inspired by this title.

Submitted by |~ Archer ~|

Create a short story or poem including the line “Magic comes with a price, are you willing to pay?”

Write a paragraph or short story from the perspective of someone who feels disappointed.

You do not have to reveal what the character is disappointed about, nor do you have to make them overtly upset, but you should focus on the small signs and behaviours that show their emotions.

Submitted by Shadow Queen

Your protagonist walks into a room with crimson walls and red lights. Rose petals are strewn on the perfectly fitted bed. A woman lays on the fluffed pillows, facedown, blood trickling down her flesh...

Submitted by snoop

Write a poem about something getting washed away, either literally or metaphorically.

Write a story about a mad scientist.

The story can have any plot you like, but centre it around this character.

Create a scene where two characters who dislike each other are forced to cooperate in a critical task.

Build tension and contempt between the characters whilst they work together, but do not resolve the conflict.

Join our community of aspiring authors to unlock 1,000+ curated prompts.

You've viewed all the prompts on the free-tier; become a member and get access to 1,000+ prompts.

23 creative writing prompts

By BBC Maestro Writing Last updated: 02 February 2023

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If you’re an aspiring writer, you might know that it’s sometimes difficult to think of something to write about. Whether you’re already writing a novel and are struggling to write a particular scene, or you want to write a short story but don’t know where to start, creative writing prompts are a great tool to have in your back pocket.

Here are some of our favourites to get you started.

• What are creative writing prompts?

Creative writing prompts are anything that gets you writing and gets your creative juices flowing. It could be an invitation to write about a particular topic, a sentence to get you started, a question, or even a visual. It could draw on aspects of your real life, could get you to write about something from someone else’s point of view, or ask you to write something entirely fictional.

Why use writing prompts?

How to make the most of creative writing prompts.

Writing prompts are designed to kickstart your imagination by giving you something to write about. This saves you from staring into space while you try to come up with story ideas. You might generate writing ideas that you’ll take forward, discover a new character you want to write about, or even just write a really strong sentence that you know you need to incorporate into your next story.

They can be a great way to write about new topics. Sometimes we’re all guilty of writing about what we know but writing prompts can force you to think about subjects you’ve never broached before.

It can be hard to get started sometimes when it comes to writing, but prompts give you a specific starting point. That can make it easier to pick up the pen and start writing and often, you’ll find that once you’ve overcome that first hurdle, the ideas start to flow and you move onto different topics.

In that sense, you can think of writing prompts as a warm-up. You wouldn’t get on the football pitch and start playing a 90-minute match without warming up first, nor would you attempt a 200-metre sprint without dynamically stretching your muscles beforehand.

So creative writing prompts, then, are like your warm-up. They help you to flex your writing muscles, getting your brain stimulated, so you might want to sit down and tackle a writing prompt before working on a new poem or novel chapter.

Writing prompts can be used as part of a free writing exercise, which is when you allow yourself to write for a set period – say two minutes – without any editing. That means no worrying about form, grammar, structure or even topic. You just write and see what comes out, which can be a good way of gathering your thoughts or generating ideas. To get started with free writing, some people like to follow a prompt to help remove any writer’s blocks that might be holding them back.

Whatever type of creative writing you do, it’s worth giving prompts a go to come up with new ideas, release your writer’s block, and get into the flow. But don’t worry about following the prompts too closely. They’re not meant to be prescriptive – rather, you should use them as inspiration for your own writing. If a prompt asks you to write about a mistake you made, but it sparks an idea for a poem or a story about travel instead, then just write whatever you want and let your imagination guide you.

Here are some other tips to get the most out of creative writing prompts:

• Don’t overthink it – just start writing anything, it doesn’t matter if it’s not directly related to the writing prompt. The important thing is that you get something down on paper.
• If the prompt isn’t resonating with you, you don’t need to force it. Feel free to move on to another one and see if it’s a better fit for you.
• Don’t feel under pressure to write anything complete – you don’t need to write a full short story, poem, or novel chapter as a result of your writing prompt. It’s simply the starting point, and you’re free to abandon it halfway through or take it in a different direction.

Now, here are some fiction writing prompts for you to try next time you’re stuck for story ideas!

1.     Write your life story in five sentences, writing it in the first person. Then try writing it in the third person.

2.     Write about your favourite holiday. What did you do, where did you go, who were you with, and why was it so special?

3 .     Look through today’s newspaper until you find a story that speaks to you.

Use it as your starting point for your creative writing practice. This is a technique Malorie Blackman likes to use. In her BBC Maestro course on Writing For Young Adults, she explains “Pig-Heart Boy was inspired by a newspaper article stating that we’d have to use animal organs for transplant because there is such a shortage of human donors. I thought that was a wonderful idea for a story.”

4.     Open the dictionary and choose a word on whatever page you open. Use that as your jumping-off point and write about whatever springs to mind.

5.     Write from the perspective of an inanimate object. Choose any object, like a tree, saucepan, or backpack.

6.     Sketch out a character, and answer key questions about them like:

• What is their name?
• What’s their occupation?
• What’s their background?
• Where did they grow up?
• What motivates them?

You can use our character bio template to help you develop your character further.

7.     Write about your biggest heartbreak. Did you learn any lessons from it? How did it affect you?

8.     Time travel exists. Write about where you’d go. Will you travel to the future or the past? What do you see, smell, eat and do? Is there anything that surprises you?

9.     Write a story that begins with a character having a strange gut feeling they can’t explain. If you love the idea of writing a thriller , this is a great one to get you into the right mindset.

10.  Write a scene inspired by your favourite film. It could be a deleted scene from the movie, or it could be a story about the main characters with events that aren’t featured in the film.

11.  Go for a walk and take a notebook. Write down what you see around you. As Alan Moore says in his BBC Maestro course on Storytelling , “if you look at any place deeply enough, I am convinced it will have a spectacular story to tell you.” So go for a walk and see if anything around you sparks a story, as “wherever you live, there is something sacred and fascinating about that ground on which you are standing. It is your duty as a writer to excavate the meaning from that ground and convey it to your readers.”

12.  You get a letter that will change your life forever. Write that letter – or write about what it will change.

13.  Write a story set in an airport. Who is there, where are they going and why?

14.  Write about a time you were treated unfairly. When writing the character of Jack Reacher, Lee Child drew on his own experiences to create a relatable character who was seeking revenge. As he says in his BBC Maestro course on Writing Popular Fiction , “I was feeling a desire for revenge. The question was, how do I fictionalise that in an interesting way? Reacher was thrown out in the same way I had been thrown out, and like me, he was learning how to live on the outside.” Taking inspiration from Reacher, write about how being rejected made you feel, and how you dealt with it. Then write about what you’d do if there were no real-world consequences.

15.  Your character’s child comes home from school with a detention slip. But your character isn’t angry. Write about what happened and why they’re not bothered that their child got into trouble at school.

16.  Visit a charity shop and pick out one item that inspires you . Write about it, thinking about what it is, where it came from, what it’s used for and who might have owned it previously.

17.  Write a story, scene or poem set during an apocalypse.

18.  Go to a café and write about the people at the table next to you. Jot down notes about their body language, their clothing, what they’re doing, and even snippets of their conversation. Be nosy, as Malorie Blackman says: “Pay attention to people’s conversations, what they say and also how they say it – accents, body language, level of gesticulation.”

19.  What’s cooking? Write a story or scene about someone cooking something. What dish are they making, who are they cooking for, and what significance does it hold? What does it smell and taste like?

20.  Costume party. Write a scene or story in which a character is wearing a costume. Why are they wearing it? What is the costume? And what happens while they’re in disguise?

21.  Write about someone fulfilling another character’s dying wish.

22.  Write something from a child’s point of view.

23.  Describe a normal object from the perspective of an alien. Take a normal, everyday object and write about it from the point of view of someone who’s seeing it for the first time and finds it very strange.

Creative writing prompts are one of the best ways to incorporate writing practice into your daily routine. Give them a go and see what you come up with! And if you want to find out more about the art of writing fiction, take a look at some of our writing courses from Lee Child , Alan Moore and Malorie Blackman .

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Carol ann duffy, lee child, alan moore, julia donaldson, jed mercurio, malorie blackman.

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Creative Writing Prompts

26 Remarkable Comments

Welcome to the creative writing prompts page! What you can find here is a MASSIVE collection of 63 quality writing exercises (basically, each one is a mini-story of its own, with a twist). This is going to be so much fun, and all while you improve your story writing skills.

You can find all kinds of creative writing exercises here. All of them are fiction writing prompts, and they cover almost every genre, plus you can find creative writing prompts about dialogue, characters, plot, for writer’s block, and much, much more…

Interesting Writing Prompts

This is not the usual stuff. I tried to make these writing prompts intriguing. Most of them are complete scenes and even mini-stories.

You can have them. Yes, you own all the rights, even if you base your entire novel on them and get it published and earn a million dollars for the movie rights. They are all yours.

To become a really good story writer, there is only one thing you need to do: Write! And these creative writing prompts should inspire you to write. They should fire your brain up and make your fingers itch.

With each of these prompts, you can train one specific aspect of your writing; either a genre, or your dialogue or story starter skills, etc…

Post Your Prompt

Also, pick your favorite creative writing prompt, do it, and post it in the comments! Let’s make this a page for everybody to share their creative writing. The more you guys comment and actually do these prompts, the more prompts I will add in the future.

Creative Writing Prompts PDF

To top it all off, you can also download these prompts. Find a neat PDF collection of all the prompts here:

Fun Creative Writing Prompts – Index

(Click on the genre to get to the prompts)

1. Romance Writing Prompts

2. Mystery Writing Prompts/Suspense Writing Prompts

3. Fantasy Writing Prompts

4. Science Fiction Writing Prompts

5. Horror Writing Prompts

6. Thriller Writing Prompts

7. Adventure Writing Prompts

8. Action Writing Prompts

9. Historical/Medieval Writing Prompts

10. Dialogue Writing Prompts

11. Character Writing Prompts

12. Plot Writing Prompts

13. Short Story Writing Prompts

14. Writing Prompts with Pictures

15. Writing Prompts for Writer’s Block

16. Story Starters Writing Prompts

17. Unusual Creative Writing Prompts

Bonus: Other Writing Prompts Websites

Writing Prompts that don’t suck: List of Writing Prompts

Romance writing prompts.

[ Read detailed tips about how to write a romantic scene her e . ]

Writing Prompt 1:

On the night before his marriage, Robert gets a visit. It’s Rachel, the girl that grew up next door and has been his best friend ever since. They had always pushed back any feelings for each other, “we are just friends.” (Yeah, right…!).

Now Rachel bursts into is home in a last, unexpected try to convince Robert he is marrying the wrong woman and she and he are meant for each other. But a ceremony for 150 guests is already arranged. After a lot of passionate talk and tears, Rachel gets him to agree to a game: “Can you guess what I would do…?” They both jot down 10 questions plus their hidden answers. Whoever can guess more of the other’s answers right, wins.

Will Rachel win and they will spend the night on a bus, escaping the wedding? Or will Robert win and watch devastated Rachel walk off into the night, frustration in his heart and tears in his eyes? You decide!

How you can make this scene shine:

Make the scene captivating by showing the reader why these two are meant for each other: Let them remember what they appreciate so much in each other (show, don’t tell), the special moments they shared, show the missed romantic opportunities, and how they complement each other perfectly.

Your reader will hope and fear with them and be hooked to your scene like it was her own love story.

Writing Prompt 2:

Gwen and Christopher have been married for 20 years. One night Gwen finds bright red lipstick on the collar of his jacket. Infuriated, she grabs one of his golf clubs, and swings at his car till it looks worse than a bicycle under a freight train.

When she is exhausted and breaks down crying, Christopher can finally explain what happened: Christopher had been with his Chinese language student group. They all had been on their way to a Chinese restaurant for a change, and it had been raining. He lent his jacket to one of his Chinese language students to protect her from the rain. That’s when the lipstick got on the shirt.

Will Gwen believe him and end up sobbing and relieved in his arms? Or will she not believe one word and soon continue with Chris’ Chinese porcelain collection? You decide!

Leave the reader in the dark about why the lipstick really is on the jacket as long as possible, keep the suspense vibrant. Describe Gwen’s pain and the destruction of Chris’ beloved car in energetic detail, so the reader will live with them as if it was their own (heart and car).

Writing Prompt 3:

King Kong, the giant, roaring ape, falls in sweet love with his female counterpart, Queen Kong. While he was terrorizing New York, she was keeping Chicago on its toes. They meet for a date somewhere in the middle, in a dreamy forest (burning trees instead of candlelight, etc…).

They share a romantic dinner (living cattle, farmers…) and discover their common interests: They both love tearing down skyscrapers, putting police cars on top of billboard ads and eating humongous bananas. And oh, don’t even get me started on the sex…

Will these lonely apes form a bond that helps their love survive against all odds/outer resistance? Or will the egomaniacs in them gain the upper hand and tear their love apart? You decide!

How do you express your love when you are a hairy monster the size of a skyscraper? What would be different, what would be absurd? Emphasize the strange contrast between tender feelings and a gigantic physique. Your reader will find their obstacles very different, but equally painful to his own, and love you for it.

Writing Prompt 4:

Lucas has fallen in love with his dentist. His teeth are very healthy, but he is coming into Jasmin’s practice for the third time within three months, in the hope he will be capable of asking her out in a quiet moment, when nobody is listening.

Unfortunately, the doctor has three assistants and one secretary, and even the door to the waiting room doesn’t look too soundproof… Lucas feels like he is on stage in a Shakespearian comedy. Jasmin, on the other hand, lightly makes fun of him, calling him a hypochondriac.

Will Lucas finally have the balls to follow through with his plan? Or will he have to come for a fourth time? Will Jasmin sense what’s up, and will she be attracted or just annoyed? You decide!

Emphasize the contrast between the nonchalant everyday business of the doctor and her assistants, and Lucas’ timid desire to ask her out. Whatever angle he takes, he is running out of time and of Jasmin’s professional attention. How does he feel? Describe his troubled inner life, and your reader will identify strongly and feel for him.

Additional Romance Writing Prompt:

Also see the SF bonus prompt here . It’s a double prompt for two genres, romance and science fiction.

Mystery Writing Prompts/Suspense Writing Prompts

Writing Prompt 5:

Animal-loving Naomi is at her parents’ holiday home. She is observing a small hut at the forest edge. A van shows up there on three nights back to back. Each time, it seems to pick up something. Naomi sees dark silhouettes sneaking around with flashlights.

One night she decides to sneaks closer, and through a gap in the curtains sees a stack of antlers and fur: She has discovered the sinister doings of poachers. Will Naomi alert the police, or will she be so furious she decides to act on her own? Will she stay undiscovered once the van’s headlights show up on the hill? You decide!

Make the readers wonder “What the heck is going on…?” as often as possible, it will make for a suspenseful story. Show how kind, smart and brave Naomi is, so readers fear for her life. Then make the bad guys come.

Writing Prompt 6:

Paris, 19 th century: Detective Beaumont follows his suspect Forestier, who is wearing a long trench coat. He believes Forestier to be the long hunted for “rose murderer.” That murderer always leaves the rare rose variety “Farewell” on his victims’ bodies. The rose can only be bought in one shop in Paris, and if Forestier walks to that shop today, it is almost certain he is the murderer.

Indeed Forestier’s ways lead him to the flower shop in question. When he comes out, the detective follows him into a narrow street to arrest him. He lays his hands on his shoulders, but once he turns him, he sees that it’s not Forestier – he has been played! The real Forestier must have left the flower shop through a back door, and is now up to who-knows-what…

Will that second person have another trap in store for Detective Beaumont? Will the detective get to Forestier before bad things happen? You decide!

Get into the detective’s head! Show his enthusiasm about finding the long sought-after murderer, his doubts, his shock at the discovery! Show the looming danger he is in. It will make for a terrifyingly good scene…

Writing Prompt 7:

Jeremy has a neighbor whose wife has been missing for months. Jeremy is sitting in his living room, watching a documentary about the most beautiful graveyards of the world. It says that the human body and bones are excellent fertilizers and make plants grow like crazy.

He looks out the window and that huge, blooming rose bush in his neighbor’s garden catches his eye. It’s elevated on a small hill of loose soil, and it’s even more striking, as the rest of his garden is barren ground. Suddenly, Jeremy remembers that the name of his neighbor’s wife is Rose…

In this scene, a lot is happening on a mental level, and little on a physical level. Dive into Jeremy’s somber thoughts and his shocking suspicion. But at the same time, remain some outside stimulus going: E.g. Describe images of the documentary, the landscape of the garden, a clock striking ten, etc… It makes for a well-balanced scene.

Fantasy Writing Prompts

Writing Prompt 8:

The four goblins Hukput, Paddycest, Nixxle and Klozzik are on their way to the cave of the Redwing dragon Isidur. They carry a delicious moore rabbit steak with minty potatoes. They plan to present it to him as humble offering of submission, but in reality the dish is soaked with a sleeping potion so they can rob his enormous pile of golden cups, chains and ducats. Will Isidur smell the bait? Or will his loud snoring fill the cave while the goblins hastily get away with as much gold as they can carry? You decide!

Describe how the deceitful goblins try to get suspicious Isidur to devour their dish. Which tactics do they employ? They are so small, and the dragon is so powerful, but will they nevertheless outsmart him? Describe the wide, majestic nature of the landscape and the cave. Tricky and powerful creatures as well as moody sceneries make for a great fantasy story.

Writing Prompt 9:

Magician Axius is potent, old and absent-minded. He wants to put a spell on his best cooking spoon so it should cook his favorite meal, chicken with sweet pepper. But he gets a detail in the spell wrong. The spoon starts to brutally attack all of the chickens in the patio.

Which unlikely places does the spoon go to while Axius is after it? How does Axius make his way through the terrified flock of chickens? And which spells does he use when trying to calm down his good spoon? You decide!

Time to try some “cute,” homespun fantasy! Lay out the small worries of a big magician. Even he needs to take care of overexcited pets and unruly household goods some time. It’s just that he has more powerful ways to deal with them…

Writing Prompt 10:

Two bored dwarfs, Onyx and Hafax, guard a castle’s entrance. They get into an argument who can throw stones further. While they prove their skills to each other, unfortunately a stone hits a giant who is sleeping in the castle ditch. She comes after them furiously. Will she smash their surprised faces to porridge, or can the resilient dwarfs talk her out of it? You decide!

Show the simple, but competitive nature of the dwarfs. They feel strong and then suddenly very weak… Describe the frightening power of the giant. Show your readers a world of many wonders that only exist in fantasy.

Writing Prompt 11:

The ogre Grawczak is invited to a talk show about strange creatures. Believing in the best intentions of TV and eager to help make races understand each other better, he accepts. The vicious questions on air take him by surprise: “Why do ogres smell so bad; don’t they care other people are disgusted?” and “What does human flesh taste like?”

Will Grawczak just freeze in face of the bright studio lights and endure the process? Will he let them provoke him and look really bad? Or will he just eat the moderator with some spices? You decide!

Describe how helpless the big ogre feels in face of the media. Contrast it with the sensational malice of the moderator. If you can paint the ogre as a likeable being, your readers will root for him strongly. If only we understood ogres better, the world would be a more peaceful place!

Science Fiction Writing Prompts

Writing Prompt 12:

It’s an intergalactic poker tournament. Different races from different galaxies have come together. On one of the tables, the only players left are Froggosaurus, The Big Dust, Rhonda Seventeen-Tentacle and the Red Snailman.

Snailman is doing really well, too well for Rhonda. She suddenly reaches out behind his ear and pulls out a mindreader chip! Will the angry players grill Snailman, or will he be able to flee? Maybe an angry/apologetic dialogue ensues that ends with a bargain? You decide!

Writing Prompt 13:

In 2230, humans have conquered Mars. Automated skytrains run through its red desserts. One of these is stopped by a technical glitch at rush hour. The doors are stuck. When the passengers hear the voice of the control system robot through the loudspeakers, they realize the full extent of the disaster…

The system has come to the conclusion that it’s now superior to its creators, and it is planning to take over. It will open the hydraulic doors for the passengers and allow them to leave, under one condition: They have to chain three programmers in the group to a grabpole in the train and leave them behind. It becomes obvious that the system wants to eliminate the last persons that could still endanger its rule: The most talented programmers…

Will the passengers yield to the insane robot’s demand in order to save their lives? Will they try a trick and risk it all? You decide!

Writing Prompt 14:

Zwooshers look like fluffy, pink, door-high pet giraffes – you just want to cuddle them. But their looks are deceiving! They are actually plundering, reckless space pirates.

In the meeting hall, their captain Haab (eye patch, ruffled plush fur, wooden foot, spacemaid tattoo…) holds an inflammatory speech to hype up his crew. They are about to take the freight space ship that showed up on their radar. The ship must carry at least 65 tons of wood shavings, and Haab wants to take them all!

The crew is all hyped up and ready to go, when Haab trips over his wooden leg and falls off the stage. It looks pretty pathetic for a heroic leader. Will the crew just take this as a sign that chaos and plundering can now ensue, and storm forward? Or will this end the captain’s authority and make the horde want to feed him to the Spacephins? You decide!

Writing Prompt 15:

In 2075, the company Cryptofreeze™ offers the simplest, most effective method to time-travel into the future: They freeze your complete organism and defrost you after the desired period of time. Raul Morales was president of Payadua for 12 years. The laws state that he can’t run for office again for the following 4 terms (24 years). His solution is to get frosted for that period.

He is unfrozen in a big televised show that is transmitted directly into the communication chips of the population’s brains. The show features his frozen body in a transparent casket, lasers, dancers, etc… It should be one huge campaign appearance for the upcoming election.

His rivals do their best to make him look bad though: They smuggle in their own audience to boo and ask the wrong questions, they sabotage the lightning, etc… Will they succeed in derailing his campaign, or will Morales’ reputation shine brighter than ever before? You decide!

Bonus Prompt 16: Romance/Science Fiction Writing Prompt

But Cryptofreeze™ also attracts clients with a completely different set of problems: Henry loves Leila and is sure she is the girl he wants to be with. The problem is that she is 19 and he is 58.

Write two scenes:

Henry wants to talk to Leila and finds her on the running track (where the inner track travels less distance than the outer track, but they are still running side by side…). They jog next to each other, which painfully exposes their age difference. He confesses his love to her, she tells him she can’t live with the age difference, and he tells her he has booked his spot with Cryptofreeze™ and that she should make sure she will be free in 30 years. They say farewell in tears.

Henry is unfrozen, but something has gone horribly wrong: Because of a technical failure he has been frozen double time, for 60 years. Leila is now 79, while he is still 58. Roles are reversed, but it’s not as fun as it was supposed to be… Devastated, Henry visits Leila in her nursery home. She is kept in a large metal box, taken care of by robots who drive her out into the garden once per day.

Will they rediscover their love for each other, or will the circumstances have changed them too much? Will the thought of having missed out on all that precious time just kill them? Or will the make the best of it and find happiness? You decide!

Writing Prompts PDF

You can download a complete collection of all the prompts on this page on a neat sheet. Save them for whenever you need them! Enter your email here for your PDF of printable writing prompts:

Horror Writing Prompts

Writing Prompt 17:

Joanna has won a vacation weekend in an old castle. Not many guests are there. Wandering the wide halls, she learns about Count Brookhart, the 16 th century owner of the castle. He stole another nobleman’s wife, started a war, and was beheaded. He is rumored to be roaming these halls as a ghost. The castle’s ancient chronicles state that he will only be redeemed if a living woman kisses him on her knees. Sounds pretty strange, doesn’t it…?

At night, Joanna gets up to look for the bathroom. She only hears wind; a book falls from a shelf out of nowhere. And these heads on the old portraits all seem to turn after her…

She looks into a mirror – and freezes. Behind her is the Count, his eyes beseeching her for a kiss. And she would have to kneel to kiss him, because he is carrying his head under his arm, blood-dripping… Does Joanna feel like redeeming the count? What will happen if she does/doesn’t? You decide!

Describe the setting, the emptiness and the uneasy details. Let Joanna wonder what is going on and show her fear. In the end, go for the terrible shock effect!

Writing Prompt 18:

Gina’s beloved cat Tiger has been feverish and dizzy lately. At a fair, Gina sees a tent with a sign “Voodoo Healings $5.” Inside, she finds an old, hunched woman. She sits down in a strange chair with split rods, and her hair gets caught. The hag speaks a spell and gestures with her hands, then motions Gina to leave.

Outside at the fruit stands, Gina suddenly feels very sick, and it occurs to her what her hair could have been used for… Will she return to demand every single one of her strands back? Or will she already feel too sick and go for a more extreme solution? Will the old woman be gone or deny everything? You decide!

Don’t describe Gina’s fear, but instead describe what makes her scared: Show details of the witch’s looks and how the witch acts, describe Gina’s physical condition. Show how awful it is not to know where the horror is coming from. It will make your readers feel it strongly.

Writing Prompt 19:

When Lucy comes home, she finds her daughter Luna sitting on the floor sobbing, surrounded by broken glass. Luna has just smashed every single mirror in the house. She tells her mother that she saw ‘The Eater’ appearing behind her shoulder in the mirrors: Some dark silhouette that was coming to take a huge bite out of her.

Lucy tries to calm down her hysterical daughter, and is already going through a list of psychiatrists in the back of her head. In the evening, after cleaning up the house, she is applying make-up to go out for an important business dinner. Suddenly she notices huge black teeth appearing behind her in the little mirror…

Will Lucy shake it off as her imagination running wild? Or will she smash the make-up kit? How will she try to save herself and her daughter? And for how long can you avoid mirrors, which surround us… everywhere. You decide!

Have you ever had the feeling that you don’t know what’s going on? Pretty unsettling, right? Give disturbing, moody details about the silhouette, its appearances and effects, but don’t explain the why this is happening. We don’t know why terrible things happen to good people. And that’s scary.

Writing Prompt 20:

Zombie apocalypse has arrived. TV stations finally have the audience they deserve… For the zombies, it’s one huge party, and the humans are desperately holding onto their arms and socio-economic systems.

Four zombies are robbing a bank. Their advantages: Bullets don’t bother them, they really don’t need masks, and they have a natural gift to scare the shit out of the employees. Disadvantages: They are just so damn slow. Imagine a bank robbery in slow motion, and a couple of limbs falling off the robbers on their way out… Will the rotten gang get away thanks to their ‘Shock and Awe’? Or will the guards be quick-witted and find a way to protect themselves and attack? Where is the hunt going? You decide!

Show how absurd this scenario is. How is it different from an ordinary bank robbery? Think it through, and you will get to a couple of interesting scenarios.

Thriller Writing Prompts

Writing Prompt 21:

Jeff is the bloodhound type of a prosecutor. He is currently prosecuting the big ice cream company “Freezelicious.” They are accused of using harmful ingredients. Since Jeff took on that trial, he has been having the feeling that somebody is following him. Yesterday at the gas station, today during the break at a restaurant, and now this Mercedes has been behind him for 20 minutes.

He makes two daring and illegal maneuvers with his car, but just as he thinks he got rid of the Mercedes, it appears in his rearview mirror. He parks at a shopping center and disappears into the bathroom. After a while, the Mercedes driver comes in, and Jeff smashes him against the wall and starts to interrogate him. Turns out the guy isn’t sent by Freezelicious, but by their cheaper competitor Mega Cream. They want to make sure nothing bad happens to Jeff, because they are afraid Freezelicious wants to get him out of the way. Will Jeff just be pissed and throw the guy out? Or will he be secretly grateful? Has Freezelicious indeed planned an assassination? You decide!

Write Jeff’s inner dialogue in short sentences throughout the scene, and alternate it with action bits. Let him wonder whether somebody is following him (yes, no, yes, no) and what they could want. Show his anxiety and uncertainty.

Writing Prompt 22:

Seems like Amanda’s new co-worker Gregory does not waste any time: On his second day in office he asked her out. She declined, and the next week he asked her again with flowers in his hand. She explained he wasn’t her type, no hard feelings.

Today, when she leaves her house, she finds a shocking image: Somebody nailed her cat to the trashcan! In tears, she pulls her lose and buries her in the backyard. On the bus to work, dreadful thoughts race through her head: How can a human be capable of doing something like this? Did Apple suffer for long? Was it just some cruel and mindless kid? Is she in danger? And did she forget to close the bathroom window…?

At work, Gregory sticks his head into her office: “So how is your cat?” he asks… How will this terrible poker game continue? Can Amanda keep cool? You decide!

Again, get into Amanda’s head and play with her uncertainty. How would it make you feel if your co-worker was a dangerous maniac? Grief, terror, vengefulness, remorse… you can draw from all of these strong emotions.

Writing Prompt 23:

Herbert wants to call his son Gerd in from playing in the garden. But he only finds Gerd’s teddy with the head missing, and a note to bring 100,000 € to the Zombie House at the amusement park. If he informs police or doesn’t pay, he will get his son back like his teddy…

Four days later, police are waiting outside the Zombie House, while Herbert roams its eerie corridors, with a backpack filled with 100,000 €. Suddenly, out of the dark, a moldy looking hand grabs his backpack, while his son appears at the end of the corridor. He lets the backpack go and walks towards his son, who suddenly disappears… Will a wild chase between zombie masks ensue? What is waiting in the dark? Will the kidnappers notice the police, and what will they do then? You decide!

Uncertainty and mood! Describe the horrible thoughts of a father fighting for his son. Describe the dark, frightening atmosphere of the Zombie House. Here, your worst nightmares come true…

Adventure Writing Prompts

Writing Prompt 24:

An expedition into the jungle has gone wrong. Desmond is an intrepid, bearded explorer who set out with his team to explore the tropical wild. But they got caught by aborigines.

Then something strange happens: Affectionately, they are asked to put on shoes made of parsley and onion necklaces… Seems like these aborigines are hungry.

Jungle-smart Desmond knows their best bet is to make themselves look toxic. He orders his team to rub violet berries and black roots all over their bodies, to punch a couple of each other’s teeth out and to writhe and babble like an insane person. Will the wild tribe be disgusted, and what will they decide to do with them? Or will they just laugh and proceed to produce a tasty casserole? You decide!

Writing Prompt 25:

Four women are stranded on a small, rocky island. To their dismay, the boat they came in is leaky. The extreme situation makes their masks come off and exposes the true nature of each one:

Ellen freaks out. She blames Ruth for booking a damaged boat and Mary for forgetting to take walkie-talkies with them, even though she had been in charge of equipment.

Ruth can’t stop sobbing, she is pale and shaky and can’t be moved from the rock she is sitting on.

Mary tries to bring all of them onto the same page, so they can work together. She holds Ruth in her arms and sings to her.

Bethany makes a list of possible actions to take and tries to assign tasks to everyone (look for food, try to repair boat, look for material for smoking signal, etc…).

Describe the group dynamics. It could be an upward or a downward spiral. Will the women work together and find a way out of this? Or will they become worked up against each other and start to fight? Will a rescuing boat show up once they are at their lowest point and make them all feel shocked about themselves? You decide!

Writing Prompt 26:

Tobias and Rafael, two colleagues, are trying to reach the top of a mountain in the Himalayas. They are close to the peak, but Tobias knows it’s too dangerous to continue. Once they reached the top, it would get dark and cold, and the descent would be very dangerous. He decides to turn around, but he can’t get Rafael to come with him.

At night he is in his tent and hears Rafael asking for help over the walkie-talkie. The poor guy is sitting high up there in a freezing cold cave without food, and it’s not clear whether he will survive the night. Will Tobias risk his life for a colleague who has disregarded all safety rules? Or will he just encourage him over radio and pray? Will there be calm conditions the next day? You decide!

Action Writing Prompts

[ Read detailed tips about how to write an action/fight scene her e . ]

Writing Prompt 27:

Alfredo is a celebrity cook who loves the good life. That’s why he owes the mafia money.

One day, two gentlemen shaped like bull dozers in suits pay him a visit. They quickly surround him and send him friendly reminders to pay with their brass knuckles and baseball bats. But Alfredo is quick and flexible. He rams a cucumber into their ribs, then quickly jumps over the big counter in the middle of the kitchen.

The weapon of a cook is food… He throws some butter at their feet, so they slide and stumble, and scatters pepper into their eyes. Howling, disorientated and furious, they speed in opposite directions around the block. Alfredo quickly jumps onto the counter, and coming from opposite directions, they crash into each other like colliding trains and stay on the floor unconscious. Alfredo goes on to cook a celebratory cake.

Will the two suddenly wake up and go for Alfredo again? How will he get their heavy bodies out of there? Or is this won already? You decide!

Mix the threat and pain of the cold-blooded torturers with quick dynamic phrases of action (verbs of movement; commas not full stops; graphic descriptions).

Writing Prompt 28:

Prison break time is the best time of the year: Hector, Axl, and Hans have been digging their way to freedom for months. Tonight, they lift the tiles for the last time, hastily crawling through the narrow tunnel. Stuck in the middle, they hear an alarm going off. How were they discovered so quickly? When they block the tunnel behind them with earth and debris, it feels like filling their own graves.

They hear guards crawling after them while rapidly digging the last tunnel part. Once out in the forest, they run! They discuss splitting up, but Hans refuses. They hide in trees, but are discovered by police quickly. They jump into a river, hearing police dogs behind them. Flushing down the river, a waterfall comes up. Whaaaam, freefall! Surely no policeman or dog can follow them here, so they feel safe finally! Until they are washed right into the arms of police waiting at the shore… How is that possible?

The cops have handcuffs for Hector and Axl, and a towel for Hans, who takes a tracker out of his sock… Will the other two try to strangle him? What will be his reward, and how could he have the guts to betray his companions? You decide!

Make it a big surprise and mystery how the cops always know where they are. And give us a taste of what it feels like to be human prey: Use short, quick, hectic sentences to give a sense for the quick pace of the hunt.

Writing Prompt 29:

The “Three Apples” hospital is in flames. On the 9 th floor, nurses Jenny and Linda try to save the babies of the preemie ward. The way downstairs is already blocked by flames, and there is only one way left: Up!

The girls are on the rooftop with the babies, and Jenny brought a container, and a sheet they use as a “cable.” She ties one end around a chimney and sails over the gap onto the neighbor building with a blood-freezing jump. They push the babies safely to the other side one by one like on cable cars, until only Linda is left. But she has major fear of heights, and now the babies are safe, her body has time to panic. The flames come closer.

Will Jenny be able to help her out with another trick? Will she find her courage, or will a helicopter rescue her at the last moment? You decide!

Babies and puppies are your best pawn! Make your reader fear for these helpless little creatures, and fall in love with their brave and quick-thinking helpers. You can heighten that effect by giving the girls very distinctive personalities, and showing their inner struggles. They are no superheroes, they have to earn this!

Historical/Medieval Writing Prompts

Writing Prompt 30:

The middle ages. One of the famous “morality plays” is played in the village. These are basically thinly veiled guidelines for the people on how to behave. This one is for kids though, and very short to allow for their attention span. It tells kids how to behave properly, so mom and dad will love them and they won’t go to hell.

The play features Adam, the good kid, clean and in white like an angel; and Roger, the bad kid, looking nasty in rugs and always misbehaving. Several allegories are also around: Obedience is a thin figure in a long, flowing dress, always looking down. Diligence is a muscular guy with rolled up sleeves and leather apron; Adam tries to be like him, while Roger bites his leg. In the end, Adam is showered with candy toys and even a pet calf, while Roger gets a bloodletting and an ass-whipping. But suddenly the kids in the audience start to cheer and stamp: The calf has lifted its tail and peed all over Adam!

Do the kids get their own morality out of that play? How will the director and authorities turn this around to keep them in line? Will independent thinking or order prevail? You decide!

Create a couple more figures for the “play within the play.” If you constantly switch between the reality of the village and the reality in the play, it will make for nice variety. Get creative on both ends!

Writing Prompt 31:

Francis is a troubadour all girls have a crush on, kind of the Justin Bieber of the 12 th century. He has been courting charming Amalia night after night under her window. Tonight, he sings her his romantic poem “Thou Art the Bellows of Mine Heart.”

Amalia is enchanted, but soon rumbling is heard in the house: Her father has woken up, and that usually leads to him chasing Francis around the house with a rolling pin. He is a wealthy merchant and doesn’t approve of her tie to a penniless poet. The rumbling becomes louder while they speak.

Finally, merchant Robertson rips open the front door and screams up at his daughter: “What happened to the rolling pin!!?” Turns out Amalia has wisely hidden it… Will merchant Robertson get even angrier now? Or will he be charmed by his baby’s wit? Will he do damage to her poor suitor? You decide!

Love is in the air, so describe how and why these two are sighing/yearning for each other: The longing, the flirting, the plans. Draw from romances in your own life, because love never changed throughout the centuries. Disrupt that romance with an angry, drowsy man for great effect!

Writing Prompt 32:

Ancient Rome: On a big “forum” (square), a slave auction is held. Huno, a big, muscular Alemannic slave in heavy chains is next in line. Gaius, a newly rich plebeian, wants to acquire him so he can wear himself out on his construction sites by pulling heavy blocks. Gracelanus, a town clerk, would treat Huno much better and use him as a body guard.

Huno is ordered to demonstrate his power, and he breaks thick logs of wood over his thighs. Gaius lets out humiliating comments like “Work it, proud animal!” or “All the brains are in his upper arms.” He gives him the whip several times to test his resilience. Gracelanus, on the other hand, remains quiet, only to applaud the demonstrations.

When the bid goes to 800 sesterces, these two are the only bidders left. Gaius is hesitating for a moment, and suddenly Huno turns to the side of the stage and lets a heavy log fall on Gaius’ feet. Screaming and swearing, Gaius jumps in circles, while the bid goes to Gracelanus. Will Gaius accept his defeat, or will he get back at them? If Huno is provoked further, can he keep his cool? You decide!

Slavery is disgusting to the modern reader. It has an even bigger effect, if you, the author, don’t judge. Just present the auction as everyday life. Huno’s humility to his own fate, Gaius’ cruelness… try to describe it without emotions.

Dialogue Writing Prompts

Writing Prompt 33:

Punker girl Samantha (pierced tongue, “Anarchy” tattoo, etc…) is detained for stealing a skateboard bit by bit from a sports store (wheels first, then axle, etc…). Her attorney George is a seasoned vet. At his office, he tries to explain to the stupid brat what’s about to happen and what he wants her to do in front of court: Explain that she had just been bored and curious how to dissemble a skateboard, wanting to prove herself, and that she would have brought the complete skateboard back. Samantha is not too concerned about all of this and wishes the old man was a little more chill.

Write their dialogue and show how differently they speak about their agendas, different words they use, tone, rhythm, etc… Will George hammer some sense into the teenager? Or will Samantha stay unimpressed and make him lose his cool? You decide!

What it’s good for:

It’s important your characters’ voices sound different from each other. This exercise trains you to give each character their distinctive voice.

Writing Prompt 34:

Greta has lent her pick-up truck to her cousin Iris to transport some furniture. Unfortunately, a little accident happened: The truck perfectly fit around the pillar of the gateway.

Iris enters the kitchen, where Greta is cooking. At first, she is afraid to confess and wants to cheer up Greta’s mood with some enthusiastic compliments. She hesitates and finally confesses.

Greta is busy and hectic when Iris enters, to get dinner ready before guests arrive. She is happy to see Iris return and asks about the furniture buying, then wants to rush her out of her kitchen. After Iris confesses, Greta feels like everything is going wrong on that day and becomes hysteric. Will Iris be able to calm her down? Or will the two women get into a big fight, just before the guests arrive? You decide!

This scene takes the two protagonists through a rollercoaster ride of emotions. It will train you to always let your characters express their feelings and to insert a lot of emotions into your scenes.

Writing Prompt 35:

Fibby & Fozzy are twins. Their mom has died recently, and their uncle Gerald wants to trick them out of the largest part of their inheritance. He just presented a new, fake will that would only leave them a small heritage. They discuss what steps they could take against their uncle’s scam, and they speak about it at their mom’s favorite place on earth, the zoo.

Show them walking through the scenery in a way that the animals provide some subtle subtext for whatever they are talking about. E.g. when they talk about how ruthless their uncle is, they watch a lion tearing his meat apart; when they talk about how they love their mother, they are watching a cute baby panda, etc…

This should improve your sense to connect what your characters are talking about with their environment. Adding a bit of subtext is easy and makes your scene deep and rich.

Writing Prompt 36:

A popular comedian sits on a park bench. He is the type that shocks and amuses his audience with outrageous ideas. A bum sits down next to him. The comedian asks the bum for change. Is this just a lighthearted joke that will ease out into a philosophical discussion about humanity? Or will the bum be seriously offended and react? You decide!

Train your characters to sound real with this one. When the erratic, playful, ruthless comedian clashes with the tired bum, you can lend your characters raw and realistic voices.

Character Writing Prompts

A. Writing Prompt 37:  Shading

Jeff is a very analytical-thinking stock broker; people call him cold-blooded. Sheryl is an elementary school teacher with a big heart. Andy is an always positive and slightly naive flight attendant.

Describe their characters and add one trait to each of them that doesn’t look like them at all. Describe why they have this trait.

Giving your characters an unexpected trait is called “Shading.” E.g. the wealthy, stingy man, who often gives to charity, so he can have the feeling his life has more meaning. If the unexpected trait makes sense, it will give your character a lot of depth and make her look very three-dimensional.

B. Writing Prompt 38: Description

Romeo is a young private detective who dresses like a college boy, with baseball cap and saggy clothes (excellent disguise!). Lana is a stressed restaurant manager. Hannah is a street-artist selling her artwork on a busy corner.

You are having coffee on a lazy Sunday afternoon and are observing each of them separately. Describe their looks, clothes, movements, etc…, so we get a sense for who they are.

Train to describe your characters with this one. Give your readers a sense for who your figures are, simply by listing observations about them. This is pure “Show, don’t tell!” and satisfying for your reader, as she feels like the observer herself.

C. Writing Prompt 39: Backstory

Mariella is an arrogant high-society lady with an expensive fur coat and a little poodle. Henry is a pickpocket with the body language of a beaten dog. Susan is a “speedy reporter,” always driven by the desire to get the latest news first.

Describe their backstories in a couple of sentences each: How did they grow up? What are their biggest fears and desires? What made them who they are? How were they hurt?

This prompt will get you into the habit of rooting your characters in a strong backstory. It will make them look as embraceable as your best friend.

D. Writing Prompt 40: Behavior

Hans is a funny hot-dog street vendor who likes to entertain his customers. Tia is a tax inspector who always welcomes expensive jewelry from companies. Laura is a waitress who is really good at making her customers feel welcome.

Show us how each of these characters would react to the following situations: Somebody carelessly shoving them on public transport. An acquaintance (not friend) asking them to borrow some money. Finding a beautiful rare snail during a bike trip.

Here you are letting your characters act out of their distinctive personalities. We all react very differently to the same situations. Let your figures express themselves!

Plot Writing Prompts

Take the following words and construct a story plot around them. Use them in any order. Describe a short plot summary. Try to add something: Characters, locations, subplots, details, twists. The more you add, the more colorful your story will become. The only rule is that you must use all of the words. Slashes mean you can pick between words.

Writing Prompt 41:

Suitcase – traffic jam – star – contract – drug – celebration – stairs/piano/autograph – beggar – apple

Writing Prompt 42:

Library – rodent – love/hobby/fanatic – magic – flowers – legend/fairy tale/rumor – birthday pie – clock

Writing Prompt 43:

Monastery/Brewery/Pet shop – breeding – tears – wheel – green – rebel – friend – cozy/thick/dirty

Writing Prompt 44:

Cigar – anger – policeman – pill – polite – celebrate/encourage/humiliate – husband – double-edged

Short Story Writing Prompts

Writing Prompt 45:

James and Agnes are throwing their engagement dinner. James’ ex Dina is invited too. Secretly, she still loves him and hates Agnes. During the dinner, she spreads the rumor that Agnes scammed her boss Dimitri out of money/cheated on her fiancée with several of her co-workers/infected people at her office with some disgusting disease. At the after-dinner reception, Dimitri shows up unexpectedly, which leads to really awkward situations for a couple of people.

How will the guests look at Dimitri, Agnes and James? Which awkward misunderstandings and accusations will it lead to? Will somebody clear this up and get Dina kicked out, or will James lose all his trust in his fiancée? You decide!

Writing Prompt 46:

Bruno and Benedict are two kids selling lemonade at their street stand. It’s not going well. A stranger in a trench coat, with a wig and huge sunglasses stops by. He offers to buy all of their lemonade, if they do him a quick favor: Over there on the park bench, a guy with a big sports bag/lady with an expensive jewelry necklace/businessman with a black briefcase is sitting. They should threaten him/her with the knives they use for cutting lemons, and bring him the sports bag/necklace/briefcase. He says it’s a prank for a TV show.

Will the kids agree, and will they actually pull through? If yes, will the wigged guy escape untroubled? Or will the little ones be smart, maybe talk to the guy/woman on the bench? You decide!

Writing Prompt 47:

Randolph is a casino supervisor. He has a crush on that new croupier Lara. Lara on her part has a plan to take her own extra salary from the casino… The two stay after closing hours and get into a risky game: They will play one hour of roulette. If Lara wins, Randolph will turn a blind eye in the upcoming month while chips “disappear.” If James wins, Lara will sleep with him.

Who will come out in front? Or will they call it a draw and declare two winners? And how will the dynamics between the two of them develop during the game? You decide!

Writing Prompt 48:

Gary has been sleepwalking lately. When he wakes up in his bed, he doesn’t remember where he has been, but he finds oily car parts/squashed chocolate/earthy bones in his bed (depending on the genre you want to write in).

Gary’s nephew Walter is working at the car repair shop/chocolate factory/graveyard of the village. Gary asks him to stay at night after his shift, and observe what he is doing in his sleep. But is it even a coincidence Walter is working there? Is Gary subconsciously trying to tell his nephew something, to warn him, help him, or even sabotage him? Will Walter discover something funny or terrible, and can he even tell his uncle the truth the next day? You decide!

Writing Prompts with Pictures

Write a story around the following image:

Writing Prompt 49:

Writing Prompt 50:

Image: Interior Design/Shutterstock

Writing Prompt 51:

Image: LaCozza/Fotolia

Writing Prompt 52:

Image: anibal/Fotolia

Writing Prompts for Writer’s Block

If you are troubled by writer’s block, try one of these exercise. You will find your mind flowing freely again.

Writing Prompt 53:

Think of a very happy day in your life. Describe what happened on that day and how it made you feel. Were you anticipating it when you woke up, or did you have no idea? What did the people around you say or do?

Just write and don’t overthink. What you write really doesn’t matter. This exercise is designed to get you excited and get your juices flowing, and that’s the only thing that matters.

Writing Prompt 54:

Hansel walks up to Gretel and asks her if she wants to go to the lake with him. She says yes. They dance off into the sunlight.

The most commonplace plot in the world.  Your job is to write the entire scene as badly as you can. Uninteresting characters, predictable dialogue, action that makes no sense… Please make sure to mess it all up. The worse, the better! If everybody who reads it cringes, you have succeeded. And if you want, send it to me, and I will tell you how awesome it is you finally got back to writing: alex at ridethepen dot com.

Writing Prompt 55:

Pick the window that’s closest to you right now, as you read this. Look through it. Describe what you see in detail!

For this exercise, completely turn around at least one of your writing rituals: If you usually write at a desk, write on the couch or the floor; if you usually write by computer, write by hand; etc… The new approach will give you a fresh start.

Story Starters Writing Prompts

[ Read a post with 31 ways to start your story here . ]

Write a story starting with the following sentences:

Writing Prompt 56:

Anderson knew Amanda as a cheerful person. But on that Wednesday, when she came into the office, she was carrying a big basket, and she looked really sad.

Writing Prompt 57:

Kai looked up at his scary task. This was the craziest thing any contestant of “Where there’s a will, there is a million” ever had to do. It was because he was first! Nobody had ever gotten one step from the million…

Writing Prompt 58:

“Once bitten, twice shy.” That’s all Emma could think while looking at handsome Luis and his bullterrier with the huge jaws. “Once bitten, twice shy.”

Writing Prompt 59:

The day Iggy came into Jasmine’s life, the postman rang twice. That was very unusual, and the reason why it happened was unusual too.

Writing Prompt 60:

Getting stood up at the altar is every bride’s worst nightmare. But what if it happens the other way around? On the day of her wedding, Sophie was nowhere to be found.

Writing Prompt 61:

“I’m so happy, Uncle Albert!” Priscilla screamed into her cell phone as her train was speeding towards London. At that moment, nobody knew that a far-reaching confusion would take place on the train soon.

Unusual Creative Writing Prompts

Writing Prompt 62:

Imagine you are a dog. Now tell me about a day in your life from your perspective. How do you spend your time? Waiting, going for a walk with your owner, hunting a cat? Which emotions do you feel? What concerns you, what makes you happy? What matters? What do you want? Follow your wet snout and describe a typical day.

Writing Prompt 63:

Kurt and Sarah are neighbors in the same building, and they are arguing in the hallway. Kurt thinks he lent Sarah three eggs she never replaced. Sarah claims she replaced them a long time ago.

Emma, an elderly lady, passes by and feels obligated to join: Sarah owes an egg, but it’s just one. The two of them tell her to keep walking, as it’s none of her business.

Erin, a student, passes by, and tries to get all of them to make up in the name of peaceful neighborhood.

Charles, a stressed dad, shouts at all of them to shut up.

Finally, the police comes by and issues a citation against all of them because of public disturbance.

Describe this absurd scene, in which each new participant tries to resolve the quarrel, but tops it up by one additional level. What a mess! Show the good intentions of every party, and how the dialogue finally draws them into the argument. Have fun!

Creative Writing Exercises PDF

You can download a complete collection of all the prompts on this page on a neat sheet. Enter your email here for your PDF of printable writing prompts:

For Your Consideration…

Check Out These Interesting Writing Prompt Pages As Well:

The Wealthy Writers Club  features a list of over 100 very creative prompts (most of them are short ideas).

26 Remarkable Comments. Join in!

26 Comments

Hey Riders,

I wrote this sometime back, and thought it’d be best if I shared it with y’all. I’d already gotten a review from (the amazing) Alex, and he encouraged me to put it up here for all to see. Anyway, hope you like it. comments and recommendations are welcome (positive, and if cutting, then constructive).

Happy riding!

P.S. I had some of the stuff for Gwen’s inner dialogue written in italics… not so sure how to do that here, though. Hoping you will get the drift though. P.P.S. This is prompt #2 ————————————————————————————————————————– Gwen sat at the dining table, sipping her coffee, choking back the bitter taste it left in her mouth. Not as bitter as what I am feeling now. She gazed at the large window that would fill the house with glorious, golden light on bright, sunny days. Now, the storm that was raging outside clouded the skies, and the panes dripped with rain whose fate was sealed. She sipped at the coffee, and swallowed painfully, forcing the black liquid to pass the lump that had formed in her throat, and fan out hotly behind her heart which she felt sure was turning to ice. By the window was Chris’ seat. His wickerwork chair he had bought from China during a trip with his student group. She snickered. How long did he think I was not going to find out? Idiot. She sipped at the coffee, and swallowed. The jacket she had bought for him was sprawled on it. Prime leather, as black as sin. And his heart, too. Twenty years of loving the man poured into buying that jacket, only for it to be poured out like spent coffee grounds. She sipped at her coffee, and looked at the clock. Two minutes past six. He always left the bathroom at two minutes past six. As if on cue, he walked into the room, clad in his thick cotton bathrobe. “Whew, what a day it’s been!” he sighed, slipping his hands into the pockets of the robe. Gwen chose not to listen to him; her attention was fully on the jacket. “Sweetie, is there any more coffee? I need the warmth,” he continued, before his voice became as smooth as oil. “Or will you substitute the coffee?” “Why have coffee, when you have the option of green tea?” Gwen sipped at her coffee, slowly turning to face him. His rich brown eyes were puzzled for a moment, before the corners crinkled in amusement. That did it. She flung the coffee mug at him, and he ducked just as fast. The mug exploded on the glossy white wall, coffee streaming down it like rotten blood from a sore wound. “How dare you find this funny?” she screamed, rising up and walking to the wicker chair. She picked up the jacket, sodden and heavy, and tossed it at him across the length of the room. “Explain that, Chris. Explain why you would do this to me!” “Sweetie, what do you mean?” His voice was filled with worry, fear; did she detect a slight quiver? He turned over the jacket, then his eyes widened in realisation. He knows I know, the lying bastard. The lipstick on the collar, red as his neck would be in a few minutes. “Honey, I can explain…” he started, but Gwen could not bear hearing him call her that. How many more has he called sweetie, or honey? She screamed, anger almost blinding her. Or was it the tears? The hurt? She couldn’t say. “Chris, how could you? Twenty years is nothing to you, is it? All we’ve been through, all we’ve faced, and you decide to have it with a whore. A whore, Chris! A slut whose name you can’t even remember!” She picked up a fine porcelain vase Chris had gotten for her birthday. “Gwen, please, calm down, and I can explain everything.” His tone wa soft, almost pleading. Pleading for forgiveness, which I won’t give today. She flung the vase at him. either he didn’t see it coming, or was slow to react. The vase shattered against his head, the shards burying deep into the thick black locks of his hair. He cried out in pain, then crouched down low. Gwen felt a shocking stab of triumph. Why am I enjoying this? “Gwen, what’s gotten into you? Trust me, it’s not what it seems!” Chris got up, a tiny rivulet of blood oozing across his forehead, into his left eye. “Give me a chance to explain everything!” “As far as I know Chris, you have never gotten into me, for as long as I can remember, and you decided to, what’s the word, get ¬into someone else.” She picked up a golf club from its bag – his bag – next to the chair of iniquity. She glowered as she saw him cower back in fear. “Gwen…” “No, Chris, this isn’t meant for you, though the thought of crushing your cunning serpent, along with his nest of eggs, would greatly satisfy me.” She saw his neck muscles cringe at the description. “Gwen, please. I can explain everything – JUST GIVE ME A CHANCE, WOMAN!” She screamed, a feeble attempt at drowning him out, before pushing past him and running out of the house, through the door and into the rain. She spotted his car; his beloved Kia. Did he do it in our car, with that slut? She yelled in anger, anger that seemed to seep out of every pore and element of her being. A scream she felt must have been last used by a Viking berserker; primal and raw. She smashed in the window, the shards mixing with the rain like diamonds. The next swing landed on the bonnet, denting it and taking a big scrape out of the primer. The third shattered the windscreen, and it fell like a delicate fractal plate of ice. She stopped counting after eight, and by the time she was done, the rain had soaked the interior, the system console was cracked, and the steering wheel was awkwardly askew. She was taking in deep gulps, gasping for air. It’s cold, invisible barbs poked at her throat, mixed with the taste of coffee, rage and blood. She realised she had bit her lip, and the blood was dripping onto the wet driveway in big splotches, mingling with the rain. Chris came up from the dry safety of the porch. If he was angered about the car, she couldn’t see it. She began to sob, and fell to the paved driveway, too exhausted to keep standing. She felt Chris’ warmth, smell and presence surround her. “Gwen, it’s alright. Just give me a chance to explain, please.” “I told you, no, Chris. I can’t keep on living if you were to leave me for another.” She let out another sob, and suddenly felt cold. She held on to Chris, even though he was as drenched as she. Still, she needed to feel if he was real; the Chris she knew would never cheat on her. “Gwen, I was with my students, and for a change, we decided to go have our classes at Wong’s over a light lunch.” His voice was soothing, comforting, real. She pulled him closer. She needed that reality more than anything. “The day began so wonderfully, Gwen; the sky was as blue as your eyes, and I felt it would be best to wear the jacket, and think of you and us.” Now my eyes are red, and puffy. Could he still want me? She felt his tender hand push away wet strands of her hair from her face. She didn’t want to look at him; the very idea of seeing his lips mention that he had slept with another woman – or one of those students? – revolted her. “When we were leaving, it started to rain, and I had to make sure my students got home dry and safe. I gave Nessa my jacket – you remember Nessa; she came to see you at the hospital – to cover herself as we walked to the bus stop. I saw her off, then rushed to my parking spot at the café we always use for our meetings. She had some lipstick on; she was from a date with her fiancé before the class began. It must have rubbed off on my jacket” He wrapped her in his big arms, and she could smell the fragrance of the soap he had used. “I swear, I would never walk out on you, Gwen. Never.” “But I had a miscarriage, Chris. Twenty years, and no children. I thought you didn’t want me anymore, now that we can’t have children…” she sniffled, pushing back the memories of the hospital. The smell of antiseptic, green walls, overly sympathetic nurses… the pain associated with them haunted her still. Haunting me to a point where I’d think my husband would never love me? Yet here he is, with me in the rain, even though I’ve smashed our car to pieces. “Chris, I’m sorry I could never be the wife you wanted. You always wanted kids, even before we got married, you’d say how much of a father you wanted to be. Because of me, you can’t have that dream become a reality.” She began to cry, before Chris gently shushed her. “Before I wanted kids, I wanted you. And as long as I have you, Gwen, well – this is cheesy, but – I don’t need anything else. You’re the most perfect, most amazing woman I know. You are the wife I’ve always wanted.” He chuckled at his feeble attempt of professing love. She found herself giggling. He had always made her laugh with his corny declarations of affection. Probably that’s what I’ve always about him; he is real, and honest, and true. “Can we stay here a bit longer?” She nuzzled up to him. “We haven’t done this since college; our vain attempt at recreating The Notebook.” “Oh, yeah; remember when we almost got struck by lightning?” He laughed, and Gwen smiled up at him. What more could I ask for?

Hey Eddie, good to see you posting this here, because… somebody has to go first, right?

And like I wrote to you via email, this is a great piece of writing. Love the psychology, the dynamics and the details. Plus, you have a wonderful feeling for metaphors, similes, images, etc… Nice!

So who’s next…?

I want to post my prompt and to get it published too. I have two prompts I have finished writing.

Sounds good, just post your prompts here in the comments. Go for it, I’m curious to see what you have got!

Alex, these are the best ever!

Prompt 52 I think is my favorite. Two of the subjects I enjoy are stone-age fiction and science fiction. What nice marriage that prompt brings. Oh, hmm, maybe there could be a real one in that story, seed and egg age difference of 40,000+ years and still viable. No, I gotta quit now. Too much on my desk to handle immediately.

I’ll try to come up with a good prompt in perhaps a week. Kinda busy here at the moment.

Number 16, perhaps Cryptofreeze™ could have a companion, Cryptoflow™ to un-age. Wouldn’t that be really something, the two of them keeping on missing each other by several decades; ironing out their schedule and venue misunderstandings and trying again.

Eddie, I’m going to come back and read yours.

Thanks, Will! Oh, you are thinking along the lines of a love child in space and stone. And number 16, yes, that would be awkwardly tragic and funny. Imagine the thought of just waking up from a couple of decades in the freezer, slowly learning to move your limbs again, and buying some flowers to show up at her doorstep – only to learn that you have to do the freezing all over again…

I know, these exercises take more time than the prompts I usually publish in my posts. But when you are ready, I would love to read yours.

Hey, Alex, writing writing prompts is hard. I feel an urge to keep writing rather than stopping at the prompt. When I promised I’d make one, many days ago, I didn’t know what I had let myself in for.

Your blog sends me a copy of every comment posted on this page. They’ve served as prompts to write a writing prompt.

Writing Prompt # (no particular genre):

He knew he shouldn’t do it, even as he did it. But it was too delicious a thought to be abandoned. It simply had to be created to share with others.

It was a bad, bad habit, he had. A divine idea would arrive, an idea so clear and insightful and, well, full of awesomeness, that it must be manifested. Somehow. And the first step in the direction of that “somehow” was to make a promise to do it. Not a self-promise that nobody else knows about and is easy to neglect, but a promise to someone whose goodwill was important.

As expected, he did it again, true to his habit.

Immediately after he stated the promise, making it irrevocable, he had a sinking feeling.

Your assignment, dear reader who is also a writer, should you choose to accept it, is to unveil the promise and the consequences the poor bloke experiences because of it.

And now, Alex, let me make another promise. That I’ll write a short little story from one of your prompts. Perhaps the cave man prompt I mentioned earlier.

Hey Will, it happens to the best. Your prompt now is to take your time and write whenever you are ready. It doesn’t have to be very long, btw. Sometimes a couple of imaginative paragraphs create a great story in the reader’s mind.

Well, if it happens to the best, then I must be the best, right? 🙂

This story simply would not cooperate. It refused to become a “stone-age human meets space-suited human”. And insisted to finalize at 1700+ words.

Be all that as it may, here is what the story insisted it must be.

=====================================

Wzzt, the Martian

If they were translated, the whistles and grunts would have meant, “Wzzt, it has been decided that you will welcome the interlopers.”

Wzzt’s protest sounded like a wounded pig. A foreign listener would not have been much deceived.

——

“Base, I see tracks.”

Mars. Every dream, every night since he could remember, from little boy to adult at expedition training, Sam dreamed about Mars — although he could never recall specific details. And here he was.

“Well, I hope you see tracks. You’re following Opportunity’s path.”

“No, these are light tracks on top of what the dust storm left way back in 2018. Round, about the width of my hand, with marks that might be toes or claws.”

“Well, take some pictures and we’ll figure it out when you get back.”

Joe smirked, thinking his trainer was making a fool of himself. On this, their very first mars external operation. He gloried in anticipation of discrediting Sam. Joe had seen the tracks, too, but Sam reported it to base before he had a chance to do so. For once, he was happy not to be first.

It’s impossible, of course, Sam thought. Decades of satellite and robot explorations had proved Mars habitat is inimical to life more complex than bacteria. The track must be something else.

Sam and Joe, trainer and trainee, proceeded along Opportunity’s path, approaching the base of a cliff. In the shadow of the cliff, the two stopped short.

Sam forgot to draw a breath until his body reminded him.

“Base, there is a creature in front of us. It is about half my height with a roundish body, no neck, three short legs with feet that could have made the tracks we saw earlier. It waddles. And it is slowly approaching us.”

“Shit. Pull your weapons, but don’t shoot unless you are in danger. Raise the gain of your mikes. And activate those external speakers we were told we had to have.”

The thing waddled to a comfortable distance, about five times its own height.

It said, “The first humans have arrived on Mars.”

Joe, wanting to be first with the asounding fact, reported, “It speaks English!”

Sam thought, “Shit. This one has tech.”

He followed his thought with, “Base, it played a recording of our arrival transmission to Earth. On our very own comm channel!”

Base responded with, “Yes, we heard it. It seems we have a spheroid waddler with enough tech to intercept our radio transmissions to Earth, record them, and play them back to us on our comm channel. What the hell is it!”

Joe felt deflated. “Well, it did speak English!”

Base ignored Joe, following Sam’s lead like it always had during training and practice.

The thing said, “It speaks English! Base, it played a recording of our arrival transmission to Earth. On our very own comm channel! Yes, we heard it. It seems we have a spheroid waddler with enough tech to intercept our radio transmissions to Earth, record them, and play them back to us on our comm channel. What the hell is it! Well, it did speak English!”

Base told Sam, “That was not a recording. The same voice repeated what all three of us said. There is high intelligence.”

The things said, “Wzzt.”

Base, “What the hell was that!”

Sam, “Base, I think it refers to itself, it’s species or perhaps it’s name.”

Sam bent his knees, pointed at himself, and said,”Sam.”

The thing raised one of its legs and clumsily pointed at itself. “Wzzt.”

“Base, it seems that it’s name is however that word is pronounced.” Sam chuckles and continues, “Maybe we can introduce vowels to its language.”

Wzzt used a leg to point at Joe.

Sam looked at Joe. Joe was shaking.

For the millionth time Sam wondered how Joe got past the psych tests this mission put them all through. Maybe somebody really was bought off, someone who knowingly endangered the first manned mission to Mars by letting Joe slide into the team.

Sam activated Joe’s speaker and said, “Joe.”

Wzzt said, “Sam. Joe. Follow me to my cave,” turned around, and started waddling back the way it had come.

Sam grimmaced as the thought about psyche tests flitted through his mind. An utterly irresistible compulsion contrary to his innate sense of integrity had compelled him to ensure without doubt that he would be posted as head of Mars External Operations.

Sam said, “Base, it originated something. None of us ever said ‘Follow me to my cave,’ or at least not on a radio. It must have learned by listening to us.

Base, “Follow it. But carefully!”

Sam hurried forward, saying “Yes, Base.”

But Joe didn’t move. He seemed to be rooted.

Suddenly, Joe yelled, “It’s an abomination! Humans are the only intelligence! I’ll rid the world of this mad disease!”

Joe raised his weapon to do just that. Base, alert, deactivated it before it could fire.

Base, “Sam, proceed. Please be carefull. I don’t want to lose you.”

Base continued. “Joe, stay where you are. That is an order. Sam will accompany you back to base on his return.”

Then, “Sam, this is private. As you suspected, there were psyche test anomalies. Confirmation came in just before you met Wzzt, however that thing is pronounced.”

“I realize you have no first contact training,” Base continued. “Who would have thunk you’d need it; here, of all places! Use your own judgement and do what you think is right. If we delay for a partner to join you, this opportunity may be lost.”

Wzzt led the way to the cliff.

“Base, there’s a small hole in the cliff, behind a jut and under a rock shelf. Surveilance would have found it only by being within sight on ground level.

Wzzt held up a foot, a clear signal to stop. Then pointed his foot toward the hole.

“This is my cave.”

Wzzt lowered its foot, re-balanced itself, and continued, “If you come in, radio is lost.”

“You are welcome to come in.”

“Base, you heard Wzzt. It is civilized enough to give me a choice. I’m going in, if I can squeeze through that hole.”

“I don’t like this, Sam!”

“Base, you gave me authority.”

“Agreed.”

Wzzt entered the hole.

When Sam entered, it seemed as if the hole expanded to let him through.

Once inside, the light was dim. But he sensed it was a large cavern.

When his eyes adjusted to the dim light, Sam got a surprise. There was Opportunity, taken apart; but not haphazardly. The pieces were laid out in an orderly fasion, each piece labeled.

A dozen creatures of Wzzt’s shape were standing along the wall.

“Base,” Sam started. Then remembered he had no comm signal.

Two of the creatures along the wall stepped forward with an apparatus, setting it near Sam. A dial was turned.

Wzzt said, “Radio found.”

Tentatively, Sam says, “Base, Wzzt tells me we have comm.”

“Clear and no distortions, Sam.”

“Base, Opportunity is in this cave. Taken apart. By experts. No wonder we couldn’t find it after that dust storm. I’ll send you some visual.”

“Sam, are you okay? There are a lot of Wizzes in that cave.”

“Base, they are friendly. They provided the unit that established our comm from within the cave.”

“Sam! Joe has moved. He is running toward your cave. He’s going inside.”

Joe popped through the entrance hole. He grabbed Sam’s weapon, pointing it at Wzzt. Before Sam had a chance to react, Wzzt shriveled into char.

Sam launched himself toward Joe to take him down.

Suddenly, he halted in mid-flight, suspended. He didn’t and couldn’t move. Neither could Joe, being frozen in a leaning-back defense stance. The two were in a static space of some kind, a total absence of motion.

One of the creatures walked over to Wzzt’s ashes and collected them with a deep bag on a handle reminisent of a butterfly net.

The creature waddled over and forcefully put the bag over Joe’s head all the way down to his shoulders.

In less than a minute, the bag was removed and Joe was able to move. He almost fell down, then regained his balance.

When Joe spoke, it was Wzzt’s voice, “Sam, I am Wzzt. The Joe entity forfeited its right to exist when it tried to take my life.”

The Wzzt/Joe bent, straightened, and twisted, as he got familiar with the new body.

“Humans have strange bodies.”

Then from the radio, blared a frantic, “Sam! Base is lifting! The rockets are firing. According to the instruments we’re headed for rendezvous with Orbiter.”

“Sam, we have no control of the rockets or our trajectory.”

“Sam? Are you there? Talk to me!”

Sam desperately wanted to respond. But he couldn’t move. Nor could he make a sound.

“Base, this is Wzzt speaking through the body you knew as Joe. The life essence that was Joe is no more. It used its every effort to kill me, reducing my body to ashes.”

“We will no longer tolerate you and your kind on or near our planet. Except Sam, who we have chosen to learn from.”

“For decades we have watched you and learned about you. Monitoring established your Earth citizens to be capricious and destructive, at odds with each other, and focused on individual benefit, a mad melee reminding us of the animals that finally reduced themselves to extinction on this very planet you call Mars.”

“Do not come back. If in the future Sam wishes to return to Earth, he will be provided with transportation.”

The communicator was removed and Sam’s stasis was released. He noticed his gun was fully charged. He felt normal, healthy, energetic.

He looked at Wzzt, who was still becoming familiar with his new body.

“What now, Wzzt?”

Suddenly, with a silent, thunderous mental bang, Sam remembered everything.

Wzzt said, “Now you remember, friend Zzzt. Your mission was a success. It will be a long time before humans land on our planet again. We will be fully prepared.”

Sam/Zzzt suddenly felt awkward in his body, but quickly regained control.

In a moment, Zzzt emitted whistles and grunts that meant, “You know, friend Wzzt, they really are a strange species. There is little cohesion.”

Zzzt looked around. All the creatures in the cavern, his people, his friends and some new ones, were ringed around him, one leg raised pointing at him in a silent salute.

Will Bontrager

Oh how strange we have become. We are the aliens.

That was a fun read, Will!

All of those writing prompts sound fun and wonderful. it is going to hard to pick just one to write on. 

 Thank you 

That’s great to hear, Bruce.

Have fun with them!

Really useful…. 🙏thanks

Awesome! You are welcome!

Thank you for all the great resources. I am new to writing and have written a couple of pieces for the Show don’t Tell section on your site. Cheers, Tilly

Kayla was a talented piano player Kayla Vlasov sat at the grand piano, her back straight, her delicate hands poised on the shiny black and white octaves. The audience in the front row noticed how Kayla’s legs hung demurely from the stool, her feet barely reaching the pedals. Kayla’s expression was focussed. Nothing else existed when she was about to play the piano. With her right index finger, she struck middle C. The vibration went through to the audience’s marrow and sent a shiver down their backs. Thunderous applause. This would be an evening to remember.

Winny felt shy Winny held her mother’s hand, as they walked through the gates of Newtown Primary School. A teacher with a warm smile and auburn hair bouncing along with each step came towards them. The child hid behind her mother, wishing she could disappear between the folds of her skirt. Warm tears gathered in Winny’s eyes and she lifted her other hand to her mouth, hoping the teacher wouldn’t notice her quivering bottom lip.

Hi Tilly, these are excellent!

Not only do you “show” what’s the matter, but these are also fun pieces full of atmosphere.

If anybody is wondering where the prompts come from, it’s this post about “Show, don’t tell”: https://www.ridethepen.com/show-dont-tell/

Thank you Alex for the great prompts

You are welcome, Maria! 🙂

I would like to use Freezelicious. For a villain name.

Sounds like evil ice cream!

Lol it is. I want Freezelicious. To be a villain in a spy book I’m writing.

I really have a problem with prompt 24 on the adventure prompts. It feels very dehumanizing to indigenous peoples to portray them in that way and it perpetuates harmful stereotypes. I would suggest removing it because it is insensitive.

Hi Jessica, your comment is heard, but I would consider this excessive political correctness, of which the world already is seeing too much nowadays.

Everything is a stereotype – especially in a writing prompt! Your job as a writer is to then lay out a colorful story that draws the reader in, precisely because it’s so far away from any stereotype, which makes it interesting.

Looking for something else?

Hi Alex. Paragraph

I live in a senior residence and have taken on the adventure of coordinating a creative writing group. We have completed a year and I am very enthusiastic about the level of commitment and effort the students have put into all the assignments. This coming year we will be offering to include more people in the group. but since a number of people will be returning I have been looking for some different kinds of exercises to prompt and teach the students.

The prompts seem like a splendid opportunity for all the people in the group to try their hand without having to create new material right off the bat. I will let you know the kind of responses I get. Thanks for putting this together

Hey Pat, sounds great, I imagine in a senior residence people have plenty of time to write. Plus, you are living next door to your critique partners. Would be interesting to hear what came out of it and which prompts were used the most.

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Creative Writing Prompts

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Heavenly bodies, write a story in the form of a list of new year's resolutions., end your story with two characters reconciling., set your story at a large entertainment venue, after the show has ended, amongst the discarded plastic cups and confetti., your main character has a secret superpower; the gossip they spread always comes true., write a story about someone trying to track down the source of a rumor..

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The best writing prompts for adults

Are you struggling to find an outlet for your imagination as an adult? There's an easy solution for that: creative writing prompts for adults. Though writing prompts might look like simple questions and topics on the surface, they are powerful tools that can help you put pen to paper and explore such topics as food, technology, family, people, life, and the universe around us through a story. 

Best of all, they work for authors of all stages, whether you're a beginner looking to overcome writer's block or an established writer thinking about exploring different genres. So what are you waiting for? You, too, might find that a writing prompt will inspire and give you ideas for everything from a short story to a full-blown book. 

If you're looking to cut to the chase, here's a top ten list of writing prompts for adults:

• Write a story about a 40th birthday party.
• Set your story at a retirement party.
• It's your wedding day, and as you're saying your vows, a voice from the crowd yells, "I object!"
• Start your story with the line 'Back in my day…'
• Start your story with the line, "That's the thing about this city…"
• Write a cautionary fable about someone who always lies.
• Write a day-in-the-life story about a first-time parent and their newborn child.
• Write a short story about someone doing laundry.
• Write a story about a character obsessed with one of the long-dead "greats" in their profession.
• Write a story about a parent putting their child to bed.

If you'd like to go beyond the world of writing prompts and dip a toe into becoming an author, check out our free resources on the topic:

• Develop a Writing Routine (free course)  —You might hear a lot of advice on how to write a book, but at the end of the day, what it takes is simply the commitment to regularly sit down in front of a computer and put words down on paper. A writing routine is key to that sort of dedication — and our free 10-day course will show you how to develop one that works for you. 
• How to Write a Novel 101 (free course)  — Once you’ve got a writing routine now, all that’s left is the hard part: actually writing the book! That’s where this free course comes in. In the process of ten days, we take you through how to write a novel, including structuring your plot and developing your characters. 
• Character Development 101 (blog post)  — As an author, you become the psychologist of your characters. Learn how to build a great character in this comprehensive blog post and build one up, from their motivations to their goals. Don’t forget to download the free character profile template while you’re in the blog post! 

Ready to start writing? Check out  Reedsy’s weekly short story contest  for the chance of winning $250! You can also check out our list of  writing contests  or our directory of  literary magazines  for more opportunities to submit your story.

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10+ GCSE creative writing ideas, prompts and plot lines

Getting a good GCSE creative writing plot going can be difficult, here are some ideas to help you out.

Ahead of your exams, here are a selection of GCSE creative writing ideas and prompts to hopefully provide some inspiration.

The Lost Timepiece

Prompt: In an old, dusty attic, a teenager discovers a mysterious pocket watch that doesn’t seem to tell the correct time.

Potential Story Directions:

• The watch could transport the teenager to different moments in history whenever it's wound.
• The watch might belong to a long-lost relative, leading to a family mystery.
• The watch could be counting down to a significant event, and the protagonist must figure out what is about to happen.

The Secret Garden Door

Prompt: Behind the overgrown ivy in the school's garden, a student finds a door that wasn't there before.

• The door could lead to a magical world, offering an escape from everyday life but with challenges of its own.
• It might be a portal to the past, showing the school's history and secrets.
• The door could be a metaphorical passage to self-discovery, revealing hidden aspects of the character’s personality.

The Last Message

Prompt: A character receives a mysterious message in a bottle on the beach, written in a cryptic language.

• Deciphering the message could lead to an adventure, perhaps a treasure hunt or a rescue mission.
• The message might be from a distant land or time, offering insights into an ancient or futuristic world.
• It could be a personal message from someone significant in the character’s past, triggering a journey of emotional growth.

Midnight at the Museum

Prompt: A night guard at a museum notices that the exhibits come to life after midnight.

• The guard could interact with historical figures, learning about history firsthand.
• There might be a plot to steal an exhibit, and the living exhibits help to thwart it.
• The phenomenon could be linked to a supernatural event or an ancient curse that needs resolving.

The Forgotten Melody

Prompt: A pianist discovers an old, unplayed piano in a neglected music room that plays a melody no one seems to recognize.

• The melody could be a key to unlocking forgotten memories or a hidden past.
• It might be a magical melody, having various effects on listeners.

Each of these prompts offers a starting point for creative exploration, allowing students to develop their storytelling skills in imaginative and engaging ways.

Galactic Storm

Prompt: Astronauts on a mission to a distant planet encounter a bizarre, otherworldly storm.

• The storm could have strange, mind-altering effects on the crew.
• It might be a living entity, communicating in an unprecedented way.
• The crew must navigate through the storm to discover a hidden aspect of the universe.

Unearthed Powers

Prompt: A teenager suddenly discovers they have a supernatural ability.

• The power could be a family secret, leading to a journey of self-discovery.
• It might cause conflict with friends and society, forcing the protagonist to make difficult choices.
• The ability could attract unwanted attention, leading to a thrilling adventure.

Reflections of Reality

Prompt: A story that mirrors a significant real-life experience involving friendship or a pet.

• The story could explore the depth of human-animal bonds or the complexities of friendship.
• It might involve a heartwarming journey or a challenging ordeal.
• The protagonist learns valuable life lessons through these relationships.

Chronicle of Times

Prompt: A character discovers a way to travel through time.

• Traveling to the future, they encounter a radically different world.
• In the past, they might inadvertently alter history.
• The story could explore the moral and emotional implications of time travel.

Apocalyptic Event

Prompt: A natural disaster of unprecedented scale threatens humanity.

• The story could focus on survival, resilience, and human spirit.
• It might involve a journey to avert the disaster.
• The narrative could explore the societal changes that occur in the face of such a disaster.

The Unsolved Case

Prompt: A detective starts investigating a complex and mysterious murder.

• The investigation uncovers deep secrets and conspiracies.
• The detective's personal life might intertwine with the case.
• The story could have a surprising twist, challenging the reader's expectations.

Retold Fable

Prompt: Modernize a classic fable or story, such as the Boy Who Cried Wolf, in a contemporary setting.

• The story could be set in a modern city, exploring current social issues.
• It might be told from a different perspective, offering a fresh take on the moral of the story.
• The narrative could blend the original fable with current events, creating a powerful commentary.

Forbidden Love

Prompt: Two characters from vastly different worlds fall in love, against all odds.

• Their love could challenge societal norms and expectations.
• The story might explore the sacrifices they make for each other.
• It could be a journey of self-discovery and acceptance in the face of adversity.

Thomas Brella is the founder of Student Hacks, starting the website in 2013 while studying at the University of Brighton to share tips and tricks on life as a cash-strapped student. He's now spent over 10 years scoping out the best ways to live on a budget

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The Only 10 Creative Writing Prompts You Need

by Joe Bunting | 55 comments

You get better at any skill through practice. Prompts are a great way to practice writing (as you might imagine, we're really into practice here), and in this post, I have ten of our best creative writing prompts.

Try a few out, and if you're ready to take the next step in your writing, check out our 100 Best Short Story Ideas .

How To Use These Creative Writing Prompts

At the end of every article on The Write Practice , we include a writing prompt so you can put what you just learned to use immediately. And we invite you to share your writing with our community so you can get feedback on your work.

The Write Practice is more than just a writing blog. It's a writing  workbook , and we think it's the best one on the Internet (of course, we're a bit biased).

One of the most important parts of practice is getting feedback, and we want to help YOU get feedback on your writing. To do that, choose one of the prompts, write for 15 minutes, and then copy and paste your practice into the box at the bottom to post your practice in our forum for feedback. You'll be able to read others' practice and give feedback too.

And if you want even more prompts, you can download our workbook,  14 Prompts , for free here (it's normally, $5.99).

Our Most Popular Creative Writing Prompts

Why not try using two or three of these creative writing prompts in your writing today? Who knows, you might even begin something that becomes your next novel to write or short story. It's happened to Write Practicers before!

Enjoy the writing prompts!

My 3 Favorite Writing Prompts

Write about a time you felt out of place, awkward, and uncomfortable. Try not to focus on your feelings, but project your feelings onto the things around you.

Write about a ghost. How do they feel about the world? What do they see and hear? How did they become a ghost?

• Your characters haven’t gotten any sleep. Write about why, and how they respond to being sleepless.

Now, let's look at the rest of our favorite prompts! 

1. Grandfathers

Write about a grandfather, maybe your grandfather or your character's grandfather. What memories do you/does your character associate with him?

See the prompt: Grandfathers

2. Sleepless

Your characters haven’t gotten any sleep. Write about it.

See the prompt: Sleepless

3. Out of Place

See the prompt: Out of Place

Write about longing. How does it feel to go about a normal day when your character wants something else?

See the prompt: Longing

5. Write About Yourself

Write about yourself.

See the writing prompt: Write About Yourself

See the prompt: 3 Reasons to Write About Ghosts

7. Road Trip

Write about a road trip. Is your character escaping something? Is your character looking for something? Hint at the thing without telling us while describing what the character sees.

See the writing prompt: Road Trip

Write about the morning. What are your character's morning routines? What is special about this  morning?

See the prompt: Morning

9. The Beach

Write about the beach. Is your character reflecting on something important that has happened to them? Describe the memory while overlaying the sights, sounds, and smells of the beach onto them.

See the prompt: The Beach

Write about autumn. Natural surroundings can bring up old memories and odd feelings. Describe what your character sees, feels, and most of all does.

See the prompt: Autumn

Do you use writing prompts in your writing? What is your favorite prompt for ideas? Share in the comments .

For today's practice, choose one of these prompts and write for fifteen minutes . When you're finished with your practice, share it in the Pro Practice Workshop . Don't forget to leave feedback for three other writers. Not a community member yet? Join us ! 

Happy writing!

Joe Bunting

Joe Bunting is an author and the leader of The Write Practice community. He is also the author of the new book Crowdsourcing Paris , a real life adventure story set in France. It was a #1 New Release on Amazon. Follow him on Instagram (@jhbunting).

Want best-seller coaching? Book Joe here.

55 Comments

It usually takes the living to confirm you’re dead. That’s why Saginaw didn’t know for months he’d passed. He was a hermit, had lived alone out in the woods for years. He still isn’t sure how or when he died.

After it happened, he continued to get up every morning and head out to the woodpile. Chopping was his release, his balance, his yoga. The repetitive grabbing and swinging and cracking and discarding brought him harmony.

Until the day he realized nothing was happening.

Like every other morning, he grabbed for the axe handle. This time, he noticed his hand passed right through it.

“What the hell?” he said to himself.

He looked down and saw the log cabin through his body, and knew he was dead. Thinking back, he realized he’d probably been dead for awhile. The familiar weight of the axe was a distant memory. He’d been grabbing and swinging and cracking and discarding nothing. He was going through the motions because they brought him peace.

Saginaw wasn’t sure what a ghost was supposed to do with his free time. He tried strolling through the woods and watching animals. They never spooked like he expected. It was boring.

Within days, he realized how much he missed his chopping. He returned home and tried doing it like a mime – empty hand reaching up and striking down on nothing. But now it made him feel useless.

According to the books he’d read during his life, the dead had the ability to interact with the real world. He practiced, trying to control things with his translucent body. He found that he could create a type of wind with his movements. Grass would sway as he ran by and dandelions would shed their cotton if he swooshed his hand over them.

That was the most he could do; wind would never carry his axe. Ghosts couldn’t shed tears but it didn’t stop Saginaw from crying.

He cried until he was angry. In a rage, he jumped up and, growling, grabbed the axe. It flew up with his hands.

“Oh my God!”

His anger vanished and the axe slipped through his fingers. He tried picking it up again, but it refused. Saginaw grew furious at his futility and kicked at the handle. His foot caught the wood and Saginaw realized what was happening.

His raw anger fueled the power to move objects. The only way to do what calmed him was to lose his calm. A total catch-22.

Sag fell to the ground. He’d never thought much about the afterlife. Glancing at the axe, he wondered, as dread lit fire to his insides, exactly where he was.

I like this piece a lot. It’s like a little story. That line, “Chopping was his release, his balance, his yoga.” is very telling, the yoga bit completing it beautifully. Thanks for sharing.

An interesting take on life after death. What is it? Even when dead, the dead don’t know. A question to be never answered. Adelaide

Brilliant post. I love just starting with a prompt and letting my muse find her way. I could pick any one of these starters and write a series of short pieces. And then voile I have a mini collection to create into a mini e-book. Wow. You’ve just experienced my ‘light-bulb’ moment. I now have an idea for some free giveaways to my potential readers.

After a couple of weeks of dull creative urge, this post has just put a surge of creative current back in my circuit. Thank goodness for that. Thanks Joe for the inspiration.

Thanks so much, Dawn. So glad this got your creative juices flowing! 🙂

I’m book marking this page, what a great post.

Here’s what I wrote.

The beach is empty. On a beautiful, perfect day, with a sky of crystal blue, the beach is empty. You can hear the surf slap against the sand, and the cry of gulls overhead. The white, fine sand stretches before you, so bright you have to squint against it. The day is hot, but not sweltering, and you marvel at the privilege of having the beach all to yourself. There is nothing here but, you, the gulls and the sound of the waves. The coconut smell of the lotion you are applying, the red of the beach towel laid down. You wonder if you should have brought a book, if you ought have left the ipod in the car, but then you sit down, watch the waves ebb and tide against the wet sand, and let the song of the sea lull you. A fleeting thought of awe wanders into your mind, at the quiet, extraordinary way that nature has, going on without human observation. The sea will always lap against the shore. The gulls will nest in the brush and seek their dinner from the sea. Even the fish, unseen, will make their homes and hatch eggs, all without anyone watching. It all continues without human eyes upon them, and it is marvellous. And then, in a moment like this, a perfect bubble in time, you might be allowed to witness it. Watch the gull walk along the rocks, its black shiny eye on you, watch the rhythmical way the waves roll and turn. See the crab burrow out from the sand, crawling along the shore.

And then in an instance, the bubble is broken. The moment shattered as the high voice of a child comes laughing into the sand. A couple follows close behind, their voices low. They make their place a distance away from you, but it is too late. The moment of grace with nature is over, the human world has once again inserted itself and the beach is no longer empty.

I love the beach. And I totally appreciate those moments/ times of immersion into the whole wonder of life at lands edge.

And then being slapped back into the moment by the sound and presence of humans.

Nice writing. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for the feedback.

I loved this piece! Your wonderful word choice and clever phrasing helped to create a very vivid image of this gem of a beach, in my mind. It really sucked me in, so much so that I couldn’t help but feel a sharp twinge of sadness and disappointment when the human presence disrupted it all and popped the “perfect bubble in time”. Thank you for sharing such a lovely piece.

Thank you Catherine! That certainly is encouraging, and I appreciate the feedback.

You’re very welcome! I’m glad I could be of some help. Best of luck in all your writing endeavors!

No idea if you will find this a year later.

I was reading this and at first I was like thinking. I have read this before. Crystal blue sky. Generic.

And then I hit the line, “you ought have left the ipod in the car”. And it suddenly became personal.

In Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, the author talks about how children draw symbols. You say draw a person and they draw a stick figure. For an adult it is generic. They don’t actually look at what they are drawing.

The first part of that you write is like that and then suddenly small details, personal details, start to appear and the piece becomes much more powerful. In my opinion you drop out of the generic symbols of a beach and into your personal subjective view point, and the writing gets much better. More visceral.

For me I would encourage you to go back and either drop or rewrite all the generic parts like crystal blue sky, which sounds symbolic, to something personal.

I love this…..

I picked beach.

Soft morning mist Gently rises to kiss Fan of dawn’s rays And slicing through silky southern teal Nullakai’s finger, long dark green Invites me in. Briney effervescence clings To salty diamond necklace Criss-crossing my Summer freckled chest And aquamarine mesmerised My sleepy sea stained eyes Sting to a blur As swollen turquoise curve Breaks this office face Drowning the frown Before it begins I am fresh again fresh This Monday morning.

I’ve been intending to post a comment, but I don’t know much about blank verse or any other poetry other than Japanese short-form poetry such as haiku. What I notice about this poem is that some of the lines read awkwardly because of the lack of an article: a .

“Fan of dawn’s rays,” I think would read better if it were “A fan of dawn’s rays.” Same with “To salty diamond necklace” which would be better as “To a salty diamond necklace.” Again, a missing “a” with “As swollen turquoise curve.” Also, I don’t understand “And aquamarine mesmerised.” .

Otherwise, it’s a beautiful scene and a wonderful way to greet a Monday morning. Adelaide

Thanks Adelaide. Great feedback. Aquamarine should have been two words – aqua marine. I guess I was trying to imply ocean water in a sparklier, gem like way, and taking poetic licence/ freedom by playing with the two words.

Much appreciated. Dawn 🙂

… And I picked ‘morning’.

Dewey pearls lace the graceful dance of understory and spider webs weep fine filaments between sleeping boughs and awakening flowers. In hushed light creamy tones, sun softly shines awake dancing through curls of morning mist. And my body slips into the day, barefoot upon the forest floor.

Early birds sing through the dawning light, their excitement bouncing from leaf to branch. They pause to consider my gaze then flutter on their busy way.

This flesh of mine in autumn beige seeks a deeper walk, into the maze of awakening trees with liquorice trunks black and damp with dew.

Only the forest is talking; the world is yet to yawn and stretch it’s sleepy limbs out of night warmed sheets. I am alone in full company of the promise of a new day.

Strings of purple Hovea buds embrace my passing by, an ephemeral bracelet for one tiny moment, and leave a trace of sparkling silver pearls moist across my wrist. This freshness I bring to my lips. This gift I gently kiss. And I love myself awake.

This sort of reads like a poem, in fact a re-read proves it is! I almost missed that, I was reading too fast. Thank you for sharing.

Hi Giulia It was just a quick 15 minute muse, but yes, now that you’ve pointed it out it does read like poetry. Thanks for that feedback, I can have a play with it and offer it some shape.

Did you like it? Or was it a bit to poetic and slow? I’d appreciate your feedback. Thanks Dawn

Oh, I did like it! I think the structure shape of the poem needs a bit of polish, it might read more smoothly if the lines were shorter. I actually like the languid feel it has, it expresses morning and nature well, how everything seems expanded and slower when you’re really looking at the tiny marvels found in the natural world.

Grandfather.

He’s not a grandfather and I’m terrified he won’t become one. He’s be a great one. I’m positive.

I really shouldn’t be afraid of hospitals. I grew up in one–Dad’s a doctor. I’m familiar with the tile floors and nurses knowing my name and my nickname. But now I’m afraid. He’s not in scrubs but instead in a gown. A nasty butterfly needle is digging into his skin. They always say it’s a small needle and won’t hurt. Don’t believe them. I’ve had nightmares about this. About driving from Mississippi back home because he’s had a heart attack. He’s never had any heart problems so that fear should be irrational. I should have been praying a seemingly ridiculous prayer. It’s a good thing I was praying even though I didn’t know why. Unknown prayer saved his life. As I sat with him on the hospital bed I felt so strange. I felt 7 and still desperately needing my dad. I can’t do anything without him. I don’t know how to be me without him. At the same time I felt grief for my future children. If he’s not better then those make believe kids will only have my stories to go on. They’d never believe me when I told them their grandfather was the greatest man to ever live.

My brothers have stories. Absolutely hilarious stories of my dad that they both recounted on the way to the hospital room. As they did I realized I don’t have stories. I have facts, subjects, events. I have moments.

-Reading Harry Potter together and standing in line for each book release.

-Agatha Christie -Keeping Up Appearances -“I think I’ll go pay that bill.” “You know what I think you should do?” “What?” “Go pay that bill.” “Oh my gosh you’re brilliant!” -We are both left handed.

-How to swing a bat.

-How to replace a door.

-How to drive.

-Telling me his “M.D.” stood for “My Daddy.” -His Martin acoustic guitar -The smell of cedar wood and rain when he made duck calls in the basement.

I don’t have hilarious stories of my dad I just have a lot of lessons. He taught me in every moment we spent together. Those moments were hilarious but I don’t think I could recreate them to become stories.

I want him to be a grandfather because I didn’t know mine. He has to show my children how amazing he is because how could I possibly put that into words? He’s my very best friend. He thinks I can do absolutely anything. I know that I can because a quick phone call to him clears up any questions.

He always has the answers.

I need him to be a grandfather because I need him to keep being my dad.

That was wonderful, simultaneously heartwarming and heartbreaking. I love it

Thank you!!!

A warm tribute to your father. I hope he got well. adelaide

I really love this piece.

I chose morning as it was a few weeks ago up here in upstate NY.

FROM MY WINDOW

Spring is gearing up. At the far end of the front yard, where it rises to meet the road, crocus splash yellow, white and purple. Stems on the lilac bushes are knobby with green tipped leaf buds. Daffodils, some just poking through the soil, some already at their full height with swollen flower buds ready to burst. Through the open window the breeze is damp,ripe with the fragrance of wet dirt, last year’s leaves and manure from the field around the bend. There are busy calls from unseen birds and announcing honks from another gaggle of geese. There is, in this moment, everything that there is.

coffee brewing the anticipation before the first sip

Lovely. I can almost feel myself standing beside you at the window. Great use of all the senses Adelaide. Thanks for sharing. Dawn

This post is in response to OUT OF PLACE

A sorority beach house. Full of surging hormones and testosterone from the young women and the visiting frat boys who have a house down the road. Some girls have wandered there to see what’s going on. Most likely the same things that are going on here.

It’s Easter Break at Laguna Beach. A week of fun, fun, fun! For some. For most. But not for the dark haired girl trying to play poker with two other girls and three guys. Trying to play because she is new at the game and loses every hand. She also loses at the witty, sexually laced repartee between the other five players. After four games and down to her last 10 pennies, she quits. It is not for her this game. The entire experience is not for her. She looks over the party goers. Beer, kisses and gropes are exchanged in corners. What goes on in the closed bedrooms is better not seen.

She takes a beer, her first, and her cigarettes and goes out to the beach. This is what she came for: the beach, swimming during the day, reading what she didn’t have time for when crushed with class assignments, girl talk with a few friends. Even that is a disappointment as the girl talk usually turns to boys, a topic which is foreign to her experience.

She’ll lie when she goes back to her classes. She’ll say the week was fun, a blast. Yeah. Partying every night. At least, she’ll have a tan to prove she was there.

Lovely demonstration of the odd teen, who out of place cannot even bare to bow to peer pressure. I liked the ending where she decided to lie to fit in.

Can you please tell me what a ‘sorority’ house is exactly. (I’m not from the USA.)

Thanks for sharing Dawn

Many colleges have sororities, a club of sorts to which candidates are invited to be a member. In some colleges they can be very snobbish, at least that was the situation when I was in college. My college, a small woman’s college, was more democratic, in that a student chose the soriety she wanted and was accepted in it. There was no voting on who could come in and who could not. Bigger colleges have special housing for sororities and fraternities (the male equvilent of sororities).I don’t know what other sororities did, but the ones at my college, in addition to organizing teas, parties, picnics, etc., had a commitment to do some social work for the community. Being a Catholic college we gave Catechism lessons to young childdren in poor parishes where there was a shortage of teachers to give these lessons after school

A sororiety beach house is just that: a house at the beach which the sorority rents for a time, the rent being paid for by charging a fee for each girl who wants to spend the week there. Easter week was usually a time of letting loose

I hope this answers your question. Adelaide

Thanks again Joe Due to the inspiration of this post and it’s kickstarting my creative flow (I’ve been editing my first novel), I have decided to do the NaNo July Camp.

Using some of the above prompts I am aiming to complete a collection of short stories, prose and poetic interludes. My goal is only 10,000 words. This will give me time to edit, shape and tease out detail. It’s winter in my part of the world. A cosy time to write beside the fireplace.

A brief synopsis: A collection of short stories, prose and poetic interludes that reflect on the shadows, woods, winds and ocean waves of a south coast winter.

Where nature walks deep into the rhythm of this human’s hibernating season and beckons her into conversation with looming clouds, long shadows and the low breathing reach of winter sun.

That she may see the beauty that dances between the tempest winter weather sweeping the landscape and her quiet resting inner world.

Of course I’ll still be visiting TWP daily. For ongoing inspiration and community to share with. Cheers Dawn 🙂

What a great, stimulating post! I chose the ‘Morning’ prompt.

My eyes slowly creaked open, only to squint in the sun beam that had smacked my face, arousing me from sleep. But I hadn’t been asleep…had I? I couldn’t be sure. As I groggily sat up in bed, a chill ran down my spine as the air conditioning kissed my back-drenched with sweat. The next thing I took notice of was the pounding in my chest. It seemed that my heart had been beating wildly only moments ago, and now it was doing its best to resume normality. Yet that wasn’t all. There was a dull, aching that had come with the wild beating. In my mind’s eye, I could see a face, slowly fading from sight. It’s features were slowly becoming more and more obscure. Who was he? Why did I care? Hardly a minute had passed before the man’s face vanished from my mind entirely. Birds began to chirp cheerily outside my window, and without knowing why- a tear slipped down my face and darkened the baby blue sheets. I struggled to search my mind for the image of his face once more, but there was nothing. There never would be- except for the lone tear that spotted my sheets.

Great start that draws your readers in; beginning of the day, mysterious dream image evoking intense emotion, loved it Catherine!

This is amazing.

I chose the sleepless prompt. I kind of went deeper than I was trying to.

She tossed. She turned. Her eyes wouldn’t stay shut. They would stay open either. She blinked. The dark of the night filled the room, and the smell of dust covered everything. The blankets on the bed were everywhere, and one the pillows had been thrown on the floor. The rest of the bedroom looked neat, beside the dark and glooming aroma.

She had a specific person on her mind. Someone she had been wondering about for awhile. She didn’t have a crush, nor were they enemies. The person was just very… normal. She tried getting her mind on something else, only to be reminded on him somehow. The smell was like him, the smell of the room.

She turned again, thinking of what happened that day. He had asked her a strange question; one that’s wasn’t like trying to know someone. It was just strange. “Do you like country music?” His words echoed in her mind. She had said no, and then he had left, without any sign.

He wasn’t exactly a normal boy, but he wasn’t weird either. He wears black often, but sometimes he’ll wear pink. His hair is often messy, but sometimes, for no reason, it’s perfectly neat. He manly sticks to keeping quiet, but sometimes, he’s the most active in class.

Thank’s, it is very creative! Besides I found this writing prompts tool http://youressayhelper.com/writing-prompt-generator.html very helpful!

Found this post and took a stab at the grandfather prompt.

I never knew my grandfather.

A man walks towards me. Top hat, suit. Black against white mist. He is smiling. He is a handsome man. He does not take a step but if he did they would be long strides. Purposeful, directed. He is tall but does not tower over me. And he is looking at me. Not at me, not through me. At me. At the deep sliver of me before the echoes of memory. And smiling. A smile that reaches from ear to ear. A smile that starts in the gut and ends in the eyes. A smile that leaves me quivering inside my own skin. He knows my secret.

How does he know. What if he tells someone.

He sees me. No, he sees him. The lie of lies. He sees past the lies. He sees the lies I tell myself and he laughs. A laugh from the belly that shakes the mists he reaches out from.

Small lies. Self-pity. Worthlessness. Fear. His eyes move past them, not even bothering to swat them aside.

Something rests on my heart.

I was inspired when I read this post and I immediately made a story. However, I came up with my own prompt: Jealousy.

I keep finding the wrong in her brown capturing eyes, hoping to see the darkness she has yet to reveal. I keep finding the treason in her refined movements, the plan in her bright smile, the sting in her sweet words yet I couldn’t find any. She is the sun, and everyone is flocking around her warmth but I am blinded. My eyes sting and my breath caught within my throat, afraid they will notice the insecurities blowing in and out of my lungs. Afraid to move for they might see the urge to block their words worshiping her, slowly pressing my stomach, burying me into the depths of the dark place I wouldn’t want to be in but I’m still falling, falling, and falling. I have to avoid the mirror and the vision of myself beside her, comparing and losing. I have to refrain from looking as it would pour fuel into the fire and I have to stay away, far away from her. She pleaded why am I keeping distance, as I remember how my stomach churns every time they prefer her, how I’m always in the shadow of her glow, and I retreated leaving her groping in the dark for an answer, like how I’m pathetically groping for salvation. I cry that night chanting apologies; I am lost and I have to find myself, hoping to be stable and solid so my molecules will not easily drown in hers. I am me and she is her as they point my parts apart from her. A heterogeneous system, as one, as sisters, as best friends. But not today. Today I’m lying on the thorns of my selfish inexcusable reasons devoid of any strength to get up. Today, I’m still avoiding the traces of her on my notebook and my map. I’m sorry, you are the best and the worst that has happened to me and for that pitiful reason, today at 10 am in our small warm coffee shop I will not be there. I will be somewhere else, a place cowards run off to, somewhere you wouldn’t have to go.

——-your undeserving best friend: jealousy

I just re-posted a post on my FB page about using images to help you write! https://www.facebook.com/A-Page-A-Day-Lets-all-write-just-one-page-a-day-103970129720405/?fref=ts I used many images to write my novel. El Salvador’s civil war was the most photographed war in history. I bet it still is! Thanks for a great post! Sherrie Sherrie Miranda’s historically based, coming of age, Adventure novel “Secrets & Lies in El Salvador” is about an American girl in war-torn El Salvador: http://tinyurl.com/klxbt4y Her husband made a video for her novel. He wrote the song too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P11Ch5chkAc

“Morning”

The sun shone through a small gap where the panels of curtains met. Usually the curtains did their job and blacked out any light, but the angle she laid in bed today was the perfect place for the sun to shine right on her face. It beamed like a laser through her eyelids. She turned over in bed attempting to evade the warm light. Her subconscious knew something wasn’t right. She bolted upright and scrambled to find her phone which served as her alarm clock. Dead. What time is it? She ran to the kitchen to look at the clock on the oven. It was blinking 3:38. This can’t be right, the sun is shining bright as noon. The power must have gone off sometime during the night. She hurried back to her room to plug in her phone. It seemed like hours as she waited for it to charge enough to turn on. Panic started to set in. Finally! The iPhone beamed back to life. The clock on the home screen read 7:22. She was late. Late for her first day at her new job.

I really enjoy creative writing and I hope to get better at it. I always have different ideas running through my head but I never actually put them on paper. I chose the “Morning” prompt and I feel like this is actually pretty good! Morning The warm rays of the sun filled the room as Vaughn lay their asleep. It was about 10:45 in the morning, and Vaughn was still exhausted from yesterday’s job searching. He had been fired about three months ago and has been budgeting his money the best he can. Natalie, his girlfriend, has been giving him small amounts of money here and there. Bzzz, Bzzz…his phone starts ringing, causing him to wake up from his deep sleep. His violet eyes scan the screen of the phone. Vaughn sighs, noticing it’s a text from Natalie. He puts the phone back where it was and snuggled back under the warm covers. As soon as his platinum hair hit the pillow- bzzz, bzzz, bzzz…this time it was a call. Vaughn released a sigh of annoyance, noticing it was Natalie again. “Hello”, he answered. “Vaughn I cannot believe you forgot again, you know as much as I help you, you could be a little better at remembering things”, Natalie yelled through the speaker. “What are you talking about, Natalie, we didn’t plan anything today! You said you were tired” Vaughn explained, his patients wearing thin. “I just texted you and said ‘Meet me at the new café’, I’ve been waiting here for thirty minutes and you’re still not here!”, Natalie whined. “Okay, okay, I’m on my way Naty” Vaughn threw the covers off himself and started getting ready. He wouldn’t have heard the end of it if he didn’t go. While he was pacing through his apartment, he knocked down a picture frame. He bent down and froze when he saw the picture it displayed. It was him standing beside a girl with brown hair and tan skin. Her smile was gentle and calming and her violet eyes sparkled with joy. Vaughn gently held the frame and whispered,” Cerene…”. *Flashback to High School* “Will we still talk like we are now, Florida seems like its pretty far”, Vaughn asked nervously. “Of course we will, silly, you’re my best friend!” Cerene Exclaimed. Vaughn and Cerene had been friends since elementary school. They were always together. Unfortunately, Cerene’s family traveled a lot. Her father’s job required them to move from time time. Vaughn didn’t like this at all, sure he had other friends, but they weren’t his best friends like Cerene was. She was always there for him, even when he was sick, she would bring tea, movies, or just sit and talk with him. Everyone at school thought the two liked each other. It was true Vaughn liked Cerene but he never knew how she felt about him. Cerene was leaving a week after graduation. As the day grew closer, Vaughn noticed that Cerene just wasn’t her cheery self anymore. Instead she seemed depressed and disconnected from the world. He’d find her staring off into the distance a lot like she was thinking. Three days before she was supposed to leave, Vaughn got a call from Cerene. “Hey, Cerene, how’s it goin’”, Vaughn answered. “Hey Vanya…I..um..I have some bad news” Cerene explained. Her voice was shaking, Vaughn wondered if she was about to cry. “What is it, Cerene” he asked, worried. “I’m…leaving earlier than I thought”, she said sadly. “But why, what happened to te week after graduation” he pleaded. “I’m sorry, Vanya, I tried to get extra time but my father said we have to leave earlier than expected!” she exclaimed. “Its okay, Cerene, its not your fault, but can I see you before you leave, please”, Vaughn asked with hope. “Of course, silly, you’re my best friend!” Vaughn snapped out of day dream when his phone started vibrating again.

Today was a fresh day, leaves crunching beneath my boots and the sun beams stretching out for a new morning. I usually had these walks by myself, oftenly I’d get looks from my friends of concern and they had always questioned me as to why I never invited them along. But me and the Autumn season are meant to be alone, we’re meant to be one.

My nose was red, and I had an occasional case of the sniffles not that I was really bothered about it. Nevertheless it might not be winter but the whispy breeze, and the coldness of the astomophere was indicating that it was near. I paused at the tree, in the middle of a meadow. A meadow packed with tall soft grass, flowers that were in the process of blooming and the silent birds that peacefully flew on by in the bright clear sky. I parked myself down, my back resting on the bark of the old tree my knees tucked into my chest while my arms rested on top of my knees.

I felt my hair blow with the sudden blast of wind, like waves of an ocean as I felt tears prick in the corners of my eyes. Truth is, Autumn was the sad season. The season where I lost my younger brother, Despite his falling sand the countless times he was called names and picked on by the other children, he always managed to smile and laugh with me, which you wouldn’t expect from a brother and sister. After he passed I always came here, somehow his presence lingered near. My eyelids eventually gave away to the tiredness from my sobs, my throat was sore, so just as I fell asleep, a small murmered whispered in my ear, “Sweet dreams, Sis.” And a small smile creeped onto my face, as well as the last falling tear.

This is lovely. I believe it to be true.

Beach Do you remember the last year when I called you and requested to see me at Clifton beach in the evening. You might have forget that call but tell me have you forgot that last meeting also? You might have forgot that meeting but tell me have you forgot our last dance on the sand. The sun was setting and the sky turned red as if it had not slept since many last nights. Do you remember when your left foot was kissing my right foot and your right my my left. Do you remember when we danced on the music of sew waves. Do you remember when a wave touched our feet took the sand from beneath our feet away with it. Since that day I am hanging in the air. I don’t have anything to place my feet on.

Using the prompt, “Road trip” and this is what I came up with.

11:00 in the morning, my wheelchair is securely locked in the mechanism. I’m semi nervous and excited, watching out the window as the bus pulls away from the depot. Out the corner of my eye, I notice one seat up and over, a young boy is looking back at me. I give him a quick smile before he turns to his mother. She looks back to me then nudges his shoulder. A scolding expression on her face and speaking quietly to him him. I don’t hear what is said but I’m sure I can imagine her words. Parents, how they stifle a child’s curiosity. 2:45 in the afternoon, the lift is shaky as I ride it down off the bus. I’m glad to have all four wheels on the ground. I have a couple of minutes before I have to board the next bus. Just enough time for a quick bathroom break. I’m passing the young boy again. We make eye contact. His mother is busy scrounging through her purse. Oops, I bet she lost her tickets. I pop a wheely as I ride pass the boy and a bright smile lights up his young face as he watches. I turn back around, looking at him and smile. Catching a glimpse of me, his mother grabs his hand and pulls him along toward a customer desk. My eyes are still on the little boy as he looks back to me once more. I quickly give him a thumbs up, then ride off toward the rest room, wheeling on my back tires. 3:00, I’d just exited the bathroom. Time to board. The bus will be leaving in 10 minutes bound for Philadelphia. I see the boy and his mother once more as I wheel myself toward the bus’s lift. Catching the mother’s eye, I remark, “He’s a bright young boy. He’s very inquisitive, nurture him well.” She manages a curt smile and hurriedly walks toward her destination and I can’t help to watch them as the lift raises me up to enter the bus. I can’t help but wonder about the man he’ll grow up to be.

this story really made my day and i would honestly consider you to become an author. I will forever cherish this story as i can relate being wheelchair bound and now have been inspired to “pop a wheely” which i will continue to do in my every day life.You are the reason i wake up in the morning

Robert i take a massive offence to this as i am also “wheelchair bound” and like to “pop a wheely” from time to time and would highly recommend deleting your comment

As a fellow wheeler, I too take great pride in ‘popping wheelies’ whenever free time shows face in my schedule. The W.A. society (wheelers anonymous) are a faction of like minded individuals who all have a great passion for the art that is ‘paralytic parkour’. I come from a long line of wheelers, must be in my genes-sorry future kids L0L! Not a singe soul has stood tall in my family for many of years now, everyday’s a struggle, all worse than the last, but my strong will and high admiration pulls me through with a little grass from my friends if you get what i mean 😉 anyway, maybe we could arrange a date sometime soon, ill send you my details for future reference.

Hey AJ, how you doing? cause im doing swell BUT i couldn’t help wondering about this faction im hearing of, i have some gnarly brain storms about a new stunt wheelchair as ive been having a lot of trouble going down the half pipe at my local skate park, i seem to be falling out my wheelchair every time i go down and cant get back up. approximately 1/3 paralytic parkourers die due to faulty wheelchairs, i hope you take my brain storms into deep consideration.

sincerely Lance.

WOW lance you seem to have caught my attention because this is a everyday common struggle of most wheelers. We wheelers have to stick together and have each others backs even when we are both struggling to find our feet quite literally! the only thing i have to live on is hope and you know what they say about hope ‘breeds eternal misery’ .

I found myself choosing the Grandfather Prompt. I felt my eyelids getting heavier as I placed my head on the car window. It was a quiet day. Even the sound of my mother and Grandmother talking seemed soothing. I was quickly brought back to reality by a voice message on my mother’s phone, from my grandfather. “I need..help…a hospital. Please come..” ,he whispered, then silence. I felt my heart drop to my stomach as his voice echoed in my head. I froze. I didn’t move. I couldn’t move… All I could do was sit there, listening to my mother trying to hold back her tears as she was speeding on a busy street. Only my younger sister shaking my arm snapped me back. “What’s going on? Why are they crying?”, she desperately asked. In that second, it hit me. We might not get there in time. I tried to hold back my tears, I tried to be strong, but I couldn’t. I could hear my heart pounding louder than my thoughts. I felt my temperature rising by the second. My tears sliding down my chin. The only thing I resorted to doing was pray. “Please, not today. I’m not ready. Not this soon, let me hug him one more time. Don’t take him from me yet.”,I prayed in silence. Then the thoughts began to come. What was the last thing I said to him? When is the last time I told him I loved him? My thoughts were interrupted as my mother slammed the breaks on my grandparents driveway. “Stay in the car.” ,my mother snapped as she ran out. The wait seemed endless. Everything felt unreal. I felt helpless. Was he dead? This can’t be how he leaves. I didn’t get to say goodbye. No more fighting over the t.v controller with him again. We would never share a piece of cherry pie again. I’ll never get another poem from him. My attention quickly turned to the door as my sister began to cry, as she realized the situation. My mother and grandmother came out struggling to carry my grandfather. I didn’t know what to think. “Where’s the nearest E.R?” , I hear my grandma yell. We made it on time. There seemed to be a weight off my chest. My grandfathers even SLIGHT breathing, was prayers answered.

After high school graduation we begin our journey, going to college; going here and there on vacations; work and exactly where we’re going isn’t clear. We can see down the road aways, sometime to the next turn, but our destination remains obscure. Often there are intersections and we glare down the different routes and make a choice and we’re off again. Job offers come and we change directions. We meet people and that may take is off in yet other directions. Then we start a family and the road seems to be long and hard. We wonder if we’re going down the right road. Will we get to nice place in the end? Will there be food and shelter waiting for us? Or will we run out of gas and be stranded, walking down the road? But we keep moving. Eventually the kids grow up and are in college and the road seems to open up and the scenery gets better. We start seeing what we think is our destination in the distance and our focus lands there. Are we going to make it – or can’t wait to make it. More intersections seem to keep the goal at bay, but we continue on. Kids are on their own road and we see them taking some of the same roads we travelled. But we make a turn and the goal is in view. We think back about the trip and how frustrating it was at the time and realize that it went by way too quickly. We long to be able to keep the trip going, taking in more sights and doing things that we didn’t stop and bother with previously. But we arrive as the sun sets. Out of gas. Cold. Hungry. Tired. And waiting for us is a huge lodge with a warm fireplace burning. A huge meal has been prepared. There is laughter, music and lots of people, many of whom we’ve known along the trip. It’s been a wonderful experience. And the talk is about the next road trip.

I absolutely love these! I just read a post about the benefits of using creative writing prompts and went looking for some to get started. Thanks so much for these!

Its been days since Ronda landed, maybe tonight she will get some sleep. Jet Lag has been a nightmare. Started the night befor the flight, woke up every 2-3 hours and could not fall back to sleep. Ronka always stresses before trips. Really she stresses before everything. The 13 hours on the plane were completely sleepless as well. Ronka rarely ever can sleep on a plane. She brought a book but did not read. She had some podcasts but didnt listen. Her focus was not good enough for any of those. Not even for random thoughts. She watched a few movies but probably doesnt remember much. At the last 2 hours she found Remi Cube on the airplane entertainment system and thats where she finally found solace. Went into a frenzy of playing until the plane landed. Ronda does most things in a frenzy. Now she’s in her parents home. Day 3 and she hasnt got much sleep. On the surface things are ok. She hasnt spiraled out of control yet. But deep inside she can feel the shift… She is not fully ok. Getting a little more grumpy and restless by the minute. A big total eclipse is happening in a few hours. The energies must be affecting. Ronda is always greatly affected with the universe arround her. The weather, The full Moons, the astrological signs. Ronda needs a good night sleep. A few good night sleeps. She needs to get back on track. She’s been doing relatively good lately.

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General Education

The most common advice out there for being a writer is, "if you want to write, write." While this is true (and good advice), it's not always that easy, particularly if you're not writing regularly.

Whether you're looking for help getting started on your next project, or just want to spend 20 minutes being creative, writing prompts are great ways to rev up your imagination. Read on for our list of over 100 creative writing prompts!

feature image credit: r. nial bradshaw /Flickr

10 Short Writing Prompts

If you're looking for a quick boost to get yourself going, these 10 short writing prompts will do the trick.

#1 : Write a scene starting with a regular family ritual that goes awry.

#2 : Describe exactly what you see/smell/hear/etc, right now. Include objects, people, and anything else in your immediate environment.

#3 : Suggest eight possible ways to get a ping pong ball out of a vertical pipe.

#4 : A shoe falls out of the sky. Justify why.

#5 : If your brain were a tangible, physical place, what would it be like?

#6 : Begin your writing with the phrase, "The stage was set."

#7 : You have been asked to write a history of "The Summer of [this past year]." Your publisher wants a table of contents. What events will you submit?

#8 : Write a sympathetic story from the point of view of the "bad guy." (Think fractured fairy tales like Wicked or The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! , although the story doesn't have to be a fairy tale.)

#9 : Look at everyday objects in a new way and write about the stories one of these objects contains.

#10 : One person meets a stranger on a mode of transportation. Write the story that ensues.

11 Writing Prompts for Kids

Any of these prompts can be used by writers of any age, but we chose the following 11 prompts as ones that would be particularly fun for kids to write about. (Most of them I used myself as a young writer, so I can vouch for their working!)

#1 : Include something falling in your writing.

#2 : Write a short poem (or story) with the title, "We don't know when it will be fixed."

#3 : Write from the perspective of someone of a different gender than you.

#4 : Write a dumb internet quiz.

#5 : Finish this thought: "A perfect day in my imagination begins like this:"

#6 : Write a character's inner monologue (what they are thinking as they go about their day).

#7 : Think of a character. Write a paragraph each about:

• An important childhood experience that character had.
• The character's living situation.
• Two hobbies or things the character likes to do.
• The room where the character sleeps.
• An ambition of the character.
• Two physical characteristics of the character.
• What happens when a second person and this character meet.
• Two important defining personal traits of this character.

#8 : Start a story with a quote from a song.

#9 : Begin a story with, "It was the summer of ______ when ______"

#10 : Pretend everyday objects have no names. Think about what you would name them based on what they do, what you can use them for, and what they look like.

#11 : Start a story with the phrases "My grandparents are/were," "My parents are/were," or "My mother/father/parent is/was."

15 Cool Writing Prompts

#1 : List five issues that you're passionate about. Write about them from the opposite point of view (or from the perspective of a character with the opposite point of view).

#2 : Walk around and write down a phrase you hear (or read). Make a story out of it.

#3 : Write using no adjectives or adverbs.

#4 : Write a character's inner dialogue between different aspects of a character's self (rather than an inner monologue).

#5 : Write a true story from your past that involves light or darkness in some way.

#6 : "Saying goodbye awakens us to the true nature of things." Write something in which someone has to say goodbye and has a realization.

#7 : Begin by writing the end of the story.

#8 : Write a recipe for an intangible thing.

#9 : Write a horror story about an ordinary situation (e.g., buying groceries, going to the bank, listening to music).

#10 : Write a story from within a bubble.

#11 : Write down 2-3 short character descriptions and then write the characters in conversation with one another.

#12 : Write a story in second person.

#13 : Write a story that keeps contradicting itself.

#14 : Write about a character with at least three big problems.

#15 : Write something that takes place on a Friday, the 13th (of any month).

15 Funny Writing Prompts

#1 : Write a story which starts with someone eating a pickle and potato sandwich.

#2 : Write a short script where the plot has to do with evil dolls trying to take over something.

#3 : Write about writers' block.

#4 : List five election issues that would be ridiculous to includes as part of your election platform (e.g. outlawing mechanical pencils and clicky pens, mandating every person over the age of 30 must own an emergency last rites kit). Choose one of the ridiculous issues and write a speech in favor of it.

#5 : Write a children's story that is insanely inappropriate but can't use graphic language, curses, or violence.

#6 : List five careers. Write about someone with one of those careers who wants to quit it.

#7 : Write down a list of murder methods. Choose one at random from the list to use in a story.

#8 : Write a romance story in which the hero must have a last name corresponding with a physical characteristic (e.g. Jacques Hairyback or Flora Dimple).

#9 : Come up with 10 different ways to:

• order a pizza
• congratulate someone on a job well done
• return to the store something that's broken

#10 : Search for "random Renaissance painting" (or any other inspirational image search text you can think of) on any online internet image search engine. Picking one image, write half a page each of:

• Statements about this image (e.g. "I meant bring me the BREAD of John the Baptist").
• Questions about this image (e.g. "How many of those cherubs look like their necks are broken?").
• Explanations of this image (e.g. "The painter ran out of blue paint halfway through and had to improvise for the color of the sky").
• Commands said by people in this image or about this image (e.g. "Stop telling me to smile!" or "Bring me some gasoline!").

#11 : Write starting with a word that sounds like "chute" (e.g. "chute," "shoot," "shooed").

#12 : Write about a character named X "The [article of clothing]" Y (e.g. Julie "The Yellow Darted Skirt" Whyte) or simply referred to by their clothing (e.g. "the man in the brown suit" or "the woman in black").

#13 : Write down a paragraph each describing two wildly different settings. Write a story involving both settings.

#14 : Think of a fictional holiday based around some natural event (e.g. the Earth being at its farthest point from the sun, in memory of a volcanic eruption, that time a cloud looked like a rabbit riding a bicycle). Write about how this holiday is celebrated.

#15 : Write a "Just-So" type story about a fictional creature (e.g. "how the dragon got its firebreath" or "how the mudkip got its cheek gills").

54 Other Writing Prompt Ideas

#1 : Borrow a character from some other form of media (or create your own). Write from that character's perspective.

#2 : Write for and against a non-consequential controversy (e.g., salt vs. pepper, Mac vs. PC, best kind of door).

#3 : Choose an ancestor or a person from the past to write about or to.

#4 : Write a pirate story with a twist.

#5 : Have a character talk about another character and their feelings about that other character.

#6 : Pick a season and think about an event in your life that occurred in that season. Write a creative nonfiction piece about that event and that season.

#7 : Think of something very complicated and long. Write a page about it using short sentences.

#8 : Write a story as a dream.

#9 : Describe around a food without ever directly naming it.

#10 : Write a monologue (one character, talking to the audience/reader) (*not* an inner monologue).

#11 : Begin a story with the phrase, "It only took five seconds to..."

#12 : List five strong emotions. Choosing one, write about a character experiencing that emotion, but only use the character's actions to convey how they are feeling (no outright statements).

#13 : Write a chapter of the memoir of your life.

#14 : Look through the (physical) things you're currently carrying with you or wearing. Write about the memories or emotions tied with each of them.

#15 : Go be in nature. Write drawing your story from your surroundings (both physical, social, and mental/emotional).

#16 : Write from the perspective of a bubble (or bubble-like creature).

#17 : A person is jogging along an asphalt road. Write a story.

#18 : Title your story (or poem, or play, etc) "Anti-_____". Fill in the blank and write the story.

#19 : Write something that must include an animal, a mineral, and a vegetable.

#20 : Begin your writing with the phrase, "6 weeks later..."

#21 : List 5-10 office jobs. Pick one of them and describe a person working in that job as if you were a commentator on an Olympic sporting event.

#22 : Practice your poetic imagery: overwrite a description of a character's breakfast routine.

#23 : Write about a character (or group of characters) trying to convince another character to try something they're scared of.

#24 : Keep an eye out in your environment for examples of greengrocer's apostrophes and rogue quotation marks. Pick an example and write about what the misplaced punctuation implies (e.g., we have the "best" meat or we have the best "meat" ).

#25 : Fill in the blank with the first word that comes to mind: "_______ Riot!" Write a newspaper-style article describing the events that that took place.

#26 : Write from the point of view of your most-loved possession. What does it think of you?

#27 : Think of five common sayings (e.g., "An apple a day keeps the doctor away"). Write a horror story whose plot is one of those common sayings.

#28 : Write a scene in which two characters are finally hashing out a long-standing misunderstanding or disagreement.

#29 : You start receiving text messages from an unknown number. Tell the story of what happens next.

#30 : Write one character bragging to another about the story behind their new tattoo.

#31 : Superheroes save the world...but they also leave a lot of destruction in their wake. Write about a normal person in a superhero's world.

#32 : Sometimes, family is who we are related to; sometimes, family is a group of people we gather around ourselves. Write a story about (some of) a character's found family and relatives meeting for the first time.

#33 : Write a story that begins in the middle of the plot's action ( en media res ).

#34 : Everyone says you can never have too much of a good thing. Write a story where that isn't true.

#35 : What do ghosts do when they're not creating mischief? Write about the secret lives of ghosts.

#36 : Every year, you dread the last week of April. Write a story about why.

#37 : Write a story about what it would be like to have an animal sidekick in real life.

#38 : Heists don't just have to be black-clad thieves stealing into vaults to steal rare art or money. Write about a group of people (adults or children) who commit a heist for something of seemingly little monetary value.

#39 : "Life is like a chooseable-path adventure, except you don't get to see what would have happened if you chose differently." Think of a choice you've made and write about a world where you made a different choice.

#40 : Write a story about a secret room.

#41 : You find a message in a bottle with very specific directions. Write a story about the adventure you embark upon.

#42 : "You'll always be okay as long as you know where your _______ is." Fill in the blank and write a story (either fictional or from your life) illustrating this statement.

#43 : Forcing people into prolonged proximity can change and deepen relationships. Write about characters on a road trip together.

#44 : In music, sonata form includes three main parts: exposition, development, and recapitulation. Write a short story that follows this format.

#45 : Begin writing with a character saying, "I'm afraid this simply can't wait."

#46 : Write a story with a happy ending (either happily-ever-after or happy-for-now).

#47 : Write about a character before and after a tragedy in that character's life.

#48 : Choose an object or concept you encounter in everyday life (e.g. tables, the feeling of hot or cold, oxygen) and write an infomercial about it.

#49 : "Life is a series of quests, whether important or mundane." Write about a quest you've gone on (or would like to go on, or will have to go on).

#50 : List 10 different ways to learn. Choose one (or more) and write a story where a character learns something using that one (or more) method.

#51 : You've been called to the principal's office for bad behavior. You know what you did. Explain and justify yourself.

#52 : A character discovers their sibling owns a cursed object. Write about what happens next.

#53 : Write a character description by writing a list of items that would be on a scavenger hunt about them.

#54 : The slogan for a product or service you're advertising is, "Kid-tested, _____." Fill in the blank and write the copy for a radio or podcast advertisement for your product.

How to Use Creative Writing Prompts

There's no wrong way to use a creative writing prompt (unless it's to harass and hurt someone)—the point of them is to get you writing and your imagination flowing.

To help you get the most out of these writing prompts, however, we've come up with the six tips below. Try them out!

#1: DON'T Limit Yourself to Prose

Unless you're writing for a particular assignment, there's no reason everything you write in response to a writing prompt has to be prose fiction . Instead of writing your response to a prompt as a story, try writing a poem, nonfiction essay, play, screenplay, or some other format entirely.

#2: DON'T Edit as You Write

The purposes of writing prompts is to get you writing, typos and weird grammar and all. Editing comes later, once you've finished writing and have some space from it to come back to what you wrote.

It's OK to fix things that will make it difficult to read what you've written (e.g., a weird autocorrect that changes the meaning of a sentence), but don't worry too much about typos or perfect grammar when you're writing; those are easy enough to fix in edits . You also can always insert asterisks or a short note as you're writing to remind yourself to go back to fix something (for instance, if as you're writing it seems like you want to move around the order of your paragraphs or insert something earlier).

#3: DO Interpret the Prompt Broadly

The point of using a writing prompt is not to write something that best exemplifies the prompt, but something that sparks your own creativity. Again, unless you're writing in response to an assignment with specific directions, feel free to interpret writing prompts as broadly or as narrowly as you want.

For instance, if your prompt is to write a story that begins with "The stage was set," you could write about anything from someone preparing to put a plan into motion to a literal theatre stage constructed out of pieces of old sets (or something else entirely).

If you're using a writing prompt, it doesn't have to be the first sentence of your story or poem, either; you can also use the prompt as a goal to work towards in your writing.

#4: DO Try Switching Up Your Writing Methods

If it's a possibility for you, see if you write differently in different media. Do you write the same kind of stories by hand as you would typing at a computer? What about if you dictate a story and then transcribe it? Or text it to a friend? Varying the method you use to write can affect the stories you're able to tell.

For example, you may find that it's easier for you to tell stories about your life to a voice recorder than to try to write out a personal essay. Or maybe you have trouble writing poetry, but can easily text yourself or a friend a poem. You might even find you like a writing method you've not tried before better than what you've been doing!

#5: DO Mix and Match Prompt Ideas

If you need more inspiration, feel free to combine multiple prompts (but don't overwhelm yourself with too much to write about).

You can also try switching genres from what might be suggested in the prompt. For instance, try writing a prompt that seems funny in a serious and sad way, or finding the humor in something that otherwise seems humorless. The categories we've organized the prompts into are by no means limiters on what you're allowed to write about.

#6: DO Try to Write Regularly

The more regularly you write, the easier it will be to write (with or without writing prompts).

For some people, this means writing daily; for others, it means setting aside time to write each weekend or each month. Set yourself an achievable goal (write 2x a week, write 1000 words a month) and stick to it. You can always start small and then ramp your wordcount or frequency up.

If you do better when you have something outside yourself prompting to write, you may also want to try something like morning pages , which encourages you to write at least 750 words every day, in any format (story, diary entry, social media postings, etc).

What's Next?

Thinking about attending college or grad school for creative writing? Our articles on whether or not you should major in creative writing and the best creative writing programs are there for you! Plus, if you're a high schooler, you should check out these top writing contests .

Creative writing doesn't necessarily have to be fiction. Check out these three examples of narrative writing and our tips for how to write your own narrative stories and essays .

Just as writing prompts can help give form to amorphous creative energy, using specific writing structures or devices can be great starting points for your next story. Read through our discussion of the top 20 poetic devices to know and see if you can work at least one new one into your next writing session.

Still looking for more writing ideas? Try repurposing our 100+ easy drawing ideas for characters, settings, or plot points in your writing.

Laura graduated magna cum laude from Wellesley College with a BA in Music and Psychology, and earned a Master's degree in Composition from the Longy School of Music of Bard College. She scored 99 percentile scores on the SAT and GRE and loves advising students on how to excel in high school.

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Quick Writing Prompts: Boost Your Creativity in Minutes

By: Author Paul Jenkins

Posted on August 3, 2023

Categories Writing

Quick writing prompts are a great way to get your creative juices flowing. They are short, simple, and easy to use, making them perfect for those who want to write but don’t have a lot of time to spare. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or a beginner, quick writing prompts can help you get started and keep you motivated.

Writing prompts are designed to inspire you and give you ideas for your writing. They can be used for any type of writing, from short stories to essays to poetry. Quick writing prompts are especially useful because they are short and to the point, making them easy to use even when you’re pressed for time. They can be used to warm up your writing muscles, break through writer’s block, or just to have fun with writing.

Using quick writing prompts can be beneficial for writers of all ages and skill levels. They can be tailored to different age groups and genres, making them versatile and adaptable. Whether you’re writing for fun or for a specific purpose, quick writing prompts can help you improve your writing skills and develop your creativity.

Key Takeaways

• Quick writing prompts are short, simple, and easy to use, making them perfect for writers who are short on time.
• Writing prompts are designed to inspire and give you ideas for your writing, and can be used for any type of writing.
• Quick writing prompts are versatile and adaptable, and can be tailored to different age groups and genres.

Understanding Writing Prompts

Writing prompts are essential tools for writers, students, and anyone who wants to improve their writing skills. Writing prompts are questions, statements, or ideas that inspire writing. They can be used for various forms of writing, such as creative writing, reflective writing, and academic writing.

Quick writing prompts are a great way to help writers generate ideas and overcome writer’s block. They are short and straightforward, providing a starting point for writers to develop their ideas. Quick writing prompts can be used in the classroom or for personal writing projects.

Understanding writing prompts is crucial to developing strong writing skills. Decoding what a prompt is asking can be overwhelming, but the sooner you understand a prompt, the sooner you can start writing. Here are some tips to help you understand writing prompts:

• Read the prompt carefully: Before you start writing, make sure you understand the prompt. Read it carefully to ensure you know what is being asked.
• Identify the key terms: Identify the key terms in the prompt, such as “analyze,” “compare,” or “describe.” These terms will help you understand what is expected of you.
• Brainstorm ideas: Once you understand the prompt, brainstorm ideas. Write down anything that comes to mind, even if it seems unrelated to the prompt. This will help you develop your ideas and get started on your writing.
• Organize your thoughts: After brainstorming, organize your thoughts. Create an outline or mind map to help you structure your writing.
• Revise and edit: After writing, revise and edit your work. Make sure it meets the requirements of the prompt and that it is well-written and error-free.

In conclusion, understanding writing prompts is essential for developing strong writing skills. Quick writing prompts are a great way to generate ideas and overcome writer’s block. By following these tips, you can decode writing prompts and develop your writing skills.

Importance of Quick Writing Prompts

Quick writing prompts are an essential tool for improving writing skills. They are short writing exercises that can be completed in a few minutes. These prompts are designed to help students practice writing, improve their imagination, and develop their creativity.

Quick writing prompts are an effective way to help students develop their writing skills. By practicing writing on a regular basis, students can improve their writing skills, which can help them in all areas of their academic and professional lives.

Quick writing prompts can also help students develop their imagination and creativity. By providing students with a writing prompt, they are forced to think creatively and come up with new and interesting ideas. This can be especially helpful for students who struggle with creative writing.

Quick writing prompts can also provide inspiration for students who may be struggling to come up with ideas for their writing assignments. By providing a starting point, students can focus their energy on developing their ideas rather than trying to come up with a topic from scratch.

Overall, quick writing prompts are an important part of the writing process. They can help students develop their skills, improve their imagination and creativity, and provide inspiration for their writing assignments. By incorporating quick writing prompts into their writing practice, students can become more confident and skilled writers.

Quick Writing Prompts for Different Age Groups

Kids have wonderful imaginations, and there are many fun and engaging writing prompts that can help them develop their creativity and writing skills. Here are some quick writing prompts for kids:

For Young Writers

Young writers are often looking for writing prompts that are a bit more challenging and thought-provoking. Here are some quick writing prompts for young writers:

Adults may find it challenging to come up with writing prompts that are both interesting and quick. Here are some quick writing prompts for adults:

No matter what your age, there are quick writing prompts that can help you develop your creativity and writing skills. These prompts can be a great way to get started, and they can be a lot of fun too!

Genre-Specific Quick Writing Prompts

If you’re looking for quick writing prompts that are genre-specific, you’re in luck. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Write a story that begins with the line, “It was a dark and stormy night.”
• Write a story that takes place in a post-apocalyptic world.
• Write a story about a character who can time travel.
• Write a story about a character who discovers they have a superpower.
• Write about a time when you faced a difficult decision.
• Write about a time when you overcame a fear.
• Write about a time when you learned an important lesson.
• Write a letter to your future self.
• Write a letter to someone you admire.
• Write a letter to someone who has impacted your life in a positive way.
• Write an essay about the importance of education.
• Write an essay about the benefits of exercise.
• Write an essay about the impact of social media on society.

These prompts are just a starting point. Use them as inspiration to come up with your own ideas, or modify them to fit your specific writing goals. Happy writing!

Using Everyday Objects and Scenarios as Writing Prompts

One of the easiest ways to get started with writing is by using everyday objects and scenarios as writing prompts. By using what’s around you, you can quickly come up with ideas and write about them.

For example, you could write about the cup of tea you’re drinking right now. Describe the taste, the aroma, the temperature, and the color. Write about the memories it brings up or the emotions it evokes.

Another idea is to write about the room you’re in. Describe the furniture, the colors, the lighting, and the decor. Write about the mood it creates or the memories it holds.

Food is another great source of inspiration. Write about the meal you had for lunch or the snack you’re having right now. Describe the flavors, the textures, and the presentation. Write about the culture it represents or the memories it brings up.

A photo is another great writing prompt. Choose a photo from your phone or a magazine and write about it. Describe the colors, the composition, and the emotions it evokes. Write about the story behind the photo or the memories it brings up.

The city you live in or the weather outside can also be great writing prompts. Write about the sights, the sounds, and the smells of the city. Write about how the weather makes you feel or the memories it brings up.

Coffee is another everyday object that can inspire writing. Write about the taste, the aroma, and the temperature. Write about the culture it represents or the memories it brings up.

If you have a garden or a dog, they can also be great sources of inspiration. Write about the colors, the smells, and the sounds. Write about the memories they bring up or the emotions they evoke.

Finally, spring is a great time to find inspiration. Write about the colors, the smells, and the sounds of spring. Write about the new beginnings or the memories it brings up.

Creative Writing Prompts Involving Relationships

Relationships are a fundamental part of human life, and they can be a great source of inspiration for creative writing prompts. Here are some prompts that involve relationships:

• Family: Write a story about a family reunion where long-held secrets are revealed.
• Siblings: Write a story about two siblings who have grown apart over the years and are forced to spend time together again.
• Friendship: Write a story about two friends who have a falling out and then reconcile years later.
• Parents: Write a story about a parent who is struggling to connect with their child.
• Best Friend: Write a story about a best friend who moves away and the impact it has on the other person.

Relationships can be complicated, and these prompts offer a chance to explore the different dynamics that can exist between people. They can also be a way to examine the emotions that come with these relationships, such as love, jealousy, and anger.

When writing about relationships, it’s important to keep in mind that there are always two sides to every story. Try to explore both perspectives and show how each character is feeling. This will make the story more well-rounded and relatable.

Additionally, relationships can be a great way to explore themes such as forgiveness, loyalty, and betrayal. These themes can add depth and complexity to a story and make it more engaging for readers.

Overall, relationships are a rich and fertile ground for creative writing prompts. By exploring the different dynamics that exist between people, writers can create compelling stories that resonate with readers.

Imaginative Writing Prompts

Imaginative writing prompts are a great way to get your creative juices flowing. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or just starting out, these prompts can help you come up with new and exciting ideas for your next writing project.

Here are some imaginative writing prompts to get you started:

• Cat : Write a story from the perspective of a cat who can talk. What does the cat have to say about their human family and their daily life?
• Ship : Write a story about a group of people who are stranded on a deserted ship in the middle of the ocean. How do they survive and what challenges do they face?
• Superpower : Imagine you have a superpower. What is it and how do you use it? Write a story about your adventures as a superhero.
• Hero : Write a story about a hero who saves the day. Who is the hero and what do they do to save the day?
• Mars : Imagine you are the first person to set foot on Mars. What do you see and what do you do? Write a story about your adventures on the red planet.
• Magic : Write a story about a person who discovers they have magical powers. What do they do with their powers and how do they learn to control them?
• Rainbow : Write a story about a rainbow that comes to life. What adventures does the rainbow have and who does it meet along the way?

These are just a few examples of imaginative writing prompts that can help you get started on your next writing project. Use your imagination and have fun with these prompts to create something truly unique and exciting.

Emotion-Based Writing Prompts

Writing about emotions can be a powerful tool to help you process and understand your feelings. Here are a few emotion-based writing prompts to get you started:

• Write about a time when you felt embarrassed. What happened? How did you react? What did you learn from the experience?
• Describe a situation that made you feel afraid or scared. What were the circumstances? How did you cope with your fear? Did you learn anything from the experience?
• Write about a time when you felt angry. What triggered your anger? How did you express your anger? Did you resolve the situation? If so, how?
• Describe a situation that made you feel jealous. What was the source of your jealousy? How did you react? Did you learn anything from the experience?
• Write about a time when you felt overwhelmed with emotion. What was the cause of your emotional state? How did you cope with your feelings? Did you seek help or support? If so, how did that help you?

When writing about emotions, it’s important to be honest with yourself and not judge your feelings. Remember that everyone experiences emotions differently, and there is no right or wrong way to feel. Use these prompts as a starting point to explore your emotions and gain insight into your inner world.

Self-Reflective Writing Prompts

Self-reflection is an essential part of personal growth and development. Writing about your thoughts and experiences can help you gain clarity, understand yourself better, and identify areas for improvement. Here are some self-reflective writing prompts to get you started:

• What is your biggest secret, and why have you kept it hidden?
• How do you perceive yourself when you look in the mirror, and how does that compare to how others see you?
• What is your biggest weakness, and how have you tried to overcome it?
• Reflect on a time when you made a mistake. What did you learn from it, and how did it change you?
• What are your core values, and how do they influence your decisions and actions?
• How do you handle stress, and what coping mechanisms do you use?
• Reflect on a time when you faced a difficult decision. What factors did you consider, and how did you ultimately make your choice?
• What are your long-term goals, and what steps are you taking to achieve them?

Writing about these topics can be challenging, but it can also be incredibly rewarding. By exploring your thoughts and feelings, you may discover new insights about yourself and gain a deeper understanding of your own motivations and behaviors.

When writing about sensitive or personal topics, it’s essential to create a safe and supportive environment for yourself. Consider finding a quiet and private space to write, and set aside dedicated time for reflection. Remember that you don’t have to share your writing with anyone else if you don’t want to.

In conclusion, self-reflective writing prompts can be a powerful tool for personal growth and development. By exploring your thoughts and experiences, you can gain new insights and develop a deeper understanding of yourself. So why not give it a try and see where your writing takes you?

Writing Prompts for Classroom and Teaching

Writing prompts are an excellent tool for teachers to help their students develop their writing skills. They can be used in a variety of ways, from daily warm-ups to longer writing assignments. Here are some ideas for using writing prompts in the classroom:

Daily Warm-Ups

One way to use writing prompts is as a daily warm-up activity. Set aside a few minutes at the beginning of class for students to respond to a prompt. This can help them get into the writing mindset and prepare them for the day’s lesson.

Brainstorming

Writing prompts can also be used as a brainstorming tool. Give students a prompt and ask them to brainstorm ideas related to the topic. This can be done individually or in groups. Encourage students to think creatively and come up with as many ideas as possible.

Instructional Writing

Writing prompts can also be used to teach specific types of writing. For example, if you are teaching students how to write a persuasive essay, you could give them a prompt that requires them to take a stance on a controversial issue. This will help them practice the skills they need to write a persuasive essay.

Creative Writing

Writing prompts can also be used to encourage students to be more creative in their writing. Give them a prompt that requires them to use their imagination and come up with a story or poem. This can be a fun way to get students excited about writing.

Overall, writing prompts are a versatile tool that can be used in a variety of ways to help students develop their writing skills. By incorporating them into your classroom instruction, you can help your students become better writers and thinkers.

Online Writing Prompts

There are numerous websites and blogs that offer a wide range of online writing prompts. These prompts can be a great way to get your creative juices flowing and help you overcome writer’s block. Here are some popular sources for online writing prompts:

Many writing blogs offer daily or weekly writing prompts to their readers. These prompts can be a great way to get inspired and start writing. Some popular writing blogs that offer writing prompts include:

• The Write Practice
• Writer’s Digest

Comments Section

Another great place to find writing prompts is in the comments section of writing blogs and websites. Often, readers will share their own writing prompts or ask for suggestions from other writers. This can be a great way to find unique and interesting writing prompts that you might not have thought of otherwise.

Prompt Generators

If you’re looking for a more random or specific writing prompt, there are also several online prompt generators available. These generators can provide you with a specific character, setting, or scenario to write about. Some popular prompt generators include:

• WritingExercises.co.uk
• Seventh Sanctum
• Writing Prompts

Overall, online writing prompts can be a great way to get your creative juices flowing and help you overcome writer’s block. Whether you prefer daily prompts from a blog or more specific prompts from a generator, there are plenty of options available to suit your needs.

Miscellaneous Writing Prompts

If you’re looking for some quick writing prompts to get your creative juices flowing, here are a few ideas to consider:

• Favorite Food : Write about your favorite food. What makes it so delicious? How does it make you feel when you eat it? Can you describe the taste and texture in detail?
• Favorite Season : Describe your favorite season. What do you love about it? What activities do you enjoy during this time of year? How does the weather make you feel?
• Favorite Movie : Write a review of your favorite movie. What makes it so great? What are the key themes and messages of the film? How does it make you feel when you watch it?
• Least Favorite Chore : Write about your least favorite chore. What makes it so unpleasant? How do you feel when you have to do it? Is there anything you can do to make it more enjoyable?
• Best Gift : Describe the best gift you’ve ever received. What was it? Who gave it to you? Why was it so special?
• Dream House : Imagine your dream house. What does it look like? Where is it located? What features does it have? Why is it your dream home?
• Walk : Take a walk outside and write about what you see, hear, and smell. What kind of plants and animals do you encounter? How does the weather affect your experience?
• Green : Write about the color green. What does it symbolize to you? How does it make you feel? What are some of your favorite things that are green?

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some fun and engaging writing prompts for students in middle school.

Middle school students can benefit from writing prompts that are both fun and engaging. Some examples of such prompts include writing about a favorite childhood memory, describing a dream vacation, or creating a story about a superhero with unique powers.

How can quick writing prompts be used as warm-ups in the classroom?

Quick writing prompts can be used as warm-ups in the classroom to help students get into the writing mindset and practice their skills. Teachers can use prompts that are relevant to the lesson or theme of the day, or they can use prompts that are fun and creative to get students excited about writing.

What are some examples of quick write prompts for high school students?

High school students can benefit from quick write prompts that challenge them to think critically and creatively. Some examples of such prompts include writing a letter to their future selves, describing a favorite place in detail, or creating a story about a character who overcomes a difficult challenge.

What are some creative and unique writing prompts for a quick writing exercise?

Creative and unique writing prompts can help students think outside the box and develop their writing skills in new ways. Some examples of such prompts include writing a story from the perspective of an inanimate object, describing a color without using its name, or creating a poem using only five words.

How can quick writing prompts be adapted for different grade levels?

Quick writing prompts can be adapted for different grade levels by adjusting the complexity and length of the prompts. For younger students, prompts may be simpler and shorter, while older students may benefit from more challenging and thought-provoking prompts.

What are some effective strategies for using quick write prompts to improve writing skills?

Some effective strategies for using quick write prompts to improve writing skills include encouraging students to write freely without worrying about mistakes, providing feedback and constructive criticism, and incorporating prompts that challenge students to think critically and creatively.

11+ creative writing guide with 50 example topics and prompts

by Hayley | Nov 17, 2022 | Exams , Writing | 0 comments

The 11+ exam is a school entrance exam taken in the academic year that a child in the UK turns eleven.

These exams are highly competitive, with multiple students battling for each school place awarded.

The 11 plus exam isn’t ‘one thing’, it varies in its structure and composition across the country. A creative writing task is included in nearly all of the 11 plus exams, and parents are often confused about what’s being tested.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that the plot of your child’s writing task is important. It is not.

The real aim of the 11+ creative writing task is to showcase your child’s writing skills and techniques.

And that’s why preparation is so important.

This guide begins by answering all the FAQs that parents have about the 11+ creative writing task.

At the end of the article I give my best tips & strategies for preparing your child for the 11+ creative writing task , along with 50 fiction and non-fiction creative writing prompts from past papers you can use to help your child prepare. You’ll also want to check out my 11+ reading list , because great readers turn into great writers.

Do all 11+ exams include a writing task?

Not every 11+ exam includes a short story component, but many do. Usually 3 to 5 different prompts are given for the child to choose between and they are not always ‘creative’ (fiction) pieces. One or more non-fiction options might be given for children who prefer writing non-fiction to fiction.

Timings and marking vary from test to test. For example, the Kent 11+ Test gives students 10 minutes for planning followed by 30 minutes for writing. The Medway 11+ Test gives 60 minutes for writing with ‘space allowed’ on the answer booklet for planning.

Tasks vary too. In the Kent Test a handful of stimuli are given, whereas 11+ students in Essex are asked to produce two individually set paragraphs. The Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex (CCSE) includes 2 creative writing paragraphs inside a 60-minute English exam.

Throughout the UK each 11+ exam has a different set of timings and papers based around the same themes. Before launching into any exam preparation it is essential to know the content and timing of your child’s particular writing task.

However varied and different these writing tasks might seem, there is one key element that binds them.

The mark scheme.

Although we can lean on previous examples to assess how likely a short story or a non-fiction tasks will be set, it would be naïve to rely completely on the content of past papers. Contemporary 11+ exams are designed to be ‘tutor-proof’ – meaning that the exam boards like to be unpredictable.

In my online writing club for kids , we teach a different task each week (following a spiral learning structure based on 10 set tasks). One task per week is perfected as the student moves through the programme of content, and one-to-one expert feedback ensures progression. This equips our writing club members to ‘write effectively for a range of purposes’ as stated in the English schools’ teacher assessment framework.

This approach ensures that students approaching a highly competitive entrance exam will be confident of the mark scheme (and able to meet its demands) for any task set.

Will my child have a choice of prompts to write from or do they have to respond to a single prompt, without a choice?

This varies. In the Kent Test there are usually 5 options given. The purpose is to gather a writing sample from each child in case of a headteacher appeal. A range of options should allow every child to showcase what they can do.

In Essex, two prescriptive paragraphs are set as part of an hour-long English paper that includes comprehension and vocabulary work. In Essex, there is no option to choose the subject matter.

The Medway Test just offers a single prompt for a whole hour of writing. Sometimes it is a creative piece. Recently it was a marketing leaflet.

The framework for teaching writing in English schools demands that in order to ‘exceed expectations’ or better, achieve ‘greater depth’, students need to be confident writing for a multitude of different purposes.

In what circumstances is a child’s creative writing task assessed?

In Essex (east of the UK) the two prescriptive writing tasks are found inside the English exam paper. They are integral to the exam and are assessed as part of this.

In Medway (east Kent in the South East) the writing task is marked and given a raw score. This is then adjusted for age and double counted. Thus, the paper is crucial to a pass.

In the west of the county of Kent there is a different system. The Kent Test has a writing task that is only marked in appeal cases. If a child dips below the passmark their school is allowed to put together a ‘headteacher’s appeal’. At this point – before the score is communicated to the parent (and probably under cover of darkness) the writing sample is pulled out of a drawer and assessed.

I’ve been running 11+ tutor clubs for years. Usually about 1% of my students passed at headteacher’s appeal.

Since starting the writing club, however, the number of students passing at appeal has gone up considerably. In recent years it’s been more like 5% of students passing on the strength of their writing sample.

What are the examiners looking for when they’re marking a student’s creative writing?

In England, the government has set out a framework for marking creative writing. There are specific ‘pupil can’ statements to assess whether a student is ‘working towards the expected standard,’ ‘working at the expected standard’ or ‘working at greater depth’.

Members of the headteacher panel assessing the writing task are given a considerable number of samples to assess at one time. These expert teachers have a clear understanding of the framework for marking, but will not be considering or discussing every detail of the writing sample as you might expect.

Schools are provided with a report after the samples have been assessed. This is very brief indeed. Often it will simply say ‘lack of precise vocabulary’ or ‘confused paragraphing.’

So there is no mark scheme as such. They won’t be totting up your child’s score to see if they have reached a given target. They are on the panel because of their experience, and they have a short time to make an instant judgement.

Does handwriting matter?

Handwriting is assessed in primary schools. Thus it is an element of the assessment framework the panel uses as a basis for their decision.

If the exam is very soon, then don’t worry if your child is not producing immaculate, cursive handwriting. The focus should simply be on making it well-formed and legible. Every element of the assessment framework does not need to be met and legible writing will allow the panel to read the content with ease.

Improve presentation quickly by offering a smooth rollerball pen instead of a pencil. Focus on fixing individual letters and praising your child for any hint of effort. The two samples below are from the same boy a few months apart. Small changes have transformed the look and feel:

Sample 1: First piece of work when joining the writing club

Sample 2: This is the same boy’s improved presentation and content

How long should the short story be.

First, it is not a short story as such—it is a writing sample. Your child needs to showcase their skills but there are no extra marks for finishing (or marks deducted for a half-finished piece).

For a half hour task, you should prepare your child to produce up to 4 paragraphs of beautifully crafted work. Correct spelling and proper English grammar is just the beginning. Each paragraph should have a different purpose to showcase the breadth and depth of their ability. A longer – 60 minute – task might have 5 paragraphs but rushing is to be discouraged. Considered and interesting paragraphs are so valuable, a shorter piece would be scored more highly than a rushed and dull longer piece.

I speak from experience. A while ago now I was a marker for Key Stage 2 English SATs Papers (taken in Year 6 at 11 years old). Hundreds of scripts were deposited on my doorstep each morning by DHL. There was so much work for me to get through that I came to dread long, rambling creative pieces. Some children can write pages and pages of repetitive nothingness. Ever since then, I have looked for crafted quality and am wary of children judging their own success by the number of lines competed.

Take a look at the piece of writing below. It’s an excellent example of a well-crafted piece.

Each paragraph is short, but the writer is skilful.

He used rich and precisely chosen vocabulary, he’s broken the text into natural paragraphs, and in the second paragraph he is beginning to vary his sentence openings. There is a sense of control to the sentences – the sentence structure varies with shorter and longer examples to manage tension. It is exciting to read, with a clear awareness of his audience. Punctuation is accurate and appropriate.

11+ creative writing example story

How important is it to revise for a creative writing task.

It is important.

Every student should go into their 11+ writing task with a clear paragraph plan secured. As each paragraph has a separate purpose – to showcase a specific skill – the plan should reflect this. Built into the plan is a means of flexing it, to alter the order of the paragraphs if the task demands it. There’s no point having a Beginning – Middle – End approach, as there’s nothing useful there to guide the student to the mark scheme.

Beyond this, my own students have created 3 – 5 stories that fit the same tight plan. However, the setting, mood and action are all completely different. This way a bank of rich vocabulary has already been explored and a technique or two of their own that fits the piece beautifully. These can be drawn upon on the day to boost confidence and give a greater sense of depth and consideration to their timed sample.

Preparation, rather than revision in its classic form, is the best approach. Over time, even weeks or months before the exam itself, contrasting stories are written, improved upon, typed up and then tweaked further as better ideas come to mind. Each of these meets the demands of the mark scheme (paragraphing, varied sentence openings, rich vocabulary choices, considered imagery, punctuation to enhance meaning, development of mood etc).

To ensure your child can write confidently at and above the level expected of them, drop them into my weekly weekly online writing club for the 11+ age group . The club marking will transform their writing, and quickly.

What is the relationship between the English paper and the creative writing task?

Writing is usually marked separately from any comprehension or grammar exercises in your child’s particular 11+ exam. Each exam board (by area/school) adapts the arrangement to suit their needs. Some have a separate writing test, others build it in as an element of their English paper (usually alongside a comprehension, punctuation and spelling exercise).

Although there is no creative writing task in the ISEB Common Pre-test, those who are not offered an immediate place at their chosen English public school are often invited back to complete a writing task at a later date. Our ISEB Common Pre-test students join the writing club in the months before the exam, first to tidy up the detail and second to extend the content.

What if my child has a specific learning difficulty (dyslexia, ADD/ADHD, ASD)?

Most exam boards pride themselves on their inclusivity. They will expect you to have a formal report from a qualified professional at the point of registration for the test. This needs to be in place and the recommendations will be considered by a panel. If your child needs extra arrangements on the day they may be offered (it isn’t always the case). More importantly, if they drop below a pass on one or more papers you will have a strong case for appeal.

Children with a specific learning difficulty often struggle with low confidence in their work and low self-esteem. The preparations set out above, and a kids writing club membership will allow them to go into the exam feeling positive and empowered. If they don’t achieve a pass at first, the writing sample will add weight to their appeal.

Tips and strategies for writing a high-scoring creative writing paper

• Read widely for pleasure. Read aloud to your child if they are reluctant.
• Create a strong paragraph plan where each paragraph has a distinct purpose.
• Using the list of example questions below, discuss how each could be written in the form of your paragraph plan.
• Write 3-5 stories with contrasting settings and action – each one must follow your paragraph plan. Try to include examples of literary devices and figurative language (metaphor, simile) but avoid clichés.
• Tidy up your presentation. Write with a good rollerball pen on A4 lined paper with a printed margin. Cross out with a single horizontal line and banish doodling or scribbles.
• Join the writing club for a 20-minute Zoom task per week with no finishing off or homework. An expert English teacher will mark the work personally on video every Friday and your child’s writing will be quickly transformed.

Pressed for time? Here’s a paragraph plan to follow.

At Griffin Teaching we have an online writing club for students preparing for the 11 plus creative writing task . We’ve seen first-hand what a difference just one or two months of weekly practice can make.

That said, we know that a lot of people reading this page are up against a hard deadline with an 11+ exam date fast approaching.

If that’s you (or your child), what you need is a paragraph plan.

Here’s one tried-and-true paragraph plan that we teach in our clubs. Use this as you work your way through some of the example prompts below.

11+ creative writing paragraph plan

Paragraph 1—description.

Imagine standing in the location and describe what is above the main character, what is below their feet, what is to their left and right, and what is in the distance. Try to integrate frontend adverbials into this paragraph (frontend adverbials are words or phrases used at the beginning of a sentence to describe what follows—e.g. When the fog lifted, he saw… )

Paragraph 2—Conversation

Create two characters who have different roles (e.g. site manager and student, dog walker and lost man) and write a short dialogue between them. Use what we call the “sandwich layout,” where the first person says something and you describe what they are doing while they are saying it. Add in further descriptions (perhaps of the person’s clothing or expression) before starting a new line where the second character gives a simple answer and you provide details about what the second character is doing as they speak.

Paragraph 3—Change the mood

Write three to four sentences that change the mood of the writing sample from light to gloomy or foreboding. You could write about a change in the weather or a change in the lighting of the scene. Another approach is to mention how a character reacts to the change in mood, for example by pulling their coat collar up to their ears.

Paragraph 4—Shock your reader

A classic approach is to have your character die unexpectedly in the final sentence. Or maybe the ceiling falls?

11+ creative writing questions from real papers—fictional prompts

• The day the storm came
• The day the weather changed
• The snowstorm
• The rainy day
• A sunny day out
• A foggy (or misty) day
• A day trip to remember
• The first day
• The day everything changed
• The mountain
• The hillside
• The old house
• The balloon
• The old man
• The accident
• The unfamiliar sound
• A weekend away
• Moving house
• A family celebration
• An event you remember from when you were young
• An animal attack
• The school playground at night
• The lift pinged and the door opened. I could not believe what was inside…
• “Run!” he shouted as he thundered across the sand…
• It was getting late as I dug in my pocket for the key to the door. “Hurry up!” she shouted from inside.
• I know our back garden very well, but I was surprised how different it looked at midnight…
• The red button on the wall has a sign on it saying, ‘DO NOT TOUCH.’ My little sister leant forward and hit it hard with her hand. What happened next?
• Digging down into the soft earth, the spade hit something metal…
• Write a story which features the stopping of time.
• Write a story which features an unusual method of transport.
• The cry in the woods
• Write a story which features an escape

11+ creative writing questions from real papers—non-fiction prompts

• Write a thank you letter for a present you didn’t want.
• You are about to interview someone for a job. Write a list of questions you would like to ask the applicant.
• Write a letter to complain about the uniform at your school.
• Write a leaflet to advertise your home town.
• Write a thank you letter for a holiday you didn’t enjoy.
• Write a letter of complaint to the vet after an unfortunate incident in the waiting room.
• Write a set of instructions explaining how to make toast.
• Describe the room you are in.
• Describe a person who is important to you.
• Describe your pet or an animal you know well.

7 Plus English: Creative writing prompts explained!

April 26th, 2021 Last updated: July 6th, 2023

In this blog, the second in a series of 'Types of...' 7 Plus preparation posts, Meredith outlines a range of different creative writing prompts that can appear in the English paper and offers some useful insight and handy tips for preparing for each one.

The ‘composition’ aspect of the 7 and 8 Plus entrance exams can include a variety of different prompts for writing. Getting familiar with the different types of prompts that can appear and practising how to relate back to what is being asked is a crucial skill to practice ahead of the exams. 

Students will usually be given an option of two prompts to use with the words ‘either’, ‘or’. All types of prompts come with some bullet points ‘things / questions to think about / try to include’ that students should read and refer to in their writing. 

Continue the story 

Most often, students are given an option to continue the story from the comprehension passage they have read. This requires that students ensure they know the characters in the story, continue using the correct names and write in ‘third person’. They will also need to use consistency of tense e.g. if the story is written in the present tense, they will need to continue with the same tense and not switch to the past tense. Using clues from the text about the setting and characters are also important – for example, if the comprehension passage describes ‘Lucy’ as ‘quiet and shy’, it would be inconsistent to have Lucy ‘yelling at her friends to hurry up’ in the next part of the story! The same goes for the setting. If the story in the comprehension passage is set in an old, haunted house, it makes sense to keep it there! Another key point about continuing the story is to start where the passage left off, so it is helpful for students to read the last paragraph or few lines again before writing to think about what just happened and what will happen next. 

Write a story about a time when you… 

This is usually connected to the comprehension passage too. For instance, if the comprehension story involved a storm, students may be asked to write about a time when they were in a storm. Key to this is knowing to write in ‘first person’ rather than ‘third’. It is important that students get to practice the skill of writing stories from their own experiences. This can bring the added benefit of using first-hand memories and their own senses. Some students find it easier to rely on their experiences and memories rather than use their imagination so plenty of first-hand experiences of the world is crucial! 

Write a story entitled/ with the title… 

With this kind of prompt, it is essential to really use the title and refer to it somehow throughout the story. For instance, if the title is ‘The Magical World Beyond the Wardrobe’, students will be expected to use the title to write about a relevant setting e.g. a bedroom wardrobe / magical world, a relevant possible problem e.g. getting lost, relevant characters e.g. explorer children, magical creatures and a relevant resolution e.g. finding their way back. The key here is making reference to the title throughout and creating relevant story elements. This kind of prompt may also include a picture to use to spark imagination. 

Need help? View our 7 Plus tutors here

Picture prompt

Less often (but it does come up) is a prompt that is a stand-alone picture. This prompt may ask students to describe what they see in the picture or create a story from it. Either way, students should examine the details of the picture closely for a minute or two and let themselves note down any relevant words, phrases or ideas that begin to form in their minds. Describing the picture requires plenty of descriptive writing practice using adjectives, expanded noun phrases and figurative language (similes, metaphors, personification etc.) as well as drawing on the senses to bring the writing to life. If students are creating a story from the picture, they should let it spark their imagination and include the character and/or setting they see in the picture in their story. An excellent resource for practice with this prompt is the website https://www.onceuponapicture.co.uk/ which has a wealth of amazing and inspiring pictures! 

Character description  

A lesser-seen prompt is that of a character description. Brief character descriptions are important to include in stories (a sentence or two about a character e.g. ‘Imran had dark brown eyes and jet-black hair that was as dark as the night. He was the kind of boy who never seemed to get scared, or at least that’s what it looked like.’ However, this kind of prompt is asking students to write entirely about a character. Important elements to include in a character description are: appearance, personality, likes and dislikes. It is essential students know what these words mean and that they have a range of vocabulary they can draw on to describe a character’s appearance and personality (there are plenty of vocabulary sheets for this purpose). Practising writing character descriptions is hugely helpful, not only for the exams but for a student’s writing journey. 

Recount 

This is similar to writing a story about a time when… but slightly different! A recount is an autobiographical piece that should appear as non-fiction. That is, the student should write about their real experiences rather than using their imagination. However, one’s imagination can of course be useful to draw on if the student finds they have not had an experience such as ‘A day you spent at the fair’. Recounts should be written from a ‘first person’ perspective and in chronological order using ‘time’ connectives and sentence openers such as ‘First’, ‘Then’, ‘After that’, ‘Later on’, ‘Finally’ etc. 

Diary entry  

I have only seen diary writing once as a prompt in a 7 Plus paper referring to the comprehension passage but it is a useful skill to practice. If the student doesn’t already keep a diary it is helpful to get into the habit of asking the student to write a couple/ few sentences at the end of each day. I personally think keeping a diary/ journal is a wonderful practice for writing in general and helps children to see that writing can be purely for personal pleasure rather than for any external validation or grade. Get students into the habit of writing the date on the top line, beginning ‘Dear Diary’ and signing off with their name. A standard element of diary writing is to include one’s feelings. 

Letter writing 

I have never seen being asked to write a letter as a prompt before but it could come up! Students may be asked to write a letter to one of the characters in the comprehension passage or imagine they are one of the characters writing a letter home etc. Old-fashioned though it may sound, get students to practice writing letters to their friends or family to see the real-life benefit and enjoyment of sending and receiving letters! Personally, I see letter-writing as a beautiful life-skill to develop and enjoy. Ensure students are familiar with the structure and vocabulary for writing both formal and informal letters. 

Creative writing prompts can come in many forms so having some practice ahead of the exam at recognising and writing using the above range of prompts will ensure students feel confident and prepared for whatever appears!

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Home › Study Tips › Creative Writing Resources For Secondary School Students

Creative Writing Prompts For High School Students – 12 Categories

• Published January 3, 2023

Table of Contents

Are you a high school student struggling to find inspiration for your creative writing assignments? Do you feel like you’re stuck in a rut and can’t seem to come up with new and exciting ideas? If so, you’re not alone. 

Many students struggle with coming up with ideas for creative writing, especially when they feel pressure to produce something original and engaging. 

But the good news is that there are ways to break through the block and find inspiration for your writing. 

For instance, by attending our award-winning creative writing summer programme , you’ll learn how to conquer the fear of the blank page. How? By learning proven formulas for creating brilliant stories. 

Another way to have that creative spark is to use creative writing prompts. 

This article will provide creative high school students like yourself with a list of creative writing prompts. So you’ll get the inspiration you need to get into the flow and start writing!

What are Writing Prompts?

Writing prompts are ideas that help writers overcome writer’s block and get started with their writing. They can come in various forms, including a

• Or series of questions. 

Creative writing prompts get your creative juices flowing. When you encounter a writing prompt, it encourages you to start writing!

What types of writing, you ask? It can be anything from fiction writing to essay writing. Creative writing prompts are even used to get you started with freewriting in your daily journal.

So you see, many writers find writing prompts a quick and easy way to begin a new writing project. Or to overcome writer’s block when they are stuck.

How Do You Use Writing Prompts?

There are many different ways to use writing prompts. Here are a few ideas:

Use writing prompts to start a new writing project. 

Are you having trouble coming up with ideas for a new writing project? Try using a writing prompt to get started. You can use a writing prompt as the starting point for a 

• Short story
• Essay, or any other type of writing.

Use writing prompts to overcome writer’s block. 

Stuck on a particular piece of writing and can’t seem to move forward? Use writing prompts to brainstorm on how to proceed!

Use writing prompts to practice your writing skills. 

As the old adage says, practice makes perfect! You can use writing prompts to practice different writing techniques or styles. Or try out different writing genres!

Use writing prompts to challenge yourself. 

You can use writing prompts to push yourself out of your comfort zone and try writing about things you might not usually write about.

Say your comfort zone is writing fantasy stories. And you want to try something new. Why not use scary writing prompts as a starting point?

To use a writing prompt, choose a prompt that interests you and start writing. There are no hard and fast rules about how to use writing prompts – the important thing is to just start writing and see where the prompt takes you!

Creative Writing Prompts High School Students will Love

Write a story about a character who:

• discovers a mysterious, abandoned house in the woods  
• suddenly gains the power of time travel
• has to confront their greatest fear
• is given the opportunity to live in a different time period
• discovers a secret underground society
• is given a magical object that can grant wishes.

Or, check out the other prompts too:

• Write a poem about a summer day you will never forget.
• Imagine that you are stranded on a deserted island. Write a story about your experience.
• Write a letter to your future self ten years from now.
• Imagine that you are a detective trying to solve a mysterious crime. Write a story about your investigation.

Creative High School Poetry Writing Prompts

Write a poem about a/an:

• summer romance you will never forget
• memorable experience you had with a friend
• place that holds special meaning for you
• moment of clarity or realisation that you had
• person who has had a significant impact on your life
• object that holds special meaning for you
• dream that you had and can’t seem to forget
• time when you felt completely lost
• time when you felt completely free
• moment of beauty that you witnessed

Writing Prompts with an Element of Suspense

• is being stalked by an unknown assailant
• wakes up with no memory of the past 24 hours
• receives a series of mysterious, threatening letters
• discovers a hidden room in their house filled with grotesque objects
• is trapped in a strange, unfamiliar place
• is being pursued by a dangerous, unknown entity
• is being watched by an unknown pair of eyes
• is being followed by a shadowy figure
• hears strange noises in the middle of the night
• finds a mysterious, unmarked package on their doorstep

Writing Prompts for Stories That Start with Dialogue

Start your story with a conversation between two characters who are:

• meeting for the first time
• meeting each other for the first time in ten years after graduation
• trying to solve a problem
• discussing a secret
• trying to keep a secret from someone else
• discussing their future plans
• trying to make amends after a misunderstanding
• reminiscing about the past
• trying to persuade each other of something

Writing Prompts That Ask “What if?”

What if you:

• woke up one morning with the ability to fly? How would you use this ability?
• could time travel? Where would you go and why?
• woke up one day to find that everyone in the world had switched bodies? How would you cope with this?
• could read minds? How would you use this ability?
• suddenly had access to unlimited wealth? How would you use this wealth?
• could talk to animals? How would this change your life?
• were the only person on Earth who knew how to speak a certain language? How would you use this knowledge?
• could turn invisible at will? How would you use this power?
• developed the ability to communicate with the spirits of the dead? How would this change your life?
• could teleport anywhere in the world instantly? How would you use this ability?

Funny Writing Prompts for High School

• wakes up to find that they’ve turned into a giant chicken
• has a magic lamp that grants them absurd wishes
• becomes the world’s worst superhero
• accidentally becomes the president of the United States
• is chased by a giant hamster
• discovers that their reflection is actually an alternate dimension
• becomes a world-famous rapper after a misunderstanding at a karaoke bar
• becomes the world’s worst detective
• is constantly followed by a cloud of bees
• becomes the world’s worst secret agent

Do you have a brother or sister in middle school? Our middle school writing prompts are a great way for them to get into the flow of creative writing effectively.

Journal Prompts for High School Creative Writing

• Write about a time when:
• you felt particularly proud of yourself
• you had to confront your greatest fear
• you had a moment of clarity or realisation
• you felt that life was wonderful
• Write about a place that holds special meaning for you.
• Write about a person who has significantly impacted your life.
• Write about a moment of beauty that you witnessed.
• Write about a dream you had and can’t forget.
• Write about a memorable experience you had with a friend.

Non-Fiction Writing Prompts

Write an essay about a/an:

• significant event in your life and how it has impacted you
• person who has inspired you and why
• current issue that is important to you and why
• time when you had to overcome a challenge and how you did it
• place that you have visited and why it was meaningful to you
• hobby or activity that you are passionate about and why
• book, movie, or TV show that has had a significant impact on you and why
• social issue that you feel strongly about and what you are doing to make a difference
• goal that you have set for yourself and how you plan to achieve it
• person who has made a positive impact on your community and how they did it

Adventurous Short Story Prompts

Write a story about a character who goes on a:

• solo hike in the wilderness and becomes lost
• treasure hunt and faces unexpected challenges along the way
• safari and encounters a rare and dangerous animal
• white water rafting trip and gets stranded in the wilderness
• mountain climbing expedition and faces unexpected challenges
• scuba diving trip and discovers a hidden underwater world
• hot air balloon ride and gets carried away by the wind
• skydiving trip and has to make an emergency landing
• parasailing trip and gets caught in a storm
• snowboarding trip and gets caught in an avalanche

Science Fiction Short Story Prompts

• Write a story about a character who is:
•  given a device that can predict the future
•  the only survivor of an alien invasion
• recruited by a secret organization to fight against an alien threat
• the only one who can communicate with newly-discovered alien species
• the only one who can stop a group of rebels from taking over the world
• the only one who can save the world from an asteroid heading towards Earth
• the only human on a distant planet
• Write a story about a character who travels through time and encounters their future self.
• Write a story about a character discovering a portal to an alternate dimension.
• Write a story about a character who is given a device that allows them to control time.

Scary Short Story Prompts

• Write a story about a character who is 
• being stalked by a demon
• trapped in a haunted house
• haunted by the ghost of a loved one
• terrorized by a clown
• Write a story about a character who
• discovers a cursed object and starts having strange, terrifying experiences
• starts seeing strange, supernatural creatures in their dreams
• hears a lady cry every night, but no one is there
• notices a strange doll appear in their house, not knowing where it came from
• listens to neighbours report they’ve been seeing a toddler running around the house, but your character lives alone

Fantasy Short Story Prompts

• Write a story about a character who 
• discovers that they are a witch or wizard with magical powers
• finds out they are the chosen one, destined to save the world from an ancient evil
• realises they are a fairy or other mythical creature
• is given a magical object that can grant wishes
• discovers a magic book with secrets to the universe
• receives a magical potion that transforms them into a different creature
• accidentally stumbles into a world where everything is the opposite of what they know
• gains a legendary staff that gives them the power to control the elements
• enters a magical, mythical land ruled by an evil king
• discovers that they are the reincarnation of a mythical hero

Need more Creative Writing prompts? Check out this article entitled “ 308 Creative Writing Prompts To Unlock Your Writing Skills .”

How Else Can I Improve My Creative Writing Skills?

1. read widely.

Reading improves your writing skills by exposing you to different 

• And Techniques you can incorporate into your own writing.

Did you know reading widens your vocabulary? It does! And vocabulary is an essential aspect of effective writing. The more words you know, the more effectively you can communicate your ideas.

Also, reading helps improve your comprehension and critical thinking skills. Both of these are valuable for analysing and synthesising information. So you’ll learn how to present ideas clearly in your writing.

2. Write Regularly…and Don’t Stop!

Think of writing as a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it becomes! Writing regularly makes you feel more comfortable and confident. 

What’s more, it helps you develop your own voice and style. Once you hone the aspects that make you unique , you’ll stand out more! 

Writing regularly also gives you a better sense of what works and what doesn’t. And you’ll be able to refine your writing accordingly. 

The more you write, the better you will become at it. So maximise our creative writing prompts and make time to write every day. Even if it’s just for a few minutes!

3. Experiment with Different Writing Styles

Do you know that experimenting with different writing styles and techniques expands your writing skills? Why? Because doing so makes you a versatile writer. Able to adapt your style to different situations and audiences. 

For example, writing poems even when you’re not used to poetry-writing forces you to think . To imagine and create! As a result? You get out of your comfort zone and explore. And you’re better able to reimagine your craft. 

What are the common writing styles?

• Descriptive – often uses similes and metaphors to help the reader experience the writing (e.g. songs, poems)
• Narrative – flashbacks and foreshadowing are common elements of a narrative style with a clear, fleshed-out plot (e.g. novels)
• Or Persuasive writing – convinces the reader to believe what the writer believes (e.g. essays, sales copy)

4. Join a Writing Community!

What better way to keep you motivated than by joining a writing community? A writing community provides support and encouragement. Being surrounded by like-minded folks passionate about writing can be a great source of inspiration!

Plus, you’ll be exposed to different writing styles and techniques. Which can help you expand your horizon and help you become a more versatile writer.

Joining a writing community can also be a great way to get feedback on your writing. Helping you identify areas for improvement. 

Finally, do you know a writing community can be a great source of information and resources? Members often share valuable writing tips and strategies.

5. Enrol In A Creative Writing Course

What is one of the most effective methods in fast-tracking you to massive improvement in your writing skills? Taking a creative writing course!

Why does taking a creative writing course help you improve your writing skills? Because you’ll learn from experienced writers. While having the opportunity to practice writing under the watchful eye of expert tutors. 

Creative writing prompts are useful for high school students looking for inspiration for new and original ideas. You can overcome writer’s block by tapping into your creativity in a new and exciting way.

These prompts will challenge and inspire you. So give them a try and see what amazing stories and ideas you can come up with!

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