real life writing prompts

101 Story Prompts Based on True Events

Do you want to write a true story but need help finding compelling true story concepts to tell? Sometimes reading simple story prompts is the easiest way to get those creative juices flowing .

We've put together 101 story prompts that can help inspire your next screenplay based on real-life events. But first — should you try our hand at writing a true story ? Let's take a look at some industry trends in Hollywood.

Why Does Hollywood Love True Stories So Much?

True stories have power over the audience. As a species, we are genuinely curious. As a society, we're enthralled with stories that actually happened in real life — either because of our embedded curiosity within our DNA or because we love to live vicariously through the eyes of people that led an interesting life or lived through interesting events.

Hollywood knows this. They know what audiences love because they see the box office results, the streaming site numbers, and the pop culture tracking. Just look at all of the great true story movies that have been produced .

Read More: How Filmmaker Matt Smulker Told a Touching True Story with 'Wildflower'

When a film or TV series is based on or inspired by a true story, there's an elevated level of interest.

Audience members that stumble upon these types of cinematic stories are intrigued.

• "This actually happened?"
• "Someone actually did that?" 
• "I always wondered what the real story was like."

And that is why Hollywood loves true stories so much. If the audience likes stories like that, Hollywood wants to make stories like that. Plain and simple.

Remember that as you start to build your portfolio as a screenwriter — because you'll probably want to include some true story specs .

True stories are even better than Intellectual Property in the hierarchy of desirable types of cinematic stories. Why does Hollywood love Intellectual Property? Because there's a proven fan base already. The less they have to market something, the better. And that's exactly why true stories are so popular. You can use the  true story  tag as an easy marketing tool.

To learn more about telling true stories in your scripts or books, Read ScreenCraft's Is Your Script "Based On" or "Inspired By" a True Story? What's the Difference?

Note: Because we’re all connected to the same pop culture, news headlines, and inspirations, any similarity to any past, present, or future screenplays, novels, short stories, television pilots, television series, plays, or any other creative works is purely coincidence. These true story writing prompts were conceived on the fly or were based on finding interesting true stories that are out there. While some may have proven to be told already, there are always alternative storylines not covered in what has already been written and produced.

'Elvis' (2022)

101 True Story Prompts

1. Learn more about the stories of your ancestors and how they came to the country you live in.  

2. Ask your parents about their lives and see if there are any unique stories to be told.  

3. The life of slaves escaping plantations.

4. The stories of drummer boys in the military during the Civil War.

5. The adventures of Teddy Roosevelt.

6. The Hawaiian adventures of Mark Twain.

7. The dark life of Edgar Allen Poe. 

8. The stories of people that live in the underground homeless society of Las Vegas. 

9. The first soldier to be awarded to Medal of Honor.

10. The first soldier to be awarded the Purple Heart. 

11. The very first Secret Service agent. 

12. The first African-American to play in the NFL.

13. The first white martial artist to open a school in Asia.

14. The first Asian martial artist to open a school in America.

15. A story about the first submarine crew to sink an enemy ship in WWII. 

16. The story of the first person to be infected by the AIDS virus. 

17. The story behind the creation of Winchester Mansion.

18. The story of the investigation of Amelia Earhart's disappearance . 

19. Stories told within the Chicago Fire of 1871. 

20. The San Francisco Earthquake of 1906. 

'King Richard' (2021)

21. The Gary, Indiana Demon House. 

22. The story of Edison vs. Westinghouse vs. Tesla.

23. The story of the men of the missing Flight 19.

24. The story of the first person to run a four-minute mile.

25. The athletes of the very first organized Olympics.

26. The creation of the NFL.

27. The story of the first ascent of Mount Everest. 

28. The story of German soldiers that fled the Nazi regime. 

29. The story of the first man to sail around the world. 

30. The story of the first woman to sail around the world. 

31. The story of the first free African-American community. 

32. The story of the first African-American published author. 

33. The story of the first African-American mayor. 

34. The first white man that traveled down the Mississippi River.  

35. White man's discovery of the Grand Canyon. 

36. The story of the first bank robbery. 

37. The day of the first signing of the Declaration of Independence. 

38. The story of the first official and legal marriage between a same-sex couple.  

39. The first expedition to the North Pole. 

40. The story of the first slaves taken to the Americas. 

'The Last Duel' (2021)

41. The first person to parachute from an airplane. 

42. The story of woman code breakers during World War II.  

43. The story of the most deadly sniper in history who was a woman. 

44. The story of the Mercury 13 — thirteen women that trained to go to space during the Mercury Program. 

45. The true stories of Silent Film-era's biggest stars. 

46. The story of the seven Matthews during WWII. 

47. The story about the female editors in the early days of Disney.

48. The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927. 

49. The true story of reunited twins Jim Lewis and Jim Springer, and the shocking similarities in their lives. 

50. The disappearance of the Mississippi riverboat  Iron Mountain . 

51. The disappearance of skyjacker Dan Cooper. 

52. The true story of WWII Japanese soldier Shoichi Yokoi, a soldier that emerged from Pacific jungles in the 1970s, not knowing the war was over. 

53. The true story of the Loch Ness monster hoax. 

54. The true story of the most famous Bigfoot sighting hoax. 

55. A dog struggles to find the right human family. 

56. The stories of actual recorded cases of spontaneous human combustion. 

57. Where did Leonardo da Vinci get the ideas for his designs? 

58. The story behind the attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan.  

59. Stories within the Japanese-American internment camps. 

60. The story of how the Crips and Bloods were formed in South Central Los Angeles. 

'Hidden Figures' (2016)

61. The story of the first Navy SEAL. 

62. The story behind the creation of the first bicycle. 

63. The story of the first person to die in space. 

64. The story behind the first American dog to be sent into space. 

65. The story behind the creation of the first television. 

66. The story of Abraham Lincoln's upbringing.

67. The story of Adolph Hitler's upbringing. 

68. The story of JFK's WWII missions. 

69. Richard Nixon's last day in office.

70. A Charles Darwin biopic. 

71.  The story behind Uncle Sam. 

72. The story of how Fredrick Douglas escaped slavery. 

73. An Emily Dickinson biopic.

74. The story of Custer's Last Stand. 

75. The true story of John Chapman, AKA Johnny Appleseed. 

76. Open up your local newspaper and find compelling true stories. 

77. The true story of how you came of age .

78. The true story of the first time you fell in love. 

79. The true story of how you overcame a seemingly impossible situation. 

80. The biggest battles of WWI. 

'Schindler's List' (1993)

81. The biggest battles of WWII. 

82. The biggest battles of the Korean War. 

83. The biggest battles of the Vietnam War. 

84. The biggest battles of the Iraq War. 

85. The biggest battles of the Afghanistan War.  

86. The story of the creator of the first Nuclear Missile. 

87. The story of the last man on the moon. 

88. The story of the most decorated soldier in history.  

89. The discovery of the location of the sunken Titanic. 

90. The discovery and exploration of King Tut's tomb. 

91. The creation of the first gun.  

92. The creation of the first automatic weapon. 

93. The creation of the first tank.  

94. The creation of Mount Rushmore. 

95. How the location of Hollywood (originally Hollywoodland) became a movie-making town.  

96. The story behind the first recorded climbing of El Capitan in Yosemite. 

97. The story of post-Civil War-era Union soldiers returning to his southern hometown. 

98. Inspiring stories about teachers.  

99. Inspiring stories about coaches. 

100. The story of the first African-American college football player. 

101. The story of how you made your first sale as a screenwriter by finding a compelling true story (you can write that one later).   

'Hustlers' (2019)

Share this with your writing peers or anyone that loves a true story. Have some prompts of your own? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter !

Want More Ideas? Take a Look at Our Other  Story Prompts !

Ken Miyamoto has worked in the film industry for nearly two decades, most notably as a studio liaison for Sony Studios and then as a script reader and story analyst for Sony Pictures.

He has many studio meetings under his belt as a produced screenwriter, meeting with the likes of Sony, Dreamworks, Universal, Disney, Warner Brothers, as well as many production and management companies. He has had a previous development deal with Lionsgate, as well as multiple writing assignments, including the produced miniseries  Blackout , starring Anne Heche, Sean Patrick Flanery, Billy Zane, James Brolin, Haylie Duff, Brian Bloom, Eric La Salle, and Bruce Boxleitner, the feature thriller Hunter’s Creed , and many Lifetime thrillers. Follow Ken on Twitter @KenMovies

For all the latest ScreenCraft news and updates, follow us on  Twitter,   Facebook , and  Instagram .

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51+ ‘Real life’ Writing Prompts

The Magical Object

Write a story about a magical object that grants wishes, but with unexpected consequences.

Stepping Into Their Shoes

Imagine yourself as your best friend for a day. Write about how you would treat yourself.

Dream Interpretation

Recount a memorable dream and attempt to interpret its potential meanings.

Fascinating Fractions

Imagine a world where everything is divided into fractions and write about a day in that world.

Bill of Rights in Real Life

Discuss one of the amendments from the Bill of Rights and present a real-life scenario where it is at stake.

Understanding Democracy

Write about what Democracy means to you and detail a situation where you experienced it personally.

Unrealized Aspirations

Muse on a repeating dream that reflects an unfulfilled desire or an unrealized aspiration.

Dreamer’s Odyssey

Imagine that you can control your dreams and are about to embark on a fantastic odyssey. Write the story.

Battle of the Bound

Write a story about a war between witches and humans where the outcome of the war determines the future of magic.

Fantasy Ethics

Expand upon a moral dilemma faced by a character in your fantasy world. What are the potential consequences? Take into account the unique elements of the fantasy world.

Drama in Daily Life

Write about a dramatic situation that you encountered in your routine daily life.

Persuasive Push

Put forth a persuasive essay on a current controversial issue, presenting strong arguments for your viewpoint.

Unorthodox Teaching

Your mentor doesn’t teach through conventions, but through life experiences.

The Humanity Behind the Mask

Analyze the persona and real life of a superhero, and the influences that drive their actions.

Virtual Reality Warrior

Story about a superhero whose power comes from a virtual reality device.

Society’s Masked Savior

Explore the public’s varied reactions as they experience their first encounter with a real life superhero.

Rapid Resolution

Identify a problem in your life and describe how you would solve it if time, money, and resources weren’t an issue.

The Ice Sculptor’s Muse

Create a story where a renowned ice sculptor falls in love with their greatest masterpiece.

Unnerving Resemblance

Create a story about an artist who realizes his newly designed character has started to exist in real life.

Influential Characters

Discuss an influential character from real life or literature that inspired or shaped you in your formative years.

Describe a moment when you faced a challenge, and explain how you overcame it.

Life-Saving Protocols

Write a step-by-step guide for what to do in an event of poisoning.

Book Lessons in Real Life

Write about a lesson you learned from your favorite book of the year and how you applied it in real life.

Real Life Heroes

Reflect upon a real-life hero from your childhood, and how their influence sculpted you.

The Transformation

Imagine a world where everyone is kind. How does it look and feel?

Reunion of Shadows

A deceased family member visits you annually on their death anniversary to talk about what they were like in real life.

Dual Morality

Write about a villain who has a separate, contrasting life where they are a hero. How do they juggle these two realities?

Shadowy Subconscious

Write a story centered on the protagonist’s worst fear, gradually indicating that the fear is not manifested in real life but only in the character’s mind.

Neuromancer’s Playground

Write about a world where virtual reality is indistinguishable from the real one.

Venting Anger

Express a moment where you felt the most angry and detail the reasons behind the anger.

Failed Expectation

Craft a narrative revolving around a character whose expectations of a loved one result in disappointment and resentment.

Virtual Villains: Reality or Machine?

A trending virtual reality game has begun to affect players in real life, with real consequences.

The Cold Case Gazette

Write about an investigative journalist who stumbles upon a long-forgotten crime and gets too deeply entwined.

All in a Day’s Work

Describe the most mundane day imaginable, but with exciting twists.

The Costume Designer’s Nightmare

A costume designer working on a horror movie discovers that each costume they create causes horrifying real-world events to happen.

The Kindness of Strangers

Mention a time when someone, a total stranger, showed you unexpected kindness. How did it make you feel?

Pokemon Evolution

Write about the evolutionary process of a Pokemon you invent, discussing each stage and what triggers the evolution.

Invisible Ink

Imagine you are a ghost writer, hired to pen a paranormal romance novel. Make it a best seller.

Alternate Realities

Imagine taking your favorite character from a book, movie or TV show and place them in a completely different universe.

Reel to Reality

Take a fictional movie scenario and write a story about how it would realistically unfold.

Fantasy or Reality

Argue whether an anime could play out in real life and how.

Mapping Your Sanctuary

Create a detailed map or description of your ideal safe space.

Letter of Forgiveness

Compose a heartfelt letter to yourself that enumerates the past mistakes you want to forgive and forget.

Mapping your Inner Garden

Envision your peace as a tranquil garden. Describe its appearance, aromas, and what elements it contains.

The Sweetest Daydream

Revisit your sweetest daydream, describing it in all its aspects and sensations.

Screenplay for a Day

Write a movie scene containing dialogue between two people based on a memorable conversation you’ve had in real life.

Miracle Pencil

Describe what would happen if your pencil could make anything you drew real.

Anxiety-Free Daydreams

Describe the perfect social event where your anxiety has no power.

Nightmares Come Alive

Develop a chilling narrative where the protagonist’s nightmares have started to manifest in real life.

Blend of Realities

Write a personal story that intersects real-life and the fantastical.

Cinematic Influence

Write about a movie or TV show that has profoundly influenced your life.

🎉 Our next novel writing master class starts in – ! Claim your spot →

BEST NARRATIVE WRITING PROMPTS

Join (probably?) the world's largest writing contest. Flex those creative muscles with weekly writing prompts.

Showing 63 prompts reset

Write a story from the point of view of a non-human character., begin your story with the sensation of a breeze brushing against a character's skin., make a race an important element of your story., set your story in a place that’s frozen in time — literally or metaphorically., write a story in the form of diary entries, written by someone who has set themselves a month-long challenge..

Introducing Prompted , a new magazine written by you!

🏆 Featuring 12 prize-winning stories from our community. Download it now for FREE .

Write a story in the form of a list.

Write a story framed by a single scene: something happens, a flashback or inner monologue intervenes, and then the story ends with the rest of the original scene., start or end your story in a bustling street food market., write a story with an open ending that gives readers just enough details to draw their own conclusions., start your story in a coffee shop without using obvious words to describe it (e.g. barista, coffee cup.), subscribe to our prompts newsletter.

Never miss a prompt! Get curated writing inspiration delivered to your inbox each week.

Write a short story about a teacher or mentor figure who recognizes hidden (or magical!) potential in someone and helps them cultivate it.

Write a story inspired by the phrase “back to square one.”, make japan (or japanese culture) an element of your story., write about your happiest memory, and what about it made you so happy., write about a time that you failed in your objective., what qualities do you look for in a friend why, set a narrative inside of the last dream you had., write about a time that you were lost (metaphorically or literally)., you are given three wishes, but there's a catch: one of them won't come true for the rest of your life, and you don't get to pick which one it is. what do you wish for, write about a time you felt betrayed., win $250 in our short story competition 🏆.

We'll send you 5 prompts each week. Respond with your short story and you could win $250!

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The best narrative writing prompts

Writing about yourself can be tricky. Where do you start in your personal narrative? How do you express yourself? What should you write about when it's that personal? Enter narrative writing prompts. These prompts can give you some starting ideas for a story, fuel your memory, and bring your experience to life.

The best part is that you can start narrative writing from any angle: in the mood to write about food today? Go for it. What if you have a lot of thoughts about a particular movie or book you just experienced? Please write it down, starting now! Whether you're a teacher in school guiding students through the art of the personal narrative or a writer simply trying to piece together an essay, these narrative writing prompts are for you.

If you're looking to cut to the chase, here's a top ten list of our favorite narrative writing prompts:

• "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree!" You've heard this all your life, and you're starting to hate it.
• Write a story about a mistake that results in wonderful consequences.
• Write a story about someone forced out of their home.
• Write a story about someone returning to their craft after a long hiatus.
• Write a story about someone who defies social conventions.
• Write about somebody who knows they’re probably going to fail at something, but does it anyway.
• Write about someone grappling with a specific insecurity.
• Write about someone making a seemingly inconsequential decision that turns out to have enormous consequences.
• Your house is on fire and you're able to save one photograph. What would it be?
• Tell a story through a shopping list.

If you’re interested in becoming a personal narrative author, check out our free resources on the topic:

How to Write a Memoir (blog post) — Wondering how to turn your narrative short story into a full-blown memoir that you can publish? This comprehensive guide has you covered with a step-by-step article on how outline, research, market, and write a memoir. Take a deep dive into the booming market for memoirs and learn what goes into such a book proposal today!

The Non-Sexy Business of Writing Non-Fiction (free course) — Many people have an idea for a nonfiction book they want to write. But very few of them actually become published authors — simply because it’s much harder to write a book than it sounds. In this ten-day course, publishing coach Azul Terronez will help you become one of those select few writers who finish their nonfiction books by walking you through the common writing mistakes to avoid, what to ask yourself before getting started, and how to get through the writing process.

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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Explore more writing prompt ideas:

Adults Writing Prompts ⭢

Adventure Writing Prompts ⭢

Angst Writing Prompts ⭢

Character Writing Prompts ⭢

Christmas Writing Prompts ⭢

Dark Writing Prompts ⭢

Dialogue Writing Prompts ⭢

Dramatic Writing Prompts ⭢

Dystopian Writing Prompts ⭢

Fall Writing Prompts ⭢

Fantasy Writing Prompts ⭢

Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Fluff Writing Prompts ⭢

Funny Writing Prompts ⭢

Halloween Writing Prompts ⭢

High School Writing Prompts ⭢

Historical Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Holiday Writing Prompts ⭢

Horror Writing Prompts ⭢

Kids Writing Prompts ⭢

Middle School Writing Prompts ⭢

Mystery Writing Prompts ⭢

Narrative Writing Prompts ⭢

Nonfiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Novel Writing Prompts ⭢

Poetry Writing Prompts ⭢

Romance Writing Prompts ⭢

Sad Writing Prompts ⭢

Science Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Short Story Writing Prompts ⭢

Spring Writing Prompts ⭢

Summer Writing Prompts ⭢

Teens Writing Prompts ⭢

Thanksgiving Writing Prompts ⭢

Thriller and Suspense Writing Prompts ⭢

Valentine's Day Writing Prompts ⭢

Vampire Writing Prompts ⭢

Winter Writing Prompts ⭢

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50 Fiction Writing Prompts and Ideas to Inspire You to Write

Hannah Yang

Table of Contents

How fiction writing prompts can help writers, top 50 fiction writing prompts, how prowritingaid can help with fiction writing, conclusion on fiction writing prompts and ideas.

Have you ever wanted to write a story but had no idea what to write about?

If you’re familiar with that feeling, you’re not alone. At some point in their lives, every writer has sat down in front of a blank page with no idea what to write next.

When you’re in that situation, it might be helpful to look at a list of potential story ideas. A great prompt can help kick-start your creativity and get you in the mood for writing again.

In this article, we’ll give you all our favorite fiction writing prompts to inspire you to write.

There are countless ways fiction writing prompts can benefit you. Here are a few reasons you might want to use a writing prompt:

To start a new short story or novel

To practice writing in a new genre or writing style so you can expand your skill set and try something new

To warm up at the beginning of each writing session

To make sure you’re in a creative state of mind when you tackle your existing writing projects

So, pick up a pen and a notebook, and let’s get started!

Here are 50 fantastic fiction writing prompts that will help you start your next story. To help you choose a prompt that excites you, we’ve split them into several categories: fantasy, sci-fi, mystery, romance, and contemporary.

Fantasy Prompts

You’ve inherited your grandfather’s antique shop, and you’re surprised to find strange objects with magical powers inside.

You set out to break the curse that’s followed your family for generations.

You can see visions of the future, but you learned long ago to keep them to yourself. Now, you have to speak up or risk losing everything you love.

You work for a zoo filled with magical creatures.

You’re a lawyer in a fantasy world, and your job is to negotiate contracts between the humans and the gods.

A company harvests dragon scales, unicorn hair, and other magical items to sell for profit.

You find a portal to a fantasy world in your backyard.

You find a magical item that will make all your wishes come true—but it’s extremely literal in its interpretations.

A supernatural monster kidnaps your best friend. You set out to rescue her.

Your parents gave different aspects of their magical powers to each of their children. Compared to your siblings, you definitely got the short end of the stick.

Sci-fi Prompts

Write an adaptation of your favorite classic tale—in space.

Aliens come to Earth, but they’re here for reasons no one expected.

Scientists have found ways to transfer memories between different people. You're the first person to sell all of yours.

Write about an entire world where people can buy and sell years of their lives.

What would happen if you woke up in someone else’s body and they woke up in yours?

You live in a moon colony surrounded by high walls. One day, someone breaches the walls.

Your parents send you to a summer camp filled with time travelers.

You accidentally stumble through a portal to a parallel universe where everything is the same as our universe, except for one key difference.

In a world where everyone’s DNA is genetically engineered to best suit their roles in the community, you have to hide that your DNA doesn’t match your chosen career.

You land on a new planet and realize the plants there are more intelligent than humans.

Write like a bestselling author

Love writing? ProWritingAid will help you improve the style, strength, and clarity of your stories.

Mystery Prompts

You wake up with no memory of who you are, except for a single name.

Every day, a strange drawing appears in your mailbox, and they get more and more disturbing.

You receive a letter inviting you to a free weekend getaway, and you have no idea who the host is.

Your father is keeping something strange in the attic.

A man throws an elaborate party in an attempt to conceal a crime.

You realize you’ve been sleepwalking every night, and you have no idea what your sleeping self has been up to.

You thought your husband was dead. So why is he still writing you letters?

Your brother was murdered years ago. The police have stopped investigating, but you’re still looking for the killer.

Two friends discover a serial killer's secret hideout.

A young woman discovers a frightening secret while she's on her first hunting trip with her husband's family.

Romance Prompts

Two soldiers on different sides of a war develop feelings for each other.

A member of the royal family falls in love with her bodyguard.

You’ve resigned yourself to a loveless arranged marriage, but fate has other plans.

You’ve had a crush on your best friend your entire life. Now, he’s about to get married to someone else.

You go on a first date and find yourself stuck in a time loop, so you have to keep going on that date over and over.

Two rivals have to pretend to be in a relationship—and end up accidentally falling for each other.

After a bad breakup, you move to a new town—and find yourself attracted to your next-door neighbor.

When two exes are forced to work together, they rekindle old feelings.

You fall in love with someone from a different dimension, so you can only see each other once a year when the portal opens.

After your plane crash-lands on a deserted island, you develop a bond with one of the other survivors.

Contemporary Prompts

Write an adaptation of your favorite classic tale set in the town you grew up in.

Two best friends go on a road trip and encounter a problem they never expected.

An adopted orphan goes on a journey to reconnect with her birth family.

You’re told a family secret that changes everything you think you know about your life.

A group of friends takes a practical joke too far, leading to disaster.

A college student creates an invention for a technology class and accidentally goes viral.

A painter in her early eighties struggles with her slow descent into blindness.

A couple breaks up, but the ramifications of their breakup follow them for decades.

A carefree playboy is forced to adopt a child, which changes his whole life.

You’re framed for a crime you didn’t commit, and nobody believes you’re innocent—except for your estranged sister.

No matter what type of story you’re writing, ProWritingAid is a great tool to help you make your writing shine.

ProWritingAid will suggest ways to improve various weaknesses in your writing, such as grammar mistakes, repetitive words, passive voice, unnecessary dialogue tags, and more.

You can even tell ProWritingAid what type of fiction you’re writing, such as fantasy or historical fiction, to get customized suggestions that match your genre.

There you have it—our complete list of the best fiction writing prompts to inspire you to write.

Try out your favorite one, and see if you can turn it into a unique story. 

Good luck, and happy writing!

Hannah is a speculative fiction writer who loves all things strange and surreal. She holds a BA from Yale University and lives in Colorado. When she’s not busy writing, you can find her painting watercolors, playing her ukulele, or hiking in the Rockies. Follow her work on hannahyang.com or on Twitter at @hannahxyang.

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365 Creative Writing Prompts

Here are 365 Creative Writing Prompts to help inspire you to write every single day! Use them for journaling, story starters, poetry, and more!

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If you want to become a better writer, the best thing you can do is practice writing every single day. Writing prompts are useful because we know sometimes it can be hard to think of what to write about!

To help you brainstorm, we put together this list of 365 creative writing prompts to give you something to write about daily.

Want to Download these prompts?  I am super excited to announce due to popular demand we now have an ad-free printable version of this list of writing prompts available for just $5. The  printable version  includes a PDF as a list AND print-ready prompt cards. {And all the design source files you could ever need to customize any way you would like!}

Here are 365 Creative Writing Prompts to Inspire:

Whether you write short stories, poems, or like to keep a journal – these will stretch your imagination and give you some ideas for topics to write about!

1. Outside the Window : What’s the weather outside your window doing right now? If that’s not inspiring, what’s the weather like somewhere you wish you could be?

2. The Unrequited love poem: How do you feel when you love someone who does not love you back?

3. The Vessel: Write about a ship or other vehicle that can take you somewhere different from where you are now.

4. Dancing: Who’s dancing and why are they tapping those toes?

5. Food: What’s for breakfast? Dinner? Lunch? Or maybe you could write a poem about that time you met a friend at a cafe.

6. Eye Contact: Write about two people seeing each other for the first time.

7. The Rocket-ship: Write about a rocket-ship on its way to the moon or a distant galaxy far, far, away.

8. Dream-catcher : Write something inspired by a recent dream you had.

9. Animals: Choose an animal. Write about it!

10. Friendship: Write about being friends with someone.

11. Dragon : Envision a dragon. Do you battle him? Or is the dragon friendly? Use descriptive language.

12. Greeting : Write a story or poem that starts with the word “hello” or another greeting.

13. The Letter: Write a poem or story using words from a famous letter or inspired by a letter someone sent you.

14. The Found Poem : Read a book and circle some words on a page. Use those words to craft a poem. Alternatively, you can cut out words and phrases from magazines.

15. Eavesdropper : Create a poem, short story, or journal entry about a conversation you’ve overheard.

16. Addict: Everyone’s addicted to something in some shape or form. What are things you can’t go without?

17. Dictionary Definition : Open up a dictionary to a random word. Define what that word means to you.

18. Cleaning: Hey, even writers and creative artists have to do housework sometimes. Write about doing laundry, dishes, and other cleaning activities.

19. Great Minds: Write  about someone you admire and you thought to have had a beautiful mind.

20. Missed Connections: If you go to Craigslist, there is a “Missed Connections” section where you can find some interesting storylines to inspire your writing.

21. Foreclosure : Write a poem or short story about someone who has lost or is about to lose their home.

22. Smoke, Fog, and Haze: Write about not being able to see ahead of you.

23. Sugar: Write something so sweet, it makes your teeth hurt.

24. Numbers:  Write a poem or journal entry about numbers that have special meaning to you.

25. Dread: Write about doing something you don’t want to do.

26. Fear: What scares you a little? What do you feel when scared? How do you react?

27. Closed Doors: What’s behind the door? Why is it closed?

28. Shadow: Imagine you are someone’s shadow for a day.

29. Good Vibes: What makes you smile? What makes you happy?

30. Shopping:  Write about your shopping wishlist and how you like to spend money.

31. The Professor: Write about a teacher that has influenced you.

32. Rewrite : Take any poem or short story you enjoy. Rewrite it in your own words.

33. Jewelry: Write about a piece of jewelry. Who does it belong to?

34. Sounds : Sit outside for about an hour. Write down the sounds you hear.

35. War and Peace: Write about a recent conflict that you dealt with in your life.

36. Frame It: Write a poem or some phrases that would make for good wall art in your home.

37. Puzzle: Write about putting together the pieces of puzzles.

38. Fire-starters: Write about building a fire.

39. Coffee & Tea: Surely you drink one or the other or know someone who does- write about it!

40. Car Keys: Write about someone getting their driver’s license for the first time.

41. What You Don’t Know: Write about a secret you’ve kept from someone else or how you feel when you know someone is keeping a secret from you.

42. Warehouse : Write about being inside an old abandoned warehouse.

43. The Sound of Silence: Write about staying quiet when you feel like shouting.

44. Insult: Write about being insulted. How do you feel? Why do you think the other person insulted you?

45. Mirror, Mirror: What if you mirror started talking to you? What might the mirror say?

46. Dirty: Write a poem about getting covered in mud.

47. Light Switch : Write about coming out of the dark and seeing the light.

48. The Stars : Take inspiration from a night sky. Or, write about a time when “the stars aligned” in your horoscope.

49. Joke Poem : What did the wall say to the other wall? Meet you at the corner! Write something inspired by a favorite joke.

50. Just Say No : Write about the power you felt when you told someone no.

51: Sunrise/Sunset : The sun comes up, the sun goes down. It goes round and round. Write something inspiring about the sunrise or sunset.

52. Memory Lane : What does Memory Lane look like? How do you get there?

53. Tear-Jerker : Watch a movie that makes you cry. Write about that scene in the movie.

54. Dear Diary: Write a poem or short story about a diary entry you’ve read or imagined.

55. Holding Hands : The first time you held someone’s hand.

56. Photograph : Write a story or journal entry influenced by a photograph you see online or in a magazine.

57. Alarm Clock: Write about waking up.

58. Darkness: Write a poem or journal entry inspired by what you can’t see.

59. Refreshed: Write a poem about a time you really felt refreshed and renewed. Maybe it was a dip into a pool on a hot summer day, a drink of lemonade, or other situation that helped you relax and start again.

60. Handle With Care : Write about a very fragile or delicate object.

61. Drama: Write about a time when you got stuck in between two parties fighting with each other.

62. Slip Up: Write about making mistakes.

63. Spice: Write about flavors and tastes or a favorite spice of yours.

64. Sing a New Song: Take a popular song off the radio and rewrite it as a poem in your own words.

65. Telephone: Write about a phone call you recently received.

66. Name: Write a poem or short story using your name in some way or form.

67. Dollhouse: Write a poem or short story from the viewpoint of someone living in a doll house.

68. Random Wikipedia Article : Go to Wikipedia and click on Random Article . Write about whatever the page you get.

69. Silly Sports: Write about an extreme or silly sport. If none inspire you, make up the rules for your own game.

70. Recipe : Write about a recipe for something abstract, such as a feeling.

71. Famous Artwork: Choose a famous painting and write about it.

72. Where That Place Used to Be : Think of a place you went to when you were younger but it now no longer there or is something else. Capture your feelings about this in your writing.

73. Last Person You Talked to: Write a quick little poem or story about the last person you spoke with.

74. Caught Red-Handed: Write about being caught doing something embarrassing.

75. Interview: Write a list of questions you have for someone you would like to interview, real or fictional.

76. Missing You: Write about someone you miss dearly.

77. Geography: Pick a state or country you’ve never visited. Write about why you would or would not like to visit that place.

78. Random Song: Turn on the radio, use the shuffle feature on your music collection or your favorite streaming music service. Write something inspired by the first song you hear.

79. Hero: Write a tribute to someone you regard as a hero.

80. Ode to Strangers: Go people watching and write an ode to a stranger you see on the street.

81. Advertisement: Advertisements are everywhere, aren’t they? Write using the slogan or line from an ad.

82. Book Inspired: Think of your favorite book. Now write a poem that sums up the entire story in 10 lines.

83. Magic : Imagine you have a touch of magic, and can make impossible things happen. What would you do?

84. Fanciest Pen: Get out your favorite pen, pencils, or even colored markers and write using them!

85. A Day in the Life: Write about your daily habits and routine.

86. Your Muse: Write about your muse – what do they look like? What does your muse do to inspire you?

87. Convenience Store : Write about an experience you’ve had at a gas station or convenience store.

88. Natural Wonders of the World: Choose one of the natural wonders of the world. Write about it.

89. Status Update: Write a poem using the words from your latest status update or a friend’s status update. If you don’t use sites like Facebook or Twitter, you can often search online for some funny ones to use as inspiration.

90. Green Thumb: Write about growing something.

91. Family Heirloom: Write about an object that’s been passed through the generations in your family.

92. Bug Catcher: Write about insects.

93. Potion: Write about a magic potion. What is it made of? What does it do? What is the antidote?

94. Swinging & Sliding: Write something inspired by a playground or treehouse.

95. Adjectives: Make a list of the first 5 adjectives that pop into your head. Use these 5 words in your story, poem, or journal entry.

96. Fairy Tales: Rewrite a fairy tale. Give it a new ending or make it modern or write as a poem.

97. Whispers: Write about someone who has to whisper a secret to someone else.

98. Smile: Write a poem about the things that make you smile.

99. Seasonal: Write about your favorite season.

100.  Normal: What does normal mean to you? Is it good or bad to be normal?

101. Recycle : Take something you’ve written in the past and rewrite it into a completely different piece.

102. Wardrobe: Write about a fashion model or what’s currently in your closet or drawers.

103. Secret Message : Write something with a secret message hidden in between the words. For example, you could make an acrostic poem using the last letters of the word or use secret code words in the poem.

104. Vacation: Write about a vacation you took.

105. Heat: Write about being overheated and sweltering.

106. Spellbinding: Write a magic spell.

107. Collection : Write about collecting something, such as salt shakers, sea shells, or stamps.

108. Taking Chances: Everyone takes a risk at some point in their life. Write about a time when you took a chance and what the result was.

109. Carnival: Write a poem or story or journal entry inspired by a carnival or street fair.

110. Country Mouse: Write about someone who grew up in the country visiting the city for the first time.

111: Questions: Write about questions you have for the universe. Optional: include an answer key.

112. Rushing: Write about moving quickly and doing things fast.

113. Staircase : Use a photo of a staircase or the stairs in your home or a building you love to inspire you.

114. Neighbors: Make up a story or poem about your next door neighbor.

115. Black and Blue: Write about a time you’ve been physically hurt.

116. All Saints: Choose a saint and create a poem about his or her life.

117. Beach Inspired: What’s not to write about the beach?

118. Shoes: What kind of shoes do you wear? Where do they lead your feet?

119. The Ex: Write a poem to someone who is estranged from you.

120. My Point of View: Write in the first person point of view.

121. Stray Animal: Think of the life of a stray cat or dog and write about that.

122. Stop and Stare : Create a poem or story about something you could watch forever.

123. Your Bed: Describe where you sleep each night.

124. Fireworks : Do they inspire you or do you not like the noise and commotion? Write about it.

125. Frozen: Write about a moment in your life you wish you could freeze and preserve.

126. Alone : Do you like to be alone or do you like having company?

127. Know-it-all: Write about something you are very knowledgeable about, for example a favorite hobby or passion of yours.

128. The Promise: Write about a promise you’ve made to someone. Did you keep that promise?

129. Commotion: Write about being overstimulated by a lot of chaos.

130. Read the News Today : Construct a poem or story using a news headline for your first line.

131. Macro: Write a description of an object close-up.

132. Transportation : Write about taking your favorite (or least-favorite) form of transportation.

133. Gadgets: If you could invent a gadget, what would it do? Are there any gadgets that make your life easier?

134: Bring on the Cheese: Write a tacky love poem that is so cheesy, it belongs on top of a pizza.

135. Ladders: Write a story or poem that uses ladders as a symbol.

136. Bizarre Holiday : There is a bizarre holiday for any date! Look up a holiday for today’s date and create a poem in greeting card fashion or write a short story about the holiday to celebrate.

137. Blog-o-sphere : Visit your favorite blog or your feedreader and craft a story, journal entry, or poem based on the latest blog post you read.

138. Mailbox: Create a poem, short story, or journal entry based on a recent item of mail you’ve received.

139. Sharing : Write about sharing something with someone else.

140. Cactus: Write from the viewpoint of a cactus. What’s it like to live in the desert or have a prickly personality?

141. It’s a Sign : Have you seen any interesting road signs lately?

142. Furniture: Write about a piece of furniture in your home.

143. Failure: Write about a time you failed at something. Did you try again or give up completely?

144. Mystical Creatures: Angels or other mystical creatures – use them as inspiration.

145. Flying: Write about having wings and what you would do.

146. Clear and Transparent: Write a poem about being able to see-through something.

147. Break the Silence : Record yourself speaking, then write down what you spoke and revise into a short story or poem.

148. Beat: Listen to music with a strong rhythm or listen to drum loops. Write something that goes along with the beat you feel and hear.

149. Color Palette: Search online for color palettes and be inspired to write by one you resonate with.

150. Magazine: Randomly flip to a page in a magazine and write using the first few words you see as an opening line.

151. The Grass is Greener : Write about switching the place with someone or going to where it seems the “grass is greener”.

152. Mind & Body: Write something that would motivate others to workout and exercise.

153. Shaping Up : Write something that makes a shape on the page…ie: a circle, a heart, a square, etc.

154. Twenty-One: Write about your 21st birthday.

155. Aromatherapy: Write about scents you just absolutely love.

156. Swish, Buzz, Pop : Create a poem that uses Onomatopoeia .

157. What Time is It? Write about the time of day it is right now. What are people doing? What do you usually do at this time each day?

158. Party Animal: Have you ever gone to a party you didn’t want to leave? Or do you hate parties? Write about it!

159: Miss Manners : Use the words “please” and “thank you” in your writing.

160. Cliche: Choose a common cliche, then write something that says the same thing but without using the catch phrase.

161. Eco-friendly : Write about going green or an environmental concern you have.

162. Missing You: Write about someone you miss.

163. Set it Free: Think of a time when you had to let someone or something go to be free…did they come back?

164: Left Out : Write about a time when you’ve felt left out or you’ve noticed someone else feeling as if they didn’t belong.

165. Suitcase: Write about packing for a trip or unpacking from when you arrive home.

166. Fantasy : Write about fairies, gnomes, elves, or other mythical creatures.

167. Give and Receive : Write about giving and receiving.

168. Baker’s Dozen: Imagine the scents and sights of a bakery and write.

169. Treehouse: Write about your own secret treehouse hideaway.

170.  Risk: Write about taking a gamble on something.

171. Acrostic : Choose a word and write an acrostic poem where every line starts with a letter from the word.

172. Crossword Puzzle: Open up the newspaper or find a crossword puzzle online and choose one of the clues to use as inspiration for your writing.

173. Silver Lining : Write about the good that happens in a bad situation.

174. Gloves: Write about a pair of gloves – what kind of gloves are they? Who wears them and why?

175. All that Glitters: Write about a shiny object.

176. Jealousy: Write with a theme of envy and jealousy.

Want to Download these prompts?  I am super excited to announce due to popular demand we now have an ad-free printable version of this list of writing prompts available for just $5. The  printable version  includes a PDF as a list AND print-ready prompt cards. {And all the design source files you could ever need to customize any way you would like!}

177. How Does Your Garden Grow? Write about a flower that grows in an unusual place.

178. Jury Duty : Write a short story or poem that takes place in a courtroom.

179. Gifts: Write about a gift you have given or received.

180. Running: Write about running away from someone or something.

181. Discovery: Think of something you’ve recently discovered and use it as inspiration.

182. Complain:  Write about your complaints about something.

183. Gratitude: Write a poem or journal entry that is all about things you are thankful for.

184. Chemistry: Choose an element and write a poem or story that uses that word in one of the lines.

185. Applause: Write about giving someone a standing ovation.

186. Old Endings Into New Beginnings:  Take an old poem, story, or journal entry of yours and use the last line and make it the first line of your writing today.

187. Longing: Write  about something you very much want to do.

188. I Am: Write a motivational poem or journal entry about positive traits that make you who you are.

189. Rainbow : What is at the end of a rainbow? Or, take a cue from Kermit the Frog, and ask yourself, why are there so many songs about rainbows?

190. Museum: Take some time to visit a nearby museum with your journal. Write about one of the pieces that speaks to you.

191. Cartoon: Think of your favorite cartoon or comic. Write a poem or story that takes place in that setting.

192. Copycat: Borrow a line from a famous public domain poem to craft your own.

193. From the Roof-tops:  Imagine you could stand on a rooftop and broadcast a message to everyone below – what would you say?

194. Time Travel: If there was a time period you could visit for a day, where would you go? Write about traveling back in time to that day.

195. Changing Places: Imagine living the day as someone else.

196. Neighborhood: Write about your favorite place in your neighborhood to visit and hang out at.

197. Pirates: Write about a pirate ship.

198. Interview : Write based on a recent interview you’ve read or seen on TV or heard on the radio.

199.  Hiding Spaces : Write about places you like to hide things at. What was a favorite hiding spot for you as a child playing hide-and-seek?

200. Extreme Makeover: Imagine how life might be different if you could change your hair color or clothing into something completely opposite from your current style.

201. Empathy: Write about your feelings of empathy or compassion for another person.

202. Opposites: Write a poem or story that ties in together two opposites.

203. Boredom: Write about being bored or make a list of different ways to entertain yourself.

204. Strength : Think of a time when you’ve been physically or emotionally strong and use that as inspiration.

205. Hunger: Write from the perspective of someone with no money to buy food.

206. Greed: Write about someone who always wants more – whether it be money, power, etc. etc.

207. Volcano: Write about an eruption of a volcano.

208. Video Inspiration : Go to Vimeo.com or YouTube.com and watch one of the videos featured on the homepage. Write something based on what you watch.

209. Sneeze: Write about things that make you sneeze.

210. Footsteps on the Moon:  Write about the possibility of life in outer-space.

211: Star-crossed: Write a short modern version of the story of Romeo and Juliet or think of real-life examples of lovers who are not allowed to be together to use as inspiration for your writing.

212. Font-tastic: Choose a unique font and type out a poem, story or journal entry using that font.

213. Schedule: Take a look at your calendar and use the schedule for inspiration in writing.

214. Grandparents: Write about a moment in your grandparent’s life.

215. Collage: Go through a magazine and cut out words that grab your attention. Use these words to construct a poem or as a story starter or inspiration for your journal.

216. Oh so Lonely: Write a poem about what you do when you are alone – do you feel lonely or do you enjoy your own company?

217. Waterfall: Think of a waterfall you’ve seen in person or spend some time browsing photos of waterfalls online. Write about the movement, flow, and energy.

218. First Kiss: Write about your first kiss.

219. So Ironic: Write about an ironic situation you’ve been in throughout your life.

220. Limerick: Write a limerick today.

221. Grocery Shopping: Write about an experience at the grocery store.

222. Fashion : Go through a fashion magazine or browse fashion websites online and write about a style you love.

223. So Close: Write about coming close to reaching a goal.

224. Drinks on Me: Write a poem or short story that takes place at a bar.

225. Online Friends: Write an ode to someone online you’ve met and become friends with.

226. Admiration: Is there someone you admire? Write about those feelings.

227. Trash Day: Write from the perspective of a garbage collector.

228. Mailbox: Open your mailbox and write something inspired by one of the pieces of mail you received.

229. Fresh & Clean: Write about how you feel after you take a shower.

230. Energized: Write about how you feel when you’re either at a high or low energy level for the day.

231. Rhyme & No Reason: Make up a silly rhyming poem using made up words.

232. Tech Support: Use computers or a conversation with tech support you’ve had as inspiration.

233. Hotel: Write from the perspective of someone who works at a hotel or staying at a hotel.

234. Underwater: Write about sea creatures and under water life. What’s under the surface of the ocean? What adventures might be waiting?

235. Breathing: Take a few minutes to do some deep breathing relaxation techniques. Once your mind is clear, just write the first few things that you think of.

236. Liar, Liar: Make up a poem or story of complete lies about yourself or someone else.

237. Obituaries: Look at the recent obituaries online or in the newspaper and imagine the life of someone and write about that person.

238. Pocket: Rummage through your pockets and write about what you keep or find in your pockets.

239. Cinquain: Write a cinquain poem, which consists of 5 lines that do not rhyme.

240. Alphabetical: Write a poem that has every letter of the alphabet in it.

241.  Comedy Club: Write something inspired by a comedian.

242. Cheater: Write about someone who is unfaithful.

243. Sestina: Give a try to writing a sestina poem.

244. Fight: Write about witnessing two people get in an argument with each other.

245. Social Network : Visit your favorite Social Networking website (ie: Facebook, Pinterest, Google, Twitter, etc.) and write a about a post you see there.

246. Peaceful: Write about something peaceful and serene.

247. In the Clouds: Go cloud watching for the day and write about what you imagine in the clouds.

248. At the Park: Take some time to sit on a park bench and write about the sights, scenes, and senses and emotions you experience.

249. Sonnet: Write a sonnet today.

250. Should, Would, And Could: Write a poem or story using the words should, would, and could.

251. How to: Write directions on how to do something.

252. Alliteration: Use alliteration in your poem or in a sentence in a story.

253. Poker Face: Write about playing a card game.

254. Timer: Set a timer for 5 minutes and just write. Don’t worry about it making sense or being perfect.

255. Dance: Write about a dancer or a time you remember dancing.

256. Write for a Cause: Write a poem or essay that raises awareness for a cause you support.

257. Magic : Write about a magician or magic trick.

258. Out of the Box: Imagine finding a box. Write about opening it and what’s inside.

259. Under the Influence: What is something has impacted you positively in your life?

260. Forgotten Toy : Write from the perspective a forgotten or lost toy.

261. Rocks and Gems: Write about a rock or gemstone meaning.

262. Remote Control: Imagine you can fast forward and rewind your life with a remote control.

263. Symbolism: Think of objects, animals, etc. that have symbolic meaning to you. Write about it.

264. Light at the End of the Tunnel: Write about a time when you saw hope when it seemed like a hopeless situation.

265. Smoke and Fire : “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.” Use this saying as inspiration to write!

266. Railroad: Write about a train and its cargo or passengers.

267. Clipboard: Write about words you imagine on an office clipboard.

268. Shipwrecked: Write about being stranded somewhere – an island, a bus stop, etc.

269. Quotable: Use a popular quote from a speaker and use it as inspiration for your writing.

270. Mind   Map it Out: Create a mind map of words, phrases, and ideas that pop into your head or spend some time browsing the many mind maps online. Write a poem, story, or journal entry inspired by the mind map.

271. Patterns : Write about repeating patterns that occur in life.

272. Scrapbook : Write about finding a scrapbook and the memories it contains.

273. Cure: Write about finding a cure for an illness.

274. Email Subject Lines: Read your email today and look for subject lines that may be good starters for writing inspiration.

275. Wishful Thinking: Write about a wish you have.

276. Doodle : Spend some time today doodling for about 5-10 minutes. Write about the thoughts you had while doodling or create something inspired by your finished doodle.

277. Chalkboard: Imagine you are in a classroom. What does it say on the chalkboard?

278. Sticky: Imagine a situation that’s very sticky, maybe even covered in maple syrup, tape or glue. Write about it!

279. Flashlight : Imagine going somewhere very dark with only a flashlight to guide you.

280. A Far Away Place : Envision yourself traveling to a fictional place, what do you experience in your imaginary journey?

281. On the Farm : Write about being in a country or rural setting.

282. Promise to Yourself: Write about a promise you want to make to yourself and keep.

283. Brick Wall : Write a poem that is about a brick wall – whether literal or figurative.

284. Making a Choice: Write about a time when you had to make a difficult choice.

285.  Repeat: Write about a time when you’ve had to repeat yourself or a time when it felt like no one was listening.

286. Outcast : Write about someone who is not accepted by their peers. (for example, the Ugly Ducking)

287. Scary Monsters: Write about a scary (or not-so-scary) monster in your closet or under the bed.

288. Sacrifice: Write about something you’ve sacrificed doing to do something else or help another person.

289. Imperfection: Create a poem that highlights the beauty in being flawed.

290. Birthday Poem: Write a poem inspired by birthdays.

291. Title First : Make a list of potential poem or story titles and choose one to write from.

292. Job Interview : Write about going on a job interview.

293. Get Well : Write a poem that will help someone who is sick feel better quick!

294. Lost in the Crowd: Write about feeling lost in the crowd.

295. Apple a Day: Write about a health topic that interests you.

296. Cravings: Write about craving something.

297. Phobia: Research some common phobias, choose one, and write about it.

298. In the Moment: Write about living in the present moment.

299. Concrete : Write about walking down a sidewalk and what you see and experience.

300. Battle: Write about an epic battle, whether real, fictional or figurative.

301. This Old House : Write about an old house that is abandoned or being renovated.

302. Clutter: Is there a cluttered spot in your home? Go through some of that clutter today and write about what you find or the process of organizing.

303. Go Fly a Kite: Write about flying a kite.

304. On the TV: Flip to a random TV channel and write about the first thing that comes on – even if it is an infomercial!

305. Fruit: Write an ode to your favorite fruit.

306. Long Distance Love: Write about a couple that is separated by distance.

307. Glasses: Write about a pair of eyeglasses or someone wearing glasses.

308. Robotic : Write about a robot.

309. Cute as a Button: Write about something you think is just adorable.

310. Movie Conversation: Use a memorable conversation from a favorite movie to inspire your writing.

311. Easy-Peasy : Write  about doing something effortlessly.

312. Idiom: Choose from a list of idioms one that speaks to you and create a poem around that saying or phrase. (Ie: It is raining cats and dogs)

313. Playground: Whether it is the swings or the sandbox or the sliding boards, write about your memories of being on a playground.

314. Romance: Write about romantic things partners can do for each other.

315. Rock Star: Imagine you are a famous rock star. Write about the experience.

316. Come to Life: Imagine ordinary objects have come to life. Write about what they do and say.

317. Airplane: Write about meeting someone on an airplane and a conversation you might have.

318. Health & Beauty: Take some time to peruse your medicine cabinet or the health and beauty aisles at a local store. Write a poem, short story, or journal entry inspired by a product label.

319. Determination: Write about not giving up.

320. Instrumental Inspiration: Listen to some instrumental music and write a poem that matches the mood, beat, and style of the music.

321. Wait Your Turn: Write about having to wait in line.

322. Personality Type : Do you know your personality type? (There are many free quizzes online) – write about what type of personality traits you have.

323. Decade: Choose a favorite decade and write about it. (IE: 1980’s or 1950’s for example)

324. I Believe: Write your personal credo of things you believe in.

325. Lost and Found: Write about a lost object.

326. Say it: Write a poem or story that uses dialogue between two people.

327. The Unsent Letter: Write about a letter that never made it to its recipient.

328. The Windows of the Soul: Write a poem about the story that is told through someone’s eyes.

329. Trial and Error: Write about something you learned the hard way.

330. Escape : Write about where you like to go to escape from it all.

331. What’s Cooking: Write something inspired a favorite food or recipe.

332. Records : Go through your file box and pull out old receipts or records…write something inspired by what you find!

333. Banking: Write about visiting the bank.

334. Sweet Talk: Write about trying to convince someone of something.

335. Serendipity: Write about something that happened by chance in a positive way.

336. Distractions: Write about how it feels when you can’t focus.

337. Corporation: Write about big business.

338. Word of the Day: Go to a dictionary website that has a word of the day and use it in a poem, story or journal entry you write.

339. Pick Me Up:  What do you do when you need a pick me up?

340. Unfinished: Write about a project you started but never completed.

341. Forgiveness: Write about a time when someone forgave you or you forgave someone.

342. Weakness: Write about your greatest weakness.

343. Starting: Write about starting a project.

344. Mechanical: Think of gears, moving parts, machines.

345. Random Act of Kindness : Write about a random act of kindness you’ve done for someone or someone has done for you, no matter how small or insignificant it may have seemed.

346. Underground: Imagine living in a home underground and use that as inspiration for writing.

347. Classic Rock: Pick a classic rock love ballad and rewrite it into a story or poem with a similar theme.

348. Night Owl : Write about staying up late at night.

349. Magnetic : Write about attraction to something or someone.

350. Teamwork: Write about working with a team towards a common goal.

351. Roller-coaster : Write about the ups and downs in life.

352. Motivational Poster: Look at some motivational posters online and write a poem or journal entry inspired by your favorite one.

353. Games: Write about the games people play – figuratively or literally.

354. Turning Point: Write about a point in life where things turned for the better or worse.

355. Spellbound: Write about a witch’s spell.

356. Anniversary: Write about the anniversary of a special date.

357. Gamble:  Be inspired by a casino or lottery ticket.

358. Picnic: Write about going on a picnic.

359. Garage: Write about some random item you might find in a garage.

360. Review: Review your week, month, or year in a journal entry or poem format.

361. Detective: Write about a detective searching for clues or solving a mystery.

362. Camera: Take your camera for a walk and write based on one of the photographs you take.

363. Visiting : Write about visiting a family member or friend.

364. Trust: Write about putting trust in someone.

365. Congratulations : Did you write a poem, short story, or journal entry every day for a whole year? Write about what you’ve learned and celebrate your achievement!

We hope you enjoy these creative writing prompts! And of course, if you write anything using these prompts, we’d love to know about it! Tell us how you’ll use these everyday creative writing prompts in the comments section below!

And of course, if you’d like the printable ad-free version of these prompts to reference again and again or to use in your classroom, you can find them at our Etsy shop !

Chelle Stein wrote her first embarrassingly bad novel at the age of 14 and hasn't stopped writing since. As the founder of ThinkWritten, she enjoys encouraging writers and creatives of all types.

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191 comments.

I have been on a reading binge since being on vacation from school. By rereading Little House, Anne of Green Gables, and Little Women among others, one wonders about writing a book. I stumbled across this while looking up unit supplements for my kiddos, and thought, hey, write a page a day and see what happens! Thank you for this collection of prompts! I’ve linked back to this page several times so others can try their hand at writing. Thank you again!

The Flicker, The Teeth, and A Warehouse in the Dark (the warehouse prompt)

I am in a large abandoned warehouse with a flickering light The only light in the whole room. It flickered leaving me in temporal darkness It flickered again and as it was dark I swore I saw something glowing It looked like glowing teeth The lights return and I see nothing Flickers on Flickers off I see the teeth closer Flickers on I see nothing Flickers off The teeth so close Flickers on An empty warehouse Flickers off The glowing teeth are inchings away bright red blood drips from their tips Flickers on Panic rises in my chest but nothing is there Turns off The mouth of bloody teeth is before my eyes I wait for the light to flicker back on I wait in complete darkness I wait And wait And wait The teeth open wide I try to scream by the darkness swallows it A hear the crunch of my bones I see my blood pore down my chest But I wait in darkness for the pain I wait And wait And wait The mouth of teeth devours my lower half I wait for pain and death I wait And wait And wait The light flickers on I see no monster Only my morphed body And blood And blood And blood And so much blood The light flickers off The monster eats my arm Flickers on I wait for pain Flickers off I watch as the creature eats my limbs Flickers on I wait for death Flickers off Slowly the teeth eat my head All I see is dark I wait for it to flicker on Where is the warehouse light? Where is the only light in the room? Where is the flicker? Where am I? Where are the bloody teeth? I wait for the light to come back And wait And wait And wait And wait And wait And wait And wait in eternal darkness

WOW. Thank you!

This is such a helpful tool! I’ve learned a lot about my self through picking a random prompt and writing the first thing that comes to mind. I’d love to see a follow up list of possible! Definitely a recomended sight!

I agree. Very helpful.

I am new at the blogging game. You have provided some wonderful ideas for blog posts. Great ideas just to get used to writing every day. Thanks

This list is really impressive and useful for those of us who are looking for good topics to blog about. Thanks!

Thank you! That somes in handy

Very nice list. Thanks for compiling and posting it. It’s not only good for bloggers, but poets, as well.

yess im using it for my new years resolution, which is to write a poem daily!

Wow, thanks so much for all these wonderful prompts! They are lots of fun and very helpful. I love how you’ve provided 365 of them–A prompt for every day of the year! 🙂

Not if it’s a leap year…

Haha. Yea. This is great though all the same.. ;-;

Lol actually there’s 364 days in a year and 365 in a leap year so……yeah

are you fucking stupid

There are actually 366 days in a leap year so… yeah

I use this for my homeschooling-I love it! Thank you so much!! This is a wonderful list. So creative! 🙂 🙂

Thanks! I’m preparing for writing every day next year and this will come in really handy. It’s just 364 writing prompts though. 164 is missing. 😉

MiMschi is wrong 164 is there i looked

I think they meant that as a joke, 164 is called left out…

Good it is useful

no its not you nonce

You Don’t Love Me, Damn You

things left unsaid

and then some

anger strangles the baby

in its crib,

flowers wilt,

rivers dry up

harsh words clatter upon the day,

echo unfortunately

till silence smothers

in its embrace

you wish you could take it back

what’s done is done

never to be undone

though things move on

part of you remains

locked in the middle of protesting

one last thing,

mouth open,

no words emerging

why must you be misunderstood?

why must everything you say

no way of straightening things out

gestures halted mid-air

an accusatory finger

shoulders locked

in sardonic shrug

dishes smash on the floor

spray of fragments

frozen mid-air

slam the door

it doesn’t open

but in spite of yourself

you turn and look

one last time…..

(Greg Cameron, Poem, Surrey, B.C., Canada)

Love these. Thank you!

This is really amazingly deep. I love it so much. You have so much talent!!

Thanks SOOO much for the prompts but I have another suggestion!

A Recipe for disaster- write a recipe for a disastrous camping trip…

that one sounds awesome.

Haha. Reminds me of the old twin’s show.. what was it.. where the two girls switch places when they meet at camp?

Pretty sure I know what you’re talking about. The Parent Trap, right? Never seen the whole movie, but it seems funny.

and also #309, everyone should have thought of a hamster “write” away XD!

May I have permission to use this list at my next Ozarks Chapter of the American Christian Writers meeting. Thank you for consideration.

Hi Leah, please send some more info here: https://thinkwritten.com/contact

i am using it for my homeschooling and i love it

i am using it for my homeschooling

where is prompt 165?

sorry I meant 164, my mistake.

well kay, there is a 164 AND 165. So your head is clearly ????????????

What I like most about these is how you can combine them and get really weird ideas. For example, empathy from the rooftops: what if you shouted something positive in public every day – or if everyone did so? It might be fun to try, and then write a diary about it. Online time travel: if people could live virtually in incredibly well=constructed versions of different time periods, what would the effects be on today’s society? Could it change our language or customs?

It would be cool if we could have goggles that showed places during a certain time period. Like Seattle 1989. And you could buy special plugins, like specific people you want to hang out with, famous or non.

That one about online time travel is crazy brilliant!!! And highly thought-provoking.

It is amazing what creative writing could do to you. Daily prompts have proven to be very inspiring and overtime writers develop their own style of writing depending on how passionate they are about it. I would love to write about all 3, online, space, and time travel. cheers! and Don’t stop writing!

I belong to a writing club. We seem to have a lot of prompts to use. I love stories having to do with rain. Would you join me. I am jim

Wow! Inspiration right here.

May I use this list for a speech at my Ozarks Chapter of the American Christian Writers?

Love the inspiration

THANK YOU. THAT IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS THANK YOU.

What about a leap year? You’re missing one topic.

Wonderful! I love writing and these prompts are very helpful. Thank you very much! ♥

It’s been really useful in getting me to write again! Thank you very much!

I really love the list of writing ideas you have compiled here. I will be using it and others to get myself back into writing every single day if I can be away with it. Also, I have noticed a few problems with this list. One is a repeat topic. Those are numbers 76 and 162. And you skipped a number. And have only 364 days of writing. Still through! All these ideas are absolutely amazing and awesome ideas! I commend you for putting it all together in an easy to read format too. Thank you so very much.

I think we have the list all fixed now, but thanks for catching a couple of early mistakes!

Thank you for helping me edit Lora! I don’t always have a second pair of eyes + appreciated this to fix + update the post! I always say my readers are my best editors. 🙂

these days get brighter, mine gets darker, why does it has to be me , why not life.

Mirror, Mirror: What if you mirror started talking to you?

u r awesome man

Wonderful compilation of ideas! I will send your blog along to my many Creative Writing students. I’m enjoying reading your posts.

wow!! great tips! but how long did it take you to write that? its a lot of words!! lol great stuff though..

This is so cool! I love these prompts and will definitely recommend some to my teacher!!

The promise “I made a promise with my best friend, I said i’d never break, Our personalities really did blend, But then I lied awake, The people disappearing, Her gaze was always leering. I never thought she was serious, I always took it as a joke, But it really made me curious, When she was digging around that oak, My best friend is a serial killer, And i knew the truth, My life turned into a thriller, And eating at me took away my youth, I couldn’t take it any long living with this weight, To the police I went to tell my tale, Looking at me with eyes of hate, she smiled and said, without her I would fail. Now i sit in the prison cell, Waiting for my call My friend across the room smiling, my eyes begin to swell, My neck snapping on the, from my sides my hands fall

Although my writing style is dark, that’s the way I enjoy writing, and thank you for this list, even though I didn’t do one per day, scrolling through I was able to see keywords that formed ideas in my mind

I love this <3 It's amazing :))

These are really nice I absolutely love them.

This is very helpful and I’ve been finding a way to help improve my creative writing!!! Thank you very much!

You are such a life developer, who can virtually transform a life busy with unnecessary activities humans are posted to through internet. And who can restore the appetite of people to purchase pen and paper which have considered the last commodity in the market at the expense of that great vampire ‘social media’ that left both old and young paralyzed. Thanks to the proponent of this great idea.

These are great. The Closed door one gives me a great idea for a new story! Thank you so much!

man what the fuck is this shit! i was looking for short story writing prompts and I get stuck with shit like “write about the weather outside”. Damn this shit is disappointing.

Hi John, the weather might seem boring, but there are a lot of ways you can springboard from that – maybe you write a story about a character who despises the sunshine or melts if they get rained on or they live in a underground tunnel and the house gets flooded…You can also use it as an exercise in developing more descriptive writing that shows, not tells for the scenes in your story. Writing about the weather seems “easy and boring” but seriously challenge yourself to write about it in a way that makes it interesting – it is not so easy to avoid the cliches as you might think!

I LOVE IT SO MUCH i do not know why but my kids, they will just like come on this website every time it is time to have a little bit of video games! XD

The weather outside that day was dark.

It was a perfectly reasonable sort of darkness. The kind of darkness you might get if you wake up an hour before sunrise. But it was late in the morning.

He had to make sure of that. He checked his alarm clock, his microwave oven clock, and his cell phone.

The sun was supposed to be out. But the moonlit sky was starlit and clear.

And as he looked outside again, he saw that people were out, going about their business, as if none of this really mattered at all.

What was he missing here?

(There. Now you have a short story writing prompt..)

You know what “John” i think this website is great so fuck you.

yeah you tell him john

It depends on how you view it. That one topic for instance has given me a beautiful story telling. I am currently about to round up with it and trust me the feedback has been amazing.

That is great! I’m glad it helped inspire you!

Dude kids go on here so stop swearing “John”

Maybe you need to work on improving the quality of your writing. Your use of expletives is totally uncalled for. I see nothing wrong with “writing about the weather outside”. In fact, this is a great topic and can lead to awesome discussions.

Very useful indeed. Thank u

i think this is a good prompted

I think it’s awesome, I looked for inspiration, I found inspiration, thank you

well! i fall in love with all these ideas! i loved this page! thanks for sharing these amazing ideas!

Great stuff mat Keep up the good work

I LOVE THIS SO MUCH IT IS VERY HELPFUL BUT FOR A SUGGESTION YOU COULD DO DIARY STUFF MAYBE

When I read your comment, I thought you said “DAIRY,” not “DIARY.”

So… why not both? Write something based on a dairy farmer’s diary. Or… a dairy COW’S diary. Tell their stories, their private dreams. Or hidden shame…

That’s the way to think + use this list 🙂

Great idea!

Awesome list! Thank you!

Thanks so much! I’ve always been told I’m a great writer and should publish. I haven’t done a lot of leisure writing because I’m afraid I might realize I’m NOT a good writer. My therapist wants me to write more and these prompts are perfect!

This is fun i will keep doing this no matter what every year. I can’t stop writing either. Thanks for making this, it is very fun.

This helps so much! love these ideas

Can this website give me a write on the following topic. –

Imagine that the scientists could replace the human brains with computers or invent the computers with human feelings. What do you think would happen?Would the world become a better place to live in???

I’ve been looking for prompts to work through my creative art/collage journal for 2017…and love the ones you offer here….LOVE THEM! I like that they are more than just one word and give me something to think about before I start creating each day as a warm up to what is ahead.

I hope don’t mind, but I shared them on both Instagram and my FaceBook page in hopes to get my artist/creative friends to follow along with me in creating each day. I would like to include a link to your page in a near future blog post about my creative journal.

Thank you for posting and sharing you prompts…I’m excited to get started!

I’m on number 43 and I’ve already discovered a whole bunch about myself! These prompts are amazing and I can’t wait for the next 322 of them. I’ve recommended this to several of my friends. Totally worth several notebooks chock full of prompts and a years worth of writing 🙂

Very inspiring….

Hello! Is it alright if I add some of these to a little book I’m making for my Grandmother? She hasn’t opened a computer in her life but I know these prompts would do her a world of good. I believe in the importance of asking permission to use the creative property of another person 🙂 Cheers!

Hi Maxx, of course you may share with your grandmother – the only thing we would worry about is if you were to publish them for monetary gain. Enjoy! 🙂

This is really helpful. I’m glad I saw it first. ♥

OMG!! I’ve never been in this website before!!

Thank u so much this was so helpful. Idk how u came up with all thoughts prompts. It was very helpful. Thank u again.

For the first time in a long time it finally felt like I knew was going to happen next. I was gazing into her eyes and she was gazing back. I remember it like it was just yesterday, when she was still the one for me but never forgave me. I miss the sweet sound of her laughter and now all i hear are friends. I have tried to go back and apologize to her just to see if the answer will change but even I know that it will never change because I will never be enough for her. But if she ever decides that she wants me back she can have me because a life without love is one not worth living.

gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood

can u give me one using the prompt “normal”

Thanks for this!!!!! Will definitely help me in learning to tap into my creative writing genius 🙂

Thanks, this helped me a lot!

u have a typo!!!! 364

Thanks for pointing out, got it fixed 🙂 Sometimes my brain goes faster than the computer. 🙂

I wrote this, tell me what you think; prompt #4-dancing You see her tapping her toes, always listening to music. Although she doesn’t like the music, what she doesn’t know yet is it will be stuck in her head for the next year. She’s as graceful as a butterfly yet as strong as a fighter. Many only see a pretty face yet those close enough to the fire know the passion burning deep inside of her. At home she’s quiet, always in her room yet making loud noises through the floorboards. Her parents know what she’s up to but her little brothers don’t quite understand yet. All they know is that when she goes up there she’s listening to music and soon she will play it for the whole neighborhood to hear. They don’t know that she’s practicing, practicing for the most important day of the year. The one she’s been waiting for since she’s been a little girl. Tapping her toes at the table only stops when her parents beg her to rest. Even in her dreams she on stage, dancing like a swan. Yet deep down she’s scared of the failure that she will feel if this one day goes a bit to south. Tapping her toes to the beat of her music gives her a bit of pip in her pep when she walks down the halls. No one quite understands the stress she’s going through. Through her smile she’s worries, scared that one misstep might end it all for her. But she won’t let anyone see that she’s nervous. She’s used to getting bruises, she falls on the ground but always gets back up. Because she’s a dancer, the show must go on.

Brilliant. Loved it.

Amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I’m working on a site in Danish about writing and I would love to translate these awesome prompts into Danish and use it on the site. Would that be OK? I’ll credit with links of course!

Hi Camilla, you cannot copy + post these on your site, but feel free to link to the article – our site is compatible with Google translate 🙂

Hi Camilla, this list cannot be republished, even if translated into another language. However, if you would like to link to our website that would be great, your readers are able to translate it into any language if they use a web browser such as Google Chrome.

My goal is to write all of these prompts before 2018

This is amazing! I am writing for fun and this is a list of amazing prompts!

Ha, Ha . I see what you did , #164 was missing and now it say write about being left out .

Thanks a ton !!!

This link has been really helpful for my blog, loved the ideas.

Thanks for not publishing my email address

You are welcome! We never publish email addresses. If you’d like to learn more about how we collect and use information you may provide us with on this website, you can read more on our privacy policy page. Hope that helps! https://thinkwritten.com/privacy/

I have another suggestion, What about “The Secret Journey to the Unknown”. I reckon it’s awesome!

I was wondering if you could please send new ideas to me, much appreciated thanks.

I love all of these so much and i try to write referring to these at least once everyday thank you so much for these!

Trust, It is a beautiful thing. You give it to others, For them to protect. They can keep it forever, Or they can destroy it.

Wow what a treasure! Am glad I have found the right place to begging my writing journey.Thanks guys

Super awesome! Thanks so much for this collection of writing prompts!!

Today is the last day of the year 2017. I’m proud to say that I was able to complete this challenge. Thank you for the inspiring prompts! 🙂

That is awesome! We might just have to think of some new ones!!

how about one with sports like the NBA

I thought my life was over when I couldn’t access this for a couple weeks. These prompts are excellent. I write two page short stories on one every day. I hope you guys never take down this site but I’m printing these for insurance because it truly was devastating. I’m very emotionally attached to this list. Thank you so much for sharing.

Yes, we did have a small glitch in our hosting services for a few days! Fortunately, it was only temporary and unexpected! {Though I’m sure it did feel like 2 weeks!} Good to hear you are using the prompts!

Very nice article. Very useful one for improving writing skills

Thank you Sid! Glad it is useful for you!

Oh my god.. This is something a different, thought provoking and a yardstick to those who cultivated passion on writing, like me, beginners. Wishes for this website. I really wanted to try this 365 days of writing. Thanks in tons.

Glad you find it helpful! I hope it keeps you inspired to keep growing as a writer!

i love writing too! i am writing a book and this website inspired me too!

i have been writing lots of things and am getting A + on writing

thxs for your time with the web

i am making a epic book. it is because of this website. you really help. i will share a link of my book once i am done with it to your awesome cool really helpful website! thank you for your time

That is great to hear Christopher! Would love to see some of your work when you are ready to share! 🙂

WOOOOOOOOW BEST SITE!

I’m going to write few marvelous essays based on ideas in your impressive list. Thanks!

Just to tell some people that 165 or 164 is not missing because some people probably can’t see but just to let u know that 164 is a prompt called “Left Out”

Dang. The second idea about writing about what it feels like to love someone who doesn’t love you back, I wrote something like that BEFORE I found this website.

You can always try writing it again, maybe from the other person’s perspective this time? That is the beauty of the open-ended writing prompts – you can always interpret them in a way to push and challenge you as a writer!

Thank you for these prompts! I enjoyed looking through them and writing them! They gave me great ideas and inspired me so much.

This is my favorite website to find inspiration to write. I had run out of ideas and i had a huge writers block but this made it all go away. Here’s something i wrote:

He is a mess She is beautiful He has tears streaming down his face She glides across the room as if it were her kingdom And she’s The reigning queen He’s curled up in a ball In the corner of the room He looks at me I wonder what he thinks I can’t take my eyes off her The way she subtly smiles when she realizes Someone is looking She seems to be happy all the time But I can see through the smile It’s my first time noticing It’s not complete That was the first time I wanted to say hi But I thought Why would he look at me? The nerd with all the answers in her head All the books in her hands And Her sleeves full of hearts She looked at me From the corner of her eye She saw me looking The boy with the tear stains She saw me His tears were no longer streaming He had finally stood up Tall and handsome As he is Eyes Bluer than the blue jay that sat outside my bedroom window She had opened a book and started reading She hadn’t changed pages for a while Safe to assume She was distracted She looked up and Without knowing I was in front of her “Hi” Her brown eyes Stared in to my soul Erased the memory of why the tears Were streaming in the first place “Hi”

I love it Cynthia, thank you for sharing and glad that it inspired you to keep writing! 🙂

Thank you for so many amazing ideas! I love the sound of mirror, mirror!

Glad you found it inspiring Ar!

read the whole thing and didn’t find anything I’d enjoy writing 🙁

What kinds of things do you like to write? We have a whole collection of additional writing prompts lists here. Sometimes challenging yourself to write something you don’t like all in its own can be a good exercise for writing. Hope that helps!

These are ingenious!

I love these prompts! They’re inspiring! I’ve chosen to challenge myself by using one of these prompts every day of this 2019 year. I posted my writings for the first prompt on my Tumblr and Facebook pages with the prompt and a link back to this article- I hope that’s alright. If not, I can take it down, or I would love to discuss a way I could continue to do this. I hope more people can see and use these prompts because I have already found joy in using the first one.

Hi Elizabeth! Glad you are enjoying the prompts! You can definitely post what you write with these prompts as long as you do not copy the entire list or claim them as your own. Linking back to our website or this post will help others find the prompts so they too can use them for writing! If you have any questions feel free to contact us anytime using our contact form. Thanks!

Amazing original prompts Thank you so much!

Good list, but you’re not supposed to mistake it’s for its. Not on a website for writers, of all places!

I appreciate your comment, especially because after triple checking the article AND having a few grammar-police personality type friends do the same we could not find any typos. All of the instances of its and it’s are the correct usage.

However, one thing we did remember is that it is very easy for the person reading to accidentally misunderstand and not interpret it the way as the writer intended.

To clarify when we should use it’s vs. its:

We use it’s when we intend the meaning as the contraction. This is a shortened way of writing it is . We use its without an apostrophe when we use it as a possessive noun. Any instances you may note here are correct for their intended meaning.

Some examples:

Prompt #141 It’s a Sign : In this case we intend it to be interpreted as IT IS a Sign , where the usage is a contraction.

Prompt #7 The Rocket Ship : In this case we intend it to be interpreted as the possessive form.

I hope that helps clear up any possible confusion for you!

Thank you soooo much! That helped me a lot!

You’re welcome Keira! Glad you enjoyed our list of writing ideas!

It is so rich in bright and thought-provoking ideas. Thank you so much. Get inspired to have more, please

Thanks for this. I love to write things like this. Some of these though, weren’t as interesting as I wanted it to be, not saying that they aren’t interesting. I like the help you’ve added in, such as being led into a dark room with only a flashlight to help so it gets us started. Great job!

Thanks Maya, I’m glad you like the prompts. Sometimes the prompts that seem boring are the best ones to help you practice your skills as a writer to make them interesting topics. Some of the best writers can make the most mundane topics fun!

Nice….I don’t think I’ll ever lack something to write on … I so appreciate your ideas ..,they are great

Thank you, glad you enjoyed them!

Thank you for providing these writing prompts! They are great!

Thank You so much, these are amazing to start of with to get the creative juices flowing

Thank you very much

Sweet! Thank you so much! I plan to use some of these for some creative writing on CourageousChristianFather.com

I’m glad they inspired you Steve! I always love seeing what everyone writes with these prompts – I really enjoyed your post about the cookie ad jingle! 🙂

Thanks so much for this list. I needed something to kickstart my writing. This is exactly what I’ve been looking for! I just wrote #1. WooHoo!!

Thank you for your list. This is great!

I write feature articles for our church library’s monthly newsletter. Perusing this list has helped me come up with a couple dozen ideas to consider for future issues! Thanks much for putting this together – it is being used beyond the scope of what you intended, I think!

That’s wonderful Debbie! There are so many ways to apply these prompts to any sort of project – thank you for sharing how you are using them!

Thanks for your prompts, an idea I have for a prompt is write a story based on your favorite story for example I’m writing a fantasy book based on the game dungeons and dragons…

i guss its ok

cgv hbvkd vjvhsvhivhcickbcjh

Just needed to ask: I’d like to think these prompts are for free writing with no pauses? But, does one edit and polish the piece after that? I keep reading about writing every day…like brain dumping. But, there is never a mention of what one does with the piece after that??

This article has been written with sheer intelligence. Such 365 creative writing prompts has been written here. This article is worth marking as Good. I like how you have researched and presented these exact points so clearly.

Thank you for this list! You’ve inspired me to take up the challenge, though I haven’t written anything in years!

I have even created a blog to post my ideas, and keep myself accountable. I hope this is okay, I will credit, and provide a link back to this page on each post. https://thefishhavegotitright.blogspot.com/

I love it Ariadne, I’ll definitely come check out your site! Keep at it!

This is really Helpful thanks I love it😊

I never knew how much I had to write about. This should definitely keep me busy! Thank you so much for the list.

Hi! I saw a note saying this had been updated for 2020. I was curious if there are plans to update it for 2021. If so, when would the 2021-updated list become available?

Hi Gabrielle, I am not sure when we will next update this list, but feel free to check out some of our other writing prompts lists if you’ve exhausted this one! Writing Prompts for Kids {which is for grown-ups too!} and Poetry Writing Prompts are two great ones to check out. Hope that helps!

Loved this a lot! I would like to ask permission for using these prompts for my poetry and stories page on Instagram. Kindly let me know if I can use these and let my followers write on them too.

Hi, Piyusha, I’m just a user of the site like you, so I’m not “official”. But if you hit CTRL + F in your browser, that should open the “Find” dialog. Search on “Camilla”, and that will take you to a post and response concerning your request. Have a great and productive writing day. K. B. Tidwell

very informative thank you

I have always had problems finding something to write about. My problem is solved🥰 Thank you

I love this

Oh great. Good for everyone who enjoys picking the pen and writing something readable

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13 Thought-Provoking Personal Narrative Prompts

by Suzanne Davis | Sep 12, 2019 | Writing Essays and Papers | 2 comments

To be a person is to have a story to tell. –Isak Dinesen

What stories are within you?  A personal narrative is a story from your life. So, it is simple to write.  Maybe.  If you come up with an experience you’re dying to share–it is easy to get started. But, it isn’t always easy to think of an idea for a personal narrative.  So, I put together a list of 13 personal narrative prompts to help you find a compelling story you long to write about.

The idea of longing to write it is important because personal narratives need to show readers what your experience was like.  Desire to write inspires you to put more effort into your narrative’s description, character development, and plot.  Sounds a lot like writing a fictional story doesn’t it? Both are narratives, they need to engage your readers and show them something unique.

Personal narrative writing shows settings, people, actions, and feelings. When you write a personal narrative, you describe a story so that your reader sees, feels, and understands what you experienced.    When you write a personal narrative, you describe a story so that your reader sees, feels and understands what you experienced. Click To Tweet

You show (don’t tell) readers a personal story .  Check out the post “How to Master Writing a Compelling Personal Narrative Essay” https://www.academicwritingsuccess.com/writing-a-personal-narrative/   to see how to use the show don’t tell approach in writing personal narratives.

Finding an engaging personal narrative prompt will help you discover a memorable essay.  Let’s find the right topic for you.

13 Personal Narrative Prompts

One of the best ways to show a personal story is to select a small episode or anecdote from your life and dig deep into it.  These 13 personal narrative prompts help you find a great essay topic.

#1 Favorite School Memory

Write a story about your favorite school memory.  Who was there? Where was it?  How did it happen?  How does it end?  Focus on one single event.  For example, if you played the violin in school you could tell a story about playing the violin in a concert.  Or if you played on a soccer team, you could tell the story of your tryout.

# 2 Worst School Memory

This is the opposite of #1.  Select a memory that is focused on a terrible situation.  What triggered that situation and what happened?  What was the result?  For example, this could be a situation where you were bullied.  Describe what happened, and how it ended for you.  Did anyone defend you, or help you?  Or did the bullying continue?

#3 Frightening Story

Write a story about a scary or frightening moment in your life.  What happened?  How was it scary?  Are you still frightened?  Fear is a strong emotion and it motivates people to keep reading and find out what followed.  Some examples of frightening moments are being trapped in a cave, lost in the woods or inside an old house with strange noises, or a traumatic event.  A frightening experience could also be any personal event where you didn’t feel safe and were afraid something terrible was going to happen.

# 4 “Just Between Friends” 

Write a story about something that happened between you and a friend.  Is it something important you experienced together?  Did your friend do something to help you?  Did that person hurt you?  Or did you do something to help your friend?  Did you hurt a friend?  Some ideas for this topic are an activity or event you both participated in, something you both started, a great act of kindness, a sacrifice one of you made to help the other.  It could also be something where you betrayed your friend, or your friend betrayed you.

#5 Family Story

This is similar to the topic of friendship except in this case it’s something that happened within your family.  What occurred, who was there, and what did you do? Is there an important funny, sad, or happy event in your family?  Did you do something important or special with your family?   Some examples of this topic are the birth of someone in your family, the death of a loved one, or something fun you did with your parents, siblings or grandparents, etc.

Write a story of the best, strangest, or worst thing that happened to you on a vacation or trip to another place.  Focus on one event or experience. One mistake writers make with this essay idea is they describe an entire travel experience, and that isn’t interesting to your readers.  Some ideas for this writing prompt are getting lost in a city, being pickpocketed on a trip, or visiting a historical site.

#7 First Love

First loves are powerful and vivid stories.  Consider a story about how you met that person or a significant memory between you. This could be something wonderful, funny, or even terrible,  If the relationship is over how did it end?  Were you heartbroken?  These stories, or a story about any important relationship, leave an imprint on us.

#8 Success Story

Write a story about something you accomplished.  Describe what you did to achieve success, and how you reached your goal.  Were there obstacles you had to overcome? This is a tricky essay topic because sometimes people focus on the feelings of success or the final achievement rather than the story of how they succeeded.  Some ideas for this topic are to write about winning an event, earning an honor, confronting a personal challenge, or getting over a phobia.

#9 Personal Failure

Write about how you failed to do or failed to achieve something.  Describe what you tried to do, how you failed, and what you gained/learned from it.  Everyone fails at something.  Your readers understand the feeling of failure.  Some people connect with these personal narratives more than stories of success because they empathize with you. People learn a lot through failure, so when you write this type of story, hint or convey what you learned from failing.

#10 Accident

Write a story about an accident you caused or an accident that happened to you.  This could be negative as in a car accident or maybe it’s an accident of good fortune.  Describe how the accident occurred, who was involved, and how it ended.  Was it a bicycle accident?  How did it happen?  Did someone get hurt?

#11 Unresolved Experience

Describe something that happened to you, but where there’s no resolution.  What was the experience and how did it occur? What don’t you understand or know about the experience? Then, instead of having a resolution to the story, convey how you feel about not knowing what happened.

#12 An International or National Event or Incident

Write a personal story describing how you acted, witnessed, or responded to a significant national or international event or incident.  Did you play in the Olympics, or join a protest?  Did you survive a natural disaster?  What was your role in this circumstance?  What did you do?  For example, if you were in a hurricane describe what happened, who you were with, and how you survived.

#13 Change the World Experience

One of the best experiences I had in my life was creating and organizing a family literacy program for public schools. There are several stories within that experience I could write. If you were a volunteer for an organization or participated in a service project, think about what happened.  Was there a moment that changed everything? What occurred? Did any of those stories change you, your community, or another person?  These stories can be very moving because they have impacted you, what you believe, and how you see or view others. 

Choose a Personal Narrative Prompt and Write

The most important factor to consider in a personal narrative is yourself.  Choose an idea for a personal narrative that intrigues you.  If your narrative bores you, it’ll bore readers.  You want to write a descriptive personal story with vivid characters, actions, and emotions.

Also, select a story you want to share with others.  You’re revealing not just what happened to you, but also a piece of yourself.  Is your personal story something you want people to know?

It’s your story .  You decide what to write and who reads it.  Then write it well.

What is your favorite personal narrative topic?  Please share it below! 

Great prompts, Suzanne! I especially liked #10 the unresolved experience. Very thought provoking. These prompts would also be great for personal journaling.

Terri, thank you. You’re right. These writing prompts would work well with personal journaling. I’m glad you liked #10. It’s one of my favorites!

[…] So which descriptive essay prompt inspires you?  And if you want more creative writing prompts, check out my blog post, “13 Thought-Provoking Personal Narrative Prompts” https://www.academicwritingsuccess.com/13-thought-provoking-personal-narrative-prompts/ . […]

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150+ Deep Writing Prompts About Life to REALLY Reflect

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Last Updated on August 17, 2023

Life can feel like a crazy roller coaster of ups and downs and endless twists and turns! From hitting huge life milestones, to self reflecting on who you truly are, to finding your purpose in life…there’s so much to process. 

Everyone has a story, and so do you! But how often do you truly zoom out and assess your life as a bigger picture? If you haven’t done much exploring with the depths of your life, these deep writing prompts about life are your invitation to do so!

From untangling your thoughts and feelings, to discovering your outlook on life, to finding ways to live life more mindfully…these deep journal prompts have it ALL!

And these are not just your everyday, average journal prompts! These are meant to dive DEEP into the inner-workings of your mind. If you want to walk away with a deeper sense of self-awareness and clarity when it comes to finding yourself, you’re in the right place.

Table of Contents

150+ Deep Writing Prompts About Life

Don’t forget about these deep writing prompts about life! Pin ’em to come back later!

What Are Some Deep Writing Topics?

Ready to learn about yourself on a truly deep level? These deep journal prompts for adults cover thought-provoking topics like challenging your inner critic, mindfulness, your outlook on life, self-reflection, love…pretty much every deep writing prompt about your life!

Deep Journal Prompts For Adults

• What can contribute to your sense of feeling empowered?
• Have you ever experienced a strong flow state (where you’re completely absorbed in an activity you’re doing)? What set-up needs to be in place to get you there?
• Reflect on the hardest thing you’ve had to forgive someone for. How difficult was this, and how did it impact your relationship?
• Think about your relationship with time and time-management skills. Do you often feel rushed or late to things? Do you take on more tasks than you should? Explain.
• Has your confidence increased or decreased with time/age? How so?
• Do you have a special book, movie, song, etc. that has made a meaningful impact on you? Describe this.
• Where are you at with spirituality? Is this something you think about often, or hardly ever? Describe your journey with it. ( these journal prompts for spiritual growth can help you better-connect to your spirituality!)
• Have you ever dealt with a significant loss in your life? How did you make it through?
• Reflect on a personal strength that you take for granted or overlook. How can you validate this strength and use it to overcome challenges?
• How satisfied are you with your social life? What challenges have you had with growing and maintaining an active social life in adulthood?
• Is there a recurring pattern in your life that you wish you could break? What makes you fall into this pattern time and time again?
• What steps can you take to break unhelpful patterns or behaviors in your life?
• Reflect on your relationship with productivity and “hustle culture.” Do you find society’s obsession with productivity to be harmful? How do you balance this yourself?
• Think back to a difficult conversation you had. How did you handle it, and what did you think afterward?
• Do you avoid confrontation or struggle to initiate it? Why or why not?

Thought-Provoking Topics To Write About

• Introversion vs. extroversion – where do you stand on the spectrum?
• Being a leader vs. a follower – in which position do you feel most comfortable?
• Working for yourself vs. working for a boss – which do you thrive better with and why?
• Your personal mental health struggles and the journey you’ve been on with them
• Your opinions on marriage and weddings
• Having children vs. not having children – where do you stand and why?
• How your self care habits have evolved from the first time you learned about self care compared to now.
• Something you never expected would be part of your personality and/or interests, but you’ve fallen in love with.
• A traumatic experience you’ve endured and how you’ve processed it (try these trauma healing journal prompts for support on this!)
• Your first job vs. your current job and how far you’ve come
• Fixed mindset vs. growth mindset – which do you have? Can you think of people in your life that are perfect examples of each?
• Independent vs. dependent – do you consider yourself more of an independent or dependent person?
• Your red flags or deal breakers in a relationship
• Something significant you’ve changed your mind about over time, when you didn’t think you would.
• Your relationship with exercise and how it impacts your sense of capability.
• Your relationship with food and body image. (These body image affirmations are here to help you with this!)
• Your attachment style and how you believe it came to be
• Your pain tolerance and what you believe has influenced it (often from childhood!)
• Settling down young vs. taking it slow – which do you desire and why?
• Traveling the world vs. staying in one place – is travel something you care about?
• Nature vs. nurture – how much of our personalities do you believe stem from nature (inborn traits) or nurture (environment you’re raised in)?

Deep Writing Prompts About Yourself

• Reflect on the accomplishments and personal growth you’re most proud of. How has this shaped your opinion of your self-competency?
• Think of a time where you prioritized perfection over progress. How could you have approached the situation from a more practical, caring mindset? (if this is a struggle, these affirmations for perfectionists are perfect for you!)
• Have you ever made a mistake that ultimately led to something happening for the better? What did you learn about this and the concept of imperfections? 
• Write a letter to your future self, highlighting all the things you’re currently feeling lost or confused about. How do you envision your future self gaining clarity on these?
• Reflect on the past year and how you’ve grown as a person. What insights have you gained about yourself, and how are you better able to manage life?
• What is a newer insecurity or fear that hasn’t popped up until this season of your life? Why did it come up and what makes it so troubling?
• Reflect on a time where you felt truly alive, as if you were exactly where you were supposed to be in that moment. What were you doing, and how can you use this to further understand your values?
• Do you find yourself being more conventional or unconventional about your life path and where you see yourself going?
• Do you feel the pressure to conform to society, or do you feel confident moving with your own flow?
• What hobbies have you done over the course of your life? Do any of them differ from what you enjoy now?
• How have hobbies contributed to your sense of self and well-being? (if you haven’t picked up a hobby in a while, you’ll love these fun hobby ideas for women in their 20s !)
• Do you hold any regrets? What lessons can you learn from the regret and how can it shape your life moving forward?
• Elaborate on your 3 biggest strengths and 3 biggest weaknesses.
• How have those strengths and weaknesses impacted your relationships, professional life, and personal life?
• Is there anything you have a hard time forgiving yourself for? What holds you back?
• How would you describe your sense of passion right now? Are you feeling passionate about any goal or activity in your life? If not, why not?
• Describe your idea of the “perfect day” from morning to night. How do the activities you choose add value to your life?
• Is there anything that’s weighing heavily on your mind right now? Release it in your journal.
• Describe someone in your life who you deeply admire. What makes them so inspirational to you? How can you pick up some of their qualities?
• What is something about your past self that you’re not exactly proud of? How can you work toward accepting this part of yourself, while acknowledging your growth?
• When you’re overwhelmed, what do you do to cope with it?
• Are you happy with the way you cope and respond to stress? If not, what goals would you like to set in this area?

Improve your coping skills and create a self care plan that works for YOU with this journal!

Life too hectic for self care? Not with The Busy Woman’s Self Care Journal !

Made by a busy woman, for busy women,  the goal of this journal is simple:  to make an effective self care plan that works for your unique needs. No matter how crazy life gets!

Get step-by-step guidance to create your personalized self care plan by…

Journal Prompts for Your Inner Critic

• What was your most recent experience with your inner critic causing you to doubt yourself?
• Describe the voice of your inner critic. What tone of voice does it speak in, and how does it feel?
• What are the most common things your inner critic tells you?
• Describe any experiences that come to mind from childhood that may have developed your inner critic.
• How has society or your culture influenced your inner critic?
• Describe a period in your life where you felt the most self-doubt. Why did this happen, and what helped you recover?
• Name a few limiting beliefs your inner critic has manipulated you to believe about yourself and your abilities. (Then, use these journal prompts for limiting beliefs to work through them!)
• Name the top three qualities you compare yourself to others about. How does this impact your self-worth?
• Of those three qualities, reframe the inner-criticisms regarding them into something more rational or positive.
• Reflect on a time where you felt inadequate recently. How did your inner critic affect your emotions and behaviors during this time?
• 1-Day Challenge: keep a journal or digital note on your phone for a day, taking note of every negative thought you experience. At the end of the day, what did you observe?
• Of all the negative thoughts you had that day, choose one to challenge. What evidence do you have that contradicts your inner critic? 
• How does your inner critic impact the way you view and think of your inner child? (start the healing process for your inner child with these journal prompts .)
• How can you distinguish constructive criticism vs. toxic criticism from your inner critic?
• We all tend to hold ourselves to a higher standard than we do our friends, family, and loved ones. Why do you think this is true for you?
• Think back to a big, stressful decision you had to make. What did your inner critic tell you along the way during your decision process?
• Have you ever “given in” to your inner critic, resulting in making a choice you were unhappy with? Explain.
• How do you think your decision-making habits would be without the influence of your inner critic? Do you think it would be easier to arrive at decisions? Why?
• Pinpoint one positive affirmation you can use that directly counters something your inner critic always tells you. How much do you believe in this affirmation? If you don’t believe in it, what can help you get there?
• Visualize your inner critic as a real human being sitting next to you. What conversation would you have to address its concerns and work toward healthier self-talk?
• Write a letter to yourself as if it came from a best friend offering you words of encouragement. What would you tell yourself?
• After this letter, reflect on why you struggle to speak in this kind, compassionate way toward yourself.
• How has your inner critic evolved over time? Has it gotten more or less critical, and in what areas of your life?
• Take 5 minutes to self-reflect and observe your thoughts about yourself without judgment. How can you continue to view yourself more neutrally, without the need for self-judgment?

Journal Prompts for Your Outlook on Life

• What is your overall, general perspective on life right now?
• What do you really believe gives life meaning and fulfillment?
• What do you think about the concept of finding your purpose? Where are you at with finding your purpose? (if you’re stuck, these journal prompts will help you find your purpose!)
• Who is someone you know who has a refreshingly positive outlook on life? What do you think enables them to see life in this way?
• Have you ever faced periods of depression that dampened your outlook on life? What contributed to this?
• How has your outlook on life changed overtime?
• What do you think is our true purpose, as humans, in life?
• Write a letter to your future self. Express the questions you hope to get answers to and about the person you wish to become.
• Have you ever been in a debate or had strong feelings on a topic that shifted dramatically later on? Discuss.
• How do you react to change and uncertainty? Do you feel a level of emotional instability when faced with change, or are you able to adapt easily?
• Write about the hardest life change you’ve ever had to go through. What made it so difficult?
• How do you think self care has contributed to your mindset and outlook on life?
• How have your long-term goals and aspirations shifted as you’ve grown up?
• Which goal of yours are you dying to achieve as soon as possible? Do you feel rushed to complete it for one reason or another? Explore that.
• How did your experiences in school shape your outlook on life?
• How did your experiences in the workforce shape your outlook on life?
• What do you think about work-life balance, or the concept of having to work in general?
• At what point in your life did you have the darkest outlook on life? What about the most positive?
• What childhood experiences impacted your outlook on life or affected your behavior as an adult?

Journal Prompts for Mindfulness

• What is your biggest obstacle when it comes to living in the present?
• What do you struggle with more: dwelling on the past or worrying about the future?
• Has there ever been a moment where you can recall feeling fully present and immersed in the moment? What was it like?
• Think about a daily activity you tend to do on auto-pilot. How could you approach this activity more mindfully, and how would that add to the experience?
• Think about the last time you were in nature. What do you remember observing and how did you feel as you were in nature?
• Take a moment to close your eyes and take five slow, deep breaths. How does this small act affect your mental and physical state?
• Think about the sensory experience of your favorite food. What flavors, smells, textures, and feelings do you notice with each bite?
• Brain dump a list of all the things that come to your mind in this moment that you are grateful for.
• How did you feel when you moved into your current home for the first time? How did the experience differ compared to now, where you are used to your home?
• Do you struggle with active listening? (Being fully present when in a conversation with someone) Or do you focus more on forming your response than listening?
• Do a body scan, where you slowly focus attention on different parts of your body, starting from your head and making your way down to your toes. What sensations do you notice?
• How can mindfulness be applied to your daily morning or night routine? Do you think it could make these routines more meaningful?
• Do you have a go-to mantra or positive affirmation that helps you center or ground yourself? How does this impact your headspace? (you’ll love these affirmations for mindfulness !)
• Think of the last time you went for a walk. What sights, sounds, and experiences did you notice on the walk?
• Do you struggle with your focus or your mind wandering when you don’t want it to? How can you practice more acceptance and gently bring yourself back to the moment, rather than judging yourself?
• What can you do to be more mindful and intentional with the current month or season?

Journal Prompts For Self Reflection

• What do you think about the concept of “happiness” vs. “being content”? Do you value one over the other?
• What was your most recent setback? How did you cope with it, and what did you learn from it?
• Have you ever stepped outside of your comfort zone and it turned out to be worth it? What happened?
• What has been your experience so far when it comes to setting and sticking to goals?
• What is something you seem to have greater difficulty coping with than others?
• What is something that doesn’t seem to bother you as much as others?
• Have you ever felt “different” or “outcast” at any point in your life? How so?
• Write a letter to your teenage self. Give them reassurance about what you know now to ease their insecurities or fears. (You can also work on healing your inner teenager if your teen years were rough!)
• What personality trait do you feel has hindered your personal growth?
• What personality trait do you feel has helped your personal growth?
• How do you react when you make mistakes? Where does your reaction stem from?
• Who, in your life, has made an especially significant impact? In what ways?
• How do you handle anxiety when you’re faced with a trigger?
• Think about a habit or behavior that you’d like to change. How can you take steps to work on this? What has held you back so far?
• Have you been giving as much time to self care as you’d like lately? (this 7-day self care challenge is perfect for working self care back into your routine!)
• Do you notice any changes in your mood, energy, and mental health when you haven’t stayed on top of self care?
• Is there a tough decision you’re struggling with right now? What holds you back from making the decision?
• Has there ever been a time where you felt self-doubt or imposter syndrome, and it got better with time? What changed?
• Consider your strongest values and core beliefs. Do your current habits, choices, and behaviors align with those?
• Write about all the realizations you’ve made in the last few years that have furthered your understanding of yourself.

Deep Writing Prompts About Love

• Think of a time where you felt truly loved and cherished. What was the context of this, and how did it shape your feelings about love?
• How have your platonic relationships influenced your outlook on love?
• How have your romantic relationships influenced your outlook on love?
• How have your familial relationships influenced your outlook on love?
• How has your self-love influenced your outlook on love? ( these self-love journal prompts will help you dive deeper!)
• Do you believe unconditional love is really possible?
• What makes it hard for you to be vulnerable in relationships?
• Is there anything you tend to hold back or hide about yourself in relationships? Why?
• How do you think your self-love plays a role in the success of your relationships with others?
• What do you think about the phrase, “you have to love yourself before you can love someone else.”?
• How has your perspective on love changed over time?
• What has been your biggest learning lesson when it comes to love?
• Reflect on a time where you lost someone you loved (a break-up, ending a friendship, losing a parent). What challenges did this experience bring to your opinion on love and attachment? ( these break-up journal prompts will soothe you when you need it most.)
• Did the societal norms surrounding love and relationships influence you to do things that weren’t in alignment with your true self?
• What was the most challenging relationship you’ve ever had (could be romantic, platonic, etc.) and what made it so difficult?
• Do you believe in soulmates or the concept of finding “the one”? Why or why not?
• What are your expectations in a relationship when it comes to open and honest communication?
• Have you ever had to sacrifice something for someone you loved? Do you believe it was the right choice?
• Have you ever been in or considered a long-distance relationship? If so, what did you learn? If not, what do you think about them?
• Has a relationship ever affected your feelings of self-worth? What was that like?

RELATED: 70 Journal Prompts for All Your Relationships

How Do You Write Deep About Yourself?

You may have journaled before, but if you want to really explore with these deep writing prompts about life, you’ll want to tap into your introspective skills. These steps can help you navigate your journal prompts in a more meaningful, effective way:

• Get in the zone – first of all, you want to create a peaceful environment for yourself where you feel comfortable, calm, and free of distractions. Whether it’s your bed, a cozy corner, or your closet–whatever works! Choose a time of day where you won’t feel rushed, too.
• Write unfiltered – as you respond to each writing prompt, just follow your stream of consciousness. Don’t think too hard about flow or sentence structure. Just go wherever your mind insists on taking you!
• Immerse yourself in memories – reflect on memories that may have shaped you or impacted your childhood development. Don’t just provide surface-level details. Think back to the emotions, reactions, and thoughts you had during the experience.
• Evaluate your beliefs and core values – these are so important! Your beliefs and core values make up who you are and only become more solidified with time. What morals guide your decisions? How did you arrive at your values and beliefs? How do they influence the way you navigate your life?
• Be vulnerable – your journal is your safe space. No one has to read it! This is your space to express yourself completely and authentically. The more vulnerable you are, the better the learning process as you journal.
• Assess your personal growth – take note of how far you’ve come in different areas of your life, whether that be your professional life, emotion regulation, relationships, or anything you’ve struggled with.
• Future dreams and aspirations – think about your dreams, goals, and anything you’d like to work toward. Envision your future self by asking, “what would my ideal life look like?”
• Share your insights – write about the epiphanies or life-changing realizations you’ve had about yourself or the world around you. What pieces of information have you picked up that have shaped your perspective?

Benefits of Journaling

Journaling can impact your life and your mental health in more ways than one! Whether you use deep writing prompts for life like these, or even just reflecting on your day-to-day thoughts and emotions, you unlock invaluable self-awareness.

This self-awareness has been known to support psychological well-being, so it sounds pretty worth it, right?

You might find amazing benefits like…

• Improved mental health
• Increased self-confidence
• Cultivation of gratitude
• Better communication skills and ability to articulate your thoughts
• Reduced stress
• An outlet to release anxious feelings and worries
• Greater emotional intelligence

Best Journals to Buy

I mean who doesn’t love getting a cute new journal when embarking on a new self-discovery era, am I right?! A fresh new journal can help you begin your journaling habit with a clean slate. Here are my favorite recommendations!

1. Erin Condren Notebooks

These are heavy-duty and built to last! I have loved Erin Condren products ever since I was in high school, so we go waaaayyy back, and I can say they are just fabulous! This journal even lets you customize your name on the front–how perfect!

2. Rifle Paper Co. Embroidered Journal

Wow, it doesn’t get any more beautiful than this! This embroidered journal from Rifle Paper Co. makes for the perfect keepsake journal with 400 pages (you’ll basically never run out at that point!). If this is an era of your life you truly want to treasure and look back on, this journal is a great match.

3. Threshold “Never Stop Growing” Journal from Target

You can’t go wrong with a classic, simple (yet super cute!) journal. The cover on this is so wholesome, and the quote of “Never Stop Growing” is the encouragement you need to continue on your journey of personal growth. You’ll find this beauty at Target !

4. 3-Pack Spiral Notebooks from Amazon

Want to compartmentalize your journaling practice? A 3-pack of journals is the way to go! You could dedicate one journal to self-reflection, one journal to goal setting, and one journal to therapy session notes. Or whatever categories make sense for your life! 

I hope these deep writing prompts about life got you digging deeper, reflecting harder, and ultimately learning more about yourself and where you’re at in life. You’ll be so glad you documented all of this!

And the awesome part is: you only have room to grow from here.

Psst…make self care quick and easy by downloading my (free!) printable daily self care check in! Grab it to start adding a little self reflection into your morning + night routines.

You will receive your daily self care check in shortly.

More Journal Prompts You’ll Love

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LIKE THESE DEEP WRITING PROMPTS ABOUT LIFE? PIN THEM FOR LATER!

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Hey there! I'm Alexa, and I'm a self-care enthusiast and mental health advocate. At Ambitiously Alexa, I'm here to support women like you who are on a mission to achieve allll the things they're passionate about and make time for self care. I make this balance possible through journal prompts, positive affirmations, and self care ideas you'll love! Here's more about me, including my B.A in Psychology...

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305 Creative Prompts for Writing: Explore a World of Imagination

By: Author Paul Jenkins

Posted on August 17, 2023

Categories Writing

You’ve hit a wall in your writing and can’t find the ladder to climb over? Don’t fret! Dive into this treasure trove of creative prompts we’ve assembled just for you.

They’ll not only spark your imagination, but also fuel your passion for storytelling. So buckle up, let’s venture into the world of creative prompts together and watch as they transform your writing journey.

Are you ready to unleash your creativity?

Key Takeaways

• Creative prompts serve as an oasis in the face of writer’s block.
• Mind mapping techniques, such as doodling and connecting random words, can boost creativity.
• Unconventional techniques, like writing with the non-dominant hand or narrating to an imaginary audience, can overcome writer’s block.
• Enhancing writing skills involves finding the perfect adjective, expanding vocabulary, and using metaphors.

Creative Prompts for Writing

Here are creative writing prompts for all kinds of creative writing:

Love & Relationships

• Write about your first crush. What did you like about them?
• Imagine you wake up one day as the opposite sex. Describe your day.
• Write a love letter to your partner apologizing for a fight.
• Describe the perfect date you’d take your crush on.
• Write a break-up letter to someone who hurt you.

Nature & The Outdoors

• Describe your favorite place in nature and what you like to do there.
• Imagine you’re camping and hear strange noises at night. Write the scene.
• You’re hiking and come across a beautiful waterfall. Describe it.
• Write about getting lost in the woods and how you found your way out.
• On a nature walk you discover a hidden grove or beach. Describe it.

Challenges & Overcoming Adversity

• Write about a injury or illness you recovered from.
• Describe a time you failed and what you learned from it.
• Imagine you switched places with someone very different from you. Write about your day in their shoes.
• Write about a challenge you overcame that made you stronger.
• Describe a time someone helped you when you were struggling.

Interests & Hobbies

• Explain how to play your favorite sport or game.
• Write a story featuring your favorite book or movie character.
• Describe the process of creating your favorite craft or art project.
• Imagine you could have any superpower. What would it be and how would you use it?
• Write a song or poem about one of your hobbies.

Imagination & Fantasy

• Describe a day in the life of your fantasy self (rockstar, wizard, princess, etc).
• Make up and describe a new mythical creature.
• Write a scene featuring a magic portal that leads somewhere unexpected.
• Craft a story featuring time travel.
• Imagine you find a magic lamp. The genie grants you 3 wishes – what do you wish for?

Travel & Culture

• Write a travel guide for your hometown. What landmarks and activities would you recommend?
• Describe your dream vacation – where would you go and what would you do?
• Imagine you wake up in a foreign country with no idea how you got there. What happens next?
• Narrate a day exploring a new city for the first time.
• Pick a cultural festival or holiday and describe celebrating it.

Memories & Reflection

• Write about your earliest childhood memory.
• Describe a family tradition or celebration.
• Recollect the house or neighborhood where you grew up.
• Pick an object that reminds you of an important memory and write about it.
• Reflect on a major milestone or accomplishment in your life.

Daily Life & Routines

• Explain your morning routine.
• Describe your commute to work or school.
• Narrate a typical day in your life. Don’t leave out any details!
• Write about getting ready for and going to a party or social event.
• Pick an everyday object and write a story about its origins and history.

Food & Cooking

• Write a descriptive essay about a family recipe and its significance.
• Imagine you are a food critic reviewing a new restaurant.
• Describe the most delicious meal you’ve ever eaten.
• Explain, step-by-step, how to cook your specialty dish.
• Craft a story featuring a magic fridge that can produce any food you ask for.

Personal Growth & Goals

• Write a letter to your future self with goals and predictions.
• List 10 things you want to accomplish in the next 5 years.
• Describe a personal quality, skill or virtue you want to cultivate.
• Explain a topic you want to learn more about and why it interests you.
• Write about a place you want to visit and what you would do there.

School & Work

• Imagine you could switch your career or calling. What would you do?
• Describe the most interesting class or workshop you ever took.
• Explain how you overcame a big challenge or obstacle at school or work.
• Narrate a typical day for you at school or your job.
• Describe your dream school, college or workplace. What’s it like?

Family & Friends

• Write a letter to a family member you haven’t seen in a long time.
• Describe a quirky or funny family tradition.
• Craft a story about a childhood adventure you had with friends.
• Write about a friend who impacted your life in a positive way.
• List 10 traits or qualities you appreciate in your best friend.

Neighborhood & Community

• Imagine you are leading a tour of your neighborhood or town. What landmarks would you include?
• Craft a story about discovering something unexpected down the street.
• Pick a local small business and write a positive review.
• Write about a community service experience that had an impact on you.
• Describe your ideal community. What’s it like?

Current Events & Social Issues

• Write a letter to a newspaper about a current event issue you care about.
• Describe how an important news story impacted you or your community.
• Craft a poem expressing your perspective on a social problem.
• Imagine yourself in a leadership role. How would you address a pressing issue?
• Explain why a certain cause or nonprofit matters to you.

Science & Technology

• Speculate on likely future technology and how it will change people’s lives.
• Describe your role model or inspiration in the sciences or tech field. Why do they inspire you?
• Craft a story set 100 years in the future featuring new, imagined technology.
• Explain a complex scientific concept or theory in simple, everyday language.
• Write a poem or metaphor to describe a process in nature.

Good & Evil

• Tell the story of an epic battle between good and evil.
• Craft a tale featuring magic used for good purposes.
• Imagine you can erase one evil person or event from history. Which do you choose and why?
• Write a superhero story featuring a character with an unlikely weakness or vulnerability.
• Describe a villain’s backstory showing how they became evil.

Mysteries & Suspense

• You’re a detective investigating a puzzling crime or mystery. Describe your findings.
• Craft a ghost story set in a haunted house or castle.
• Write a scene where a character realizes they’re being followed. Build suspense.
• Imagine you discover a secret room, passageway or object with a hidden history.
• Narrate a story where an ordinary object turns out to be more than meets the eye.

Humor & Satire

• Describe a comical day where everything goes wrong.
• Craft a scene featuring outrageously bad customer service.
• Imagine a world with silly laws. What funny laws would you make up?
• Write a playful poem or song making light of some everyday annoyance.
• Compose a humorous dialogue between two fictional characters arguing about something trivial.

Historical Fiction

• Rewrite a key historical event from an unusual perspective, like a soldier, servant, etc.
• Imagine yourself as part of an ancient civilization. Describe your daily life.
• Craft a fictional tale featuring figures from mythology or folklore.
• Set a story within a key event or era from history.
• Pick a historical landmark and write a fictional account of its beginnings.

Dystopias & Alternate Worlds

• Describe daily life in a future dystopian society.
• Craft a scene showing the moment a character realizes their “perfect” world isn’t so perfect after all.
• Imagine you discover life is just a simulation. Describe how you uncover the truth.
• Write a tale about someone encountering a portal to an alternate universe or dimension.
• Design your own fantasy or alien world. Describe key elements like geography, culture, creatures, etc.

Self-Improvement & Growth

• List 10 things you appreciate about yourself and why they make you special.
• Imagine your life 5 years from now if you make positive changes. How is it different?
• Describe a personal struggle and how you overcame it.
• Explain how an inspiring figure or mentor impacted your life in a positive way.
• Write about a place you visited or experience you had that led to self-discovery.

Learning & Education

• Outline the plot for an educational children’s book that teaches a lesson.
• Explain a complex idea or theory in your own words as if teaching it.
• Write a how-to guide about one of your skills or areas of expertise.
• Describe the most rewarding class, workshop or training you ever took. Why was it meaningful?
• Imagine you can take any course at a university. What do you study and why?

Loss & Grief

• Write a letter to someone you lost, saying the things you wish you could have said.
• Describe going through the stages of grief after a significant loss.
• Craft a story featuring a support group for people dealing with loss.
• Write about an object or memento that reminds you of a loved one.
• Reflect on how a loss changed your outlook or priorities.

Freedom & Confinement

• Imagine yourself in jail writing about your experience and dreams of freedom.
• Craft a story about someone trapped on a deserted island, trying to escape.
• Describe a character confined to a hospital or their home, and their changing perspective.
• Narrate a prison break scene from the point of view of the escapee.
• Write about finding freedom after an abusive or controlling relationship.
• Compose a tale about a deal with the devil. What are the terms and consequences?
• Craft a redemption story about a villain who turns over a new leaf.
• Imagine being able to peer into someone’s soul. Whose would you look into?
• Write about the gray area between good and evil.
• Describe a character realizing they were on the wrong side of good and evil.

Coming of Age

• Write about a rite of passage or milestone marking your transition to adulthood.
• Craft a bildungsroman novel featuring a character’s journey to maturity.
• Describe moving away from home for the first time.
• Narrate a scene where a character rebels against his or her parents for the first time.
• Reflect on a key life lesson you learned growing up.

Relationships

• Describe the meeting of two characters destined to be together.
• Craft a story centered on a lifelong friendship.
• Write about reconnecting with an old friend or relative after many years apart.
• Imagine characters with contrasting personalities becoming unlikely friends.
• Narrate a scene where two characters have an intense heart-to-heart talk.

Nature & Animals

• Personify an animal or object in nature and write its perspective.
• Craft a mythical legend explaining a natural phenomenon.
• Imagine you can communicate with animals. What do they say?
• Write a poem inspired by a natural object or scene.
• Describe encountering magnificent wildlife on a hike or safari.

Horror & Suspense

• Write a scary campfire story.
• Craft a horror scene using vivid sensory details and suspenseful build up.
• Imagine you notice something sinister about a seemingly ordinary object or place. Describe it.
• Write a thriller featuring mistaken identity or an unreliable narrator.
• Describe the creepy atmosphere of an abandoned building using vivid details.

Fantasy & Dreams

• Describe a vivid dream where magic felt real.
• Craft a fantasy tale set in a world unlike our own.
• Tell the story of someone caught between magical and ordinary worlds.
• Imagine discovering you have supernatural abilities. How do you react?
• Write about a prophecy coming true against all odds.

Culture & Tradition

• Write about a holiday, festival or celebration in your family or culture.
• Craft a legend or fable from another culture explaining something about their values or history.
• Imagine you wake up in another country. How do you manage day-to-day life?
• Write a fish out of water story featuring someone experiencing a foreign culture.
• Describe visiting a cultural landmark. Transport the reader there.

Slice of Life

• Pick an ordinary object and describe its significance in your life.
• Craft a story where small moments build to create meaning.
• Narrate a quiet scene showing time passing.
• Describe a nostalgic memory surrounding food.
• Capture the atmosphere and conversations at a local café or bar.

Flash Fiction

• Write a 50-100 word story with a beginning, middle and end.
• Craft a miniature flash fiction fantasy or sci-fi tale.
• Describe a scene from an unusual perspective in micro fiction form.
• Capture a relatable moment or emotion in a paragraph.
• Challenge yourself to very short fiction – stories under 15 words.

Poetry & Free Verse

• Try your hand at a form like haiku, limerick, sonnet or villanelle.
• Craft a free verse nature poem.
• Use metaphor and imagery to describe a feeling, place or memory.
• Experiment with sound and rhythm in a poem.
• Write a nostalgic poem about childhood.

Fan Fiction

• Explore “what if” scenarios by rewriting scenes from a favorite work.
• Craft a crossover story combining characters from different fictional worlds.
• Write a prequel or sequel to a favorite story.
• Describe a ficitional character’s childhood or backstory.
• Pick an interesting relationship between characters to focus on.
• Record your thoughts, feelings and experiences over a day or week.
• List goals and dreams for the future in a journal entry.
• Describe memories surrounding an old photo, letter or memento.
• Write about your shifting perspective on an important issue.
• Capture a description of someone important in your life.
• Write about a significant or life-changing event from your past.
• Craft a personal essay about an important lesson, insight or realization.
• Describe a place that shaped your childhood or a key period in your past.
• Recount an impactful conversation that stuck with you.
• Reflect on a personal habit, quirk or trait and its origins.

Creative Non-Fiction

• Write a profile of someone fascinating, like a local character in your town.
• Craft a thoughtful review of a book, movie, play or piece of music.
• Describe a place you’ve visited using all five senses. Transport the reader.
• Research an interesting historical figure and write a creative biography.
• Pick a topic that interests you and write an informative guide or “how to” article about it.

Screenwriting

• Outline a plot for a short film or indie movie. Don’t forget key elements like conflict and character arcs.
• Craft a scene showing character relationships through realistic dialogue.
• Imagine a film adaptation of a book. Write or adapt an important scene.
• Describe an opening scene that sets the tone and introduces the story.
• Brainstorm interesting characters, settings and themes that would come together in a compelling story.

Playwriting & Scripts

• Draft a scene for a playscript. Remember stage directions and line breaks for dialogue.
• Craft a monologue revealing a character’s inner thoughts and emotions.
• Imagine a comedic skit parodying everyday life. Outline the premise.
• Write a script for a video project you’d like to create on YouTube or TikTok.
• Plan interviews with interesting people for a podcast episode. Draft sample questions.

Advertising & Marketing

• Craft catchy slogans for imaginary products or campaigns.
• Imagine a commercial for an unlikely or absurd product. Describe the angle.
• Outline a viral social media campaign for a brand.
• Write basic copy for a brochure, mailer, or digital ad. Focus on benefits and persuasive language.
• Brainstorm creative guerilla marketing ideas and stunts that grab public attention.

Business Writing

• Draft a professional email corresponding with a colleague or client.
• Outline a proposal for improving operations at a company.
• Compose meeting minutes, agendas, and notes.
• Create basic templates for documents like expense reports, presentations, etc.
• Practice writing snappy social media posts that promote a brand’s voice.

Technical Writing

• Explain a technical process in simple, clear steps.
• Draft a FAQ page or user manual for a product. Anticipate reader questions.
• Outline a tutorial for software, tools, or a system at work.
• Describe specs for a new technology idea. Get creative.
• Write basic instructions for assembling or repairing a common device or object.
• Write a news article on an imaginary event, with attention to factual detail.
• Craft an editorial or letter to the editor on a current issue.
• Compose a profile of a compelling public figure.
• Interview someone in your field and write up the Q&A.
• Investigate an interesting local place or event and report your findings.
• Draft a blog post that announces news in your industry or niche.
• Create a list-based post with tips and advice for your target readership.
• Write a thoughtful review of a product or service.
• Compose an inspirational personal essay for your blog.
• Outline an idea for a video blog or vlog. What would you discuss on camera?

Other Genres

• Craft a Western, romance, thriller, sci-fi, cozy mystery or other genre tale.
• Outline a plot for a best selling epic novel.
• Describe the climax or key suspenseful scene in a fictional work.
• Imagine key characters and setting details for a future book idea.
• Draft a passage of witty dialogue between fictional characters.

Alternate Storylines

• Explore an alternate storyline for characters from a favorite fictional world.
• Compose a piece of fanfiction focused on “missing moments” from a story.
• Write a crossover scene combining two fictional worlds or characters.
• Create a prequel story about how two characters first met.
• Imagine one fictional world colliding with our real world.

Research Topics

• Outline key points and sources for a research paper.
• Draft an opening thesis statement and outline main arguments.
• Write an informative abstract summarizing your research and findings.
• Craft an annotated bibliography with summaries and assessments of sources.
• Brainstorm research questions on a topic you want to study further.

Persuasive Writing

• Compose a persuasive letter advocating for a cause or issue you care about.
• Outline arguments you would make in a debate speech.
• Draft an op-ed style column making an argument on a current event topic.
• Write a petition to leadership calling for a change or action.
• Craft a script for a video advocating your position on an issue.

Speech Writing

• Draft text for a commencement or graduation speech. Include inspiring advice.
• Compose a tribute speech highlighting someone’s achievements and character.
• Outline main points for a motivational speech to persuade and inspire an audience.
• Script remarks for an awards ceremony or charity gala.
• Brainstorm funny stories, quotes and anecdotes to include in a wedding toast.

Comedy & Humor Writing

• Craft a funny monologue in the style of a standup comedy routine.
• Parody modern life in a satirical news article or sketch.
• Pen a witty dialogue between two oddball characters.
• Describe an absurd imaginary scenario in vivid detail.
• Outline ideas for a comedic YouTube video, TikTok or webcomic.

Freewriting

• Set a timer and write freely without stopping about whatever comes to mind.
• Fill several pages fast with stream-of-consciousness writing.
• Scribble or type any words, thoughts, or phrases that arise.
• List random memories, ideas, dreams, worries, and interests.
• Let your mind wander loosely and follow where it leads.

Morning Pages

• Write 2-3 pages discussing plans, thoughts, and feelings to start your day.
• Jot down dreams you remember from the previous night. Analyze meanings.
• Vent about worries, frustrations, anger or other emotions cluttering your mind.
• Free write about what you hope to accomplish today.
• Make a gratitude list of things you appreciate in your life.

Dream Journaling

• Record any dreams you recall upon waking up. What details can you remember?
• Sketch images, scenes, or symbols that appeared in the dream.
• Reflect on possible meanings, messages, or interpretations of the dream.
• Note emotions you experienced or changes in the dream mood.
• Log any real life concerns that may have sparked dream themes.

Brainstorming

• Make lists of ideas related to a creative project or endeavor.
• Populate mind maps with related concepts and key words surrounding a central topic.
• Fill pages with raw material to gather thoughts on a subject.
• Outline potential scenes for a story- draw inspiration from memories, issues, and imagination.
• Define ongoing lines of inquiry to deeply explore over time in your creative work.

Observation

• Sit somewhere public and write detailed notes about the setting, people, and overheard conversations.
• Pick an object and describe it using all five senses with fresh, vivid language.
• Capture portrait-like descriptions of interesting looking strangers.
• Notice and record small oddities and curiosities around you.
• Document an eavesdropped exchange between two people word for word.

Travel Writing

• Chronicle impressions of a city or country you visited – sights, sounds, people, feelings.
• Compose a virtual tour depicting landmarks and atmosphere of a place you know well.
• Plan an ideal itinerary for visiting a new location – what would you want to do and see?
• Outline a local guide on hidden gems and favorite spots off the tourist trail.
• Capture a particularly impactful or transporting travel experience.

Nature Writing

• Paint a vivid wilderness landscape in words like anature poet. Transport the reader.
• Personify an animal, plant, body of water, land formation or natural force. Give it a voice.
• Reflect on a powerful personal experience in nature and what it meant to you.
• Describe encountering and interacting closely with a wild creature.
• Craft a micro-story from an unusual perspective like a tree, mountain, insect etc.

Food Writing

• Create mouthwatering descriptions of a delicious homecooked meal.
• Compose an ode or love letter to your favorite childhood dish.
• Review a local restaurant like a professional critic.
• Outline a recipe for your personal food specialty. Include prep and cooking instructions.
• Describe the experience and memories surrounding a meaningful family or cultural food tradition.

Wellness Writing

• Explain tips, practices, or philosophy from your particular approach to wellness and self-care.
• Describe your personal struggle and breakthrough with a health challenge.
• Outline a regimen or routine that helps you thrive in body, mind, or spirit.
• Craft a manifesto for living well – what would be the key principles?
• Tell the story of a wellness journey that radically changed your life.

Spirituality & Religion

• Imagine having a conversation with your higher power – what would you say?
• Compose a personal prayer, meditation, or reflection.
• Describe attending a moving religious service or spiritual community gathering.
• Analyze teachings and ethical models from faith traditions you admire. What wisdom resonates?
• Unpack the meaning behind a favorite quote, poem, or passage of spiritual literature.

Exploring the Concept of Creative Prompts

You’re now delving into the concept of creative prompts, aren’t you? It’s like entering an enchanted forest where each tree carries a unique story.

The prompt origin, akin to the seed from which these trees sprout, is often humble – a simple thought or word. Yet, it grows and branches out in your mind, creating a labyrinth of imaginative pathways.

This is the beauty of prompt evolution. What starts off as a vague idea evolves into intricate narratives dancing vividly within your thoughts. It’s akin to watching a magic trick unfold; one moment there’s nothing but silence and emptiness, then suddenly, there’s an explosion of color and life in your mind.

The Importance of Creative Prompts in Writing

Imagine yourself standing at the precipice of a creative drought. Your mind is as barren as a desert, with words refusing to take form. You’re not alone in this battle against the infamous writer’s block!

Now, let’s plunge into this riveting discussion on how creative prompts become your oasis. They boost your creativity, shatter the invisible walls of writer’s block, and enhance your writing skills like never before.

Boosting Creativity

Boosting creativity isn’t just about thinking outside the box. It’s also about embracing your unique perspectives and ideas. You’re a wellspring of originality waiting to be tapped.

Creativity cultivation is an art, not a science. Each person has their own way of getting those creative juices flowing.

Consider these mind mapping techniques:

• Doodling or sketching your thoughts
• Connecting random words and seeing what ideas form
• Using colors to categorize different concepts
• Associating images with specific thoughts
• Incorporating physical movement to stimulate brain activity

These aren’t just exercises; they’re journeys into the heart of imagination. Each color, word, image, or movement can spark an idea that could transform into a brilliant story.

Overcoming Writer’s Block

Overcoming writer’s block isn’t just a struggle, it’s an opportunity to delve deeper into your thoughts and redefine your narrative. It’s like standing at the edge of a dense forest, baffled about which path to take. Unconventional solutions dance around you like fireflies in this darkness.

A quirky idea could be writing with your non-dominant hand or narrating your story to an imaginary audience. Your creativity is a wild beast that sometimes needs goading, and unconventional Block Busting Techniques can help tame it.

Picture yourself inking stories on frosted windows or carving them into sand at the beach. These visualizations activate untouched corners of your imagination, lighting up new pathways in this daunting forest of writer’s block, leading you towards unexplored territories of creativity.

Enhancing Writing Skills

You’re not just battling writer’s block, you’re also honing your skills as an author. This isn’t a mere struggle; it’s a dance with words, a journey of language improvement and vocabulary expansion.

• The euphoria of finding the perfect adjective to paint your scene.
• Your mind, blooming like a flower on a spring day as new words take root.
• The satisfaction when you deftly weave complex sentences together.
• Being lost in the forest of metaphors, only to find your way out with an elegant turn of phrase.
• The thrill when the puzzle pieces fall into place forming a captivating narrative.

See it as mastering an art form rather than overcoming an obstacle. Embrace this process, for each word penned is a step closer to becoming the writer you aspire to be.

Different Types of Creative Writing Prompts

Imagine yourself diving into the vibrant world of visual prompts, exploring every pigment and pattern that could spark your creativity. Feel the thrill of sensory prompts as they engage not only your eyes but also your other senses, sending you on a journey through tastes, smells, sounds, and textures.

You’re about to embark on an expedition through these diverse landscapes of creative writing prompts – it’s time to embrace the adventure.

Visual Prompts Exploration

In your exploration of visual prompts, you’ll find they can spark wildly imaginative story ideas.

Through picture interpretation exercises, you’ll delve into a universe of visual inspiration sources that transcend the ordinary.

The warm hues in an autumn landscape painting, birthing tales of seasonal change

An old black and white photograph, whispering stories from bygone eras

A graffiti wall in a cityscape photo, screaming social commentary

The haunting eyes in a portrait, echoing untold sadness or unspoken joy

A surreal digital art piece, challenging the boundaries of reality

Each image is a doorway to countless narratives. They aren’t just pictures; they are worlds waiting to be explored and stories begging to be told.

Sensory Prompts Use

Diving into sensory cues, you’ll discover they’re a powerful tool to enhance your storytelling, stirring emotions and painting vivid images in the reader’s mind. You can almost taste the salty tang of sea air on your protagonist’s lips, or feel the gritty dust beneath their boots.

Sensory immersion techniques aren’t just for setting scenes, they’re vital for character development too. Imagine applying sensory-based character development strategies. How does your character react to the scent of fresh bread? Do they squint in bright sunlight or savor its warmth?

These details breathe life into characters, making them real and relatable. So next time you write, don’t just tell your story; let readers smell it, see it, touch it… live it!

How to Use Creative Prompts for Story Ideas

Using creative prompts can really help spark your imagination and generate unique story ideas. Picture this process as a treasure hunt for inspiration, where each prompt pushes you toward unexplored territories of your creativity.

• Prompt inspired characters with unheard stories waiting to be unveiled.
• Mystical lands or futuristic cities born from prompt generated settings.
• Unexpected plot twists that turn common narratives into captivating tales.
• Intricate relationships between characters that add depth to their personas.
• Striking dialogues that breathe life into these characters.

These elements collectively weave the vivid tapestry of your narrative, turning abstract thoughts into tangible words.

Boosting Creativity With Unique Writing Prompts

Harnessing unique stimuli for your narratives can significantly boost your creative prowess and help unearth exciting story ideas. Imagine a world where prompts personalization is at the core of every tale you weave, each prompt tailored to spark new dimensions within your storytelling sphere. The potential for prompt inspired artistry is boundless, as diverse as a painter’s palette.

Consider prompts that touch on forgotten dreams or hidden fears. Let them stir up memories drenched in emotion or transport you to unexplored territories of the mind. Picture yourself weaving such richly textured tales, fueled by these personalized cues.

Creative Prompts for Poetry Writing

Dive into the rhythmic ocean of words, where we’ll explore the diverse islands that form Poetry Prompt Categories. Each one is a unique muse to ignite your poetic prowess.

You’ll unearth techniques to seamlessly implement these prompts, transforming them from mere sentences into vibrant verses dancing on your page.

Poetry Prompt Categories

Exploring different poetry prompt categories can really expand your creative horizons and enhance your writing skills. Let’s delve into ‘Metaphor Mastery’ and ‘Emotional Elicitation’.

These aren’t just classifications, but invigorating pathways to artistic development.

Imagine a world where feelings take physical shapes; that’s the essence of Metaphor Mastery. You’re not just penning words, you’re sculpting emotions.

Emotional Elicitation is about stirring up hidden sentiments within your readers.

Consider these prompts:

• Craft a poem where love is a starved lion or courage, a towering mountain.
• Write about grief as an endless ocean.
• Describe joy as a blooming sunflower field.
• Convey anger like a volcanic eruption.
• Evoke nostalgia as an old, dusty attic.

Prompt Implementation Techniques

Let’s shift our focus to how you can effectively implement these poetic ideas into your verses.

Picture yourself in a vibrant landscape, wielding words as an artist uses colors. Each stroke of the brush is guided by prompt categorization, helping you navigate the vast palette of emotions and experiences.

Now imagine adding a personal touch—prompt personalization. It’s like infusing your own essence into the canvas, making every verse pulsate with authenticity. Feel the rhythm of words dancing to your unique beat, painting vivid images that echo your inner world.

Remember, it’s not about fitting into predefined boxes; it’s about shaping them around you. So let loose and weave stories with unabashed creativity and veracity.

Trust me, there’s no better way to make poetry truly yours!

Creative Prompts for Fiction Writing

You’ll find that using creative prompts for fiction writing can significantly boost your creativity and storytelling skills. Through exploring prompt variations, you’re given the freedom to mold concepts into your unique narrative.

Picture this:

• A deserted island where shadows whisper secrets.
• An antique locket holding a timeless curse.
• A city beneath the sea, untouched by human civilization.
• Two strangers locked in an elevator during a power outage.
• A diary detailing future events, written in an unknown language.

These genre-specific prompts stir something inside of you, don’t they? Your imagination begins to unravel storylines from these seeds of inspiration. Like the painter before his canvas, you have all you need to create your masterpiece.

Creative Prompts for Non-fiction Writing

You’ve danced with fiction, spun tales of fantasy that flirted on the edges of reality. Now, it’s time to pivot and explore the terrain of truth—non-fiction themes.

Brace yourself for a journey that is raw and real, where your pen uncovers life’s myriad hues and nuances.

Imagine standing at the cusp of an autobiography. You’re its inspiration; each chapter unfolds from your experiences. Your stories are not borrowed or imagined but distilled from your struggles and triumphs. It’s more than just writing—it’s reliving moments you’ve etched in memory lanes.

Non-fiction writing prompts guide you into this uncharted territory, shedding light on forgotten corners of your past. You’ll need courage because these writings excavate truths hidden beneath layers of consciousness.

The canvas awaits—paint it with words from your world!

Overcoming Writer’s Block With Creative Prompts

Battling writer’s block can be tough, but using thought-provoking stimuli can help you break through those frustrating barriers. Consider the effectiveness of creative prompts, which offer a diverse range of ideas to ignite your imagination.

• Picture a wave crashing against a lonely lighthouse. What story does it tell?
• Imagine being an ant in a bustling city park.
• Visualize the last dream you remember; could it be a surreal short story?
• Ponder about what lies beyond the edge of the universe.
• Think about an old woman’s secrets hidden inside her vintage locket.

These prompts are not just words or phrases; they’re keys unlocking uncharted territories of your mind. They embody prompt diversity and effectiveness, serving as lifelines when creativity seems elusive.

Creative Prompts for Improving Writing Skills

Don’t underestimate the power of these stimuli. They’re not only great for sparking ideas but also for honing your language skills.

Picture this: a wellspring of creativity, bubbling with potential, right at your fingertips through carefully chosen prompts.

Prompt selection isn’t random; it’s an art. It’s about selecting situations or phrases that ignite the dormant imagination within you, pushing you to weave stories in ways never thought before.

Creativity measurement is subjective yet invaluable in this context. You’re not just jotting down words; you’re painting vibrant tapestries of thoughts and emotions using nothing but alphabets as your colors.

Tips to Create Your Own Writing Prompts

Let’s delve into some strategies on how to craft your own inventing cues for better storytelling and improved language skills. Prompt personalization is key, allowing you to tailor prompts that resonate with your unique voice and perspective.

Consider the following:

• Envision ‘Genre specific prompts’. Imagine you’re a detective in a noir novel or an explorer charting uncharted territories.
• Use abstract concepts. Think about emotions, philosophies, or social issues that stir you.
• Get inspired by existing works. A line from a poem or scene from a film can spark marvelous ideas.
• Play with hypothetical scenarios. What if gravity stopped working?
• Incorporate memories or personal experiences. Your past can be full of captivating stories waiting to be told.

These strategies ignite creativity, enhance writing prowess, and make storytelling an enjoyable art form for you.

Real-Life Examples of Effective Creative Prompts

You’ve probably encountered real-life instances where effective cues have sparked great ideas. For example, a memorable quote from a book or an impactful scene in a movie. The trick is to harness these moments and transform them into creative prompts through prompt personalization.

Consider the whiff of your grandmother’s apple pie, the rustle of leaves underfoot on an autumn day, or the evocative imagery of a sunset over the ocean. These experiences are more than just memories; they’re potential narrative goldmines.

Prompt sourcing doesn’t need to be complicated. It can be as simple as jotting down snippets of overheard conversations or noting peculiar events around you. And remember, it’s all about making your prompts personal. Invest them with emotions and images that resonate with you on a profound level.

So, you’ve explored the realm of creative prompts. You’ve seen their value and used them in different styles to ignite story ideas. They’ve helped you overcome writer’s block and improve your writing game.

You even know how to craft your own prompts! Now, it’s time for you to dive into the world of words, armed with these creative catalysts. Remember, imagination is your playground. Let these prompts be your swing set!

25 Creative Writing Prompts to Ignite Your Creativity

Creative writing is a vast and dynamic field that offers a platform for individuals to express their ideas, emotions, and stories in an imaginative and original way.

It plays a crucial role in enhancing communication skills, fostering empathy, and also promoting a deep understanding of the human experience. If you’re not sure how to get started, consider these helpful writing prompts – let’s get creative!

The Importance of Creative Writing

In the realm of literature and beyond, creative writing holds a pivotal role. It not only allows for personal expression but also:

• fosters critical thinking
• enhances vocabulary
• improves writing skills
• conveys complex ideas and emotions
• serves as a therapeutic medium
• enhances empathy

From short stories and poetry to novels and screenplays, creative writing spans a wide array of genres and styles, and offers endless opportunities for exploration and expression.

In the professional realm, creative writing skills are highly valued. They can lead to various creative writing jobs in fields like publishing, advertising, journalism, and content creation. For those interested in pursuing higher education in this field, you might want to explore whether a degree in creative writing is worth it .

Understanding Creative Writing Prompts

When it comes to igniting creativity and fostering unique ideas, creative writing prompts play an invaluable role. They provide a starting point, a spark that can lead to a flame of inspiration for writers.

How Prompts Can Ignite Creativity

While creative writing is an exciting field, it can sometimes be challenging to kickstart the creative process. This is where creative writing prompts come into play. These prompts are designed to ignite the imagination and inspire writers to create original and compelling pieces.

They help to overcome writer’s block , encourage experimentation with different styles and genres. So, whether you’re a seasoned writer or a beginner, creative writing prompts can be an invaluable tool to spark creativity and enhance your writing skills.

What are Creative Writing Prompts?

Creative writing prompts are essentially ideas, questions, or topics that are designed to inspire and stimulate the creative writing process. They serve as a catalyst, helping to ignite the writer’s imagination and encourage them to explore new themes, concepts, or perspectives.

These prompts can take a myriad of forms. They might be a single word, a phrase, a sentence, or even an image. Remember, regardless of the format, the goal of a creative writing prompt is to trigger thought and also encourage writers to delve deeper into their creative psyche, producing unique and compelling pieces of writing.

For more understanding of what creative writing entails, read our article on what is creative writing .

Types of Creative Writing Prompts

There are various types of creative writing prompts, each tailored to stimulate different forms of writing, cater to various genres, or inspire certain ideas. For example, you might encounter:

• Fiction Writing Prompts : These prompts are designed to inspire stories. They might provide a setting, a character, a conflict, or a plot point to kick-start the writer’s imagination.
• Non-Fiction Writing Prompts : These prompts are geared towards non-fiction writing, such as essays, memoirs, or journalistic pieces. They might pose a question, present a topic, or propose a perspective for the writer to explore.
• Poetry Writing Prompts : These prompts are tailored for writing poetry. They could suggest a theme, a form, a line, or a poetic device to be used in the poem.
• Dialogue Writing Prompts : These prompts focus on conversations and are designed to inspire dialogue-driven pieces. They generally provide a line or a snippet of conversation to act as a starting point.
• Story Starter Writing Prompts : These prompts serve as the opening line or the first paragraph of a story. The writer’s task is to continue the narrative from there.

Understanding the different types of creative writing prompts is essential to making the most of them. For example, when you choose the right type of prompt, you target specific writing skills , push boundaries of creativity, and provide the necessary spark to bring your ideas to life.

25 Creative Writing Prompts

Using creative writing prompts is a great way to jumpstart your creativity and get the ideas flowing. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or a beginner, these prompts can help inspire your next piece. Here, we’ve broken down 25 prompts into five categories: fiction, non-fiction, poetry, dialogue, and story starters.

Fiction Writing Prompts

Fiction allows writers to flex their imaginative muscles. The following prompts can help to stir up new ideas for a unique storyline:

• Write a story where the main character finds an old, mysterious letter in the attic.
• Imagine a world where animals can talk.
• Create a tale where a character discovers they have a superpower.
• Write about a character who wakes up in a different era.
• Write a story set in a world where money doesn’t exist.

Non-Fiction Writing Prompts

Non-fiction writing can help you explore real-life experiences and lessons. Here are some prompts to get you started:

• Write about a time when you faced a significant challenge and how you overcame it.
• Describe the most influential person in your life.
• Share a moment when you learned a valuable lesson.
• Write about an unforgettable trip.
• Discuss a current event that has impacted you personally.

Poetry Writing Prompts

Poetry allows for artistic expression through words. These prompts can inspire new verses:

• Write a poem about a dream you can’t forget.
• Create a sonnet about the changing seasons.
• Write about an emotion without naming it directly.
• Craft a poem inspired by a piece of art.
• Pen a haiku about nature’s power.

Dialogue Writing Prompts

Dialogue writing can help you improve your dialogue creation skills. Try these prompts:

• Write a conversation between two people stuck in an elevator.
• Describe a heated argument between a character and their best friend.
• Create a dialogue where a character reveals a deep secret.
• Write an exchange between a detective and a suspect.
• Craft a conversation between two people who speak different languages.

Story Starter Writing Prompts

Story starters are great for sparking an idea for a story. Here are some to try:

• “When she opened the door, she couldn’t believe her eyes…”
• “He’d waited his whole life for this moment, and now…”
• “It was a town like no other, because…”
• “She was the last person on earth, or so she thought…”
• “The letter arrived, marked with a seal she didn’t recognize…”

These creative writing prompts are designed to challenge you and spark your creativity. Remember, the goal is not to create a perfect piece of writing but to ignite your imagination and hone your writing skills. Also, don’t forget, you can always revise and refine your work later .

For more on the art of writing, check out our article on what is creative writing .

Making the Most of Your Creative Writing Prompts

Now that you have a list of creative writing prompts at your disposal, it’s important to understand how to utilize them effectively. The value of a prompt lies not just in the initial idea it provides, but also in how it can be expanded and developed into a full-blown piece of writing.

How to Use Creative Writing Prompts Effectively

Using creative writing prompts effectively requires an open mind and a willingness to explore. Here are some strategies to make the most of your prompts:

• Brainstorming: Allow yourself to brainstorm ideas after reading the prompt. Jot down whatever comes to mind without self-judgment or censorship.
• Freedom: Give yourself the freedom to interpret the prompt in your own way. Remember, prompts are starting points, not rigid guidelines.
• Experimentation: Experiment with different genres, perspectives, and writing styles. A prompt can be turned into a poem, a short story, or even a script for a play.
• Consistency: Try to write regularly. Whether you choose to do this daily, weekly, or bi-weekly, consistency can help develop your writing skills.
• Reflection: Finally, reflect on the prompt and your writing. Consider what worked, what didn’t, and also what you would like to improve in your next piece.

In addition to this, check out our article on what is creative writing .

Tips to Expand on a Prompt

Expanding on a prompt involves transforming a simple idea into a fully developed narrative. Here are a few tips:

• Character Development: Flesh out your characters. Give them backgrounds, motivations, and flaws to make them more relatable and interesting.
• Plot Building: Develop a coherent plot. Consider the key events, conflicts, and resolutions that will drive your story forward.
• Show, Don’t Tell: Show the reader what’s happening through vivid descriptions and actions rather than simply telling them.
• Dialogue: Use dialogue to reveal character traits and advance the plot. Make sure it’s natural and adds value to your story.
• Editing: Finally review and revise your work. Look for areas where you can improve clarity, tighten your prose, and also eliminate any inconsistencies or errors.

Editor’s Note : Don’t get rid of old ideas or unfinished works – you never know when looking back over these might spark inspiration or two ideas might mesh to form something cohesive and new!

The Right Prompts Grow Your Skills

By using these strategies, you can take full advantage of creative writing prompts and improve your writing skills. So, whether you’re pursuing a career in creative writing or just looking for a new hobby, these tips can help you unlock your full creative potential.

For more insights on creative writing, check out our articles on creative writing jobs and what you can do with a creative writing degree and how to teach creative writing .

Also, don’t miss our master list of more than 250 journal prompts .

Brooks Manley

Creative Primer  is a resource on all things journaling, creativity, and productivity. We’ll help you produce better ideas, get more done, and live a more effective life.

My name is Brooks. I do a ton of journaling, like to think I’m a creative (jury’s out), and spend a lot of time thinking about productivity. I hope these resources and product recommendations serve you well. Reach out if you ever want to chat or let me know about a journal I need to check out!

Here’s my favorite journal for 2024: 

Gratitude Journal Prompts Mindfulness Journal Prompts Journal Prompts for Anxiety Reflective Journal Prompts Healing Journal Prompts Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Journal Prompts Mental Health Journal Prompts ASMR Journal Prompts Manifestation Journal Prompts Self-Care Journal Prompts Morning Journal Prompts Evening Journal Prompts Self-Improvement Journal Prompts Creative Writing Journal Prompts Dream Journal Prompts Relationship Journal Prompts "What If" Journal Prompts New Year Journal Prompts Shadow Work Journal Prompts Journal Prompts for Overcoming Fear Journal Prompts for Dealing with Loss Journal Prompts for Discerning and Decision Making Travel Journal Prompts Fun Journal Prompts

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Home » Blog » 140 Creative Writing Prompts For Adults

140 Creative Writing Prompts For Adults

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Learning how to become a better writer includes knowing how to come up with a solid idea. With so many elements to consider when starting your novel, the plot itself may begin to slip away from you. Use these creative writing prompts for adults to get you started on the right path to a successful story and suffer from writer’s block for the last time. .

This list of writing prompts for adults can be taken and used in any way you want. Details can be changed and characters can be added or removed.

They are meant to be a fun way to get your creativity flowing and your next story developing. For even more writing ideas, check out the  writing prompt generator . Here, you will find 500+ prompts of all kinds that will give you some ideas.  Take control of that blank page and create something awesome. 

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Dramatic Writing Prompts for Adults

Nothing beats some good old-fashioned drama once in a while. You can turn these writing prompts into a dramatic love story , an exciting short story, or morph them into a different genre. How you use them is up to you.

For a novel that is specifically romance, we have created an exclusive list of exciting and genre-bending romance writing prompts .

• A young boy discovers that he is the only adopted child among his four siblings. Feeling confused and betrayed, he runs away to find his birth parents. After two months on the road, he runs out of money and still hasn’t found them. Does he go home? Or does he continue his quest?
• Two couples are fueding and haven’t spoken in years. It is discovered that their two children have become best friends at school, and they want a playdate. Will this increase tension between them or lead to reconciliation?
• Identical twins are attending the same college. They switch places and take each other’s classes depending on strengths and weaknesses. They’ve gotten away with it for two years until their observant professor of a father is transferred to the school they attend.
• Two childhood best friends stopped talking after a huge fight in high school. Five years later, they find themselves sitting next to each other on the same 16-hour international flight.
• Write about a passionate romance that crosses religions.
• He’s only been in office for a year. He is already being tempted by a corrupt group of criminals who want him to sabotage a series of public safety projects in exchange for funding his entire reelection campaign.
• Your main character is being offered a promotion from the high school principal to the district director. Sadly, she knows her replacement will cut funding to all of the art programs. How does she manage the situation?
• A high profile general learns that the opposing army will surrender if he hands himself over. Will he prioritize his own safety, or sacrifice himself for his country?
• Write about a successful businesswoman who has built herself from the ground up. The business is suddenly threatened by the son of a rich local contractor who started a similar business out of boredom.
• A successful lawyer knows that his client is guilty of the murder for which he has been charged. He is a good liar and could easily win the case. The case is getting constant media coverage and would guarantee him making partner at his firm.
• Your main character has lived a sheltered, isolated life. When their delusional and overbearing father dies. They are thrown into the real world and unsure of how to cope.
• The doorbell rings and your character answers it – finding nothing but an envelope with nothing on it. They open it and follow the instructions to attend a secret underground event. Afterward, they become a part of a huge resistance that the rest of the world knows nothing about.
• After a family member’s funeral, you arrive home to a stranger on your doorstep claiming the person is not really dead. The funeral was open-casket.
• It is your character’s wedding day. While the vows are being said, someone from the crowd yells “I object!”
• A huge storm has stopped traffic. Your character is stuck in the car with someone for an unknown amount of time. The person chooses this moment to confess their undying love. The feeling is not mutual.
• Your character finds an old, disposable camera on the ground. Feeling, they get the photos developed. What they see tells an unsettling story.
• Two old friends are reminiscing on a prominent and life-changing event. They have very different memories from that day.
• Your main character is a world-traveling nature photographer. She stumbles upon a small tribe of indigenous people who have found the cure for all cancer in a small local plant.
• A young man has been homeschooled all his life and is ready to start college. An attack on his small home town has him being drafted into the army. He is away from home for the first time ever and terrified. However, he becomes a key strategist due to his unique perspective and undiscovered scientific talents.
• A middle-aged man is tired of his career in a corporate office. He takes all his vacation and sick days at once for an excursion in the Appalachian Mountains. Everything is fine until a blizzard hits.
• A shy and reserved web designer thinks she has found the man of her dreams online. She is actually being catfished by a competing company who wants to get information from her.
• A man and women work for two neighboring, rival fast food companies. They always take their lunch breaks together on the bench right in the middle of the two.
• An ongoing murder investigation takes an unexpected turn when it is discovered that a prolific group of corrupted police officers were behind the whole thing.
• A television star is renowned and respected for his “method” acting. He only interviews or appears on TV in character. But, this is because he doesn’t have a personality outside of his three most famous characters.
• A professional gymnast is under fire for her supposed use of performance-enhancing steroids. She leaked the story herself to draw attention away from the fact that she is the leader of a high-profile drug ring.
• An older couple on the brink of retirement keeps their life savings in the pages of the books in their home. They are just about to start looking for a retirement home to live in when a fire destroys their house and their cash.

Tips for Writing Drama

• Drama is usually character driven , so make use of both your round and flat characters .
• Introduce the conflict right away and keep it prominent. A drama will thrive off conflict.
• Don’t let the resolution come easily.
• Don’t be afraid to kill characters and write difficult situations.
• Always show, don’t tell.

Supernatural Writing Prompts for Adults

Supernatural stories are popular. The world is in love with vampires. Write something interesting and unique enough, you might be writing their next favorite book. Use these supernatural story starters for your basic premise. 

• On her 16th birthday, your main character miraculously survives a deadly car crash without a scratch. Later that week, she watches as a small scratch heals and disappears right before her eyes. Where did this new power come from and what will she do with it?
• There is an elite society of high education that wants to test a new drug. They give it to highly gifted students, and it allows them to stay awake for 48 hours and record everything they see, heard, and feel in that time. Unfortunately, some unexpected side effects set in two weeks later.
• A middle-aged man is the only one in his famous and high-profile family without a superpower. The local police rely on his super-powered family to help them catch and fight crime. However, the powers are failing them during a specific investigation. Your protagonists “normal” perspective might just save the day.
• Your main character suffers a terrible concussion. After recovering, they cannot control the vivid nightmares about the accident. However, they can also take images from their mind and project them into the real world. Doctors think they are crazy and keep them heavily sedated.
• Write about a world where technology has given animals the ability to speak.

Tips for Writing Supernatural Stories

• Setting the story in the real world will make your supernatural species more believable.
• Create the origins of your species and supernatural characters.
• Create the physical limitations for your species and beings.
• Avoid the cliches of the genre.
• Understand your reasons for using supernatural creatures. You shouldn’t be writing them in simply due to their popularity.

Thriller Writing Prompts for Adults

Thrillers can come in many forms and can be incorporated with many genres. Regardless of the details though, they are always meant to excite. Suspense and tension are crucial – it’s always more fun when you don’t know. Writing a good thriller requires a strong set of writing skills. These prompts will give you a good base. If you think you need to improve, try some writing exercises.

If your thriller can get hearts racing, you’ve done a good job.

• The body of your main character’s best friend is dumped on their doorstep. They make it their mission to find out who is responsible, even if it means crossing some lines and breaking some laws.
• A murderer is on the loose in your character’s hometown. For 10 weeks they have killed one person on the same day at the same time. Your main character is the next victim. They are abducted exactly three days before the planned kill time.
• Strange things start happening around town. Your main character decides to find out for themselves what is going on. They do learn the truth, but now they aren’t allowed to leave.
• Your character suffers from a condition that causes seemingly random blackouts for varying amounts of time. The only thing they ever remember before these episodes is a yellow car with a dent on the side. One day, that car is parked outside their house. This time, there is no blackout.
• Your main character and their friends take an unsolicited mini-vacation to an off-limits island off the coast of their seaside town. Shortly after arrival, they discover the islands inhabitants and the reason why it was off limits.
• Your protagonist is in intensive therapy due to extremely vivid nightmares detailing someone’s gruesome death. Many have said it’s just their twisted imagination, but this new therapist seems to think it’s much more than that.
• You are legally allowed to kill someone one time in your life. You must fill out a series of paperwork, and your intended victim will be given notice of your plan.
• A brilliant serial killer has been getting away with murder for decades. His only weakness is his acute inability to tell a lie. He is finally caught and tried for all murders. Write about how he still manages to walk free, with no charges laid.
• Your character is a host at a restaurant. A couple comes in and says they have a reservation. You look it up in the system and find that the reservation was booked 40 years ago.

Tips for Writing a Thriller

• Have a story that suits a thriller. This usually involves the protagonist falling victim to someone else and being caught in impossible situations.
• Different points of view can add a lot of value to a thriller. It gives several perspectives and allows the reader into the heads of many characters.
• Put action as close to the beginning as possible.
• Don’t be afraid to make your characters miserable.

Thriller Book Writing Template

Squibler has a book writing template that was created specifically for writing a thriller:

It will walk you through each section of a typical thriller. It includes the basics of a thriller structure, without stifling your creativity. The guidelines are easy to understand, but loose enough that you can insert the details of your story with ease.

Horror Writing Prompts for Adults

The horror genre has always had a cult-like following. Several fictional killers have become household names. Some horror fans will spend their whole lives chasing the adrenaline that comes with a good scare.

If you’re learning how to become a better writer in order to scare your readers, these writing prompts will get you started. A book writing template may be helpful in creating a true horror as setting the stage properly is crucial.

• It’s Halloween night and a group of rowdy teenagers break into an infamously haunted house in their town. They soon discover it is not the ghosts they have to fear, but the madman who lives upstairs is poisoning them with hallucinogenic gas.
• There is a disease outbreak at a school. It appears at first to be chicken pox but it is actually a virus that is causing violent outbreaks in the children who begin to terrorize the town.
• Your main character attends a meditation retreat. It turns out to be a recruiting process for an extremist cult that convinces members to commit dangerous acts of terror. Your protagonist is the only one in the room who is immune.
• So overcome by his nightmares, your main character attacks anyone who comes near him. He cannot distinguish between loved ones and the monsters in his head.
• A young man has to dive 300 feet into the ocean to rescue his girlfriend caught in a broken submarine. He must cross through a genetically modified shark breeding ground.
• An old time capsule is about to be opened and the whole town is present for the celebration. When opened, the only thing found inside is a detached human hand with a threatening note in the grasp. The note is written in your character’s handwriting but dated 50 years before they were even born.

Master horror writer Stephen King reveals some of his thought process: “So where do the ideas—the salable ideas—come from? They come from my nightmares. Not the night-time variety, as a rule, but the ones that hide just beyond the doorway that separates the conscious from the unconscious.”

Horror doesn’t always have to be fantastical and dreamy in nature. Sometimes horror exists in the real world, within people.

Tips for Writing Horror

• Don’t be afraid to give that gruesome, bloody description.
• Aim to create extreme emotions.
• Make sure the readers care about your characters. This will make their horrible situations more impactful.
• Consider what scares you the most. Keep this in mind when writing.
• Set the stakes high.
• Some comic relief or brief periods of peace are okay – necessary even. It can help build suspense.

Crime and Mystery Writing Prompts for Adults

Stories of crime and mystery have been told for ages. There are some classic crime dramas that will never get old. Many non-fiction books have been written on this topic as well. 

Creating a proper mystery takes time and much planning. When done correctly though, it makes for a most memorable story.

• Your main character discovers another women’s clothes tucked in the back of her boyfriends closet. She plans an elaborate fishing trip to get him far away for a weekend so she can teach him a lesson.
• A new serial killer is on the loose, killing one person every other day within 500 feet of a museum. There must be a connection and a reason, but how will they catch him when he keeps destroying the cameras and escaping?
• A young officer is three years sober and committed to getting back on track. That is until he is called to the scene of a high-profile drug bust and is in charge of collecting evidence. Can he control himself around so many drugs?
• Abandoned cars start randomly appearing throughout the city. No license plates and nothing inside. That is until one is found to contain several dismembered human limbs.
• Your character has been receiving nasty, lifelike drawings in the mail. They ignore them at first, thinking it is some kids being silly. Until the drawings start coming to life. Since they have the drawings, they know what is going to happen next, and in what order.
• Your main character and her husband awake one night in the early hours of the morning, both recalling a horrific dream from the night before. They soon learn the dream to be true as they discover a fresh, painful brand in between each of their shoulder blades.
• Your character never wakes up feeling rested, no matter how long they sleep for. Medication doesn’t help. They decide to film themselves one night. The next morning they watch as they get out of bed around midnight, smirk at the camera, and wave before disappearing out the door for hours.
• Your protagonist is a member of a small religious group. When a precious artifact goes missing, the head elder’s daughter is blamed for it. Your character knows she couldn’t be responsible because the two of them were romantically involved at the time of the theft. Such activities are strictly forbidden and the daughter would rather go down for the theft than admit to breaking that law.
• There is a serial killer going after the children of rich and notable families in the area. Your main character is the child of one such family and is terrified every waking moment. Tired of living in fear, they decide to figure out who the killer is and stop them  
• Your character gets a DNA test, just for fun. After getting the results and doing some more research, they discover that members of their ancestry from all over the world were once all gathered in the same place. The reason is unknown.
• Your character receives a strange voicemail from an unknown number. The voicemail ends up changing the course of their entire life.
• Your character is in an accident and loses the memory of the last year of their life. There are so many things that don’t make sense. They must retrace their steps to find answers.
• The entire town has started sleepwalking, together, every night.  
• Your character has a short but friendly encounter with a stranger in an elevator. The next day, they are all over TV as the victim of a brutal murder.
• Your character is redecorating and takes down a painting. They notice something strange engraved on the back of the frame.
• Your character goes to their usual coffee shop and orders “the usual.” The Barista smiles, nods, and slides something entirely different across the counter. She has never made a mistake before.
• Your character opens a random book at the library when the cover page falls out. It says “if you are reading this, you have been chosen.”
• When looking through some old family photos – going back generations – your character notices a cat in almost every photo. The very same colorful spotted cat with a single docked ear that is sitting on their lap.
• When paying for their groceries, your main character mentions to the clerk that there is a mess in aisle 11. The clerk is confused and explains that there is no aisle 11.

Tips for Writing Crime and Mystery

• This is a genre where a book writing template can come in handy. The plots are often so complex, it can be overwhelming to keep it all straight.
• Draw inspiration from real-life crimes. This will make your story believable.
• Also, draw your inspiration from real-life people and give them realistic motives behind their crimes. Crime and mystery are rarely set in a fantasy world, so being realistic is important.
• Know how the mystery is solved before you start writing.
• Include a few cliffhangers – usually at the end of a chapter.

Science Fiction Writing Prompts for Adults

Science fiction is similar to fantasy in that you can make up a lot of stuff, which is a fun way to write.

This is a versatile genre that can be molded into anything you want.

Sometimes, it is rooted in truth with elements of real scientific and technological advances. Other times, there are many assumptions made about the future of science, and lots of make-believe takes place.

• A spaceship that can surpass the speed of light is allowing a few humans on board to escape our solar system and it’s dying sun. How does the world decide who gets to survive?
• A shy, introverted tech guy develops a virus that can control human desires, impulses, and choices.
• A pet store becomes overrun with kittens and sells them off at a low price. However, these cats are actually an alien hybrid that can body jump. It begins causing the owners of these cats to commit suicide within 24 hours of adoption.
• A live TV broadcast from the White House experiences some technical difficulties. They end up broadcasting a top-secret meeting about a pending alien invasion.
• Science has developed a brain scanning software that can read thoughts. Before they can decide what to do with it, someone has hacked the system and stolen it.
• Your character wakes up on a spaceship with no memory.
• The world has developed a genetic system that engineers everyone for a specific job in the community. Your character hates what they were created to do. This never happens.
• The world has finally reached a state of all-encompassing peace thanks to a technical system that keeps things regulated. Your character is in charge of keeping the system running. When they discover exactly how the system is kept running, they consider abandoning their post and never turning back.
• Your character accidentally traps themselves in an alternate universe that hasn’t discovered electricity or technology yet.

Tips for Writing Science Fiction

• Make your story complex, but don’t rush it. Let your audience process information before adding more.
• Keep the language simple and easy to understand even if the world isn’t. The majority of your readers will not be scientists or tech experts.
• Be consistent in terms of the universe. Physical laws, social classes, etc. Know your own world.

Dystopian Writing Prompts for Adults

Dystopian stories are growing in popularity. The genres itself is growing and evolving all the time as people figure out what works and what entertains.

Dystopian is a fun genre to read and experience, but writing it can be just as enjoyable. Having fun while learning how to become a better writer is of utmost importance.

Be careful you’re not writing Dystopia just because it sells well. Make sure you have a real story to tell and that it’s one you believe in.

• A newly married couple become pregnant with twins. Due to growing overpopulation, they are told they must make a choice when the babies are born. Only one will live. Rather than submit to this, they plan their escape across the border.
• An amateur teen scientist accidentally discovers an impending alien attack set to destroy earth within a month. He becomes the unwilling leader of the evacuation and defense coalition.
• A hacker discovers that the new iPhone can be remotely detonated. Many corrupt political leaders are assassinated in this way on the same day. The world breaks into chaos.
• World War III has come and gone. Governments are a thing of the past and money is useless. Survival is the objective. Your main character also has a medical condition to keep under control.
• A horrible outbreak of disease devastated the wildlife population 100 years ago. A scientist has recently created a virus that will strengthen the immune systems of the remaining animals. It works too well, and the animals are starting to overtake the human population.
• After mental illness devastates a generation, scientists create an airborne substance that balances the levels of all people on the earth. Your character is one of the few who is immune.
• Rampant wildfires are taking over the surface of the earth. Your character is part of a group who is trying to find a rumored ocean deep settlement. The settlement doesn’t really exist.
• Nature extremists have taken over the government. Any and all activities that are harmful to the land or plants are forbidden and outlawed.
• Natural farming is a thing of the past. All food is manufactured artificially and distributed. There is no flavor and it’s the same thing every day. Your character takes a stress-relieving trip to the mountains. Here they find the remnants of some real plants, with a few berries on them.

Tips for Writing Dystopian Fiction

• Know what the message of the story is. What is the main character trying to achieve?
• A dystopian society is usually one that has taken the current problems of the world and projected them into the future.
• Dystopian realities are never good ones – make sure you have enough doom, gloom, and darkness for your readers to understand the state of the world.

Historical Writing Prompts for Adults

Historical fiction can be whimsical and charming. It can be dark and spooky. It can be funny and ridiculous. Stories of history span many genres.

Historical fiction can be a combination of educational and entertaining. It tests a writer’s research skills as well as knowledge. The better depiction you can create of your desired time period, the more effective your story will be.

Learning to research is crucial to know how to become a better writer.

• From a first-person perspective, write about the showdown between a criminal and a lion in the Roman Colesseum.
• Abraham Lincoln is famous for his top hat. Where did the top hat come from? Who was the president without it? Write a story about the infamous top hat and its life.
• The Berlin wall has crashed to the ground and its love at first sight for one lucky couple – whose parents aren’t so impressed.
• Your character is a talented composer whose direct competition is Beethoven.
• Write about a dinner party where three famous historical figures are in attendance.
• Your best friend has invented the very first time-travel machine.
• Write about a well-known war, but give it a different outcome.
• Write a happy ending for Dracula.
• Your character’s husband of ten years has just confessed that he has traveled through time from the fourteenth century. He decided to stay because he fell in love with her.
• Write about the thoughts of someone who is secretly watching Michelangelo paint the Sistine Chapel.
• Your character is the only one who knows who really killed JFK. It wasn’t Oswald.
• Your character is working under William Shakespeare as his apprentice.
• Write about a pair of detectives who solve their cases by traveling back and forth in time.
• Write about the experience of someone who has just learned of the Titanic’s sinking. They had a loved one on board.
• Choose a major historical event. Write from the perspective of a witness.
• Your character wants to travel across the land. No forms of transportation have been invented yet.
• Write about someone who worked at one of the first printing presses during the printing revolution of the 15th century.

Tips for Writing Historical Fiction

• Do your research! Inaccuracies or incorrect facts about the time you are writing in will break trust with your readers and decrease your credibility.
• Choose a specific time period and location. “Early twentieth century” is too broad.
• In addition to setting and facts, characters need to match the time period. This includes dress, behavior, and language.
• Small details will matter.
• Balance the historical facts with the drama and fictional elements.

Humorous Creative Writing Prompts for Adults

Another genre that is especially fun to write as well as read, is a comedy. Nothing beats throwing your head back in full laughter.

The goal here is to make people laugh as much as possible while still balancing a good story and believable characters.

• Substitute teachers are tired of not being taken seriously. They come together and form a secret society, with plans to revolt.
• An Elvis impersonator is so good that many start to believe Elvis has actually come back to life. Soon, he has been recruited to lead a superstitious Elvis-loving cult.
• Three friends are out on the town for a night. Write about the most ridiculous series of events you can think of.
• Life has gotten tough and your character is considering moving back in with their parents. Before they are able to make a decision, their parents show up at their door asking if they can move in.
• Your character wakes up one day and everything they say rhymes. They can’t control it.
• The climate is changing and your main character’s city gets snow for the first time in their entire life. She and her friends are recruited for clean up.
• Your main character has never had a real job before. They are starting a job at the biggest, busiest store in town on the busiest day of the year.
• Your character is set up on a blind date with their sworn enemy.
• Every morning you have a package delivered that contains an item you end up needing that day.
• Struggling with writer’s block, an author decides to sit at a local train station for information. They get some good material.
• Your characters are holding a high-stakes rock-paper-scissors tournament.
• Your main character gets backstage at a concert. What happens back there is much more interesting than the show.
• Your protagonist decides to buy an old school bus and travel across the country. Being single without any close friends, they post an ad asking if anyone wants to join. The end up having their pick of travel partners.
• Write a story about a low-profile, insignificant but long-unsolved crime is finally cracked.
• Your character is a serial killer who kills anyone who hitchhikes along the mountain they live on. One day, they pick up a hitchhiker who kills whoever picks him up.
• The world’s greatest detective finally meets his match: A criminal so stupid and so careless that the detective can’t ever predict what he is going to do next.

Tips for Writing Comedy

• Test the humor on others. You might find something hilarious, but if no one else is going to laugh, it will be useless to include.
• Observe comedy. Your ability to write it will hinge on your experience with it. Watch, read, listen, and speak comedy.
• Have fun with it. Comedy is fun. If you’re not laughing at yourself along the way, you’ll never get through to the end.

Fantasy Writing Prompts for Adults

Fantasy is one of the most popular genres of the time. It’s growing every day because of its creative and immersive nature. People love to preoccupy themselves with something magical.

Being transported into another world for a little while – that’s what fantasy can do

• In a world of advanced technological and magical advancements, one group keeps their practice of ancient spells a secret. One day, they are discovered and it leads to a fight. What is more powerful – old magic, or new technology?
• A large, protected national forest is secretly home to werewolves. One summer there is an especially bad flea epidemic, and the werewolves are greatly affected. The fleas from the werewolves infect the town water supply and start turning everyone into werewolves. The only ones not affected are children under 13.
• The world is overrun with vampires and humans are dying out. Different races and factions of vampires are beginning to go to war over the limited supply of human blood.
• Your character finds a strange looking egg in the forest. Thinking it will make a great decoration, they take it home. What hatches from that egg surpasses their wildest imagination.
• A city has spent centuries living in peace with the water-dwellers who reside in their lakes. Suddenly, the water dwellers declare war and no one knows why.
• Your character has always been able to alter their appearance. They hide unattractive features. Suddenly, their powers stop working and their true appearance is revealed.
• Your main character has a fascination with untouched societies – such as hidden tribes in the Amazon. She sets out to study them as a living. One day she accidentally allows herself to be seen by one of the members. What this person does is beyond what your character ever thought to be real.
• The earth itself is dying and all life on the planet is dying with it.
• Some people in the world have magic, others don’t. No one knows why. Your main character has magic, but his best friend doesn’t. The friend is exceptionally jealous and is growing more and more desperate to make the magic his.

Tips for Writing Fantasy

• Focus on being unique
• Don’t neglect worldbuilding . Inconsistencies will be obvious to readers. This is where a book writing software like Squibler can come in handy. It helps you stay organized and efficient.
• Create unique names.
• Don’t be afraid to make the journey long and the outcome unexpected.

Fantasy Novel Writing Template

Fantasy is one of the most complicated genres due to the necessity of building a brand new world. Squibler’s fantasy writing template will help you through this daunting process:

This template offers guidelines and suggestions for building your world as well as structuring and creating your storyline. It’s helpful but loose enough to allow your creativity to keep flowing.

Dialogue Inspired Writing Prompts

Sometimes, all it takes is a small exchange or a witty one-liner to get your brain working. Take these words and start something new. Or, insert them into an existing project and see what happens.

• “As she stepped onto the train, I fought every urge to jump on after her.”
• “He was expensive. Please be more considerate of my money the next time I hire an assassin to kill you.”
• “You say that like it was a struggle.”
• “I’m your conscience. That is literally my one job.”
• “Well, I wish you didn’t love me. I guess no one is getting what they want today.”
• “I guess it didn’t take.”
• “I was bored so I blew up my house.”
• “I taught you how to pick locks, and THAT is how you’re choosing to use the skill?”
• “They thought I would forget everything. I remember even more than when they started.”
• “Yes. But I don’t care.”
• “I killed my mother. Are you really questioning what I can do to you right now?”

Write Your Next Masterpiece With These Creative Writing Prompts for Adults

Whether you have a book writing templat e all filled out or you are starting from scratch, these writing prompts will get your imagination going and make your writing time more productive.

Beat the writer’s block, get your groove back, or just be inspired.  Figure out how to love writing again. Whatever you’re looking for, hopefully, these ideas have helped form the story you need to tell.

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Teaching Resources Creator and Blogger

20 Prompts for Narrative Writing That Spark Creativity

Using prompts for narrative writing motivates kids and gets them excited to write. Read on to learn more about narrative writing, mentor texts, ideas, and assessments. Plus you will find 20 fun prompts for narrative and personal narrative writing. These will be sure to spark student’s creativity and imagination!

What’s Narrative Writing?

Narrative writing tells a story using a beginning, middle, and end.  It includes elements such as characters, setting, problem, and solution.  The author’s purpose is usually to entertain or teach a lesson.  Narrative writing can be fact or fiction but the process is the same.  When it’s a real story from the author’s life, it is considered a personal narrative.  

Examples for Narrative Writing

There are so many wonderful examples of narrative writing.  Some are even written as personal narratives.  Below you will find a list of mentor texts for elementary school.  It’s helpful to immerse students in the genre before and during a narrative writing unit.  These books model different strategies that kids can try in their writing.

Narrative Writing Mentor Texts:

• Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
• Come on, Rain! by Karen Hesse
• Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts
• Fireflies! by Julie Brinckloe
• Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems
• Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall
• Enemy Pie by Derek Munson
• Blackout by John Rocco

Narrative Writing Teaching

There are many features to include in narrative writing, but it depends on the grade level being taught.  For the lower grades, it’s important to start with the concept of beginning, middle, and end written in sequential order.  Then you can expand to the introduction, body, and conclusion using details.  Other important elements are character, setting, problem, and solution.  As the student’s abilities increase the number of sentences will grow and expand to paragraphs.

For the older grades, you can introduce plot structure.  It follows the beginning, middle, and end format but on a higher level.  This story arc includes exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.  Use the diagram below to see how these features overlap.

Plot Structure

Topics for Narrative Writing

The possibilities are endless when it comes to narrative writing ideas.  Kids can create a fiction piece or write about an experience in their life.  Check out some writing prompt ideas below for narrative and personal narrative writing. You might also like this blog post about opinion writing prompts: 20 Prompts for Opinion Writing That Motivate Kids

Writing Prompts for Narratives

• I was taking my friend’s picture in front of the volcano when all of a sudden . . .  
• What if you were given 3 wishes but couldn’t use them on yourself.  Tell a story about what you would wish for and why.
• Write a story called, “The Luckiest Day of My Life.”
• Imagine you went to the zoo and could take home any animal for the day.  Tell a story about your time together.
• Write a silly story that uses these words: airplane, grapes, elephant, and book.
• You have just been shrunk down to the size of an ant.  Write a story including the good and bad things about being so small.
• Think about your favorite character from a book.  Tell a story about getting to meet them for the first time.
• What would happen if you lived during a time when there was no electricity?  Write a story about your school day.
• Finish this story: The pirates set sail on their ship in search of . . .
• Suppose you were teacher for a day.  Write a story about the changes you would make.

Writing Prompts for Personal Narratives

• Have you ever been so proud of yourself for learning something new?  Write a story about a time this happened.
• Write a story about a time you felt your heart race.  What happened and how were you feeling at the end?
• What was your most memorable vacation?  Tell a story from part of that trip and why it stands out in your mind.
• Have you ever done something you knew would get you in big trouble?  Write a story about a time this happened and how you felt about it.
• Write a story about the strangest thing that has ever happened to you.  Why was it so unusual?
• What was your most memorable moment from this year?  Write a story telling why it’s so special.
• Tell a story about a time when you were so excited and couldn’t wait for an event to happen.
• Write a small moment story about a time you had with your favorite person.
• Write about a time that you lost something important.  Tell whether or not you found it.
• Think about the worst day you ever had.  What made it so terrible and did it get better by the end?

Rubrics for Narrative Writing

I often hear from teachers that one of the most difficult parts of teaching writing is how to assess it.  Assessments should be accurate and helpful for both the student and teacher.  When it comes to narrative writing, there are many different approaches.  Some teachers prefer to do a more informal assessment for daily writing pieces and then a formal assessment for the final copy.  Informal assessments can be completed with written comments or student-teacher conferences.

It would be very difficult to use a rubric for every narrative writing a student completes in their notebook.  Instead, most teachers prefer to choose one to three writing pieces to assess with a rubric.  These assessments are ideal for benchmarks, progress reports, and report cards.  Below you will find three types of narrative writing rubrics.  Check out this blog post to learn more about student-friendly, teacher-friendly, and time-saving rubrics: 3 Types of Writing Rubrics for Effective Assessments

Narrative writing enables kids to be creative and use their imagination. They can write a fiction story or about a real event from their life. Writing prompts are a helpful tool to get kids engaged and ready to get started. Did you grab your Free Writing Prompt Guide yet? I love using prompts for morning work, writing time, centers, or as a homework assignment. The possibilities are endless! Be sure to try these prompts for narrative writing with your students!

Genre Based Prompts

Related Articles:

• 20 Prompts for Opinion Writing That Motivate Kids
• What is Narrative Writing
• A Complete Guide to Narrative Writing
• Personal Narrative Writing for Elementary School
• Narrative Writing: How to Teach a Story Arc That’s as Exciting as a Roller Coaster

Angela Sutton

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Student Opinion

310 Prompts for Argumentative Writing

Questions on everything from mental health and sports to video games and dating. Which ones inspire you to take a stand?

By Natalie Proulx

Does social media harm young people’s mental health? Do video games deserve the bad rap they often get? Should parents track their children? Who is the greatest athlete of all time?

Every school day, we publish new questions for students based on the news of the day, including prompts, like these, that inspire persuasive writing.

Below, we’ve rounded up over 300 of those argumentative prompts, organized by topic, all in one place. They cover everything from parenting and schools to music and social media. Each one, drawn from our Student Opinion column , links to a free New York Times article as well as additional subquestions that can help you think more deeply about it.

You can use these prompts however you like, whether to inspire an entry for our new Open Letter Contest , to hone your persuasive writing skills or simply to share your opinions on the issues of today. So scroll through the list below and see which ones inspire you to take a stand.

If you enjoy these questions, know that you can find all of our argumentative writing prompts, as they publish, here . Students 13 and up from anywhere in the world are invited to comment.

Argumentative Prompt Topics

Technology and social media, college, work and money, health and relationships, gender and race, arts and entertainment, parenting and childhood, government and politics, animals, science and time.

Social Media

1. Does Social Media Harm Young People’s Mental Health? 2. How Much Should Speech Be Moderated on Social Media? 3. Should the United States Ban TikTok? 4. How Young Is Too Young to Use Social Media? 5. Should Kids Be Social Media Influencers? 6. What Should Be Done to Protect Children Online? 7. Should There Be Separate Social Media Apps for Children? 8. Are You a Fan of ‘School Accounts’ on Social Media? 9. Will Social Media Help or Hurt Your College and Career Goals? 10. Is It Ever OK to Use Strangers as Content for Social Media?

Phones and Devices

11. Should More Teenagers Ditch Their Smartphones? 12. Should the Adults in Your Life Be Worried by How Much You Use Your Phone? 13. Should Phones Ever Be a Part of Family or Holiday Gatherings? 14. What Are Your Texting Dos and Don’ts? 15. Does Grammar Still Matter in the Age of Twitter? 16. Is Your Phone Love Hurting Your Relationships? 17. Should Texting While Driving Be Treated Like Drunken Driving? 18. How Young Is Too Young for an Apple Watch?

The Internet

19. Do Memes Make the Internet a Better Place? 20. How Excited Are You About the Metaverse? 21. Should Websites Force Users to Prove How Old They Are? 22. What Is the Best Way to Stop Abusive Language Online? 23. How Do You Feel About Cancel Culture? 24. Does Online Public Shaming Prevent Us From Being Able to Grow and Change? 25. Do You Think Online Conspiracy Theories Can Be Dangerous? 26. Does Technology Make Us More Alone?

School Discipline and Attendance

27. Should Schools Ban Cellphones? 28. How Should Schools Hold Students Accountable for Hurting Others? 29. What Are Your Thoughts on Uniforms and Strict Dress Codes? 30. Should Schools Test Their Students for Nicotine and Drug Use? 31. How Can Schools Engage Students Who Are at Risk of Dropping Out? 32. Should Students Be Allowed to Miss School for Mental Health Reasons? 33. Should Your School Day Start Later? 34. Should There Still Be Snow Days? 35. Do Kids Need Recess? 36. Should Students Be Punished for Not Having Lunch Money?

School Quality and Effectiveness

37. How Do You Think American Education Could Be Improved? 38. Do Schools Need to Do More to Hold Students Accountable? 39. Are Straight A’s Always a Good Thing? 40. Should Students Have the Same Teachers Year After Year? 41. Do Teachers Assign Too Much Homework? 42. Should We Get Rid of Homework? 43. Should We Eliminate Gifted and Talented Programs? 44. Is It Time to Get Rid of Timed Tests? 45. What Role Should Textbooks Play in Education? 46. How Should Senior Year in High School Be Spent? 47. Does Your School Need More Money? 48. Do School Employees Deserve More Respect — and Pay? 49. Should Public Preschool Be a Right for All Children?

Teaching and Learning

50. Do You Think We Need to Change the Way Math Is Taught? 51. Should Financial Literacy Be a Required Course in School? 52. Should Schools Teach Students Kitchen and Household Skills? 53. Do We Need Better Music Education? 54. What Are the Most Important Things Students Should Learn in School? 55. What Is the Purpose of Teaching U.S. History? 56. Do Schools Need to Do More to Support Visual Thinkers? 57. Is School a Place for Self-Expression? 58. Should Media Literacy Be a Required Course in School? 59. Can Empathy Be Taught? Should Schools Try to Help Us Feel One Another’s Pain? 60. Should Schools Teach You How to Be Happy? 61. Should All Schools Teach Cursive? 62. Should Kids Still Learn to Tell Time? 63. How Important Is Knowing a Foreign Language

Technology in School

64. How Should Schools Respond to ChatGPT? 65. Does Learning to Be a Good Writer Still Matter in the Age of A.I.? 66. Is Online Learning Effective? 67. Should Students Be Monitored When Taking Online Tests? 68. Should Schools Be Able to Discipline Students for What They Say on Social Media? 69. Can Social Media Be a Tool for Learning and Growth in Schools? 70. Should Facial Recognition Technology Be Used in Schools? 71. Is Live-Streaming Classrooms a Good Idea? 72. Should Teachers and Professors Ban Student Use of Laptops in Class? 73. Are the Web Filters at Your School Too Restrictive?

Education Politics

74. Do You Feel Your School and Teachers Welcome Both Conservative and Liberal Points of View? 75. Should Students Learn About Climate Change in School? 76. Should Teachers Provide Trigger Warnings for ‘Traumatic Content’? 77. Should Teachers Be Allowed to Wear Political Symbols? 78. What Do You Think About Efforts to Ban Books From School Libraries? 79. What Is Your Reaction to the Growing Fight Over What Young People Can Read? 80. What Do You Think About the Controversy Surrounding the New A.P. Course on African American Studies? 81. Should Schools or Employers Be Allowed to Tell People How They Should Wear Their Hair? 82. Does Prayer Have Any Place in Public Schools? 83. Should Schools Be Allowed to Censor Student Newspapers?

College Admissions

84. Should Colleges Consider Standardized Tests in Admissions? 85. Should Students Let ChatGPT Help Them Write Their College Essays? 86. What Is Your Reaction to the End of Race-Based Affirmative Action in College Admissions? 87. Are Early-Decision Programs Unfair? Should Colleges Do Away With Them? 88. Is the College Admissions Process Fair? 89. How Much Do You Think It Matters Where You Go to College? 90. Should Everyone Go to College? 91. Should College Be Free? 92. Is Student Debt Worth It? 93. Should High Schools Post Their Annual College Lists?

Campus Life

94. What Should Free Speech Look Like on Campus? 95. Should Greek Life on College Campuses Come to an End? 96. Should Universities Work to Curtail Student Drinking? 97. How Should the Problem of Sexual Assault on Campuses Be Addressed? 98. Are Lavish Amenities on College Campuses Useful or Frivolous? 99. Should ‘Despised Dissenters’ Be Allowed to Speak on College Campuses? 100. Should Emotional Support Animals Be Allowed on College Campuses?

Jobs and Careers

101. Is High School a Good Time to Train for a Career? 102. Is There Such a Thing as a ‘Useless’ College Major? 103. Should All High School Students Have Part-Time Jobs? 104. Should National Service Be Required for All Young Americans? 105. Is It OK to Use Family Connections to Get a Job?

Money and Business

106. Do You Think the American Dream Is Real? 107. Should All Young People Learn How to Invest in the Stock Market? 108. Should We All Go Cashless? 109. When Should You Tip? 110. Should We End the Practice of Tipping? 111. Are You a Crypto Optimist or Skeptic? 112. Do Celebrities and Influencers Make You Want to Buy What They’re Selling? 113. Is $1 Billion Too Much Money for Any One Person to Have? 114. Are C.E.O.s Paid Too Much? 115. Is It Immoral to Increase the Price of Goods During a Crisis? 116. What Should Stores Do With Unsold Goods? 117. Is There a ‘Right Way’ to Be a Tourist? 118. Who Should We Honor on Our Money?

Mental Health

119. Is Teen Mental Health in a State of Crisis? 120. ‘Love-Bombing.’ ‘Gaslighting.’ ‘Victim.’ Is ‘Trauma Talk’ Overused? 121. Does Achieving Success Always Include Being Happy? 122. Is Struggle Essential to Happiness? 123. Should Schools Teach Mindfulness? 124. How Can We Bring an End to the ‘Epidemic of Loneliness’? 125. Does Every Country Need a ‘Loneliness Minister’? 126. What Ideas Do You Have to Bring Your Community Closer Together? 127. Are Emotional-Support Animals a Scam? 128. Is It OK to Laugh During Dark Times?

Dating and Relationships

129. Who Should Pay for Dates? 130. Do Marriage Proposals Still Have a Place in Today’s Society? 131. Should Your Significant Other Be Your Best Friend? 132. How Do You Think Technology Affects Dating?

Physical Health

133. Should Governments Do More to Discourage People From Smoking and Vaping? 134. How Should Adults Talk to Kids About Drugs? 135. Can Laziness Be a Good Thing? 136. Should There Be Requirements for Teens Who Want to Ride E-Bikes? 137. What Advice Should Parents and Counselors Give Teenagers About Sexting? 138. Should All Children Be Vaccinated? 139. Do We Worry Too Much About Germs?

140. Is It Becoming More Acceptable for Men and Boys to Cry? 141. Is It Harder for Men and Boys to Make and Keep Friends? 142. Should Award Shows Eliminate Gendered Categories? 143. Should There Be More Gender Options on Identification Documents? 144. Justice Ginsburg Fought for Gender Equality. How Close Are We to Achieving That Goal? 145. What Should #MeToo Mean for Teenage Boys? 146. What Is Hard About Being a Boy? 147. Should There Be More Boy Dolls? 148. Is Single-Sex Education Still Useful? 149. Are Beauty Pageants Still Relevant? 150. Should Period Products Be Free? 151. What Are Your Thoughts on Last Names? 152. What Rules Should Apply to Transgender Athletes When They Compete? 153. What Is Your Reaction to the Recent Wave of Legislation That Seeks to Regulate the Lives of Transgender Youths? 154. What Do You Wish Lawmakers Knew About How Anti-L.G.B.T.Q. Legislation Affects Teenagers?

Identity, Race and Ethnicity

155. How Should Schools Respond to Racist Jokes? 156. How Should Parents Teach Their Children About Race and Racism? 157. What Is Your Reaction to Efforts to Limit Teaching on Race in Schools? 158. How Should Racial Slurs in Literature Be Handled in the Classroom? 159. Should Confederate Statues Be Removed or Remain in Place? 160. Should We Rename Schools Named for Historical Figures With Ties to Racism, Sexism or Slavery? 161. How Should We Remember the Problematic Actions of the Nation’s Founders? 162. Does the United States Owe Reparations to the Descendants of Enslaved People? 163. What Can History Teach Us About Resilience? 164. Should All Americans Receive Anti-Bias Education? 165. Is Fear of ‘The Other’ Poisoning Public Life? 166. What Stereotypical Characters Make You Cringe? 167. When Talking About Identity, How Much Do Words Matter? 168. How Useful Is It to Be Multilingual?

TV and Movies

169. Is True Crime As a Form of Entertainment Ethical? 170. Should Old TV Shows Be Brought Back? 171. Does Reality TV Deserve Its Bad Rap? 172. How Closely Should Actors’ Identities Reflect the Roles They Play? 173. In the Age of Digital Streaming, Are Movie Theaters Still Relevant? 174. Do We Need More Female Superheroes? 175. Is Hollywood Becoming More Diverse? 176. When Does Lying in Comedy Cross a Line? 177. How Do You Feel About ‘Nepotism Babies’?

Music and Video Games

178. Will A.I. Replace Pop Stars? 179. If Two Songs Sound Alike, Is It Stealing? 180. Should Musicians Be Allowed to Copy or Borrow From Other Artists? 181. How Do You Feel About Censored Music? 182. What Are the Greatest Songs of All Time? 183. Do Video Games Deserve the Bad Rap They Often Get? 184. Should There Be Limits on How Much Time Young People Spend Playing Video Games? 185. Should More Parents Play Video Games With Their Kids?

186. Are A.I.-Generated Pictures Art? 187. What Work of Art Should Your Friends Fall in Love With? 188. If Artwork Offends People, Should It Be Removed? 189. Should Museums Return Looted Artifacts to Their Countries of Origin? 190. Should Art Come With Trigger Warnings? 191. Is the Digital Era Improving or Ruining the Experience of Art? 192. Are Museums Still Important in the Digital Age? 193. Can You Separate Art From the Artist? 194. Are There Subjects That Should Be Off-Limits to Artists, or to Certain Artists in Particular? 195. Should Graffiti Be Protected?

Books and Literature

196. Is Listening to a Book Just as Good as Reading It? 197. Should Classic Children’s Books Be Updated for Today’s Young Readers? 198. Should White Writers Translate a Black Author’s Work? 199. Is There Any Benefit to Reading Books You Hate? 200. Should Libraries Get Rid of Late Fees?

201. What’s the Best — and Worst — Part of Being a Sports Fan? 202. Who Is the GOAT? 203. Do Women’s Sports Deserve More Attention? 204. What Should Be Done About the Gender Pay Gap in Sports? 205. Should Girls and Boys Sports Teams Compete in the Same League? 206. Should More Sports Be Coed? 207. College Athletes Can Now Be Paid. But Not All of Them Are Seeing Money. Is That Fair? 208. Should High School-Age Basketball Players Be Able to Get Paid? 209. Are Some Youth Sports Too Intense? 210. Are Youth Sports Too Competitive? 211. Is It Bad Sportsmanship to Run Up the Score in Youth Sports? 212. Is It Ethical to Be a Football Fan? 213. Does the N.F.L. Have a Race Problem? 214. What New Rules Would Improve Your Favorite Sport? 215. What Sports Deserve More Hype? 216. How Should We Punish Sports Cheaters? 217. Should Technology in Sports Be Limited? 218. Does Better Sports Equipment Unfairly Improve Athletic Ability? 219. Is It Offensive for Sports Teams and Their Fans to Use Native American Names, Imagery and Gestures? 220. Is It Selfish to Pursue Risky Sports Like Extreme Mountain Climbing? 221. Should Cheerleading Be an Olympic Sport?

Related Writing Prompt

222. Should Parents Ever Be Held Responsible for the Harmful Actions of Their Children? 223. Where Is the Line Between Helping a Child Become More Resilient and Pushing Them Too Hard? 224. Should Parents Give Children More Responsibility at Younger Ages? 225. Should Parents Tell Children the Truth About Santa? 226. Should Parents Weigh in on Their Kids’ Dating Lives? 227. Should Parents Track Their Children? 228. How Should Parents Support a Student Who Has Fallen Behind in School? 229. Do Parents Ever Cross a Line by Helping Too Much With Schoolwork? 230. What’s the Best Way to Discipline Children? 231. What Are Your Thoughts on ‘Snowplow Parents’? 232. Should Stay-at-Home Parents Be Paid? 233. Should Parents Bribe Their Children?

Childhood and Growing Up

234. Is It Harder to Grow Up in the 21st Century Than It Was in the Past? 235. Is Childhood Today Over-Supervised? 236. When Do You Become an Adult? 237. Who Should Decide Whether a Teenager Can Get a Tattoo or Piercing? 238. Do We Give Children Too Many Trophies? 239. What Can Older Generations Learn From Gen Z? 240. What Is the Worst Toy Ever?

Legislation and Policy

241. Should the Death Penalty Be Abolished? 242. Should Marijuana Be Legal? 243. Should the United States Decriminalize the Possession of Drugs? 244. What Is Your Reaction to the State of Abortion Rights? 245. Should the Government Cancel Student Debt? 246. Should Public Transit Be Free? 247. Should There Be More Public Restrooms? 248. Should the U.S. Be Doing More to Prevent Child Poverty? 249. Should the Government Provide a Guaranteed Income for Families With Children? 250. Should Law Enforcement Be Able to Use DNA Data From Genealogy Websites for Criminal Investigations?

Gun Violence

251. Are You Concerned About Violence in America? 252. How Should Americans Deal With the Problem of Gun Violence? 253. What Should Lawmakers Do About Guns and Gun Violence? 254. Should the U.S. Ban Military-Style Semiautomatic Weapons? 255. Should Teachers Be Armed With Guns?

Voting and Elections

256. How Much Faith Do You Have in the U.S. Political System? 257. Is the Electoral College a Problem? Does It Need to Be Fixed? 258. Does Everyone Have a Responsibility to Vote? 259. Should We All Be Able to Vote by Mail? 260. Should There Be a Minimum Voting Age? 261. Should the Voting Age Be Lowered to 16? 262. Should Ex-Felons Have the Right to Vote? 263. Are Presidential Debates Helpful to Voters? Or Should They Be Scrapped?

Freedoms and Rights

264. How Important Is Freedom of the Press? 265. Why Does the Right to Protest Matter? 266. Does the U.S. Constitution Need an Equal Rights Amendment? 267. Do You Care Who Sits on the Supreme Court? Should We Care? 268. Should You Have a Right to Be Rude? 269. Should Prisons Offer Incarcerated People Education Opportunities?

Civic Participation

270. Are You Optimistic About the State of the World? 271. If You Could Take On One Problem Facing Our World, What Would It Be? 272. If You Were Mayor, What Problems Facing Your Community Would You Tackle? 273. Do You Think Teenagers Can Make a Difference in the World? 274. Do You Think It Is Important for Teenagers to Participate in Political Activism? 275. Is Your Generation Doing Its Part to Strengthen Our Democracy? 276. How Is Your Generation Changing Politics? 277. Why Is It Important for People With Different Political Beliefs to Talk to Each Other? 278. Are We Being Bad Citizens If We Don’t Keep Up With the News? 279. Why Do Bystanders Sometimes Fail to Help When They See Someone in Danger? 280. When Is It OK to Be a Snitch? 281. Should Reporters Ever Help the People They Are Covering? 282. Should Celebrities Weigh In on Politics? 283. Should Athletes Speak Out On Social and Political Issues? 284. Should Corporations Take Political Stands? 285. What Do You Think the Role of the First Lady — or First Spouse — Should Be Today?

286. Is Animal Testing Ever Justified? 287. What Is Our Responsibility to Lab Animals? 288. What Are Your Thoughts About Hunting Animals? 289. Should We Be Concerned With Where We Get Our Pets? 290. What Do You Think of Pet Weddings? 291. Is It Wrong to Focus on Animal Welfare When Humans Are Suffering? 292. Should We Bring Back Animals From Extinction? 293. Are Zoos Immoral? 294. Do Bugs Deserve More Respect?

Environment and Science

295. What Role Should Young People Play in the Fight Against Climate Change? 296. Should We Be More Optimistic About Efforts to Combat Climate Change? 297. How Far Is Too Far in the Fight Against Climate Change? 298. Should Plastic Bags Be Banned Everywhere? 299. Is It Ethical to Create Genetically Edited Humans? 300. Should We Still Be Sending Astronauts to Space? 301. Do You Think Pluto Should Be a Planet? 302. Should We Treat Robots Like People?

Time and Seasons

303. What Is the Best Month of the Year? What Is the Worst? 304. Would Life Be Better Without Time Zones? 305. Do You Think It Is Time to Get Rid of Daylight Saving Time? 306. When Do Holiday Decorations Go From Festive to Excessive? 307. Should We Rethink Thanksgiving? 308. When Does a Halloween Costume Cross the Line? 309. Should School Be a Place to Celebrate Halloween? 310. Should the Week Be Four Days Instead of Five?

Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public and may appear in print.

Find more Student Opinion questions here. Teachers, check out this guide to learn how you can incorporate these prompts into your classroom.

Natalie Proulx joined The Learning Network as a staff editor in 2017 after working as an English language arts teacher and curriculum writer. More about Natalie Proulx

50 Awesome Deep Writing Prompts about Life

Self-discovery tends to be considered a good thing. The reasons can see considerable variation from person to person. However, most people agree to some extent with Make Me Better’s position that self-discovery makes you more in tune with yourself, thus empowering you to live a happier, more meaningful life.

You can do a surprising amount of self-discovery through thinking. Still, you might find the process smoother when you express your thoughts through writing.

These 50 deep writing prompts about life can give interested individuals a place to start thinking:

1. What Makes You Who You Are?

Grammarist translates raison d’etre as “reason of being.” It matters because it is supposed to be one’s very core. Despite that, most people don’t have a good grasp of their raison d’etre. If you are one of them, you might benefit from spending some time thinking about what defines you on such a fundamental level.

2. What Is Your Most Treasured Item?

People tend to value some of their possessions more than others. What you care about can say some interesting things about who you are. This is no exception to that rule.

3. Are You Satisfied With Who You Are?

Some people are satisfied with themselves. Others are not. You aren’t wrong if you are one of the former. Similarly, you aren’t wrong if you are one of the latter. Still, you need to know which group you fall into because that tells you whether you should work on yourself.

4. Are You Satisfied With Your Current Trajectory?

You can be on a good trajectory even if you aren’t currently satisfied with yourself. Answering this question can tell you a great deal about how you should be changing yourself, assuming you should be changing yourself at all.

5. What Are Some Small Things That Make You Happy?

Greater Good and other resources agree that happiness makes for better health. To safeguard your health, you should list the small things that make you happy.

6. What Are Some Small Things That Make You Unhappy?

Of course, you should also list the small things that make you unhappy. By doing so, you can avoid upsetting yourself.

7. What Is Something Going Right in Your Life?

Everyone can benefit from some positivity from time to time. If you need a boost, remind yourself of something going right in your life.

8. How Can You Ensure This Continues?

On a related note, you should consider how you can keep it right.

9. What Is Something Going Wrong in Your Life?

Generally speaking, you can’t resolve all your issues with a single stroke. Instead, you need to chip away at them bit by bit. That starts with identifying the issues you need to resolve.

10. How Can You Ensure This Stops?

Once you have identified a problem, you shouldn’t tackle it until you have come up with a plan.

11. What Is Your Biggest Regret?

Most people have regrets worth writing about.

12. What Would You Change About Your Biggest Regret?

We can’t undo the past, but we can use it as a guide for planning a better future.

13. If You Could, Would You Forget About Your Biggest Regret?

The Washington Post makes an excellent point that regret can be downright unhealthy. Still, it is interesting to ask whether people would go as far as to forget it altogether.

14. What Is One of Your Short-Term Goals?

You can’t make progress unless you know what you are working towards.

15. How Do You Plan to Achieve This Short-Term Goal?

Of course, you also need a step-by-step plan for getting to your desired destination.

16. What Do You Need to Achieve This Short-Term Goal?

You can’t implement your plan unless you have the necessary tools and resources. Unfortunately, you can’t gather those things until you have figured out what they are.

17. Is There Something You Want to Learn in the Next Five Years?

Learning doesn’t end with school. If you are willing to put in the effort, you can continue learning throughout your lifetime.

18. Is There Something You Want to Experience in the Next Five Years?

Education isn’t the only way to learn. Experience can make just as good a teacher under the right circumstances.

19. When Was the Last Time You Confronted One of Your Major Fears?

Most people have fears. Moreover, most people have to face one or more of their fears at some point. Writing about these things can give you a measure of control over them.

20. How Did You Cope When You Confronted One of Your Major Fears?

Thinking about your coping methods is a good way for you to get ready to use them the next time.

21. When Was the Last Time You Experienced a Major Change of Perspective?

Being willing to change your perspective is a good thing. Determination is rightfully considered a virtue, but it becomes mere stubbornness past a certain point. If you can’t remember the last time you experienced a major change of perspective, you might be too stubborn.

22. Why Did You Experience That Major Change of Perspective?

You need to know why you changed your perspective if you want to make sure you did so for a good reason.

23. Are You a Risk-Taker?

Risk is very subjective. What is risky to one person isn’t necessarily so to another. Answering this question can give you insight into how you think about the topic, which can improve your decision-making.

24. Do You Think You Are Taking the Right Amount of Risk?

Forbes offers a reminder that people can be too risk-averse. If you want the best results, you need to master balancing between the two extremes.

25. What Is Your Biggest Insecurity?

Most people have insecurities. As such, there is no shame in writing about them.

26. Where Do You Think Your Biggest Insecurity Comes From?

Understanding your insecurities can give you a measure of control over them.

27. Do You Make Decisions From Your Head or Your Heart?

Homo economicus is a theoretical existence that makes it easier for economists to think about things in a certain way. In real life, we make decisions based on a mix of reason and emotion, which aren’t mutually exclusive. You still might find it beneficial to figure out whether you lean one way or the other when making your decisions.

28. Do You Think It Is Better to Make Decisions From Your Head or Your Heart?

On a related note, your preference for one or the other can say much about you as a person.

29. Do You Practice Self-Care?

Everyday Health and other resources agree on the importance of self-care. If you aren’t practicing it, you should start doing so sooner rather than later.

30. Are You Good At Telling When You Should Practice Self-Care?

Knowing you should practice self-care isn’t the same as knowing when you should practice self-care. Being able to tell is a valuable skill in its own right.

31. How Do You Practice Self-Care?

Similarly, you also need to know how to practice self-care. This is particularly important because it can take so many different forms, meaning what works for one person won’t necessarily work for another.

32. Name a Time You Lied

Knowing who you are is a critical part of self-discovery. That includes the things you aren’t proud of.

33. Did You Think You Were Lying For a Good Reason?

As always, figuring out how you think relies on figuring out why you choose the way you do.

34. Did the Lie Change the Situation For the Better or the Worse?

Evaluating the consequences are a useful way to evaluate our choices.

35. Have You Ever Told a Lie For a Bad Reason?

You can’t come to a full understanding of yourself unless you are willing to ask some tough questions.

36. How Did You Feel After Telling a Lie For a Bad Reason?

With that said, you can’t develop a comprehensive understanding of your choices unless you also examine the emotional aspect of things.

37. What Do You Think Is the Most Important Characteristic a Friend Should Have?

Different people look for different characteristics in their friends. Knowing what you want can help you develop stronger friendships.

38. Do Any of Your Friends Have This Characteristic?

Part of that process involves asking whether your friends have the characteristic you are looking for from your friendships.

39. What Do You Think Is Something You Are Stuck On?

It is common for people to get stuck on something troublesome. Identifying these things is needed before resolving them becomes possible.

40. How Do You Think You Can Get Things Moving Again?

Resolving troublesome matters is easier said than done. After all, you need to come up with a suitable plan before implementing it.

41. Name a Moment You Are Proud Of

The things you take pride in say a great deal about you as a person.

42. Name a Challenge You Managed to Overcome

A proper self-assessment requires you to understand both your successes and your failures. That means you need to have a clear idea of the challenges you have overcome in your life.

43. When Did You Last Step Out of Your Comfort Zone?

Self-knowledge includes knowing what you are and aren’t comfortable with. If you know yourself, you should be able to tell when was the last time you stepped out of your comfort zone.

44. Did You Gain Anything When You Last Stepped Out of Your Comfort Zone?

Acting outside of a comfort zone can make for interesting experiences. Oftentimes, people learn a great deal from doing so.

45. Did You Lose Anything When You Last Stepped Out of Your Comfort Zone?

Other times, people can lose things by doing so, which is one of the potential reasons they tend to be less than enthused by the prospect.

46. What Motivates You?

CareerAddict and other resources are clear that motivation is needed for the best results. It makes you happier. Furthermore, it makes you more productive. Due to this, you would do well to understand what motivates you, thus enabling you to make the best use of the levers that move you.

47. How Do You Keep Yourself Going When You Are Feeling Unmotivated?

Unfortunately, everyone runs into situations in which they feel unmotivated. You should learn how to keep yourself going when feeling unmotivated to make yourself better prepared for such situations.

48. What Are Your Core Values?

Core values are a person’s most fundamental beliefs. They are the principles by which you live your life, whether you do so consciously or unconsciously. As a result, you would be wise to develop a better understanding of your core values because that gives you incredible insight into what you will and will not accept.

49. How Can You Live in Better Alignment With Your Core Values?

People don’t always get the chance to live in perfect alignment with their core values. That can cause considerable stress and strain. Due to this, you should brainstorm ways to bring your life into better alignment with your core values, which should make you happier than otherwise possible.

50. What Would You Like to Be Remembered For When You Are Gone?

Some people care nothing about how they are remembered once they are gone. In contrast, others care about it a great deal, as shown by some of the greatest monuments people have raised over the ages. If you care about how you are remembered when you are gone, you should start thinking about how you would like to be remembered ahead of time. That should give you the most time during which to work towards your goal.

You can also read:

• 50 Awesome Argumentative Writing Prompts
• 50 Awesome Persuasive Writing Prompts
• 50 Awesome Memoir Writing Prompts
• 50 Awesome Dialogue Writing Prompts
• 50 Awesome Writing Prompts for Couples

Janine is passionate about parenting. As a mother of 5 she knows a thing or two about how to raise children. She has a love for food, travel, and making sure her children stay on the right path.

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