Finding inspiration for your next story can sometimes be a challenge, especially when faced with a blank page.

Creative writing prompts can be an excellent way to spark new ideas and get your imagination flowing. Whether you’re looking to create a short story, develop a novel, or simply explore new themes, the following prompts are designed to inspire.
Character-based prompts
- The unexpected hero: Write about an ordinary person who is forced to become a hero in an extraordinary situation. How do they rise to the occasion, and what do they learn about themselves?
- The secret keeper: Create a character who has been keeping a life-changing secret for years. What happens when the truth is revealed?
- A second chance: Your protagonist wakes up one day to find themselves living in the past with the chance to rewrite a crucial moment in their life. What do they choose to change, and what are the consequences?
Setting-focused prompts
- The last place on earth: Write about a remote, forgotten place where your character discovers something that could change the world.
- A city with no shadows: Imagine a city where the sun never sets. What is life like for its inhabitants, and how does this constant daylight affect them?
- The underground sanctuary: Create a story set in a secret underground community. Why did people move there, and what are they hiding from?
Conflict-driven prompts
- The ultimate betrayal: Write about a character who must confront someone they trusted after discovering a shocking betrayal. How does this conflict shape their actions?
- A world without lies: Imagine a society where lying is impossible. How do people navigate relationships, politics, and personal ambitions in this world?
- The ticking clock: Your character has 24 hours to complete an impossible task to save someone they love. What obstacles stand in their way, and do they succeed?
Fantasy and science fiction prompts
- The forgotten magic: Write about a world where magic once existed but has been forgotten. What happens when a young character stumbles upon this lost power?
- The alien visitor: An alien species makes first contact, but instead of the government, they choose an ordinary individual as their guide to Earth. Why did they choose this person?
- The time traveller’s dilemma: A character discovers they can travel through time but only once. Where do they go, and what do they hope to achieve?
Emotional and introspective prompts
- The letter never sent: Write about a character who discovers a letter they wrote but never sent. How do they feel reading it now, and what does it reveal about their past?
- A fleeting connection: Explore a story where two strangers share a brief but life-changing moment. How do their lives change after this encounter?
- The weight of regret: Your character is given a chance to confront someone from their past to seek closure. What do they say, and does it bring the peace they hoped for?
Whimsical and light-hearted prompts
- The talking animal: Your protagonist discovers their pet can talk. What secrets does the pet reveal, and how does this change their relationship?
- The shop of forgotten dreams: Imagine a shop where people can buy back forgotten dreams. Who runs the shop, and what happens when a customer rediscovers an old dream?
- The endless carnival: Write about a carnival that appears once every hundred years and never leaves the same location twice. What mysteries does it hold?
Challenging prompts for experienced writers
- The unreliable narrator: Craft a story where the narrator intentionally or unintentionally misleads the reader. How does the truth eventually come to light?
- A story told backwards: Write a narrative that starts with the ending and works its way back to the beginning. How does this structure affect the story’s impact?
- The world inside a word: Choose an unusual word as your story’s title and build a narrative around it. How does the meaning of the word shape the plot or theme?
Creative writing prompts are a great way to break through writer’s block and explore new ideas. Use these prompts as starting points, and don’t be afraid to take them in unexpected directions. The key is to let your imagination guide you and have fun with the process. Happy writing!
