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BEST FICTION WRITING PROMPTS
Join (probably?) the world's largest writing contest. Flex those creative muscles with weekly writing prompts.
Showing 58 prompts reset
Embrace the unknown, set your story in the stands at a major sporting event., set your story during a total eclipse — either natural, or man-made., write about someone who is stuck between two opposing sides and can’t decide which one to choose., write a story about someone pulling an all nighter., set your story before dawn. your character has woken up early for a particular reason..
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Write a story that begins, ends, or changes with a song played by a busker.
Start the story with the absence of a sensory detail (eg. silence when there should be noise)., begin a scene with a non-visual sense. describe a specific sound, smell, taste, etc to capture your setting, then expand the story out from there., set your story in a post office., set or begin your story in a room lit by the flickering flames of the fireplace., subscribe to our prompts newsletter.
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Begin your story with a librarian searching for something.
Write a story starring an octogenarian who’s more than meets the eye., set your story in the kitchen of a bustling restaurant., write a western-inspired story in a new genre or setting (e.g. a space western, fantasy western, etc.), write about someone rediscovering something old they thought they’d lost., write about someone stuck in an endless cycle who finally manages to break free., write a story about someone trying to reinvent themselves after spending a long time in a rut., write a modern version of "the tiger, the brahmin, and the jackal," in which someone suffers from their own good deeds and must turn to an unlikely source for help., write a story about a fox spirit (a gumiho, jiǔwěihú, kitsune, or hồ ly tinh), inspired by, e.g. korean, chinese, japanese and vietnamese folklore., write a story inspired by this quote from dante alighieri’s the divine comedy: “in the middle of the journey of our life i came to myself within a dark wood where the straight way was lost.”, 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!
Contest #279 LIVE
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This week's theme: Embrace the Unknown
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Contest entries, closes at 23:59 - dec 06, 2024 est, recent contests ✍️.
#278 – All Apologies with Daniel Penny
#277 – Something Wicked This Way Comes
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#275 – The Witching Hour
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The best fiction writing prompts
For many people, a blank page is a just a piece of paper. But for writers who dream about writing a short story or novel, it's something much worse: it's a chilling omen of writer's block.
That's how creative writing prompts can help—especially for a fiction writer. Writing prompts give you the story ideas so that you're left with the time and energy to bring those stories and characters from your own imagination to vivid life. Best of all, they come in all shapes, sizes, and genres, from mystery prompts about a death in a haunted house to romance prompts about a meet-cute in the city. Feel free to scour this directory for the fiction writing prompts you need to write your book!
If you're looking to cut to the chase, here's a top ten list of fiction writing prompts:
- At some point in the story, have a character casually say something that hints at the ending.
- Start your story with someone trying to read a map.
- Write a story about miscommunication.
- Write a story based on the song title: "My Generation"
- Write a story in which societal rituals and expectations play a key role.
- Write a story in which the same line recurs three times.
- Write a story about a character exploring their religious or spiritual identity.
- Write a story where your protagonist predicts danger.
- Write about a character who was considered a prodigy when they were young.
- Write the 'origin story' of a person who goes on to achieve great things.
If you're interested in learning how to write fiction, check out our free resources on the topic:
Develop a Writing Routine (free course) — Ask any published author, and they’ll tell you that only 20% of getting a book published is talent. The other 80% is commitment is simply sitting down every day and committing yourself to putting words on paper. This ten-day course will show you how to create a writing routine that helps you accomplish just that.
Begin your novel today (blog post)— Once you’ve got a writing routine now, all that’s left is the hard part: actually writing the book! That's where this blog post comes in handy.
How to Write a Short Story That Gets Published (free course) — Thinking about trying your hand at short stories? Laura Mae Isaacman, a full-time editor who’s worked with authors like Joyce Carol Oates, teaches this course that’s all about short stories. She’ll cover the entire process, from writing the story to actually getting it published.
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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