creative writing prompt image

70 Picture Prompts for Creative Writing (with Free Slides)

Share this post!

Visual writing prompts help young writers generate new ideas and overcome writer’s block. We’ve put together 70 picture prompts for creative writing that you can use for morning work or in your writing centers or lesson plans to get your students’ creative juices flowing.

The Benefits of Using Visual Writing Prompts

Writers of all ages and experience levels can get stuck thinking about what to write. Writer’s block is not just a challenge for reluctant writers. Even professional writers have days when they feel less than inspired.

Visual prompts can result in a vast array of story ideas. A single image viewed by ten writers will result in ten completely different short stories. Even if you use verbal cues to get students thinking about the picture, each student will still write a unique response to the image.

Visual creative writing prompts are fantastic for elementary school because younger students often relate more to a pictorial prompt than a written one, but don’t shy away from using these with high school and middle school students as well. Pictures make a fun alternative to your typical writing prompts and story starters and can help shake up your regular English language arts routine.

How to Use Picture Prompts for Creative Writing

There’s no limit to the ways you can use writing prompts. Here are some of our favorite ways to incorporate image prompts into your weekly lesson plans .

• Writing Center. Print cards or writing pages with these images on them and put them in a writing center for your students to discover at their own pace.
• Specific Skills. Use story picture prompts to help kids work on specific writing skills. For example, you could work on descriptive writing by having them describe the setting of the picture in detail, character development by having them make up a history for a person (or animal) in the picture, or narrative writing by having them make up a story based on the picture.
• Warm-up Activity: Download the slides that accompany this post and project an image on a screen or whiteboard for the first fifteen minutes of class and have students work on a short story as soon as they enter. This helps jumpstart the creative process before you move into your regular writing program.
• Independent Work: If you need a fun activity for kids to do when they’ve completed their assignment and are waiting for other students’ to finish, keep a supply of these images on hand and challenge them to write flash fiction of 250 words or less while they wait.
• Sub binders: Want to have some easy, no-prep projects on hand for those days when you’re unexpectedly away? Elementary picture writing prompts are perfect for substitute teachers to do with your students in your absence.
• Distance learning: If you are working with students whom you don’t see face-to-face, picture writing prompts are a great way to inspire them. You can use them in a virtual lesson to kickstart a discussion on brainstorming story ideas or post a few of these images to your learning management system and let students select the one they want to write about.

No matter how you decide to use them—whether at home or in the classroom—photographic writing prompts are a great way to cultivate a daily writing habit and encourage kids to explore new topics.

Picture Writing Prompts for Kids

We’ve selected 70 of the most interesting pictures we could find for this exercise. When choosing photos for writing prompts, we look for high-quality photos with intriguing subject matter, but we try to go beyond that. We want to share images that suggest a story, that make the viewer ask questions and wonder why things are the way they are.

We want to feel propelled to explore questions like, What happened before the photo that led to this moment? What are we witnessing in this photo? What’s about to happen?

A photo doesn’t make much of a story starter if it doesn’t suggest that there might be a bigger picture lurking beneath the surface.

We hope you and your students love these picture prompts for creative writing as much as we do. If you love them, go ahead and fill out the form below to grab your own copy.

Sign Up for Your FREE Picture Writing Prompt Slides

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

We’ve included a couple of questions with each picture that you could use to spark pre-writing conversations in your classroom, which can be helpful when working with younger students who might need a little more direction.

Bear in mind though that some kids really struggle with these types of questions that ask them to make inferences about details that they can’t possibly know the ‘answer’ to. When you ask them things like, “What was the author probably trying to do?” they have no idea and won’t dare to hazard a guess. If you are working with kids who feel paralyzed by these questions, now is not the time to push them. Ignore the questions completely and have them simply focus on the picture.

It could be a good idea to write a few short stories yourself based on a single picture to show demonstrate how there are no wrong answers in this exercise—only endless possibilities.

70 Picture for Story Writing with Guiding Questions

• Whose cat is this? What is he looking at? Where is he?

2. What is the owl thinking about? Is he alone? What does he hope to eat for dinner?

3. Who are these frogs? What is their relationship with each other? Why are they taking photos?

4. How did the dog get a phone? Why is he taking selfies? What is he doing with the pictures he takes?

5. This cat doesn’t look too happy. What’s bugging him? Did he get too many phone calls or is he waiting on an important call that’s taking too long to come?

6. What do these chicks think of the dog? What does the dog think of the chicks? Do you think they can communicate with each other? If so, what would they say?

7. Where do these lemurs live? What are they looking at? What is something unusual that might happen to them?

8. What is this fox doing? Is he yawning and stretching or is he trying to scare someone away? What kind of mischief does he like to get up to?

9. Is this wolf alone? If not, who is with him? What is he planning to do? Does he have a family to feed or protect?

10. What is this child doing on the laptop? Can he actually read and type or is he just playing? If he can read and type, how did he learn that at such a young age? What other cool things can he do?

11. Where is this woman? Is she lost? How did she get to this street? What interesting things might she discover as she explores this new city?

12. Why is the dog wearing glasses? Can he see through them? What are he and the girl doing? How does he feel about it?

13. Who are these two little boys? What is their relationship with each other? What is the teddy bear’s story?

14. Who are these children? Why are they running? Is it a race or are they playing a game? Who’s going to win?

15. Whose horse is this? Does the little boy own it or does he just visit it? Can the horse talk? How does the boy feel when he’s with the horse?

16. What is this boy reading? Does the book have a magical power? Does the boy? Do the stories in the book become real or does something else special happen?

17. Where is this man? How did he get there? What is he looking for?

18. Who is walking over the bridge? What’s on the other side? Is it worth the risk?

19. What are these people doing on the elephant? Where are they? Are they tourists or is the elephant their pet? What would life with an elephant be like?

20. Who made this map? It looks old. Has it been hidden away for a long time? Who discovered it and how? What does it lead to?

21. Whose typewriter is this? What important or secretive thing might they be working on? What could happen if the wrong person finds their work?

22. Who are these three stuffed animals? Are they living? What is their story?

23. Whose ukulele is this? Why did they leave it here? Who might find it?

24. Where is the owner of the bike? Where does this path lead? What if the bike’s not there when the owner returns?

25. Whose shoes are these? Why did they leave them here? Why are they so dirty?

26. Who was reading the newspaper? What was the most interesting thing they read? Where have they disappeared to?

27. Who put this sign on the old truck? What do you think of it? How did the truck end up in its current condition and location?

28. Who set the table? Who are they expecting? What special occasion are they celebrating? What could go wrong?

29. Whose birthday cake is this? Are they having a party? Who is there? Who did they want to have there that didn’t show up?

30. Who lives here? How do they access their home? What is their life like?

31. Who built the igloo? Where is it? How does it feel to spend the night inside it?

32. What is the history of this castle? Who lives in it now? Does it have any special or magical features?

33. Is this barn abandoned or do people live on the property? What kind of animals might live here? How do they keep themselves entertained?

34. What is it like living on a houseboat? What kind of community do you think forms among the neighbors? Imagine you live on one of these boats and think about how your daily life might change. What interesting things could you do if you lived here? What would you miss the most?

35. Where is this hut? Who lives here? What mystery might unfold if a stranger came knocking at their door?

36. What is this lighthouse called? Who runs it? How often do they leave? What is the most memorable experience they’ve had as a lighthouse operator?

37. How did this house get here? Does anyone live in it? What would life be like here?

38. Where is this festive street? Are the people there celebrating something? Where is everybody?

39. Who lives here? How did they build this house? Are they hiding from something? What does it look like inside?

40. Whose notebook is this? Why did they leave it here? What’s written in it and how might it change the life of the person who finds it?

41. What are these women doing? What are they supposed to be doing? Will they be in trouble if they get caught?

42. Who might be represented in this statue? Why is she being pulled by lions? What amazing things might she have done to deserve a statue in this prominent place?

43. Where is this? Who is riding in the hot air balloons? Where are they going and why?

44. How old is this large tree? Where is it? What are some of the most fascinating stories it could tell?

45. Where is this carousel? Who is riding it? Can you think of a special or strange story about how it came to exist in this particular place?

46. What are these people thinking about? What’s at stake for them? What happens if one of them sneezes?

47. Where are these penguins? What are they talking about? Which one of them is the leader?

48. What is this place? Was it designed to be open like this or was it once part of someone’s home or a public building? How have people’s opinions of this place changed over time?

49. Who are these kids? Is this what they’re supposed to be doing? What happens when their teacher sees them?

50. Who is supposed to ride in this boat? Where are they going? Will they make it there?

51. Is this plane special to someone? What did they have to do to get it/build it? Where will they fly to in it?

52. Who decorated this train car? Which passengers will fill it up? What will they talk about?

53. Whose skis are these? Why are they sticking out of the snow? How did their owner get down the mountain without them?

54. Where does this gondola go? Who rides it? How does it feel to ride it?

55. Who’s driving the monster truck? Why is it at the beach? What is it going to crush? Who is watching?

56. Where is the boat going? Who is on it? What is their mission?

57. What city is the helicopter flying over? Why? Is the driver looking for something specific or do they have a special delivery?

58. What’s the little boy doing in the boat? Is he alone or is someone with him? Where is he trying to go?

59. Who is in the sub? What’s it like inside? What are they doing?

60. Whose book is this? What’s it about? What’s happening to it?

61. How did that piece of land with the house on it break off from the rest of the world? Why? Where is it going? Is anyone in the house?

62. Who is this girl? Where is she? Who is she shooting at?

63. Where does this scene take place? Is the lizard/dragon good or bad? What is its relationship with the girl?

64. What do these books represent? What kind of world is this? What (or who) is inside the books?

65. What are these dinosaurs discussing? Where are they? What do they do for fun?

66. Whose cottage is this? Do they still live there? If not, where have they gone? If so, what do they do there?

67. What is the moth thinking about? Is it alone? What’s the biggest challenge it faces in this moment?

68. Who is the owl looking at? Has it read these books? What is its greatest talent?

69. Where are these trees? Why are they pink? Do they have any special powers or features?

70. What are these best friends thinking about? Do they have something to hide? What adventures do they go on together?

What do you think? Which kind of pictures do you like best for creative writing prompts ? Let us know in the comments.

Thursday 9th of May 2024

I love this website because I was using it with my kindergartners and it work so so so well!!!!

Monday 20th of May 2024

That's wonderful. Thanks for sharing!

Tuesday 5th of March 2024

I LOVE these! My daughter has always struggled with written story prompts and an internet search this week convinced me of the value of picture prompts for reluctant readers/writers (https://youcanjournal.com/journal-picture-prompts/ if you're interested!). I'll definitely be using these to help improve her writing skills. Thanks so much!

Tuesday 26th of December 2023

I think the idea of using picture prompts is a great idea. It initiates oral language thus building vocabulary. It allows lends itself to students working in small groups to stimulate new ideas. The prompts engage the students and gives the teacher the opportunity to focus on specific writing skills.

luke elford

Wednesday 13th of December 2023

cloey mckay

Tuesday 17th of October 2023

I tried this with myself and my 6th-grade students, and they love it. it gives room for so much creativity.

Privacy Overview

• Grades 6-12
• School Leaders

Don't Miss the Grand Prize: A $2,500 Office Depot/OfficeMax Card!

150 Inspiring Picture Writing Prompts To Spark Creativity (Free Google Slides)

Use a picture to write a thousand words!

Creative writing is a challenge for many students, often because they can’t come up with anything to write about. That’s why we love picture writing prompts. Each one sparks the imagination and helps young writers jump right into crafting a story to match. We rounded up a whole collection of intriguing images for use with kids in grades K-12 along. Plus we designed a set of free Google Slides featuring all of the prompts so you can easily share them with students.

Tip: Start by showing students the picture (or let them choose from among several) without making any comment about what they’re seeing. For kids who still struggle to get started, suggest a potential title or opening sentence, like the examples included here.

Don’t miss our free downloadable. Grab your full set of ready-to-go Picture Writing Prompts Google Slides with all of the prompts below.

Elementary Picture Writing Prompts

Middle school picture writing prompts, high school picture writing prompts, art picture writing prompts.

When kids first see these picture writing prompts, they may or may not immediately feel inspired. If they need some help, ask them questions like “What led up to this moment?” or “What’s going to happen next?”

When Larry fell in love, he fell hard.

When the new sign appeared on Main Street, everyone in town wondered exactly what it meant.

Snowy Footprints

After that crazy day, all that was left to show for it was footprints in the snow.

Dinosaur Bones

“Come with me if you want to live!” Ash said, reaching out a hand.

Undersea Treasure

For years, no one saw the locked treasure chest but the local fish, who wondered what it could contain.

A Game of Fetch

To Scout, it was a game, but to Mr. Freezy, it was much more.

Ladybug Gossip

The ladybug’s picnic was an excellent chance to meet up with old friends and hear all the latest gossip.

We met them when they peeked into our window, watching us as we ate lunch and watched cartoons.

King of the Jungle

It wasn’t the crown that made Amari the king of all he surveyed.

The Final Pitch

It all came down to this—the final pitch in a game that was tied 2-2.

Doggie Massage

Every dog in the neighborhood knew that Rocky gave the best massages and was always willing to lend an ear too.

Skateboard Life

When Charli got her first skateboard, she made herself a promise.

Garden of the Past

The woman walked in the garden every day, never saying a word.

Sunset Friends

They met on the jungle gym every day at sunset, sharing everything about their days.

Pink Umbrellas

When the pink umbrellas first appeared, Toni thought they might be magic.

Firefly Forest

Olivia was surprised to discover that the fireflies didn’t just glow, they also sang.

Robot Spider

When it first crawled ashore, the mechanical spider moved slowly.

Fallen House

Staring at their house, which was now on its side, the whole family was in shock.

Red Riding Hood

If only she’d been riding her faithful steed the day she’d met the Big Bad Wolf, things might have been very different.

Kangaroo Fall

“Well, this is embarrassing,” thought Bouncer, as laughter filled the air around him.

Daci’s big brother said her signs wouldn’t help them find their runaway cat, but he was wrong.

Penguin Bookshop

A visit to Mr. Pickerel’s Penguin Bookshop is always an adventure.

Of all the eggs in the carton, Ella was the one who could always crack you up.

That was the year Min was finally tall enough to ride the Sky Swings, but now she wasn’t so sure.

Rubber Duck Parade

It was truly an honor to be asked to lead the Spring Duck Parade.

Teddy Story Time

Every afternoon, the three friends gathered for story time in their favorite spot in the woods.

Underwater School

Nia thought going to school underwater would be exciting, but some days she really missed going outside for recess.

The day Amos started his journey down the river, the sun was shining brightly.

Turtle Trouble

“None shall pass,” growled the old sea turtle, blocking the way.

Dinosaur Race

Pia was supposed to keep Balthazar on a leash, but once they reached the forest, she set him free and they both began to run.

Finally Seeing Eye to Eye

“So, we meet at last, face to face,” Lord Squeakerton said to his enemy, the Count of Catnip.

It takes a lot to surprise a monkey, but you don’t see something like this every day.

Not Coming Out

The day started out normally enough, but by the end, Chris knew he was in over his head.

Life on Other Planets

“Hurry up,” Grnklor told his robopup. “We have to get back inside before nightfall.”

Reindeer Games

The wind had died down, but the setting sun seemed to take all the warmth of the day with it.

Something to Celebrate

Their classmates could hear their shouts of joy from all the way down the hall.

Home Sweet Mushroom

When the fairies that lived in the garden invited her to stay with them for awhile, Maria wasn’t sure what to expect.

Loch Ness Mystery

“There it is! I told you Nessie is real!” Angus whispered to Lee.

Lonely Bear

It was hard to say who was lonelier that night, Amil or his lost stuffed bear, Jasper.

Sometimes You Lose

When his team lost the championship, Miguel was crushed, but it turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to him.   

Middle school writing prompts can be a little more complex, with pictures that have a lot of potential interpretations. Encourage students to delve deeper into the story by describing how the characters feel and why they behave the way they do.

Morgan was incredibly proud of those shoes, paid for entirely with money from after-school jobs.

Never Lose Hope

With his last bit of energy, Kai scrawled his message in the wet paint.

The keyboard button could only be used once, and no one knew exactly what happened when you pressed it.

Piano Lessons

Before she could even speak, Arya was drawn to the black and white keys.

There was no doubt about it, this was was indeed a very special kind of garden.

No matter how you looked at it, it had been a very rough day to be the Easter Bunny.

Empty Chairs

By sunset, all four chairs were empty, and the only signs of life were the gulls swooping down from above.

Floating Treasure

To the birds, it was simply a convenient place to land, but Ali and I knew it was much more than that.

Shadow Question

That was the day they discovered that just because you were invisible didn’t mean your shadow was.

Letter and Key

The day she turned 12, Vivi’s aunt handed her an envelope containing the family secret.

Space Target

Onyx paused, knowing that once their arrow hit the target, there was no knowing what would happen.

Mermaid Mystery

It was a mermaid—or was it?

World on a String

Her dad had promised to give her the world, but she wasn’t expecting three more planets as well.

Bee Standoff

“This flower ain’t big enough for the both of us!” said Bianca.

Solitary Seat

For as long as anyone could remember, Angus McGee spent his evenings in the same chair next to the woodstove.

Best Friends

When you decide to run away from home forever, you can’t possibly leave your best friend behind.

Dinosaur Demise

In retrospect, setting the time machine to randomly choose a day and time in the past might not have been such a good idea.

Magic Lamps

“Choose wisely,” said the old shopkeeper, “for only one of these lamps is truly magic.”

Message in a Bottle

The message floated at sea for more than 50 years before the day we found it on the beach.

Barrel Boat

Of all the ways to impress someone, Jonah thought to himself, this had to be one of the most ridiculous.

Dragon Guardian

When your parents give you your own dragon guardian, your childhood is bound to be enchanted.

Octopus’s Garden

Wouldn’t you like to be under the sea, in an octopus’s garden in the shade?

Around the Corner

After finally pressing “send,” she couldn’t resist peeking around the corner to watch him read the text.

Beam Me Up!

Milo’s earliest memory was of watching his beloved tricycle float into the sky above him, caught in a beam of light.

Poison Apple

To join the club, all Aaron had to do was creep up and snatch the apple from the skeleton’s hand without being seen.

Giraffe Council

“It is now 3 p.m., and I call this meeting of the Mighty Council of Giraffes to order,” announced Imari.

Mystery Creature

At first glance, it was hard to tell whether the little creature was friend or foe.

As the sky turned orange, Keisha ran faster than ever and used the last of her energy to push off and soar over the water below.

The End of Days

Despite their best efforts, they arrived too late—the battle had already begun.

Out of the Book

“Happily ever after” was about to take on a whole new meaning.

Stopped Clock

I was sure that the time on the broken clock was the clue to solving the mystery.

Dueling Webs

It’s never a good idea to build your web too close to another spider’s, but this time I had no choice.

Do Shoes Grow on Trees?

The day I threw my own shoes into the tree was the day I really started to grow up.

Abstract Art

“So,” asked their art teacher, “what do you think this painting means?”

Wandering Robots

Everything about NB-317 was made of cardboard except his heart—that was made of flesh and blood and very capable of being broken.

Dream Come True

It all started when Quinn watched her favorite movie the night before they assigned partners for the eighth grade science fair project.

Mysterious Cave

The cave was unlike anything we’d ever seen before, and what was more, it almost seemed like the rock was alive.

Storm at Sea

As the rain lashed his face and lightning tore apart the sky, Kiran had to admit he’d always thought it would be a lot more fun being a pirate.

Grasshopper Close-Up

That’s when Javed realized it wasn’t that the grasshopper was too big—it was that he was suddenly very, very small.

UFO Parking

“Well, that’s convenient,” Javdok remarked to Qabow when they saw the sign.   

High school writers are ready to dig deep, exploring character development and detailed plots. These pictures offer a jumping-off point to set their imaginations free.

Cyborg Girl

When she was 14, Tasha’s parents finally told her the truth about what she really was.

BBQ Cookout

“So, I’m guessing no one told you I’m a vegetarian?” asked Sadie with a smile.

The latest app was like a time machine, allowing people to look back in time, but it also had a dark side.

She was surrounded by people but never felt more alone.

Hippo Troubles

Like all parents, hippos sometimes really need a break from their kids.

iPad Farmer

Grandpa Jack never failed to surprise us.

Marching Band Blues

Kaleel sat sadly on the bench, watching the rest of the band march away in jaunty time to the music.

Never-Ending Tunnel

The tunnel seemed to stretch to infinity, but Jayma knew what was at the end, and it terrified her.

Carving Out Love

For years, we wondered who “WP” was, and who it was who loved them so much they carved it into a tree for all to see.

Glowing Globe

Just then, the globe began to glow, and Jaxson knew he was about to leap through space and time once again—destination unknown.

See No Evil

It seemed like a funny joke to pose the skeletons in front of old Mrs. Petoski’s house, but then she turned up dead, and the police said it was murder.

Upside Down

It’s an odd feeling to wake up one morning and find yourself able to walk on the ceiling.

Face at the Fence

So much depended on which side of the fence you were on.

Bicycle Race

Finley had trained too hard for this race to come in third—it just wasn’t good enough.

Family Travels

In the picture, my grandmother’s expression is hard to interpret, but she’s told me the story many times.

Laundromat Antics

Dani never expected to meet her first love feet first.

Molly’s mom probably didn’t mean for her to be the one to find the note, but that’s how things turned out.

Through the Storm

Javier knew it would have been smarter to stay put, but he had to make sure his mom was safe before the worst of the storm arrived.

Lifetime Friends

They’d been friends for as long as they could remember—even longer, in fact.

Stray Kitten

“I am NOT taking you home with me,” Kai told the tiny mewling kitten firmly.

Abandoned Greenhouse

Willow was free to leave at any time, but she couldn’t make herself go.

Amani’s earliest memory was razor wire—miles and miles of it.

Church Graveyard

Everyone feels differently in a graveyard, but for me, they’re very peaceful places.

Orb of Death

“Do you really want to know?” Death asked. “Because once you know, you won’t be able to forget.”

Missed Shot

Steve was sure his shot would make it, but it bounced off the rim just as the buzzer rang to end the game.

First Contact

This was it—the moment that would change what it meant to be human forever.

One Life To Live

His face said his life had been a hard one, but his eyes told a different tale.

Winter Walk

Snow fell, creating a blank canvas to record the story of that fateful walk.

Train to Nowhere

It certainly wasn’t the most luxurious way to travel, but then again, no one really wanted to make this trip in the first place.

Modern Mary Poppins

She dropped into our lives on a gray day in midwinter, a hint of the spring that was to come.

All That Remains

Dust motes filled the air of the abandoned hallway, replacing the voices once heard there.

From the day he found the little creature, Luis refused to go anywhere without him.

The Question

Their happily ever after began quietly, with a bouquet of wildflowers.

Night Lights

Misty rain both blurred and emphasized the lights that lit Suri’s way home that evening.

Forest of Fear

At first, Mateo thought it was a joke, but the screams that followed told him there was nothing remotely funny about it.

At the elite level, being a spy meant serious commitments.

The Yellow Door

On their 14th birthday, every resident of Fresnia was required to stand before the Wall of Doors and make a choice.

Graffiti Palace

To strangers, it seemed random, but every mark on those walls had deep meaning for us.

Fossil Fish

Millions of years ago, the fish gave one final flop before lying still in the deep mud.

On the Rails

Aliyah stood on the tracks, uncertain of where to go next.

These picture prompts are all works of art, some more well known than others. Try providing them to students without sharing the titles first, then offer up the titles if they need some help getting started.

The Dance Class (Edgar Degas)

Greek Funerary Plaque (520-510 BCE)

Washington Crossing the Delaware (Emanuel Leutze)

Kyōsai’s Pictures of One Hundred Demons

First Steps, After Millet (Vincent van Gogh)

Lady Lilith (Dante Gabriel Rossetti)

A Sunday on La Grande Jatte (Georges Seurat)

After the Hurricane, Bahamas (Winslow Homer)

Drawing Lots for Prizes (Kitagawa Utamaro)

Portions of Field Armor (Jacob Halder)

Sadie Pfeifer, a Cotton Mill Spinner (Lewis Wickes Hine)

Still Life With Monkey, Fruits, and Flowers (Jean Baptiste Oudry)

Man Leading a Giraffe, 5th Century Byzantine

The Three Skulls (Paul Cézanne)

The Madame B Album (Marie-Blanche Hennelle Fournier)

Coiled Trumpet in the Form of a Snarling Feline Face (c. 100 BCE to 500 CE)

Crazy Quilt With Animals (Florence Elizabeth Marvin)

Storytime (Eugenio Zampighi)

Cubist Village (Georges Gaudion)

Zig-Zag Passenger and Freight Train (Unknown)

The Power of Music (William Sidney Mount)

The Large Tree (Paul Gauguin)

After the Bath (Mary Cassatt)

Wedding Gown (Korea, Late 1800s)

The Contemplator (Eugène Carrière)

The Girl I Left Behind Me (Eastman Johnson)

24c Curtiss Jenny Invert Single

Creeping Baby Doll Patent Model

Wrecked Zeppelin (British Library)

Skeleton (Tales of Terror Frontispiece)

Get Your Free Picture Writing Prompts Google Slides

Just click the button below to fill out the form and get instant access to free downloadable Picture Writing Prompts Google Slides with all the prompts included above.

How do you use picture writing prompts in your classroom? Come share ideas and ask for advice in the We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook .

You Might Also Like

Free Bill of Rights Worksheet Bundle

Constitutional knowledge made easy. Continue Reading

Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved. 5335 Gate Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32256

• Image Prompts

85+ Picture Writing Prompts For Kids (+ Free Printable)

A picture is worth a thousand words. So how many words can you write for these 85 picture writing prompts for kids and grow-ups alike! Pictures, whether something as simple as an apple or as complex as an action scene can spark the imagination in more ways than one.

Of course, when looking at pictures you can take the literal route, and describe whatever you see in front of you. Or you can explore your imagination, and think about the ‘What Ifs..’ of a picture. What if that person is actually upset? What if this picture is of a broken family? What if the world looked like this years ago? A picture can have so many hidden meanings and can hide so many secrets. The slightest detail could mean everything. Just imagine you’re a detective solving a crime from one picture alone. Examine every detail, write it down and think why? Only then can you fully understand a picture.

For more inspiration take part in our daily picture writing prompt challenge . Each day you will be given a new picture prompt to write about.

Picture Prompt Generator

In this post, we have included a mix of simple pictures, story picture prompts, photographs, fantasy images and even some action-packed images.

You can find the complete list of our picture writing prompts below. We’ve also created a smaller PDF version that includes 30 random picture prompts. Download the printable PDF here .

You might also be interested in the following posts:

• 30 Christmas Pictures To Get You Writing ‘Tis Jolly Season
• 25+ Halloween Image Prompts For Mastering Horror Stories
• How to Use Image prompts To Inspire You

150 Picture Prompts To Inspire

Over 85 picture prompts for creative writing, story-telling and descriptive writing assignments:

How to Use these Prompts

Picture prompts are the perfect writing stimulus especially when you hit writer’s block . Here are a number of ways you can use these picture writing prompts to spark your imagination:

• Descriptive Writing: Directly describe everything you see in extreme detail. You could even go beyond the physical appearance of things, and explore your other senses, such as smell, hear, feel and taste.
• Story-Telling: Pick just one image, and tell a whole story based on this one image.
• Story Starter: Similarly you can pick one image, and use it as the starting place of your story.
• Collaborative Story-Telling: In a group of 5 – 7 students, each student can have a random picture. The first student uses their picture as the story starter, and then the next student continues the story based on their own image. Keep going until the final student ends the story.
• Idea Generation: Pick one image and try to think of at least 3 story ideas related to that one image. 
• Daily Writing Challenge: Give your students 7 images, and tell them to write a description for each image every day. 

These are just some ways to use images as writing prompts. You can also check our post on 8 fun story-telling games using image prompts for more ideas.  Did you find our picture writing prompts useful? Let us know in the comments below!

Marty the wizard is the master of Imagine Forest. When he's not reading a ton of books or writing some of his own tales, he loves to be surrounded by the magical creatures that live in Imagine Forest. While living in his tree house he has devoted his time to helping children around the world with their writing skills and creativity.

Related Posts

Comments loading...

15 Inspiring Picture Prompts To Help Your Creative Writing

Writer’s block – is there anything worse? You know that you can write a masterpiece but sometimes your mind is empty of ideas. 

If you’re a student starting the world of creative writing or just someone looking to shake up your literacy skills, hitting the well-known creative wall is a rite of passage. It happens to all writers – even J.K. Rowling!  Head here to learn about 25 famous writers who experience writer’s block.

But here’s a little secret: it’s not always about drumming up ideas from thin air, sometimes you just need a little nudge to get into your writing flow, and that’s where the magic of an image prompt comes in. Combine these with some creative writing techniques and you’ll have a killer story in your hands.

This guide will introduce you to 15 must-have picture prompts designed to inspire your creative writing. Each prompt has been carefully selected to cover a wide selection of creative writing examples, ensuring that you find the perfect match when story ideas are difficult to find. 

What Are Picture Prompts?

Think of it as a creativity spark —a simple image that acts as a writing prompt. They kickstart your writing and generate so many ideas for characters, plots and even new worlds that you’ve never thought of.  No matter whether you’re piecing together a short story, starting the first chapter of a novel, or just in the mood for a fun writing exercise, weaving inspiring pictures into your routine can unlock storytelling abilities you never thought you had. 

How Do I Use Picture Prompts?

Below I’ve carefully selected 15 pictures that all depict different stories and will get your imagination clogs turning and spark creative ideas. 

But the best element of picture writing is that I’ve written questions above each photo that are designed to push you deeper into the narrative of each image, encouraging you to explore various angles and perspectives. By asking yourself these questions, you’re not just observing; you’re actively engaging with the scene, considering the emotions, backstories, and hidden details that might not be immediately apparent.  So jot down observations, ideas, emotions, or anything that comes to mind from the picture prompts. 

Ready to get started? Let’s turn those blank pages into a writing masterpiece!

1. Ancient Stories

Who drew these drawings? Why did they draw them? What story do they tell?

2. Takeoff Countdown

Where is man travelling and why? What is he thinking as he looks out onto the aeroplane? What does his outfit say about his character? 

3. Nature’s Nightlights

How does the light from the mushrooms and fireflies create a sense of magic? Who visits this spot when humans aren’t looking? 

4. Small But Mighty

Can you think of other people that appear insignificant to others but are strong in other ways? 

5. Wild Playgrounds

What smells, textures and sounds do you hear in the forest? Why are the children laughing? Is this in the present or a memory? 

6. Gateway to the Unknown

Where does the gateway lead to? Who put in this field and why? Does something happen to you as you enter the portal?

7. The Wolf’s Counsel

Is the wolf helping the woman or viewing her as prey? What is their relationship? What do the crows and moonlight signify? 

8. Corridors in the Cosmos

Where is this corridor? How do the metallic walls and clinical lights effect the image’s mood? What is behind the locked door? 

9. The Mountain Pass 

Where does this path lead? Home or an adventure? How does the stormy weather and snow-topped mountains set the mood for this scene? 

10. Cloud Wanderer

Is the traveller looking for something or simply taking in the view? What does the contrast of the tiny viewer and the vast scenery symbolise? 

11. Charting the Uncharted 

What land is this map showing? What does it show? What do the illustrations and style of the map say about the people who created it? 

12. A Handful of Mystery 

What emotions does this image evoke? How does the shadow of the hand add mystery to the image?

13. The Case of the Broken Door

Why did someone break into the door? Are they friend or foe? Where is the door located? 

14. The White Cover-Up

Who is the man painting the wall? Is he painting a new design or covering something he wants to stay hidden?

15. Sunshine Ride 

What do the colours, objects and scenery of this image evoke? Why has the driver chosen to travel here? 

End Writer’s Block For Good With Picture Prompts 

So, if you’re ever stuck or just looking for a fresh spark, remember the power of picture prompts. They’re an incredibly easy and effective way to turn a daunting blank page into the first chapter of your novel. Whenever I hit a creative roadblock, picture writing prompts have been my go-to solution for reigniting my imagination.  Let us know in the comments how you get on! 

Marie is a blogger who loves to share writing and reading tips online. If you want to learn more about literature or how to turn words into money, this is the blog for you.

Similar Posts

7 Creative Writing Techniques To Become A Best-Selling Author

Is there anything worse for a writer than to see their work fail? You spend months, maybe even years, pouring your heart onto paper, only to find that it didn’t work out. You’ve switched up your writing space, looked at inspiring picture prompts and reread your favourite books but still can’t find the right words….

5 Best Writing Desks To Keep You Productive and Organised

Suffering from backache, writer’s block or need to freshen up your space? You’re about to save yourself hours of internet searching because here are the best desks for writing that will elevate your home with a dedicated writing space and spark your creative writing. Best Cheap Writing Desk Our Cheapest Pick Loren Desk Simple, refined,…

How To Write In Third Person Even If You Don’t Know What It Is  

Writing perspectives can be confusing – first, second, third – is there a fourth?! Choosing the narrative perspective completely changes your story’s tone, narration style and the details you share with the reader, so it’s important to pick the right one before you get to work at your writing desk! The most common perspective is…

15 Creative Writing Examples in 2024

Ever felt the urge to write but found yourself staring blankly at a page, unsure where to start? You’re not alone. Even with the best picture prompts, creative writing can be daunting, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. My name is Marie and after studying English Literature for over a decade, I’m here to guide you…

100 Picture Writing Prompts to Spark Your Creativity

What is picture prompt writing?

100 pictures prompts for creative writing

Nature and Landscapes

Urban settings, fantasy and sci-fi, everyday life and emotions, mystery and intrigue.

Ever find yourself staring at a blank page, the cursor blinking mockingly as your creativity takes an unexpected hiatus? I get it, we've all been there. But what if I told you there's a magical portal to a realm of inspiration, where a single image can set your imagination ablaze? Intrigued? I know I was when I stumbled upon the transformative power of picture writing prompts. 'Can a simple picture really unlock a floodgate of ideas?' you might wonder. The answer? A resounding yes! Join me on a journey through 100 captivating visuals that will not only jumpstart your writing but might just redefine your creative process altogether. Let's embark on a quest to turn images into stories, one prompt at a time.

WHAT IS PICTURE PROMPT WRITING?

If you're new to the concept of picture prompts, they serve as a unique form of writing stimuli employing images to initiate storytelling.

Students are tasked with crafting a narrative, utilizing the image either as the backdrop for their tale or as a creative springboard. The advantage of these visual prompts lies in their ability to provide a solid starting point for students. Not only does this method offer guidance, but it also fosters the use of vivid adjectives and the construction of more intricate sentences.

While students often require more direction than a generic "write about this," bombarding them with excessive details can be overwhelming. Picture prompts strike a balance, offering just enough information to serve as a stress-free launchpad. Subsequently, students can weave their own narratives.

Although not indispensable for every writing exercise, picture prompts inject an element of enjoyment and simplicity into the process, igniting creativity and prompting students to think (and write!) beyond conventional boundaries.

100 picture prompts for creative writing

• A serene sunrise over a mountain range.
• An ancient, mystical forest with towering trees.
• A secluded beach at sunset, waves gently kissing the shore.
• A vibrant, otherworldly waterfall surrounded by lush vegetation.
• A desert oasis with a lone camel resting in the shade.
• A snowy wilderness with footprints leading into the unknown.
• A vast field of wildflowers stretching to the horizon.
• A moonlit night over a calm lake, reflecting the stars.
• A city skyline viewed from a rooftop during a thunderstorm.
• A meandering river through a peaceful countryside.
• A group of hot air balloons floating over rolling hills.
• A tropical rainforest with colorful birds and exotic flowers.
• A thunderstruck landscape with a rainbow breaking through the clouds.
• A serene pond surrounded by weeping willows.
• A canyon bathed in the warm hues of a setting sun.
• A mysterious cave entrance with a soft glow emanating from within.
• A futuristic city on another planet, with alien architecture.
• A serene Japanese garden with a stone bridge over a koi pond.
• A dense fog rolling over a tranquil lake.
• A field of sunflowers stretching towards the sun.
• A bustling marketplace with diverse characters and colors.
• An abandoned amusement park with rusted rides.
• A futuristic cityscape with hovering vehicles.
• A hidden alleyway filled with street art.
• A crowded subway station during rush hour.
• An old bookstore with dusty shelves and hidden corners.
• A rooftop garden overlooking a city skyline.
• An antique clock tower in the heart of the city.
• A vibrant street festival with food stalls and performers.
• A quirky, colorful neighborhood cafe.
• A neon-lit cyberpunk street with holographic advertisements.
• A dilapidated industrial district with overgrown vegetation.
• A retro diner with checkered floors and red vinyl seats.
• A contemporary art gallery with avant-garde installations.
• A bustling harbor with ships coming and going.
• A street musician performing in a busy city square.
• A skyscraper under construction with cranes in action.
• A trendy coworking space with people collaborating.
• A vintage cinema with a marquee displaying classic films.
• A serene canal in a European city with historic architecture.
• An alien landscape with strange flora and fauna.
• A magical door hidden in a tree, leading to another realm.
• A steampunk-style airship soaring through the clouds.
• A dragon's lair filled with treasures and mysteries.
• A time-traveling device with intricate dials and buttons.
• A futuristic space station with advanced technology.
• A hidden portal in an ordinary-looking wardrobe.
• A wizard's library filled with enchanted books.
• A floating island in the sky with gravity-defying landscapes.
• An underwater city inhabited by merfolk.
• A mechanical golem standing guard in an ancient city.
• A celestial observatory on a distant planet.
• A futuristic cityscape with flying cars and neon lights.
• A mystical potion laboratory with bubbling concoctions.
• A parallel dimension where gravity works differently.
• A cyberspace landscape with digital structures.
• A mythical creature market with vendors selling magical items.
• A space explorer's ship floating in the vastness of space.
• A cosmic library containing knowledge from across the universe.
• An enchanted forest with talking animals and sentient plants.
• A child's messy room with toys scattered about.
• A moment of joy captured in a family photo.
• An old suitcase filled with travel memorabilia.
• A rainy day seen through a window with raindrops.
• A pair of hands holding a handwritten love letter.
• A solitary figure in a quiet library reading a book.
• A crowded cafe with people engrossed in their laptops.
• A broken mirror reflecting fragmented images.
• A person staring out of a window lost in thought.
• A worn-out pair of shoes with stories to tell.
• A kitchen filled with the aroma of baking cookies.
• A cozy fireplace in a cabin with snow falling outside.
• A child's drawing taped to a refrigerator door.
• A musician composing a song in a cluttered studio.
• A couple dancing under a starlit sky.
• A gardener tending to a vibrant flower bed.
• A student studying in a sunlit library.
• A group of friends sharing laughter around a bonfire.
• An artist's studio with canvases and paintbrushes.
• A parent teaching a child to ride a bike in a quiet neighborhood.
• A vintage key with an ornate design.
• A torn map with cryptic markings.
• A closed book with a mysterious symbol on the cover.
• A locked door with light seeping through the keyhole.
• A secret passage hidden behind a bookshelf.
• A message in a bottle washed ashore.
• A vintage magnifying glass on a detective's desk.
• A dusty attic with forgotten artifacts.
• A moonlit graveyard with ancient tombstones.
• A dimly lit room with a single flickering candle.
• A mysterious coded message written on an old parchment.
• A hidden treasure chest buried in the sand.
• A detective examining a crime scene with clues scattered.
• A conspiracy board with interconnected strings and notes.
• A mysterious silhouette in a foggy alley.
• A locked briefcase with unknown contents.
• A secret society meeting in an underground chamber.
• A haunted mansion with creaking doors and shadows.
• A mysterious figure in a dark cloak leaving a cryptic note.
• A forgotten diary with entries hinting at a hidden secret.

Still wondering how a simple image can be the key to unlocking a hundred different stories? Curiosity sparked? That's the magic of our 100 Picture Writing Prompts journey. Delve into landscapes that stir your imagination, explore urban settings bustling with stories, and venture into the realms of fantasy and sci-fi. Witness the beauty of everyday life and the emotions it evokes, or unravel mysteries that await your keen detective eye. Picture prompts transcend words, sparking creativity beyond limits. So, are you ready to transform a single frame into a hundred tales? Join me on this visual odyssey, where every prompt is a portal to endless possibilities, inviting you to weave your own narrative magic.

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Picture Prompts

144 Picture Prompts to Inspire Student Writing

A school year’s worth of short, accessible image-driven posts that invite a variety of kinds of writing.

By The Learning Network

We’ve been publishing our Picture Prompts series four days a week since 2016. Below, we’ve rounded up all the prompts we published for the 2022-23 school year.

These short, accessible, image-driven prompts invite students to pen short stories, poems and memoirs; share experiences from their lives; analyze illustrations, graphs and charts; and tell us their opinions on hot-button issues.

You can find even more in our roundups for the 2016-17 , 2017-18 , 2018-19 , 2019-20 , 2020-21 and 2021-22 school years, as well as in this collection of 25 spooky images for writing scary stories. That’s over 1,000 prompts, many still open for comment by students 13 and up.

To learn how you can use Picture Prompts to build literacy skills, promote critical thinking, inspire discussion and foster creativity in your classroom, watch our three-minute tutorial video or our on-demand webinar . For dozens more ideas, see our lesson plan, “ How to Teach With Our Picture Prompts (and Other Times Images) .”

If you use this feature with your students, or if you have other ideas for how to use photos, illustrations and graphics to encourage writing, let us know in the comments.

What story does this image inspire for you?

Cat in Chair Out at Dusk Typing Hundreds of Pounds of Pasta Running Alone and Together Band Practice Listening Doorways Long-Lost Letters Childhood Hobbies The Dinner Party Wild Creatures Cracked Mirror 2023 Young Love Together In the Car Dogs Shadow in the Sky Waving Bubbles The Gift Ski Hill Together Underwater Dining Red Poster Haunted Houses Scream Choose Your Own Adventure Bookshelf Portal Distance

Share experiences from your own life.

Your Childhood Home Sad Songs Graduation Caps Mother Knows Best Chess and Teens TikTok Dances Got Milk? Theme Parties Mindfulness Spring Books Girl Scout Cookies Pasta Puffer Coffee and Olive Oil Digital Clutter House Plants Hand-Me-Downs The College Application Process Emerging Music Stars Wildlife Year of the Rabbit Taking Suggestions Comfort Food Your 2023 Most-Anticipated List Faith Communities Holiday Traditions Holiday Ornaments Giving Tuesday Holiday Stress Cats ‘Goodnight Moon’ TikTok Searches Street Style Scary Stories Seven Ingredients Broadway Favorites Annoying Noises Football Season Mindfulness Summer Playlist

What do you think this image, chart or cartoon is saying?

Thorns and Flowers Coming to America Clichés Coins and People Plastic Head Sunshine and Rain Speaking Emotional ‘Keep TikTok’ Poverty Banking Robot Snakes Art and War Sun and Cloud Ruminating Planning and Working Cheering Flowers in Hand January On the Couch Crossing the Line Crypto Balancing Back-to-Back Banksy in Ukraine Twitter Fire Forest and Flower Clocks New Sneakers Falling Little Amal Message Bubbles Orange Ball

What’s your opinion on this issue?

A Surge in Book Bans Women’s Basketball Student Letters to the Editor Cat Cams Met Gala Looks Authentic Social Media? Cookie Mania Finish Line Tipping College Basketball Champions Penmanship Spring’s Arrival Daylight Saving Time Children and a Year of War Rihanna at the Super Bowl LeBron James Grammy Winners Big Surf Win Dirt Roads Violence and the N.F.L. 2022 in Pictures World Cup Winners Nuclear Fusion Winter Storm Party Snacks Bouldering Pie Cities Fall Back Vaping ‘Midnights’ Parkour for a Purpose I Voted Video Games Lizzo and James Madison’s Crystal Flute Face Filters

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 Picture Prompts here.

Picture Prompts for Writing: Transforming Ideas into Stories

By: Author Paul Jenkins

Posted on August 22, 2023

Categories Writing

You’re staring at a blank page, the cursor blinking mockingly. Writer’s block has struck again. But wait! Have you tried using picture prompts?

They’re not just for kids, you know. Visual stimuli can unlock your creativity, transporting you to places and situations you’d never dream of.

Let’s delve into the world of picture prompts together and banish that pesky writer’s block once and for all!

Key Takeaways

• Picture prompts enhance creative writing skills
• Visual imagery enhances the appeal and engagement of narratives
• Prompt interpretation is crucial for unique and valid stories
• Visual literacy stimulates imagination and evokes emotions

Understanding the Concept of Picture Prompts

You’ll find that understanding the concept of picture prompts can significantly enhance your creative writing skills.

Picture prompts aren’t just random images, they’re doorways into new worlds awaiting your words to come alive. They provide visual stimulation that sparks your creativity and imagination.

Prompt interpretation plays a crucial role here. You might see a photo of a single leaf floating on water; someone else sees an epic journey of survival against storms. That’s the beauty – each picture is open to countless interpretations, all unique, all valid.

The Power of Visual Imagery in Writing

Incorporating visual imagery in your narrative can significantly enhance its overall appeal and engagement. Imagine being able to transport your readers into the heart of your story, where they could feel the heat of a desert sun or taste the saltiness of a sea breeze.

That’s the power of visual literacy.

Visual literacy isn’t just about painting a vivid picture; it’s about stimulating imagination, evoking emotions, and creating an immersive experience. It’s like you’re handing your readers a magic carpet that takes them on an unforgettable journey through your words.

The Role of Picture Prompts in Creative Writing

Using images as a creative tool, you’re able to spark your imagination and add depth to your storytelling. Picture prompts invite you into a world of visual literacy, where every detail whispers a tale waiting to be told.

You’re not just writing; you’re painting with words.

But beware the prompt limitations! They’re there to challenge you, not confine you. Don’t let them stifle your creativity but use them to fuel it instead.

The sun-dappled forest in the photo isn’t merely green and brown; it’s an emerald mystery veined with chocolate shadows. The woman’s smile isn’t simply happy; it’s a radiant sonnet spun from joy.

How to Effectively Use Picture Prompts

To make the most out of these visual cues, it’s important that you’re open to interpreting them in different ways. Picture prompts aren’t mere images; they’re rich tapestries woven with countless stories waiting for your unique spin.

They can be powerful visual inspiration sources, sparking creativity that words alone can’t ignite.

Your prompt selection process plays a pivotal role here. It’s crucial not just to pick a visually appealing image but to choose one that stirs something within you. Maybe it’s an old sepia-toned photograph whispering tales of yesteryears or perhaps a vibrant graffiti wall screaming rebellion and freedom.

Tips to Choose the Right Picture Prompt

You’ll find it’s easier to weave compelling narratives when you select images that personally resonate with you. Prompt selection is like picking the perfect ingredients for a scrumptious recipe; each choice matters, stirring your creative juices.

An image of an abandoned castle might bring forth tales of historical drama, while a snapshot of a teardrop on a leaf could evoke powerful emotions and metaphors.

Imagery interpretation plays a significant role too. Let your mind roam free, see beyond what’s presented, uncover hidden narratives within each frame. Is it just an old tree or perhaps a secret doorway to another realm?

You’re the artist here; allow the picture prompts to be your canvas, unveiling stories that were waiting in their silent corners.

Developing Story Ideas From Picture Prompts

Once you’ve chosen an image that sparks interest, it’s time to delve into the process of crafting a captivating story from your visual inspiration. Let the magic unfold as you immerse yourself in capturing narratives.

Picture the scene, feel the emotions, hear the dialogues. Let your mind wander and weave tales where reality meets fantasy.

Your prompt inspiration is not just an image; it’s a portal to countless possibilities. As you extract stories from stillness, every color, shape, and shadow becomes alive with meaning. Your characters step out from their two-dimensional confines and breathe life into your narrative.

With each picture prompt, you’re not merely developing story ideas; you are creating worlds within worlds.

Techniques for Descriptive Writing Using Picture Prompts

In employing various techniques for descriptive storytelling, it’s essential that you let your imagination roam freely, transforming the static visuals into dynamic narratives. As the artist of words, your task is to paint vivid pictures using sensory details, immersing readers in your imaginative world.

Master visual literacy and use picture prompts as springboards into creative realms. Notice the subtlest hues in a sunset or decipher the hidden emotions in a character’s gaze. Smell the saltiness of an unseen sea or hear the rustle of leaves beneath unseen feet.

Feel textures – rough bark under fingertips or silky hair brushing against skin.

Writing descriptively isn’t merely about sight but involves all senses – imbuing life into lifeless images and eliciting reactions from readers. So delve deep and explore!

Picture Prompts for Character Development

Imagine delving into the heart of a character, tracing their emotions and life stories through vivid images.

You’re about to embark on an engaging journey where you’ll learn how to visualize character traits, interpret emotion in images, and use imagery to craft compelling backstories.

Get ready to transform static images into dynamic characters, using them as prompts that will color your narratives with depth and authenticity.

Visualizing Character Traits

You’re tasked with developing a character’s traits based solely on visual cues from a picture. Delightfully challenging, isn’t it?

Dive headfirst into the world of character sketching techniques, letting your imagination run wild. The artful exploration of visual symbolism is where your journey begins.

That worn-out hat skewed to one side speaks volumes about his carefree spirit, doesn’t it? And those old boots? They’ve seen more than their fair share of adventures! That half-smile hiding behind the rough beard tells tales of heartbreak and resilience.

Now add layers to this personality by imagining his voice, his laugh – husky or light-hearted?

With each observation you make, you’re not just sketching a character; you’re breathing life into them. So go on – let that picture prompt guide your storytelling journey.

Interpreting Emotion in Images

Decoding a character’s emotions from an image can be just as intriguing, don’t you think? It’s like solving a puzzle where each piece is a subtle hint about the character’s feelings. This process of emotion identification isn’t always straightforward, but it certainly makes for an engaging activity.

Let’s consider some ways to interpret ‘Image Sentiment’:

• By observing facial expressions:
• A frown might indicate sadness or frustration.
• An arched eyebrow could suggest curiosity or skepticism.
• Paying close attention to body language:
• Crossed arms might imply defensiveness.
• Leaning forward could denote interest or eagerness.
• Identifying context clues in the surroundings:
• A joyous occasion might show happy faces.
• Tense environments could reveal feelings of unease.

Imagery for Backstories

In constructing your character’s backstory, it’s the imagery that can truly breathe life into their past; wouldn’t you agree? Think about it. A single picture prompt can evoke a haunting memory or a cherished moment.

Backstory symbolism isn’t just words on a page, but subconscious imagery weaving together to form the tapestry of your character’s history.

Imagine a broken pocket watch symbolizing your protagonist’s fractured relationship with time. Picture an old tree house, embodying childhood innocence lost too soon. Envision these images not as mere illustrations, but as portals to deeper understanding.

Using Picture Prompts for Scene Creation

Imagine you’re on a journey, seeking the perfect picture prompt that will ignite your creativity and bring your words to life.

It’s not just about selecting an image, it’s an art of scene creation, a technique that transforms mere ideas into vivid narratives.

Dive in as we explore how these prompts can enhance your writing skills, turning each stroke of your pen into a masterpiece.

Selecting Effective Picture Prompts

You’ll find that choosing the right picture prompts can significantly enhance your writing process. By exploring different Prompt Varieties and refining your Imagery Selection, you’re stepping into a realm of unlimited inspiration.

• Delve into diversity:
• Experiment with various genres; maybe a vintage photograph for historical fiction or a futuristic image for sci-fi.
• Try using abstract art to prompt poetry or philosophical discourse, broadening your creative horizons.
• Enhance imagery selection:
• Opt for images that provoke emotion. The more intense the feeling they inspire, the deeper your connection to the story will be.
• Choose pictures rich in detail. They’ll provide a wealth of material to draw from as you weave intricate narratives.

Scene Creation Techniques

Crafting vivid scenes can be quite a task, but with the right techniques, you’re bound to create compelling narratives that captivate your readers. Picture prompts serve as your canvas for scene transitioning and plot development.

Imagine this: A deserted street under twilight skies, the only light emanating from a forgotten lamppost flickering inconsistently – an ideal setting for suspense or perhaps a mysterious encounter?

Now shift to a bustling marketplace bathed in warm sunlight, filled with the vibrant colors of fruit stands and the melodious cacophony of vendors hawking their wares – perfect for introducing an important character.

Prompts Enhancing Writing Skills

Utilizing cues can significantly elevate your storytelling prowess, enhancing your overall narrative technique. Prompt selection and imagery interpretation are key to unlocking this potential. Imagine you’re an artist, the canvas is your story, and picture prompts are the palette of colors.

• Picture prompts facilitate:
• Probing deeper into your imagination.
• They’re not just photos or drawings but windows into worlds waiting for you to explore.
• Stimulating creativity through imagery interpretation.
• They help you observe details that might otherwise be overlooked, sparking new story ideas.
• Fine-tuning prompt selection skills.
• With practice, you’ll learn to choose prompts that resonate with your writing style and theme.

These tools don’t dictate what you write but guide you towards storytelling mastery. Harness their power and watch as your words paint vibrant stories.

The Benefits of Picture Prompt Writing Exercises

They’re an excellent way to stimulate creativity and improve writing skills. Picture prompt exercises, that’s what we’re talking about here. Imagine a kaleidoscope of colors, characters, and scenarios unfolding before your eyes, revving up your imagination like a motorbike set on the highest gear. That’s visual brainstorming for you!

Every picture is a story waiting to be penned down, each element an untold narrative. It’s like diving into a sea of ideas where every seashell whispers tales from unknown worlds. You just need to listen carefully.

These prompts inspire not only your thoughts but also your heartbeats that race with anticipation at the riveting tales they could spin. So dive in! Harness this prompt inspiration and let these visual aids ignite sparks in your pen or keyboard strokes!

Case Study: Successful Stories From Picture Prompts

You’re about to embark on an intriguing exploration of the artistry behind successful stories born from picture prompts.

We’ll delve into the mesmerizing world of these tales, identifying what makes them click and analyzing each element that contributes to their success.

Get ready to experience first-hand the powerful influence of picture prompts in sparking creativity and evoking emotion, as we unravel this fascinating tapestry woven by word-weavers around the globe.

Identifying Successful Stories

It’s crucial to identify successful stories in picture prompts for writing to improve your creative skills. The magic begins when you unearth the potential narrative hidden within a single image. Story sequencing and reader engagement become your guiding stars, leading you into a whirlwind of creativity.

Consider these approaches:

• Look at the characters in the image:
• Identify their emotions and motivations.
• Imagine their backstory that led them to this moment.
• Examine the setting carefully:
• Consider how it contributes to the mood or tone of your story.
• Visualize how it could change over time.
• Think about possible plot twists:
• Brainstorm unexpected events that could turn the story on its head.

In this way, you’ll paint vibrant stories, captivating readers while honing your craft with each stroke.

Analysis of Success

We’ll delve deeper into the analysis of success, examining what makes a story truly stand out and captivate its audience. You’re about to embark on a journey to decipher this literary enigma.

Picture an intricate puzzle – that’s your story. Each piece is vital, but the success measurement lies in how they fit together, creating an image that’s vibrant and compelling.

Now comes the subtopic application: think of it like adding color to your masterpiece. It can be subtle or bold, but it must enhance the narrative without overwhelming it. Your style becomes your brushstroke; your words are the hues you choose.

Influence of Picture Prompts

Having dissected the success behind picture prompts for writing, it’s time to delve into their influential side.

Picture prompts are not just about stirring your creativity; they’re about luring you into a world of visual stimulation and prompt diversity. Imagine:

• Being exposed to an array of visuals, each telling a unique story:
• A hauntingly beautiful abandoned mansion,
• An alien planet with flora that glows in the dark,
• A bustling cityscape under a sunset sky.
• Experiencing diverse prompts, each igniting a different spark:
• A mysterious figure lurking in the mansion’s shadow,
• An alien creature hidden amongst the glowing plants,
• The hustle and bustle of city life as day turns night.

Let these vibrant images and rich narratives captivate your senses, guide your pen, and weave tales only you can tell.

Overcoming Writer’s Block With Picture Prompts

You’re likely to find that using picture prompts can be a great way to overcome writer’s block.

Imagine it, you’re staring at a blank page, the cursor blinking menacingly at you. Suddenly, there’s an escape: Visual brainstorming with picture prompts. You dive into a world of colors, shapes and scenes that awaken your senses, stirring up pools of ideas within your mind.

Every image ticks like a time bomb of inspiration waiting to explode onto your canvas of words. The silhouette dancing in the sunset doesn’t just spark a sentence; it births stories untold. The lonely house on the hill isn’t just an object; it’s loaded with mystery and suspenseful plot twists.

See? Prompt inspiration is no longer elusive! So go ahead, embrace this creative lifeline and let those words flow freely again.

Now you’ve got it! Using picture prompts can unlock your creativity and bust through writer’s block. They can help you create vivid scenes in your writing. Remember, the right image can spark a compelling story. So pick that picture prompt and let your imagination run wild.

Happy Writing!

Creative Writing Prompts for Crafting Compelling Imagery

by Melissa Donovan | Dec 20, 2018 | Creative Writing Prompts | 6 comments

Creative writing prompts for crafting stunning imagery.

Today I’d like to share a collection of prompts from 1200 Creative Writing Prompts , which contains a variety of fiction, poetry, and nonfiction writing prompts.

Some of the prompts in the book are story starters. Some are word lists. The prompts I’m sharing today are simple but provocative images that are designed to spark a writing session.

In writing, imagery is the key that can unlock a reader’s imagination. When an image is rendered with the right combination of words, it magically appears in the reader’s mind like a photograph or film clip.

Here’s an example:

A woman wearing a black dress is lying on the floor in a disheveled room.

Now look at the image above. Note the details that are missing from the sentence above: the tilting couch and mirror, the shiny hardwood floor, and the brightly colored plastic flower in the foreground. These details were left out of the example sentence to create a white space, which readers can fill in for themselves.

One reader might imagine clothing scattered across a carpet, a broken lamp, and a woman who has been injured lying on the floor, waiting for help. Another reader might picture the aftermath of a party: dirty dishes, empty bottles, and a woman passed out from drinking too much wine. One reader will imagine a wild and beautiful young woman, another will picture an older, more refined woman.

The perfect balance of description and white space provides just enough detail to make the image manifest, but not so much that the reader’s own imagination fails to be engaged. As a writer, it’s your job to know how much detail you need to include in your writing in order to bring out the most important elements of any image.

Creative Writing Prompts

Today’s creative writing prompts deal with creating imagery in writing. Each prompt consists of an item, which functions as the inspiration for a larger image. You’ll need to paint in the final strokes so the image and its emotional implications become clear.

As you work through these creative writing prompts, try asking questions about the prompt you’ve chosen and the image it evokes. Where is it? Who put it there? Why? Ask questions until the image comes into focus. Then use your words to paint the picture you have developed in your mind.

You can use these writing prompts to create an essay, a short story, a poem, or a quick freewrite. You can write a few paragraphs or a few pages. Follow the image wherever it takes you.

• A pair of baby shoes
• A torn photograph
• A broken bottle and a guitar pick
• A “no smoking” sign and a pair of fishnet stockings
• An oxygen tank
• A partially deflated basketball
• A fishing rod
• A circus clown removing his or her makeup
• An empty hospital bed
• The vast emptiness and beauty of space.

Once you’re done, come back and tell us how these creative writing prompts worked for you. And keep writing.

Ooh, great prompts! Thanks for sharing those!

Thanks! My pleasure.

Your comments on imagery are spot on. In my teaching and editing, I see a lot of default settings, where the writer has a good scene going, with tense dialogue and action, but hasn’t given any thought to the background, the setting. And so the setting will be bland, and contributes nothing to the story. The writer has put nothing in the setting for the reader to wonder about. A rusty handsaw or a pair of fishnet stockings or a torn photo would arrest the reader’s eye. If a scene is in an otherwise dull elementary school classroom, put on a counter a terrarium where two tarantulas are fighting. In a living room, put an antique Apache war club on the wall. It’s so important to give the reader something to look at.

I agree, James. I see a lot of work in which meaningful imagery is completely absent. Occasionally, I see the reverse, but this happens more with published works. I find long passages of description tedious. Also, too much imagery in writing disengages the imagination. There needs to be a delicate balance!

I love writing prompts! Thank you so much. I will definitely write these down. I collect prompts and shuffle them. They’re fantastic for stirring up creative thoughts. Thanks again!

Awesome! Come back and let us know how these writing prompts worked out for you. Good luck!

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

• FEBRUARY 2020 Newsletter | “Log of the Trail” – Texas Mountain Trail Writers - […] Writing Forward: Creative Writing Prompts for Crafting Compelling Imagery- https://www.writingforward.com/writing-prompts/creative-writing-prompts/creative-writing-prompts-for… […]
• APRIL 2020 Newsletter | “Log of the Trail” – Texas Mountain Trail Writers - […] Writing Forward: Creative Writing Prompts for Crafting Compelling Imagery- https://www.writingforward.com/writing-prompts/creative-writing-prompts/creative-writing-prompts-for… […]
• MAY 2020 Newsletter | “Log of the Trail” – Texas Mountain Trail Writers - […] Writing Forward: Creative Writing Prompts for Crafting Compelling Imagery- https://www.writingforward.com/writing-prompts/creative-writing-prompts/creative-writing-prompts-for… […]
• JULY 2020 Newsletter | “Log of the Trail” – Texas Mountain Trail Writers - […] Writing Forward: Creative Writing Prompts for Crafting Compelling Imagery- https://www.writingforward.com/writing-prompts/creative-writing-prompts/creative-writing-prompts-for… […]
• JUNE 2020 Newsletter | “Log of the Trail” – Texas Mountain Trail Writers - […] Writing Forward: Creative Writing Prompts for Crafting Compelling Imagery- https://www.writingforward.com/writing-prompts/creative-writing-prompts/creative-writing-prompts-for… […]
• AUGUST 2020 Newsletter | “Log of the Trail” – Texas Mountain Trail Writers - […] Writing Forward: Creative Writing Prompts for Crafting Compelling Imagery- https://www.writingforward.com/writing-prompts/creative-writing-prompts/creative-writing-prompts-for… […]
• November 2020 Newsletter | “Log of the Trail” – Texas Mountain Trail Writers - […] Writing Forward: Creative Writing Prompts for Crafting Compelling Imagery- https://www.writingforward.com/writing-prompts/creative-writing-prompts/creative-writing-prompts-for… […]
• December 2020 Newsletter | “Log of the Trail” – Texas Mountain Trail Writers - […] Writing Forward: Creative Writing Prompts for Crafting Compelling Imagery- https://www.writingforward.com/writing-prompts/creative-writing-prompts/creative-writing-prompts-for… […]
• JANUARY 2021 Newsletter | “Log of the Trail” – Texas Mountain Trail Writers - […] Writing Forward: Creative Writing Prompts for Crafting Compelling Imagery- https://www.writingforward.com/writing-prompts/creative-writing-prompts/creative-writing-prompts-for… […]
• FEBRUARY 2021 Newsletter | “Log of the Trail” – Texas Mountain Trail Writers - […] Writing Forward: Creative Writing Prompts for Crafting Compelling Imagery- https://www.writingforward.com/writing-prompts/creative-writing-prompts/creative-writing-prompts-for… […]
• MARCH 2021 Newsletter | “Log of the Trail” – Texas Mountain Trail Writers - […] Writing Forward: Creative Writing Prompts for Crafting Compelling Imagery- https://www.writingforward.com/writing-prompts/creative-writing-prompts/creative-writing-prompts-for… […]
• MAY 2021 Newsletter | “Log of the Trail” – Texas Mountain Trail Writers - […] Writing Forward: Creative Writing Prompts for Crafting Compelling Imagery- https://www.writingforward.com/writing-prompts/creative-writing-prompts/creative-writing-prompts-for… […]
• OCTOBER 2021 Newsletter | “Log of the Trail” – Texas Mountain Trail Writers - […] Writing Forward: Creative Writing Prompts for Crafting Compelling Imagery- https://www.writingforward.com/writing-prompts/creative-writing-prompts/creative-writing-prompts-for… […]
• NOVEMBER 2021 Newsletter | “Log of the Trail” – Texas Mountain Trail Writers - […] Writing Forward: Creative Writing Prompts for Crafting Compelling Imagery- https://www.writingforward.com/writing-prompts/creative-writing-prompts/creative-writing-prompts-for… […]

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Subscribe and get The Writer’s Creed graphic e-booklet, plus a weekly digest with the latest articles on writing, as well as special offers and exclusive content.

Recent Posts

• Writing Tips: Be Yourself
• A Must-Read for Storytellers: Save the Cat
• Poetry Prompts for Language Lovers
• Fiction Writing Exercise: The Internal and External Struggles of Your Characters
• 12 Character Writing Tips for Fiction Writers

Write on, shine on!

Pin It on Pinterest

Inspire student writing

Picture prompts.

Dive into hundreds of images, each paired with a writing prompt and questions to spark ideas. There's also the option to generate, edit and save custom prompts tailored to the needs of your students.

Support student writing

Choose your own adventures.

Unleash the power of collaborative storytelling! Start with brainstorming before students pick from themed picture prompts and craft unique adventure narratives.

Excite student writing

Ignite creativity with animated writing prompts. Perfect for capturing the imagination of students in today's world.

0{{current_slide_index}}   |   0{{total_slide_count}}

Get full access (at no cost) picture prompts for creative writing.

Sign up for free and enjoy all these awesome features:

Picture Prompts for Creative Writing

Watch your budding thinkers and writers be inspired by interesting and engaging images.

Hundreds of dynamic picture prompts, each with discussion questions and a suggested writing prompt. Encourage creativity to flourish in every classroom.

Engage your class in collaborative storytelling through scaffolded Choose Your Own Adventure group writing. Ignite creativity and teamwork today.

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

WEEKLY WRITING PROMPTS

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

Showing 2154 prompts

Write about a character who has the ability to pause the passage of time..

LIVE – Fantasy

Write a story that contains the line, "I wish we could stay here forever."

LIVE – Dialogue

Start your story with a character canceling their plans.

LIVE – Angst

Set your story over the course of a few minutes; no flashbacks, no flashforwards.

LIVE – Narrative

Write a story about a highly-strung character learning to slow down, or someone pursuing a quieter way of life.

LIVE – Character

Introducing Prompted , a new magazine written by you!

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

Write a story that includes someone saying, “Be careful what you wish for.”

Make a character’s obsession or addiction an important element of your story., write a story in which one of the characters is a narcissist., write about a character who struggles to do the right thing., start your story with a character being followed., subscribe to our prompts newsletter.

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

Your protagonist is a voracious reader. Lately, they’ve been noticing odd synchronicities in the books he or she is reading. What does the protagonist discover is happening?

Dream up a secret library. write a story about an adventurer who discovers it. what’s in the library why was it kept secret, write a story about a future academic (or another influential person) “rediscovering” a book that, in its time, was dismissed. the book can be fictitious or real., your protagonist is a writer who discovers a new favorite author. how does their writing, or even their own personality, change as the protagonist falls under the writer’s influence, write a story about discovering a lost manuscript. it can be from a famous (or infamous) author, or an unknown one., your teacher tasks you with writing a story based on an eavesdropped conversation. when the story is published, your subject isn’t happy., a character overhears something at a black-tie event that puts the night in jeopardy., write a story in which someone can only hear one side of a conversation and must piece together the meaning of what they’ve heard., write a story about a child overhearing something they don’t understand., write a story in which someone is afraid of being overheard., 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 #253 LIVE

Enter our weekly contest.

This week's theme: Slow Down

Prize money

Contest entries, closes at 23:59 - jun 07, 2024 est, recent contests ✍️.

#252 – Obsession

#251 – Lost and Found Books with BookTrib

#250 – All Ears

#249 – Action Stations with Tom Bromley

Recent winners 🏆

Adam Perschbacher – read

VJ Hamilton – read

Dena Linn – read

Honey Homecroft – read

Leaderboard 🥇

#1 Zilla Babbitt

32375 points

#2 Deidra Whitt Lovegren

28742 points

#3 Abigail Airuedomwinya

22421 points

#4 Graham Kinross

14540 points

#5 Scout Tahoe

13199 points

#6 Chris Campbell

11419 points

#7 Thom With An H

10659 points

#8 Rayhan Hidayat

10213 points

#9 Michał Przywara

9946 points

#10 Deborah Mercer

9610 points

We made a writing app for you

Yes, you! Write. Format. Export for ebook and print. 100% free, always.

Creative Writing Prompts

When the idea to start a weekly newsletter with writing inspiration first came to us, we decided that we wanted to do more than provide people with topics to write about. We wanted to try and help authors form a regular writing habit and also give them a place to proudly display their work. So we started the weekly Creative Writing Prompts newsletter. Since then, Prompts has grown to a community of more than 450,000 authors, complete with its own literary magazine, Prompted .  

Here's how our contest works: every Friday, we send out a newsletter containing five creative writing prompts. Each week, the story ideas center around a different theme. Authors then have one week — until the following Friday — to submit a short story based on one of our prompts. A winner is picked each week to win $250 and is highlighted on our Reedsy Prompts page.

Interested in participating in our short story contest? Sign up here for more information! Or you can check out our full Terms of Use and our FAQ page .

Why we love creative writing prompts

If you've ever sat in front of a computer or notebook and felt the urge to start creating worlds, characters, and storylines — all the while finding yourself unable to do so — then you've met the author's age-old foe: writer's block. There's nothing more frustrating than finding the time but not the words to be creative. Enter our directory! If you're ready to kick writer's block to the curb and finally get started on your short story or novel, these unique story ideas might just be your ticket.

This list of 1800+ creative writing prompts has been created by the Reedsy team to help you develop a rock-solid writing routine. As all aspiring authors know, this is the #1 challenge — and solution! — for reaching your literary goals. Feel free to filter through different genres, which include...

Dramatic — If you want to make people laugh and cry within the same story, this might be your genre.

Funny — Whether satire or slapstick, this is an opportunity to write with your funny bone.

Romance — One of the most popular commercial genres out there. Check out these story ideas out if you love writing about love.

Fantasy — The beauty of this genre is that the possibilities are as endless as your imagination.

Dystopian – Explore the shadowy side of human nature and contemporary technology in dark speculative fiction.

Mystery — From whodunnits to cozy mysteries, it's time to bring out your inner detective.

Thriller and Suspense — There's nothing like a page-turner that elicits a gasp of surprise at the end.

High School — Encourage teens to let their imaginations run free.

Want to submit your own story ideas to help inspire fellow writers? Send them to us here.

After you find the perfect story idea

Finding inspiration is just one piece of the puzzle. Next, you need to refine your craft skills — and then display them to the world. We've worked hard to create resources that help you do just that! Check them out:

• How to Write a Short Story That Gets Published — a free, ten-day course by Laura Mae Isaacman, a full-time editor who runs a book editing company in Brooklyn.
• Best Literary Magazines of 2023 — a directory of 100+ reputable magazines that accept unsolicited submissions.
• Writing Contests in 2023 — the finest contests of 2021 for fiction and non-fiction authors of short stories, poetry, essays, and more.

Beyond creative writing prompts: how to build a writing routine

While writing prompts are a great tactic to spark your creative sessions, a writer generally needs a couple more tools in their toolbelt when it comes to developing a rock-solid writing routine . To that end, here are a few more additional tips for incorporating your craft into your everyday life.

• NNWT. Or, as book coach Kevin Johns calls it , “Non-Negotiable Writing Time.” This time should be scheduled into your routine, whether that’s once a day or once a week. Treat it as a serious commitment, and don’t schedule anything else during your NNWT unless it’s absolutely necessary.
• Set word count goals. And make them realistic! Don’t start out with lofty goals you’re unlikely to achieve. Give some thought to how many words you think you can write a week, and start there. If you find you’re hitting your weekly or daily goals easily, keep upping the stakes as your craft time becomes more ingrained in your routine.
• Talk to friends and family about the project you’re working on. Doing so means that those close to you are likely to check in about the status of your piece — which in turn keeps you more accountable.

Arm yourself against writer’s block. Writer’s block will inevitably come, no matter how much story ideas initially inspire you. So it’s best to be prepared with tips and tricks you can use to keep yourself on track before the block hits. You can find 20 solid tips here — including how to establish a relationship with your inner critic and apps that can help you defeat procrastination or lack of motivation.

NEW VIDEO COURSE 🎉

How to Write a Novel

Join Tom Bromley for a writing master class and finish your first draft in 3 months . Learn more →

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 ⭢

Oops, you need an account for that!

Log in with your social account:

Or enter your email:

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 105 creative writing prompts to try out.

General Education

The most common advice out there for being a writer is, "if you want to write, write." While this is true (and good advice), it's not always that easy, particularly if you're not writing regularly.

Whether you're looking for help getting started on your next project, or just want to spend 20 minutes being creative, writing prompts are great ways to rev up your imagination. Read on for our list of over 100 creative writing prompts!

feature image credit: r. nial bradshaw /Flickr

10 Short Writing Prompts

If you're looking for a quick boost to get yourself going, these 10 short writing prompts will do the trick.

#1 : Write a scene starting with a regular family ritual that goes awry.

#2 : Describe exactly what you see/smell/hear/etc, right now. Include objects, people, and anything else in your immediate environment.

#3 : Suggest eight possible ways to get a ping pong ball out of a vertical pipe.

#4 : A shoe falls out of the sky. Justify why.

#5 : If your brain were a tangible, physical place, what would it be like?

#6 : Begin your writing with the phrase, "The stage was set."

#7 : You have been asked to write a history of "The Summer of [this past year]." Your publisher wants a table of contents. What events will you submit?

#8 : Write a sympathetic story from the point of view of the "bad guy." (Think fractured fairy tales like Wicked or The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! , although the story doesn't have to be a fairy tale.)

#9 : Look at everyday objects in a new way and write about the stories one of these objects contains.

#10 : One person meets a stranger on a mode of transportation. Write the story that ensues.

11 Writing Prompts for Kids

Any of these prompts can be used by writers of any age, but we chose the following 11 prompts as ones that would be particularly fun for kids to write about. (Most of them I used myself as a young writer, so I can vouch for their working!)

#1 : Include something falling in your writing.

#2 : Write a short poem (or story) with the title, "We don't know when it will be fixed."

#3 : Write from the perspective of someone of a different gender than you.

#4 : Write a dumb internet quiz.

#5 : Finish this thought: "A perfect day in my imagination begins like this:"

#6 : Write a character's inner monologue (what they are thinking as they go about their day).

#7 : Think of a character. Write a paragraph each about:

• An important childhood experience that character had.
• The character's living situation.
• Two hobbies or things the character likes to do.
• The room where the character sleeps.
• An ambition of the character.
• Two physical characteristics of the character.
• What happens when a second person and this character meet.
• Two important defining personal traits of this character.

#8 : Start a story with a quote from a song.

#9 : Begin a story with, "It was the summer of ______ when ______"

#10 : Pretend everyday objects have no names. Think about what you would name them based on what they do, what you can use them for, and what they look like.

#11 : Start a story with the phrases "My grandparents are/were," "My parents are/were," or "My mother/father/parent is/was."

15 Cool Writing Prompts

#1 : List five issues that you're passionate about. Write about them from the opposite point of view (or from the perspective of a character with the opposite point of view).

#2 : Walk around and write down a phrase you hear (or read). Make a story out of it.

#3 : Write using no adjectives or adverbs.

#4 : Write a character's inner dialogue between different aspects of a character's self (rather than an inner monologue).

#5 : Write a true story from your past that involves light or darkness in some way.

#6 : "Saying goodbye awakens us to the true nature of things." Write something in which someone has to say goodbye and has a realization.

#7 : Begin by writing the end of the story.

#8 : Write a recipe for an intangible thing.

#9 : Write a horror story about an ordinary situation (e.g., buying groceries, going to the bank, listening to music).

#10 : Write a story from within a bubble.

#11 : Write down 2-3 short character descriptions and then write the characters in conversation with one another.

#12 : Write a story in second person.

#13 : Write a story that keeps contradicting itself.

#14 : Write about a character with at least three big problems.

#15 : Write something that takes place on a Friday, the 13th (of any month).

15 Funny Writing Prompts

#1 : Write a story which starts with someone eating a pickle and potato sandwich.

#2 : Write a short script where the plot has to do with evil dolls trying to take over something.

#3 : Write about writers' block.

#4 : List five election issues that would be ridiculous to includes as part of your election platform (e.g. outlawing mechanical pencils and clicky pens, mandating every person over the age of 30 must own an emergency last rites kit). Choose one of the ridiculous issues and write a speech in favor of it.

#5 : Write a children's story that is insanely inappropriate but can't use graphic language, curses, or violence.

#6 : List five careers. Write about someone with one of those careers who wants to quit it.

#7 : Write down a list of murder methods. Choose one at random from the list to use in a story.

#8 : Write a romance story in which the hero must have a last name corresponding with a physical characteristic (e.g. Jacques Hairyback or Flora Dimple).

#9 : Come up with 10 different ways to:

• order a pizza
• congratulate someone on a job well done
• return to the store something that's broken

#10 : Search for "random Renaissance painting" (or any other inspirational image search text you can think of) on any online internet image search engine. Picking one image, write half a page each of:

• Statements about this image (e.g. "I meant bring me the BREAD of John the Baptist").
• Questions about this image (e.g. "How many of those cherubs look like their necks are broken?").
• Explanations of this image (e.g. "The painter ran out of blue paint halfway through and had to improvise for the color of the sky").
• Commands said by people in this image or about this image (e.g. "Stop telling me to smile!" or "Bring me some gasoline!").

#11 : Write starting with a word that sounds like "chute" (e.g. "chute," "shoot," "shooed").

#12 : Write about a character named X "The [article of clothing]" Y (e.g. Julie "The Yellow Darted Skirt" Whyte) or simply referred to by their clothing (e.g. "the man in the brown suit" or "the woman in black").

#13 : Write down a paragraph each describing two wildly different settings. Write a story involving both settings.

#14 : Think of a fictional holiday based around some natural event (e.g. the Earth being at its farthest point from the sun, in memory of a volcanic eruption, that time a cloud looked like a rabbit riding a bicycle). Write about how this holiday is celebrated.

#15 : Write a "Just-So" type story about a fictional creature (e.g. "how the dragon got its firebreath" or "how the mudkip got its cheek gills").

54 Other Writing Prompt Ideas

#1 : Borrow a character from some other form of media (or create your own). Write from that character's perspective.

#2 : Write for and against a non-consequential controversy (e.g., salt vs. pepper, Mac vs. PC, best kind of door).

#3 : Choose an ancestor or a person from the past to write about or to.

#4 : Write a pirate story with a twist.

#5 : Have a character talk about another character and their feelings about that other character.

#6 : Pick a season and think about an event in your life that occurred in that season. Write a creative nonfiction piece about that event and that season.

#7 : Think of something very complicated and long. Write a page about it using short sentences.

#8 : Write a story as a dream.

#9 : Describe around a food without ever directly naming it.

#10 : Write a monologue (one character, talking to the audience/reader) (*not* an inner monologue).

#11 : Begin a story with the phrase, "It only took five seconds to..."

#12 : List five strong emotions. Choosing one, write about a character experiencing that emotion, but only use the character's actions to convey how they are feeling (no outright statements).

#13 : Write a chapter of the memoir of your life.

#14 : Look through the (physical) things you're currently carrying with you or wearing. Write about the memories or emotions tied with each of them.

#15 : Go be in nature. Write drawing your story from your surroundings (both physical, social, and mental/emotional).

#16 : Write from the perspective of a bubble (or bubble-like creature).

#17 : A person is jogging along an asphalt road. Write a story.

#18 : Title your story (or poem, or play, etc) "Anti-_____". Fill in the blank and write the story.

#19 : Write something that must include an animal, a mineral, and a vegetable.

#20 : Begin your writing with the phrase, "6 weeks later..."

#21 : List 5-10 office jobs. Pick one of them and describe a person working in that job as if you were a commentator on an Olympic sporting event.

#22 : Practice your poetic imagery: overwrite a description of a character's breakfast routine.

#23 : Write about a character (or group of characters) trying to convince another character to try something they're scared of.

#24 : Keep an eye out in your environment for examples of greengrocer's apostrophes and rogue quotation marks. Pick an example and write about what the misplaced punctuation implies (e.g., we have the "best" meat or we have the best "meat" ).

#25 : Fill in the blank with the first word that comes to mind: "_______ Riot!" Write a newspaper-style article describing the events that that took place.

#26 : Write from the point of view of your most-loved possession. What does it think of you?

#27 : Think of five common sayings (e.g., "An apple a day keeps the doctor away"). Write a horror story whose plot is one of those common sayings.

#28 : Write a scene in which two characters are finally hashing out a long-standing misunderstanding or disagreement.

#29 : You start receiving text messages from an unknown number. Tell the story of what happens next.

#30 : Write one character bragging to another about the story behind their new tattoo.

#31 : Superheroes save the world...but they also leave a lot of destruction in their wake. Write about a normal person in a superhero's world.

#32 : Sometimes, family is who we are related to; sometimes, family is a group of people we gather around ourselves. Write a story about (some of) a character's found family and relatives meeting for the first time.

#33 : Write a story that begins in the middle of the plot's action ( en media res ).

#34 : Everyone says you can never have too much of a good thing. Write a story where that isn't true.

#35 : What do ghosts do when they're not creating mischief? Write about the secret lives of ghosts.

#36 : Every year, you dread the last week of April. Write a story about why.

#37 : Write a story about what it would be like to have an animal sidekick in real life.

#38 : Heists don't just have to be black-clad thieves stealing into vaults to steal rare art or money. Write about a group of people (adults or children) who commit a heist for something of seemingly little monetary value.

#39 : "Life is like a chooseable-path adventure, except you don't get to see what would have happened if you chose differently." Think of a choice you've made and write about a world where you made a different choice.

#40 : Write a story about a secret room.

#41 : You find a message in a bottle with very specific directions. Write a story about the adventure you embark upon.

#42 : "You'll always be okay as long as you know where your _______ is." Fill in the blank and write a story (either fictional or from your life) illustrating this statement.

#43 : Forcing people into prolonged proximity can change and deepen relationships. Write about characters on a road trip together.

#44 : In music, sonata form includes three main parts: exposition, development, and recapitulation. Write a short story that follows this format.

#45 : Begin writing with a character saying, "I'm afraid this simply can't wait."

#46 : Write a story with a happy ending (either happily-ever-after or happy-for-now).

#47 : Write about a character before and after a tragedy in that character's life.

#48 : Choose an object or concept you encounter in everyday life (e.g. tables, the feeling of hot or cold, oxygen) and write an infomercial about it.

#49 : "Life is a series of quests, whether important or mundane." Write about a quest you've gone on (or would like to go on, or will have to go on).

#50 : List 10 different ways to learn. Choose one (or more) and write a story where a character learns something using that one (or more) method.

#51 : You've been called to the principal's office for bad behavior. You know what you did. Explain and justify yourself.

#52 : A character discovers their sibling owns a cursed object. Write about what happens next.

#53 : Write a character description by writing a list of items that would be on a scavenger hunt about them.

#54 : The slogan for a product or service you're advertising is, "Kid-tested, _____." Fill in the blank and write the copy for a radio or podcast advertisement for your product.

How to Use Creative Writing Prompts

There's no wrong way to use a creative writing prompt (unless it's to harass and hurt someone)—the point of them is to get you writing and your imagination flowing.

To help you get the most out of these writing prompts, however, we've come up with the six tips below. Try them out!

#1: DON'T Limit Yourself to Prose

Unless you're writing for a particular assignment, there's no reason everything you write in response to a writing prompt has to be prose fiction . Instead of writing your response to a prompt as a story, try writing a poem, nonfiction essay, play, screenplay, or some other format entirely.

#2: DON'T Edit as You Write

The purposes of writing prompts is to get you writing, typos and weird grammar and all. Editing comes later, once you've finished writing and have some space from it to come back to what you wrote.

It's OK to fix things that will make it difficult to read what you've written (e.g., a weird autocorrect that changes the meaning of a sentence), but don't worry too much about typos or perfect grammar when you're writing; those are easy enough to fix in edits . You also can always insert asterisks or a short note as you're writing to remind yourself to go back to fix something (for instance, if as you're writing it seems like you want to move around the order of your paragraphs or insert something earlier).

#3: DO Interpret the Prompt Broadly

The point of using a writing prompt is not to write something that best exemplifies the prompt, but something that sparks your own creativity. Again, unless you're writing in response to an assignment with specific directions, feel free to interpret writing prompts as broadly or as narrowly as you want.

For instance, if your prompt is to write a story that begins with "The stage was set," you could write about anything from someone preparing to put a plan into motion to a literal theatre stage constructed out of pieces of old sets (or something else entirely).

If you're using a writing prompt, it doesn't have to be the first sentence of your story or poem, either; you can also use the prompt as a goal to work towards in your writing.

#4: DO Try Switching Up Your Writing Methods

If it's a possibility for you, see if you write differently in different media. Do you write the same kind of stories by hand as you would typing at a computer? What about if you dictate a story and then transcribe it? Or text it to a friend? Varying the method you use to write can affect the stories you're able to tell.

For example, you may find that it's easier for you to tell stories about your life to a voice recorder than to try to write out a personal essay. Or maybe you have trouble writing poetry, but can easily text yourself or a friend a poem. You might even find you like a writing method you've not tried before better than what you've been doing!

#5: DO Mix and Match Prompt Ideas

If you need more inspiration, feel free to combine multiple prompts (but don't overwhelm yourself with too much to write about).

You can also try switching genres from what might be suggested in the prompt. For instance, try writing a prompt that seems funny in a serious and sad way, or finding the humor in something that otherwise seems humorless. The categories we've organized the prompts into are by no means limiters on what you're allowed to write about.

#6: DO Try to Write Regularly

The more regularly you write, the easier it will be to write (with or without writing prompts).

For some people, this means writing daily; for others, it means setting aside time to write each weekend or each month. Set yourself an achievable goal (write 2x a week, write 1000 words a month) and stick to it. You can always start small and then ramp your wordcount or frequency up.

If you do better when you have something outside yourself prompting to write, you may also want to try something like morning pages , which encourages you to write at least 750 words every day, in any format (story, diary entry, social media postings, etc).

What's Next?

Thinking about attending college or grad school for creative writing? Our articles on whether or not you should major in creative writing and the best creative writing programs are there for you! Plus, if you're a high schooler, you should check out these top writing contests .

Creative writing doesn't necessarily have to be fiction. Check out these three examples of narrative writing and our tips for how to write your own narrative stories and essays .

Just as writing prompts can help give form to amorphous creative energy, using specific writing structures or devices can be great starting points for your next story. Read through our discussion of the top 20 poetic devices to know and see if you can work at least one new one into your next writing session.

Still looking for more writing ideas? Try repurposing our 100+ easy drawing ideas for characters, settings, or plot points in your writing.

Laura graduated magna cum laude from Wellesley College with a BA in Music and Psychology, and earned a Master's degree in Composition from the Longy School of Music of Bard College. She scored 99 percentile scores on the SAT and GRE and loves advising students on how to excel in high school.

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

Improve With Our Famous Guides

• For All Students

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points

How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 800 on Each SAT Section:

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading

Score 800 on SAT Writing

Series: How to Get to 600 on Each SAT Section:

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading

Score 600 on SAT Writing

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For?

15 Strategies to Improve Your SAT Essay

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points

How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 36 on Each ACT Section:

36 on ACT English

36 on ACT Math

36 on ACT Reading

36 on ACT Science

Series: How to Get to 24 on Each ACT Section:

24 on ACT English

24 on ACT Math

24 on ACT Reading

24 on ACT Science

What ACT target score should you be aiming for?

ACT Vocabulary You Must Know

ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

Is the ACT easier than the SAT? A Comprehensive Guide

Should you retake your SAT or ACT?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Stay Informed

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

Looking for Graduate School Test Prep?

Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here:

GRE Online Prep Blog

GMAT Online Prep Blog

TOEFL Online Prep Blog

Holly R. "I am absolutely overjoyed and cannot thank you enough for helping me!”

Image → Prompt

Early morning ambiance, silhouette of a man jogging followed by a dog sprinting along an open road, shrouded in a gentle mist, warm hues of sunrise cresting the horizon, elongated shadows cast behind, running posture implying motion, dog’s ears flapping in the breeze, distant trees lining the quiet street, soft glow of dawn illuminating the scene, long exposure photography, ultra fine detail.

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

• View all journals
• My Account Login
• Explore content
• About the journal
• Publish with us
• Sign up for alerts
• Open access
• Published: 31 May 2024

Controlling stimulus ambiguity reduces spurious creative ideation variance in a cyclic adaptation of the alternative uses task

• Olga Witczak 1   na1 ,
• Iga Krzysik 1   na1 ,
• Katarzyna Bromberek-Dyzman 1 ,
• Guillaume Thierry 1 , 2   na1 &
• Rafał Jończyk 1   na1  

Scientific Reports volume  14 , Article number:  12492 ( 2024 ) Cite this article

Metrics details

• Human behaviour

In the alternative uses task (AUT), a well-established creativity assessment, participants propose alternative uses for common items (e.g., a brick) within a 2–3 min timeframe. While idea evaluation is likely involved, the emphasis is strongly on idea generation. Here, we test the value of presenting a word overlapping an image compared to a word only prompt, and we introduce a cyclic adaptation of the AUT explicitly calling on participants to choose their best idea. In Experiment 1, as compared to word only, word + image prompts increased idea fluency but reduced idea originality and variability within a group of native Polish speakers. Thus, word + image prompts improve AUT baselining. In Experiment 2, different participants produced as many ideas as possible within two minutes (List) or their single best idea at the end of each of three 30 s ideation cycles (Cycle). Although originality did not differ between List and Cycle overall, the first three ideas in List were rated as less creative than the ideas in Cycle. Overall, we conclude that using disambiguating images reduces spurious interindividual variability in the AUT while introducing idea evaluation in the task allows us to assess creativity beyond idea generation.

Similar content being viewed by others

Capturing, clarifying, and consolidating the curiosity-creativity connection

The role of memory in creative ideation

Subjective semantic surprise resulting from divided attention biases evaluations of an idea’s creativity

Introduction.

Creativity is commonly defined as a distinctively human capacity to produce novel and context-appropriate outputs in response to prompts or problems 1 , 2 . Given that creativity is a complex cognitive skill, dissecting and systematically evaluating it presents a considerable challenge 3 . Establishing a singular definition of creativity is also difficult because of its unseen, nonverbal, and unconscious characteristics. Consequently, creativity was once deemed one of “the vaguest, most ambiguous, and most confused terms in psychology” 4 .

The concept of creativity hinges on two prerequisites of originality and effectiveness; originality implies that generated ideas are unique and uncommon, and effectiveness means that they have to be appropriate and plausible in a given context 5 , 6 . An unusual idea with no real-life application is useless; conversely, a conventional albeit practical solution is not creative, by definition. The hallmarks of creativity can be further extended to encompass such qualities as an element of surprise, novelty, and authenticity, as well as utility and aesthetics 7 , 8 .

Although creativity is usually evaluated based on outputs, it must be kept in mind that the creative process is dynamic and elusive due to constant alternation between idea generation and evaluation 9 . Two key sub-processes involved are thus divergent and convergent thinking. Divergent thinking refers to the ability to generate novel ideas and consider answers to open-ended questions without much evaluation, while convergent thinking refers to evaluation and selection mechanisms aiming to identify the most suitable, effective, and practical solution(s) from an array of alternatives 10 , 11 , 12 . Often, these two modes of thinking have been conceptualised as lying at opposite ends of a continuum, even though they can coexist and work synergistically to enhance creative thinking 3 , 10 , 13 .

Measures conventionally used to assess divergent thinking require participants to produce a number of ideas in response to a verbal or visual prompt. The obtained production is then assessed for fluency (i.e., number of ideas), and originality, focusing on uniqueness 14 . Measures of convergent thinking test the ability to perceive and acknowledge similarities between words, geometrical figures, or pictures, and responses are generally scored based on accuracy and ability to solve a problem within a given time limit 15 , 16 , 17 . One of the most established measures of creativity and, more specifically, divergent thinking, is the alternative uses task (AUT) 11 . In the AUT, participants are asked to generate as many unconventional uses for a familiar item as possible (usually presented as a word 6 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ), within a time limit (usually two minutes). Responses can then be evaluated for originality, flexibility, fluency, and elaboration by a pool of independent raters 18 .

One of the most robust phenomena observed in AUT studies is the serial order effect, that is, an increase in the creativity of generated ideas over time. This phenomenon could be linked to spreading of activation in semantic and episodic memory (but see Vartanian et al., 23 ). First, close and well-entrenched memory associations are retrieved, then activation spreads to more distant, weakly related concepts, leading to more unconventional alternative uses 24 . Gilhooly et al. 21 further suggested that responses based on memory (pre-known, conventional, stored) tend to be given before responses associated with novelty (e.g., object properties, broad use, and disassembly). Moreover, they noted that memory responses are associated with lower cognitive load compared to other types of answers.

It is surprising, however, that most studies using the AUT have relied on (a small number of) words as prompts to refer to objects that can substantially vary in terms of shape, texture, colour, or size, and that can have different physical properties in terms of weight, breakability, elasticity, etc. depending on the materials from which they are made. Such under-specification likely results in spurious variability in the output for different participants, because default expectations about the nature and properties of objects introduced by the word prompt may vary substantially between individuals, contexts, and cultures. One way to mitigate this problem is to use a picture as prompt instead of a word. However, images can yield ambiguity of their own relating to low naming agreement and object prototypicality, as well as other kinds of under-specification relating to physical appearance.

Several studies have shown that images as prompts affect ideation and creativity in design sketching, word association, or alternative uses tasks 25 , 26 , 27 . Chrysikou et al. 28 , for instance, presented participants with either the name of an everyday object, an image depicting the object, or a combination of both (image overlaid with a word, henceforth word + image). Participants were asked to generate common uses, common alternative uses, or uncommon alternative uses. Images elicited more normative responses than words, with word + image prompts falling in between. Recently, George et al. 29 asked participants to predict their expected creative performance in the AUT when presented with either word + image or word prompts. Participants anticipated that they would be more creative in the word + image condition, but the group of participants who actually performed the AUT on the same items generated ideas that were less original in the word + image than the word only condition. However, it remains unclear whether it is originality that suffers when using word + image prompts or whether participants appear less variable in their output due to a more uniform starting point, that is a shared understanding of what the word prompt refers to.

Another dimension of measurement associated with the AUT is fluency, that is, the number of ideas generated within a given time window. Benedek and Neubauer 30 proposed that the more people are creative, the faster they are at providing responses thanks to greater associative fluency. Some studies have criticised fluency for its shallow explanatory potential. Beaty and Johnson 31 , for instance, referred to fluency as “a proxy of generative ability” and criticised its lack of reliability due to low inter-item correlations in AUT 32 . Such low correlation could be attributed to variability of object characteristics 33 as well as word frequency 34 . We contend that such issues are less likely to arise and that correlations should be higher when words are presented together with a disambiguating image (see Experiment 1). Furthermore, the reason why fluency measures have poor reliability in the AUT may relate to the lack of consideration given to idea evaluation (see Experiment 2). If participants are unconstrained regarding idea quantity, then the value of fluency as a creativity measure is naturally diminished.

In the current study, we thus aimed to resolve two limitations of the classic AUT: (i) the ambiguity induced by a word only prompt; (ii) the lack of focus on idea evaluation. In Experiment 1, we compared the creative output in the form of lists of ideas from participants tested using word only and word + image prompts. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three experimental procedures: uniform with word only prompts, uniform with word + image prompts, or dual, consisting of half word only prompts and half word + image prompts (to allow for within-subject comparisons). In Experiment 2, we compared the classic list-based AUT with a new cycle procedure in which participants had to report their single best idea after each of three 30 s ideation cycles. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three experimental procedures: uniform with list trials (classic AUT task over two minutes), uniform with cycle trials (three cycles per item), or dual (consisting of half list and half cycle trials, allowing for within-subject comparisons). We hypothesised that:

Word + image prompts reduce inter-individual variability and thus provide a better baseline than word only prompts;

Word + image prompts tend to constrain creativity and thus reduce originality and/or fluency as compared to word only prompts;

Originality is higher for ideas generated in the cycle procedure than the list procedure;

Originality increases gradually with each consecutive cycle in the cycle procedure.

Experiment 1: AUT items as word only or word + image

As regards idea fluency, we found a marginally significant effect of condition in the dual procedure (within-subject comparison), with higher number of ideas generated for word + image than word only items ( p  =  0.051, η p 2  =  0.144, large effect size ; Supplementary Table 1 , Fig.  1 ).

Idea fluency distribution in the three experimental procedures: dual (within-subject), uniform: word only (between-subject), and uniform: word + image (between-subject).

When comparing between participants in the uniform procedures, we did not find significant differences in idea fluency between conditions ( p  = 0.448, η p 2  =  0.013 ; Supplementary Table 2 ). When comparing across uniform procedures within each condition, we did not find any significant difference either, be it in the word only condition ( p  = 0.757, η p 2  =  0.002 ) or the word + image condition ( p  = 0.071, η p 2  =  0.067, medium effect size; Supplementary Table 3 and 4 ).

Turning to idea creativity, we found a significant fixed effect of condition in the dual procedure ( p  = 0.048, η p 2  =  0.146, large effect size), with lower creativity scores in word + image ( M  = 1.32, 95% CI [1.26, 1.38]) than word only trials ( M  = 1.41, 95% CI [1.34, 1.48]; Supplementary Table 5 ). We also found that variance in creativity dropped significantly for word + image items (σ 2  = 0.50) as compared with word only items (σ 2  = 0.59; F (522,483) = 0.86, p  = 0.043; Fig.  2 ).

Distribution of creativity ratings in the three procedures of Experiment 1: Dual procedure: word only and word + image conditions in the same participants, uniform procedures: word only or word + image, in different participants.

When comparing word only and word + image conditions across uniform procedures (between-subject comparison), there was no significant difference ( p  = . 189, η p 2  =  0.034; Supplementary Table 6 ) and variance did not differ between conditions either; F (1001,817) = 1.03, p  = 0.666.

When considering differences between procedures, there was no significant difference for the word only condition ( p  = 0.221, η p 2  =  0.034 ) or the word + image condition ( p  = 0.362, η p 2  =  0.019 ; Supplementary Table 7 and 8 ).

Experiment 2: AUT procedure in the list and cycle format

In Experiment 2, we found no significant difference in creativity overall between the list and cycle conditions of the dual procedure (within-subject comparison; p  = 0.118, η p 2  =  0.089 ; Supplementary Table 9 ; Fig.  3 ).

Distribution of creativity ratings in the three versions of Experiment 2: list, cycle, and dual (within-subject).

Because participants could only generate one idea per cycle in the cycle condition, we also compared the first three ideas generated in the list condition with the three ideas generated in the cycle condition in the dual procedure. We found a significant fixed effect of condition, with more creative ideas in the cycle ( M  = 1.89, 95% CI [1.82, 1.96]) than the list ( M  = 1.73, 95% CI [1.66, 1.80]) condition ( p  = 0.026, η p 2  =  0.165, large effect size; Supplementary Table 10 and Fig.  4 ).

Distribution of creativity ratings for the first three ideas generated in the list and cycle conditions of the dual procedure (within-subject) of Experiment 2.

When comparing creative ratings between participants across the uniform procedures, there was no significant difference between the list and cycle conditions ( p  = 0.721, η p 2  =  0.003 ; Supplementary Table 11 ).

When comparing creativity ratings for the first three ideas in the cycle and list procedure, we found a significant effect of idea sequence in the cycle ( p  = 0.016) but not the list ( p  = 0.081) procedure (Fig.  5 , Supplementary Table 12 and 13 ). Post hoc pairwise comparisons revealed significantly higher creativity ratings for ideas generated in cycle three ( M  = 1.91, 95% CI [1.77, 2.05]) than cycle one ( M  = 1.76, 95% CI [1.63, 1.90]), t (589.89) = -2.78, SE = 0.05, p  = 0.015.

Creativity ratings generated in for the first three ideas in the cycle and list procedure in Experiment 2.

When considering differences across the dual and uniform procedures, there was no significant difference either in the list ( p  = 0.979, η p 2  =  <  0.001 ) or cycle ( p  = 0.545, η p 2  =  0.007 ) conditions ( p s  > 0.1; Supplementary Table 14 and 15 ).

Experiment 1: AUT items as (written) word or word + image

Participants.

Sixty-seven participants ( M age  = 21, min age  = 18, max age  = 37; 48 women, 14 men, 5 nonbinary) gave informed consent to take part in the experiment. All participants were Polish native speakers, they had normal or corrected-to-normal vision and hearing, and no neurological or language-related disorders.

Thirty everyday objects were selected from previous studies on the AUT to be presented either as word only or word + image (image overlaid with a word). Item number was in the middle of the range used in the literature (one 19 to 60 29 ), so as to allow item variation between participants (ten items randomly selected for each participant) and measure inter-item variability in our analyses.

Words, mostly selected from previous publications using the AUT as the core task, were presented in Arial font, in size 28 (for word + image stimuli) or 32 (for word stimuli) points and 2-point character spacing, in white outlined in black (for word + image stimuli only, text glow option in PowerPoint, to maximise readability when superimposed on images in the word + image condition). Stimuli are listed on the Open Science Framework server (link in the Data availability statement).

For each item, three images deemed “a standard depiction” by all researchers in our group were collated based on Google image searches/BOSS 35 and Linguapix 36 databases. Items were then presented within two norming sessions to 20 (27 items) and 24 participants (5 items) participants. Participants (1) provided the first label that came to mind upon viewing each image presented in isolation, (2) selected one photo out of three that in their opinion best depicted the object keyword, and (3) rated the degree of relatedness between each picture and word on a scale of 0 to 4 (see Supplementary Table 16 ; Fig.  6 ).

Three pictures of bricks used in the norming procedure.

Participants were randomly assigned to one of three experimental procedures: (i) uniform with word only condition items ( n  = 24), (ii) uniform with word + image condition items (image overlaid with a word, n  = 21), or (iii) dual, consisting of half with word only and half with word + image trials ( n  = 22). Disparity in counts of occurrence is due to random allocation of procedures to participants. Each experimental procedure featured ten items selected randomly from a pool of 30. In the word only condition, items were single words presented at the centre of the screen. In the word + image condition, the same words were presented with their best matching image selected from norming, as a backdrop. The dual procedure was implemented to increase statistical power (within-subject comparisons) and investigate possible contextual effects of one condition on the other.

All procedures had the same internal structure. On each trial, a randomly selected AUT item was presented at the centre of the screen. Images were presented as background to words on a 23-inch LCD monitor with a resolution of 1920 × 1080. Selection was random without repetition (i.e., no item could be selected both as word only and word + image). When prompted, participants had 15 s to type in a common use for that item. Next, participants had two minutes to type in unusual yet possible uses for that item. In the dual procedure, items were blocked (word only, image + word) with block order counterbalanced between participants. Participants completed the experiment in about 30 min and received 50 PLN or credit points for taking part in the experiment.

Behavioural data analysis

Data preprocessing was done using the tidyverse package 37 in R 38 . Participants’ creativity scores were analysed with linear-mixed models (LMM) using lme4 39 and lmerTest packages 40 . Tables with model summaries were computed with the sjPlot package 41 . Estimates of effect size were calculated using the effectsize package 42 .

For each LMM, we first computed a maximal model with a full random-effect structure, including subject- and item-related variance components for intercepts and by-subject and by-item random slopes for fixed effects 43 . All fixed effects were coded using sum contrast coding. If maximal models did not converge and/or turned out to be too complex, we progressively selected more parsimonious LMMs following the recommendations from Bates, Kliegl, Vasishth, and Baayen (2018) 44 , 45 . Small variance parameters were removed using the lme4::rePCA and lme4::VarCorr 46 functions until the LMMs were supported by the data. The final structure of each model is presented below:

Idea fluency:

Dual procedure (within-subject), word only vs. word + image: fluency  ~  word_only_vs_word_plus_image  +  (1  +  word_only_vs_word_plus_image|participant)  +  (1|item)

Uniform procedure (between-subject), word only vs. word + image: fluency  ~  word_only_vs_word_plus_image  +  (1|participant)  +  (1|item)

Word only condition, uniform vs. dual procedure (between-subject): fluency  ~  uniform_vs_dual  +  (1|participant)  +  (1|item)

Word + image condition, uniform vs. dual procedure (between-subject): fluency  ~  uniform_vs_dual  +  (1|participant)  +  (1  +  uniform_vs_dual|item)

Idea creativity:

Dual procedure (within-subject), word only vs. word + image: Rating  ~  word_only_vs._word_plus_image  +  (1  +  word_only_vs._word_plus_image|participant)  +  (1|item)

Uniform procedure (between-subject), word only vs. word + image: Rating  ~  word_only_vs._word_plus_image  +  (1|participant)  +  (1  +  word_only_vs_word_plus_image|item)

Word only condition, uniform vs. dual procedure (between-subject): Rating  ~  uniform_vs._dual  +  (1|participant)  +  (1  +  uniform_vs._dual|item)

Word + image condition, uniform vs. dual procedure (between-subject): Rating  ~  uniform_vs_dual  +  (1|participant)  +  (1|item)

Estimates and significance of fixed effects and interactions ( p -values) are based on the Satterthwaite approximation for LMM.

Assessment of AUT performance

Originality ratings were compiled and processed following the Consensual Assessment Technique (CAT) 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 . Four raters judged the creativity of ideas produced by participants on a 5-point Likert scale (0—common, unoriginal use, 1—not very original but a bit uncommon, 2—quite original and quite uncommon, 3—original, uncommon, 4—highly original, rare). Raters were instructed that an answer considered creative needed to be novel and/or unique whilst being principally possible; principally impossible uses were given a score of 10 and were excluded from further analyses. For details about instructions for raters, see Supplementary Information. Raters were also encouraged to use the full-scale range. Inter-rater reliability was very high [ICC(C,4) = 0.93]. Ratings were averaged across raters, resulting in one creativity rating per item and participant.

Experiment 2: AUT procedure as list or cycle

Seventy-two participants ( M age  = 22, min age  = 18, max age  = 41; 49 women, 14 men, 8 nonbinary) gave informed consent to take part in the experiment. All participants were Polish native speakers, they had normal or corrected-to-normal vision and hearing, and no neurological or language-related disorders.

Stimuli were identical to the word + image stimuli described in Experiment 1.

Participants were randomly assigned to one of three experimental procedures: (i) uniform with list trials ( n  = 22), (ii) uniform with cycle trials ( n  = 25), or dual (half list and half cycle trials, n  = 24), disparity between counts being due to random allocation of procedures to participants. Each experimental procedure featured ten items selected randomly from a pool of 30 items and presented as word + image in all cases. In the list condition, participants had two minutes to list unusual uses for ten randomly selected AUT items. In the cycle condition, participants engaged in three successive 30 s cycles of idea generation-evaluation-selection per item. In each cycle, they were asked to think of unusual uses for the current item displayed at the beginning of each cycle and report their single best idea by typing into a blue frame displayed at the end of the cycle, so as to foster evaluation. In the dual procedure, participants engaged in a block of five list trials and a block of five cycle trials (with items randomly selected without repetition), and block order was counterbalanced between participants.

In all experimental procedures, participants first saw a randomly selected AUT item and typed in its common use (within 15 s). Next, they were presented with the item again and asked to come up with unusual yet possible uses for each object (within a list or cycle context). Thus, apart from the registration of the common use, the same item was presented three times in a row in the cycle but only once in the list condition. Participants completed the experiment in about 30 min. They received 50 PLN or credit points for taking part in the experiment.

Preprocessing and data analysis followed the same approach as in Experiment 1. The final structure of each model in Experiment 2 is presented below.

Dual procedure (within-subject), list vs. cycle condition:

Rating  ~  list_vs_cycle  +  (1  +  list_vs_cycle|participant)  +  (1|item)

Uniform procedures, list vs. cycle condition (between-subject): Rating  ~  list_vs_cycle  +  (1|participant)  +  (1  +  list_vs_cycle|item)

Cycle condition, uniform vs. dual procedure (between-subject): Rating  ~  uniform_vs_dual  +  (1|participant)  +  (1|item)

List condition, uniform vs. dual procedure (between-subject): Rating  ~  uniform_vs_dual  +  (1|participant)  +  (1|item)

Three raters evaluated the creativity of ideas produced by participants following the same protocol as in Experiment 1. Inter-rater reliability was very high (ICC(C,3) = 0.91).

Ethics statement

The study was designed and performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. The Ethics Committee for Research Involving Human Participants at Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań approved the study (Resolution no. 23/2021/2022). Participants were informed about the study protocol and gave their informed consent to participate in the study.

In two experiments, we set out to test for differences in the AUT (i) elicited by words presented in isolation or together with an image, and (ii) related to the format of idea production, list or cycle.

In Experiment 1, the picture was used to disambiguate the word in word + image trials. Whilst fluency was greater in the word + image condition, we found the expected slight drop in originality ratings for word + image compared to word only trials. We also found the expected lower variance in originality ratings for word + image than word only prompts. In both cases, however, the differences were only found in the within-subject, not the between-subject comparisons.

In Experiment 2, as expected we found that creativity was significantly higher in the cycle than list condition, albeit only when the output was quantitatively matched, that is, for the first three ideas of the list condition. Furthermore, idea creativity increased with cycle, although a significant difference was only found between cycle 3 and cycle 1. We found no equivalent difference in the list condition. Interestingly, as was the case in Experiment 1, both differences found here concerned within-subject comparisons, not between-subject comparisons.

As mentioned in the introduction, Chrysikou et al. 28 and George et al. 29 showed that inclusion of images in the AUT can affect the quality of generated ideas, resulting in normative and less original answers. However, one should not deduct from this result, which is consistent with ours in Experiment 1, that introducing images alongside words is undesirable (e.g., because it reduces idea originality at face value). Indeed, the relatively lower originality measured in the word + image condition is likely linked to reduced variability between participants, since the disambiguating picture would have harmonised participant expectations regarding the objects referred to by the prompts. However, we note that idea fluency was significantly greater in the image + word condition than the word only condition, which can be seen as a trade-off effect (more productive creativity in the image + word condition). This observation might relate to the increased level of constraint realised by the introduction of a disambiguating picture. Haught 51 showed that presenting a picture as a prompt led to more creativity in a sentence production task than presenting words, in line with predictions of the Integrated Constrains in Creativity model 52 . Taken together, the disambiguating effect of images and the implicit constraint imposed by them may have compensated each other to result in only mild differences between the two experimental conditions in Experiment 1.

A review of the literature on the AUT as a classic paradigm to quantify creativity shows that most studies used word only prompts 6 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 which we believe might have inflated inter-individual variability at the outset of each trial, due to the lack of specification inherent to word labels. Thus, if images appear to lower originality in the AUT, this may be a necessary sacrifice to homogenise the conceptual plane from which participants start ideation. Furthermore, it must be noted that improving the baseline not only benefits participant data but also enhances the reliability of the rating procedure. If, as participants do, raters start from a common ground when being exposed to images as well as labels, they are more likely to deliver consistent ratings. The effect of presenting images together with words thus contributes to reducing spurious variability (that can be mistaken for originality) on both the level of participants and raters.

In Experiment 2, we attempted to increase the contribution of evaluation in order to enhance the potency of the AUT to measure creativity as opposed to merely idea originality. As expected, we found that the first three ideas of the list procedure were less original than the three ideas generated during the cycle procedure. This observation is convergent with the serial order effect often reported in AUT, which has been linked to progressively greater involvement of executive function as time passes on task and resulting in greater originality for ideas generated later 19 . This is further compatible with the observation of greater originality in cycle 3 compared to cycle 1 observed here, which can be construed as a serial order effect across cycles in our adaptation of the task. These results are also consistent with the idea that increasing the level of constraint in a creative idea generation task like the AUT leads to greater idea originality 52 . We note, however, that this difference did not apply overall, which also suggests, a contrario , that the originality of ideas produced in the list procedure did not significantly go beyond that of the cycle procedure. Thus, the cycle procedure appears to have captured most of the originality to be expected in the AUT in conditions where participants are more readily comparable with one another, because the number of items is constant.

In both experiments, between-subject comparisons yielded almost no difference between conditions, and this is presumably due to uncontrolled variance stemming from individual differences and likely superseding subtle effects that are detected in within-subject comparisons. We thus argue that measures of creativity using the AUT as the core paradigm should be compared within-subject wherever possible. Furthermore, we acknowledge both widely recognised limitations of the AUT as a tool to measure creative ideation and more subtle limitations relating to the kind of cognitive processes at work in this task that significantly depart from what can be expected in more ecologically valid contexts. First, we acknowledge that the AUT is a mostly artificial task since people are rarely asked to come up with as many creative uses for an object as possible within a limited time period (except perhaps in engineering design education). However, our goal was not to propose a more ecologically valid adaptation of the AUT. It was rather to improve the baseline from which participants start and increase the evaluative dimension of the task. This was made possible by comparing our manipulations to standard AUT measures established in the field.

In conclusion, using pictures in combination with words may disambiguate the cue in tasks measuring creativity and participants’ performance may be more comparable across conditions, whilst incurring minimal loss of originality. This is even more important considering that the same manipulation is likely to have had the same disambiguating effect on raters, and may thus have contributed to the high inter-rater reliability in our experiments. We believe that the cycle procedure employed here is a valid way of fostering idea evaluation without incurring a loss of originality whilst making participants’ output more comparable than that of a list procedure. Finally, the lack of difference observed here in between-group comparisons argues in favour of using within-subject designs whenever possible. Although this is true of essentially all comparisons in experimental psychology, this seems to be particularly relevant in the domain of creativity testing.

Data availability

Stimuli, raw data, ratings, and R scripts are listed on the Open Science Framework server ( https://osf.io/q5hfz/?view_only=c4e85e49224848f5bd56f0d4949521ba ).

Beaty, R., Benedek, M., Silvia, P. J. & Schacter, D. L. Creative cognition and brain network dynamics. Trends Cogn. Sci. 20 , 87–95 (2016).

Article   PubMed   Google Scholar  

Schubert, E. Creativity is optimal novelty and maximal positive affect: A new definition based on the spreading activation model. Front. Neurosci. 15 , 612379 (2021).

Article   PubMed   PubMed Central   Google Scholar  

Cortes, R. A., Weinberger, A. B., Daker, R. J. & Green, A. E. Re-examining prominent measures of divergent and convergent creativity. Curr. Opin. Behav. Sci. 27 , 90–93 (2019).

Article   Google Scholar  

Ausubel, D. P. Creativity, general creative abilities, and the creative individual. Bull. Counc. Res. Music Educ. 3 , i–v (1964).

Runco, M. A. & Jaeger, G. J. The standard definition of creativity. Creat. Res. J. 24 , 92–96 (2012).

Madore, K. P., Jing, H. G. & Schacter, D. L. Divergent creative thinking in young and older adults: Extending the effects of an episodic specificity induction. Mem. Cogn. 44 , 974–988 (2016).

Kharkhurin, A. V. Creativity.4in1: Four-criterion construct of creativity. Creat. Res. J. 26 , 338–352 (2014).

Simonton, D. K. Taking the U.S. Patent office criteria seriously: A quantitative three-criterion creativity definition and its implications. Creat. Res. J. 24 , 97–106 (2012).

Finke, R. A., Ward, T. B. & Smith, S. M. Creative Cognition: Theory, Research, And Applications (MIT Press, 1996).

Book   Google Scholar  

Eysenck, H. J. Creativity, personality and the convergent-divergent continuum. In Critical Creative Processes (ed. Eysenck, H. J.) 95–114 (Hampton Press, 2003).

Google Scholar  

Guilford, J. P. The nature of human intelligence (McGraw-Hill, 1967).

Palmiero, M., Nori, R., Piccardi, L. & D’Amico, S. Divergent thinking: The role of decision-making styles. Creat. Res. J. 32 , 323–332 (2020).

Gabora, L. The neural basis and evolution of divergent and convergent thought. In The Cambridge Handbook of the Neuroscience of Creativity (eds Jung, R. E. & Vartanian, O.) 58–70 (Cambridge University Press, 2018). https://doi.org/10.1017/9781316556238.005 .

Chapter   Google Scholar  

Leon, S. A., Altmann, L. J. P., Abrams, L., Gonzalez Rothi, L. J. & Heilman, K. M. Divergent task performance in older adults: Declarative memory or creative potential?. Creat. Res. J. 26 , 21–29 (2014).

Mednick, S. A. & Mednick, M. T. Examiner’s Manual, remote Associates test : College and Adult Forms 1 and 2 (Houghton Mifflin Boston, 1967).

Bowden, E. M. & Jung-Beeman, M. Normative data for 144 compound remote associate problems. Behav. Res. Methods Instrum. Comput. 35 , 634–639 (2003).

Wu, C.-L., Huang, S.-Y., Chen, P.-Z. & Chen, H.-C. A systematic review of creativity-related studies applying the remote associates test from 2000 to 2019. Front. Psychol. 11 , 573432 (2020).

Alhashim, A. et al. Work in Progress: Assessing Creativity of Alternative Uses Task Responses: A Detailed Procedure. in 2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access Proceedings 35612 (ASEE Conferences, 2020). https://doi.org/10.18260/1-2--35612 .

Beaty, R. & Silvia, P. J. Why do ideas get more creative across time? An executive interpretation of the serial order effect in divergent thinking tasks. Psychol. Aesthet. Creat. Arts 6 , 309–319 (2012).

Benedek, M. et al. To create or to recall original ideas: Brain processes associated with the imagination of novel object uses. Cortex 99 , 93–102 (2018).

Gilhooly, K. J., Fioratou, E., Anthony, S. H. & Wynn, V. Divergent thinking: Strategies and executive involvement in generating novel uses for familiar objects. Br. J. Psychol. 98 , 611–625 (2007).

Article   CAS   PubMed   Google Scholar  

Hass, R. W. & Beaty, R. Use or consequences: Probing the cognitive difference between two measures of divergent thinking. Front. Psychol. 9 , 2327 (2018).

Vartanian, O. et al. The relationship between methods of scoring the alternate uses task and the neural correlates of divergent thinking: Evidence from voxel-based morphometry. NeuroImage 223 , 117325 (2020).

Bai, H., Leseman, P. P. M., Moerbeek, M., Kroesbergen, E. H. & Mulder, H. Serial order effect in divergent thinking in five- to six-year-olds: Individual differences as related to executive functions. J. Intell. 9 , 20 (2021).

Cardoso, C. & Badke-Schaub, P. The influence of different pictorial representations during idea generation. J. Creat. Behav. 45 , 130–146 (2011).

George, T. & Wiley, J. Need something different? Here’s what’s been done: Effects of examples and task instructions on creative idea generation. Mem. Cogn. 48 , 226–243 (2020).

Saffran, E. M., Coslett, H. B. & Keener, M. T. Differences in word associations to pictures and words. Neuropsychologia 41 , 1541–1546 (2003).

Chrysikou, E. G., Motyka, K., Nigro, C., Yang, S.-I. & Thompson-Schill, S. L. Functional fixedness in creative thinking tasks depends on stimulus modality. Psychol. Aesthet. Creat. Arts 10 , 425–435 (2016).

George, T., Mielicki, M. K. & Wiley, J. Great expectations: Misleading effects of images in the alternate uses task. Psychol. Aesthet. Creat. Arts 17 , 56–67 (2023).

Benedek, M. & Neubauer, A. C. Revisiting Mednick’s model on creativity-related differences in associative hierarchies. Evidence for a common path to uncommon thought. J. Creat. Behav. 47 , 273–289 (2013).

Beaty, R. & Johnson, D. R. Automating creativity assessment with SemDis: An open platform for computing semantic distance. Behav. Res. 53 , 757–780 (2021).

Barbot, B. The dynamics of creative ideation: Introducing a new assessment paradigm. Front. Psychol. 9 , 2529 (2018).

Beaty, R., Kenett, Y., Hass, R. W. & Schacter, D. L. 2019 A Fan Effect for Creative Thought: Semantic Richness Facilitates Idea Quantity but Constrains Idea Quality . 10.31234/osf.io/pfz2g.

Forthmann, B. et al. The be-creative effect in divergent thinking: The interplay of instruction and object frequency. Intelligence 57 , 25–32 (2016).

Brodeur, M. B., Guérard, K. & Bouras, M. Bank of standardized stimuli (BOSS) phase II: 930 new normative photos. PLoS One 9 , e106953 (2014).

Article   ADS   PubMed   PubMed Central   Google Scholar  

Krautz, A. E. & Keuleers, E. LinguaPix database: A megastudy of picture-naming norms. Behav. Res. 54 , 941–954 (2022).

Wickham, H. et al. Welcome to the Tidyverse. JOSS 4 , 1686 (2019).

Article   ADS   Google Scholar  

R Core Team. R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing . (2021).

Bates, D., Mächler, M., Bolker, B. & Walker, S. Fitting linear mixed-effects models using lme4 . J. Stat. Soft. 67 . https://doi.org/10.18637/jss.v067.i01 (2015).

Kuznetsova, A., Brockhoff, P. B. & Christensen, R. H. B. lmerTest package: Tests in linear mixed effects models. J. Stat. Soft. 82 . https://doi.org/10.1863/jss.v082.i13 (2017).

Lüdecke, D. sjPlot: Data Visualization for Statistics in Social Science . (2022).

Ben-Shachar, M., Lüdecke, D. & Makowski, D. effectsize: Estimation of effect size indices and standardized parameters. JOSS 5 , 2815 (2020).

Barr, D. J., Levy, R., Scheepers, C. & Tily, H. J. Random effects structure for confirmatory hypothesis testing: Keep it maximal. J. Mem. Lang. 68 , 255–278 (2013).

Bates, D., Kliegl, R., Vasishth, S. & Baayen, H. Parsimonious Mixed Models. Preprint at http://arxiv.org/abs/1506.04967 (2018).

Matuschek, H., Kliegl, R., Vasishth, S., Baayen, H. & Bates, D. Balancing Type I error and power in linear mixed models. J. Mem. Lang. 94 , 305–315 (2017).

Pinheiro, J. C. & Bates, D. M. Mixed-Effects Models in Sand S-PLUS (Springer, 2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0318-1 .

Amabile, T. M. Social psychology of creativity: A consensual assessment technique. J. Personal. Soc. Psychol. 43 , 997–1013 (1982).

Amabile, T. M. The social psychology of creativity: A componential conceptualization. J. Personal. Soc. Psychol. 45 , 357–376 (1983).

Cseh, G. M. & Jeffries, K. K. A scattered CAT: A critical evaluation of the consensual assessment technique for creativity research. Psychol. Aesthet. Creat. Arts 13 , 159–166 (2019).

Kaufman, J. C., Lee, J., Baer, J. & Lee, S. Captions, consistency, creativity, and the consensual assessment technique: New evidence of reliability. Think. Skills Creat. 2 , 96–106 (2007).

Haught, C. The role of constraints in creative sentence production. Creat. Res. J. 27 , 160–166 (2015).

Tromp, C. Integrated constraints in creativity: Foundations for a unifying model. Rev. Gen. Psychol. 27 , 41–61 (2023).

Download references

Acknowledgements

The study was a part of the project “Unleashing the Power of Second Language Mastery: Cognitive Foundations of the Foreign Language Effect and Strategic Language Use”, financed by the National Science Centre of Poland (2021/43/B/HS6/00184) and Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (PPN/PRO/2020/1/00006).

Author information

These authors contributed equally: Olga Witczak, Iga Krzysik, Guillaume Thierry, and Rafał Jończyk.

Authors and Affiliations

Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland

Olga Witczak, Iga Krzysik, Katarzyna Bromberek-Dyzman, Guillaume Thierry & Rafał Jończyk

Bangor University, Bangor, UK

Guillaume Thierry

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Contributions

The authors confirm contribution to the paper as follows: study conception and design: K.B.D., R.J., G.T., O.W. data collection: K.B.D., I.K., O.W.; analysis and interpretation of results: K.B.D., R.J., I.K., G.T., O.W.; draft manuscript preparation: K.B.D., R.J., I.K., G.T., O.W. Editing and revision of manuscript: K.B.D., R.J., I.K., G.T., O.W. All authors reviewed the results and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Olga Witczak .

Ethics declarations

Competing interests.

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher's note.

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

Supplementary information., rights and permissions.

Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ .

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article.

Witczak, O., Krzysik, I., Bromberek-Dyzman, K. et al. Controlling stimulus ambiguity reduces spurious creative ideation variance in a cyclic adaptation of the alternative uses task. Sci Rep 14 , 12492 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-63225-2

Download citation

Received : 29 November 2023

Accepted : 27 May 2024

Published : 31 May 2024

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-63225-2

Share this article

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:

Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.

Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines . If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Quick links

• Explore articles by subject
• Guide to authors
• Editorial policies

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Adobe Firefly: everything you need to know about the AI image generator

Adobe Firefly is billed as a more ethical AI image generator. Here's what you need to know.

Adobe Firefly is a suite of generative AI tools developed by Adobe, the creative software giant behind the likes of Photoshop and Illustrator. Like all of the best AI art generators , it involves an AI model that has been trained to recognise connections between text and images in order to allow users to generate imagery using text prompts. 

However, Adobe Firefly has a few differences that set it apart from rival offerings such as Midjourney, Stable Diffusion and DALL-E2. Not least there's its claimed 'ethical' credentials. Many AI models were trained on images scraped from the internet with no regard for copyright. Firefly was trained only on open source images, content that is no longer in copyright and content from Adobe Stock. 

That's not to say that Adobe Firefly is without controversy. Adobe Stock contributors have also raised concerns about Adobe's use-first-decide-the-price-later approach. But it does mean that Adobe can argue that Firefly is commercially safe - it's even offering to indemnify commercial users against any legal challenges that may arise. But Adobe Firefly also has tools that other AI image generators don't, including the ability to generate vectors and text and integrations in other Adobe programs (see our pick of the  best AI art tutorials  to learn more about how it works).

Adobe Firefly explained

What is adobe firefly.

Adobe Firefly comprises not one but several AI models that allow users to generate images and other assets using text prompts. You type the words or description and the model will generate images based on your input. It can be accessed directly in a web browser at firefly.adobe.com.

Unlike previous AI models you don’t need to have a Discord account or any knowledge of coding. You simply need to log-in or sign-up for an Adobe account. You can then choose to use a free plan or a premium plan. 

Access is also included in Adobe Creative Cloud subscriptions, and some Firefly AI features are included in other Adobe programs, including Photoshop, Illustrator and Adobe Express. For example, Adobe has added Firefly-powered Generative Fill in Photoshop (read our Photoshop review , Illustrator review and Premier Pro review and our Adobe software list for more on the key products).

Is Firefly Adobe's first AI?

Firefly is not Adobe's first foray into AI. if you've already been using Adobe products for a while you may have heard of Sensei: Adobe's AI model that has been incorporated into Photoshop and other Adobe software to improve the productivity and remove some of the more complicated or repetitive tasks associated with digital art as well as video and photo editing.

Adobe Sensei has powered features like the Select Subject tool and neural filters in Photoshop (see our pick of the best Photoshop tutorials ). At this time, this acts separately to Firefly.

What's new in the latest Adobe Firefly update?

At Adobe MAX in October 2023, Adobe announced some big updates to Adobe Firefly. These include a move to a new version of its image generator, Adobe Firefly Image 2. The new model has an improved understanding of text prompts and recognises more landmarks and cultural symbols. It also offers Prompt Guidance which teaches users to expand or reword prompts, and there are new Share from Firefly and Save to Library features.

Adobe's also added tools to give more creative control for text-to-image generation in the Firefly web application. These include Generative Match, which is intended to allow users to generate content in custom, user-specified styles. Users can pick images from a pre-selected list or upload their own to guide the style when generating new images with text prompts. This aims to allow users to follow brand guidelines or save time by replicating the style of an existing image.

Meanwhile, Photo Settings adds 'photography-style' image adjustments in the Firefly web app. Users can apply and adjust settings in a way that's compared to camera lens controls, for example, depth of field control and motion blur. Adobe's also adding prompt guidance to help users expand or reword prompts for better results.

Other new tools include the Adobe Firefly Vector Model, which can generate an array of editable vector graphics from text prompts, including scenes, subjects, icons, tile-able patterns and even gradients, all organised into groups and layers to make editing easier. There's also a new Firefly Design Model tool that can generate templates from text prompts. Incorporated into Adobe Express, it uses Adobe Stock images and Adobe Fonts and can generate templates in the most popular aspect ratios for print, social and web.

Useful Adobe Firefly features

Another area where Adobe Firefly beats other generative AI art and design tools is in collaboration. The best art collaboration tools for designers include apps such as Figma , but Photoshop only enables people to work work on the same image or doc one at a time. Adobe Firefly's integration into Photoshop will enable multiple artists to work on the same image at once, a little like the excellent Magma . 

So, using Adobe Firefly you will be able to make real-time edits, offer feedback and share sketches all at once. This could become more important as you learn to create everything - from images, photos, video and even web design - all in one Creative Cloud app with Firefly connecting everything.

Adobe Firefly generative fill and generative expand

Adobe Firefly Generative Fill in Photoshop (see video above) This basically enables you to select areas of an image and then manipulate them or add in new content using text prompts. The tool is so powerful that it can match light and shadows in the newly generated content to the existing image. There is also a generative expand tool, which allows image to be expanded beyond their original borders.

Is Adobe Firefly ethical?

One of the things that makes Adobe Firefly different to other AI art generators like Midjourney is that it was trained only on copyright-free images - either imagery where copyright has expired or content from Adobe Stock. Contributors to Adobe Stock will be compensated for use of their work and can opt out of their work being used to train the model. 

Users of Firefly itself can also apply the 'Do Not Train' tag to stop Adobe from using any imagery that they use with Adobe Firefly to train future models. The idea is that this all makes Firefly more ethical, although everything is relative. Some would argue that it shouldn't be necessary to opt out. There's still a debate on whether AI generators should be trained on any art and images without the explicit permission from the artists.

Adobe has also partnered with the Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI) and with Google's AI, Bard to verify the origins of images being used in Firefly; in theory this means Bard and Firefly will determine if images have been created by a human, AI-generated or AI-edited, and meta data is added to Firefly-generated images to identify them.

Is Adobe Firefly free?

Adobe Firefly can be accessed using a limited free plan. However, like other AI image generators such as Dall-E 2 (and soon Dall-E 3 ), if charges uses credits for each image generation. The free plan includes only 25 generative credits. There is also a premium plan, and access is included in Creative Cloud , but again, users may need to buy more generative credits if they use the tool a lot.

Adobe Firefly AI features

Create 3D text in Firefly

As well as being powerful at creating realistic and unique imagery to inspire or use in your projects, Adobe Firefly has some interesting text and font creation uses. For some designers it could mean not needing knowledge of additional 3D software in order to create 3D text effects for print or animations.

Output images and textures to other Adobe apps

With its integration with other Adobe Creative Cloud applications, such as Photoshop, artists can incorporate AI-generated images into their existing workflows. For example, you can create textures and fractals using Adobe Firefly and bring them into Adobe Capture to create 3D texture maps for models. (Discover more on how to use Adobe Capture .)

Adobe Firefly for 3D art

Adobe Firefly is set to add a tool that can turn simple 3D compositions into photo realistic images and quickly creating new styles and variations of 3D objects, but these are planned feature that have not yet been added. Many digital illustrators already use basic 3D models to decide perspective, but using Adobe Firefly you will eventually be able to devise lighting and bounce lights to reference and improve the detail of an artwork (Read our guide to the best 3D modelling software .).

Text-based video editing is coming

Adobe Firefly is also working on text-based generative video editing. Adobe plans to  create functions that enable you to change the mood, atmosphere or colours in video clips. You will even be able to alter the weather and tone, adjust the density of rain, fog and snow. Adobe has already added some AI-driven features to Premiere Pro .

Adobe Firefly is a new kind of generative AI aimed at professionals, creatives and businesses who need to speed up workflows. See the best current prices for Creative Cloud below. Also see our round up of AI art tutorials to learn more.

Get the Creative Bloq Newsletter

Daily design news, reviews, how-tos and more, as picked by the editors.

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Ken Coleman lectures in game art and design at Clonmel Digital Campus in Ireland. He also designs for clients such as Catalyst Games and Morbid Angel.

• Ian Dean Editor, Digital Arts & 3D

Related articles

• 2 Ingenious optical illusion billboard takes the terror out of the prostate check
• 3 The Euro 2024 logo is packed full of clever Easter eggs
• 4 Memorial Day iPad deals: You can still save on the new iPad Pro and Air
• 5 Apple Watch Series 9 price slashed by $70
• 3 Blackmagic Fusion Studio 19 review: VFX software goes from strength to strength
• 4 The Euro 2024 logo is packed full of clever Easter eggs
• 5 HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) review: OLED convertible promises much, and delivers