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50 Creative One-sentence Writing Prompts That Will Make You Want To Write

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Need a few great first lines to get the ball rolling on your next story? Each of these one-sentence writing prompts gives you an opening sentence that hooks readers from the beginning. Have fun with these creative ideas as you craft your next short story or novel.

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Why Use Story Starters in Your Creative Writing Process?

You need a spark of inspiration.

Sometimes, coming up with short story ideas feels overwhelming. Maybe you have an assignment due and you don’t know where to start or perhaps you’re looking to write a little at the end of a long day but you’re creative juices have dried up. Perhaps you have a standard case of writer’s block.

Creative writing prompts with sentence starters or first lines help you overcome these challenges. Without forcing you into a certain direction, they give your story an interesting starting point. They are the kindle you use to start the fire, but tending it is up to you. Fifty people could take the exact same writing prompt and run with it in different directions, and we’d end up with fifty completely different short stories.

As you read through the list of one-line writing prompts below, don’t overthink it. Pick the one that stands out to you the most, the one that creates a dozen questions in your mind instantly.

For example, if you read the first one-sentence writing prompt below, The message inside the fortune cookie, which contained only four words, has become my fate, you immediately wonder things like who ate the cookie? where did they get it? who was it intended for? what were the four words? how did they become his/her fate?

If a first line turns you into an interrogator, you know you’ve found an idea worth exploring.

You Want to Try Something Different

Writers often get stuck in ruts. We find a formula that works for us and we repeat it. This can be great for meeting deadlines or selling stories, but it can also be limiting and boring. An occasional venture outside our comfort zones expands us as writers, exposes us to styles and storylines we might not normally pursue, and lets us play around with unfamiliar concepts.

If you’ve never explored science fiction or fantasy before, you might choose a story starter that offers an escape from reality. Or maybe you want a contemporary setting with just a touch of modern realism. Or, conversely, if you’re used to creating complex fictional worlds and magic systems, a realistic setting with a main character who’s just gotten some bad news could be out-of-the-box for you.

You’re Not a Planner — Or You Need a Break from Being a Planner

I confess: I’m a serial planner. ( This is my go-to guide for novel planning. ) The notes I make before writing a book usually come close to matching the book in length. I like to know everything before I ever write a single word. (This level of planning is probably also a form of productive procrastination).

Planning is helpful, but sometimes it feels like a barrier too. Planners can feel like they can’t write a story unless they’ve done all the planning, and if they don’t have the time or inspiration for the planning, they don’t write. It’s a convenient excuse, but it gets us nowhere.

For extreme planners like me, one-sentence writing prompts give us permission to write without a plan. We’re not trying to come up with the best way to lay the scene for the coming action or set the stage for character development. We’re parachuting into the middle of the action and it’s sink or swim.

Those questions we talked about a moment ago? The ones generated by the first sentence? They’re in charge here. They’re calling the shots. Instead of carefully mapping out a series of plot points, we need to figure out the answers to those questions and reveal them to the reader in the most tantalizing way possible.

The questions — and their answers —will take us where they want to go, not the other way around.

I’m not saying this method will make us leave plotting behind for good — perish the thought! — but it does give us an opportunity to tackle our writing from a different angle, an experience that will only sharpen our writing skills.

50 One-Sentence Writing Prompts

The message inside the fortune cookie, which contained only four words, has become my fate.
I’ve walked by that old house hundreds of times in the past two years, but today was the first time I caught the little girl watching me from the window.
Just when I thought my life couldn’t get any more complicated, my mother decided to open her new business —a coffee shop — in our living room.
My little sister thought she’d found the best hiding place in the house…until she realized it wasn’t exactly part of the house.
Susan hadn’t expected the hot air balloon to be filled with two dozen baby animals, but when your great uncle sends you a modern-day ark, you roll with it.
When I heard that familiar jingle coming down the street, I assumed it was the ice cream truck; I never knew they had mobile deliveries of those.
The cruise ship was supposed to be the setting for the perfect vacation, and it was — until that stupid movie star showed up and decided we were all going to be part of her game.
The first step in surviving middle school is easy — always be prepared — but the second rule? That’s not so simple.
Confused and disappointed, Marcus tossed aside the photo album his mom gave him for his birthday but when voices started coming out of it, he decided to pay attention.
“Don’t look at me, I thought we were going for tacos.”
Late for work, I throw open the front door and find myself face-to-face with a UPS driver standing next to the biggest box I’ve ever seen.
You know that dream where you’ve gone back in time and you’re reliving the craziest moment of your entire life? — I’m living it.
The house shook with a violent surge like a hurricane had whipped right through it and, just as suddenly, was still.
We danced until the sun went down and the floor gave way beneath our feet.
Professor Soto said the assignment would be easy; he never mentioned we’d have to do it on a roller coaster.
The old man in the seat next to me on the train speaks loudly on his cell phone; I’m pretty sure he wasn’t supposed to let that information out.
Joanna’s favorite band is playing a sold-out show tonight but thankfully, she’s figured out a way to get in.
When Jaden and his best friend took the blank page out of the notebook and drew their map of Ancient Egypt on it, they had no idea of the chain of events they’d set in motion.
“Pick a number, any number,” she said, her voice a taunt, “And I’ll show you your future self.”
Constance was planting daffodil bulbs in her flower bed when her trowel struck a most unusual object in the soil.
“In other news,” Zach leans over and whispers to Marie, “they’re expecting you to go up on stage and resign in about, oh, sixty seconds.”
Hup two three four, hup two three four —wait, shouldn’t we have been there by now?
Why did she burst through the door like that if she wasn’t going to tell me the truth?
Though Evie knew the dog was special, she’d never realized he was magical.
The return address on the gold envelope is in Greenland — had they really tracked me down from the other side of the world?
I always thought good historical fiction should transport you to another time and place, but when a man in a waistcoat and a top hat enters my room, I realize the book I’m reading has taken that to a whole new level.
The checkout line at the grocery store wouldn’t have been my preferred place to “be discovered” — fluorescent lights and all — but who am I to say no to Elizabeth Van Zee?
Is it even worth showing up here again if nobody’s ever going to come and answer my questions about my grandma?
I can’t justify the crimes I committed, even though they saved lives.
“Does this purple shirt make me stand out?” asked the giant one-eyed cat.
I wish I could tell you that everything went as planned, and no one got hurt, but that would be a lie.
They found my mom’s ratty ball cap by the edge of the creek around a month after she went missing; I wish they hadn’t.
She’d eaten a lot of pie during her career as a restaurant critic, but never before had she tasted one quite like this.
It was no problem catching the thief; he left his fingerprints everywhere.
I knew Jax was meant to be my best friend, from the moment we met right up until his death.
My knuckles were white as I gripped the armrests of my seat, hoping desperately that our pilot could get the plane back on course before it was too late.
Riley Davis always said that I was his whole world, but if that was true, he wouldn’t have destroyed my life.
I didn’t want to have to hurt him, so I ran away as soon as August got down on one knee.
At first, I had thought telepathy would be a cool superpower, but that was before I knew of the chaos that lives in every person’s mind.
“Why do you think you’re here?” Dr. Judy asked when I took a seat in her office.
I had just finished crocheting the small grey elephant for my nephew and was placing it in a gift bag when it let out a little trumpeting noise.
Teddy had always known there was something fishy about that new girl, and his suspicions were confirmed as soon as he saw the live salmon in her backpack.
She was on the hunt for a way to ease her anxiety, and it didn’t take her long to discover that goat yoga was not the answer.
I had never taken an interest in Randy until we both attended the teen fantasy club at the local library.
Beauty is everything, something I learned from a very young age.
I’ve been to at least a hundred weddings since I began my career as a photographer, each one a reminder of the love I will never have.
My sister had always loved flowers, and I felt bad for only ever giving them to her after she died.
When people ask what happened to my wife, I say it was a car accident, because no one would believe the real story.
I had no idea how big a polar bear’s stomach really was until I was inside of one.
When I began my study on ducks throughout the multiverse, I had no idea it would later solve world hunger.

Need more writing prompt ideas? Check out these posts:

50 Compelling Fantasy Writing Prompts and Plot Ideas for an Epic Story
60 Creative Journal Prompts for Teenagers

How are you using these one-sentence writing prompts in your own writing practice? Leave a comment and let us know.

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114 Writing Prompt Sentences For More Creative Stories

Sometimes when you’re writing, you could use a little help getting started. Am I right?

The fact is that some of the most effective writing prompts are actually writing prompt sentences – a single sentence beckoning you to expound upon a thought or storyline. And lucky for you, we have truckloads of them!

The Art of an Engaging Opening Line

Writing prompt sentences offer a first impression into a literary world—they grab the writer’s attention and set the tone for their entire piece. A powerful opener can captivate you and draw you into a narrative you just have to write.

While this post will focus on providing you with fresh, new writing prompt sentences, it’s important to consider how some of the world’s most popular stories begin. Some writers even enjoy borrowing the opening sentence of these popular books and creating a new story from it:

Great First Lines

Great first lines are more than just words; they are an invitation into a story.

Lines that stand out:

Are concise: They aim to be punchy and to the point.
Evoke curiosity: They stir the reader’s interest with mystery or an unexpected twist.
Set the scene: They provide a glimpse into the world or mood of the story.

For example:

It was the perfect vacation, or so I thought.

This writing prompt sentence sets the scene in paradise, invites the writer (and reader!) to imagine what might have gone wrong, and keeps the door open to a wide array of possibilities with its brevity.

The Power of One-Line Writing Prompts

Writing prompt sentences are compact storytelling engines. Here’s how they can enhance your writing:

Spark creativity: They force you to develop complex ideas from a single, powerful sentence.
Flex writing muscles: Regular practice with one-liners can improve overall writing skills.

sentence starters creative writing prompts

Setting the Scene

Some of the best story starters focus on the story’s setting.

The setting creates the world where characters live and act. Setting-focused writing prompt sentences invite writers to vividly construct these scenes from the get-go.

The Living Room

The man’s living room was cluttered in the most peculiar way.

And setting story starters aren’t limitied to appearance! Consider creative writing prompts that invite writers to describe a setting’s ambience.

There was a faint scent of lavender in the air.

Her cubicle induced anxiety, immediately and lethally.

The Perfect Vacation Scene

The right writing prompt sentences can make writers feel the sun’s warmth and the sand between their toes as they craft the perfect vacation scene. Whether it’s a tropical beach or a cozy mountain lodge, focus on sensory details like temperature, sounds, scents, and textures.

The crisp, fresh air saturating the front porch of the cabin reminded her of him.

The sun was blinding but beautiful, warming his cheeks in a way that reminded him of childhood.

She woke up to the lapping of waves.

He’d never noticed the smell of pine before, passing the time in his cramped apartment, but here it engulfed him in a sweet thickness.

The sand was coarse between her toes, the water biting.

Middle of the Night Zookeeper Adventures

Young writers will enjoy settings that evoke their imaginations, with bonus points for including animals!

I knew sneaking through the zoo in the middle of the night wouldn’t be easy, but I never expected this!

It all started when the night zookeeper caught sight of the strange old man crouched in the shadows.

Of all of the strange encounters the night zookeeper had experienced, this tiny dragon was easily the strangest.

Characters and Relationships

Creating dynamic characters and exploring their relationships is a cornerstone of storytelling. Characters must interact in ways that are both authentic and push the story forward.

The Strange Old Man Next Door

Whether a strange old man or woman lives next door, drives an ice cream truck, or walks the local park in the middle of the night, the allure of the unknown is sure to draw writers in.

The strange old man next door knew something I didn’t.

No one knew it, but the small town cab driver was 321 years old in Earth years.

The next door neighbours were careful to leave the front door of their house unlocked before leaving for their cruise ship.

The Legacy of Family and Friendships

Family can leave you with the warm fuzzies…or a bad taste in your mouth.

The death of my great uncle left a peculiar legacy, one you’ve certainly never heard of before.

The little boy was clearly my son…but how?

I never intended to be gone for such a long time but of course, my mother would be the last person to believe that.

Friendships define your main character, and their involvement often catalyzes growth or change.

She may never be my best friend again, but her apology was at least a starting point.

The rustling of keys in the lock told me my best friend had arrived, but I could have never prepared myself for what came through my front door with him.

Encounters with a Little Sister

Young writers from 1st grade all the way through high school can benefit from exploring sibling relationships. Story starters involving a little sister or brother represent a chance for them to explore the innocence or mischief of siblings and their relationship to them, and with the right creative writing prompts, even develop empathy.

From the second the words left her mouth, it was clear my little sister never intended to reveal the secret.

The first time my little brother did it, I couldn’t believe my eyes.

Plot Twists and Surprises

At the core of some of the most compelling narratives are the plot twists and surprises that throw readers for a loop. Incorporating plot twists in your sentence prompts is a great way to help maintain suspense and deliver a jaw-dropping moment.

An Unexpected Fortune Cookie Message

The fortune cookie revealed a crisp piece of paper where, instead of a vague aphorism or lucky number, it read…my address.

I expected to find a small piece of paper inside of my fortune cookie, not this, not by any means.

The Roller Coaster of Life

Whether literal or figurative, a roller coaster offers a perfect metaphor for life’s unpredictable twists and turns.

I expected the roller coaster ride to be noisy, but the loud crash at the top of the rails seemed far from intended.

I never knew it was possible to crash from the highest high of my life to the lowest low within a millisecond, a catch of the breath…but here I was.

Sensory Details in Writing

Engaging senses in your writing can transport readers into the scene. It’s like giving them a front-row seat to the unfolding narrative.

The Chill of Icy Fingers

I padded my bare feet across the cold pavement, each step shooting a biting chill, like icy fingers clawing up my calves.

The warmth of my bed met an abrupt halt as the icy fingers grabbed my arm.

Memories from a Photo Album

Flipping through a photo album can evoke vivid memories.

When her eyes fell upon the photo, she immediately recalled how crisp the air had felt on her skin the morning the photo was taken.

He could still feel his itchy sweater in the photo, still smell the stale stench of alcohol, still hear the music jangling out of the jukebox.

Prompts for Different Age Groups

Writing prompts offer a great way to engage with writing at any age. Let’s explore what kinds of one-line prompts best suit different educational stages, from playful themes for young writers to thought-provoking scenarios for high school students.

Engaging Young Writers

To capture the imagination of young writers, consider sentence prompts that allow for creative exploration and storytelling.

Here are a few ideas:

Describe your dream pet.

Tell a story about the day the sky turned green.

Sentence Prompts for Middle School

For middle school students, prompts that challenge their thinking and encourage deeper reflection are ideal.

Try these engaging prompts:

Imagine a world without technology.

Write about a character who finds a mysterious key.

High School Writing Challenges

High school students benefit from prompts that tackle complex issues and facilitate critical thinking.

Engage them with prompts such as:

Discuss the impact of social media on your generation.

Create a dialogue between two historical figure.

Incorporating Technology and Novelty

You can use everyday items and fantastical devices to create intriguing story starters. Technology and novelty, especially in combination, have the power to unlock new worlds in your imagination.

The Mystery of the Cell Phone

It was an unlocked cell phone…no contacts, no history, just a single, scheduled notification that read, “Remember gran’s words…or die trying.”

When we finally figured out how to turn on the mysterious phone, it immediately shone a bright light that quickly blinded and surrounded us and carried us into the clouds like a hot air balloon.

Time Travel via Time Machine

The ice cream truck wasn’t an ice cream truck at all, but a time machine.

The very act of time travel is riddled with millions of things that could go wrong…but this scenario, this lifeless body, hadn’t made the list.

The End or a New Beginning?

While one-sentence writing prompts demand a strong start, every creative writing piece also requires a satisying ending.

Imagine every story’s ending as a chance to echo resonances of the beginning. The last sentence should be reflective of the first sentence, giving a sense of closure or perhaps a teasing window into another world.

Much like the last page of your favorite book might do, short stories particularly benefit from this technique. Their brevity allows for a neat, full-circle feel.

When crafting this pivotal sentence, you have the opportunity to nudge your reader. You’re not just ending a story; you’re implanting the possibility of a new beginning in their mind.

Whether it’s the start of a discussion, a reflection, or a sequel to your narrative, you are in control of what that concluding thought leaves behind.

Creative Writing Techniques

Fully harnessing your creative potential requires utilizing a variety of techniques. These strategies are designed to stimulate your imagination and provide a diverse range of resources to suit your unique writing style.

Stirring the Creative Juices

Engaging with creative writing prompts and techniques offers a great way to get your creative juices flowing.

Creative Writing Prompts : Steering away from average and expected journal prompts into those that challenge your imagination and storytelling skills can push you out of your comfort zone into something new.
Freewriting : Give yourself a limited time, say 15 minutes, and write continuously without worrying about grammar or coherence.
Mind Mapping : Visually organize your thoughts around a central concept to explore connections and foster new ideas.

These techniques free your mind from the usual constraints, encouraging a flow of ideas that might just germinate into a compelling narrative.

Resource Types for Diverse Styles

Your style is as unique as you are, and thankfully, there are a variety of resource types to cater to each writer’s needs.

Books and E-books : Get your hands on writing guides that can provide detailed tips and exercises tailored to different genres.
Online Platforms : Subscribe to websites offering interactive lessons and forums where you can share work and get feedback.
Workshops and Webinars : Join live sessions with experts that address specific writing challenges and answer your burning questions.

By exploring these resources, you’ll find the support and inspiration necessary to sharpen your writing and keep your creative journey exciting and productive.

114 Writing Prompt Sentences For More Creative Stories

Which writing prompt sentences will you try first? We can’t wait to hear what you write!

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First Line Generator: 101 Sentences To Get You Started Writing

Sometimes, the muse speaks through creative writing prompts .

And sometimes all you need is a single sentence to get you started on your next epic story .

Among the one sentence prompts you’ll find below, you’re sure to find at least one first line generator for a story you’ll love writing.

So, whether you’ve got a first name already picked out for your next main character or you’re starting with nothing but the will to write, enjoy the prompts below.

List of 101 First Line Generator Ideas

The best way to use a sentence generator is to start free-writing on the first one that grabs your interest and write as quickly as you can.

This is not the time to edit. Let the words flow out as the story forms in your mind.

Short Story First Line Generator

Fantasy first line generator, random first line generator, poetry first line generator, novel first line generator, historical fiction first line generator, first line generator tools .

Enjoy these first line generator ideas for writing a short story .

1. With his background and fierce appearance, no one expected Bruno the mastiff to be a good dog for small children.

2. She frowned thoughtfully at the tarot cards arranged before her.

3. Writing down her thoughts about their relationship wasn’t as cathartic as she’d hoped.

4. She bent down to pick up what she thought was a half-buried seashell.

5. No one suspected that every one of the vaccine syringes sent to those areas would render their receivers sterile for life.

6. It was there the billionaires of the world gathered to announce their joint decision, either oblivious or indifferent to the revolution brewing next door.

7. Just when she thought she’d finished crying, the phone rang.

8. On a night like this, the sky should be full of stars, but as she looked up, her legs almost gave out.

9. She’d forgiven everyone and emptied her home of all that gave it meaning.

two people brainstorming while writing first line generator

10. Three times, now, she’d almost died, and no one had noticed.

11. Her fifteen-month-old son tensed up in his shopping cart seat when the man approached.

12. “Oh, spare me the theatrics, and go cry somewhere else,” he said, adding, “No one wants to see that.”

13. Her voice broke over the phone when mine did, but she said, “It’s actually pretty nice here.”

14. “Okay, before I tell you, mom, you have to promise not to be mad.”

15. If they don’t find Ben attractive, they at least find him compelling. That’s the problem.

16. Once she catches your scent — a scent like yours, especially — she learns everything about you.

17. “I need something to look forward to that doesn’t come in a bottle. You got any ideas?”

18. It was his living room art display that finally convinced her to leave him.

When you’re writing your next page-turning fantasy novel , a good first line can get the creative ideas flowing.

Use these as a springboard, even if you end up changing the first line in your final draft.

19. This world was never meant to survive her.

20. As far as she was concerned, he was a typical teenager with a hoodie.

21. It’s not every girl who finds out her mom is a centuries-old superhero.

22. My first tutor was a dragon with a terrible sense of humor.

23. I looked into the crystal ball and saw myself walking hand-in-hand with my mortal enemy.

24. What I made for my mother’s birthday was supposed to be a harmless pendant.

25. I spent a thousand years in that bottle before a child freed me from it and called me “Mama.”

26. He made it sound as though the very worst thing I could be was a witch.

27. She was changed into something else while her parents stood nearby, watching the others.

woman busy in writing and facing her laptop first line generator

28. The label on the bottle said “Drink me,” and Alice rolled her eyes and snickered as she poured herself a glass.

29. The freeway was completely deserted, and the only words on the marquee near my exit were “Supplies have run out, and shelters are full.”

30. She told me I was the perfect candidate for their weaponized shifter program; and their target was someone easy to dislike.

31. I knew she’d been scratched during the attack, but until now, full moons hadn’t been a problem.

32. He shouldn’t have made me choose between my world and this one.

33. The one thing my mother hadn’t told me about her past was the reason I now lived in an icy cave near the top of the highest peak.

34. The trolls in that valley are the ones who found me and gave me my name.

35. I’m unusually tall for a dwarf. My mother was not prepared.

Don’t underestimate the creative power of random thoughts from memories or recent experiences.

Use one of the following to launch into a story that weaves elements of your own or someone else’s history into it.

36. If only she hadn’t bought the red one.

37. One bite, and his eyes closed, his focus turned inward, while she quietly exhaled.

38. She was the kind of person who loudly insulted others’ intelligence while neglecting her own.

39. Doctors told her she could never diet again.

40. I don’t sleep with that stone unless I want to wake up feeling as though I spent the whole night running.

41. It was enough for her that he’d found a lost child and returned him to his parents.

42. You’d think a winning lottery ticket was just what we needed.

43. In exchange for the apartment, she had agreed to bring the inmate his meals.

44. Her father always said driving would be the death of her.

45. What if I told you the separation of church and state is an illusion?

46. The largest golden maple leaf I’d ever seen landed at my feet as I turned the corner.

47. “Help me! I’m not your enemy,” he said.

48. For some reason, no one thought to question the other housekeeping staff.

49. As soon as he stepped across the threshold, she caught a whiff of something.

50. Even with a baby in her arms and her hair loose, I knew her. And it all came back.

51. He waited, nervously clearing his throat until my husband left the room.

52. His bike still hung on the rack, covered in dust, and one wheel bent into a moon shape.

Sometimes, all you want to write is a poem to express the ideas circulating in your mind.

Use any of the following to open the spigot and let the uncensored words out onto the page. Editing can wait.

53. The sky feels as empty as my chest.

54. The trees would miss you if you left.

55. The sunlight brought me back to you.

56. I was tired before my first sip of wine.

57. Memory is all around us, as well as within.

58. Don’t tell me what I need.

writing in notebook while in front of laptop first line generator

59. No expensive funeral for me, if I even have one.

60. The first step toward you was the hardest.

61. My hope literally took form inside of me.

62. I fight for what you’ve had from birth.

63. I come to shatter this fortress— not protect it.

64. You were born to make mistakes and to change the world as you learned from them.

65. The burn is what gets me.

66. There’s something in the water that now lives in me.

67. Why should I get away with it?

68. One bloom outlasted the rest before suddenly dropping.

69. I wish I could tell you this has nothing to do with me

First Line Generator at WritersDenPantomimepony.co.uk

Click on the giant blue button, and this generator will give you an opening line inspired by careful analysis of classic openers. The secret to writing a compelling opener is creating a story within a single line. And that’s something the makers of this generator understand.

Keep clicking until one of the options gets you thinking. Then brainstorm as many follow-up ideas as you can.

Opening Line Generator at Plot-Generator.org.uk

This generator gives you ten opening line ideas right away. Below them, you can select the number of new opening lines or ask them to suggest a number. Click on “Write me an opening line” to generate as many or as few openers as you like.

On the left, you’ll see their “Top 10 Generators,” including “Character Name” and “Rap Lyrics.” On the right, you’ll see “Newest Generators,” including “Pirate Name” and “Coronavirus Activity.”

Random First Line Generator at WritingExercises.co.uk

The Writing Exercsies website has a wide selection of content generators, including this one for random first lines. You can also find a rhyming dictionary (in case you prefer traditional, rhyming poetry), as well as generators for plots and random bits of dialogue .

Click on “Generate a First Line” as many times as necessary to find something you can use to get started.

If you had to choose one first line generator from the selection in this post, which ones spoke to you the loudest?

Or have you already started writing something that has you brimming with creative energy and excitement?

If this will be a long story , remember to do yourself a favor and stop for the day when you still want to keep going.

When you already have an idea of what happens next, sitting back down to it is much easier.

May the words keep flowing. And may at least one of these writing prompts set you on the path to writing something you and your readers will love.

Sometimes all you need is a single sentence to get you started with your story. These 49 first line generator prompts will set you off on the best writing path in different genres.

60+ First Line Writing Prompts

Did you know that the opening line of a story is one of the hardest parts of writing a great book? Spark your imagination with these 100+first line writing prompts for all ages! These simple one-liners are the perfect way to get those creative juices flowing and find inspiration for your next big short story or flash fiction .

We have a mix of first-line writing prompts, ranging from fantasy prompts to non-fictional and realistic events. As well as prompts written in the first and third-person view. The one-line writing prompts in this post are a great way to challenge yourself to write something new. In fact, you can even set yourself a challenge to write at least 300 words every day for each of these cool prompts!

60+ Random First Line Writing Prompts

Here are over 60 one-line opening sentences to help you write your next big story:

“Er… I hate this song. Why is it always playing on the radio?”
Every story has a hero and I’m the hero of this one.
Thunder rattled outside, as Emily tossed and turned trying to sleep.
Life wasn’t great at all for Mr Pea. It wasn’t even mildly good.
They keep calling me “special”, but what’s so special about me?
Gavin was always getting the best presents. For once I wish I could be like him.
Balloons popping, confetti dropping and food flying. That’s how Katie spent her birthday each year.
Every night, Peter went out to save the world in his own little way.
If dogs could speak, then Spike would be thanking Chris right now.
Money is everything.
Was it really Jane’s fault?
Every day the same thing keeps happening.
For the first time in her life, Janie felt powerful.
5 AM and still no phone call.
Mom’s always telling me to come straight home.
There’s an old legend that talks about magical fairies living in the forest.
Snow fell, as Clarissa made her way home.
After the accident, Nelson never felt safe again.
Katie’s living the dream up in the hills of Hollywood.
The world seemed like such a big place, until the recent discovery in Antarctica.
“Dear diary, today I learned something about myself…” Katie mumbled to herself.
Blinded by a bright light outside his window, Jake jumped up in horror.
Sitting at his computer, Martin noticed something odd about his favourite computer game.
Rain trembled down the window, as the car radio played in the background.
“Ready or not, here I come!” shouted Millie in the distance.
Once upon a time, there lived a young prince with extraordinary powers.
James had it all, but still, it was not enough.
Her red hair glistened in the sun, as she walked across the car park.
Mel was always haunted by her dreams.
“Shhhh! It’s your turn now” whispered Kelly.
The room was a dump, as Jack frantically searched every corner.
This time daddy brought a strange teddy bear home.
There’s no cure for a beast like me.
People ran inside their homes, as the alarm rang.
Tracking through the woods, Christian found something strange.
Home. What is home anyway?
Legend says that if you breathe in and out ten times in front of a mirror something strange happens.
Tick… tock… tick… tock… time was going so slow.
The pain was too much, he had to leave right now.
Slipping out of reach, she lost it forever.
Money, clothes, food, everything you need for a quick getaway.
In the faraway kingdom of Rainbow Popsicles, everything was sweet, apart from one strange-looking thing.
In the damp streets of Manhattan, there lived a fierce little cat.
Being the ‘odd one out’, the ‘weird’ one wasn’t fun at all.
“Ahhhhhhhhhhh!” Shelly screamed in her sleep.
Some say the number 7 is unlucky, but to me, it wasn’t.
Every Saturday, Joe went to his Grandma’s house, but something was very different this week.
Chores, chores and more chores.
For once I wish I could get my way.
The sun shone brightly on Oakland farm, but not all was bright.
“I got one! I got one!” shrieked Sally, jumping up and down in excitement.
She was everything I wanted to be and more.
The same words over and over again scattered all over the floor.
The scariest creatures lived deep in the forest where no-one ever went.
“Abra Kadabra, turn these ripped trainers into the fastest trainers in the world!” exclaimed Victor.
The desert-like sun burned his skin as he lay scorching in the sand.
The sound of rustling leaves turned George’s heart to stone.
Sunny Slimeville was just a normal town with a funny name.
The phone did not stop ringing all week.
Another tea party, another game.
How’s a country girl like me ever going to survive the big city?
Did you know that not all zombies eat brains?

How To Use These One-Line Writing Prompts

There are a number of ways you can use these first-line writing prompts to inspire your story writing , such as:

Pick one of the opening sentences and free-write for at least 60 seconds. Don’t stop to think, just keep on writing whatever comes to mind!
Don’t keep skipping through all of the prompts above. Challenge yourself and give the ‘hard’ or ‘boring’ ones a go! You never know how they’ll inspire you unless you give them a go.
Feel free to adapt these first-line writing prompts in any way you like. You can change the character names, point of view and any other details you feel like.
Explore your imagination. Don’t be afraid to add more characters, add conflict, add dialogue , add anything you like to really have fun with these prompts!

For more inspiration, check out this list of over 150 story starters . Now go and choose an opening sentence from the above list! And if it inspires you to write something cool, let us know in the comments! You can even publish your story online – Just sign-up to create your free account .

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.

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55 One-Sentence Writing Prompts to Kickstart Your Student’s Stories

boy using one-sentence writing prompts to write a story

One-sentence writing prompts are such a fun, helpful way to teach students how to write— and instill a love of writing .

I love watching my children think up new stories. You can almost see the wheels turning and thoughts churning!

But sometimes, those gears grind to a halt, and they get stuck.

That’s where writing prompts, also known as story starters, come in and save the day!

I especially like using one-liner story starter sentences in our homeschool.

They don’t require any prep on my part, and the kids love them.

Make Writing Easier with Free One-Sentence Prompts

Get a printable PDF of writing prompts sent straight to your inbox!

How One-Sentence Prompts Make Creative Writing Easier

I think the hardest part for every student is staring at that blank page wondering “ How do I start writing a story? “

Remember how hard that was?

Writer’s block is something kids deal with, too!

That pressure—creating a story out of thin air—can be a total inspiration-killer.

There’s something to be said about just getting their creative juices flowing.

That’s why I love sentence starters for creative writing because that’s exactly what they do.

One-sentence writing prompts are just what they sound like—an opening sentence or idea that’s meant to inspire a story.

For older students, I even like using first-line writing prompts for essay writing. You just have to start with prompts that are a little more subject specific.

The art o f writing can be a daunting task for anyone, especially for elementary-aged children and middle school students who are just starting their writing journey.

Sentence prompts relieve some of that pressure by acting as story starters .

They allow writers to focus their thoughts while providing ideas for their storylines.

Well-written prompts also help with the basics of sentence constructions, which sets the example and encourages better writing over time.

How to Use One-Line Writing Prompts

When students use one-sentence writing prompts as a starting point for their tales, it often helps them think more creatively.

It can drum up ideas they may not have thought of otherwise.

To use these story starters for kids, have your students brainstorm ideas for each one-sentence prompt.

Remind them that there is no right or wrong answer (or plot).

This brainstorming step can be part of their writing assessment or even part of their writing practice.

After all, every good storyline begins with ideation.

Even having your students do some journaling before starting a prompt could be useful. Great journal entries have, at times, been the source of wonderful essays!

55 Exciting One-Sentence Story starters

Sometimes, one sentence is all it takes to get those creative juices flowing. So here are 55 creative one-line story starters to ease the burden of the dreaded “blank page.”

Once you’ve cycled through the prompts below, check out our other free writing exercises:

Picture writing prompts
Fall prompts
Winter prompts

Encourage your children to use them as opening sentences for their stories , but also let them know it’s okay to change things up as needed!

1. I received a letter from a great uncle I never knew, stating I was heir to his throne in a faraway kingdom.

2. Suddenly, the merry-go-round stopped and all the horses came to life!

3. It all started when I took home the wrong backpack…

4. When I walked into the living room this morning, my mom had a huge grin on her face.

5. The next day at school, everyone wanted to know what happened last night.

6. My dad told me he started a new job today, and I found a superhero cape in the backseat of his car!

7. This summer, I’m going to visit my grandparents who live in another country.

8. Yesterday, I saw an old man walking down the street not wearing any shoes.

9. The little boy looked at me and said, “The choice is yours. What will you decide?”

10. I thought it was my new puppy making that strange noise, but it was actually…

11. It sounded like a trumpet, and it was coming from outside.

12. When I woke up this morning, there were hundreds of balloons everywhere!

13. A few days ago, I went out to play soccer, and suddenly, everything changed.

14. Last week, I met a girl named Mary, and we became best friends even though she’s not like most people I know.

15. I remember the moment like it was yesterday…

16. I received a letter with no return address, and it said something I never expected…

17. I was through the woods with my older brother when we heard a strange growl.

18. My dad silently handed me a piece of a paper that was actually a treasure map leading to…

19. As I gazed up at the stars, I noticed an especially bright one moving slowly across the night sky.

20. Today, I got a call from someone saying they have important news about my family history.

21. There once lived a king whose name was forgotten with time, but his kingdom…

22. It was the best feeling in the world…

23. I went with my grandpa to milk the cows, but something was different about the barn today.

24. Today, I saw a strange-colored bug I’ve never seen before…

25. My favorite teddy bear was nowhere to be found, but suddenly…

26. I felt as if I could fly…

27. I’m so excited because tomorrow I’ll finally meet my long lost cousin!

28. I always wondered what it would be like if it actually rained cats and dogs, then it happened.

29. I’ve always been afraid of spiders, but the world was counting on me, so I pushed through.

30. Suddenly, all the streets turned into rivers!

31. One minute, I was sitting quietly reading a book; the next thing I knew, I was running away from…

32. I can’t believe how fast the time went by when I was…

33. It was happening—I was finally going undercover as a spy on a top-secret mission.

34. I was just minding my own business when something stopped me in my tracks.

35. I was eating lunch with friends when I overheard them talking about a mysterious creature called a MarshCrawler.

36. I was playing hide-and-seek with my friend when I saw something I’ve never seen before.

37. I was doing my homework when I heard a loud crash downstairs.

38. On a camping trip with my family, we discovered a cave filled with the most beautiful treasures you’ve ever seen.

39. My dad taught me how to use a metal detector, and you’ll never believe what I found.

40. I had a dream last night where I was flying high above the clouds.

41. I was walking down Main Street when I spotted a man who looked exactly like my grandfather.

42. I was riding home after school when I came upon a group of kids throwing rocks at each other.

43. I was watching TV when I heard a knock at the door.

44. I was having dinner with some friends when I realized I’d left my wallet back at home.

45. Every story has a hero; this time it was me.

46. They still had a long way to go when it started snowing.

47. When I opened the front door, I saw someone I never expected.

48. I was given the gift of any wish in the world…

49. From the next room, I heard my little sister laughing hysterically.

50. I was walking around the neighborhood when I stumbled onto a secret passage.

51. I was taking a nap when I woke up to find myself surrounded by hundreds of people.

52. I tried desperately to persuade him, but he wouldn’t listen.

53. The day began normally until I noticed an odd smell coming from the kitchen sink.

54. We were driving along when I saw a huge black cloud heading our way.

55. Every day, the same strange thing happens…

Want to Print These First-Line Writing Prompts? (Free PDF!)

To make these one-sentence story prompts easier to use, we created a free printable of 55 “short-and-sweet” story starters.

Get them sent to your inbox below!

About The Author

Jordan Mitchell

Create Make Write

Thoughts on creativity, writing & making

49 Best Story Starter Sentences for Writers of All Ages

Whether you’re a seasoned writer seeking fresh inspiration or a budding wordsmith eager to explore new worlds, our collection of 49 captivating story starter sentences is sure to spark your imagination and set your pen ablaze.

What are the best story starter sentences?

In the heart of the ancient forest, a mysterious light flickered, beckoning me forward.
The old house at the end of the street held secrets that whispered in the wind.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, I set out on a journey that would change everything.
The first snowflake fell softly from the sky, signaling the beginning of a magical winter.
In a world where magic was forbidden, I discovered a hidden book of spells.
The abandoned amusement park stood silent and eerie, waiting for someone brave enough to explore its depths.
From the depths of the ocean, a creature emerged, its eyes glowing with ancient wisdom.
As I stepped through the portal, I found myself in a land where time stood still.
In the attic of my grandmother’s house, I uncovered a box filled with letters from another era.
The stars whispered secrets to me as I lay beneath the night sky, dreaming of distant galaxies.
In the bustling marketplace, I stumbled upon a peculiar shop filled with enchanted trinkets.
As the clock struck midnight, the walls of the castle began to tremble with magic.
The mysterious stranger who appeared on my doorstep held the key to a long-forgotten prophecy.
In the heart of the desert, an oasis shimmered like a mirage, promising refuge from the scorching sun.
As the last leaf fell from the tree, a new chapter began to unfold.
The melody of the forgotten song echoed through the halls of the abandoned mansion.
In the land of dreams, I found myself face to face with my greatest fears.
The forbidden forest whispered tales of lost souls and wandering spirits.
As the storm raged outside, I curled up with a book that transported me to another world.
The map I found hidden in my grandfather’s study revealed a path to hidden treasure.
In the depths of the cave, I discovered a dragon guarding a hoard of precious gems.
The enchanted mirror showed me a glimpse of my future self, urging me to embrace my destiny.
As I wandered through the enchanted garden, the flowers spoke to me in a language only I could understand.
The clock tower chimed ominously as I ventured into the abandoned asylum.
In the attic of the old bookstore, I stumbled upon a portal to another dimension.
The mysterious symbol etched into the ancient stone held the key to unlocking its secrets.
As the moon rose high in the sky, I set sail on a voyage to the edge of the world.
The carnival that appeared overnight held mysteries beyond imagination.
In the shadow of the mountain, a forgotten village lay hidden from the world.
The whispers of the wind carried tales of lost civilizations and ancient relics.
As I gazed into the crystal ball, I saw visions of the past, present, and future intertwining.
The secret society I stumbled upon held the key to unraveling a centuries-old mystery.
In the heart of the labyrinth, I found myself face to face with the Minotaur.
The time-traveling device I invented whisked me away to a dystopian future.
As I followed the trail of breadcrumbs through the forest, I realized I was not alone.
The forgotten temple hidden deep in the jungle held the power to grant eternal life.
In the land of make-believe, I embarked on a quest to rescue the lost princess.
The ancient tome I discovered in the library contained spells beyond imagination.
As the sun rose over the horizon, I set out on a quest to save my kingdom from darkness.
The whispers of the ghostly apparition led me to uncover a long-buried secret.
In the ruins of the castle, I found a portrait that bore a striking resemblance to myself.
The mysterious island that appeared on the horizon beckoned me to explore its shores.
As the eclipse cast its shadow over the land, strange creatures emerged from the darkness.
The potion I brewed in my cauldron had unforeseen consequences.
In the attic of the old mansion, I stumbled upon a chest filled with forgotten treasures.
The melody of the music box transported me to a realm of dreams and nightmares.
As I followed the trail of breadcrumbs through the forest, I stumbled upon a hidden cottage.
The ancient relic I discovered in the tomb held the power to change the course of history.
In the land of giants, I embarked on a quest to reclaim the stolen crown.

Grab your notebook, prepare to journey into the realms of fantasy, mystery, and adventure, and let these story starters ignite your imagination like never before.

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WEEKLY WRITING PROMPTS

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

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Your teacher tasks you with writing a story based on an eavesdropped conversation. when the story is published, your subject isn’t happy..

LIVE – Funny

A character overhears something at a black-tie event that puts the night in jeopardy.

LIVE – Mystery

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.

LIVE – Dialogue

Write a story about a child overhearing something they don’t understand.

LIVE – Kids

Write a story in which someone is afraid of being overheard.

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Write a story about a character driving and getting lost.

Write a story about a tennis match between two rivals., write a story that begins with someone dancing in a bar., write a story around someone (literally) bumping into someone else., write a story about a character running late for a job interview., subscribe to our prompts newsletter.

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Write a story titled 'Persuasion'.

Write a story titled 'the wind in the willows'., write a story titled 'desperate remedies'., write a story titled 'paradise lost'., write a story titled 'a tale of two cities'., write a narrative about a group of scientists exploring the deepest parts of the ocean., imagine a world where exploration is forbidden, and write a story about a character who defies this rule to satisfy their innate curiosity., center your story around a character’s personal exploration, whether it's trying a new hobby, visiting an unfamiliar place, or learning something completely new., set your story on a spaceship exploring the far reaches of space when something goes wrong., write a story in the form of diary entries, written by an explorer as they make their way through what they thought was an untouched location., win $250 in our short story competition 🏆.

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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.

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Character Writing Prompts ⭢

Christmas Writing Prompts ⭢

Dark Writing Prompts ⭢

Dialogue Writing Prompts ⭢

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ThinkWritten

365 Creative Writing Prompts

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

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

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

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

Here are 365 Creative Writing Prompts to Inspire:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

10. Friendship: Write about being friends with someone.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

57. Alarm Clock: Write about waking up.

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

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

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

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

62. Slip Up: Write about making mistakes.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

90. Green Thumb: Write about growing something.

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

92. Bug Catcher: Write about insects.

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

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

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

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

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

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

99. Seasonal: Write about your favorite season.

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

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

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

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

104. Vacation: Write about a vacation you took.

105. Heat: Write about being overheated and sweltering.

106. Spellbinding: Write a magic spell.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

162. Missing You: Write about someone you miss.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

182. Complain: Write about your complaints about something.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

197. Pirates: Write about a pirate ship.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

218. First Kiss: Write about your first kiss.

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

220. Limerick: Write a limerick today.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

242. Cheater: Write about someone who is unfaithful.

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

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

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

246. Peaceful: Write about something peaceful and serene.

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

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

249. Sonnet: Write a sonnet today.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

296. Cravings: Write about craving something.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

308. Robotic : Write about a robot.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

319. Determination: Write about not giving up.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

333. Banking: Write about visiting the bank.

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

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

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

337. Corporation: Write about big business.

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

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

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

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

342. Weakness: Write about your greatest weakness.

343. Starting: Write about starting a project.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

358. Picnic: Write about going on a picnic.

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

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

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

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

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

364. Trust: Write about putting trust in someone.

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

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

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

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

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60 Great Sentence Prompts for Writing Creative Stories

Are your students struggling with writing creative stories during your writing workshop ? Are they stuck for ideas and lacking inspiration? Look no further! In this article, we have compiled a list of 60 sentence prompts for writing compelling narratives.

Whether you’re a teacher looking to engage your students in a fun and interactive writing exercise, or a parent wanting to encourage your child’s storytelling abilities, these sentence prompts are perfect for you. From opening lines that will hook readers, to prompts that will challenge their descriptive skills, we’ve got you covered.

With our sentence prompts, students will have no trouble brainstorming ideas and developing their storytelling abilities. They will discover the joy of writing as they explore different plots, characters, and settings.

So, get ready to unleash your students’ creativity and watch as their writing skills improve. Whether you teach English, creative writing, or simply want to foster a love of storytelling, these 60 sentence prompts are a must-have resource. Let the storytelling begin!

girl using sentence prompts for opinion writing

Importance of Sentence Prompts in Creative Writing

Creative writing is an essential skill for students to develop, as it allows them to express their thoughts and emotions in a unique and imaginative way. However, many students often struggle with finding ideas and starting their stories. This is where story starters come in handy.

Sentence prompts for writing provide students with a starting point, a spark of inspiration, that helps them overcome the initial hurdle of writer’s block. By giving them a sentence to build upon, students are able to focus their creative energy on developing their ideas and crafting a compelling narrative.

Moreover, sentence prompts encourage students to think critically and creatively. They challenge students to come up with unique characters, interesting plots, and vivid settings for their short story. This process not only enhances their writing skills but also helps them develop their imagination and problem-solving abilities.

Benefits of Using Sentence Prompts in the Classroom

Using sentence prompts in the classroom offers a multitude of benefits for both teachers and students. Here are some of the key advantages:

Enhanced Creativity

Sentence prompts encourage students to think outside the box and explore new ideas. They inspire students to take risks and experiment with different writing styles, genres, and themes.

Improved Writing Skills

By providing students with a starting point, sentence prompts help them develop their writing skills. Students learn how to structure their stories, create engaging characters, and build suspenseful plots.

Increased Engagement

Writing can sometimes be seen as a tedious task by students. However, sentence prompts make the writing process more enjoyable and interactive. Students become invested in their stories and are motivated to write more.

Boosted Confidence

Writing can be intimidating for some students. Sentence prompts provide a sense of direction and support, boosting students’ confidence in their writing abilities. This increased confidence can have a positive impact on their overall academic performance.

Developed Critical Thinking

Sentence prompts require students to think critically and make decisions about their stories. They learn how to evaluate different options, make creative choices, and effectively communicate their ideas.

How to Effectively Use Sentence Prompts for Teaching Creative Writing

Now that we understand the importance and benefits of using creative writing prompts, let’s explore some strategies for effectively incorporating them into your teaching:

Introduce the Concept

Start by explaining to your students what sentence prompts are and how they can be used to enhance their creative writing. Discuss the purpose of sentence prompts and how they can help students overcome writer’s block.

Model the Process

Show your students how to use sentence prompts by providing them with a few examples. Walk them through the process of brainstorming ideas, developing a plot, and creating characters based on the given sentence prompt.

Encourage Discussion

Create a classroom environment that fosters collaboration and discussion. Allow students to share their thoughts and ideas based on the sentence prompts. This not only enhances their critical thinking skills but also encourages peer learning.

Provide Feedback

As students begin writing their stories, provide constructive feedback and guidance. Focus on the strengths of their narratives and offer suggestions for improvement. Encourage students to revise and edit their work based on your feedback.

Celebrate Success

Celebrate the achievements of your students by showcasing their stories. Create a bulletin board or a class anthology where students can display their work. This not only boosts their confidence but also inspires other students to participate.

60 Sentence Prompts for Writing Creative Stories

Now, let’s dive into the heart of this article – the 60 one-sentence writing prompts that will inspire your students to write creative stories. These prompts cover a wide range of genres, themes, and writing styles, ensuring that there is something for everyone. Encourage your students to choose a prompt that resonates with them and let their imaginations run wild.

Enchanted Discoveries

As the little girl tiptoed through the front door, she discovered an enchanted world beyond her wildest dreams.
In the cozy living room, a mysterious fortune cookie held the key to an extraordinary adventure for the best friends.
Little did they know that the icy fingers of winter would bring a magical surprise to the neighborhood.
The last time they explored the hidden attic, the siblings uncovered a treasure map leading to an unexpected journey.
A buzzing cell phone in the old bookstore sparked a friendship between two unlikely best friends.
When the little sister found a dusty old diary, she unlocked the secrets of a bygone era.
The front door creaked open, revealing a magical portal to a world where animals spoke and dreams came true.
Amidst the autumn leaves, a mysterious message on a cell phone led the friends to a forgotten time capsule.
As they gathered around the fireplace, the friends shared tales of their best adventures from summers past.
With a shared giggle, my best friend embarked on a quest to discover the meaning behind a peculiar message in a fortune cookie.
In the middle of the night, a little boy discovered an enchanted ice cream truck parked at the end of his street.

Sentence prompts for writing about adventure

Unexpected Adventures

The return address on the mysterious letter led to a thrilling adventure for our main character, a fourth-grader with a curious spirit.
It was the first time the entire family decided to embark on the roller coaster at the amusement park, creating memories that would last a lifetime.
The perfect vacation unfolded for a group of friends when they stumbled upon a hidden treasure map while exploring the beach.
A great way to learn about history was through the tales told by the wise and humorous great uncle during family gatherings.
In a small town, the main character’s life took an unexpected turn when a magical talking pet joined the family.
Excitement filled the air as the little boy eagerly waited for the arrival of the ice cream truck on his street for the very first time.
Underneath the stars, a mysterious portal opened, transporting our main character to a world where dreams came to life in the middle of the night.
The return address on the old letter led to the discovery of a hidden attic filled with forgotten family treasures.
Exploring the amusement park’s magical realms became a great way for a group of friends to bond during their perfect vacation.

Magical Moments in Small Towns

From the topmost window of the highest tower, a curious young student spotted a magical creature playing in the enchanted garden below.
On a lazy Saturday, the cab driver discovered a mysterious key that unlocked the wardrobe doors to a world of unexpected adventures.
The most important thing for the young artist was finding a way to bring their imaginative creations to life through the magic hidden behind the wardrobe doors.
Next door neighbors, who had never met before, became fast friends when they realized a shared love for gardening during their free time.
Family members gathered in the cozy living room, sharing stories and laughter as they discovered an old photo album tucked away in the attic.
Independent work became an exciting journey for the young scientist when they stumbled upon a secret laboratory hidden behind the wardrobe doors in their room.
Whole days were dedicated to exploring the wonders of nature as the young students embarked on a school project to create a community garden.
The most important thing for the aspiring chef was experimenting with new recipes during their free time, turning the kitchen into a culinary playground.
Young students in the small town discovered that their next door neighbours had a surprising talent for storytelling, making every evening a delightful adventure.
A family member’s unexpected gift of a telescope led the young astronomer to the topmost window of the highest tower, where they explored the mysteries of the night sky.
In their small town, a group of kindergarten students had a good idea to turn the vacant lot into a vibrant community garden.
On a chilly afternoon, a strange old man appeared with a great tool, offering to help repair the loud crash that had startled the entire neighborhood.
The cold pavement outside the library became a canvas for the young artists to create chalk masterpieces, capturing their best thing about the changing seasons.
A mysterious photo album discovered in the attic unveiled the family history, sparking the kindergarten students’ interest in their ancestors.
Excitement filled the air when the favorite book of the town’s beloved author mysteriously disappeared, leading the young detectives to solve the literary mystery.
Independent reading time became the best thing for the young bookworms, as they delved into the adventures hidden within the pages of their favorite books.
The small town was abuzz with curiosity as the kindergarten students organized a loud crash of pots and pans to create their own impromptu band.
A great tool, in the form of a community bulletin board, became the hub for sharing good ideas and upcoming events among the close-knit neighbours.
The strange old man, a traveling storyteller, visited the small town, captivating the kindergarten students with tales of magical lands and mythical creatures.
Cold pavement couldn’t dampen the spirits of the young athletes, who discovered the best thing about winter – turning the town square into an impromptu ice-skating rink.

Creative Endeavors

On the first day of school, a group of friends brainstormed the best way to turn the plain classroom wall into a vibrant mural.
While exploring the cruise ship, the young adventurer stumbled upon a metal mask that seemed to hold the key to a hidden treasure.
In the grocery store, the curious young detective found the right place to unveil a secret passage leading to a mysterious world.
A hot air balloon ride became the best way for the group of friends to see their favorite animal-shaped clouds from a magical perspective.
The tiny dragon, discovered on the side of the ship during a family cruise, became the unexpected hero in a quest to save the lost passengers.
On a great time-traveling adventure, the young scientists realized that a simple grocery store list held the key to returning to their own time.
The right place to learn about constellations turned out to be on the side of the ship, where the stargazing club gathered every evening during the cruise.
A mysterious message led the young explorers to the top deck of the cruise ship, where they found a hot air balloon waiting to take them on a thrilling journey.
It was the best way to spend a lazy afternoon as the group of friends built a metal mask together, each contributing to its unique design.
On the first day of their camping trip, the young nature enthusiasts discovered a tiny dragon that seemed to be the guardian of the enchanted forest.

Whimsical Tales

As the old, creaky door of the mysterious house swung open, Lucy couldn’t believe her eyes – a talking cat greeted her inside!
In the enchanted forest, where every tree whispered secrets, a mischievous squirrel stole a wizard’s wand and chaos ensued.
With a puff of glittery smoke, a magical pen appeared on Emily’s desk, promising to bring anything she drew to life.
The little robot named Sparky discovered a map hidden in the attic, leading to a treasure buried by aliens centuries ago.
On the first day of school, Max realized he had the extraordinary ability to read his teacher’s mind – but it wasn’t always as fun as it seemed.
In a land made entirely of candy, Mia found herself in a sticky situation when she accidentally stepped into the molasses marsh.
As the clock struck midnight, Jake’s toy dinosaur came to life, and together, they embarked on a quest to find the missing piece of the cosmic puzzle.
Deep in the ocean, Sammy the seashell collector stumbled upon a mysterious portal that transported him to a bustling city of mermaids.
Amelia’s kite took an unexpected turn and soared into a cloud filled with giggling clouds that loved to play games.
When the rainbow-colored umbrella opened, Sam found himself floating above the city, where friendly birds offered to guide him on a magical journey.

Assessing Student Progress and Growth in Creative Writing

Assessing student progress in creative writing can be challenging, as it involves evaluating subjective elements such as imagination and storytelling ability. However, here are some strategies to effectively assess student growth:

Student using sentence prompts to write creative stories

Develop a rubric that outlines the key elements of creative writing, such as plot development, character creation, and descriptive language. Use this rubric to provide feedback and assess student work.

Portfolio Assessment

Create a portfolio system where students can compile their best pieces of writing throughout the year. This allows you to track their progress over time and provide feedback on their growth.

Peer Evaluation

Incorporate peer evaluation into the assessment process. Have students read and provide feedback on each other’s stories. This not only develops their critical thinking skills but also helps them learn from their peers.

Conferencing

Schedule one-on-one conferences with students to discuss their writing progress. During these conferences, provide feedback, set goals, and offer guidance for improvement.

Incorporating Sentence Prompts into a Larger Writing Curriculum

Sentence prompts can be used as a standalone activity or integrated into a larger writing curriculum . Here are some ways to incorporate sentence prompts into your teaching:

Warm-up Exercises

Start each writing session with a sentence prompt as a warm-up activity. This will help students get into the writing mindset and stimulate their creativity.

Writing Centers

Create writing centers where students can choose a sentence prompt and work on their stories independently. This allows for differentiated instruction and encourages autonomy.

Literature Connections

Connect sentence prompts to literature studies by using prompts that relate to the themes or characters in the books being read. This helps students make meaningful connections between their writing and the literature they are studying.

Collaborative Writing

Assign group projects where students work together to write a story based on a sentence prompt. This promotes teamwork, cooperation, and the sharing of ideas.

Final Thoughts on Using Sentence Prompts in the Classroom

In conclusion, sentence prompts are a valuable tool for teaching students to write creative stories. They provide a starting point, inspire imagination, and help students overcome writer’s block. By incorporating sentence prompts into your teaching, you can enhance students’ creativity, improve their writing skills, and foster a love of storytelling.

Remember to celebrate your students’ successes, provide constructive feedback, and encourage originality in their writing. With the power of sentence prompts, you can unleash your students’ creativity and watch as their writing abilities flourish. So, go ahead, choose a prompt, and let the storytelling begin!

You can find more writing resources for elementary grammar and writing h ere .

How to Run a Writing Workshop in Elementary

60 Fun Opinion Writing Prompts for Elementary

35 Awesome Fairy Tale Writing Prompts for Kids

50 Fun Wacky Wednesday Classroom Ideas for School

25 Great Mentor Sentence Examples to Use For Grammar

The Top Homeschool Elementary Writing Curriculum

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Here are Some Really Good Sentence Starters for Creative Writing

So, your head is chock-a-block with ideas, and yet you're struggling to begin your story. No cause for worry, as it happens to most of us. Instead, read this Penlighten post - it has some amazing ideas to get your creative juices flowing.

So, your head is chock-a-block with ideas, and yet you’re struggling to begin your story. No cause for worry, as it happens to most of us. Instead, read this Penlighten post – it has some amazing ideas to get your creative juices flowing.

“The scariest moment is always just before you start.” ― Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft

Master storyteller that he is, Stephen King was gracious enough to admit that a writer tends to dread the moment when he actually begins writing any piece―this can be a bit of a make-or-break kind of a situation. A flying start tends to set the tone of the work, all positive, of course, whereas an unsure start only leads to the doomed path of redrafts.

You may have the entire concept of your story or essay in mind, but when it comes to the actual act of putting pen to paper, the enthusiasm tends to deflate a little. A rather strange phenomenon, this, and it wouldn’t be wrong to say that most writers, at some point, have encountered this experience.

To our fellow budding writers, we’re offering a helping hand by providing a few sample starts to get that creativity rolling, followed by a little inspiration from the stalwarts of the business.

Sample Sentence Starters for Fiction

Fiction writing is a boundless category, and each author has his preferred style of beginning a story or a novel. It is obvious that the beginning of a story depends on the overall plot, but there are times when you can use all the inspiration you need to get the start you were looking for. Therefore, we’ve included 5 ideas you can use in your starter, along with 3 examples for each.

Describe the weather

► The warm Californian sunshine hit her face as she stepped outside for the first time as a free woman.

► It had been raining nonstop for the past six days.

► The night sky was exceptionally clear tonight.

Introduce a character

► Daniel hated reunions and all the fake camaraderie.

► Edie Brent’s gruesome murder made it to the front page of the New York Times.

► Alison loved to keep secrets.

Talk about the city

► The streets of London come alive during the Holidays.

► Springtime is the best time to be in New York.

► Rio de Janeiro was where his dreams were.

Add a little suspense

► Walking home in the dead of the night was not new to Carol, but tonight felt different.

► The key clicked in the lock as Alan opened the door to his apartment. Everything seemed to be in place, and yet, something wasn’t right.

► It was 3 a. m. and there was no sign of Tim. He always called to tell if he was getting late. Why hadn’t he called?

And some drama

► How do you react when you’re told that you have a mere hours left to live?

► Prom queen and head cheerleader, Jessica always loved to be the center of attention.

► “Get the hell out of my life!”, screamed Karen at the top of her lungs.

Sentence Starters for Formal Essays

Middle school and high school students have to draft varied writing assignments, including persuasive essays, arguments, and narratives. In case of essays, particularly, the kind of start you make depends entirely on the topic at hand. However, formal essays or presentations need to begin in a certain manner. We’ve listed a few examples here:

► (The topic) has fostered a debate on …

► There is growing support for the notion that …

► The data gathered in the study strongly suggests that …

► The focus of discussion in this paper is …

► The premise of (the topic) seems to be based on …

► Latest research corroborates the view that …

Learn from the Greats

Who doesn’t seek inspiration from the masters of the field? Agreed, we all do. Therefore, we’ve brought you a list of the first sentences of some of the most iconic novels ever written.

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. ― Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. ― Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina

It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. ― George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four

Call me Ishmael. ― J. M. Barrie, Peter Pan

Mr and Mrs Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much. ― J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

It was inevitable: the scent of bitter almonds always reminded him of the fate of unrequited love. ― Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Love in the Time of Cholera

These sample sentence starters ought to have helped you get over your dry spell. Getting the right start is crucial when it comes to creative writing, and you need to give it your all to bring it up to standard.

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Writing Prompts By Genre: 250+ Creative Writing Prompts For Book Ideas

POSTED ON Apr 12, 2023

Written by Angelica Hartgers

Writing prompts are powerful vessels for jumpstarting your creativity, and planting the seed for your next book idea.

Dealing with writer’s block or self-doubt as a writer ? Experiencing a creative rut? Looking to improve your writing development? Experimenting with a new genre? Stuck on finding a book idea? Looking for your author voice?

No matter which of those situations you are struggling with as a writer, you might find your answer in some creative writing prompts.

These original writing prompts can be categorized in nonfiction and fiction groups. There's a long list of genres you could write within. And here, you'll find creative writing prompt topics for nearly all of them!

Here are the best creative writing prompts for writers to use:

Business Writing Prompts
Self-Help Writing Prompts
Memoir Writing Prompts
Health & Fitness Writing Prompts
Family & Relationships Writing Prompts
Horror/Thriller Creative Writing Prompts
Romance Creative Writing Prompts
Mystery Creative Writing Prompts
Sci-Fi Creative Writing Prompts
Fantasy Creative Writing Prompts
Historical Fiction Creative Writing Prompts
Sentence Starters Creative Prompts

What are writing prompts?

Writing prompts are story-starters that are used as a guided learning or creativity exercise to help writers get started with a new idea or story.

Often used in an educational setting for students learning to practice writing specific genres, creative writing prompts are also used by advanced writers and authors who are experiencing writer’s block or are in need of inspiration.

Writing prompts are designed to get people to think, by providing a starting place for a story premise or book idea, which can be further developed using the writer’s own imagination and creativity.

There are many benefits to using creative writing prompts as a frequent writing exercise, both for seasoned writers and those just starting out.

Here are some benefits to using writing prompts:

Fight writer’s block. Next time you don’t know what to write about, or aren’t able to produce any writing for your current work-in-progress, try your hand at a writing prompt.
Guide your inspiration. Writing prompts often help writers discover new topics by allowing them to start a story from the prompt, and finish it in their own way. Writing prompts can also inspire deviations from the story, or additional writing material, that the author can tap into.
Identify new genres. Sometimes it’s beneficial to try your hand at a genre you’re not used to writing in. It can help you discover a topic you never knew you might enjoy, or it can further solidify your strength in your current genre. Either way, it’s good to get out of your comfort zone.
Jumpstart a book idea. Writing prompts can incite a new story or book idea for you. If you’re having trouble figuring out what to write a book about, experiment with some writing prompts and see if anything sticks.
Improve writing development. Part of improving your writing craft has to do with experimenting – especially when you’re in a writing rut. Dabbling in new genres, practicing how to show and not tell , and using writing prompts you’d never think to write about, can also help you identify opportunities to strengthen your writing, and increase your versatility as a writer.
Sharpen creative skills. Creative writing prompts help you hone in on your creative skills. By starting with a story idea from a writing prompt, you’re forced to develop the story through your own imagination and creativity.
Practice poetry. Sometimes, a great way to get the creative juices flowing is to write some poetry. You don't need to put it out into the world (though you might find yourself looking up how and where to publish poetry after!), but it can help you with your prose.
Experiment with tone. There are many different tones in writing , and it can take years to establish your own as an author. Writing prompts can help you arrive there quicker!

How to use creative writing prompts

The process of using a writing prompt is loose, as they are designed to be used in a way that benefits you as the writer most.

You can be as structured, or as flexible as you choose when using one of our writing prompts. That means you can start with a writing prompt, think of your own premise for the story, and get to writing your own detailed account. Or, you can use all of the details given in the writing prompt, and answer the prompt exactly as you see fit. It’s up to you!

However, if you’re not sure where to start, and need some beginner’s guidelines, there are a few tips we can provide.

Here’s how to use creative writing prompts:

Use pen and paper. If you’re struggling with writing block, I encourage you to use pen and paper to really get your creative juices flowing.
Choose a writing prompt. Read through some possible creative writing prompts, taking note of any that spark your imagination. Then, you can choose which one calls out to you most. Alternatively, if you’re having trouble deciding, you can choose a random writing prompt and challenge yourself to write about
Pick and choose your own details. Some writing prompts include specific details to incorporate in your story. Don’t feel boxed in by your writing prompt; if you want to omit certain details or events and replace them with your own creative idea, feel free to do so.
Time your writing. Once you have a prompt chosen, set a timer for 15-20 minutes and challenge yourself to not stop writing until the timer goes off. This will prevent you from overthinking the prompt, and will ensure you stay focused.
Expand your own ideas. Use the writing prompt as a seed for your story, but develop it in your own creative way. The key to successfully using a creative writing prompt is to help your own brainstorming process, so it’s okay if you veer off from the writing prompt and take a different direction with your story and characters. You can even use character bio templates to expand your own ideas.

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Nonfiction writing prompts.

If you're on the hunt for the best nonfiction writing prompts to exercise your creativity and help you brainstorm some book ideas to write a nonfiction book , then start with this category.

Here, you'll find a variety of nonfiction topics, from business and self-help, to relationships, wellness, and memoir topics.

Business Writing Prompts

Write about the biggest lesson you’ve learned in business.
Write about how you have failed in business, and how you overcame that failure.
Write about the biggest mistake you made in your industry, and what you learned about it.
Write about how your industry can impact lives across the world.
Write about the top authorities in your industry and what you can learn from them.
Write about how you got started in your industry, and how others can learn from your process.
Write about industry secrets that can help other people grow their authority.
Write about how businesses in your industry can maximize their profits.
Write about what you’ve learned in your industry, and educate readers on how to
Write about opportunities for innovation in your industry.
Write about the top qualities an authority in your industry must have to succeed.
Write about the top issues in your industry, and how readers can avoid them.
Write about how to empower others in your industry, and why it’s important.
Write about the future of your industry, and how readers can adapt to the changes.
Write about the history of your industry, and how it has shaped the present and how it will shape the future.
Write about a major time period in your industry’s progression, and the lessons from that time that can be learned and applied today.
Write about common fears in your industry, and how others can overcome them.
Write about the common stressors in your industry, and how others can manage this.
Write about a time when you had to start over in your career, and the lessons you learned that can help readers.
Write about how to generate ideas in your industry.
Write about how to be a better leader in the workplace.
Write about the importance of company culture, especially in our digital age.
Write about the secrets to sustainability in your industry.
Write about decision making in your industry, and how others can make better decisions.
Write about the habits of authority figures in your industry, and what others can learn from them.
Write about the failures of authority figures in your industry, and what others can learn from them.
Write about the successes of authority figures in your industry, and what others can learn from them.
Write about the key to productivity in your industry.
Write about the key to creativity in your industry.
Write about the key to working smarter in your industry.
Write about how to think big, and when to think small, in your industry.
Write about what you wish you knew now when you first started in your career.
Write about setting up a successful atmosphere to thrive in your industry.
Write about something big you accomplished in your career, and share your blueprint for success.
Write about developing a team, and how to successfully work with others.

Self-Help Writing Prompts

Want to know how to write a self-help book ? Start with these prompts:

Write about a time when you had to start over in your life, and what you learned from that.
Write about why it’s important to break the rules in life sometimes.
Write about how to generate creative ideas.
Write about the secrets to gaining unshakeable self-confidence.
Write about the secrets to gaining lasting happiness.
Write about the secrets to developing laser-focus in work and life.
Write about the secrets to living a regret-free life.
Write about the secrets to creating lasting love.
Write about the power of forgiveness, and how others can tap into this.
Write about the power of gratitude, and how to apply it to daily life.
Write about critical thinking, and strategies for improving critical thinking skills.
Write about how to reduce everyday stress and anxiety with practical tips.
Write about effective communication, and how others can communicate more clearly.
Write about your creativity process, and include strategies for how to be more creative.
Write about the secrets to a successful relationship, and how anyone can be a better partner.
Write about how to stay disciplined, and why most people fail at self-discipline.
Write about society’s hustle culture, and why working hard is good or bad.
Write about your favorite country or travel destination, and what you’ve learned from the people and culture.
Write about the key to being a more productive person, and how it can transform others’ lives.
Write about finding your passion, and how others can discover their purpose.
Write about the power of positive self talk, and how others can implement it in their daily life.
Write about dealing with anxiety.
Write about dealing with change.
Write about creating an atmosphere of peace.
Write about controlling the controllables for happiness.
Write about controlling the controllables for peace.
Write about something a big goal you’ve accomplished, and share your blueprint for success.
Write about finding inspiration, and teach others how they can find it, too.
Write about how to better understand the people in your life.
Write about the art of simplicity in life, and how others can benefit from it.
Write about decision-making and the best practices for making big and small decisions in life.
Write about the power of tapping into your imagination, and why it’s so important for people, including adults.
Write about the importance of truth, and how others can be more honest with themselves and the people in their life.
Write about dealing with life transitions, and strategies to improve adaptability when things change and its out of your control.
Write about how to regain control in your life, and what to do when you’ve hit rock bottom.
Write about finding your identity, and how people in your niche can discover themselves again.
Write about the purpose of life.
Write about how an individual can increase their confidence.
Write about how the fear of rejection has been holding you back and what action you can take consistently everyday to break this fear.
Write about 7 daily habits that can increase your self esteem and make you feel unbreakable.

29 Memoir Prompts

Write about a big goal you’ve accomplished, and share your blueprint for success.
Write about a major time when you had to start over in your life, and what you learned from that.
Write about the greatest lesson you’ve learned so far in life, and how others can learn from your life.
Write about one of your biggest regrets, and teach others going through the same thing how to deal with it.
Write about the most difficult decision you’ve ever had to make, and what you’ve learned from that process.
Write about a traumatic experience in your life, and how you have dealt with it.
Write about a time you failed, and how you were able to rise up.
Write about a major event in your childhood, and how that shaped you as an adult.
Write about the saddest time in your life, and encourage others who are going through similar situations.
Write about the happiest time in your life, and the greatest thing that moment has taught you.
Write about the most influential people in your life, and how they helped shape the person you have become.
Write about how you have developed self-love, and why it’s important to have a relationship with yourself first.
Write about your journey towards self-discovery, and share tips with others who are lost.
Write about a time you lost your way in life, and what helped you find your path again.
Write about your spirituality and beliefs, and how you can share your message with others.
Write about the biggest heartbreak you experienced, and what it’s taught you about love and life.
Write about the time you broke someone else’s heart, and what it’s taught you about loving others.
Write about a time you experienced compassion, and share how others can be more compassionate in their own life.
Write about the biggest self-defining moment in your life thus far, and how you’ve developed from the experience.
Write about your biggest accomplishment, and how its helped you banish self-defeating thoughts and behavior.
Write about a toxic relationship you had, and how you were able to overcome it.
Write about an influential travel experience in your life, and what it taught you about yourself and others.
Write about the town you grew up in, and how it’s shaped your perspective on life.
Write about how you were raised, and what you learned from the people that raised you.
Write about a significant historical event you lived through, and what others can learn from your experience.
Write about your life’s journey from where you were ten years ago to how you arrived to this point today, and, the most important lesson you have learned on the way.
Write about five life lessons you believe everyone should practice/follow.
There is an experience from your past that has always held you back from thriving in life. Write about what this experience is, and if you were to overcome your trauma, how could you lead the life you've been dreaming of?
There is a saying: “You are the sum of the five people you spend most of your time with.” Write about the people you spend your time with and how they influence your life on a day to day basis.

29 Health & Fitness Prompts

Write about emotional health: what it means, why it’s important, and how.
Write about a time you were very unhealthy, and how you were able to transform yourself.
Write about the secrets to dieting.
Write about diet culture fads, and why they do or do not work.
Write about the idea of health, and how people can shift their priorities to be more healthy both mentally and physically.
Write about the taboo around mental health, and how we can change this mindset as a society.
Write about your struggles with mental health, and help others with what you’ve learned.
Write about your struggles with physical health, and help others struggling with the same thing.
Write about what health and wellness means to you, and share your perspectives with others.
Write about the power of superfoods, and how they can positively affect health.
Write about the health practices in a different country.
Write about an ancient health practice, and what we can learn from it today.
Write about the medicinal properties of certain foods and plants.
Write about how to break free from unhealthy habits.
Write about food production practices, and how they affect the quality of what we eat.
Write about health in children, and how to raise health-conscious individuals.
Write about raising a healthy family while balancing a busy life
Write about a time your health was impacted, and how the experience transformed your life
Write about a time someone you love experienced health issues, and how the experience changed that person’s life, as well as your own
Write about a time you felt unhappy with your health. What did you do to change your mindset?
Write about body acceptance, and how societal expectations affects our mindset.
Write about the influence of culture on health, and how it affects a group of people differently.
Write about a harmful everyday practice, how it affects our health, and what we can do to change it.
Write about dealing with mental health on an everyday basis, and help others understand how to be more compassionate.
Write about the idea of health, and what contributing factors affect our perspectives.
Identify a distraction that is wasting your time and causing you to be very unproductive. Write about your plan to eliminate this distraction from your life, and the positive impact it will have.
Internal dialogue is powerful in developing positivity. Identify your negative internal dialogue and write out your new, positive dialogue to communicate to yourself.
Write out seven ways you can practice self care and why this is important to you.
Write about how vulnerability is keeping you scared. Then, write down an action step to overcome this fear.

40 Family & Relationships

Write about how to build character in your children.
Write about teaching children how to practice self-love.
Write about strategies parents can use to instill healthy habits in their children.
Write about the secrets to balancing discipline and friendship as a parent
Write about the concept of soulmates, and why the idea is helpful or harmful in our society.
Write about how to find friends as an adult.
Write about the importance of having a support group.
Write about the dangers of toxic parenthood.
Write about the dangers of toxic relationships.
Write about the dangers of toxic friendships.
Write about the power of compassion in marriage.
Write about the importance of compromise in relationships.
Write about dealing with heartbreak and starting over.
Write about the idea of dating in the digital age.
Write about co-dependence and why its toxic.
Write about breaking up with a friend, and why it’s necessary sometimes.
Write about disciplining children in a positive way.
Write about instilling a positive mindset in the youth.
Write about developing your child’s uniqueness.
Write about the struggles in parenthood and how to stay sane.
Write about the beauty in parenthood and how to make it last, even when your children are being difficult.
Write about sibling rivalry and how to cultivate a healthier sibling relationship.
Write about how to be a better parent.
Write about how to be a better daughter/son to an aging parent.
Write about how to be a better friend.
Write about dealing with the loss of a loved one.
Write about your journey to find love and what you’ve discovered along the way.
Write about developing healthy and nurturing relationships.
Write about the importance of self-confidence in finding love.
Write about the importance of self-esteem in developing healthy relationships.
Write about the importance of mindset on the search for love.
Write about the role self-awareness plays in being a better parent.
Write about the importance of communication in relationships.
Write about the red flags in a failing relationship, and how to save it before it’s too late.
Write about the idea of being single, and how to embrace it in a society that does not.
Write about the idea of finding the perfect partner, and how this perspective can affect our ability to find someone.
Write about falling in love, and how to keep the fire alive in a relationship.
Write about the importance of expectations in relationships.
Write about disagreements in friendships, and how to overcome and learn from them.
Write about different styles of parenting, and how to identify which type you are.

Fiction Creative Writing Prompts

Now it's time for the creative fun. Use these fiction creative writing prompts to explore new genres, practice your creative writing development using literary device examples , and get inspired to venture off into a new fiction story.

These fiction writing prompts are categorized based on genre, so you'll find topics for horror or thriller stories, romance writing prompts, historical fiction topics, Sci-Fi and fantasy prompts, and story starters.

While we provide the prompts, it's up to you to expand on your own ideas, create exciting plot twists, and fully develop your elements of setting and characters.

16 Horror/Thriller Prompts

Write about your last nightmare.
A couple is awoken at the witching hour (3 AM) by three forceful bangs at their front door. When they call aloud to see who's there, no one answers, but a demonic snarl can be heard from outside.
Waking up from a slumber with eyes still closed, your character stretches their arms out, only to hit a cold body next to them. They live alone.
You made a late night trip to the gas station, and it’s pouring down rain as you stand outside in the empty parking lot, holding the nozzle to pump gas. Suddenly, a hearse pulls up slowly next to your car, and when you glance over, all you can see is bright red eyes glaring at you from the driver’s seat.
Your character just finished the night shift at work. As they walk through the empty parking lot towards their car, its eerily silent and they can’t help but feel like someone is watching them. The hairs on your character’s arms start to stand up, even though it’s a relatively warm night. Your character quickly jumps into their car, starts the engine, and begins to drive home. As they look up into the rearview mirror, a sinister, smiling face appears behind them.
Two kids venture off into the woods behind their neighborhood, scouting for a place to build their tree house. Before long, they see the streetlights of their neighborhood come on in the distance, which is a sign that it's time to head back home. As they gather their belongings to make the trek back home, they hear a twig snap behind them, and a guttural voice whisper, “You can’t leave yet – the fun’s only just begun.”
Ten thousand dollars to own a 3 bedroom cabin? It was a once-in-a-lifetime deal, that you, as a new real estate investor, just couldn’t pass up. But in order to secure your purchase quickly, you had to skip the house tour. Now that the home was purchased by you, it was time to start the renovations. But first, you had to do an in-depth survey of the house to see exactly what work needed to be done. As you enter the creaky, old home, a rancid smell fills your nostrils and in the dark, dusty corner of the entryway, you notice a large, fat rat chewing boldly on a piece of bloody flesh.
‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house. There was a creature stirring, but it wasn’t a mouse…Write about a holiday visitor who isn’t jolly or nice, and who brings gifts nobody would ever dare to ask for.
A young family on vacation joins an excursion to a beautiful, remote beach. As they run into the ocean to splash around, they notice something dark lurks in the water, and it doesn’t look like a creature that belongs on Earth.
Choose a scary story that you were told as a child, and add your own frightening twist.
After a lifetime of waiting, your character has finally found the love of their life. But things turn sinister when one night, your character discovers that their new-found love must eat raw human flesh in order to stay alive.
Her mind was racing, but she knew she had to conceal her fear. As she turned to face him, she noticed his eyes. They were colorless, and taunted her without saying a word.
They weren’t raised to believe in ghosts, ghouls, or demons, but the darkness that began to possess their once-loving father couldn’t be explained any other way. It all happened after he brought home the newest novelty for his antique collection: an 18th century wooden cross, said to belong to a woman that was tortured and hung for committing witchcraft.
Vampires, werewolves, and witches. He knew they were the stuff of fiction, or at least, he thought he knew, until tonight.
It’s time to put your nine-year-old to bed. As you tuck the child in, pulling the blankets over her shoulders, you can’t help but notice the fear in her eyes. Concerned, you ask her what’s going on. “She visits me every time I fall asleep. Can’t you make her stop?” she whispered in fear. When you probe your child for more details on who this woman is, and what she looks like, your blood turns to ice. She sounds exactly like the woman from the nightmares that plagued your own childhood.
It was love at first sight – for her, anyway. After years of being single, and sought after by all the eligible bachelors in town, everyone was surprised when Mr. Ezra came in, seemingly out of nowhere, to swoop her off her feet. He was tall, dark, and handsome, and everything she always dreamed of finding in a man. After a brief two weeks of dating, she announced that they had wed in secret. Not only that, but she would be leaving town with him, to start a new life. Little did they know that they would never see her again. Little did she know that the man of her dreams would soon become the man of her nightmares. And he was dead set on making her wish she’d never been born.

15 Romance Creative Prompts

An exchange student goes to a foreign country to live for a year abroad, with high goals to learn the language and culture. Little does she know, she’s actually there to learn a lesson on love, from none other than a foreign classmate who has a strong distaste for outsiders like her.
Your character is widowed, left to raise two young children on his/her own. When it’s least expected, someone from the past comes back into their life. But things aren’t all that they seem, and falling in love again is the last thing on her to-do list.
A restless man going through a midlife crisis. A free-spirited woman ready to embrace graceful aging. They butt heads often, but can’t seem to leave each other alone for good. Can they survive through something that threatens to tear them apart forever?
They were childhood friends that hardly left their small hometown, and now they are distant strangers that live in two opposite parts of the world. When a tragedy calls them back home, they feel like they never left each other. How do they hold on to one another when they live two very separate lives?
It’s the day before their second marriage anniversary. As he’s making plans to celebrate, he gets a call from his doctor with news that will change their lives forever.
Years of heartbreak and relationship failures have left her disillusioned with the idea of love. But one chance meeting with someone new makes her question her ideology forever.
He’s a serial dater that enjoys the chase. She’s a serious achiever with a distaste for men like him. What happens when their two worlds collide?
She’s carefully designed her life’s milestones, and is dead set on sticking to her plan. When she meets the man of her dreams and marries him after two years of maintaining a long distance relationship, she’s in for an earth-shattering awakening that not even she could prepare for.
She’s a successful powerhouse business owner. He’s a humble trades worker who’s never been to college (and has no desire to ever do so). What started out as a temporary fling for fun has turned into a passionate love affair. But what happens when things settle down, and their everyday lives go on?
As the caretaker of their ailing parent, who has no one else in the world to rely on, your character has put their life aspirations on hold to uphold their family duty. So what happens when love comes knocking on their door unexpectedly?
They were childhood sweethearts that grew up together, and have been inseparable ever since. Now that they have entered the next chapter as adults, their family and friends have urged them to get married. But the night before the wedding, the couple suddenly realizes that they are no longer in love. Where do they go from here?
Rich man, poor girl. It’s a story as old as time, but what happens when there’s a modern twist to it?
A young couple is ready to welcome their first child into the world, when a violent war suddenly ravages their town. The young man is forced away to defend his country, and the pregnant young woman is left to face the harsh winter alone. How can they keep their love alive?
She’s never been in love, but she’s plagued by vivid memories and dreams of a man who seems so familiar, only she’s never met him. Could she have a lover from a past life that haunts her from another dimension?
Think of a famous love story that’s always intrigued you. It could be from history, or from your own experience. Now imagine a new ending for it, and write your own version of the story with a twist.

10 Mystery Prompts

The crystal clear blue waters. The bright green foliage. The black sand beach. This would be the last thing she saw before she died, and no one would ever know.
He went missing twelve years ago. He was just a boy, then. After years of searching for him to no avail, his parents – now in their old age – have succumbed to hopelessness and heartbreak. That is, until a visitor arrives on their doorstep in the pouring rain one stormy night. The visitor looks like their son, but something is very, very different…
Your character goes for an evening stroll every night after dinner. She passes by each of her neighbors homes down the quiet street, until she gets to a fork in the road and turns back around. Only tonight, she goes on her usual walk, and decides to take a left at the fork instead of turning around. What she discovers is sure to wake the sleepy small town from their slumber.
A high profile lawyer on the hunt for justice, he’s adamant about defending his client, accused of committing a crime no mother could ever commit. Or can she?
She’s an experienced detective with years under belt, solving the city’s most horrific crimes. As she digs deep on the trail of one of the most sinister serial killers she’s ever dealt with, she begins uncovering some details that brings the case too close to home.
Research your favorite unexplained mystery, then re-write the story with your own twist and turn of events.
Your character is on a mission to discover the truth about his/her birth parents, two people s/he has been shielded from ever knowing any details about. On a quest to self-discovery, your character learns the truth, and it can be summed up in three words: Murder, lust, and greed. Write about your character’s journey towards discovering where they came from, and the shocking truth they learn along the way.
Today is your birthday. You wake up, ready to celebrate with your family and friends, but things get weird when you discover that the year you thought it was, doesn’t seem to be right.
You are house sitting for your best friend, who you’ve known your entire life. One quiet evening, you rummage through the library in search of a good book. Instead, you find a chest of photos that piques your interest. The chest is full of old photographs featuring your best friend, dressed in old attire and surrounded by people from long, long ago.
While driving home in the pouring rain one night, you spot a young girl, dressed in all white, on the side of the deserted highway. You pull over to give her a ride home, but she doesn’t know who she is, why she’s here, or where’s she going.

11 Sci-Fi Creative Writing Prompts

Earth is dissolving, and it’s up to you to get all of the remaining human children to the new “home” for humans – a newly inhabited planet that mimics Earth’s environment. The issue? The planet is twice as small as Earth, which means there is only room for half of the children in the spacecraft you’ve been given.
Your character is a scientist for NASA, and is on the edge of developing a cutting-edge breakthrough technology that will allow humans to be transported to space in half the time. The only problem is, the process ages humans twice as fast…
The sun burns too bright, causing people to go blind the moment they catch a glimpse of the sun’s rays. This means that humans have learned to avoid the sun, living out their days in protective pods to shield them from the sun. But now, there’s a plague that’s quickly spreading amongst the population, and there seems to be only one cure: a look at the sun.
You live in a futuristic world, almost 300 years from present day. Technology has taken its toll on evolution, and the only way to communicate with other humans is through a digital screen.
The world as we know it is over, and you’re the leader of this new era. Decide how you want to rule society, and what type of world you will create.
Your character starts the day off like any other day. She wakes up, brushes her teeth, then walks into her closet to get dressed for work. Only today, she opens her closet door to find a wide-eyed woman standing there, dripping wet as if she has been rained on. She says her planet is at war, and she has been sent to bring you back home with her, for you are the only one with the power to save her people.
Research one of Earth’s unknown mysteries or conspiracy theories. Now, re-write it through the lens of someone who knows all the answers, and has a powerful reason for keeping it all a secret…
Virtual reality meets the real world. You live in a society where there’s a fine line between who is actually a real person, and who is not.
Your character is an expert researcher that’s been chosen to lead a submarine journey to the bottom of the Mariana Trench, the deepest part of the ocean. Uninhabitable by humans, the team witnesses sea life that’s never before been seen by man. But things take a turn for the worst when they realize a massive creature has claimed a death grip on their submarine vessel.
You’ve been given the task to create the perfect species, but in your effort to do so through multiple experiments, you’ve given life to an army of children who are far from perfect.
You’re exiled to a new planet, and you can only take 3 people with you. Who do you take and why?

12 Fantasy Writing Prompts

An expert diver, your character takes a trip to a remote island to explore all the underwater sights he’s read all about in books and documentaries. When he takes a diving excursion to a cave known for its colorful color, exotic fish schools, and vivid sea foliage, he stumbles upon a secret cave door. What it leads to is a bustling seaworld that’s quite literally, straight out of a storybook.
A device has been invented that can solve any of mankind’s problems – big or small. The catch is, that along with a solution, comes an even bigger problem…
You wake up one day to discover that you have been transported to the world from your favorite book. But you quickly discover that things aren’t all that they seem…
You come from a long line of witches, dating back to the 12th century. But a modern day witch hunt is now in full effect, and to save your life, you must find a way to give up all of your powers.
Your character suddenly finds themself in an alternate dimension, where everything is backwards. How can they make sense of this new world, to find their way back to the dimension they actually belong in?
Think of your favorite superhuman. Now, imagine that they use their powers for evil. Write a story featuring the dark side of your superhuman’s character.
Every morning, your alarm sounds off at 6 a.m. Only this morning, instead of the usual beep beep beep to wake you, a voice comes over the alarm and announces, “Today is the day you will say goodbye to everyone.”
Time no longer exists, and the worlds of the past, present, and future have collided, meshing them all into one. Write a fantasy story about this new world that exists – and the pitfalls that come with not having any boundaries within time.
Your character unexpectedly gives birth to a healthy baby boy. What’s strange is that your character was only pregnant for two weeks, and she didn’t even realize it. As the baby grows, she starts to notice that she has quite an extraordinary child on her hands, and she must protect him from those who know he exists.
A dream-like world where everything seems to go your character’s way. He’s happy, peaceful, and surrounded by those he loves. But one day, he discovers that this isn’t in fact the world that he belongs in…and those that really love him desperately need him to return.
You’re given the chance to build your own character taking five of the best traits from people you know. What traits do you take from whom?
Your memory is erased and you have to start learning from scratch. (You can still feed and clothe yourself.) What is the first thing you want to learn and why?

10 Historical Fiction Writing Prompts

Write about a specific folklore tale from your cultural background, but add a special twist.
Imagine your modern-day character suddenly finds themself in the past. Not only that, but they are the neighbor to a famous historical figure. Write about a significant event in the historical figures life with a modern day twist.
Your character is caught between love and war. A passionate crusader with a prominent position in a revolutionary war, they fall in love with someone across the enemy lines. Do they give up their fight in a cause they stand so strongly for, or say goodbye to the one person they would give up their life for?
Research a significant event from your favorite time period. Then, create a character who was there to witness it all – the good, the bad, and the ugly. Write a story from this character’s point of view, sharing how the event changed their lives forever.
You’re given the opportunity to travel back and time to a significant moment in history. Write about where you go, what you see, and who you meet.
Your character is a factory worked living in Victorian London
Think of a time period you would never wish to live in. Now, imagine you suddenly wake up living in that era. Write about your experience from the perspective of someone who is actually living the reality you have no wish to be part of.
Write about a character that was born a slave, and is the mastermind behind a dangerous mission to lead others to freedom.
Research a historical figure who is considered a real-life villain. Then, write a story from their lover, or spouse's perspective.
Research the history of your favorite place (city, country, etc.), then write a story from the perspective of a character who witnessed how the place as you know it came to be.

20 Sentence Starter Prompts

The unrelenting sun beat down on his forearms, and all he could think about was how cold he felt inside.
A sick feeling caused by strong alcohol on an empty stomach, mixed with unsettling anxiety, caused her to crouch over in discomfort. But she couldn’t stop now.
The clock struck three, and it was as if the entire world turned upside down.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh. The dryer violently spun the wet clothes around, and
He wasn’t sure what the crying creature was, but he knew it couldn’t be human.
He stared at her, staring at him. And in the blink of an eye, an insatiable fury seemed to paint the sky blood red.
The spacecraft zinged through the blackened bubble, and as she looked outside the window, she couldn’t help but feel the gravity of her eternal loneliness.
No one knew him more than she did, but there were things she simply could not look past.
This place was home – it always had been, so why did it feel so strange?
The tapping of the keyboard was all she could hear in the empty office, and the room seemed to start spinning around her.
A fast heartbeat, thumping uncontrollably inside his chest, was all he could to react; after all, this was the greatest moment of his life.
“This is your moment, and you can either rise to the occasion, or crumble to your shortcomings,” the speaker said over the intercom.
They were the only ones who knew the truth, and try as they might, they couldn’t forget that fateful day, even when they desperately wanted to.
Despite the enchantment, her intuition gnawed at her core, warning her that this was a very, very bad idea.
Today is the day you realize your entire life is going to change forever because…
As soon as the words came out of her mouth, her eyes widened in horror; how could she have let herself say such a thing?
The storm raged on outside the window, and the world in all its chaos was truly coming to an end, just like they had warned.
The sun looked blood orange as it lifted off the horizon, and she knew the time had come.
“Your heart belongs to me,” said the stranger in a hushed, yet familiar tone.
Ding dong. He ran to get the door, and when he looked through the eyehole, as was his habit before unlocking it, he couldn’t believe his eyes.

Once you've had your fun with these writing prompts, it's time to get started with your new book idea and start writing your book, so that you can move on to self-publishing your book and sharing it with the world.

There is a world of readers waiting for your story. It's time to start writing.

Whether you used these creative writing prompts to help brainstorm what to write about, or fight writer's block, it's time to actually sit down, grab your pen or keyboard, and get to writing a captivating story.

Didn't find what you were looking for with these prompts? Don't worry – we are constantly updating this list with new writing prompts for our readers.

Which type of writing prompts would you like to see more of?

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The Pobble blog

Teaching and Learning

Writing prompts and story starters for every genre

by: Anna from Pobble
On: 19, Jan 2021
Teaching and Learning (98)
Pobble Power (31)
Guest blogs (24)
Printable resources (11)
Parents (8)
Competition (4)
Moderation (4)

We all have an innate love of stories. They spark magical thoughts and improve willingness to communicate feelings, thoughts and experiences. A good story stays with you and can shape understanding, language development and writing motivation.

When writing stories, the difficult part is often getting started. That's where story starters or writing prompts come in. Story starters spark children's imagination, helping them to imagine the plot, the setting, or the characters and then build their own story around them.

When we launched Pobble , we didn’t know just how popular it would become. Now, we have a community of hundreds of thousands of teachers around the world logging on to find our free, daily writing lesson ideas to inspire their young writers.

Every day, we give teachers access to a free engaging image, with a story starter, questions and writing activities for your class. You can save these lessons to use later, edit t best suit your needs and easily share in a number of ways.

Here are some of our favourites for your class, whatever genre you’re looking to teach:

Adventure

Can your class continue the story?

See all 6 writing activities that accompany this image.

“ She had been following the trail of clues for days, and she had finally reached her destination. Were the stories true? ”

Can your class continue the story?

“ This beach was cursed, no one knew why. For years now, whenever the sun glowed orange, a wreckage of a ship would wash up along the isolated stretch of sand... ”

Science fiction

“They had arrived out of the blue, catching everyone completely unaware... ”

Myths and legends

" Ulrik grew up to be the best blacksmith in the whole country. Anything you wanted making, he could make it! That was until a fateful evening on a snowy night when he was visited by a darkly-cloaked, mysterious man… ”

Can your class continue the story of The Blacksmith?

Looking for a different genre? You'll find it on Pobble!

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We help teachers inspire their young writers, foster a love for writing across schools, and reach accurate assessment judgments.

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Initiating Strong Sentences: Topic Sentence Starters for Informational Writing

My name is Debbie, and I am passionate about developing a love for the written word and planting a seed that will grow into a powerful voice that can inspire many.

Initiating Strong Sentences: Topic Sentence Starters for Informational Writing

Have you ever struggled with finding the right words to start your informational ⁣writing? Crafting a solid‍ and compelling topic sentence is crucial to hooking your readers right from the beginning. But fear not, as we’re here to guide you through the art of initiating strong⁤ sentences. In this article, we will explore a range of‌ topic sentence starters that will elevate your writing‌ to new heights. Whether ‍you are a student trying to ace your academic essays or a professional aiming to captivate your audience, ⁢these helpful tips and techniques will equip you with the tools you need to create powerful and engaging opening sentences. Get ready to command attention and leave ‌a lasting impression with your written works. Get ready to unlock the‍ secrets of persuasive⁢ and persuasive and engaging topic sentence starters.

1. Understanding the Purpose: Why Topic Sentence Starters ⁣are Crucial in Informational Writing

2. exploring effective sentence starters: key ‍strategies to grab readers’ attention, 3. crafting clear and concise statements: tips for formulating strong topic sentences, 4. connecting ideas with coherence: using transitions in topic sentence starters, 5. enhancing clarity and organization: utilizing specificity ⁤in topic sentence starters, 6. injecting creativity and engagement: ‌adding variety to topic sentence structures, 7. tailoring topic⁢ sentences to different types of informational writing, 8. mastering the art: practicing topic sentence starters for polished informational writing, frequently asked ‌questions, to conclude.

When it comes to crafting compelling ‍informational writing pieces, one often overlooked yet vital tool⁤ is the proper use of topic sentence starters. These concise and powerful phrases play a crucial role in guiding ⁤the reader through⁢ your content, setting the tone, and organizing your thoughts effectively. By incorporating effective topic sentence starters, you enable⁤ your readers to‌ grasp the main ideas quickly, enhancing ⁤their comprehension and overall engagement with your work.

Firstly, topic sentence starters act⁢ as signposts that provide a clear ‍roadmap for your readers. With a well-crafted topic sentence starter, you can direct your audience’s attention to the ⁤central theme ⁤or main point of each paragraph. Bold and eye-catching, these sentence starters serve as a compass, helping the reader navigate through your writing effortlessly. Additionally, they help establish logical connections between ideas, facilitating a smooth flow of information from one‌ point to another. By using sentence starters ⁣effectively, you ensure that your readers are neither lost nor overwhelmed, resulting in a more enjoyable reading experience.

When it comes to writing engaging content, one crucial factor is ‍catching your readers’ attention right from the start. The choice of ⁢sentence starters plays a significant role in captivating your audience and keeping them hooked throughout your piece. By ⁤using the ‍following strategies, you can elevate your writing and make a lasting impact:

Ask a thought-provoking question: Posing a question at the beginning of‌ your⁣ sentence immediately engages your readers and encourages them to start thinking. This technique not only grabs attention but‌ also stimulates curiosity, ‍enticing readers to⁢ continue reading for‌ possible answers.
Paint a vivid picture: Opening your sentence with descriptive⁤ language can transport your readers into the heart ⁤of your story or topic. By⁢ appealing⁣ to their senses and providing vibrant details, you create a captivating atmosphere and immerse your audience within your writing.
Share a captivating anecdote: Everyone loves a good story! By starting your ⁤sentence with a compelling anecdote or personal experience, you instantly hook your readers by relating to them on a human‍ level. This technique fosters an emotional connection and encourages readers to invest in ⁢your content.

By incorporating these effective sentence starters into your writing, you can grab your readers’ attention and captivate them from ‍the very beginning. Remember, the key is to create intrigue, paint vivid images, ⁢and⁢ make personal connections. So, experiment with these strategies and discover the power they hold in captivating your audience and elevating your content to new heights!

When‌ it⁣ comes to writing, one of the most crucial elements is crafting clear and concise topic sentences. A topic sentence acts as a roadmap for your readers, guiding them through your thoughts and ideas.‌ To ensure your topic sentences are strong ‍and effective, here are some valuable tips:

State the main idea: Start your topic sentence by clearly ‌stating the main idea or point you want to discuss in‌ the paragraph. This helps ‌your readers ⁤understand what the paragraph will be about.
Be ‍specific: Avoid vague or general statements and instead provide specific details ⁣or examples that support your main idea. This adds clarity and credibility to your writing.
Avoid repetition: Ensure that your topic sentence does not simply⁢ repeat the main idea of the previous paragraph. It should introduce a new point of discussion to‌ maintain the flow of⁣ your writing.
Keep it concise: Aim for brevity in your topic sentences. While⁤ they should be⁤ clear and informative, it’s important not to overwhelm your ‍readers with lengthy sentences.

By following these tips, you can enhance the clarity ‍and cohesiveness of your writing. Strong ‍topic sentences not only make your content easier to comprehend, but they also engage your readers and make‍ your writing more impactful.

4. Connecting Ideas with Coherence: Using Transitions in Topic Sentence Starters

When it ‍comes ⁣to writing, one of ‍the essential elements in ensuring a‌ smooth flow of ‌ideas ⁤is the use of transitions. These handy linguistic devices help link sentences, paragraphs, and even entire sections together, providing a logical progression ⁤of thought. By incorporating transitions into your topic sentence starters, you can effectively connect ‍ideas⁢ and enhance the overall coherence ⁢of⁢ your writing.

To begin with, utilizing transition words or phrases at the beginning of your topic sentences helps signal the ⁣relationship between the current and‍ previous ideas. Words like “additionally,” “furthermore,” and “moreover” are excellent ‍choices as they indicate an expansion or continuation of⁢ a previous⁢ point. Alternatively, you can opt for words such as “however,” “nevertheless,” or “on the other hand” to introduce ‌a contrasting perspective or opposing viewpoint. By skillfully incorporating these transitions, you guide readers through your arguments, enabling ‍them to follow your thought process effortlessly.

Emphasizing Importance: Starting your topic sentence with “significantly,” “notably,” or “crucially” ⁢helps highlight the importance of a particular idea or evidence.
Providing Examples: Transition phrases like⁢ “for example,” “such⁣ as,” or “to illustrate”⁣ allow you to introduce ‌specific instances or evidence ⁣to support your point.
Showing Cause⁢ and Effect: Words like “consequently,” “thus,” or “as a result” assist in explaining the consequences or results of a given situation or action.
Comparing and Contrasting: Utilize transitional phrases such as “similarly,” “in contrast,” or “just like” to draw comparisons or highlight differences⁣ between ideas.

The effective use of transitions in topic sentence starters not only enhances the clarity of your writing but also adds a sense of ‍cohesion to your overall composition. Experiment with different transition words and phrases to see which ones best suit your writing style and intended message.⁣ Remember, a well-connected piece of writing is not only easier to follow but also more engaging for your readers.

When it comes to writing, clarity and organization ⁣are key. One effective way to achieve this‍ is by utilizing specificity in your topic sentence ‌starters.⁤ A topic sentence serves as a roadmap for your readers, guiding them through the main ideas of your paragraphs. By incorporating specific details in your topic sentence starters, you can‍ provide a clearer and more structured flow to your writing.

Here are a few benefits of ⁢utilizing‌ specificity⁤ in ⁤your topic sentence starters:

Engaging ⁣the reader: Specificity captures the reader’s⁢ attention and piques their interest. It gives them a glimpse of what’s to come in your paragraph, making them eager to continue reading.
Setting clear expectations: By starting your topic sentence with specific ⁣details, you establish a clear focus for your paragraph. This helps to ⁢avoid confusion and ensures that your readers understand the main point you are trying to convey.
Enhancing coherence: Specific topic sentence starters create a logical flow in your writing.‌ Developing a habit of including relevant details from the start can improve the overall coherence and organization of your ideas.

Remember, the key to utilizing specificity⁢ in topic sentence starters is to be precise and concise. By doing so, you can⁣ elevate the clarity⁤ and organization of your writing,‌ making it more engaging and effective for your ⁣readers.

When it comes ⁤to writing engaging and captivating content, it’s essential to go beyond the typical topic sentence ⁢structures and inject some creativity. By varying ‍the way you structure your topic sentences, you can grab your ‌readers’ attention and keep them hooked from the start to the end. Here are ‍some innovative ways to add variety to your topic sentence structures:

1. Pose a thought-provoking question: Start your paragraph with ‍a question that stimulates curiosity and entices readers to seek answers. For example, instead of a plain statement like “Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing industries,” try ‍asking “Can machines really outsmart humans? Discover the impact of artificial intelligence on various industries!”

2. ⁣Use vivid imagery: Paint a picture in your readers’‍ minds‌ by incorporating descriptive and colorful language into your topic sentence. Create mental images that captivate their⁢ imagination and make your content memorable. For instance, instead of a mundane sentence ⁤like “The beach is beautiful,” try “Embark ⁤on a sensory journey ⁢as we explore the breathtaking‍ vistas,‍ sun-kissed sands, and‌ gentle waves of the mesmerizing‍ beach.”

3. Share a surprising fact or statistic: ⁣Startle your audience with intriguing information to ignite⁢ their curiosity. People are always eager ‌to learn something new and⁢ surprising. Instead of a predictable opener like “Most people love chocolate,” grab attention with “Did you know ‍that Americans consume enough chocolate‍ each year ⁤to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool over 9 times? Discover the sweet world of chocolate cravings!”

4. Employ storytelling techniques: Engage your readers by weaving a compelling narrative right from your topic sentence. Create a sense of anticipation and mystery that⁣ compels them to ‍continue reading. For instance, instead of a⁣ simple statement like “Jenny ⁤is a successful entrepreneur,” try “Follow Jenny’s incredible journey ‌as she defies all odds and rises from a humble start-up to become one of the most impactful ⁢entrepreneurs of our time.”

By consciously injecting creativity into your topic sentence structures,⁣ you can‍ infuse your writing with energy and captivate your audience. Embrace these techniques and ⁢watch as your content becomes more engaging, memorable, ‍and effective at keeping readers hooked from the very beginning.

Topic sentences play ⁤a crucial role in guiding readers through different types of informational writing. By tailoring topic sentences appropriately, you can effectively convey the main ideas of your content and ensure a smooth flow of information. Here are some tips on how to craft topic sentences‌ for various forms of informational writing:

Expository writing: In⁢ expository writing, topic sentences should clearly state the main objective or purpose of the text. They should provide an overview of the content and capture the reader’s attention. Use ⁤topic sentences to introduce new ideas and concepts, offering a glimpse into what⁣ will be discussed⁤ in ⁣the subsequent paragraphs.
Descriptive writing: When writing descriptively, topic sentences should vividly introduce the aspects or qualities you ‍want to portray. These sentences should ‍engage the reader’s senses, ⁢using strong⁣ adjectives or adverbs to create a clear mental image. Ensure that your topic sentences evoke emotions or provoke curiosity, inviting the reader to continue exploring the descriptive details within the text.

By adapting your topic sentences to suit the ⁢type of informational writing, you can enhance the overall readability and impact⁢ of your work. Remember to structure your content logically, prioritizing the most important information in your topic sentences and expanding on them‌ in the subsequent paragraphs. With effective topic sentences , ⁤you can guide your readers smoothly through the various forms of informational writing, ensuring⁢ they grasp the key points effortlessly.

In the world of⁣ writing, crafting clear and compelling topic sentences is an essential skill for any writer seeking to engage and inform their readers.‍ Whether you’re a student perfecting your essays or a professional honing your business reports, mastering ⁣the art of utilizing topic sentence starters can take your informational writing to the next ⁣level. By using these powerful sentence starters, you can effectively ⁢convey your main ideas and provide a seamless flow to your writing.

To begin with, employing phrases such as “One key aspect to consider is…”, “An important factor to⁤ remember is…”, or ⁣”A crucial point to note is…” can serve as excellent topic sentence‍ starters. These phrases introduce the‌ subject matter and set the stage for⁣ the subsequent information you are about to provide. Additionally, incorporating phrases like ⁣”Furthermore, it‍ is ⁣important ⁤to…”, “Moreover, it is worth mentioning that…”, or “Additionally, it is interesting‌ to note that…”⁢ can help you present supporting evidence or expand ⁣on the main idea. Employing these sentence starters allows you to⁣ provide a clear and ⁤cohesive ⁤structure to your informational writing, guiding your readers through your content effortlessly.

Furthermore, remember to vary your sentence starters to‌ maintain the reader’s interest and prevent monotony. Begin ⁢some sentences‍ with “In contrast…”, “On the other hand…”, or “Conversely…”. These⁣ starters lend⁣ themselves well to comparing and contrasting different ideas within ‍your writing, enabling you to provide balanced perspectives and present a ⁤more comprehensive analysis. ⁣Additionally, consider incorporating phrases like “To illustrate…”, “For instance…”, or “As an example…” to‌ provide vivid examples that bolster your main points. These sentence starters allow⁢ readers to visualize ⁤the concepts you present⁣ and further solidify⁣ your arguments.

With these fundamentals in mind, practicing and utilizing topic sentence starters will undoubtedly enhance the quality and impact of ⁢your⁤ informational writing. By employing a variety of these phrases, you can effectively⁢ structure your content, engage‍ your readers, and ensure that your writing is polished ‍and professional. So, take the time to hone this⁢ essential skill, and watch as your ⁤writing captivates and informs your audience like never before.

Q: What are topic sentences‌ and why are they‍ important in informational writing? A: Topic sentences act as the main idea or focus of a paragraph in informational writing. They serve as a guide for readers⁣ and provide a clear ⁢roadmap for ‌the information that will follow in the rest of the paragraph.

Q: How can I initiate strong topic sentences in ⁣my writing? A: To initiate strong topic ⁤sentences, it is essential to utilize effective starters⁢ that engage readers and compel ⁢them to continue reading. These starters should⁣ introduce the main idea of ⁢the paragraph, grab attention, and establish a firm foundation for the upcoming information.

Q: What are some examples of topic sentence starters that can enhance my writing? A: Some examples of topic sentence starters include: 1. “One key aspect to consider is…” 2. “In today’s society, it is evident that…” 3. ⁤”To fully understand this concept, it is crucial to…” 4. “A significant factor in this discussion is…” 5. ‌”From a historical perspective, it becomes clear that…”

Q: Are there any ⁤strategies for choosing ‌the right topic sentence starter? A: Yes, there are a few strategies. Firstly, consider the main point you want to convey in the paragraph. Then, select a starter that accurately reflects ⁣the essence of your topic. Additionally, blending creativity with clarity can make your topic sentence more engaging and intriguing to readers.

Q: How can topic sentence starters help improve the flow of my writing? A: Topic sentence starters create a sense of cohesion in your writing. By using them effectively, you can ensure a smooth flow from one paragraph to another,‌ connecting ideas seamlessly and allowing readers to follow your thought ‌process effortlessly.

Q: Are there any common ⁤mistakes that I should avoid when using topic sentence starters? A: Absolutely! One common mistake is using generic or vague starters that fail to grab the reader’s attention or convey the topic clearly. Another mistake is beginning with⁣ irrelevant⁤ information that does not ⁢align with the paragraph’s ⁢main ⁢idea. Remember, the purpose of a topic sentence starter is ⁢to initiate strong, focused sentences that lead readers into the paragraph.

Q: Can you provide any tips on how⁣ to practice incorporating topic sentence starters into my writing? A: One effective way to practice is to write short paragraphs on different topics using various topic sentence starters. This will help you⁤ explore different possibilities while honing your skills in creating strong topic sentences. Additionally, reading and analyzing well-crafted informational articles can also provide ‌useful insights and inspiration.

Q: How important is revision when it comes to topic sentence starters? A: Revision is crucial when working on topic sentence starters. It allows you to refine and strengthen your writing. By revisiting your initial topic sentence starters, you can evaluate whether they effectively ⁢convey ⁣the main idea and⁤ refine⁣ them to better engage your audience.

Q: In conclusion, how can incorporating strong ⁢topic sentence starters benefit my informational writing? A: Incorporating strong topic sentence starters enhances the clarity, flow, and impact of your ‍writing. It serves as a guide ‍to your readers,⁣ setting the stage for the information to come. By engaging your audience from the beginning, you create a more compelling reading experience, ensuring that‍ your message is effectively conveyed.

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Initiating Strong Sentences: Topic Sentence Starters for Informational
By using these powerful sentence starters, you can effectively ⁢convey your main ideas and provide a seamless flow to your writing. To begin with, employing phrases such as "One key aspect to consider is…", "An important factor to⁤ remember is…", or ⁣"A crucial point to note is…" can serve as excellent topic sentence ...

50 Creative One-sentence Writing Prompts That Will Make You Want To Write

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Characters and Relationships

The Strange Old Man Next Door

The Legacy of Family and Friendships

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