115 Fiction Writing Prompts That Spark Bestselling Stories
Have you ever found yourself staring at a blank page, wondering where to start? What if you could unlock the door to a world brimming with dragons, secret agents, or romance at the edge of the universe—all with a single sentence?
This is the power of fiction writing prompts, a goldmine of 115 unique sparks designed to catapult your creativity from everyday life into extraordinary tales.
Whether you're battling writer's block, planning your next screenplay, or simply searching for a fresh twist for your next novel, these prompts are your gateway.
Dive into scenarios where your main character discovers a secret that could change the world, friends stumble upon old family photos that aren't what they seem, or a small town harbors a mystery only a retired detective can solve.
A long list of fiction writing prompts
1. In a city where people can buy and sell their luck, a down-on-his-luck comedian decides to purchase a day's worth of good fortune, only to realize that every piece of luck comes with an unexpected cost.
2. Every person's shadow has a life of its own, visible only at night. One night, your shadow whispers a secret about the shadows planning an uprising against their human counterparts.
3. An ancient library is discovered to be alive, with each book capable of influencing the thoughts of its readers. A young librarian must uncover why some readers begin to mysteriously disappear.
4. A professional dreamer, who creates and sells dreams, accidentally slips into a dream that someone else created and must find their way back to reality.
5. On a distant planet, the currency is not money but memories. A trader arrives to find that his most precious memory is not as valuable as he thought, and he must decide whether to trade his happiest moment to return home.
6. In a world where musical notes physically manifest as colors, a deaf painter discovers a way to see music through her paintings, uncovering a plot to silence a critical symphony.
7. A novelist discovers they can enter into the worlds of their stories. After altering a plot line, they return to find those changes have affected their real world in unexpected ways.
8. A child is born with a map tattooed on their back, leading their family to seek out the treasure it promises, only to realize the map leads to something much more significant than gold or jewels.
9. A character becomes aware they are in a story and starts communicating with the writer, pleading for a happier life, challenging the writer's planned plot.
10. A world where people can exchange their years of life with others. An old man, regretting his past decisions, tries to buy back his youth.
11. On an island where all lost things wash ashore, a young woman finds a bottle containing a letter from a missing sailor who may be her grandfather.
12. A small town gets completely covered in a dome overnight. The residents must find out who did it and why, as their resources start dwindling and they realize they're part of an experiment.
13. A character finds an old camera that takes pictures of the past instead of the present. They use it to solve a century-old mystery in their town.
14. Every time a person lies, a flower blooms instantly in their hair. A politician with a perfectly bald head runs for office, and one journalist is determined to find out how.
15. A society where every significant decision in life must be made by spinning a gigantic wheel that dictates what happens next. A young protagonist spins their wheel and lands on an outcome that has never come up before.
16. After a meteor shower, a small village gains the ability to communicate with wildlife. They must use this new gift to stop an impending disaster only the animals can sense.
17. A retired superhero is called back into action when his superpowered grandchild accidentally reveals their powers to the wrong person.
18. In a world where people can no longer sleep, one person suddenly starts dreaming, leading scientists to scramble to understand why.
19. A coffee shop where every cup of coffee shows the drinker visions of their future. A barista decides to change the future after seeing a regular customer's grim fate.
20. A person develops the ability to see different outcomes of their decisions. They start to use it for personal gain but soon learn that knowing too much can lead to disastrous consequences.
21. Every book in the world becomes blank overnight. Society has to recreate all lost knowledge from memory, but one person discovers that their writing now becomes reality.
22. A character finds a strange object that allows them to hear the thoughts of anyone standing in the moonlight. They start uncovering secrets they wish they hadn’t known.
23. An old, forgotten well in a village is found to grant wishes, but only if the wish is made for someone else. The village's dynamics change as people start to wish for each other.
24. A world-renowned architect starts building structures that defy the laws of physics. When asked why, they hint at an impending reality shift they are preparing humanity for.
25. A time traveler accidentally brings a young ruler from the past into the present. The ruler is both horrified and fascinated by the modern world and decides they want to stay.
26. In a community living deep underground, a child finds a rare plant that grows only in darkness. This discovery challenges everything the community believes about the surface world.
27. A virtual reality game becomes too immersive when players start disappearing into the game. A programmer must go in to save them, battling not just virtual enemies but their own fears.
28. Someone starts receiving postcards from their own future self, warning them of events to come. They must piece together the clues to prevent a disaster.
29. A series of novels becomes reality in a small town, with residents waking up as characters from the books. They must find out how and why they have been chosen to live out these plots.
30. On a day known as the "Great Reversal," everyone in the world wakes up in someone else's body. The chaos leads to revelations, reconciliations, and revolutions as everyone sees life through another's eyes.
31. A small-town librarian discovers a book that predicts local events before they happen. She must use it to save her town from an impending disaster foretold to happen within the week.
32. A middle-aged bus driver finds a device that can control weather. He has to decide whether to use it to stop a superstorm approaching his city in just three days, risking attention from dangerous forces who seek the device.
33. An ordinary housewife in a rural town starts seeing visions of future crimes. She has only 24 hours to prevent a murder she foresaw, but no one believes her.
34. A high school teacher intercepts a note with a bomb threat that claims it will go off during the school's big annual festival tomorrow. He must find the bomb and the student behind the threat without causing a panic.
35. A young chef discovers her new recipe causes extraordinary side effects, like temporary superpowers. When a criminal gang learns about it, she must protect her family and her recipe during the busiest night of her restaurant.
36. A retiring detective finds evidence of a serial killer that has gone unnoticed for decades. He has 48 hours to piece together the clues and catch the killer before his retirement.
37. An introverted gardener discovers his plants can communicate and predict natural disasters. With a massive storm predicted in three days, he struggles to convince his community and local officials to take action.
38. A freelance journalist accidentally receives confidential documents revealing a plot to sabotage the city's power grid. She has until the end of the day to expose the plot and prevent the citywide blackout.
39. A single father on a camping trip with his kids finds a lost artifact that others are desperate to reclaim. Stranded in the wilderness, he must keep his children safe until they can be rescued.
40. A struggling musician plays a melody that inadvertently opens a portal to another dimension in her apartment. She has until sunrise to close it before the creatures from the other side invade.
41. A lonely software developer discovers a bug in his project that allows manipulation of personal data worldwide. He must fix the bug before it's exploited, but cybercriminals are already on his trail.
42. A small-town mechanic discovers the car he is fixing belongs to a fugitive with critical evidence in its trunk. With the criminal underworld and corrupt law enforcement closing in, he has to decide his next move by nightfall.
43. An unassuming florist finds a rare flower that cures any illness, but it also attracts the attention of a pharmaceutical giant that will do anything to obtain it. She must protect the flower until it can be properly researched.
44. A janitor at a high-tech lab accidentally activates a prototype time machine and finds himself one day in the future where he witnesses a calamity he is responsible for. He has 24 hours after returning to stop it.
45. An average office worker discovers his computer can control the national grid. When a national crisis threatens the power supply, he must navigate his newfound ability to save millions without revealing his identity.
46. A young novelist finds that the fictional villain from her novel has come to life and is bent on wreaking havoc in her town. She has until midnight to end the story and send the villain back.
47. A part-time clown at children's parties wakes up to find that he can't remove his clown makeup, which now permanently shows his emotions. He needs to find a cure before his second job as a serious business consultant starts on Monday.
48. A newlywed couple discovers their honeymoon cruise is hijacked by pirates. Isolated at sea, they must outwit the pirates to survive until the coast guard can rescue them.
49. An amateur astronomer detects a previously unknown comet heading towards Earth. With only hours to convince the world of the impending disaster, she must take drastic measures to prove her theory.
50. A pet store owner finds out his parrots can predict the future, but their predictions bring dangerous people to his door. With a prediction of a disaster looming, he must figure out how to protect his shop and his neighborhood.
51. A laid-off worker finds a suitcase full of money, but it’s ransom money from a kidnapping case. He has one day to return the money without getting himself implicated in the crime.
52. An elderly woman discovers her late husband's stamp collection contains clues to a forgotten treasure hidden somewhere in her town. With developers planning to demolish her neighborhood, she and her grandchildren race to find it first.
53. A city accountant starts receiving anonymous tips about financial discrepancies in the city's budget. As she digs deeper, she realizes she's uncovering a massive embezzlement scheme with her as the next target if she doesn't solve it by the next city council meeting.
54. A timid school teacher suddenly finds herself the leader of a small revolution when a bureaucratic error credits her as the author of a controversial political manifesto.
55. A maintenance worker in a dystopian facility discovers he can bypass the state’s surveillance system. He must decide if he should help a group of rebels escape, risking his life and that of his family.
56. A local bookstore owner finds a mysterious book that can alter the reality around him based on what story he reads. With the book deteriorating, he has to choose the right story to fix his crumbling neighborhood before it's too late.
57. A hobbyist drone pilot captures footage of a secretive military operation. Now, he must dodge the authorities who are desperate to retrieve the footage and keep him silent.
58. An everyday commuter train passenger realizes that the train is looping the same day. She must figure out how to break the cycle and help everyone on board avoid a deadly crash that happens at the end of each loop.
59. A local chef discovers his new shipment of exotic spices allows people to recall forgotten memories. As customers start to remember hidden truths about their lives, he must manage the consequences of such revelations in his small town.
60. A coat check attendant at a trendy nightclub finds a coat that grants its wearer invisibility. He has only one night to use it to thwart a planned heist targeting the club's VIP patrons.
61. During a routine cleaning of the city museum, a janitor accidentally triggers an ancient artifact that predicts catastrophic events and has to prevent the next great disaster forecasted to occur in 24 hours.
62. A mail carrier discovers that delivering a specific letter causes the recipient to realize their greatest fear, and must decide whether to continue delivering them as the fears escalate into real dangers.
63. A dog walker stumbles upon a talking dog who reveals he's an undercover agent on a critical mission, and she must help him stop a crime planned for the next day without blowing his cover.
64. An office worker's new plant starts emitting a sound only he can hear, leading him to uncover an underground movement planning to overthrow the government.
65. A receptionist at a tech company learns that her new virtual assistant predicts stock market crashes and must use this information to save her father's retirement fund before the market closes.
66. While setting up for a high school reunion, an organizer finds a yearbook with future events written in it, and realizes they have one night to change a classmate’s fate.
67. A cab driver picks up a passenger who leaves behind a suitcase that can teleport anywhere in the world, forcing him to decide whether to return it or use it to solve his financial problems by midnight.
68. On a normal walk through the park, a man finds a smartphone that allows him to control time but he has only three hours to use it before it self-destructs.
69. A bartender serves a drink that lets the drinker speak with the dead for five minutes, leading to revelations that challenge her perception of reality as the spirits start asking for her help.
70. A baker tastes a new experimental pastry that lets him see into the future, revealing that his town will face a massive flood in three days, forcing him to convince and prepare his skeptical community.
71. A librarian finds a book that absorbs the reader into its fantasy world for one hour, but someone gets stuck inside, and she must figure out how to rescue them before the library closes.
72. A watch repairman fixes an old watch that can fast-forward or rewind the wearer’s life by 24 hours, plunging him into a race against time to right a wrong that could save a life.
73. A photographer develops old film that shows scenes of future events in the same location, and she must piece together the clues to prevent a tragedy shown to happen at midnight.
74. A construction worker uncovers a hidden basement under an old building revealing a prophecy describing a massive earthquake hitting the city in just 48 hours.
75. A personal trainer discovers that a specific sequence of exercises grants superhuman strength for one day and decides to use this power to stop an escalating conflict in his neighborhood.
76. A single mother purchases a secondhand computer for her home office, only to discover it can predict local emergencies, thrusting her into unexpected heroism as she attempts to avert the next crisis.
77. An elevator technician repairs an elevator that transports its passengers to the day they died, and must use this knowledge to save someone stuck in the elevator with him.
78. A fisherman catches a mythical sea creature that grants three wishes but learns that each wish comes with a devastating consequence, with only the tide cycle to make them right.
79. A thrift store owner sells a jacket that allows the wearer to hear other people's thoughts, leading to a moral dilemma when she hears a plan for a crime.
80. An amateur poet writes a poem that starts coming true, setting off a chain of events that could end his best friend's marriage unless he can write a new poem to stop it by their anniversary party.
81. A grocery store clerk finds a lost wallet that increases the money inside it every hour, and as he searches for its owner, he uncovers a dangerous secret about where the money comes from.
82. A park ranger finds a hidden cave that shows visions of the Earth's past and future, and she has until the park closes to prevent an event that could change the course of history.
83. A street artist paints a mural that brings to life whatever is drawn on it, but when a depicted monster starts terrorizing the town, he must capture it before it destroys everything.
84. A seamstress sews a costume that makes the wearer invisible and must retrieve it from a thief who plans to use it to steal a priceless artifact during the city’s annual festival.
85. A subway conductor finds that his train occasionally skips stations and travels through time, and must navigate historical events to return his passengers safely without altering the timeline.
86. A city planner uses an old map to redesign a neighborhood and accidentally opens a portal to an ancient city, now he must close it before the historical residents decide to take over.
87. A gardener discovers that talking to her plants causes them to grow into monstrous sizes overnight, and she must figure out how to control them as they begin to take over the neighborhood.
88. A hairdresser discovers her scissors can alter her clients’ futures with each cut, leading her to struggle with the ethics of using this power as demands grow for life-changing hairstyles.
89. An antique dealer sells a mirror that reflects the viewer's true self, leading to chaos in the community as hidden truths start to affect people's lives and relationships.
90. A mechanic fixes an old car that can drive to any destination in the world imagined by its driver, but when a dangerous figure steals it, he must track them down before they reach a location that could lead to global chaos.
91. A bed and breakfast owner discovers that one of the rooms grants its occupants the chance to relive one day from their past, but a guest accidentally changes something critical, risking a paradox that could erase the inn from existence.
92. A ticket inspector on a commuter train finds a pass that allows the holder to travel to parallel worlds for one hour at a time, but someone is using it to escape legal consequences, and he must catch them by the end of his shift.
93. A bookstore clerk reads from a mysterious book that causes the readers' fears to manifest in real life; she must find a way to close the book permanently as her own fears start to materialize in the store.
94. A freelance app developer creates a mobile app that can transport users to the location they are viewing on their screen, leading to chaos when users accidentally find themselves in dangerous or forbidden areas.
95. A young lawyer acquires a pen that makes anything written with it legally binding; he must recover a note he scribbled in jest that orders the closure of a major corporation.
96. A landscape photographer takes a picture of a secluded lake and unwittingly captures a scene from the future, showing a devastating fire; she has three days to prevent the disaster she photographed.
97. An interior designer rearranges furniture in an old home and triggers hidden mechanical gears that reveal a secret room with plans for a revolutionary invention that could change the modern world.
98. A local journalist receives anonymous tips that predict accidents before they happen, and she must use these tips to save lives without implicating herself as a possible cause.
99. A night security guard at a museum notices that the historical figures in the paintings begin to move and interact with each other after midnight; he must manage their escapades to keep the museum intact until morning.
100. A yoga instructor finds that her new studio space is on a ley line that enhances spiritual experiences but also attracts paranormal entities, requiring her to balance her classes with managing the supernatural occurrences.
101. A bicycle repairman fixes an old bike that allows the rider to travel back to the moment a past trauma occurred, giving people the chance to heal, but he must ensure it's used responsibly to avoid altering their present lives detrimentally.
102. A pawn shop owner buys an antique chess set that lets the players control the minds of others like chess pieces; he must ensure it doesn't fall into the wrong hands as rival gangs begin to show interest.
103. A florist accidentally cultivates a rare plant whose scent allows people to communicate with departed loved ones; she must decide how to use this gift as the demand grows overwhelming.
104. A high school gym teacher finds an old stopwatch that can freeze time for everyone but the user; he uses it to avert disasters and accidents among his students but struggles with the moral implications of his secret power.
105. A graphic designer discovers that her latest digital art piece can alter real-world landscapes, and she is thrust into a conflict to use her creations to stop an ecological disaster.
106. A party planner sets up a mysterious device found in an attic that turns any event into a portal for historical figures who attended similar festivities, forcing her to navigate a ball with guests from various centuries.
107. An electrician repairs an old arcade game that turns out to be a training simulator from the future, preparing players for an impending alien invasion; he must master the game to save his town.
108. A school librarian finds that returning a specific set of books in a certain order opens a portal to fictional worlds, and she must rescue a student who accidentally gets trapped in a particularly dangerous one.
109. A vintage car enthusiast restores an old limousine only to discover it belonged to a mob boss who hid incriminating evidence in secret compartments, now sought by modern-day gangsters.
110. A wedding DJ discovers his sound system can affect the emotions of entire crowds, leading to euphoria or chaos; he must control the power during a high-profile event that could turn disastrous.
111. A retired sailor purchases a decommissioned lighthouse that beams light into other dimensions, attracting beings that seek the light to navigate toward Earth, and he has to adjust to his new role as a cosmic lighthouse keeper.
112. A barista at a small coffee shop serves a brew that temporarily gives people the ability to foresee minor future events in their own lives, causing a stir in the community as patrons try to use their foresight for personal gain.
113. An unremarkable man receives a mysterious gift that allows him to duplicate himself for a day; he uses his clones to solve various community problems but must prevent them from wanting to exist beyond their 24-hour limit.
114. A laundromat owner discovers that washing clothes in a specific machine can alter the wearer's destiny, prompting ethical dilemmas when customers return to share their drastically changed life stories.
115. A hobbyist potter crafts a vase that, once broken, can reverse a single event from the owner's past, but using it may alter much more than the intended incident, threatening to unravel the fabric of their reality.
Conclusion
As you finish reading these 115 fiction writing prompts, imagine the worlds you can create, the characters you can bring to life, and the stories you can tell.
From dystopian societies to romantic encounters in unexpected places, these prompts are designed to push your creativity beyond the every day into the realms of the extraordinary.
They are more than just a cure for writer's block; they are a gateway to new genres, unexpected plot twists, and deep character explorations.
Let these prompts inspire you to fill the blank pages with your unique voice and vision, turning what was once daunting into a thrilling creative journey.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fiction Writing Prompts (FAQs)
What are fiction writing prompts?
Fiction writing prompts are short, creative ideas or suggestions designed to inspire writers to start a new story. They serve as a jumping-off point to spark imagination and overcome the daunting blank page.
How can I use writing prompts to overcome writer's block?
Writing prompts can break the cycle of writer's block by providing a starting point that bypasses the initial struggle of coming up with an idea. Simply choose a prompt, and let it guide your first few words or scenes.
What are some examples of genre-specific writing prompts?
Science Fiction Fiction Writing Prompt: Imagine a world where an airborne substance has altered the human population's DNA.
Thriller Writing Prompt: Your main character discovers their next-door neighbor is a serial killer.
Horror Writing Prompt: Write a horror story set on Halloween night that starts with finding an old family photo.
Fantasy Writing Prompt: Describe a young woman discovering her magical powers during a secret underground event in her character's hometown.
Romance Writing Prompt: Two best friends go on a blind date with each other on a dare, only to realize they might be each other's true love.
Can writing prompts help with writing short stories?
Absolutely! Writing prompts often lend themselves well to the short story format by focusing on a single moment, character, or idea that can be explored in a brief narrative.
What's a good prompt for a dystopian story?
Imagine a future where nature extremists have taken over the government, enforcing laws that mandate all agriculture to revert to ancient, natural farming methods.
How do I create a writing prompt for a mystery story?
Start with a setting or character that has a secret to hide or discover. For instance, a detective finds an unknown number of old letters in the attic of a small town’s retirement home, revealing a decades-old crime.
What should I keep in mind when using writing prompts?
Be flexible: Allow the prompt to guide you, but don't be afraid to deviate and follow where your creativity leads.
Explore different genres: Use prompts to write outside your comfort zone and experiment with new genres.
Focus on character development: Let the prompts help you delve deeper into your characters' lives, motivations, and conflicts.
How can prompts enhance creativity in writing groups?
Prompts are a great tool for writing groups, offering a shared starting point that can lead to diverse and interesting stories. They encourage discussion and feedback, helping writers grow and refine their craft together.
Can I use prompts for more than just fiction writing?
Yes! While typically used for fiction, prompts can also inspire poetry, scripts for films, and creative nonfiction. They can be adapted to fit any creative writing need.
How often should I use writing prompts?
There's no set frequency—use them as often as you need to spark inspiration or when you want to practice specific writing exercises. Some writers use prompts daily, while others might reach for them only when they feel stuck.
Do you have a prompt that involves a character finding something unexpected?
Imagine a character who, on their first day at a new job, discovers a hidden door in their office that leads to an alternate universe. What happens next?
What are some tips for creating my own writing prompts?
Start with a scenario: Think of an intriguing situation or setting.
Add a twist: Introduce an unexpected element or conflict.
Think about character dynamics: Focus on relationships or internal struggles.
Use 'What if' questions: These can open up numerous possibilities for different stories.
Can writing prompts help me write a novel?
Yes, they can! A prompt might spark an idea that can be expanded into a full novel. Use it to define your initial scene or conflict and develop your plot and characters from there.
What's a creative prompt for a character-driven story?
What if a character woke up with the ability to hear everyone's thoughts in their small seaside town? How would it change their relationships and their understanding of the world around them?
How do writing prompts help define a character's voice and personality?
Prompts can challenge you to develop a character's unique voice by placing them in diverse situations or emotional states. This exercise helps to deepen the character’s dimensions and makes them more relatable to readers.
What is an effective way to use prompts for world-building in fantasy or sci-fi genres?
Try prompts that force you to create intricate details about the world. For example: "Describe a day in the life of a street vendor in your fantasy world." Such prompts help flesh out the broader universe through everyday life.
Can creative writing prompts be used to improve dialogue writing skills?
Absolutely! Use a prompt that requires two characters to resolve a conflict or share a secret. This will help you practice creating realistic and dynamic exchanges between characters.
What are some prompts that can help explore a theme deeply in a story?
Choose prompts that directly engage with your theme. For instance, if your theme is "sacrifice," you might use a prompt like, "A character must decide whether to save their city at the cost of their own life."
How can prompts assist in writing a compelling antagonist?
Use a prompt that explores the antagonist’s backstory or a pivotal moment that led them to oppose the protagonist. Understanding their motives can add depth to your story and make the conflict more engaging.
What kind of prompt would help explore futuristic technology in a story?
Consider prompts that introduce a new technology and its impact on society, like: "In a world where memories can be digitally recorded and traded, a character uncovers a market for illegal memory exchanges."
How can prompts help in structuring a novel’s plot?
Prompts can be used at various plot points to introduce new challenges or twists. For instance, "Halfway through their quest, the main characters discover that their map has been misleading them."
What are unique ways to use prompts in a mystery novel?
Utilize prompts that introduce new evidence or suspects at unexpected points in the story. This keeps the narrative fresh and maintains suspense, such as, "During a town festival, the protagonist finds an old watch that restarts the investigation."
How can writing prompts facilitate writing from different perspectives?
Craft prompts that require you to write from the point of view of a secondary character or even the antagonist. This can offer new insights into the main narrative and enrich the story.
Can prompts be used for flash fiction writing exercises?
Yes, they're perfect for this! Flash fiction prompts often focus on a moment or a small idea that can be fully explored in a short format, like, "Write a story about the moment two strangers realize they dream about each other."
What are interactive prompts for collaborative storytelling?
These prompts are designed for multiple writers to build on each other's contributions, like, "One writer starts a story about a secret society, and each subsequent writer introduces a new member with their own secrets."
How do prompts encourage experimentation with style and form in writing?
Prompts can invite you to write in a new genre or style, helping you to experiment with poetic prose, non-linear narratives, or stream of consciousness, which might be outside your usual writing style.
What are prompts that integrate real-world issues into fictional narratives?
Create prompts that require addressing societal issues through a fictional lens, such as, "Write a dystopian story where climate change has altered the everyday life of your main character."
How can prompts help in writing historical fiction?
Use prompts that immerse characters in significant historical events or everyday scenarios from the past, helping to create authenticity and depth in your historical narrative.
