222+ Short Story Writing Prompts
"Blank page syndrome? Writer's block? These are just myths," the storyteller smiled, "Every story begins somewhere, with something. Even from nothing."
Today, let's help you find that somewhere or something. Let's help you conquer that blank page. Introducing a long list of short story writing prompts. These prompts are designed to spark your creativity, shake off any cobwebs, and ignite that storyteller within you.
From creative writing prompts to sci-fi writing prompts, let's dive into a whirlpool of story ideas.
Creative Writing Prompts
1. Imagine you're the only person left in a world after a natural disaster. How would your everyday life be?
2. You are a college student who just discovered she's actually a princess of an ancient society. How does your life change?
3. Write about a young woman whose neural implants translate music into physical pleasure.
4. Your character receives a mysterious package with electronics hidden inside. What happens next?
5. A little boy at summer camp starts to draw and his sketches come to life. What complications arise?
6. Your main character is a music addict who finds an old vinyl record that plays someone's imagination instead of music.
7. Write a love story where a character develops the ability to see future events.
8. Imagine a world where the written word is banned. How would people communicate?
9. Write a story where your character is a music addict who can hear the emotions of others through music.
10. What if an ancient society was discovered beneath the Earth's crust, and your main character is selected to make first contact?
11. Your character wakes up and realizes their entire life has been televised to an alien civilization.
12. Write about a young woman who finds a way to travel between past and present timelines.
13. Your character discovers they can converse with plants. What secrets do they learn?
14. A character, upon touching any book, can live through its story. Describe an adventure.
15. A sudden cosmic event caused everyone to see in black and white. How does it affect life?
16. Write a story about a man who woke up one day to find that he was his future self.
17. A best friend comes out as an extraterrestrial entity, hidden on Earth for protection. How does the relationship change?
18. Write about an average college student who, in a seminar, realizes they can read minds.
19. What if we lived in a world where there are no dreams during sleep, but your character starts dreaming?
20. What if a little boy found out that his imagination could alter reality?
21. Write a story about a man who ages backward, starting from his death.
22. Write a story from the perspective of a pet adopted by a family.
23. An eccentric inventor creates a device that turns thoughts into paintings. Explore the aftermath.
24. Write about a world where humans coexist with mythical creatures.
25. What if a young woman discovered that the stars in the sky are actually other worlds?
26. A character wakes up to realize that their entire life has been an illusion until now.
27. Your character is a writer who can make anything they write become a reality.
28. Write about a day when all the characters in the books in a library come to life.
29. Your character can interact with their reflection as if it's a separate person.
30. Write about a world where art is the only accepted currency.
31. Your character is the only person who doesn't have a digital footprint in a tech-driven society.
32. What if the only child of a family inherits the trait of seeing ghosts from their grandmother?
Short Story Ideas
1. A century ago, the sun began to dim, and only plant life adapted to the darkness. Your character is part of the remaining human civilization survives, living underground.
2. Write a story where a natural disaster caused the Earth's atmosphere to change, and the remaining human civilization had to adapt.
3. Your character is a college student who accidentally travels to an alternate universe while working on a physics experiment.
4. The main character is the last person on earth, and they come across muddy footprints leading to an unknown entity.
5. Write about a little boy who finds out that his everyday life is actually a computer simulation created by his future self.
6. The main character is an only child who discovers that their favorite fairy tale is real.
7. A young woman moves to a new city and finds out that her next-door neighbor is a vampire.
8. Write a story set in a world where the only source of entertainment is reading.
9. Write about a dystopian future where the remaining human civilization survives by transferring their consciousness to a computer simulation.
10. Write a story set in a world where World War III happened a century ago, and people live in underground cities.
11. Your character is a young woman who wakes up one day to find out that she has been living in an alternate universe her whole life.
12. Your character is a teenager who realizes that their imaginary friend is real.
13. Your character wakes up from a coma and finds out that they can now understand and speak every language.
14. Write a story where your character, after a head injury, gains the ability to see past and future events.
15. Write a story about a man who has the ability to switch bodies with anyone he wants.
16. Your character wakes up one day to find out that their entire life is a scripted TV show.
17. Your main character, a college student, discovers a hidden magical world in their campus library.
18. Write about a character who, after a near-death experience, can see and talk to ghosts.
19. Your character is an artist who realizes that everything they paint becomes a reality.
20. Write a story where a young woman realizes that her dreams are events from her past life.
21. Your character finds a mysterious diary that describes future events.
22. Your character is a time traveler who is stuck in the past and is trying to get back to the future.
23. Write a story about a character who can read every mind but their own.
24. Your main character is a music addict who discovers a song that can transport them to another realm.
25. Your character is a teenager who can change their appearance at will.
26. A young woman wakes up one day to find that she is the last person on earth.
27. Your character, an introvert, wakes up to realize they can hear everyone's thoughts.
28. Write about a character who lives a double life—one in reality and one in their dreams.
29. Your character is a detective who can solve crimes by tasting the emotions on objects.
30. Your character has lived their whole life in a fantasy world. One day, they wake up in the real world.
31. Write a story where your character finds a magical portal in their closet.
32. Your character is the only person who doesn't age in a world where people live only for 30 years.
Short Story Writing Prompts
1. Your character is an archaeologist who stumbles upon an ancient society untouched by modern civilization.
2. Write a story where your main character wakes up to find the entire world has stopped moving.
3. Your character finds a book. Reading the book alters their perception of reality.
4. Your character wakes up one morning to find that they've lived their whole life in someone's imagination.
5. A character's best friend goes missing. They embark on a journey to find them, uncovering secrets about their own life along the way.
6. Imagine a world where everyone is a writer, and there's a complete ban on any other profession.
7. Write about a young woman who can communicate with animals and uses this ability to solve mysteries.
8. Your character is the only human in a world of androids.
9. Write a story about a little boy who can see people's ages above their heads.
10. A character wakes up one day and finds out they're the only person left on Earth. What do they do?
11. Write about a world where a person's wealth is determined by their knowledge.
12. Your main character is a writer who can make anything they write come true.
13. Write about a character who gets trapped inside their favorite book.
14. A character loses the ability to lie and has to navigate their life.
15. Write about a character who can see a person's remaining lifespan in their eyes.
16. Your character is a painter who can enter into the paintings they create.
17. A mysterious disease wipes out everyone above the age of 21. How do children and teenagers cope?
18. Write about a character who can hear everyone's thoughts, but can't speak or write.
19. A character finds out that their entire life is a movie, and they're the main character.
20. Your character can pause, fast-forward, and rewind time.
21. Write a story where a character finds out that they're a character in someone's novel.
22. Your character is a time traveler who is stuck in the past, with no way back to the future.
23. A character wakes up one day and realizes they're the only person who can see colors.
24. Write a story where your character is a ghost who can interact with the living.
25. Your character is a scientist who discovers a cure for aging.
26. A character wakes up one day to find out they can teleport.
27. Your character finds a door in their house that leads to another dimension.
28. Write about a character who lives in a world where emotions are bought and sold.
29. A character falls in love with someone they only see in their dreams.
30. Write a story about a character who can predict natural disasters.
31. Your character wakes up one day to find out they're invisible.
32. A character discovers a letter from their future self.
Sci-Fi Writing Prompts
1. In a future where neural implants translate music into a spectrum of experience, your main character is a music addict who can no longer experience music like everyone else. How do they navigate their life?
2. Your character is a scientist who discovers that Earth is a reality show for aliens.
3. Write about a world where humans are the aliens invading another planet.
4. Your character is an astronaut who lands on a planet inhabited by human-like creatures.
5. A character discovers an ancient society living on Mars.
6. Write a story about a world where emotions can be seen as colors.
7. Your character invents a machine that allows them to enter into people's dreams.
8. Your main character discovers that humans are merely a computer simulation created by advanced beings.
9. Write a story where the Earth is an alien experiment.
10. Your character is a scientist who invents a device that can erase specific memories.
11. A character discovers a planet where the inhabitants live in their dreams.
12. Write about a world where AI has taken over, and humans are the minority.
13. Your character discovers that Earth is about to be invaded by another planet.
14. Write about a world where people can download skills into their brains.
15. A character invents a device that allows them to talk to animals.
16. Write about a character who travels to the past and changes history.
17. Your character is a robot who develops human emotions.
18. Write about a world where humans evolve to communicate telepathically.
19. Your character discovers a planet where the inhabitants can manipulate time.
20. A character invents a technology that can bring virtual characters to life.
21. Write about a world where humans can design their babies.
22. Your character is a robot who discovers they have human memories.
23. Write about a world where AI develops emotions.
24. Your character is a scientist who accidentally opens a portal to a parallel universe.
25. Write about a future where humans have abandoned Earth and now live in space.
26. Your character discovers they can teleport to different dimensions.
27. A character is a time traveler who accidentally changes something in the past.
28. Your character is a space explorer who discovers a new planet inhabited by strange creatures.
29. Write a story where Earth is a giant spaceship traveling through the universe.
30. Your character wakes up one day to find out they've turned into an alien.
31. Your character finds a hidden city beneath the surface of Mars.
32. Write about a world where humans can swap bodies with each other.
Fantasy Short Story Prompts
1. Your character is a mage who lost their magical powers due to a curse. How do they regain their powers?
2. Write about a world where dragons are the dominant species, and humans are mythical creatures.
3. Write a story about a witch who uses her magic to improve life quality in her village but is misunderstood by the villagers.
4. Your main character is a young woman who was chosen by a magical sword to be the next queen.
5. Your character is a wizard who lost their magic. How do they get it back?
6. Write a story where your character is a dragon who can shape-shift into a human.
7. Your character finds a magical map that leads to a hidden kingdom.
8. Write about a character who is a werewolf, but doesn't know it until the full moon.
9. Your character is a fairy who is trying to hide their identity in the human world.
10. A character discovers that they're the heir to a magical kingdom.
11. Your character is a mermaid who falls in love with a human.
12. Write a story about a character who is a knight in a kingdom of witches.
13. Your character is a knight who must rescue a dragon from a princess.
14. Write a story about a world where shadows have a life of their own.
15. Your character is a witch who uses her powers to help her village.
16. A character finds a magical talisman that can control the weather.
17. Your character is a human who falls in love with a ghost.
18. Write a story about a world where every person has a mythical creature as a pet.
19. Your character is a sorcerer who has lost his magical book of spells.
20. A character finds a door in their attic that leads to a magical world.
21. Your character is a vampire who wants to become human again.
22. Write about a world where trees can talk and move.
23. Your character is a shape-shifter who can't control their transformations.
24. Write a story about a character who can control elements but is afraid of their power.
25. Your character is a mermaid who wants to live on land.
26. A character finds a magical stone that grants them the ability to speak to animals.
27. Your character is a wizard who can't control their magic.
28. Write about a world where mythical creatures are ordinary pets.
29. Your character is a fairy who is trying to hide their magic in the human world.
30. Your character finds a genie who grants them one wish.
31. A character discovers a secret kingdom in their basement.
32. Your character is a thief who steals a magical artifact and unleashes a curse.
Thriller Writing Prompts
1. Write about a detective who finds out that his best friend is the serial killer he's been hunting.
2. Your main character finds a strange man living in his basement. This stranger claims to be his future self.
3. Your character is a detective who discovers that their partner is a serial killer.
4. Write a story about a character who wakes up in a locked room with no memory of how they got there.
5. Your character finds a mysterious note that leads them to a secret society.
6. Your character wakes up in a coffin with no memory of how they got there.
7. Write a story about a character who is being hunted by a faceless entity.
8. Your character is a detective who discovers that their spouse is a serial killer.
9. A character finds themselves trapped in a house with no doors or windows.
10. Write a story about a character who starts receiving death threats from an unknown source.
11. Your character wakes up to find they have lost a year of their memory.
12. A character witnesses a crime and then becomes the prime suspect.
13. Write a story about a character who gets kidnapped and must escape their captors.
14. Your character is a journalist who stumbles upon a dangerous secret.
15. A character finds a diary that predicts their death.
16. A character receives a phone call from their future self, warning them about a disaster.
17. Your character is a spy who is tasked with infiltrating a dangerous cult.
18. Write a story about a character who is being hunted by an unknown entity.
19. Your character wakes up in a hospital with no memory and discovers they're wanted for murder.
20. A character finds themselves trapped in a town where all the inhabitants have disappeared.
21. Write a story about a detective who is hunting a serial killer who leaves no trace.
22. Your character wakes up in a strange room with no recollection of how they got there.
23. A character receives a letter from a stalker who claims to know their every move.
24. Your character finds themselves trapped in a maze with a killer.
25. Write a story about a character who wakes up to find their town completely deserted.
26. Your character is a journalist who stumbles upon a major scandal.
27. A character finds a secret room in their house with disturbing evidence.
28. Your character receives a chilling phone call from an unknown person.
29. A character wakes up to find a mysterious tattoo on their arm that wasn't there the night before.
30. Write about a character who discovers they have a twin who is a serial killer.
31. Your character receives an anonymous note that reveals a shocking truth about their past.
32. A character finds themselves being stalked by their doppelganger.
Fiction Writing Prompts
1. Imagine a world where everyone is born with a single tattoo that details their entire life. Your main character is born without one.
2. Write a story where your character finds themselves in a world where the past and present timelines began to merge.
3. Imagine a world where all the characters from your favorite books live together. How would they interact?
4. Your character wakes up one day to find out they're the last person on Earth.
5. Write about a character who discovers a new color.
6. Your character is an author who realizes their fictional characters are real.
7. A character inherits an old mansion from a relative they never knew.
8. Write about a character who can predict a person's death by touching them.
9. Your character is a psychiatrist who can see the mental state of their patients.
10. A character finds out they've been living in a dream, and they must wake up to save their real self.
11. Write a story about a character who can hear every lie.
12. Your character discovers a secret society in their small town.
13. A character wakes up to find that everyone else is frozen in time.
14. Write a story about a character who lives in a world where tears have magical properties.
15. Your character discovers they can communicate with ghosts.
16. A character lives in a world where everyone can read each other's thoughts.
17. Write a story about a character who can't feel emotions.
18. Your character discovers that their dreams are alternate realities.
19. Write about a character who can only tell the truth.
20. Your character wakes up to find that they've been living in someone else's dream.
21. A character realizes they can manipulate time.
22. Write about a world where music is forbidden.
23. Your character is a normal person in a world full of superheroes.
24. A character discovers they have the ability to make anyone fall in love with them.
25. Write a story where the main character wakes up in a different body every day.
26. Your character finds out that they are a character in their favorite novel.
27. Write a story about a character who wakes up one day to find they're the opposite gender.
28. Your character is a painter who can paint the future.
29. A character wakes up to find they have lost all their memories.
30. Write a story about a character who falls in love with someone they've never met.
31. Your character is a photographer who can capture people's dreams in their pictures.
32. A character discovers they have a twin sibling they never knew about.
Conclusion
That's a total of 224 short story writing prompts to jumpstart your imagination and conquer the blank page. We've explored the realms of sci-fi, delved into the mystical world of fantasy, felt the suspense of thrillers, and ventured into the boundless landscapes of fiction.
Every prompt is a new universe waiting to be explored, a story yet to be told. So, don your writer's hat, wield your pen, and let your creativity burst onto the page. Remember, there's no right or wrong in writing, only learning and growing.
Make these prompts your own, spin tales only you can tell. The world of stories is vast, and there's always room for more. So here's to uncharted territories, unexpected characters, and unforgettable journeys. Here's to writing, rewriting, and writing some more.
Let these prompts be your guide, and may your stories be as infinite as your imagination.
Happy writing!
Frequently Asked Questions about short story writing prompts
What is a short story writing prompt?
A short story writing prompt is a topic, idea, or starting point that helps kick-start your creative writing process. These prompts can be a single word, a sentence, a question, or even a dialogue. They serve to inspire and guide you to write a short story.
How do I use a writing prompt?
You can use a writing prompt as the main theme or central idea for your short story, or it could be a component or event within your narrative. It's entirely up to you. The prompt is meant to inspire and initiate your creative writing process.
Do I have to stick strictly to the prompt?
No, you don’t have to stick strictly to the prompt. It's a starting point or a guide. The beauty of creative writing is in its flexibility and the room it provides for interpretation. Feel free to expand on the prompt, twist it, or even contradict it.
What types of short story writing prompts are there?
There are many types of short story writing prompts. Some examples include creative writing prompts, sci-fi writing prompts, fantasy short story prompts, thriller writing prompts, and fiction writing prompts.
Can writing prompts help improve my writing?
Absolutely! Writing prompts can help improve your writing by encouraging regular writing practice, enhancing creativity, expanding your imagination, and helping you overcome writer's block.
I’ve used a prompt, but my story seems cliché. What should I do?
That’s okay! First drafts are meant to be raw and unrefined. The important part is that you started writing. You can always revise, alter, or completely change the story during your editing process. Don’t hesitate to add unique twists or delve deeper into your characters to make your story more original.
How can I make my story interesting with prompts?
Try to think outside the box. Use the prompt as a base and then add unexpected elements, complex characters, surprising plot twists, or unusual settings. Your unique perspective is what will make your story interesting.
Are writing prompts only for beginners?
Not at all! While beginners find prompts very helpful, even seasoned writers use them to break out of their routine, overcome writer’s block, or explore new genres and styles.
Can I combine multiple prompts in a single story?
Yes, feel free to combine multiple prompts. This can add depth to your narrative and make your story more interesting. Just make sure the prompts work together to create a coherent story.
Can I use these prompts for longer pieces, like novels?
Absolutely! While these are termed as 'short story prompts,' they can definitely be used for longer pieces. Use them as a spark, and see where your imagination leads you. After all, every novel is just a short story that kept growing.
