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Writing prompts - a short story

Lisa couldn’t believe it. Yes, she’d taken on the challenge to write every day. Yes, she’d promised to try some of these random writing prompts you could generate online. Had she known the outcome would be so outrageous, she’d never have done it. What were you supposed to do with a shipwrecked, cowardly fireman who somehow had anything to do with a music instrument? Was he going to realize that his talents lie elsewhere? Could he somehow manage to use the instrument to call for the help he desperately needed? Befriend it as Tom Hanks befriends a volleyball in Cast Away? If made out of wood, perhaps it could be used to construct a raft.

Lisa shook her head. Writing prompts. At this point even the ice bucket challenge sounded better.

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Grab writing ideas with this creative writing prompt generator

Welcome to The Story Shack's free creative writing prompts generator! Are you in need of a story starter? Then simply click the button above and let the tool generate some great random writing prompt for you. You also don't have to worry if it will work on your iPad, iPhone, Kindle or other smart device, as the plot generator is fully responsive!

This tool is currently capable of generating 2.8 billion random fiction writing prompts , and that is not where we're stopping. Check back frequently for new ideas.

Currently, the writing prompt generator provides the following ideas:

Writing genre

Character type

A prop to use

A bonus assignment

Writing prompts through our story idea generator

Do you need writing inspiration for your next book? A story starter for an upcoming flash fiction journal's competition? Perhaps you simply want to do a writing exercise? This plot generator is a one-stop shop to get the creative juices flowing. Our writing prompt generator provides you with a random prompt that includes a genre, the length of your short story, characters (also try out our character name generator ), quotes, props and a bonus assignment.

What makes for a challenging creative writing prompt?

Creative writing prompts can be a lot of fun to write. However, not all ideas are created equal. Some topics are more difficult than others. Some of the most challenging prompts may include animal-human hybrids or autobiographical essays.

It is important for creative writers to have a variety of writing assignments and creative writing prompts. While some may seem easy at first glance, they can be quite challenging when it comes to actually sitting down and putting words on paper.

The idea of how to write on the given topic is often what makes for a good writing prompt. It's important to have an idea of what you want your story to be about and what you want readers to learn from it. Writing prompts often give you topics that you wouldn't think about yourself, so it's important that when reading the resulting story, one can tell that there is something interesting about the topic and not just something random.

Story prompts modeled after the 48 Hour Film Project

Writing prompts should be challenging. Because of this, I've modeled this story idea generator after the 48 Hour Film Project model. This film project takes place in many cities throughout the world and challenges storytellers to create a short film within two days. This short film needs to adhere to a number of random prompts that all participants share.

It's always a great challenge and a lot of fun. Hopefully you will have as much fun with the creative writing ideas this tool produces. So get the creative process started, click Generate above and keep clicking it until you have all the writing ideas you'd like.

Take writing prompts to the next level with Taleforge

The writing prompt generator was the very first tool I created on The Story Shack, and the site has evolved a lot since. It’s still my favorite random generator, and I wanted to try to explore the idea a bit further. The result is Taleforge , an interactive writing app that challenges you by throwing random prompts at you while you’re racing against a timer.

Can I share the random writing prompts that this tool creates?

Yes you can. The Story Shack claims no copyright on any of these prompts.

How many ideas can I generate with this random Writing Prompt Generator?

The Writing Prompt Generator can generate thousands of ideas for your project, so feel free to keep clicking and at the end use the handy copy feature to export your prompts to a text editor of your choice. Enjoy!

The importance of writing prompts for authors

For quite some time, the idea of writing prompts has been something of a useful resource for writers of all levels. Writing prompts can have a significant impact on both the quality and quantity of your output, whether you're a novice looking to improve your writing confidence or an experienced professional looking for fresh ideas. Prompts help you come up with ideas you didn't know you had, making your writing go further and faster than it would have otherwise. Many writers struggle with blocks, writer's block, and generally low levels of productivity without them. Writing prompts are essential because they assist in inspiring you and reviving your creative juices. But first, let's talk about what exactly writing prompts are. A statement, idea, or sentence that encourages writers to come up with ideas and start writing is known as a writing prompt. A simple word or a lengthy sentence that prompts the writer to respond could be used. It is essential to keep in mind that prompts for writing are typically incomplete and necessitate further investigation. They are most effective when used to motivate the writer to investigate the subject more deeply and develop their own original story or perspective that they would not have otherwise considered. Anywhere and on any subject can be used as a prompt. You could get a prompt from someone else, like an editor, teacher, or mentor, or you could look within yourself for one. In either case, the way you approach a prompt is the key to making the most of it and maximizing its impact. Setting a timetable for progressing your writing is one of the most effective ways to use a prompt to advance it. That one sentence might end up being the subject of an entire article, opinion piece, or even novel! If you give yourself deadlines and goals to meet, you will stay on track and continue to develop the prompt's initial idea, which is when you will reap its full benefits. Naturally, there is no right or wrong in creative writing, and anything can be interpreted and considered. You don't have to use the prompt exactly as it was given to you or take it at face value. Writing prompts are adaptable and can be tailored to each person. They can be used to write about personal issues that you might not have been comfortable discussing before. Additionally, prompts can be utilized to dismantle self-imposed boundaries, thought patterns, and preconceived notions. A writer might, for instance, come up with a prompt that forces them to look at a subject from a different angle. By allowing the writer to look at a subject from a different perspective, a prompt has the power to enhance one's understanding of it when used in this manner. Whether you use them to gather ideas, improve your writing abilities, or just for fun, writing prompts are extremely useful resources for writers of all levels. Naturally, it is the individual's responsibility to make the most of the prompts that come their way. Writing prompts, on the other hand, are not to be undervalued as a useful tool for assisting writers on their journey.

5 questions to help you come up with writing prompts

  • What unique life experiences have I had?
  • What recent news event could I use to inspire a story?
  • What emotions do I want to explore?
  • What classic stories could be re-told from a different perspective?
  • What unsolved mysteries need re-telling?

Can I use the random writing prompts that this tool creates?

Yes you can. The Story Shack claims no copyright on any of these names, but it is of course possible that some of the values this name generator provides are already owned by anyone else, so please make sure to always do your due diligence.

How many ideas can I generate with this Writing Prompt Generator?

The Writing Prompt Generator can generate thousands of ideas for your project, so feel free to keep clicking and at the end use the handy copy feature to export your writing prompts to a text editor of your choice. Enjoy!

What are good writing prompts?

There's thousands of random writing prompts in this generator. Here are some samples to start:

More on writing prompts across the web

Can't get enough of generating writing prompts? Then continue exploring:

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DraftSparks ✨

Writing Prompt Generator

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👋 Hi there! Our writing prompts here at DraftSparks are 100% free, and we have thousands of them!

Keep clicking the button as much as you like until you get a writing prompt that you find interesting.

How It Works:

  • Choose Your Prompt Type : Select from fiction, non-fiction, or both. We’ll add new filters in the future if people ask for them!
  • Get Inspired : Click the black ‘Generate Prompt’ button and let the magic begin!
  • Write & Share : Craft your masterpiece and share it with our community or on social media. Tag us at @DraftSparks on most social networks. 🤗

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9 Free Writing Prompt Generators for All Writers (2023)

  • Post author By Onyemechi Nwakonam
  • Post date July 28, 2023
  • No Comments on 9 Free Writing Prompt Generators for All Writers (2023)

Every Friday I send you 

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Do you ever get stuck when you’re trying to write? 

Do you find yourself staring at a blank page, wondering what to write about?

 If so, you’re not alone. Writer’s block is a common problem, but there are ways to overcome it.

One way to get your creative juices flowing is to use a writing prompt generator or website. 

These tools can give you a random idea to write about, which can help you get started.

Here are  the best writing prompt generators and websites:

1. Story Starters

Story Starters is a website from Scholastic that offers multiple options for narrative writing prompts.

 Once writers choose a genre, they are asked to enter their name and grade level. 

Using a “slot machine” set-up, writers can spin for random parts to their prompt. 

For example, they might get a character, a setting, and a conflict. writers can then choose to write a short story, a poem, or a script.

  Unique features:  

  •   Offers prompts for different genres and grade levels
  •   Allows writers to choose the length of their prompt
  •   Provides a variety of writing options

2. The Story Shack

The Story Shack is a website that provides a variety of tools for writers, including a writing prompt generator. 

The generator allows users to specify a target word count, genre, character, material, and sentence to implement, and then generates a prompt based on those criteria.

 The prompts are often creative and challenging, and can help writers to break out of writer’s block or to simply get their creative juices flowing.

In addition to the writing prompt generator, The Story Shack also offers a number of other tools for writers, including:

  •  A random word generator
  •  A ship name generator
  •  An angel name generator
  •  A character name generator
  •  A planet name generator
  •  A dwarf name generator

The Story Shack also has a collection of illustrated stories that users can read for inspiration.

Overall, The Story Shack is a valuable resource for writers of all levels. 

The writing prompt generator is a great way to get started on a new story, and the other tools can help writers to brainstorm ideas and to develop their characters.

Here are some of the features of The Story Shack’s writing prompt generator:

  •   The ability to specify a target word count, genre, character, material, and sentence to implement
  •   The ability to generate prompts that are creative and challenging
  •   The ability to save prompts for later use
  •   The ability to share prompts with others

The Story Shack’s writing prompt generator is a free tool that can be used by anyone.

 To use the generator, simply visit the The Story Shack website and click on the “Writing Prompt Generator” link. 

You will then be able to specify the parameters of your prompt and generate a new prompt.

3. Plot Generator

Plot Generator is a website that generates random plot ideas. 

writers can choose the genre of their story, the number of characters, and the length of the plot.

The website will then generate a random plot that writers can use as a starting point for their own story.

  •  Generates random plots for different genres
  • Allows writers to customize their plots
  •  Provides a starting point for writing

4. Random First Line Generator

Random First Line Generator is a website that generates random first lines for stories. 

Writers can choose the genre of their story and the length of the first line. 

The website will then generate a random first line that writers can use to start their own story.

  • Generates random first lines for different genres
  • Allows writers to customize their first lines
  •  Provides a way to start writing

These are just a few of the many great writing prompt generators and websites that are available. 

With so many options to choose from, you’re sure to find one that helps you get your creative juices flowing.

5. How to Effectively Use Writing Prompt Generators Here are some straightforward pointers on leveraging writing prompt generators. Start by using the random prompts as a launch pad and adjust them to accommodate your storyline. Try crafting a short narrative from each prompt you conjure up - a fantastic way to broaden your imaginative horizons. To help you understand this better: Adapt prompts to suit your storyline, letting them spark your initial ideas. Attempt to write a mini-story for each generated prompt, thereby expanding your creative scope. Steer clear of complex terminology; these tips are intended for both greenhorn and expert authors. After getting to grips with different approaches, you're encouraged to play around with various tools until you discover a generator that meshes with your distinct writing style and requirements. In essence, it's about trial, error, and ultimately, achieving a personal fit.

ServiceScape’s Writing Prompt Generator is a website that provides users with a variety of prompts to help them get started on their next writing project.

 The prompts are categorized by genre, including fantasy, science fiction, horror, mystery, and romance. 

Users can also specify the length of the prompt they would like to receive.

The prompts on ServiceScape’s Writing Prompt Generator are well-written and creative. 

They are also open-ended, which allows users to have a lot of freedom in how they develop their stories.

 The website is also easy to use, and the prompts are presented in a clear and concise manner.

In addition to the Writing Prompt Generator, ServiceScape also offers a number of other resources for writers, including blog posts, articles, and webinars.

 These resources can help writers improve their craft and learn new techniques.

Overall, ServiceScape’s Writing Prompt Generator is a valuable resource for writers of all levels. 

The prompts are creative and open-ended, and the website is easy to use. 

If you are looking for a way to get started on your next writing project, I recommend checking out ServiceScape’s Writing Prompt Generator.

Here are some of the unique features of ServiceScape’s Writing Prompt Generator:

  •   The prompts are categorized by genre, making it easy to find prompts that are relevant to your interests.
  •   You can specify the length of the prompt you would like to receive.
  •   The prompts are well-written and creative.
  •   The website is easy to use.
  •   ServiceScape also offers a number of other resources for writers.

If you are looking for a writing prompt generator that is both creative and easy to use, I recommend checking out ServiceScape’s Writing Prompt Generator.

6. Squibler Writing Prompt Generator

Squibler is a writing platform that offers a variety of tools to help writers, including a plot generator. 

The plot generator is a free tool that allows users to generate random plot ideas for their stories.

The plot generator is easy to use. Simply select the genre of your story, the length of the plot, and any other preferences you have, and the generator will create a random plot idea for you.

The plot generator is a great way to get started on your next writing project.

 It can help you generate new ideas, overcome writer’s block, and improve your writing skills.

Here are some of the unique features of Squibler’s plot generator:

  •   It can generate plots for a variety of genres, including fantasy, science fiction, mystery, romance, and more.
  •   It can generate plots of different lengths, from short stories to novels.
  •   It allows you to specify your preferences, such as the tone of the story, the setting, and the characters.
  •   It is easy to use and can be accessed from any device.

If you are looking for a writing prompt generator that is both creative and easy to use, I recommend checking out Squibler’s plot generator.

Here are some additional features of Squibler that make it a valuable resource for writers:

  •     A first line generator:   This tool helps you come up with a strong opening line for your story.
  •     A dangerous writing mode:   This mode challenges you to write for a certain amount of time without stopping.
  •     A story outliner:   This tool helps you plan your story before you start writing.
  •     A writing journal:   This tool allows you to track your progress and keep track of your ideas.

Squibler is a comprehensive writing platform that offers a variety of tools to help writers of all levels. If you are looking for a way to improve your writing skills, I recommend checking out Squibler.

7. Selfpublishing

It is a website that provides a writing prompt generator tool.

 The tool allows users to generate random writing prompts based on the genre they choose.

 The genres available include fiction, nonfiction, and low-content.

 The tool also allows users to enter their information (optional) to join the SelfPublishing.com community and receive occasional emails.

I think the website is a great resource for writers who are looking for inspiration or who are struggling with writer’s block. 

The random prompts can help writers to get started on a new story or to explore a new genre. 

The tool is also easy to use and can be accessed from any device.

Here are some of the benefits of using the SelfPublishing.com writing prompt generator:

  •   It can help you to get started on a new story or to explore a new genre.
  •   It can help you to overcome writer’s block.
  •   It can help you to improve your writing skills.
  •   It is free to use.

If you are a writer, I encourage you to check out the SelfPublishing.com writing prompt generator.

 It is a great resource that can help you to improve your writing skills and to get started on your next story.

8. Writing Exercises.co.uk

 Writing Exercises.co.uk is a website that provides users with a variety of writing prompts and exercises to help them improve their writing skills.

 The prompts are categorized by genre, including fantasy, science fiction, horror, mystery, and romance.

The prompts on Writing Exercises.co.uk are well-written and creative.

 They are also open-ended, which allows users to have a lot of freedom in how they develop their stories. 

The website is also easy to use, and the prompts are presented in a clear and concise manner.

In addition to the Writing Prompt Generator, Writing Exercises also offers a number of other resources for writers, including blog posts, articles, and webinars. 

These resources can help writers improve their craft and learn new techniques.

Overall, Writing Exercises.co.uk is a valuable resource for writers of all levels. 

The prompts are creative and open-ended, and the website is easy to use.

 If you are looking for a way to get started on your next writing project, I recommend checking out Writing Exercises.co.uk.

Here are some of the unique features of Writing Exercises.co.uk:

  •   Writing Exercises also offers a number of other resources for writers.

If you are looking for a writing prompt generator that is both creative and easy to use, I recommend checking out Writing Exercises.co.uk.

9. Reedsy Plot Generator

The Reedsy Plot Generator is a website that helps writers come up with new ideas for their stories.

 The generator is powered by a database of over 1000,000 plot combinations, and it allows users to select the genre, length, and other factors of their story to generate a random plot idea.

The Reedsy Plot Generator is a great way to get started on your next writing project. 

It can help you generate new ideas, overcome writer’s block, and improve your writing skills.

Here are some of the unique features of the Reedsy Plot Generator:

  •   It is powered by a database of over 1000,000 plot combinations, which means that you are more likely to find a plot idea that is both creative and original.

If you are looking for a writing prompt generator that is both creative and easy to use, I recommend checking out the Reedsy Plot Generator.

Here are some additional features of the Reedsy Plot Generator that make it a valuable resource for writers:

The Reedsy Plot Generator is a comprehensive writing tool that offers a variety of features to help writers of all levels. If you are looking for a way to improve your writing skills, I recommend checking out the Reedsy Plot Generator.

Using Writing Prompts Generators

  When using a writing prompt generator, it’s important to be open to new ideas.

Don’t be afraid to try something different, even if it’s not something you would normally write about.

  If you’re stuck, try using a different writing prompt generator or website.

There are many different options available, so you’re sure to find one that sparks your creativity.

  Don’t be afraid to change the prompt to fit your own interests. If you’re not a fan of the genre or setting that the prompt gives you, feel free to change it.

 The most important thing is to have fun!

Writing is a creative process, so don’t be afraid to let your imagination run wild.

In this blog post, we have explored the different types of writing prompts generators available, as well as their benefits and drawbacks.

 We have also provided some tips on how to use writing prompts generators effectively.

Overall, writing prompts generators can be a great way to get your creative juices flowing and to help you overcome writer’s block. 

However, it is important to use them wisely and to not rely on them too heavily. 

The best way to use writing prompts generators is to use them as a starting point for your own ideas.

Here are some final thoughts on writing prompts generators:

  •   They can be a great way to get started on a new writing project.
  •   They can help you to generate new ideas and to explore different writing styles.
  •   They can be used to improve your writing skills.

  However, they should not be used as a substitute for your own creativity.

If you are looking for a way to boost your creativity and to improve your writing skills, then I encourage you to try using a writing prompts generator. 

There are many different generators available, so you should be able to find one that suits your needs.

Thank you for reading!

Additional Tips

  • Choose a generator that is appropriate for your genre.

 There are generators that specialize in different types of writing, such as fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and screenwriting.

2. Be specific in your search terms.

The more specific you are, the more likely you are to find prompts that are relevant to your interests.

3. Don’t be afraid to experiment.

Try different generators and different prompts to see what works best for you.

 The most important thing is to enjoy the process of writing.

book writing prompt generator

By Onyemechi Nwakonam

Hi ,I write poetry and short prose. I am excited to help you organise your writing journey.

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10,000 + writing prompts for authors.

Looking for new story ideas? Use our A.I. powered writing prompt generator to help you shape your story’s ideas. 

Writing software pen tip

An Almost Infinite Number of Story Ideas

So if you’re short of story ideas or you just want to practice writing, then I have a writing prompt tool that I’ll introduce you today that will help you dramatically by both giving you really interesting story ideas as well as acting as a tool to help you maintain consistent writing habits.

You can watch the video below to get an overview of how this tool works, or read the full article below.

How to Generate Story Ideas

So generating story ideas can be a bit of a challenge. We often know what kind of stories we like, but it’s often hard for us to put a finger on exactly what it was about the story that captured our attention. Was it the characters , the plot or the unique theme of the work? So the writing prompt tool we’re going to look at today takes the story concepts you like, remixes them with new genres, new characters, new theme ideas and outputs interesting ideas for you to expand on.

10,000 + Writing Prompts 

In the image below, you’ll see that I’m using scribble’s writing prompt generator, which you can access by going to any book you have in your book catalog and then clicking on any chapter within that book you’re working on. Over to the right, you’ll see this little magic wand icon (see the image below). Click on that if you want to follow along. If you don’t already have a Scribble account, you can get one here .

So what makes this writing prompt generator better than others?

Save Your Writing Prompts as Practice Books

First, of all, all writing prompts I generate with this prompt generator I can save directly within the application itself. Not only can I save the prompt, but of course, all of my own work developing these prompts into more fleshed out story ideas.

Notice on my main book catalog page, I have a section here for writing prompts and practice (see screenshot below).

This gives me a dedicated place where I can keep track of all my writing training or practice work. This allows you to always see how far you’ve come and how much you’ve progressed as a writer.

A.I. Writing Prompt Generation Tool

Second, these prompts are all generated by AI , so you’ll never get the same prompt twice. The AI was also trained to give you interesting prompts. So what makes a prompt interesting?

Good story seeds: First, these prompts won’t just output random ideas for you to ramble on about. These prompts will all have the basic seed of a good story. You’ll always have a character and that character will have both an internal and external conflict they need to overcome.

A character with a care and a goal: Second, The prompt will generate a character who cares about something , essentially, a character who has a goal. This will help set you off in the right direction.

Writing prompts include obstacles: These prompts will also include A.I. generated obstacles that will get in your character’s way of achieving their goal. So embedded within the writing prompt is the beginnings of a dizzying diversity of complex character choices. Often, in these prompts the right choice isn’t obvious and the character will need to choose between the better of two evils.

Writing prompts in the genre of your choice: This writing prompt generator tool allows you to create practice prompts in the genre of your choice. For example, if you’re writing literary fiction, there is an option for that. As is there for fantasy, romance, contemporary fiction, sci-fi, thriller, horror and many others.

Writing prompts which can give a nod to an existing story: This writing prompt generator allows you to reference a book or movie that you want to use as a jumping off point. This can get really interesting when it comes to remixing ideas. For example, maybe you want to write a romance novel, but you’re really inspired by “Dune” at the moment. You could mix these two elements together to see what you get.

An Example Writing Prompt

As you can see, I’ve created a writing prompt here. It reads:

As you can see it’s really interesting and contains the elements mentioned above. It contains:

– A character with internal and external conflict.

– A character who cares about something and has a goal.

– Obstacles that stand in the characters way.

– And the writing prompt also pushes me in the direction of a specific genre.

Guide the Writing Prompt in a Specific Direction

All of these things alone are enough to get you going. But there is one other feature which makes this writing prompt generator software the best tool out there, and that’s this input field here, where we can modify the output to include specific details about the fragments of a story we have in mind.

For example, perhaps I know my protagonist is female and I know that her name is Zara. In Scribble , I created her over on this people and places tab (see image below).

Below you’ll see her character profile. So perhaps I want to use this character as my jumping off point.

So I can enter that information on the main writing prompt page. I can say that this story will be told from the point of view of Zara a 25 year old female.

Now let’s see what it whips up.

As you can see, it’s pretty interesting.

Writing Prompts Based on Location

Or perhaps you don’t know the character yet, but you have the urge to tell a story in a certain location. We can add location to the prompt as well. Let’s say that I want this story to be dystopian and take place amongst desert ruins. Now notice that it takes these details into consideration when coming up with the prompt.

So you can either use this writing prompt generator to GIVE you an idea, or help you shape an existing idea.

Using Writing Prompts as a Practice Tool

If you have a prompt book created within Scribble , everyday you write simply add a new chapter and add a new prompt to that chapter. This way you can have a book dedicated to your writing practice work.

You can even use our AI book cover art generation tool to design a book cover specifically for your prompt book where you can keep all of your practice writing.

Why Use Writing Prompts?

Writing prompts not only helps you generate new writing ideas, but writing prompts also help you perfect your craft, experiment with new writing styles and work outside of your regular genre comfort zone in a really low risk environment.

If used correctly, writing prompts can be invaluable tools for writers. So enjoy playing around with the writing prompt tool within Scribble.

Thanks for stopping by our writing blog today

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105 Fantasy Writing Prompts To Stoke Your Creativity

You’ve just finished reading a fantasy novel, and while you hate that there’s no more to read, you’re so in love with the story and its characters, you marvel at the author’s power and imagination.

What must it be like to make readers feel the way you’re feeling right now?

With the generous supply of fantasy writing prompts in this post, maybe this is the year to find out.

Crafting Great Fantasy Story Ideas

  • Fantasy Story Ideas

Dark Fantasy Writing Prompts

Urban fantasy writing prompts, epic fantasy writing prompts, ya fantasy writing prompts, medieval story prompts, bonus: list of fantasy plot generators.

Fantasy writing gives you the opportunity to create new worlds and realities.

Your cast of characters can be regular humans, mythical beings, magical beings , or a group that includes all three.

The most compelling stories in this genre make use of the hero’s journey in some form. Think of Tolkien’s Frodo and the Ring.

Or the teenage protagonist in Rick Riordan’s Greek mythology-inspired Percy Jackson series.

Pick up any well-written and well-loved fantasy novel, and chances are, the author adapted the hero’s journey to their main character’s fears, desires, and personal tests.

Related: 16 Best Self-Publishing Companies For Your Writing Business

Learn from your favorite authors how to do the same, but in a way that fits your unique voice.

  • Create something that will inspire as well as entertain your readers.
  • Draw them into a world where anything is possible.
  • Help readers believe their own power to change things when they’ve finished reading your book.

For these outcomes, you need a story idea that grabs hold of you and makes you feel the way you want your reader to feel.

Maybe you’ve dabbled in writing fantasy, but you’re having a hard time thinking up a story idea that really excites you. Here are some ways to develop your story:

  • Twist, combine, or modernize classic fantasy tropes – Put a fresh spin on familiar elements like magic schools, dark lords, mystical objects, etc.
  • Borrow from mythology and folklore – Mine creatures and stories from ancient myths for inspiration.
  • Build unique magic systems – Develop interesting rules, costs, and limits around magical abilities.
  • Create detailed worlds – Flesh out geography, history, cultures, religions, and more to set your stage.
  • Explore “what if” scenarios – How would society react if dragons appeared today or portals opened to demon realms?
  • Start with interesting characters – Let their motivations, backstories, and character arcs drive the plot.
  • Establish engaging quests – center your ideas around meaningful, challenging journeys and goals.
  • Outline primal conflicts – Pit opposing forces like good vs. evil, nature vs. industry, spirit vs technology, etc.

You want a story that will stand out in a way that still meets genre expectations.

You’re not looking to change the fantasy genre, after all. But you do want to create something that will have millions waiting impatiently for your next book.

What Are Some Common Fantasy Tropes?

Fantasy stories often utilize familiar elements and conventions referred to as tropes. These tropes help set the tone and audience expectations for the fantasy world. When used skillfully, tropes can provide satisfying dramatic arcs and scenarios. Overused without innovation, however, they can make a story feel derivative. Some of the most common fantasy tropes include:

  • The hero’s journey – An ordinary individual receives a call to adventure and gains powers through trials leading to a confrontation with evil. 
  • Dark lord – A malevolent being intent on domination, destruction, and power. Often incredibly powerful with minions and armies.
  • Magic mentor – A wizened magician or sage who guides the hero in developing their talents. 
  • Magical assistant – A helpful creature or object with magical powers that aid the hero.
  • Rising evil – An ancient being or army that was banished long ago now returns to threaten the world.
  • Hidden heir – A prophecy about a chosen one who will inherit special powers and a kingdom. 
  • Mystical worlds – Portals connect the main world to magical realms filled with unusual creatures.
  • Magical objects – Items imbued with magical powers like wands, swords, and amulets.
  • Chosen one – A child of destiny who is the subject of a prophecy to save the world. 
  • Corrupt rulers – Kings, lords, and rulers who abuse their power over their lands and people.
  • Secret royal bloodline – A character who discovers they have royal ancestors and is the rightful heir. 
  • Mystical races – Elves, dwarves, fairies, and other humanoid races with magical talents. 
  • Mythical beasts – Dragons, griffins, unicorns, and other creatures of myth and legend.
  • Spell books – Tomes of arcane knowledge unlocking magical powers.
  • Magic schools – Academies and mentors training characters in magical arts.
  • Dark forests – Sinister woodlands filled with monsters and mystical forces.

105 Fantasy Writing Prompts

Writing a fantasy novel (or short story) is much easier when you have a story in mind that makes you itch to sit down and write.

The more you work on it and flesh out your characters, the more excited you become — and the less likely you are to ditch your work in progress when the going gets tough.

And it will. Quests are like that. Here’s to finishing yours, anyway.

Dark fantasy incorporates darker and sometimes frightening themes in its storytelling. It often combines fantasy with horror , drawing the reader in by invoking their fears. Use the following fantasy plot prompts to explore darker story ideas in the fantasy genre.

1. Top Secret Opportunity. You find an ad describing the job you’ve always wanted, and the employer agrees to interview you in the basement of the abandoned library.

2. The Rune Pendant. Your best friend at college is a highly intuitive rune-caster, and people seek her out. One querent pays her with a magical pendant that changes both your lives.

3. The Dream Key. You receive notice that an estranged aunt has passed and left you the key to her hiding place, which she says she’ll reveal to you in a dream.

4. A Single Touch. You always wondered why your grandfather had so much influence over others. You were immune. And now, you’re his successor.

5. Queen of the Garden. Your mother is obsessed with her garden. When sickness keeps her in bed, you step up to help and find it well tended by elves.

Fantasy Writing Prompts

6. The Goddess Ring. Your partner breaks up with you, and while sitting dejected on the beach, you find a ring. When you slip it on your finger, it transforms your appearance.

7. One Minute of Memory. You trade one minute of memory every day for the power to transform any room in your home to match any image. Your family begins to fall apart.

8. Lost Time. You were told you wandered off as a child for a few minutes but later discover you were gone far longer than that. One person knows why, and he’s in prison. 

9. The Crystal Finder. A new crystal shop opens near your home, and you’re one of its first customers. You even accept their offer of a part-time job, working in the back for the “finder.”

10. The Rift in the Bookshop. Your favorite reading room at a local bookshop is off-limits, ever since a mysterious disappearance and strange energy readings. Your favorite books also go missing.

11. Will Work for a Cure. You’re scrambling to find a lucrative work-from-home job before you start kidney dialysis, and you reply to an ad that sounds too good to be true. One of the benefits is a cure.

12. The Memory Glass. You’re looking through the property of a departed aunt and find a mirror. You uncover it and see an altered reflection that revives a memory. Suddenly your dreams make sense.

13. Becoming Justice. Your country has been taken over by a narcissistic tyrant, and a powerful relative has offered you a role in his downfall — but not as a human. 

14. The Manor’s Keeper. Your new job has an unexpected and life-changing benefit: fully-paid lodgings in an opulent manor. Everything you want appears as if by magic. After a week, your body starts changing.

15. The Spy Diary . You accidentally leave your diary behind at a coffee shop, and after searching in vain, you find it on your doorstep with a note: “You’re exactly the person I need.”

16. The Lost Heiress. A new friend invites you over for a cup of the most delicious tea you’ve ever had. You wake up in a palatial room, attended by someone who says, “After centuries of searching, we finally found you.”

17. The Recluse and the Ghost. You get a job as a ghostwriter for a well-known author who has some unusual expectations — one of which involves you living in absolute isolation as well as luxury. Given your background and personality, it seems doable.

Urban fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy that takes place in an urban setting. While it doesn’t have to be dark, it often uses themes that correspond to the darker side of city life. The following fantasy story plot ideas can help you get into your characters’ heads. 

18. Alien Town. The lights go out in your neighborhood one night, and you wake up to see yourself and all your neighbors changed. And your new abilities terrify you.

19. Stopping Time. You’re a barista with a gift that could cost you your life, but could also help the people of your community to fight back against those in control.

20. The Ghost Clause. You move into your dream apartment and soon discover you’re not the only sentient being living there. Ghosts don’t pay rent, but this one leaves gifts.

21. Hiding in New York. The coworker who irritates you the most just asked you for a big favor. He’s not who or what he appears to be. And he knows what you are, too.

22. Prodigal Witch. You’ve moved back to the city of your birth, and your family is nervous around you after a surprise revelation from your parents. Your new boss knows all about it.

23. Night and Day Trading. A sudden illness in the family costs you your job, and you accept a job offer from a relative who knows about your hidden abilities and wants to use them.

24. Herbal Vision. You wander into a tea shop, in search of the perfect evening tea, and the owner recommends a blend that enables you to see mythical creatures in disguise.

25. Doppelganger. You walk into an antique shop looking for a gift for your antique-loving bestie and are immediately noticed by the shopkeeper’s mother, who leads you to the back for a peek at something.

26. Cottage Industry.  You move into a tiny but well-kept old house closer to downtown and you start receiving mysterious gifts on your doorstep. One note reads, “Check the attic.”

27. The Graveyard Connection. The trees surrounding your new home remind you of something — or rather someone. One touch of your hand on a trunk, and you’re face to face with him.

28. Witch for Hire. You’ve lost your job, food is running out, and bills are coming due. You make the call you never thought you’d make. Seconds later, she arrives with your assignment.

29. Tarot to the Stars. You’ve become a well-respected tarot reader, and even people in high places are taking notice. One of them makes you a tempting offer. Your next querent urges you to decline it and leave.

30. Poisonous Planet. Your doctor gives you terrible news, and you talk to your only remaining relative, who tells you of a stargate that can return you to a planet with an atmosphere better suited to your physiology.

Epic fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy set in an invented or parallel world. It’s similar to high fantasy but the stakes are higher. A greater evil threatens the world of the protagonist, and the hero’s journey is often a critical part of the story. 

31. Spirit Animal. During your stay in a residential treatment center for your eating disorder, you go to an animal shelter and meet a black cat, “Loki,” who is friendly only to you.

32. A Dog’s World. You adopt an older dog who had been abused by his former human, and in repayment, he leads you to a door — to his real home. Soon, it’ll be yours, too.

33. Forest of Souls. You go on a camping trip with your best friend’s family and wake up alone, surrounded by whispering trees. Everything beyond those trees is gone.

34. In a Different Life. After attending your grandmother’s funeral, you learn from a new acquaintance (with a young but familiar face) that the remains you buried were synthetic.

35. The Refuge Theater. You feed homeless visitors at your cafe, and one of them pays you with a movie ticket for an old theater — which is more than it seems.

36. Tree Spirit. On the eve of your birthday, you change into something that terrifies you. Your parents explain, telling you of a prophecy that involves you and every tree on earth.

37. Borrowed Past. You’re on your first airplane flight when one of the engines fails, and for some reason, you know exactly what to do to ensure the plane lands safely. Only one other person on the plane knows why.

38. Secret Guardian. An ominous letter arrives — along with one offering magical guardianship for you and the shop you inherited. More worlds than one are at stake.

39. Hybrid Alley. You run to the store and witness a crime involving what looks like a human with the face and ears of a cat. You intervene, saving her life, and she later invites you to join her on her mission.

40. Tarot Vision. A new shop owner comes to town and you win an open house drawing for a free tarot reading. You’re skeptical at first but that reading resets your life — and sets you on a dangerous path.

YA fantasy is fantasy written for a young adult audience (12 to 18 years of age). Themes are often on the lighter side, but not always. The main difference is the age of the protagonist. With powerful storytelling, YA fantasy appeals to readers of all ages.

41. Breaking Time. Only when you meet someone you’re not supposed to fall in love with — and who knows how to time-travel — do you begin to really test your limits.

42. The Bucket List. You take your favorite uncle’s advice and create a bucket list. One by one, you cross each action item off, sometimes with hilarious results. The list changes you.

43. Political Unrest. Your home town is changing (not for the better) since the election of its new mayor, who sees you lead a protest at his office door. Something growls outside your bedroom window that night.

44. One Percent Problems. For your 16th birthday, you get the genetic upgrade of your choice, and your experimental choice gives you superpowers — and get the attention of some unusual new friends.

45. Change in the Air. Your family is chosen for a year-long stay at an outpost on a new Earth-like planet, but the people in charge don’t tell you how the atmosphere there will change you.

46. Nervous Memory. You’re at a mirror, and a sudden thought sends a chill into the back of your head. That’s when you notice your eyes change color — and you remember things, either from your life or someone else’s.

47. The Family Business.   Before dying, your mother tells you something about yourself she’d hoped you’d never need to know. Now only one person can help you prepare for the coming threat.

48. Designer Baby. You find out while researching for a term paper that you’re the result of a lab experiment. Now, you’re determined to find your creator, who has gone missing.

49. Visions in Bloom . Someone leaves flowers in your locker, and when they stay fresh for over a month, you get curious — especially when one sniff of the central bloom triggers a vision.

50. Accidental Superhero. A stupid dare leads you to a back of the local store wearing a superhero costume, which oddly enough helps prevent a crime and brands you with a new identity.

51. Alien Tech. You get your laptop fixed by a reclusive genius in town, and suddenly you’re able to connect to an “internet” that goes far beyond that of Earth’s.

Medieval fantasy is fantasy based in the medieval era. Fantasy writing ideas include elements not typical of recorded history — including mythical beings, magic, etc. The following prompts act as medieval fantasy story starters. 

52 . A Royal Pain. Thanks to your quick thinking during a crisis at the village market, you’ve been appointed as the bodyguard for the princess. The job proves more difficult than any mission you’ve ever had — but also more rewarding.

53. Twins at Odds. You and your twin princess find each other on opposite sides of the law. You don’t always get along, but when the king tells you to help set a trap for her — leading to her execution — you’re determined to find a way to help her instead.

54. Secret Fire. Being the love child of a favorite palace servant and a dragon shifter, your gifts don’t reveal themselves until the evening of a long-awaited ball, when a man twice your age tries to get you into a compromising situation. 

55. Ring of the Scribe. Your half-sibling has abilities that make you invisible around them. On your birthday, a favorite aunt gives you a ring that’s tied to a destiny kept secret from you. You put it on and strange things happen. But you can’t take it off. 

56. Motion Potion. As a witch in a magic-hating kingdom, being crippled is more than inconvenient. Your aunt teaches you a potion that lets you not only walk but dance better than anyone in the kingdom — just in time for the ball.

57. Forbidden Friendship. You’re a young royal in disguise who befriends a villager with a scarred face. The next day, he’s arrested for stealing something you gave to him. Saving his life will mean risking everything.

58. Vendetta Undercover.   Your ailing father has a serious grievance against the heir apparent and even named you accordingly. You set out to investigate on his behalf, securing a position in the castle. What you learn changes everything. 

59. Hidden World. You find a tree near home with a natural ladder leading up the giant trunk. You climb and find a hidden world of magical beings. You’re discovered and your survival depends on agreeing to a dangerous mission. 

60. Pickpocket Apprentice. You’re a poor villager who’s adept at pickpocketing, evading capture until a wizard catches you in the act and offers to teach you. The catch? His daughter suspects you and resents magic for what it cost her. 

61. Cave of Discoveries. You investigate a cave, finding a furnished area in the center open to the sky. A veiled woman reveals the secret community taking refuge there — and why the kingdom wants them dead. His “missing” daughter is among them. 

Mystical Worlds Fantasy Writing Prompts

62. Portal in the Attic: You discover a portal to a magical realm in your attic that only you can enter. What mysteries and creatures await you there?

63. Treehouse Village: You awake one morning to find a large village of treehouses that appeared overnight in your backyard forest. Who are these new neighbors?

64. The Cloud King: You befriend a lonely young cloud elemental who longs to return to his kingdom in the sky. Will you help him get back home?

65. Reverse Merfolk: You meet a mermaid who wishes to become human after saving you from drowning. To thank her, you must find a reversal spell.  

66. Sprite Messenger: An anxious sprite appears, pleading for help delivering an urgent message to the fairy queen before her realm closes in two days. 

67. The Diamond Cave: You discover a glittering cave full of massive uncut diamonds and the angry rock creatures that protect them. 

68. Wishing Well Wishes: A wishing well in the old forest grants your wish to be a fantasy creature. What will you be, and what adventures await you?

69. Gnome Homes: Your backyard is suddenly full of colorful tiny homes. You befriend the family of garden gnomes who moved in overnight.

70. The Ghost Ship: An abandoned pirate ship full of undead sailors and treasure appears on the beach after a storm. Do you dare to explore its secrets?

71. Pet Dragon Egg: You rescue a hot, abandoned egg from a roadside stand and are shocked when it hatches an infant dragon. 

72. Fairy Ring: You wake up tiny after sleeping in a fairy ring. The fairy queen tells you the only way back to normal size is to help them first.

73. The Willow’s Whispers : A wise old willow tree in your yard starts whispering to you. It tells you it holds ancient secrets but will only share them with a true friend.

74. Frozen in Crystal: You awaken to find yourself frozen inside a giant crystal deep underground, with a mysterious robed figure studying you.

75. The Forgotten Garden: You discover a forgotten garden where all the plants and trees are made of crystals that heal sickness. But its guardian wants something in return for the healing fruits you picked.

76. Door in the Forest: You discover a strange door standing alone in the middle of the forest. What fantastical sights await behind its entrance? 

77. Living Paintings: The figures in paintings around your strange new house blink at you and whisper pleas for help when you walk past them. 

78. Cloud City: You discover an empty, floating city of clouds and magical energy. As you explore, ghostly figures start to appear. 

79. Music of the Night: A haunting melody leads you to a glowing cave where a faerie kingdom appears only at night. But if you stay past sunrise, you can never leave.

80. The Shadow Market: You chance upon a magical black market in a dark alley where magical creatures and wizards trade mystical objects and secrets.

Hero’s Journey Fantasy Writing Prompts 

81. The Cursed Crown: You awaken telepathic powers after finding a lost king’s crown. The kingdom’s evil regent wants it back to maintain power. 

82. Atlantis Trident: You discover you can control water with a magical trident while swimming near ancient underwater ruins. Atlantis needs a new guardian to keep it safe from those who destroyed it.

83. Dragon Egg Rescue: You must journey to a fiery mountain to rescue the last dragon egg from a cult before they can harness the baby’s powers for evil. The parent dragons help you escape.

84. Seer Scroll: A dying mage gives you a scroll imbuing you with her visionary powers before a secret order of assassins catches up to you both. They want the power for themselves.

85. The Lost Child: A dying forest creature charges you to journey to the evil witch’s gingerbread cottage and rescue a stolen child with the power to heal the cursed land.

86. Grail of Immortality: Your quest for the secret to eternal life leads you to search for pieces of the long-lost Holy Grail before invading conquerors find it instead. 

87. Awakened Automatons: You must enlist the aid of self-aware ancient clockwork robots to fight off an alien invasion threatening humanity with extinction.

88. Curse of the Lycan: Bitten by a werewolf, you leave your village to learn from elder lycans how to use your new powers before the next full moon.

89. The Ghost Pirates’ Gold: You assemble a ragtag crew of mercenaries, mages, and fighters to journey to a dead undead pirate king’s island and plunder his vast cursed treasure before invaders find it first.     

90. Portal Jumpers: Born with the latent power to create teleportation portals, a shadowy interdimensional guild forces you to enhance your powers in their protection or face bounty hunters.

91. Celestial Unicorn: You bond with a wounded magical unicorn whose horn has celestial powers. Keeping it safe from poachers helps you unlock your dormant magical gifts on your journey back home together.     

92. Destiny’s Knights: You reluctantly take command of a disgraced order of peacekeeper knights during a civil war after raiders slay the elder knights, including your master. 

93. Sanctum of the Sages: Invasion looms unless you sneak into the tower sanctum of the secret circle of sages to convince them to finally use their arcane powers to defend your people.  

94. Feywild Troubles: A misguided wish trapped your village in the chaotic Feywild. The playful fey ruler gives you one year to undertake three impossible challenges in exchange for your freedom.

95. Kitchen Hero: A magical talking cookbook drags you from your mundane life into a fantastical cooking contest between kingdoms. Winning may prevent war, but losing seals your world’s fate.  

96. Destiny Calling: Nightmares plague you about a coming “foretold darkness” until a mysterious group of mages arrives at your monastery, claiming you are the fated hero and they are your prophesied protectors.

97. Ghost Tiger: The spirit of the last hunter from your isolated village visits to bestow you with the power to transform into a mystical ghost tiger. Master your new gifts before poachers find and slay the sacred beasts.  

98. Genie Wish Gone Wrong: A genie whose lamp you find grants your wish for adventure by transporting you to a strange new land and promptly vanishes. Can you find the trickster genie and convince him to send you home?

99. Giant Kingdom: Your archaeologist mother is trapped under a collapsed ruin in a strange, once-hidden kingdom of giants with technology powered by magical crystals. Their uneasy king agrees to help you rescue her if you secretly help them tap into the crystals’ power once more.

100. The Lost Temple: You are tasked with finding a lost ancient temple holding an artifact prophesied to bring your war-torn land ten years of peace if its mysterious powers can be awakened once more. You reluctantly recruit a talented but headstrong thief to help guide you past traps and tricks guarding it.

101. Tree of Life: You discover your family lineage, which gives you access to the powerful artifacts of your wood elf ancestors. Your search leads you to the mythical Divine Tree holding ancient secrets that an invading undead army also seeks.

102. Rebel Rising: You organize and train a peasant rebellion to siege your dictator king’s castle after raiders slay your family, and he refuses aid. A spy among your rebels offers guidance from within using secret passages she discovered as a servant.  

103. The Lost Caverns: Your mentor, the last dragon rider, entrusts his final dragon egg to you before dying in your arms. Raise the hatchling in the lost dragon caverns hidden below your village that only you know how to access while training to ride against an impending demon invasion.

104. Angel’s Gift: An angel appears in a dream to give you a magical feather as a sign you are chosen to end the blood curse plaguing your family’s magical lineage. You set off on your 18th birthday, meeting allies and enemies drawn to your awakened guardian angel.  

105. Legacy of the Lich: Your beloved mentor, one of the last good-hearted mages, reveals on her deathbed that she has slowly been transforming into a lich. She passes on her staff along with her dire quest to find a cure before her new dark powers consume her.

If you have specific plot elements in mind, or if you just want more fantasy plot ideas thrown at you to get your creative mind humming, try one of the following links. Even the random ones can get you thinking of plot twists you hadn’t considered before.

  • PlotGenerator.org.uk — Generates plot ideas based on your inputs.
  • Reedsy Plot Generator — Generates random plot ideas with zero input.
  • Fantasy Plot Generator — Generates random plot ideas for a male or female protagonist.
  • Seventh Sanctum story generators — Provides links to multiple plot generators.
  • Plot Generator at Rangen.com — Asks for a genre and detail level and generates random plot ideas.

More Related Articles:

66 Horror Writing Prompts That Are Freaky As Hell

41 Of The Best Romance Writing Prompts

5 Of The Best Writing Prompts Books

25 Of The Best Fanfiction Writing Prompts

To New Beginnings

Now that you’ve had some time to look through these fantasy prompts, which ones stand out in your memory? Even if you change some of the details, I hope you find something that becomes the beginning of a story you’ll love writing.

Picture yourself within a year sharing the news about your finished fiction novel.

You’ll share snippets of it on social media, and fantasy lovers the world over will want to know when your book will go live.

And don’t think you’re in this alone, either. We’re here to help you every step of the way.

May you write the beginning of something that will linger in your readers’ imaginations for years to come.

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Home » 5 Best Writing Prompt Generators to Beat Writer’s Block

5 Best Writing Prompt Generators to Beat Writer’s Block

5 Best Writing Prompt Generators to Beat Writer’s Block

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Table of contents.

Ready to overcome writer’s block?

The world needs writers who can write stories, come up with plot ideas, new story lines, and turn their next creative writing spark into a movie script. 

While writing a book plot and plot lines can be exciting, it can also be frustrating. There are many ways in which a writer can get writer’s block, and sometimes it’s at the start of their novel or short story. 

For a story to be told, there needs to be writing ideas. Good ideas can be hard to find and sometimes writers will seek help using writing exercises. One useful source of inspiration is a writing prompt generator. 

Writing prompt generators will throw random story plots and character names at you. Sometimes it’s a single sentence and other times it’s an entire paragraph.

It’s an idea you can take and run with. It’s the perfect place to start if you’re in need to start writing. Not all story random idea generators are created equal, however. The idea it puts out needs to spark your creative process. Here are five of the best writing prompt generators available to do just that.

5 Best Writing Prompt Generators for Plots Ideas and Story Ideas

1. squibler.

This  writing prompt generator  is attached to a distraction-free writing editor, which makes the creative writing process seamless. The interface is simple. It only takes one click to generate a random writing prompt. If you don’t like it, click again for another one. 

Once you find a prompt you enjoy, select the “start writing” button. You can then start writing immediately. Once you’re finished, you can export your work to a docx or even a PDF.

If you really hate writer’ block, then try “dangerous” mode. This setting will delete your words if you stop writing for more than a few seconds. There’s no better reason to keep writing.

2. Seattle 7 Writers

Seattle 7 Writers has a  writing prompt generator  available to help you generate short story and plot ideas. The random idea generator is a clean editor that provides you with over 500 first-line suggestions. 

One prompt is generated at a time, with a single click giving you a new one for inspiration. These lines are interesting, fun, and have a ton of potential to spark your creative writing.

This writing generator offers exciting ideas that will pull writing out of you. Once you have a great idea, you’ll be ready to write your short story, novel, or screenplay.

3. Random First Line Generator

This first line generator provides ideas for the opening line of a short story, novel, or screenplay. The first line is crucial for overcoming writer’s block. It’s what either hooks the readers or sends them reading something else.

This generator provides suggestions for your first line. They range from mysterious to shocking and would all serve well as the first line in a novel. The rest is up to you, of course. These first lines are not only good hooks but they can usually spark a few ideas to expand on the line. 

If you find a line you like but you’re still feeling stuck, the website also has other generators that can help you with characters, names, places, and titles. 

4. Spring Hole

Spring Hole is an educational site for writers. They have tips, exercises, and writing advice. One of their main features is their list of random idea generators. They have multiple generators to help you overcome any type of writer’s block you might have. Some of these writing generators include:

  • Origin story generator
  • Plot generator 
  • Character generator
  • Name generator

If you want to craft a plot structure from scratch, use a few of these to create the ideal story. If you don’t know what you need or just want to see random story ideas, they do have a random generator for just that.

5. Seventh Sanctum 

Seventh Sanctum is one of the oldest writing prompt generators and story idea generators. Similar to Spring Hole, it offer a series of specific generators depending on what you want to write and the writer’s block you have. Seventh Sanctum has “writing prompt generator” that gives you random sentences that include ideas, dialogue, and sometimes both.

If you want something specific, you can easily choose genres, specific topics, and themes like fiction writing. This includes plot twists, symbols, settings, characters, heroes, names, and humor.

The combinations are endless. It’s a great tool to use when outlining as it can give you ideas for every stage and detail.

Get Started with Creative Writing Prompts

Writing takes a spark to get your create juices flowing. While it’s often fun and exciting, it can also feel like the hardest thing. When you feel like you’ve hit a wall, then use a tool to kickstart your thought process. If you’re not feeling a writing prompt generator, then try using a list fantasy writing prompts or flash fiction writing prompts.

Writing prompt generators are the perfect writing exercises to just that. They offer up plot and story ideas that would take you hours and even days to come up with. Are you ready to get your creative flow going? Try one of the above today.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you make a writing prompt.

You need to use a writing prompt generator. The best part about these prompts from these generators? They are free.

What are some writing prompts?

Here are a few popular writing prompts:

-You confess to your crush, only to find out that they like your sibling.

-You wake up and all your neighbors are missing.

-Make yourself the hero of a common work problem you face.

Why would I want to write prompts?

Writing prompts can be used for many reasons. Whether it’s getting over writer’s block or organizing thoughts in general, writing prompt generators are an excellent resource that every aspiring writer should have access to.

What is a prompt generator?

A prompt generator is a website that allows you to use a random generator or input your own specific word, phrase, or sentence.

How do you create a plot?

To create a plot, you should pinpoint the following:

-The protagonist (the main character)

-What is at stake for the protagonist?

-Possible obstacles to overcome or how the stakes could escalate.

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1000’s of Narrative Writing Prompts to Overcome Writer’s Block

POSTED ON Aug 29, 2023

Nicole Ahlering

Written by Nicole Ahlering

Inspiration is notoriously fickle. You think of the perfect idea for your book in the middle of a meeting or while you’re driving down the highway. But as soon as you sit down at the keyboard—poof—your muses have left the building. 

Of course, this is no excuse not to write. As Jack London said: “You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.” 

This is where narrative writing prompts come in. 

Writing Prompt Generator for Book Ideas

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The reality is you have tons of good ideas. They’re just not at the front of your mind, ready to be put on the page. Narrative writing prompts are a non-threatening way to coax those ideas out of hiding. 

This article shares how to get unlimited narrative writing prompts and:

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What are narrative prompts?

In short, a written narrative is a story or an account of experiences or events.

Therefore, narrative prompts are specific instructions or questions that serve as a starting point for creating a narrative or story. They are designed to stimulate the imagination and guide your thoughts while developing a coherent and engaging narrative.

Remember, there are many types of narratives. Whether you're writing a fiction novel (an imagined narrative) or writing a nonfiction book (a book based on a true story ). They can be written from a first, second-person, third-person, or omniscient perspective. Narratives can be about anything. 

A narrative prompt, then, can be as simple as a single sentence or a more complex paragraph, providing background information, characters, story settings , or writing themes to explore.

Why is a narrative writing prompts generator helpful?

Most authors know the value of writing prompts when facing that dreaded writer's block. But the primary goal of using a narrative writing prompts generator is to spark creativity and encourage you to think outside the box while constructing a compelling and well-structured story.

Do you think Harper Lee sat down and said, “I’m going to write the next great American Novel?” What about Fitzgerald or Melville?

Chances are they followed their curiosity and experimented before writing the masterpieces we love. And a narrative writing prompts generator can help you take the same approach – while coming up with hundreds of free prompts for you!

How to get free ideas with the narrative writing prompts generator 

If you’re an author, our writing prompts generator is here to ignite your imagination and kickstart your writing journey. AI-powered and loaded with random prompts and story-starters, it’s continuously updated to give you fresh narrative ideas. 

Step 1: Choose your writing type 

Select “Fiction” if you're ready to craft a novel or imaginative story. Opt for “Nonfiction” if you're inspired to pen a book based on real-life experiences.

Step 2: Dive into your favorite genre 

There are many genres within fiction and non-fiction. Some authors have a hard time finding their home on the long list of book genres . A narrative writing prompt generator could help you solidify that! Start with one you’re interested in exploring for your upcoming book (and remember: you're allowed to change). 

Step 3: Summon the magic 

With your writing type selected, click the orange “generate” button. The generator will conjure up a unique narrative writing prompt matching your criteria.

Step 4: Find your community for more inspiration  

Need writing motivation and perhaps a bit of direction for your book-writing journey? That's what we do here! You can join our vibrant community of both successful and first-time authors by sharing your information with us on the narrative writing prompts generator page. We offer everything from free tools (like this one) to guided, one-on-one book writing coaching for your author journey.

Learn More: Author Advantage Accelerator

Not interested? No worries. Just click “no thanks” to delve straight into your free, unlimited prompts.

Step 5: Get 1,000s of free narrative writing prompts  

Click “Generate” to usher in a new prompt until you find the perfect one for you. 

Feel free to keep coming back as often as you need!

Other ways to improve your narrative 

Narrative writing prompts are an excellent way to change your perspective, boost your creative thinking, and explore the possibilities for your narrative. Here are a few other tips to keep in mind as you write your book : 

  • Remember to show, not tell . This writing advice is a little cliched for a reason. Your story will be much more compelling if you describe the tears rolling down your character’s face instead of saying, “he’s sad.” 
  • Experiment with different tones. There is nearly an endless amount of different tones in writing . And each one has a way of making your story come to life in a new way.
  • Pace your story. Just like life, a good story will have moments of excitement or tension followed by periods of calm. 
  • Use descriptive language . You don’t need to go over the top, but occasional vivid details can add a lot to your plot. 
  • Make sure your characters have dimension . This means they should have clear personalities, character flaws , and motivations. Give your readers someone to connect with! 

Final Thoughts

Whether your narrative is fiction or nonfiction, it requires creativity and inspiration to get your thoughts on the page. The narrative writing prompts generator is a great way to get started. Plus, most authors will tell you the important part of a writing practice is to write , and prompts can be the vehicle for that. They help you establish a writing habit, build confidence, and develop discipline—even if none of the content from the prompt ends up in your story. 

We also love that narrative writing prompts encourage you to explore genres, storylines or characters you’d never considered. You never know where your best ideas are hiding!

For more creative guidance, schedule a book consultation or get inspiration by learning about your author DNA, below!

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1 million plot combinations to inspire you..

Generate a random plot through this mystery plot generator. Simply click the button below to get started. Like a particular story combo? “Lock” and save it to nail it down.

Protagonist

Secondary character.

It's story about It kicks off with

(Note that: )

And there's a twist!

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Looking to publish a bestselling mystery novel out of this mystery story generator?

An inexplicable set of footprints in the sand. A murder in a previously quiet, cozy town. The best mystery plots keep us on our toes, guessing and twisting. There's no shortage to the number of ways in which doom can befall a person or entire village, either — and we built this mystery plot generator to illuminate a few of them. All of the plots that you score are yours to use! But what exactly can you do with it now?  

If you’re wondering what’s the best way to construct a mystery story out of the plot that you’ve just generated,

We’ve got you covered. Head to the free resources below to discover the shadowy underbelly of story generators:

How to Write a Thriller . As the tin says: In this free 10-day course, romance editor and writer Kate Studer teaches you step-by-step how to write a romance novel that captures readers' minds and hearts. 

What is Suspense? Understanding the tropes in a given genre is a step every authors should take before writing in it — which is what this article on romance tropes is all about. 

  • How to Structure a Novel Before You Write It . In this Reedsy Live video, NYT bestselling author Caroline Leavitt talks about plot structure — and a simple way to go about it.

If you’re still in the search for the perfect plot ,

There are plenty of other mystery plot generators and plot twist generators to provide more bursts of inspiration. Here are some of our favorite mystery story generators on the Internet:

Best Mystery Writing Prompts of 2019

Write Practice's Mystery Plot Generator

If you’ve got everything but your story title and character names in place ,

Why not give our  Book Title Generator  and  Character Name Generator  a whirl?

And if you now feel ready to start building your mystery story now? Great 👍 Happy writing. We’d be delighted if you dropped us the success story at [email protected]

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Squibler elevated my writing process to new heights. Its seamless interface and innovative features helped me bring my novels to life effortlessly.

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Squibler.io is my secret weapon for crafting intricate plots. Thanks to its creative toolkit, I've turned my ideas into gripping stories that keep readers on the edge of their seats.

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I'll forever be grateful to Squibler.io for making my writing journey so much smoother. This platform's user-friendly design and collaborative capabilities turned my dream of writing a novel into a reality.

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Creating video from text.

Sora is an AI model that can create realistic and imaginative scenes from text instructions.

We’re teaching AI to understand and simulate the physical world in motion, with the goal of training models that help people solve problems that require real-world interaction.

Introducing Sora, our text-to-video model. Sora can generate videos up to a minute long while maintaining visual quality and adherence to the user’s prompt.

Today, Sora is becoming available to red teamers to assess critical areas for harms or risks. We are also granting access to a number of visual artists, designers, and filmmakers to gain feedback on how to advance the model to be most helpful for creative professionals.

We’re sharing our research progress early to start working with and getting feedback from people outside of OpenAI and to give the public a sense of what AI capabilities are on the horizon.

Sora is able to generate complex scenes with multiple characters, specific types of motion, and accurate details of the subject and background. The model understands not only what the user has asked for in the prompt, but also how those things exist in the physical world.

The model has a deep understanding of language, enabling it to accurately interpret prompts and generate compelling characters that express vibrant emotions. Sora can also create multiple shots within a single generated video that accurately persist characters and visual style.

The current model has weaknesses. It may struggle with accurately simulating the physics of a complex scene, and may not understand specific instances of cause and effect. For example, a person might take a bite out of a cookie, but afterward, the cookie may not have a bite mark.

The model may also confuse spatial details of a prompt, for example, mixing up left and right, and may struggle with precise descriptions of events that take place over time, like following a specific camera trajectory.

We’ll be taking several important safety steps ahead of making Sora available in OpenAI’s products. We are working with red teamers — domain experts in areas like misinformation, hateful content, and bias — who will be adversarially testing the model.

We’re also building tools to help detect misleading content such as a detection classifier that can tell when a video was generated by Sora. We plan to include C2PA metadata in the future if we deploy the model in an OpenAI product.

In addition to us developing new techniques to prepare for deployment, we’re leveraging the existing safety methods that we built for our products that use DALL·E 3, which are applicable to Sora as well.

For example, once in an OpenAI product, our text classifier will check and reject text input prompts that are in violation of our usage policies, like those that request extreme violence, sexual content, hateful imagery, celebrity likeness, or the IP of others. We’ve also developed robust image classifiers that are used to review the frames of every video generated to help ensure that it adheres to our usage policies, before it’s shown to the user.

We’ll be engaging policymakers, educators and artists around the world to understand their concerns and to identify positive use cases for this new technology. Despite extensive research and testing, we cannot predict all of the beneficial ways people will use our technology, nor all the ways people will abuse it. That’s why we believe that learning from real-world use is a critical component of creating and releasing increasingly safe AI systems over time.

Research techniques

Sora is a diffusion model, which generates a video by starting off with one that looks like static noise and gradually transforms it by removing the noise over many steps.

Sora is capable of generating entire videos all at once or extending generated videos to make them longer. By giving the model foresight of many frames at a time, we’ve solved a challenging problem of making sure a subject stays the same even when it goes out of view temporarily.

Similar to GPT models, Sora uses a transformer architecture, unlocking superior scaling performance.

We represent videos and images as collections of smaller units of data called patches, each of which is akin to a token in GPT. By unifying how we represent data, we can train diffusion transformers on a wider range of visual data than was possible before, spanning different durations, resolutions and aspect ratios.

Sora builds on past research in DALL·E and GPT models. It uses the recaptioning technique from DALL·E 3, which involves generating highly descriptive captions for the visual training data. As a result, the model is able to follow the user’s text instructions in the generated video more faithfully.

In addition to being able to generate a video solely from text instructions, the model is able to take an existing still image and generate a video from it, animating the image’s contents with accuracy and attention to small detail. The model can also take an existing video and extend it or fill in missing frames. Learn more in our technical report .

Sora serves as a foundation for models that can understand and simulate the real world, a capability we believe will be an important milestone for achieving AGI.

All videos on this page were generated directly by Sora without modification.

  • Artificial Intelligence

What to Know About OpenAI’s New AI Video Generator Sora

Illustration OpenAI Releases Video Generation Model Sora

H ave you ever wanted to know what two golden retrievers podcasting on top of a mountain might look like? Or perhaps watch a bicycle race on the ocean with different animals riding the bicycles ?

Now you can. OpenAI’s latest generative artificial intelligence offering, Sora, can generate breathtakingly realistic videos that are up to a minute long from text prompts. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced the model’s creation on X on Thursday.

here is sora, our video generation model: https://t.co/CDr4DdCrh1 today we are starting red-teaming and offering access to a limited number of creators. @_tim_brooks @billpeeb @model_mechanic are really incredible; amazing work by them and the team. remarkable moment. — Sam Altman (@sama) February 15, 2024

Sora is not yet available to the public. For now, OpenAI is only granting access to red teamers—individuals employed to look for issues—who will assess potential risks associated with the model’s release, as well as a limited number of “visual artists, designers, and filmmakers to gain feedback on how to advance the model to be most helpful for creative professionals,” according to a blog post .

The post displays a number of videos generated by Sora. To further show off Sora’s capabilities, Altman invited users on X to suggest prompts from which it would generate videos. They responded by requesting, among others, a video of “instructional cooking session for homemade gnocchi hosted by a grandmother social media influencer set in a rustic Tuscan country kitchen with cinematic lighting,” and a “half duck half dragon flies through a beautiful sunset with a hamster dressed in adventure gear on its back.” Many X users expressed their excitement about the new technology.

https://t.co/rmk9zI0oqO pic.twitter.com/WanFKOzdIw — Sam Altman (@sama) February 15, 2024

OpenAI is the company behind the groundbreaking chatbot ChatGPT . It also produced the popular image-generation AI model Dall-E . Until the Sora announcement, the leading text-to-video AI model was developed by Brooklyn-based Runway . Runway’s most advanced model, Gen-2, was announced in March 2023. The videos it produced were choppy, short, and often nightmarish. Some users marveled at the superiority of Sora’s videos, noting the pace of AI progress in less than one year. Runway CEO and co-founder Cristóbal Valenzuela posted “game on” on X in response to OpenAI’s announcement. 

Sora lands at a critical moment for these programs. Experts have expressed concern that AI-generated content could be used to wrongly influence elections or otherwise sow confusion worldwide. The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2024 listed AI-generated misinformation and disinformation as the most significant risk facing the world in 2024. In addition to working with red teamers to identify risks Sora could pose, OpenAI is building classifiers that could alert users if a video was generated by Sora and plan to include C2PA metadata , imperceptible additions to the files containing AI-generated content that would allow provenance verification, if they deploy Sora in a product, according to the blog post accompanying Sora’s release.

OpenAI follows a doctrine it refers to as “iterative deployment,” in which it releases AI models while they are still relatively primitive compared to what they might be in a few years time, in order to allow society to adjust to the new technology. The Sora blog post reaffirms this doctrine, stating that “we believe that learning from real-world use is a critical component of creating and releasing increasingly safe AI systems over time.”

The technical report released by OpenAI does not disclose the data that Sora was trained on, a practice that has become increasingly common in the AI industry amid an increasing number of lawsuits filed against AI companies accusing them of training their models on other people’s data without their consent. Visual artists have sued AI companies, and last year’s actors strike was in part motivated by fears that AI could replace actors and writers. OpenAI has drawn its share of controversy: late last year, the New York Times sued OpenAI for copyright infringement, and some AI researchers have criticized the company, claiming that it took work done by academic researchers who published openly without giving proper credit.

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A screenshot from an AI-generated video of woolly mammoths.

Sora: OpenAI launches tool that instantly creates video from text

Model from ChatGPT maker ‘simulates physical world in motion’ up to a minute long based on users’ subject and style instructions

OpenAI revealed a tool on Thursday that can generate videos from text prompts.

The new model, nicknamed Sora after the Japanese word for “sky”, can produce realistic footage up to a minute long that adheres to a user’s instructions on both subject matter and style. According to a company blogpost, the model is also able to create a video based on a still image or extend existing footage with new material.

“We’re teaching AI to understand and simulate the physical world in motion, with the goal of training models that help people solve problems that require real-world interaction,” the blogpost reads.

One video included among several initial examples from the company was based on the prompt: “A movie trailer featuring the adventures of the 30-year-old space man wearing a red wool knitted motorcycle helmet, blue sky, salt desert, cinematic style, shot on 35mm film, vivid colors.”

The company announced it had opened access to Sora to a few researchers and video creators. The experts would “red team” the product – test it for susceptibility to skirt OpenAI’s terms of service, which prohibit “extreme violence, sexual content, hateful imagery, celebrity likeness, or the IP of others”, per the company’s blogpost. The company is only allowing limited access to researchers, visual artists and film-makers, though CEO Sam Altman responded to users’ prompts on Twitter after the announcement with video clips he said were made by Sora. The videos bear a watermark to show they were made by AI.

Introducing Sora, our text-to-video model. Sora can create videos of up to 60 seconds featuring highly detailed scenes, complex camera motion, and multiple characters with vibrant emotions. https://t.co/7j2JN27M3W Prompt: “Beautiful, snowy… pic.twitter.com/ruTEWn87vf — OpenAI (@OpenAI) February 15, 2024

The company debuted the still image generator Dall-E in 2021 and generative AI chatbot ChatGPT in November 2022, which quickly accrued 100 million users. Other AI companies have debuted video generation tools, though those models have only been able to produce a few seconds of footage that often bears little relation to their prompts. Google and Meta have said they are in the process of developing generative video tools, though they have not released them to the public. On Wednesday, it announced an experiment with adding deeper memory to ChatGPT so that it could remember more of its users’ chats.

https://t.co/uCuhUPv51N pic.twitter.com/nej4TIwgaP — Sam Altman (@sama) February 15, 2024

OpenAI did not disclose how much footage was used to train Sora or where the training videos may have originated, other than telling the New York Times that the corpus contained videos that were both publicly available and licensed from copyright owners. The company has been sued multiple times for alleged copyright infringement in the training of its generative AI tools, which digest gargantuan amounts of material scraped from the internet and imitate the images or text contained in those datasets.

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