March 6, 2018

Story Writing Prompts

One of the best creative exercises I have encountered is trying to figure out how things work together. These story writing prompts are based on that idea. Here are several random puzzle pieces: title, plot, theme, setting, and characters. Can you put them all together to create an original story?

Refresh the page to change the writing prompt… feel free to mix and match suggestions until you find something that strikes your fancy.

The Secret, the Bargain, and the Wish

A story that explores curse or family through a mother who hates her daughter.

Setting:

The setting is the backdrop to your story. A lot of times you can find inspiration to break through writer’s block by doing a little research. Try looking up the time and place here to find more ideas to flesh out your story.

Longview, WA - April 1908

Characters:

Characters are the usually the most interesting part of a story. You will proably want at least 2 or 3 main characters: the protagonist (the hero), a sidekick, and an antagonist (the villian). A few secondary characters can help bring depth to your story as well, so we decided to give you half a dozen to start with. Which one looks like the most likely protagonist? The most likely villian? How are they all related to each other? Do they work together? Are they family? Neighbors? As you answer these questions you are building your backstory.

David Newton is a long-haul truck driver who wants to live an easy, uncomplicated life.. He is generally humorous and inspiring, but sometimes greedy	Joy Pratt is a continuing education instructor who wants to keep a promise.. She is generally tactful and generous, but sometimes stand-offish
Dorothy Stewart is a machine operator who wants to be more human.. She is generally respectful and serious, but sometimes complaining	Owen Strickland is a industrial engineer who will do anything for his/her next meal.. He is generally logical and ambitious, but sometimes mistrustful
Samuel Lamb is a delivery truck driver who wants to help someone s/he cares about.. He is generally trustworthy and respectful, but sometimes hard	Deborah Ellis is a dispatcher who will do anything to feel loved.. She is generally dedicated and honest, but sometimes inflexible

Author: KAS

Filed Under: Ideas, Prompts

Plot Prompts

Help Creating Characters: Character Prompts
Looking for an interesting character? Whether it’s a main role, or a walk-on part in your story, you can get a start with these character prompts. If this character does not inspire you, you can get a new character by refreshing […]
Setting Prompts
Setting is the time and place where your story takes place. The setting can create a mood, or add interesting facts to your story. These prompts give you a place with a map of the area. (hit refresh to get a new setting) Take a look at the […]
Title Prompts
These title prompts are randomly generated – hit refresh to get a new prompt. How to work with title prompts: Think of this title suggestion as a working title for your story. You can always choose a better title once the story is […]
Theme Prompts
The theme is the deeper meaning of your story. You might think of it as the “big idea” or the “moral” of the story. Keep in ming that no one likes stories that preach. In order to avoid that trap, try to pick a […]
Relationship Prompts
One of the things that can really fuel your story is the relationship between characters. This may be the protagonist and antagonist, but it can also be a relationship between one of your main characters and a minor character, or an […]