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 Ruins, the Transformation, and the Influence

A story that explores verbal and non-verbal communication through suspicion.

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.

Laredo, TX - December 2010

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.

Waylon Edwards is a graphic designer who wants to find a purpose in life.. He is generally trustworthy and persuasive, but sometimes naive	Taylor Massey is a car washer who wants excitement and adventure, even a little danger.. She is generally spontaneous and logical, but sometimes obstructive
Carrie Weber is a bill collector who wants to go back home again.. She is generally inspiring and respectful, but sometimes selfish	Nicholas Goodwin is a nurse who wants to discover new things for the sake of knowledge.. He is generally inspiring and optimistic, but sometimes pushy
Hamilton Adams is a parking lot attendant who loves to make people laugh at any cost.. He is generally adventurous and disciplined, but sometimes strict	Deborah Ryan is a painter who wants to prove how good s/he is to others.. She is generally independent and tolerant, but sometimes impatient

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 […]