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BEST GENERAL WRITING PROMPTS

Whether you’re a debut author, a seasoned novelist, or simply looking to flex your creative muscles, writing prompts are an great way to maintain a writing routine.

Showing 184 prompts reset

This week's contest:

Win $50

Resolutions

35 stories

Closes at 23:59 - Jan 24 EST

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A character experiences deja vu so strong they almost fall over.

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Describe each day of the week as if it were a person. Give each one personality traits, a job, and a goal. Write a story about them.

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This was the weekend you'd been waiting for for the past three years.

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Write a short story that ONLY uses dialogue.

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Write a story about a 100th birthday party.

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Write a story about a misunderstanding.

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Write a story about a plane crash. Your main character is the sole survivor. What happens next?

General

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Write a story about a strange family tradition, with at least two characters from the family narrating in the course of the story.

General

Write a story about a writer writing a story, and the strange events that unfold when there's a knock at the door that interrupts them at the end of the first paragraph.

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Write a story about an isolated village that has had no contact with the outside world and the inhabitants' response to an unexpected arrival.

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Write a story about two opposites communicating.

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Write a story only through a character's internal dialogue.

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Write a story that takes place only in one room.

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Write a story using a doorbell as a symbol.

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Write a story using a journal as a symbol.

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Write a story using a mirror as a symbol.

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Write a story using a pair of shoes as a symbol.

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Write a story using a radio as a symbol.

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Write a story where the protagonist goes on the most mundane errand you can think of. Rely solely on the character to make it interesting.

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Write a story where the protagonist has dinner with three unlikely people.

General

Win $50 in our short story competition 🏆

We'll send you 5 prompts each week. Respond with your short story and you could win $50!

Contest #25 LIVE

Enter our weekly contest!

This week's theme: Resolutions

$50

Prize money

35

Submissions

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days

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hours

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mins

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secs

Closes at 23:59 - Jan 24, 2020 EST

View details

Recent contests ✍️

#24 – Genre-Blending

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Recent winners 🏆

Angela Panayotopulos – read

Emily Hemmings – read

Oceania Chee – read

Amy Pellegrino – read

Leaderboard 🥇

#1 Zilla Babbitt

1626 points

#2 Deborah Mercer

927 points

#3 Joshua Insole

644 points

417 points

#5 Adriana Maxwell

372 points

#6 Amy Pellegrino

372 points

#7 Andrew Grell

366 points

#8 Marte Van der linden

326 points

#9 Abigail Airuedomwinya

311 points

#10 Rima El-boustani

299 points

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