Best Novel Writing Prompts

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23 contest entries /
21 stories

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The best novel writing prompts

Every novel springs from the seed of a story idea. So, where is your story idea going to come from?

If you’re struggling to let loose your imagination, let a creative writing prompt help you. Writing prompts for novels can provide the inspiration that writers need to come up with ideas for their next book. Best of all, they’re multi-purpose: you can use them to develop your characters, practice writing from a different perspective, explore other genres, or simply overcome writer’s block. 

If you're looking to cut to the chase, here's our top ten list of novel writing prompts:

If you're interested in learning more about how to write a novel, check out our free resources on the topic:

Ready to start writing? Check out Reedsy’s weekly short story contest for the chance of winning $250! You can also check out our list of writing contests or our directory of literary magazines for more opportunities to submit your story.

How to Write a Novel

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How to Write a Novel
RBE | Simple Cat | 2025-03

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