Whether you’re new or novice to the writing world, you’ve most likely experienced the dreaded writer’s block. If you’re stuck staring at a blank page unsure of what your next writing journey will be, have no fear! In this blog post, we will go over 45 different creative writing prompts from different genres to help get those creative juices flowing.
If you want some tips on how to overcome writer’s block and what causes it check out our blog post here where we go into more depth about it. We also do weekly writing prompts together where we spend 10 minutes working on the prompt with the sole purpose of getting creative and practicing the craft. Check out my latest writing prompt here and if you want to see how I finished that prompt it will be posted on Saturday 11/11/2023.
Okay let’s dive into these prompts:
Table of contents:
- Science Fiction
- Fantasy
- Mystery/Thriller
- Romance
- Historical Fiction
- Horror
- Young Adult (YA)
- Action
- Adventure
Science Fiction
1. In a future where humans have colonized other planets, write about the first contact with an alien species.
2. You wake up one day to find that you have a cybernetic implant in your brain that grants you extraordinary abilities. How does this change your life?
3. Create a dystopian world where memories can be bought and sold. Write about a character’s journey to regain their stolen memories.
4. Write a story about a sentient AI that begins to question its purpose and existence.
5. In a world where time travel is possible but tightly controlled, write about someone who discovers a way to travel through time illegally.
Fantasy
1. You discover a hidden portal to a magical realm in your backyard. Describe your adventures in this new world.
2. Write a story about a young wizard who is born without any magical abilities but must find a way to save their kingdom from a powerful threat.
3. In a world where mythical creatures are real, write about a detective who specializes in solving cases involving them.
4. Create a legend or myth for a unique fantasy world, complete with heroes, villains, and epic quests.
5. Write a story about a cursed object that brings both great power and great danger to its owner.
Mystery/Thriller
1. A detective receives a letter from a serial killer challenging them to a deadly game of wits. Write about the investigation and the psychological battle that unfolds.
2. You wake up in a locked room with no memory of how you got there. Write about your attempts to escape and uncover the truth.
3. Write a story about a heist gone wrong, from the perspective of one of the criminals.
4. A small town is shaken by a series of unexplained disappearances. Write about a local journalist’s quest to uncover the truth.
5. In a psychological thriller, explore the mind of a character who may or may not be losing their sanity.
Romance
1. Two people from completely different backgrounds meet on a blind date. Write about their unexpected connection and the challenges they face.
2. A love story set in a post-apocalyptic world where finding love is both a rarity and a danger.
3. Write about a long-lost love rekindled after many years, with a twist that complicates their reunion.
4. In a story that spans different time periods, explore a love that transcends time and space.
5. Write a romance between two characters who are only able to communicate through letters, never meeting in person.
Historical Fiction
1. Write a story set in ancient Egypt, centered around the construction of the pyramids.
2. Explore the life of a young woman during the American Civil War as she disguises herself as a man to fight on the front lines.
3. Create a fictional account of a famous historical figure’s lost journal and the secrets it contains.
4. Write about a group of adventurers exploring the uncharted territories of the New World during the Age of Exploration.
5. Explore the challenges faced by a family trying to survive during the Great Depression.
Horror
1. In a small, isolated town, a series of gruesome murders occur during a snowstorm that cuts off all communication and transportation. Write about the terror that unfolds as the residents realize the killer is among them.
2. A family moves into an old, seemingly abandoned mansion in the countryside. They soon discover that the house is haunted by malevolent spirits. Write about their struggle to survive and uncover the mansion’s dark secrets.
3. A group of friends on a camping trip becomes lost in a dense, haunted forest. Write about their harrowing experiences as they try to find their way out while being pursued by supernatural entities.
4. Create a story about a cursed object, like an antique mirror, that brings unspeakable horror to anyone who possesses it.
5. Write a psychological horror story about a person who begins to question their own sanity as they experience increasingly disturbing and unexplainable events.
Young Adult (YA)
1. In a dystopian future, teenagers are selected to participate in a government-run competition for a chance at a better life. Write about a young protagonist’s journey through the trials of this competition.
2. Two high school students from different social circles are forced to work together on a school project. Write about the unlikely friendship and personal growth that develops as a result.
3. Create a story about a young person with a unique supernatural ability who must keep it a secret while navigating the challenges of everyday life.
4. Write a contemporary YA romance about a summer fling that changes the lives of the two protagonists forever.
5. In a magical coming-of-age story, a teenager discovers they are the heir to a powerful, hidden realm and must learn to harness their newfound abilities while facing the forces that seek to harm them.
Certainly! Here are some creative writing prompts for the action and adventure genres:
Action
1. Write a high-octane scene involving a car chase through a bustling city, with the fate of the protagonist hanging in the balance.
2. Create a story about a skilled spy who must infiltrate a top-secret enemy facility to retrieve critical information.
3. In a post-apocalyptic world, a group of survivors embarks on a dangerous mission to find a rumored safe haven. Describe their perilous journey and the obstacles they face.
4. Write a story about a group of vigilante heroes who take the law into their own hands to combat crime in their city.
5. Set your story on a pirate ship during the Golden Age of Piracy and detail the swashbuckling adventures of the crew.
Adventure
1. Your protagonist discovers an ancient treasure map hidden in an old family heirloom. Write about their expedition to find the long-lost treasure, filled with unexpected challenges and discoveries.
2. Create a modern-day Indiana Jones-style adventure in which an archaeologist embarks on a quest to find a legendary artifact, with rivals and adversaries in hot pursuit.
3. Write about a group of friends who embark on an epic journey through a mystical and dangerous land in search of a mythical creature that holds the key to saving their homeland.
4. In a science fiction adventure, tell the story of a crew on a spaceship exploring uncharted galaxies, encountering strange phenomena and alien civilizations.
5. Craft a coming-of-age adventure about a young person who sets out on a solo backpacking expedition through the wilderness, learning valuable life lessons along the way.
These prompts should provide a thrilling starting point for your action and adventure writing. Feel free to adapt them and infuse your unique storytelling style into your adventures!