161. A person who lives in a metropolitan apartment connects with nature through the birds that come to the window.
162. The world of politics is fraught with shady deal making. How far will a career politician go to save his or her job? Is framing someone for murder too far? Is committing murder too far? Or is that just how it’s done?
163. Will humans ever settle on another planet? Write a story about interstellar colonization.
164. You’re flying somewhere— anywhere— but when your plane lands, you and the other passengers quickly realize you didn’t reach your intended destination. In fact, you’ve arrived in a strange, wondrous (or terrible) world that you never knew existed.
165. Write a story about a kind, loving protagonist who blacks out and commits heinous crimes, which he or she cannot remember later. Be sure to provide a scientific or fantastical explanation for this odd phenomenon.
166. The protagonist is desperate to get married and have kids and employs every tactic imaginable to meet his or her mate. Write a story about these adventures in dating.
167. Sometimes it seems like real-world villains never get what’s coming to them, especially when heroes are taken down by madmen, including political or religious zealots and revenge seekers. Write a story that contrasts what happens to a benevolent historical figure with one who is seen as evil.
168. Write a funny story about a dysfunctional family that has just won the lottery.
169. The protagonist is only two or three years old but all he or she cares about is candy. What do you want for your birthday? Candy. Where do you want to go for vacation? Candy store.
170. Write a story about a youth who is about to age out of the foster care system.
171. A group of college students launches a project to grow their own food because they think it will earn them good grades in their science class.
172. Over the course of one week, five high-profile CEO’s go missing. Were they abducted? Killed? Did they all run off to escape their high-pressure lives?
173. A spaceship is hurtling through the galaxy in this tale of adventure. Write a story about its crew. Are they civilians? Are they lost, or do they have a destination? Do they visit various planets or stay aboard their ship?
174. An elderly patient with dementia is whisked back and forth between the real world and a magical world where anything is possible and people live forever.
175. Horror stories often deal with monsters and maniacal killers. Write a horror story in which the villain is nature and the characters are being killed off by storms and other natural phenomena.
176. A young teenager falls in love. His or her parents disagree with each other
about the relationship and whether it should be allowed to continue. Could a child’s love tear a family apart?
177. Can you imagine what it would have been like to live during a time when humans hadn’t yet started building huts— let alone houses? Write a story about ancient humans living on the land and in caves.
178. A family of five from a large, urban city decides to spend their one-week vacation camping. Hilarity ensues.
179. Write a story about sibling rivalry from the perspectives of two to four small children.
180. Write a story about a teen struggling with poverty. A tragic ending would have the teen growing up and staying in poverty. An uplifting ending would show the teen finding a way to make a good living.