Category: Creative Nonfiction Prompts

1. Write about someone you admire from afar— a public figure or celebrity. 

2. Revisit your earliest memories of learning about faith, religion, or spirituality. 

3. Write a how-to article about a task, activity, or project you’ve learned to complete through practical experience in your career.  

4. Have you ever had déjà vu— the strange sense that you’ve experienced some- thing before? Write a personal essay about it. 

5. What is the number-one goal you want to achieve as a writer? To reach your main writing goal, what do you need to do? 

6. Think about what your favorite holiday means to you. Why do you celebrate it? How does it shape or affect your life for the rest of the year? 

7. Heartbreak is part of life and full of lessons. Tell the story of a heartbreak you’ve experienced.  

8. Write a critical review of your favorite book. What made it so good? Could it have been better? Provide a detailed analysis of its strengths and weaknesses.  

9. Remember when you were a little kid and you learned something new about life or how the world works? Write an article for kids about what you learned, how you learned it, and how you felt about it. For example: learning where food comes from.  

10. Have you ever felt like you were meant for something, that some event or moment in your life was fated? Have you ever felt an inexplicable call to do some- thing? Where do you think this feeling comes from? Write about it. 

11. Read your favorite poem and take a few minutes to contemplate it. Then write a reaction to the poem. Why do you love it? How does it make you feel? What makes this poem so special to you? If you don’t have a favorite poem, write about your favorite song lyrics. 

12. Write a top-ten article listing your favorite songs or albums with short explanations of why each one earned a spot on your list. 

13. Do you believe the existence of a higher power can be proven or disproved? Write a personal essay about it.  

14. Art is all around. You can purchase books packed with images of art. You can visit museums and galleries. You can surf the web for photographs of paintings and sculptures. Choose a piece of art that speaks to you and write about it. Describe the piece. How does it make you feel? What details give it power or make it captivating? 

15. They say it’s better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all. Whom have you loved and lost? 

16. Think back on some embarrassing moments that you’ve experienced. Now write a series of scenes depicting those moments. 

17. Write a how-to article about something you can do that is not part of your job (for example: how to bake a cake from scratch or how to change the oil in your car). 

18. What do you like to wear during summer, winter, fall, or spring? Write about your sense of fashion (or lack thereof). Does it change with the seasons? 

19. Tell a story about one (or both) of your parents.  

20. Write about your experience with a mentor, teacher, or coach, explaining how working with someone more knowledgeable than you helped you. 

21. What determines an action or person as good or evil? Who gets to decide what or who is good or evil? Write a personal essay about it.  

22. Think about the last book you read. How did the book make you feel? Were you sad? Scared? Intrigued? What was it about the book that evoked an emotional response from you? Was it the characters? The plot? The subject matter? 

23. Write about a sport you play or watch, or write about an athletic activity you enjoy. 

24. Tell the story of the first time you earned your own money.  

25. Write a personal essay about how music has affected you or shaped your life.  

26. Write about how the real world influences your writing, or write about how your personal experiences and beliefs influence your writing. 

27. You get to create your very own garden. Will it be a flower garden or a vegetable garden? Maybe you’d prefer a grove of trees instead? Write a descriptive personal essay about it. 

28. Write a critical review of your favorite movie. What made it so good? Could it have been better? Provide a detailed analysis of its strengths and weaknesses.  

29. Choose a polarizing topic you feel strongly about and write an essay espousing the opposing point of view. For example, if you believe in the death penalty, write an argument against it.  

30. It’s the last snowfall of the year. What do you do? Go sledding? Build a snow-man? Head to the pond for some ice skating? 

31. Sometimes, we use common sense and do the right thing or make the best choice. But sometimes, we learn lessons the hard way. Write about a time in your life when you made the wrong choice and learned a lesson the hard way.  

32. Most people aren’t single-issue voters, but chances are that when you go to polls, there’s one issue at the top of your list of concerns. Write an essay about your position through the lens of your personal experiences. What in your life experience has caused you to take this position? 

33. Film is one of the greatest forms of entertainment. The audience gets to sit back and snack on junk food while the movie plays and takes us on a wild ride through someone else’s life story. We all have our favorite films. What are yours and why? What do you love most about them? The characters? The plot? The special effects? 

34. Throughout history, many stories have been told about the origins of the uni- verse. Some people rely on religion to answer this question; others look to science. What do you think? 

35. Every once in a while, someone comes into our lives for a short time and fundamentally changes us. Has that ever happened to you?  

36. Write an article about your top-ten favorite authors, highlighting the strengths of each one.  

37. Write a personal essay about coping with the loss of a loved one. 

38. Many dramas use comedic relief to add emotional balance and realism. Write about how this is done successfully and why readers and audiences find it so compelling. 

39. Write about animals. How do you feel about them? What is their purpose? Do they have rights? Should they have rights? 

40. At some point, we are taught enough science to begin to grasp just how big the universe is and how small we are. Describe the moment you made this realization. 

41. Write a personal essay about what you would do with your own personal robot. 

42. Think of a book that was a page-turner. What were the hooks or cliffhangers that made you want to keep reading? How did the author build tension?  

43. Do you believe in a supreme being or higher power? Are you atheist or agnostic? How did you arrive at your beliefs? Have you always held the same beliefs on this issue, or has your perspective changed over time? 

44. Many of us have experienced a terrifying moment in which we thought we were going to die. If you’ve ever experienced a moment like that, write about it. 

45. Here’s what sells: sex, money, and articles on how to look your best. Write a splashy article on one of these topics.  

46. Write a manifesto: a mission statement that includes your personal and professional goals and philosophies.  

47. Music makes the world go round. Listen to your old favorites or explore some brand-new music. Choose a song or album that you have a visceral response to. Maybe it makes you want to dance, laugh, or cry. Write a descriptive essay about it. Is it soft and tender? Hard and brash? Hip and groovy? What moves you? The lyrics? The melody? The rhythm? 

48. Fate or free will? Do you believe in destiny, or do you believe that life’s out- come is strictly the result of choice and circumstance? What experiences or evidence has led you to your position on fate versus free will? 

49. Tell the story of an important long-term goal you have accomplished.  

50. Write a critical review of your favorite television show. What made it so good? Could it have been better? Provide a detailed analysis of its strengths and weaknesses.  

51. Write a personal essay about a time when you wanted to escape or run. Maybe you actually did it! 

52. Write about nonfiction. Do you read memoir, biographies, or reference books? Which ones are your favorites and what do you get out of them?  

53. Think of something you wish you were good at but aren’t. Write a narrative about your attempts to do this thing and how you coped with failure.  

54. Write an article about your favorite musician. What makes this musician so special? Looks? Talent? The sheer number of fans? Awards and critical acclaim? Sales? Quality of craftsmanship? 

55. Go through your photos and choose one that is special to you. Write a personal essay about it. You can also use a series of photos from a single event. 

56. What is your favorite genre of books? Why? What makes that genre so special or interesting? 

57. Do you believe in absolute good and evil? Are good and evil counterpoints that are constantly striving to balance each other out? Do good and evil both have to exist, or can one eliminate the other for once and for all? Are good and evil nothing more than human-made concepts? 

58. Tell the story of a difficult or harrowing period in your life that helped you be- come a better person.  

59. Choose something you’re good at— the thing you are better at than anything else. Then write an article including ten to twenty five tips on the subject.  

60. Write a personal essay about your proudest moment in life so far, and don’t leave out the events leading up to it! 

61. Choose one of your favorite stories. What was uniquely likable about the protagonist? What made the antagonist bothersome or despicable? 

62. Are your morals and ethics circumstantial or static? For example, if you believe it’s wrong to kill someone, is it always wrong, or are there exceptions? Is it unethical to kill a mass murderer or someone who is attacking you? What other moral beliefs do you hold and what are some exceptions that would cause you to put those morals aside? 

63. Think of something important you’ve learned about human relationships, and write an article describing what you learned, how you learned it, and how it could benefit others.  

64. We’ve all had bad days. But there’s probably a day for you that stands out as the worst. Write a personal essay about it.  

65. E. B. White said, “All that I hope to say in books, all that I ever hope to say, is that I love the world.” What do you hope to say through your writing? 

66. Dystopia is an imagined world in which humanity is living in the worst possible (or most unfavorable) conditions. One person’s dystopia is another person’s utopia. What would the world look like in your version of dystopia? 

67. Identify a key theme from your childhood and write about it. For example, perhaps your family spent a lot of time camping. Write a series of stories from the trail. 

68. Write a top-ten article listing your favorite films with short explanations of why each film earned a spot on your list. 

69. Most of us have had an aha moment, an instant in which we reached an epiphany about something. Write a personal essay about one of your aha moments. 

70. Throughout history, books have been banned by governments, schools, and churches. To this day, people will launch campaigns to ban a book. What do you think about book banning? Do you believe in freedom of speech? Who has the right to decide what other people can and can’t read? 

71. What happens when we die? This is a question many people don’t like to think about even though it’s the only certainty in life and the one thing that happens to every single living thing. Do you believe in an afterlife? Is the jury still out? Where did you get your ideas about what happens at death? 

72. Write a narrative about how fear has shaped your life—steering you away from some things and toward others.  

73. Think about something you were good at or enjoyed when you were a kid: for example, sports, drawing, or academics. Write an article for kids about it. 

74. Write a descriptive essay about a gadget, device, or other new technology that you wish someone would invent. 

75. Write about your earliest memory. Include as much detail as you can remember. 

76. Think of something you’re good at— something you taught yourself. For example: cooking, working on cars, gardening, or caring for animals. Write a narrative about how and why you developed these skills.  

77. Write an article about your top-ten favorite books highlighting the strengths of each one.  

78. Write a personal essay about someone or something that gave you hope when you really needed it.  

79. What is your greatest goal in life? Have you started working toward it yet? What is your plan for achieving it? 

80. Tell the story of your early childhood up until kindergarten. Recollect stories your family has told you. Interview relatives if necessary. 

81. Think of something you’ve always wanted to learn how to do, and then write an article explaining what steps one might take to learn that thing.  

82. Many of us grew up with pets and currently live with pets. Write a personal essay about a special pet who had a profound impact on your life. 

83. What is your least favorite genre of books? Why don’t you like it? 

84. Utopia is the opposite of dystopia. It is an imagined world in which humanity is living in the most ideal and favorable conditions. What does your utopia look like? 

85. Tell the story of how you ended up in the career you have now. 

86. Write about a flaw or negative trait or behavior that you’ve overcome. Write it as an article for helping others overcome the same thing. For example, how to stop being a pessimist, how to live a healthier lifestyle, etc. 

87. Write a personal essay about a place that has special meaning for you.  

88. Write a detailed description of your writing process for a particular project you completed.  

89. Write about the happiest day of your life.  

90. Choose someone you know well (or used to know) who is unconventional or eccentric, and tell the story of your relationship with this person and how he or she affected you. 

91. Write a critical review of your favorite song or album. What made it so good? Could it have been better? Provide a detailed analysis of its strengths and weaknesses.  

92. Write a personal essay about something you, as an adult, learned from a child. 

93. Write a few paragraphs describing censorship. Include examples of how, when, and where censorship might occur. Is it ever okay to censor a book? Who has the right to censor a book? Is it ever okay for the government to censor its citizens?  

94. Think back to the first time you had a best friend. Tell the story of your friendship.  

95. Write an article for children titled “Ten Things I Wish an Adult Had Told Me When I was a Child.” 

96. Write a personal essay about money. How important is it to you? What would you do if you had lots of it? What would you be willing to do in order to obtain lots of it? 

97. Literature is where writers live and breathe. Where would we writers be today without our predecessors who, through their artistry, contributed to the literary canon and years of best seller lists? Which novels or poets inspired you to become a writer? Which authors embody a voice that resonates with you? Which genres are you most drawn to? 

98. If you could obtain any superpower, which one would you choose and why? How would you use it? 

99. Most of us have plenty of vivid childhood memories. Make a list of some of your most vivid memories from elementary school, and form them into a narrative.  

100. Write an article filled with travel tips based on your own travel experiences. 

101. If you had to go back to a point in your life and do things differently, what point would you choose and what would you do differently? How would the changes ripple through your life? 

102. What if there were world peace? What would the world look like? 

103. Think about someone who was mean to you when you were a kid. Write an article for kids with suggestions on how to deal with meanies. 

104. Write a personal essay about a book, movie, or television show that fundamentally changed you. The essay should include a thesis statement about how the arts can affect the world. 

105. Describe your current writing work space. Then describe your ideal writing work space.  

106. What if you could go back to school and study anything you wanted? What would you study and why? 

107. Tell the story of the craziest thing you ever did, saw, or experienced. 

108. Write a personal essay about how art has affected you and shaped your life. 

109. What if you had an opportunity to travel to outer space? Would you ever take a trip to the moon? Would you travel aboard an interstellar starship? 

110. When you were a kid, you probably had an idea about what you wanted to be when you grew up. Write about what you wanted to be and why, and try to draw connections between your childhood dream and grown-up reality. 

111. Write a personal essay about an animal that is important to you. It could be a specific animal, such as one of your pets, or it could be a type of animal, such as birds or foxes. 

112. Write about your favorite comedy book, film, or television show. Who’s the funniest character? Is the comedy physical, emotional, or intellectual? Why does it appeal to your personal sense of humor? 

113. What if you woke up one day as a world leader? City mayor? State governor? President? Monarch? What would you do for your community? 

114. Write your own coming-of-age story. When did you start feeling like an adult?  

115. If you could change one thing in the world, what would you change and why?  

116. Write an article about what distinguishes poor writing from good writing, or write an article about what distinguishes good writing from great writing. 

117. What if you could talk to animals? 

118. Write an article that inspires people to do something you’ve already done successfully. 

119. Science fiction and fantasy authors sure have wild imaginations. Think of something that doesn’t exist and probably won’t ever exist—something you wish were real. Write a descriptive essay about it. 

120. What if you had a chance to travel anywhere in the world, but you had to stay in one location for a whole year? Where would you go and why? 

121. Junior high is a tumultuous time for many adolescents. Make a list of your most vivid memories from junior high and form them into a narrative. 

122. Soft skills include communication, attitude, and empathy. Choose the soft skill you have the greatest aptitude for and write an article about how this skill is beneficial, using your own life experiences as examples. 

123. Write a personal essay about the best gift you ever received. Why is it your favorite? Who gave it to you? What made it so special? 

124. When you retire, what will you have written? 

125. Write down a full account of a dream you’ve had recently. Include as many details as possible. 

126. Have you ever won a contest or an important competition? What did you have to do in order to win? Did you work for it or did you get lucky?  

127. During your next job interview, the hiring manager hands you crayons, markers, pencils, and drawing paper. He or she says you have one hour to draw what- ever you want. Before leaving the room, the hiring manager advises you to refrain from drawing anything work related. What do you draw and why? 

128. Write about poetry. Do you like it? Which poems or poets do you enjoy? Why? 

129. What if you could change careers? You get to choose any profession with the guarantee that you will be highly successful at it. What would you choose? Why? 

130. Have you ever had to speak in front of a large crowd? Were you nervous? Well prepared? How did this speaking event come about? Write it as a narrative. 

131. Think back to your childhood. Did you collect anything? Did you have a hobby? Write an article for kids about it.  

132. Write a personal essay describing your greatest strength. Has it ever caused you problems? How do you leverage this strength? Do others ever commend you on it? 

133. Think back over some of the dreams you’ve had and try to identify recurring themes. Perhaps you’re often being chased in dreams (or maybe you’re the one doing the chasing). Maybe a lot of your dreams are set in nature or feature animals. 

134. Do you have children? Tell the story of how you became a parent. Write the stories of your first years as a parent— the joys and the struggles.  

135. Write a biographical article about someone you admire.  

136. Write a personal essay describing your dream date.  

137. What is the first book you remember reading or falling in love with? Why does this book stand out for you? 

138. Appreciating little things like a sunset or a delicious meal is important. Write about some of the little things you appreciate. 

139. Imagine you’ve had a long and prosperous career as an author. Describe your legacy. What will you leave behind? 

140. High school. It seems like it’s going to last forever, but then it’s over before you know it. Make a list of some of your most vivid memories from high school and form them into a narrative. 

141. Have you ever thrown a big party? Write an article about how to throw an unforgettable bash. If you’ve never hosted such an event, use your imagination.  

142. Think about someone in your life who always gets a giggle out of you. Can you remember some of the funny things that person has said or done that made you laugh? Write them down. 

143. Everybody has experienced rejection. Did you give up or keep trying? Why? Would you react differently now? Write a narrative story about your personal experience with rejection.  

144. Hard skills are abilities you have acquired— using software, analyzing numbers, and cooking are all examples of hard skills. Choose a hard skill you’ve mastered and write an article about how this skill is beneficial using your own life eperiences as examples. 

145. Write a personal essay describing one of your flaws or weaknesses. Does it hold you back? Have you ever used it to your advantage? Does it have a positive side? Do others ever point this flaw out to you? 

146. Have you ever felt like a dream was trying to tell you something or send you an important message? What was the dream, and what message did you come away with? 

147. Have you ever experienced something that cannot be explained? What happened? Have you tried to come up with an explanation? 

148. Everybody has their own way of dealing with fear and anxiety. What works for you? Write an article that helps others cope with fear and anxiety.  

149. Write a personal essay describing your house or a room in your house. What makes this room special? 

150. Describe your favorite writing tools and resources.  

151. Write your bucket list— at least ten (and up to a hundred) things you want to do before you die. 

152. Do you have nieces or nephews? Tell your story of becoming an aunt or uncle. How did it change or affect your life?

153. Using your own experience as an example, write an article about how to deal with personal conflicts within a family, among friends, or at work.  

154. Write a personal essay about your diet. What foods are you likely to consume over the course of a week? A month? Are you eating healthy food, junk food, or a mix? 

155. What if you wrote a wildly successful best-selling novel? What would it be about? 

156. What do you look for in a good story? Characters you connect with? Action and adventure? A puzzling or riveting plot? Sheer entertainment? 

157. If you could construct a full, vivid dream that you would have tonight and remember in full tomorrow, what would happen in the dream? Who would be there? Where would it take place? 

158. We’ve all been sick, and many of us cope with chronic conditions ranging from allergies to diseases. Write a story about an illness you’ve experienced.  

159. Write an article that is a top-ten list of your best tips for managing, saving, or earning money. 

160. Write a personal essay about what you hope will be your greatest accomplishment in life. 

161. Do you read more print books or more e-books? Which do you prefer and why? 

162. Write about one of the best experiences of your life. Why are you grateful for that experience? 

163. Think about the first few years after you finished high school. Did you travel? Work? Go to college? Make a list of some of your most vivid memories from those years and form them into a narrative.  

164. Write an article about how you use technology in your personal life. Has it made your life easier? Has it saved you money? How would you improve upon the technology you use? 

165. Write a personal essay about a bad habit you’d like to eliminate from your life. 

166. When did you first become interested in writing? What drew you to the craft? 

167. Think back to a time when you gave in to fear. Now think of a time when you overcame fear. Tie these two experiences together in a single narrative. 

168. Write a personal essay describing your favorite vacation destination. 

169. What was the first thing you wrote on your own (not as a school assignment)? Was it a story? A poem? An essay or term paper? Describe it. 

170. Tell a story about a time when you lost an item that mattered to you. 

171. If you went to college, write an article about the steps you took to apply and, if applicable, obtain financial aid. Include tips for college freshmen that might help them deal with living in the dorms, choosing classes, or developing an education plan. 

172. Choose an inanimate object— for example, a table or a coffee cup. Write an essay describing it in minute detail. 

173. Choose your favorite story from a book, movie, television show, or real life. Now write a brief synopsis of the plot. Keep it to 250 words or fewer, and make it catchy. The goal is for the synopsis to make prospective audiences want to buy it.  

174. What are five things that make you nervous or uncomfortable? What is it about each of those five things that bothers you? Where does this discomfort come from? 

175. Write a narrative telling the story of the first time in your life you acquired (or realized you had) real responsibilities. 

176. Write a personal essay describing your childhood home.  

177. Choose a word you like. Maybe you like it because of its meaning. Maybe you like the way it sounds or the way it looks on the page. Write about the word. 

178. Write down one thing that truly terrifies you. Is your fear of this thing keeping you safe or preventing you from living the life you want? How likely is it that this thing will happen? Why are you so frightened of this thing? If this thing happened, what would happen next? 

179. Have you ever taken care of someone who was sick? A child, a parent, even a pet? Tell the story of how you dealt with it and got through it.  

180. Write a how-to article explaining how to write something: a book, a poem, an article, etc. 

181. Write a personal essay describing your favorite time period in history. What do you like about it? 

182. Someone you barely know asks you to recommend a book. What do you recommend? Do you ask the person a few questions first to get an idea of their tastes? 

183. Tell a story about a time when you had to let go of someone you cared for.  

184. Have you ever had pets? Write an article for kids about how to take care of a pet. 

185. You have to choose between spending a month in the desert or a month in the snow. You’ll be living outdoors, but you’ll have basic camping gear and supplies for survival. Which do you choose and why? 

186. Choose your favorite character from a book, movie, or television show. Do a character study describing the character in full detail. Include the character’s physical description, goals, challenges, flaws, and inner conflicts.  

187. If you could absorb all of the knowledge of any one topic in a single day, what topic would you choose and why? 

188. Think about a time in your life when you felt great gratitude. What led up to that moment? Why was it so important? Tell the whole story. 

189. Write a personal essay about secrets. Have you ever had a big secret? Have you ever kept one for someone else? From someone else? Did you ever give someone’s secret away? 

190. Who do you think is the most popular character in all of storytelling? Why is  that character appealing to so many people? 

191. What are your thoughts and feelings on war? Does it depend on the war? 

192. Using your own experience as an example, write an article about how to handle a disgruntled customer.  

193. Write a personal essay about whether it’s possible to change other people. Will people change for you just because they love you? If they don’t change, does that mean they don’t love you? Is it acceptable or reasonable to expect another person to change? 

194. If you could visit the fantastical or historical world from any story of your choosing, which world would you visit and why? What if you had to live there forever? 

195. What are your thoughts and feelings on stealing? Is it ever okay to steal? 

196. Nobody does it alone. We all get help from others. Sometimes they actively do favors for us; other times, they help us without even realizing it. Tell a story about someone who has helped you. 

197. Write a personal essay about your exercise regiment (or lack thereof). Do you need to exercise more? Could you exercise less and stay in shape? 

198. You get to turn any book into a movie. Which book do you choose? Why? Whom do you cast? Whom do you hire as the director? 

199. You get to have dinner with one person, living or dead. Whom do you choose and why?  

200. Tell a story about a time when you had to let someone down.