Category: Creative Nonfiction Prompts

201. Write an article that is a top-ten list of your best tips for getting or staying in shape. 

202. Tell the story of how you met your best friend or significant other.  

203. Have you ever read a book and thought, I wish I’d written that? What book was it? Who wrote it? Why do you wish you’d written it? How can you use it to influence your own work? 

204. If you could change one thing about your appearance, what would you change and why? 

205. Write a personal essay about what your life would look like if you had it all.  

206. Make a list of the ten most iconic characters and write about what they have in common. 

207. What are your thoughts and feelings on violence? Is it ever justified? 

208. Write a narrative about your first day of school. It can be your very first day of school, your first day at a new school, or the first day starting a new grade level in school.  

209. Many of us have, at some point in life, found ourselves in a toxic or unhealthy situation— a bad job or a relationship with someone who drained us emotionally. Write an article about identifying and getting out of toxic situations and/or relationships.  

210. Write a personal essay describing the oldest person you know. How do you know this person? What influence does he or she have on your life? 

211. What are your thoughts and feelings on big-box stores causing mom-and-pop stores to close? What about online stores causing big-box stores to close? 

212. Write a narrative about the proudest moment in your life. What led up to it? How did others respond or participate? Did you celebrate or was it a quiet moment? 

213. Write a how-to article about moving (finding a new place to live, packing, etc.). 

214. Write a personal essay describing the elementary school, junior high, or high school you attended. Don’t forget to include the teachers and staff. 

215. Imagine you’re a librarian or bookseller. What kind of library or bookstore would you work at? Describe a day at work.  216. Write about your vision of an ideal family. 

217. Tell a story about a time when you were let down by someone you counted on. 

218. Choose a cause that you feel is worthy and write an article persuading others to join that cause.  

219. Write an essay about doing something courageous.  

220. Have you ever published a book? Do you plan on publishing a book? Write a list of the steps you’ll need to take in order to get a book published. You can write the steps for traditional or self-publishing. 

221. You’ve won a one-month vacation to the destination of your choice, and you get to bring one other person with you. Where do you go and who do bring? 

222. Write a narrative about when you did something bad and got away with it.  

223. Write a how-to article detailing strategies for playing your favorite game. 

224. You get to cure one disease. Which disease do you choose and why? Do you choose the disease that affects the most people or the one that has affected you or your loved ones? 

225. Your next house comes with a library. Write a descriptive essay of your personal dream library.  

226. If you wrote a weekly advice column, what would it be about?  

227. Have you ever experienced a disastrous vacation? Tell the story of what happened.  

228. Think about how you use technology in your professional life. What would your job be like without technology? Could it be done at all? Write an article about how technology is (or isn’t) important to your career.  

229. Write a personal essay about a good habit you’d like to adopt in your life. 

230. Think back to the books you read as a child. Which ones were your favorites? Do you think those books shaped the person you became? How much did they influence you and how did they affect you? 

231. Have you ever built anything? Tell the story of what you built, why, and how. 

232. Think of a major worldwide problem: for example, hunger, global warming, or political corruption. Write an article outlining a solution (or steps toward a solution).  

233. Write a personal essay about a regret from your past.  

234. Have you ever read a book and thought, I could write a better book than this? What do you think you could have done better? Were there any elements of the book that you didn’t feel you could improve upon? What would you have changed and why? 

235. Write about your favorite foods. What is your favorite meal of the day? If you could only eat one dish for the rest of you life, what would you choose? 

236. Tell the stories of the first time you drove a car or the first time you bought a car. What other cars have you bought or driven over the years? Connect the cars to your life experiences for a broader, more compelling story. 

237. Write an article about how to learn from one’s mistakes. The article can be about little mistakes or big ones.  

238. Write a personal essay describing your family. What makes them special? What do you love about them? What bothers you about them? 

239. Do stories have the power to shape or change people’s ideas, or are people drawn to stories that reinforce their existing ideals?  

240. Write about your siblings. Describe their appearance, their personalities, and your relationship with them. If you don’t have siblings, write about why you would want them, or why you’re happy as an only child.

241. Many of us know someone who has coped with a tragedy, or we have coped with a tragedy ourselves. Sometimes sharing our stories can be therapeutic. Tell the story of a tragedy you’ve coped with. 

242. Write an article explaining how to make your favorite meal.  

243. Write a personal essay describing your dream home. Where is it? What does it look like on the outside? Inside? Who lives there? 

244. Other than entertainment, what do we get out of reading? How do stories en- rich our lives? 

245. Think of an artistic talent that you don’t possess but wish you did (singing, dancing, drawing, etc.). If you had that talent, what would you do with it? For example, if you were a master painter, what would you paint? 

246. Write a narrative about when you did something bad and got caught.  

247. Think of a time in your life when you were happy. How did you get there? Was it chance and circumstance, or did you bring happiness into your life through the choices you made? Write an article about how to be happy. 

248. Write a personal essay describing an exotic animal you’d like to have as a pet.  

249. William Wordsworth said, “Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.” What did he mean by that? 

250. Have you ever traveled alone? Tell your story. Where did you go? Why? What happened? 

251. Let’s say you write a weekly advice column. Choose the topic you’d offer ad- vice on, and then write one week’s column.  

252. You’re opening your own restaurant. What do you call it? What’s on the menu? How is it furnished and decorated? 

253. Think about the last book you read. How was the book structured? Did it have chapters? Were they numbered or named? Was there an introduction, a prologue, or an epilogue? A table of contents? To whom was the book dedicated? Whom did the author thank in the acknowledgments? Who was the publisher? 

254. Some people have a problem with authority. How do you feel about authority? Are you authoritative?  

255. Write an article about how failure comes before success. What do we learn from failure? How does it build character? 

256. Have you ever had a run-in with the police? What happened?  

257. Maya Angelou said, “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” What is your attitude about creativity? How do you use it? How do you cultivate it? 

258. Do you consider yourself conventional or unconventional? Describe both the conventional and unconventional aspects of yourself.  

259. Write a scene depicting a huge fight you had with someone you cared about.  

260. Writers often support the cultivation of creativity in children. Write an article persuading adults to encourage creativity in kids. 

261. Write a personal essay about your views on honesty and dishonesty. Is it ever okay to lie? When? 

262. Do you have a friend or family member who is always there when you need someone? String together the stories of the times this person came through for you. 

263. Write about something or someone you can’t resist. What is it about this per- son or thing that you find irresistible? 

264. Stephen King said, “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.” How much do you read? How much time do you spend writing?  

265. Have you ever fixed something that was broken? Ever solved a computer problem on your own? Write an article about how to fix something or solve some problem. 

266. Write an essay about your favorite color. Why is it your favorite? How does this color make you feel? Where do you find this color? 

267. You have the opportunity to interview any author, living or dead. Which author do you choose? Write a list of interview questions you’d like to ask.  

268. What would you do if you suspected a friend or family member was struggling with addiction? 

269. Write a personal essay describing the youngest person you know. How do you know this person? What influence does he or she have on your life? 

270. Rita Mae Brown said, “Writers will happen in the best of families.” What did she mean by this? What are some of society’s attitudes about artists in general and writers in particular? 

271. Describe the worst mistake you ever made. How would your life be different if you had chosen differently? Could the mistake have been averted? Did you learn anything from it? 

272. Do you have a lucky charm or some other sentimental object that boosts your positive outlook? How did you get it? How do you use it? Where do you keep it? What is it? 

273. Take a look at the cover of the last book you read. Did it make you want to read the book? How does it represent the book and compel readers to buy it? Notice the font used for the title and author’s name. Notice the placement of text and the composition of images. Write a detailed description of it. 

274. Every relationship is its own story. Tell the story of your marriage. If you are not (or have never been) married, then tell the story of a long-term relationship you’ve had.  

275. What do you think the world of technology will look like in ten years? Twenty? What kind of computers, phones, and other devices will we use? Will technology improve travel? Health care? What do you expect to see and what would you like to see? 

276. Have you ever read a book and thought, I could never write a book this good? What book was it? Who wrote it? What was it about the book that impressed you? What can you learn from it?  

277. You get to give a million dollars to any person you want, but you will not get any of the money. Whom do you give it to and why? 

278. Every home has a story. Does anyone you know live in a home that is the gathering place for others? Has the home itself changed over the years? What if its walls could talk? 

279. Jodi Picoult said, “You can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page.” What did she mean by this? 

280. You get to give ten million dollars to the charity or cause of your choice. Whom do you give the money to and why? 

281. Have you ever experienced discrimination, bigotry, or harassment? Write a narrative about your experiences. 

282. Have you ever found an activity so consuming that you get lost in it and lose track of time? Write a personal essay about it. 

283. If and when you publish a book, you’ll need to market it and build a readership. Write an outline of the actions you can take to promote your book. 

284. Describe the qualities of a good friend. What would their flaws be? 

285. Most of us shape our political and/or spiritual beliefs over time. Tell the story of how your life experiences and your perception of the world helped you shape your current belief system.  

286. Have you ever defended someone who was powerless? Have you ever stuck up for an underdog? Write an article about helping those who cannot help them- selves. 

287. You’re invited to a fancy costume party and you have an unlimited budget for your costume. What do you dress up as and why? Describe your costume in detail. 

288. Robert Frost said, “Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words.” What is poetry?  

289. Do you use social media? Have you ever used it for business purposes? Do you use it to meet people or stay connected with friends and family? Write an article about how you’ve effectively used social media in your career or personal life. 

290. We all have pet peeves. What are yours? Why do they bother you so much? 

291. Every family has its own holiday rituals and traditions. Choose a holiday and write a narrative about how your family has celebrated it over the years. Include personal stories whether they are sad, funny, or troubling. As an alternative, write about one particular holiday occasion. 

292. Some people think that the number thirteen, walking under a ladder, or breaking a mirror will bring bad luck. Are you superstitious? What superstitions do you hold? Why do you believe in them? Do you think they are cosmic or psychological?  

293. Have you ever been close with your neighbors? Did you all get together regularly? Ever throw a block party? Tell the story of you and your neighbors forming a community of friendship (or rivalry). 

294. What are your shopping habits? Do you buy recklessly? Do you clip coupons? Do you have any shopping tips that might benefit others? Write an article about shopping. 

295. Many people feel their greatest legacy is their children. Besides children, what legacy would you like to leave behind? 

296. Dance is one of the most unappreciated art forms. Dancers are stuck some- where between the arts and sports. But think about this— dancers get out there and do their thing, and the only tools they possess are their own bodies. No pens or computers, no cameras, no paintbrushes, and no instruments. You can watch dance performances on television, in music videos, or simply by searching through YouTube. Watch a few dance performances and then write about them. Discuss how the dance is tied to the music. Make observations about how the dancers bring the choreography to life. Compare dancing to writing. Are there similarities? 

297. What is your favorite season? What do you like about it? Write a descriptive essay about it.  

298. Our beliefs and attitudes about love change over time as we gain life experience. Write a series of vignettes telling stories about how different experiences in your life changed or shaped your views about love. 

299. We’ve all felt mistreated by businesses. They overcharge, fail to follow through, or can’t get our orders right. Write a thoughtful but critical article from the customer’s perspective based on a negative experience you’ve had with a business. 

300. Are we alone in the universe? Write a personal essay about your thoughts on whether there is other intelligent life besides humans in the universe.