141. Write a story in first-person point of view from the perspective of someone who is your complete opposite physically, politically, spiritually, or in some other significant way.
142. The protagonist buys an antique trunk from a junk shop and discovers a mummified body inside— a body that was murdered.
143. An asteroid and a meteoroid collide near Earth, and fragments rain down onto the planet’s surface, wreaking havoc. Some of those fragments contain surprising elements: fossils that prove life exists elsewhere in the galaxy, for example.
144. In the fantasy genre, sometimes all the wizards seem the same. Write a story about a wizard who doesn’t have a long white beard, doesn’t wear robes, and is not a mentor or guide.
145. The protagonist wakes up one morning in a parallel universe that is similar to our own but much darker and more terrifying.
146. One man or woman is nearing the age of sixty. Decades after giving up career aspirations to focus on family, he or she suddenly has a change of heart and decides to go for the dream abandoned years ago.
147. Spaceships, planes, and men on the moon: We started out traveling around on foot. Then some clever Neanderthal invented the wheel. Now, we soar through the skies and tear through space. Write a story about a long journey set in an era when planes, trains, and automobiles weren’t readily available.
148. Two characters who loathe each other get locked inside a department store overnight. Hi-jinks and hilarity ensue.
149. A child pretending to be a spy discovers incredible secrets while surveilling his or her parent, who conducts top-secret research for the military.
150. The story starts when a kid comes out of the school bathroom with toilet paper dangling from his or her waistband. Does someone step forward and whisper a polite word, or do the other kids make fun? What happens in this pivotal moment will drive the story and have a deep impact on the main character.
151. A doctor puts his hand on his patient’s arm and says, “You or the baby will survive. Not both. I’m sorry.”
152. A newlywed receives word that his or her spouse was killed in action. A few months later, the widowed protagonist starts receiving communications that could only be from his or her dearly departed spouse.
153. A team of researchers in a submarine is caught in a deadly sea storm. The instruments on board go haywire. The submarine submerges deep into the ocean in search of calm waters until the storm passes. Afterward, the submarine surfaces, but the instruments are still not functioning properly. They can’t get a fix on their location or find land, which should be nearby. When night falls, the researchers realize there are two moons in the sky and the constellations are completely unfamiliar.
154. We’ve seen cute and cuddly dragons, mean and vicious dragons, and noble dragons. Write a story about a different kind of dragon.
155. A scientific experiment meant to give animals the ability to communicate with humans goes wrong. The animals gain the power of human speech, but their intelligence also skyrockets, and they are determined to take the planet back from humans.
156. After three failed marriages and countless broken hearts, the protagonist has given up on love. It’s been years since he or she so much as considered going on a date.
157. Revolution could be defined as a war between a state and its people. Revolution often occurs when people are oppressed to the point of mass suffering. Choose one such revolution from history and write a story about the people who launched it.
158. Some of the funniest stories have simple plots that are humorous because the protagonist figuratively (or literally) gets gum on his or her shoe every step of the way. Ideas: the protagonist wakes up by rolling off the bed, spills coffee on his only clean shirt, realizes he is wearing two different shoes after arriving at work, etc.
159. Write a story about a child and his or her imaginary friend.
160. Kids start realizing their identities around junior high. That’s often when the friendships of elementary school fade as kids forge bonds and form into cliques more suitable to their personal interests and social status. Write a story about best friends from grammar school who are drifting apart in junior high.