Writing Prompts

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. 

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.