Welcome to the world of fiction writing! Whether you are an experienced writer or just getting started, these 101 fiction writing prompts can help inspire and guide your creativity and writing skills. Use them as story starters, jumping off points for ideas, or just for fun! With enough imagination, you can take any of these prompts and turn them into a full-fledged novel or short story.
What is Fiction Writing
Fiction writing is the art of creating stories and characters that are not real. It’s a form of creative writing, that allows authors to explore different worlds, create compelling stories, and share emotions with their readers.
These creative writing prompts can take many forms: short story prompts, novel prompts, romance writing prompts, horror writing prompts, science fiction writing prompts, thriller writing prompts, and so on.
101 Prompts for Fiction Writers
Here is the list of fiction writing prompts for your story ideas:
1. Write a story set in a post-apocalyptic world
2. Create a character who is haunted by events from his past
3. Craft an alternate reality where humans never evolved
4. Explore the consequences of a scientific breakthrough gone wrong
5. Design a fantasy world where time travel is possible
6. Develop characters who are stranded in a strange land
7. Invent a race of aliens who come to Earth with mysterious intentions
8. Create an adventure involving sea creatures and pirates
9. Develop a story about the power of dreams
10. Write about a character’s struggle for survival in the wilderness
11. Describe an epic battle between good and evil
12. Tell a story about an unlikely friendship between two enemies
13. Craft a horror story involving an ancient artifact
14. Design a world where magic is real
15. Write a time-traveling saga spanning centuries
16. Develop characters who explore outer space in search of wonder and adventure
17. Invent a race of intelligent robots and their attempt to take over the world
18. Create a story involving politics, power, and intrigue
19. Describe the invention of the machine with unpredictable consequences
20. Write about two characters from different cultures bonding over adversity
21. Explore a society where technology is advanced but emotion is forbidden
22. Develop an adventure involving legendary creatures from mythology
23. Create a story about a group of rebels fighting against an oppressive regime
24. Design a world where natural disasters are commonplace
25. Write about a struggle between order and chaos in the universe
26. Develop characters who find themselves stranded on an island with no hope of rescue
27. Invent a land filled with mysterious creatures and unknown dangers
28. Design a story involving the resurrection of an ancient evil
29. Create a tale of romance set in a fantastical world
30. Write about a quest to find the lost city of Atlantis
31. Explore the consequences of a future without laws or government
32. Develop characters who must travel through time to find a cure for an incurable disease
33. Design a post-apocalyptic world where the survivors must face off against mutated monsters
34. Create a story in which two strangers find themselves trapped in a strange dimension
35. Write about a quest for knowledge with unforeseen consequences
36. Develop characters who explore alternate realities and parallel universes
37. Invent a race of shape-shifting creatures that can take human form
38. Design a magical world where wondrous creatures and powerful wizards exist
39. Create a story involving the exploration of an ancient temple filled with secrets
40. Write about two people from different worlds who must find a way to save both
41. Explore the moral implications of artificial intelligence
42. Develop characters who must battle a supernatural force to save humanity
43. Invent a race of aliens whose mission is to protect planet Earth from destruction
44. Design a world where music has magical powers
45. Create an other-worldly journey through time and space
46. Write about a conspiracy involving powerful forces from the underworld
47. Develop an adventure involving mythological creatures and gods
48. Invent a race of robots who have become self-aware
49. Design an alternate history set in a world where technology never advanced beyond steampunk levels
50. Create a story about an unlikely hero on a quest to save the world
51. Write about a mysterious figure who can control the weather
52. Develop characters who must confront a powerful and dangerous being from another universe
53. Invent a race of aliens whose mission is to conquer Earth
54. Design a story involving time travel, parallel universes, and alternate realities
55. Create a tale where humans have magical powers
56. Write about a rebellion against an oppressive regime
57. Develop characters who explore the depths of space in search of new worlds
58. Invent a race of creatures that can control minds and manipulate memories
59. Design a world filled with magic, mystery, and danger
60. Create a story set in the future where humans have to adjust to a new society
61. Write about a journey into the unknown with unexpected consequences
62. Develop characters who explore underwater worlds filled with secrets and wonders
63. Invent a race of robots who can learn and evolve on their own
64. Design an alternate timeline where history has taken different paths
65. Create a story involving time travel and the quest to change the past
66. Write about a group of people who find themselves in an alternate reality
67. Develop characters who must battle an unknown darkness that threatens their world
68. Invent a race of sentient creatures with strange powers and abilities
69. Design a story set in a post-apocalyptic world where the line between technology and magic is blurred
70. Create a tale involving an epic quest for an ancient artifact with magical powers
71. Write about a character who discovers a strange island filled with mystery and danger
72. Develop characters who must face off against powerful forces from beyond the stars
73. Write a story about a character who is the only person left alive on his planet
74. Design a story about two friends and their entire life.
75. Create a tale of courage and redemption set in a dystopian future.
76. Write about a group of scientists who discover an ancient artifact with mysterious powers
77. Develop two or more characters who are middle school students who went to explore a haunted house.
78. Write a story about a curse on a character’s life.
79. Design a world where magic is real and its use is forbidden
80. Create a story involving an epic quest for the clues to an ancient secret
81. Write about two characters from different cultures bonding over their mutual love of adventure
82. Develop characters who find themselves stranded on an alien planet with no way back home
83. Invent a race of mysterious creatures that lurk in the shadows and can take human form
84. Design a story involving the exploration of a mysterious and forbidden temple
85. Create a tale set in an alternate universe in first-person style
86. Write about two strangers discovering their connection to an ancient prophecy
87. Develop characters who must unlock the secrets of a forgotten city with magical powers
88. Invent a race of robots who have learned to think for themselves and are seeking independence
89. Design a world where the laws of nature no longer apply and new possibilities exist
90. Create a story involving an epic quest to find the key to an ancient secret
91. Write about three people from different times working together to save their world
92. Develop characters who must confront a powerful ancient force to save the entire world
93. Invent a race of aliens whose mission is to protect the universe from destruction
94. Design an alternate timeline where history has taken drastically different paths
95. Create a tale of bravery and redemption set in a post-apocalyptic world
96. Write about a mysterious figure who has the power to control time
97. Develop characters who discover a world full of magic and mystery hid beneath their own
98. Invent a race of creatures that can traverse dimensions and travel through space and time
99. Design a story set in an alternate future where humans have become immortal
100. Design a world where music has the power to influence the natural forces of the universe
101. Write about an unlikely hero on a quest to find a mysterious artifact
Tips for Using Fiction Writing Prompts Efficiently
Choose a prompt
Choosing the best writing prompt ideas is essential for getting you into a creative flow and producing your best work on a blank page.
Brainstorm
Take some time to brainstorm ideas related to the prompt before writing. This will help you develop themes, plot points, characters, and character development and overcome writer’s block in advance which can save time later on.
Outline
Outlining your story can help you keep track of where you are in the writing process. It can also help ensure that your story flows logically and that there are no plot holes or inconsistencies.
Write
Once you have an outline, it’s time to start putting words on paper! Don’t worry about perfect writing style at this stage, just keep writing until the first draft is complete.
Revise
Once the first draft is complete, it’s time to start revising. Read your work over and make changes as needed. This is a great opportunity to add more detail or flesh out characters and settings.
Final Draft
After revisions are complete, you’ll have a finished story ready for submission or publication!
Bottom Line
Using fiction writing prompts can help spark your creativity and get you into the writing groove. Take some time to look through several different prompts before settling on one that appeals to you, then use the brainstorming and outlining stages to give yourself a good foundation for your story.
Sci-fi writing prompts can take the form of romance prompts, short stories, or stories about your everyday life.
Think about a world where technology has taken over or one that’s been destroyed. Consider what it would be like to travel through time or explore an alien planet.
Brainstorm a story involving mysterious creatures or come up with your unique characters and their adventures.
