Writing can be incredible and cathartic, but it is a long and difficult endeavor sometimes. As George Orwell, the famous author of 1984 and Animal Farm, said, "Writing a book is a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout of some painful illness. One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven on by some demon whom one can neither resist nor understand.”
One of the most challenging parts of writing, especially creative writing, is finding the inspiration and getting started. Therefore, I have combined a list of 20 writing prompts from various online sources. Some of these prompts are single quotes that you can turn into whatever story you want. The possibilities are endless! I promise, these writing prompts are guaranteed to fill you with inspiration and to help you get started writing right now...
1. She was going to be late, again; the anxiety swirling her mind froze as her heel skimmed the edge of a missed step halfway down the staircase.
2. Suddenly, the hanged man started to speak…
3. “Fate is a very weighty word to throw around before breakfast.”
4. “I’m looking for a place. Mine blew up.”
5. “There was a picture in my phone of me sleeping. I live alone.”
6. The moment a person is born, their animal familiar pops into existence, a constant companion for life. Your companion means well, but he’s increasingly become a huge nuisance…
7. Your character is given a list of names. Why?
8. “It was such a peaceful time and yet, I felt compelled to ruin it.”
9. He saw her only twice. Once when he passed her on the street and the next that night on the news.
10. I was the kind of girl no one would go looking for.
11. “I don’t have a license to kill. I have a learner’s permit.”
12. Humans return from Mars for the first time, but there is something ‘not quite right’ about them.
13. We didn’t want her to leave, so we duct-taped her to the tree.
14. “Did you just dare me?”
15. Your antagonist has died. Who leaves flowers on their grave?
16. Despite the blindfold, she knew exactly where she was.
17. You die and find yourself in hell. You run into a family member that died before you, but would have been the least expected to be there. It turns out, they’re running the place.
18. “You mean you literally held the fate of all humankind in your hands and you dropped it?!”
19. Suzanne has a secret. Danny has the key. Sam is bleeding out on the table. And no one has seen Greg since he left for food 4 hours ago.
20. You sold your soul to the devil some years ago. Today he gives it back and says, “I need a favor.”
I hope these writing prompts helped you find some inspiration. Also, I want to give credit to the brilliant minds who created these prompts.
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