I love a good writing prompt. Writing prompts are great when you really want to write, but might not know where to start.
Or if you’ve been writing all day for work and want to write something for yourself, a writing prompt may help you switch your writing focus.
I love writing prompts because they are writing adventures.
If I’m stuck or bored, I flip through a book, or click around.
And writing prompts can be anything. Single words, story starters, different angles, a set of story parameters, or even a photo.
I find an interesting prompt and start writing. Or I pick a number, or point my finger, and start writing. I don’t know where I’m going, but it’s fun.
Five minutes ago, I didn’t know what to write about. But now my pencil is moving across the page, or I’m punching the keys and writing is happening.
If you’re like me and sometimes need a spark to get your words out, I’ve put together a list of 38 places to find writing prompts.
(The product links in this post are Amazon affiliate links, I make a small commission if you make a UK or US purchase through them. Read my disclosure here.)
Writing Prompt Books (that I’ve actually used)
The 3 A. M. Epiphany: Uncommon Writing Exercises That Transform Your Fiction – Bonus points if you use this book at 3 AM like I used to.
The Writer’s Book of Matches: 1,001 Prompt to Ignite Your Fiction.
5,000 Writing Prompts – in genre categories and other wonderfulness.
Where To Find Writing Prompts Online
Writer Igniter – Writing prompt shuffler (character/situation/prop/setting from the groovy folks at DIY MFA)
Story Shack – writing prompt system with more parameters, even gives you a word count.
Creative writing prompts at Writer’s Digest
Writing challenges at The Writing Cooperative
Creative writing exercises at Write To Done – where you can add your own words to the prompts.
Write On Wednesday at StoryADay – or any day. I’m a rebel.
I also have writing prompt link ups here on Gin & Lemonade and the corresponding weekly and then monthly posts can be found here.
Monthly prompts at Blog Battle
The weekly writing challenges at Yeah Write.
Writing prompts on Reddit.
Story starters and prompts in the form of questions on Quora.
Find writing prompts on Twitter
Funnily enough, the hashtag #writingprompt
I also like @AdvicetoWriters
And I’m a new user of the hashtag #writingcommunity
Pin writing prompts on Pinterest
I save a lot of writing tips to Pinterest.
You can type in creative writing prompts or use a specific genre in the search bar, and you could be there awhile. Just make sure after you pin some, maybe turn off the internet and use the prompts to write something.
Facebook Groups for Writing Prompts
I’m not in a lot of fiction writing groups, honestly.
But check out Creative Writing Resources, Scribe Tribe, and Write Better, Blog Better for prompts and motivation. There’s also my Facebook group, Blogging & A Beverage. Blogging & A Beverage is for bloggers who consider themselves writers first.
Instagram for writing Inspiration
Sometimes I like to scroll through my Instagram Explore page for story sparks or to get in the mood to write.
I use the composition of photos, I’m inspired by the different filters and colours, and often think about what happened just before the photo was taken or what’s going on outside the frame.
I also want to drink all the Instagram-worthy coffee.
Hashtags to check out: #writersofinstagram, and #writersofig
Writing prompts from real life
Read the newspaper – For the headlines, photos, classifieds, the travel section.
Hang out in coffeeshops – for the eavesdropping, for the change of scene, for the the caffeine.
In transit – pay attention during your commute, look out the train window or look out for airport hellos.
Find a penpal – Write them a letter, and then don’t stop writing.
Buy post cards and write just enough to fit on them. Send them or don’t.
Light a candle and write how it changes the room.
Listen to your kids or any kids.
Interview older people
Look through old photo albums, and if you don’t have any go to a secondhand shop or an antique fair or shop.
I hope you find the spark for your next piece of writing or the next line of your work in progress somewhere on this list.
If you’re looking for ways to actually use these prompts to get more writing done, check out how to find the time to write.
Where else do you find writing inspiration?
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28 Comments
I haven’t used any writing prompts but I know people find them really useful.
Today is Try Something New Day. Go on. 🙂
I like a prompt!
Only one? Thousands out there, ha!
Looks like a lot of great resources. Thanks for sharing them Lorna!
Hope you find something you can use, Rhonda. This was a fun one to put together!
Wow–that’s a lot of writing prompts. Thanks for this fabu resource, Lorna. Love the idea-generation ideas, too, like interviewing someone. Always inspiring. I like to read poetry (or any genre other than what I’m writing) to get ideas. And once I get a spark of an idea, it seems like the world starts throwing pertinent info at me, if I just pay attention. I get ideas from the things other bloggers say, from listening to NPR, from nonfiction and memoir pieces. If writers stay open and listen, the ideas will come, I think. But prompts can certainly give us the kick when we need it, too!
Some excellent resources! I’m lucky that Ken will every so often come up with a line or phrase and say Hey, can you write a story about that? And sometimes it’s so intriguing that I do!
I ask Neil and his answer is always ‘Penguins.’ Which is very, very niche. Ha!
Have you ever written one for him? That would make a great birthday present!
Yep.
I hope he appreciated it!
I love writing prompts. I made a prompt a day for my fiancé for Christmas and we are both loving them x
I never used them but why not there is always a first time
If you do, let me know how it goes!
Thank you for sharing! I really love writing using writing prompts sometimes, both on and off my blog.
– Nyxie
Helpful resource! Will need to check them out one by one 😀
Hope you find some new sparks!
Wow loads of prompts and ideas, thanks for sharing!
Thanks for this. A big help for people like me who sometimes have trouble getting started.
What a great assortment of fun prompts! I always see the writing prompts on Reddit, but haven’t clicked the button yet. Hmmm… something to investigate.
It’s so funny–I’ve been writing all my life and never needed a prompt to break writers’ block, but definitely used them for skill building.
I haven’t really tried to use writing prompts because I write about travel and food. I’m not if Yelp reviews and issues of Timeout count.
Wow! So many avenues to go down!
I am so attracted to writing prompt books, but sometimes they can appear too stale. I need to feel truly inspired to write. So for me, looking inward at what I want to (or need to) say is my best route.
Love all of these alternatives! What a great resource for new writers!!
Your list is amazingly helpful. Thank you! Of course, living a long and interesting life helps too. I am lucky that way xoxo
Lots of great ideas in this list. I love it. I am not quite at that place where I need prompts because I have so many plans for what I want to write. However, it would be fun to every now and then, pick a random prompt and go with it. Sounds like a refreshing idea, doesn’t it?
Years ago, I picked a photo out of a newspaper or magazine every Sunday and gave myself a week to write a story around it.
One of my favorite things to do is hang out in a neat coffee shop. Oh reminder should get back to Blog Battle. Doing NaNo this month so that is focus.