Fiction Writing Prompts for Every Genre

Fiction writing prompts for every genre.

Today I’d like to share a selection of fiction writing prompts from my book, 1200 Creative Writing Prompts, which includes 500 fiction prompts plus prompts for writing poetry and creative nonfiction. Writing prompts are ideal when you’re feeling uninspired because they provide you with ideas for your writing sessions and projects. But prompts are also useful for those times when you’re not motivated to write. I’ve found that the sheer act of reading through a few good fiction writing prompts gives me the impetus to stop procrastinating and start writing. These fiction writing prompts cover a range of genres, including literary, suspense, thriller, mystery, science fiction, fantasy, horror, romance, historical, humor, satire, children’s, and young adult.

Fiction Writing Prompts

Choose any prompt below that resonates with you and just start writing. There are no rules. You can write a short story, a novel, or an outline. Want to write a story with lots of subplots? Choose two or three prompts and weave them together into a single story.

There’s an old man sitting in a rickety wooden chair, fishing through a hole in the ice on a frozen lake. A loud cracking sound reverberates across the lake’s surface, and he feels the ice shift beneath him. He scurries, but the hole expands too quickly, and he goes into the icy water. What happens next?
When his or her commanding officer is found dead, one young soldier goes AWOL and launches a personal investigation to find out who did it.
At the height of human technological development, a special child is born who can communicate telepathically with computers and other mechanical and electronic devices.
Two ambitious coworkers want the same promotion, and they’re both willing to do just about anything to get it. Then they fall in love. Does the competition heat up or die down? Will their romance survive office politics?
Choose a period of history and a place that interests you, and write a multi-generational saga about a family that lived during that era.
Write a comedy about a rural, salt-of-the-earth family moving to a big city and trying to get along with city folk who are sophisticated and refined.
While shopping in a department store during the holidays, a child is separated from his or her parents and discovers a portal to a winter wonderland.
When marriage becomes a living hell, the protagonist attempts to kill his or her spouse by bringing on depression and encouraging overeating and other unhealthy lifestyle choices.
Scientists discover that the galaxy itself is a living organism.
In the 1970s, someone started putting rocks in boxes and selling them as Pet Rocks, complete with care and training manuals. The business made millions. Write a story about an inventor or businessperson who comes up with a ridiculous product.
Children love to pretend and play grown-up. Write a story about a child playing grown-up and pretending to have a particular career: teacher, veterinarian, artist, etc.
In the midst of a natural disaster, a classroom is locked down and everyone inside is trapped until they are rescued three days later.