100 Writing Prompts

I first posted most of these writing prompts on my TikTok, but I decided to compile them into this blog post. I’ve ordered them chronologically. Some of these prompts are fantasy, others are a bit more sci-fi, and others aren’t really in a specific genre. I hope these give you some writing inspiration and that you will enjoy them as much as I enjoyed writing some of them.

1. Your character hunts down their enemy to defeat them once and for all. But there’s one teensy tiny problem…His enemy is already dead

2. Your character returns home after a long, arduous adventure, but many things have changed. How does he feel about all this? How does he respond?

3. Your character applies for a night shift job that pays unusually well, and is hired immediately. But one night, while doing his daily tasks, he finds out why the pay is high, and the number of employees is low.

4. Your character finds his beloved pet dead along with an ominous note which reads, “YOU’RE NEXT.”

5. Your character wakes up in one of his favorite books from their childhood. However, he doesn’t know how to get out.

6. Your character has been told that he is the Chosen One destined to save his homeland from ruin. However, after reading the prophecy’s fine print, he discovers that he will lose his family…but only if he saves the kingdom. Should he try to save his kingdom, or his family? The answer is obvious.

7. Your character is sick of his boring life and decides to leave everything behind to do something exciting for once. Everything goes fairly well...until he reads a newspaper article saying he’s been presumed dead or murdered.

8. Your character is a devout Christian, but when God tells them to do something he’s not willing to do, he attempts to find a way to avoid his assigned task. As to be expected, things don’t go well for him.

9. Your character goes to a private place so she can journal her thoughts in peace. But when she opens her journal, her heart drops. Her bookmark is on the wrong page.

10. Your character finds a delectable looking cake on her kitchen table, but she doesn’t know who gifted it to her or how it even got there in the first place. Her doors were locked.

11. Your character has finally captured the hero and is trying to decide how to punish him for foiling his plans time and time again. He is ecstatic about making the hero pay, until he realizes that the hero isn’t concerned about their fate at all. In fact, the hero seems relieved for some reason.

12. A detective is trying to figure out who committed a heinous crime. But the more clues he collects, the more the evidence points to someone close to him. What does he do?

13. There weren’t many places to run, but there were plenty of places to hide.

14. Your character is a birthday card that has just been thrown away. What does the birthday card think about all this? How does it feel?

15. Write about a flower who loves to people-watch as a hobby. What does the flower observe? What conversations does it hear?

16. Your character loves to make miniature books and uses them to decorate her dollhouses. But every night, one of those miniature books goes missing. Who would take them?

17. Your character finds an old book and on the first page is a strange message: “Dear reader, do not read past page 1,572 under any circumstances.”

18. A person’s favorite characters come to life. Usually, that would be a dream come true. But there’s one little problem…All his favorite characters are villains.

19. Your character is an avid reader who buys a thick book that is advertised as being so good, “you’ll never be able to put it down.” After reading a chapter or two, he decides to finish it later. But when he tries to set it aside, he can’t. The book is stuck to his hands.

20. Your character has a TBR list, and he keeps telling himself that he’ll read the books later. But the TBR books converse with one another and decide enough is enough. They’re going to revolt.

21. A newly appointed ruler loves musical theater, so he decrees that all citizens must randomly burst into song and dance for his enjoyment. Does your character go along with this, or does he try to rebel?

22. Your character stumbles upon a villain’s secret lair. They’re ready to call the authorities, but there are so many interesting gadgets lying around. It would be a shame not to try them out before they are confiscated by police.

23. “Attention shoppers, some pesky pixies tampered with our produce again. You know the drill.”

24. Having the ability to communicate with animals used to be an exciting opportunity, but now your character just finds it depressing.

25. “The cost of living is a bit too high for my tastes, which is why I built The Ultimate Time Machine! You’re welcome to try it too! Just sign this waiver.”

26. A company sells an ice cream that is advertised to be unmeltable, and it is a hit. But some people experience side effects after eating it.

27. Aliens are invading the planet. However, they’re only attacking major cities. Your character lives in the country, so he’s safe… for now at least.

28. Your character has found the cure for a severe illness. However, he’s now on the run from assassins and greedy businessmen. This wouldn’t be so bad if it weren’t for one thing… Most of those assassins and businessmen are people he knows.

29. “I have a bad habit of assuming the worst. It’s a hard habit to break because most of the time I’m right.”

30. Someone plagiarizes your character’s work and gets accolades for it. Naturally, your character finds a creative way to get revenge.

31. Your character has superpowers, but instead of becoming a superhero, they try to live a normal life. But that doesn’t mean they don’t use their powers every now and then.

32. Help Wanted: Cook who enjoys traveling and doesn’t mind their employers fighting competitors for the good of humanity. Fighting skills or a self-healing ability are preferred but not required.

33. While your character is at the beach, they find a message in a bottle. What does it say? Is it a call to adventure?

34. Your character walks in the jungle at night despite being warned not to. Everything seems fine, until they hear a strange noise.

35. Your character does some last-minute Thanksgiving shopping, but most of the on-brand food items she needs are gone. She gets off-brand items like Crabby Cranberry Sauce instead. As a result, her Thanksgiving dinner doesn’t turn out as expected.

36. “This just in! Hunting turkeys and consuming them has been banned for reasons unknown. Some are up in arms about this new rule, especially since it’s Thanksgiving.”

37. Your character falls asleep and has a wonderful dream…until he realizes he can’t wake up.

38. Your character grapples with guilt as the very thing he created for good is used for evil by others with selfish motives. Is there anything he can do to remedy the situation?

39. Your character’s enemy decides to hit her where it hurts by stealing her family heirloom. The enemy quickly regrets that decision.

40. Your precious pet has managed to climb the political ladder and become governor of your home state. What is the first thing your pet does?

41. Your character finds a ghost town and oddly enough, the buildings are well kept and clean. What’s going on?

42. Your character hears a frantic knock on the door. When he answers, he finds a baby on his doorstep and a note: Sorry, can’t chat. Late for work. Thanks for babysitting.

43. Your character discovers a family secret, and his relatives beg him not to spill the beans. This wouldn’t be an issue…if he wasn’t a journalist.

44. Your character is a balloon that someone has accidentally let go of. What does it see and hear as it floats higher into the sky? How does it feel?

45. Your character puts the pieces together and realizes who the mole is, but it’s too little too late; alliances are broken, lives are lost, and his conspirators get what they want.

46. Your character is a detective who exposes people who make false accusations against others. But one day, the detective find news articles accusing him of a crime.

47. A few villains claim they have been reformed during their time in prison and ask to be set free. The judge decides to allow it on one condition… They must take up a customer service job, such as a fast-food attendant, under strict supervision. This definitely isn’t a means of torturing them further.

48. Your character likes to “borrow” things he finds in the lost and found. He finds a lot of cool stuff, but those same items ultimately cause problems for him later.

49. While a group of friends are camping, they share their stories and some gossip with each other. Unbeknownst to them, their enemies decided to camp nearby and are eavesdropping.

50. Write a story about friends who have a big fall out over something trivial and then realize their mistake later. What do they do?

51. An unreliable narrator claims their ex-friend(s) chose wealth and fame over friendship, but the reality is that his friend(s) left them because he was toxic.

52. A person realizes that people are gossiping about them, but instead of getting upset, she decides to use the gossipy hens to her advantage. After all, as long as they’re spreading lies about her, no one will ever know what she’s really up to.

53. Everyone gets their memory wiped so that they can’t remember a crucial event, except for one person. Now that person has to convince everyone else that the crucial event isn’t made up.

54. Write a story inspired by one of your favorite and happiest memories.

55. What if Jack decided not to trade his cow for magic beans?

56. “Attention loyal employees, the aliens are coming. Run if you can, hide if you must, serve food to survive.”

57. A person who has lived in stressful conditions for most of his life must learn to relax and take joy in the little things again.

58. A farmer sets up a trap to catch the pest that’s been eating their crops, but ends up catching a creature he doesn’t expect.

59. A group of Chosen Ones save the world and are now expected to live normal lives. However, that’s easier said than done when all they have been trained to do is be heroes. Some don’t handle the change as well as others.

60. Your character hears strange music playing, but no one else does. He looks for the source of the sound and finds something unexpected.

61. Your character is sent to kill an evil witch, but it turns out there’s been some sort of misunderstanding. The victim isn’t a witch at all, but someone of another profession.

62. A pickpocket steals someone’s wallet. But after looking at his target’s ID, he realizes that he just stole from a dangerous villain. What does he do now?

63. Your character finds a mysterious present underneath his Christmas tree along with a note: To the Thorn in My Side, Merry Christmas, From: Your nemesis.

64. Your character decides to do some caroling with his family and friends. Everything is fine…until they unwittingly knock on his enemy’s door.

65. Your character is an author who has been struggling to get his book published. However, he is also a villain, so he stops trying to get it published the old-fashioned way and opts for a more uncivilized route.

66. Your character is browsing the bookstore’s bestsellers shelf and finds one book with a picture of his pet on the front cover. To his surprise, his pet has written an autobiography.

67. Your character is a writer, and every morning she notices that someone or something has been editing her manuscript overnight. What does she do?

68. Your character gets coal for Christmas, but he’s certain Santa has made a mistake. He knows he’s been good this year. What does he do?

69. Your character tries to write a letter to someone they’ve been estranged with for years. What does he write? Does he get a response?

70. Your character is scrapbooking when she notices pictures and drawings that she never put in her scrapbook. Who did it? How does your character react?

71. “Attention shoppers, gremlins have infiltrated the toy section. Run.”

72. Your character has amnesia. So, when people come up to him claiming to be his friends, he isn’t sure they’re telling the truth. Could they be lying to take advantage of him?

73. Sea creatures like to follow your character around whenever he’s at the beach. Some of them even offer advice. However, when he asks them why they do that, they never give him a straight answer. What’s going on?

74. Write a story where your character knows an irrelevant fact that turns out to be just what he needs to save the day.

75. Write a story that starts with this sentence. ‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, except for a…

76. Your character wakes up to get ready for the day. He goes to the bathroom to wash his face and brush his teeth, but there’s one problem… He can’t see his reflection in the mirror.

77. Write a story where your character decides to reveal a long-kept secret to his friends and family. But when he does, he gets an unexpected reaction from them.

78. Your character crosses paths with his enemy’s pet. The creature runs to him, it seems ready to attack. But when it reaches him, something shocking happens… The creature rubs up against him asking for pets. What does your character do? What happens next?

79. Your character is given the opportunity to see life through another person’s eyes. What does he see, and how does he feel about it?

80. Write a story where two mythical creatures switch abilities out of curiosity. What happens?

81. A couple of servants who have been mistreated by the royal family for years finally snap and attempt to get revenge, but they don’t want to kill anyone. They need to be creative.

82. Your character decides to work for a supervillain because it’s the only job that can help him afford rent. What adventures and hijinks does he get into?

83. A person gets lost at sea, but when all hope seems lost, he comes across a mystical sea creature who offers to help him in exchange for a favor.

84. A person is sick of being mistreated by his family and decides to get revenge on them, but to do that, he needs help from the other former scapegoats who left the family years ago.

85. Your character realizes that his selfish actions have caused everyone around him pain and suffering, so he tries to redeem himself. Understandably, no one wants to give him another chance, except for one person who may or may not have ulterior motives.

86. A person decides to start his own business but runs into some trouble with corrupt officials. This would be a disaster if he wasn’t also a secret agent whose job is to stop such individuals.

87. A fairy godmother notices that her godchild isn’t given enough attention by her parents, so she comes up with a unique plan to fix the problem.

88. A person decides to live the rest of his life as a hermit and goes to a remote island to fulfill his dream. However, he later discovers that the island isn’t as remote as it seems. Who or what does he meet on the island?

89. Write a story about a chef who’s required to prepare food for a dragon so that he won’t burn down his village. What happens? Is he on good terms with the dragon? What does he have to do to prepare the dragon’s meals?

90. A mythical creature is transported from its fantasy world into the normal world and must get back home somehow. What happens next?

91. A person hired to lie for a company to cover up scandals runs into some trouble once some private investigators get involved. If the company is exposed, she will be out of a job and will not be respected in society. What will she do?

92. Write a story about a person who is hired to be a wedding guest whose job is to keep other unruly wedding guests in check. What do they have to do to keep these people in line?

93. Write a story from a cat’s perspective as the cat distribution system is at work. How does the cat find its new slave–I mean, owner?

94. Write a story about a book who is donated to a bookstore or thrift store. How does it feel about being donated? What home does it end up in next?

95. Your character finds a gremlin messing with his inventions and is furious. What does he do next?

96. Your character is sick and tired of constantly being teleported to a magical world with the expectation that he will complete some sort of task or go on a quest for free, so he decides to demand some form of payment for his services. If he doesn’t get paid, he will gladly find a creative way to get back at the people who are wasting his time.

97. Write a story about a character who tries to take Pegasus riding lessons, but most of them don’t end well. Do they eventually learn to ride a Pegasus, or do they quit?

98. Write a story about a chemical plant disaster that causes some animals and/or insects to mutate. How does your character defend himself against this new threat?

99. Your characters find out a superhero’s secret identity. What do they do with this information?

100. Your character finds out that his pet is a secret agent working on behalf of the government, but he decides to act like he’s not aware of it for the time being. What happens next?