Who knows? You may turn one of these prompts into a full-fledged short story or even a novel.

Creative Writing Prompts

1. Every morning it was the same thing for Martin Hedges. He’d put on a pot of coffee and get dressed as he waited for the coffee to brew. But today, things would be different…

2. I counted the cash I’d taken from the ATM and turned around. My next door neighbor was standing before me with a gun in his hand…

3. It’s not easy loving a loser like Johnny…

4. My husband slid two twenty dollar bills across the table. “That’s all we have left,” he said…

5. No one had ever kissed me like that…

6. My trip to the grocery store was uneventful. But as I turned onto my street I noticed the police cars surrounding my house…

7. Mrs. Johnson inched toward me with her walker, clutching the leash in one hand. The little “rat on a string” she called a dog snarled…

8. It was a long way to Philadelphia and, if anyone asked, Jennifer couldn’t really explain why she was going there. All she knew was that she HAD to make the trip…

9. It was going to rain all day, and there was nothing Samantha could do about it…

10. Spring was in the air. There was no doubt about it. People all across the village were outside enjoying the sunshine.

But not Fiona. She cringed at the thought of walking outside into the sunlight.

11. Maria had just spent $700 on a pair of shoes. ONE pair of shoes. WHAT had she been thinking?

12. Jason said it was an accident. But was it, really….

13. My life changed the day I found that huge envelope stuffed with cash in the coupon exhange bucket at the supermarket.

14. Write a short scene between two characters who are lost in a strange city for some reason. Try to include a variety of “sensory” details in this scene, to help readers feel as if they are actually right there WITH the characters and not simply reading about them.

15. What’s the most exciting thing that has ever happened to you? Describe this in detail.

16. It wasn’t going to be easy to admit that he had made a mistake. But that’s exactly what Jeremy would need to do if he hoped to be taken seriously anymore.

17. The rain tap, tap, tapped against the windows as Mary sat in the kitchen sipping her 10th cup of coffee. It was way past noon, yet she was still in her ratty bathrobe and bunny slippers. But she didn’t care. She didn’t care at all.

18. Marty was sick and tired of being pushed around. Today he was finally going to do something about it.

19. Nicole looked at her husband and frowned. “Are you crazy?” she shouted at him.

20. Sarah studied the old man carefully. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it. But something about him reminded her of someone else. But who?

21. Getting old was the most difficult thing Jonathan Sears had ever done.

22. Marlene made sure she set all her clocks ahead one ahead before she climbed into bed. She was dreading the time change because…

23. Brandon lit a cigarette as soon as he was out of the building, standing on the sidewalk. He took a deep drag and looked up at the window of what used to be his office.

24. Angela hated parades, yet here she was, right in the middle of the biggest parade of the year. Everywhere she turned she saw green, green, and more green!

25. Connie turned the key in the front door, then walked into the entryway. She put her keys and purse on the table there, then moved to the living room. “Oh, no!” she cried.

26. Describe a St. Patrick’s Day parade appealing to all 5 senses: taste, touch, smell, sight, hear.

27. John woke to a bright sunny day without a cloud in the sky. He opened one eye and noticed he was seated on an old sofa perched on a dumpster in some alleyway. Oh, no! What have I done? he wondered.

28. Marsha looked up from the breakfast table. Her husband Carl was seated across from her, sipping a cup of coffee and reading the morning paper.

29. It had been years since Katherine smelled the saltiness of the sea and heard the squawk of seagulls overheard. But she was home again now…

30. Today, open your window. Now…describe the “sounds” of spring!

31. Brian Addison needed cash. And he needed it NOW!

32. Allison turned to her sister. “Of course you can’t keep it,” she said. “You’ve got to give it back NOW!”

33. Use a variety of sensory details to describe your favorite place in the world. This place could be your home, your city, your favorite country, your favorite vacation spot…any place that you enjoy. Make this spot come alive through sensory details.

34. Marcy looked at the dog and burst into tears…

35. Although “spring had sprung” the week before, winter now returned with a vengeance.

36. Create a character for a story. But before you write the story, find out what this character’s biggest fear is. Write about it in great detail as if the character were dictating this information to you.

37. Ryan loved Jennifer more than life itself!

38. Maggie couldn’t keep the secret any longer. She just had to tell Mitchell!

39. Daisy polished off the last cream puff in the box and wiped her face with a napkin. She would start her new diet tomorrow….always tomorrow!

40. Being a good parent was more difficult than James had ever imagined.

41. Mary was a fulltime freelance writer, which meant she had little rituals that helped her start working. Every day she would …

42. Describe your best friend. Include as many details about this person as you can.

43. Gerald was tired of losing. He was determined he wasn’t going to lose again.

44. Little Margaret had never been to a funeral before.

45. George turned to Marcus and frowned. “Who do you think you are, Sherlock Holmes?” he asked.

46. Kevin’s felt a cold wet wave rush over his feet. He looked down. The entire floor was covered in water and more was pouring into the room.

47. There was just enough light in the darkened room for Devin to notice two large orange eyeballs staring right at him!

48. Alison knew she shouldn’t read her sister’s diary. But she just couldn’t help herself. She pushed a bobby pin into the lock that kept the book shut and it easily opened with a click. Alison turned to page one…

49. Mary gentled poured water over the baby’s head and massaged his scalp with the soft washcloth.

50. It was another dark, dreary day in the city. Kelly pulled on a sweater and looked out the window.