A group of friends who find an ancient map. They decide to follow it, believing it will lead them to a long - lost pirate's treasure. Along the way, they face many obstacles, including rival treasure hunters and dangerous terrains, and they also learn more about their friendship and themselves.
A time - traveling device that malfunctions. The protagonist might end up in a completely unexpected era, facing challenges like fitting in, finding a way back, and dealing with the historical events that are happening around them.
A character who wakes up one day with a strange power. For example, the ability to read people's thoughts. This could lead to various interesting situations, such as accidentally discovering a conspiracy.
One theme is the pursuit of dreams. This could be about a character who has a big dream, like becoming a famous artist or an astronaut. But they face many obstacles in the process, such as lack of money or family opposition. The story can show how they strive to overcome these difficulties.
A story about a group of kids who find a hidden door in their school basement. Behind the door is a world full of talking animals. They have to work together to find their way back home while also helping the animals solve a problem in their world.
One benefit is that they can overcome writer's block. When you don't know what to write, a short story prompt gives you a direction. Another benefit is that they can inspire creativity. They present a unique situation that you can build on in many different ways. For example, a prompt about a magic portal can lead to countless stories depending on how you develop it.
A mysterious old house on a hilltop could be a great prompt. You can build a story around who used to live there, what secrets it holds. Maybe there are strange noises coming from it at night and a curious kid decides to investigate.
A mysterious old house at the end of a desolate street. You can start with a character being drawn to it out of curiosity, and then strange things start to happen, like hearing unexplained noises or seeing shadowy figures.
Sure. A student finds an old diary in the school library. The diary is filled with entries that seem to predict future events that are starting to come true in his own life. He tries to find out who the author of the diary was, but no one in the school has any knowledge of it. As he delves deeper, he starts to see a shadowy figure following him around the school.
A valuable painting goes missing from an art gallery. The detective finds a small piece of fabric on the frame that matches the clothes of one of the janitors. Upon further investigation, it turns out the janitor was blackmailed into stealing the painting by a rival art dealer.
How about 'In the middle of the crowded marketplace, she saw a face that made her heart stop.' This is a great first sentence as it creates a moment of shock and recognition. The reader will want to know who that person is, what their relationship is with the main character, and why seeing them had such a powerful effect. It also gives a sense of a bustling, public setting which can contrast with the very personal and intense reaction of the character.