One good prompt could be 'The time when a family member surprised us all.' Another could be 'A family vacation that changed everything.' And 'The family heirloom and its story.'
Some excellent story prompts for family stories are 'The day we moved to a new house as a family.' This can bring out all the emotions and experiences of that day. 'The family pet and its adventures' is also a fun one. It can make you remember all the cute and crazy things the pet did. 'The family recipe and the story behind it' is another good one. It might involve memories of grandparents or special occasions when that recipe was made.
Just pick a prompt like 'A family argument and how it was resolved.' Then start thinking about the real events in your family related to it. Recall the feelings, words, and actions. And start writing or telling the story.
A unique event or situation makes a family story interesting. For example, if your family once had to survive a snowstorm while on a road trip.
One way to start is to introduce the family members involved. 'My parents, my siblings and I were all excited as we set off on our family vacation. We had planned this for months, and the day had finally arrived. We were headed to a small cabin in the mountains, and little did we know the adventures that awaited us there. The car was filled with our laughter and the smell of freshly made sandwiches for the journey. As we drove further away from home, the anticipation grew, and we couldn't wait to reach our destination and start exploring the beautiful nature around the cabin.'
One good prompt could be 'A mysterious door appears in the middle of a forest'. This can lead to various stories such as a magical adventure where characters enter the door to find a different world filled with strange creatures. Another prompt might be 'A letter arrives with no return address'. It could be the start of a mystery or a long - lost connection story. Also, 'A person wakes up with a strange power' can create a story about self - discovery and the use or misuse of that power.
One good prompt could be 'A mysterious letter arrives in the mail with no return address'. This can lead to a story about mystery, secrecy, and perhaps a journey to uncover the sender's identity. Another prompt is 'You wake up in a world where colors have disappeared'. It allows for a creative exploration of a dull, monochromatic world and the character's attempts to bring back color. And 'A strange noise coming from the attic at midnight' can inspire a spooky short story.
A haunted house is a classic prompt. Imagine an old, dilapidated mansion on the outskirts of town, with creaking floors and shadowy figures in the windows. Another could be a cursed object, like a mirror that shows a different, terrifying world when you look into it. And a dark forest at night, filled with strange noises and unseen threats.
Good prompts for short stories include 'A broken - down car in the middle of nowhere'. This might lead to a story of survival, self - discovery, or an encounter with unexpected help. 'A photograph that shows a different time and place' can inspire a story about memories, nostalgia, or time travel. Also, 'A magic potion that has an unforeseen side effect' which can result in all kinds of creative and wild short story ideas.
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 young artist moves to a big city and has to overcome numerous obstacles like poverty and rejection to achieve their dream of having their work shown in a major gallery. There can be themes of perseverance, the power of art, and the harsh reality of the art world.
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.