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.
A lost item with a special power. Maybe it's a small key that can open doors to different dimensions. A character finds it and starts on an adventure to discover what these different dimensions hold, meeting various strange creatures along the way.
A time - travel prompt. For example, a young scientist accidentally activates a time - traveling device and ends up in a different era. They have to figure out how to get back while also experiencing the culture and challenges of that time period. This can lead to many interesting encounters and plot twists.
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 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 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 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.
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.
Well, a good short - story setting should be well - described so that the reader can easily picture it. It could be a bustling city street with different kinds of people and noises. It should also have the potential for conflict. A small, cramped apartment where two people with different lifestyles are forced to live together can create interesting situations. Additionally, the setting can change over the course of the story to reflect the character's journey, like a character starting in a dark alley and ending up in a bright, open park.
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.'
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.
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 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.