Well, with short story prompts for fiction, you should consider it as a springboard. If the prompt is about a time - traveling event, start imagining the character who experiences it. Is it a scientist? A regular person? Then, think about the rules of time travel in your story. How does it affect the character? What is the character's goal in this time - traveling journey? You can also add sub - plots related to the character's personal life before and after the time - travel.
One great free write prompt for fiction could be 'A character discovers a mysterious door in an old attic.' This immediately sets a scene full of potential. The character could be anyone - a curious child, an old homeowner, or a nosy neighbor. And the door? It could lead to a magical world, a time - locked room filled with secrets from the past, or a portal to another dimension. It gives the writer a lot to work with in terms of creating a story.
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 spooky prompt could be 'A haunted forest'. You start by describing the forest as dark and foreboding. The trees are gnarled and seem to reach out like twisted arms. There are strange noises like whispers in the wind. A character enters the forest, and as they do, they feel a sense of dread. Maybe they see a figure in the distance that disappears when they look closer. This can lead to a story about the character trying to find their way out while being haunted by the unknown entities in the forest.
One sex prompt could be 'A forbidden love between a vampire and a werewolf that leads to a passionate encounter in a moonlit forest.' Another could be 'Two characters from different historical eras are brought together by a magical spell and discover a new level of intimacy.'
First, find some interesting prompts. You can look for them on fanfic writing forums or websites dedicated to fanfic. Then, choose the fandom you want to write about. After that, start brainstorming how the prompt can fit into the world and characters of that fandom. For example, if the prompt is 'a character discovers a hidden power' and your fandom is Harry Potter, think about which character could discover this power and how it would change the story.
How about 'A young adult has to solve a mystery that has haunted their family for generations.' This could lead to all sorts of adventures and character development. There could be hidden clues, long-lost relatives, and unexpected twists.