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Sparking Your Story
To choose a prompt that motivates, reflect on:
- What genre or tone excites you today?
- Do you want a character-driven or concept-driven seed?
- Should it hint at conflict, setting, or dialogue?
- How much freedom do you want in interpretation?
- Does it reveal a twist or central question?
Writing Prompt FAQs
Answers to using the Writing Prompt Generator:
How are prompts generated?
Prompts are formed by combining narrative elements—characters, settings, and conflicts—from a curated list.
Can I select a genre?
Not yet; regenerate until you find a prompt matching your desired genre or mood.
Are prompts open-ended?
Yes—they serve as seeds for your creativity, ready for expansion into full scenes or stories.
How many prompts can I generate?
Unlimited—click to discover fresh writing ideas until you find your perfect spark.
How do I copy or save?
Click the prompt to copy it, or click the heart icon to add it to your favorites for later.
What are good writing prompts?
There's thousands of random writing prompts in this generator. Here are some samples to start:
- Write a 350 word story in the fairy tale genre. It's about a rugby player and should include a fork. Also use the sentence 'I can fix this.' Bonus prompt: There seems to be no one left on the planet.
- Write a 150 word story in the adventure genre. It's about a lion trainer and should include a golf club. Also use the sentence 'How do you feel?' Bonus prompt: Your character is imprisoned.
- Write a 450 word story in the magical realism genre. It's about a fascist and should include coloring pencils. Also use the sentence 'Hello?' Bonus prompt: The story takes place in a desert.
- Write a 100 word story in the fairy tale genre. It's about a lonely farmer and should include a leaderboard. Also use the sentence 'You don't have to love me.' Bonus prompt: Your character has just met the love of his/her life.
- Write a 600 word story in the magical realism genre. It's about an unsuccessful policeman and should include a book. Also use the sentence 'We can repair this.' Bonus prompt: Your character is imprisoned.
- Write a 400 word story in the military genre. It's about an immunologist and should include coloring pencils. Also use the sentence 'Whoopsidaisies!' Bonus prompt: Your character has lost someone dear.
- Write a 800 word story in the seasonal genre. It's about a nurse who knows more than the doctors and should include a bicycle. Also use the sentence 'I've been in love with you since years.' Bonus prompt: The story takes place in a desert.
- Write a 550 word story in the magical realism genre. It's about a remorseful murderer and should include expired food. Also use the sentence 'Where'd you get that wound?' Bonus prompt: The story takes place in space.
- Write a 900 word story in the fairy tale genre. It's about a communist and should include a tablet. Also use the sentence 'I've been in love with you since years.' Bonus prompt: Winter is long and extremely cold.
- Write a 950 word story in the children genre. It's about a wallflower and should include a flag. Also use the sentence 'Maybe we should just kiss to break the tension.' Bonus prompt: Your character is hated by everyone.
About the creator
All idea generators and writing tools on The Story Shack are carefully crafted by storyteller and developer Martin Hooijmans. Originally from the Netherlands, I nowadays live with my wife and child in the south of Germany. During the day I work on tech solutions for mobility provider Flix. In my free hours I love diving into stories, be it reading, writing, gaming, roleplaying, you name it, I probably enjoy it. The Story Shack is my way of giving back to the global storytelling community. It's a huge creative outlet where I love bringing my ideas to life. Thanks for coming by, and if you enjoyed this tool, make sure you check out a few more below!