creative writing prompts examples

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BEST ADULTS WRITING PROMPTS

Join (probably?) the world's largest writing contest. Flex those creative muscles with weekly writing prompts.

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The witching hour, write a story in the form of a list of new year's resolutions., end your story with two characters reconciling., set your story at a large entertainment venue, after the show has ended, amongst the discarded plastic cups and confetti., your main character has a secret superpower; the gossip they spread always comes true., write a story about someone trying to track down the source of a rumor..

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Your character is known as the town gossip. One day, it comes back to bite them.

Write a story about a piece of gossip that becomes more and more distorted as it passes from person to person., write a story that includes the line “my lips are sealed.”, someone’s beloved collection is destroyed. how do they react, set your story in a casino., subscribe to our prompts newsletter.

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Start your story with someone making a vision board.

Write a story about someone who volunteers to read for others at the local library, and how it impacts their community., write about two old friends meeting for the first time in years., end your story with a character receiving a deeply meaningful gift they weren’t expecting., in this world, everyone is born knowing how old they will be when they die., you get to star in a reality tv show of your choice. which show do you choose, and what kind of a character do you become on that show, write a short story that charts the beginning of a relationship to its end., you just got promoted at work... but your new boss is a piece of work. or so you thought., describe your ideal holiday., your grandfather has just passed away, leaving you with an inheritance of $1 million. what do you do with it, win $250 in our short story competition 🏆.

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The best writing prompts for adults

Are you struggling to find an outlet for your imagination as an adult? There's an easy solution for that: creative writing prompts for adults. Though writing prompts might look like simple questions and topics on the surface, they are powerful tools that can help you put pen to paper and explore such topics as food, technology, family, people, life, and the universe around us through a story.

Best of all, they work for authors of all stages, whether you're a beginner looking to overcome writer's block or an established writer thinking about exploring different genres. So what are you waiting for? You, too, might find that a writing prompt will inspire and give you ideas for everything from a short story to a full-blown book.

If you're looking to cut to the chase, here's a top ten list of writing prompts for adults:

Write a story about a 40th birthday party.
Set your story at a retirement party.
It's your wedding day, and as you're saying your vows, a voice from the crowd yells, "I object!"
Start your story with the line 'Back in my day…'
Start your story with the line, "That's the thing about this city…"
Write a cautionary fable about someone who always lies.
Write a day-in-the-life story about a first-time parent and their newborn child.
Write a short story about someone doing laundry.
Write a story about a character obsessed with one of the long-dead "greats" in their profession.
Write a story about a parent putting their child to bed.

If you'd like to go beyond the world of writing prompts and dip a toe into becoming an author, check out our free resources on the topic:

Develop a Writing Routine (free course) —You might hear a lot of advice on how to write a book, but at the end of the day, what it takes is simply the commitment to regularly sit down in front of a computer and put words down on paper. A writing routine is key to that sort of dedication — and our free 10-day course will show you how to develop one that works for you.
Learn novel writing basics (blog post)— Once you’ve got a writing routine now, all that’s left is the hard part: actually writing the book! That's where this blog post comes in handy.
Character Development 101 (blog post) — As an author, you become the psychologist of your characters. Learn how to build a great character in this comprehensive blog post and build one up, from their motivations to their goals. Don’t forget to download the free character profile template while you’re in the blog post!

Ready to start writing? Check out Reedsy’s weekly short story contest for the chance of winning $250! You can also check out our list of writing contests or our directory of literary magazines for more opportunities to submit your story.

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