35+ Creative Writing Prompts for Short Stories

If you're a writer staring at a blank page, sometimes all it takes is the right creative writing prompt to ignite your imagination. Short stories offer a wonderful playground for creativity, allowing writers to experiment with voice, perspective, and plot in a compact form. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned author, using prompts can help spark fresh ideas and break through writer’s block. Here are over 35 creative writing prompts, along with insights into how they can inspire compelling short stories.

1–10: Twists on the Ordinary

1. A man wakes up to find everyone in his town has vanished.
2. A woman receives letters from her future self.
3. A child’s imaginary friend turns out to be real.
4. A stranger gives you a mysterious key and vanishes.
5. You find an old photograph of yourself in a history museum.
6. Every time you fall asleep, you wake up in someone else’s body.
7. A package arrives at your door with no sender… and no explanation.
8. The elevator in your building opens to a floor that shouldn’t exist.
9. You discover your pet can talk—but only on your birthday.
10. A street artist's chalk drawings begin to come to life.

These writing prompts take everyday situations and introduce a surreal or mysterious element. They’re perfect for crafting twist endings or exploring characters' reactions to the unknown.

11–20: Character-Driven Ideas

1. A perfectionist chef loses their sense of taste.
2. A retired detective is pulled into a cold case.
3. A child prodigy refuses to speak—for a reason no one understands.
4. An astronaut returns to Earth… but something about them has changed.
5. A shy librarian discovers a hidden talent for stage magic.
6. A con artist falls in love with their latest mark.
7. A taxi driver becomes the accidental getaway driver in a robbery.
8. A recently divorced woman starts receiving cryptic notes from her ex.
9. A barista hears confessions from customers—then starts seeing connections.
10. A wedding planner gets hired for their ex’s wedding.

These character-focused prompts encourage deep emotional development and conflict, which are central to great short stories.

21–30: Genre Exploration

1. A fantasy world where music controls magic.
2. A sci-fi colony where memories can be bought and sold.
3. A murder mystery at a magician’s convention.
4. A dystopian world where books are illegal—but one child finds a library.
5. A horror story about a haunted smart home.
6. A romance that begins with a mistaken identity.
7. A time travel experiment goes horribly wrong.
8. A thriller where the main character is being hunted—but doesn’t know why.
9. A ghost story from the perspective of the ghost.
10. A heist set in an alternate 1920s steampunk city.

These genre-based prompts allow writers to explore specific storytelling conventions while making them their own.

31–35+: Philosophical & Reflective Prompts

1. What if everyone had a visible clock showing how much time they have left?
2. You meet your soulmate… but only in dreams.
3. A machine allows people to relive one memory—once.
4. A story told entirely through unsent letters.
5. Everyone forgets who you are—overnight.

These prompts offer a chance to dive into speculative or thought-provoking themes, ideal for writers who enjoy exploring moral or emotional depth.

Conclusion

Using creative writing prompts isn't cheating—it's training. Whether you’re writing to practice, to publish, or just for fun, prompts help shake off the fear of the blank page. With over 35 ideas to choose from, you’re bound to find one that sparks your imagination and leads to your next great short story.