Fun-tastic! 330 Short Story Writing Prompts to Inspire

Creative Short Story Writing Prompts, Topics, and Tips For Kids and All Writers — Oh yeah! Writing a creative short story can be an incredibly rewarding experience, but sometimes it can be difficult to know where to start. One of the best ways to kick-start your creativity is by using writing prompts. Yes!

You see…

Short story writing prompts are prompts that give you an idea or concept to write about, helping you generate ideas and inspiration for your next piece. There are all sorts of different short story writing prompts out there – from simple concepts like “write a story about a lost key” to more complex themes like “write a story about the meaning of life”.

The key is finding the right prompt that inspires you and gets your creative juices pumping. Once you’ve found a prompt that resonates with you, you’ll be on your way!

Yeppers, whether you are a student or simply someone who wants to practice writing short stories with the help of prompt ideas, there is something in this new collection of creative short story writing prompts for everyone. 

In fact, below…

You’ll see a brand new list of 70 brand-new list of creative short story writing prompts for writers.

Plus—> There are more than 260 MORE Short Story Writing Prompt Ideas listed below for you.

Why I Love Sharing Short Story Writing Prompts with You

There are so many reasons I love sharing writing topics and writing prompts. But, I’ll keep this short. You see…

One of the top reasons I love to share so many good writing prompts with my fans is to provide an exciting, new, and inspirational starting point for writers of all skill levels and interests. That’s why…

There are 17,000+ writing ideas and prompts for you here on my blog. Yesssss!

Further, I believe that an effective prompt introduces — and sometimes limits — a topic thereby requiring the writer to navigate it creatively.

Most of all…

I love sharing creative short story writing prompts with you because they help you grow and improve your writing skills – and that is a great thing indeed.

Ok, now to that list of new creative writing ideas!

List of 70 Brand New Creative Short Story Writing Prompts by Theme/Genre

Enjoy these brand-new creative short story writing prompts for writers. Now have them grab their pencils and paper or pen and journal or computer, phone, or writing device of choice and get to writing time now.

5 Short Story Fiction Prompts

1. You wake up one morning and find that you have the power to fly. What do you do?
2. You find a magic lamp and rub it. A genie appears and grants you three wishes. What do you wish for?
3. You are trapped in a time loop and have to relive the same day over and over again. How do you break the loop?
4. You are given the opportunity to go back in time and change one event. What event do you choose and how does it change the course of history?
5. You are the only one who can see a monster that is terrorizing your town. How do you stop it?

10 Short Story Fantasy Topic Ideas

1. You are transported to a magical land full of talking animals, mythical creatures, and other wonders. What do you do there?
2. You are a knight on a quest to save the princess from a dragon. What challenges do you face along the way?
3. You are a wizard who is trying to learn how to control your powers. What happens when you lose control?
4. You are a fairy who is trying to find your place in the world. What do you discover about yourself?
5. You are a monster who is trying to live a normal life. What challenges do you face?
6. A young person discovers they have magical powers.
7. A group of friends go on a quest to save the world.
8. A person enters a magical world and has to find their way back home.
9. A very old person is transported to a different time period.
10. You meet a talking animal.

9 Mystery Prompts for Short Story Inspiration

1. You find a dead body in the woods. Who is the victim and how did they die?
2. You receive a mysterious letter that contains a threat. Who sent the letter? What do they want?
3. You witness a crime but no one believes you. How do you prove that you’re telling the truth?
4. You are framed for a crime you didn’t commit. How do you clear your name?
5. You are investigating a series of strange disappearances. What is the connection between the cases?
6. A young person solves a mystery.
7. A young person is framed for a crime.
8. A young person investigates a disappearance.
9. A young person finds a clue to a long-lost treasure.
10. A young (or old) person is haunted by a secret.

5 Sci-Fi Short Story Writing Prompts

1. You are the first person to travel to Mars. What do you find there?
2. You are the only survivor of a group of scientists involved in a spaceship crash on a hostile planet. How do you survive?
3. You are given a robot companion that is smarter than you. What do you do with it?
4. You are a time traveler who is trying to prevent a disaster from happening. Can you succeed?
5. You are a clone who is trying to find your place in the world. What do you discover about yourself?

5 More Science Fiction Short Story Starters

1. A young person travels to the future.
2. A young person meets an alien.
3. A young person is involved in a time travel adventure.
4. A young person is trapped in a virtual reality world.
5. A young person discovers a new planet.

10 Vampire Short Story Ideas

1. You pet travels to the future.
2. You meet a friendly alien.
3. Your parent is involved in a time travel adventure.
4. A friend is trapped in a virtual reality world.
5. A young person discovers a new planet.

1. A young woman is turned into a vampire against her will and must come to terms with her new identity.
2. A group of vampires are trying to survive in a world that’s slowly becoming uninhabitable for them.
3. A detective investigates a series of crimes that may have been committed by a vampire.
4. A vampire hunter is on a mission to kill the last remaining vampire in the world.
5. A vampire falls in love with a human and must choose between their two worlds.
6. A vampire is given the opportunity to become human again, but must first complete a dangerous task.
7. A vampire child is raised by humans and must learn to control their powers.
8. A vampire is cured of their vampirism and must adjust to life as a human again.
9. A vampire and a human team up to stop a common enemy.
10. Write a romance short story/love story about your character’s best friend and a group of werewolves.

5 Realistic Fiction Prompts that Make a Good Story Topic

1. A young person moves to a new town and has to make new friends.
2. A family goes on vacation and has a series of unexpected adventures.
3. A teenager falls in love for the first time.
4. A young person faces a difficult challenge and overcomes it.
5. A group of friends start a business together.

5 Horror Short Story Prompts

1. A person is haunted by a ghost.
2. A group of teens is being chased through their hometown by a monster.
3. The school mascot is trapped in a haunted house.
4. A young man witnesses their best friend vanish in thin air.
5. A teacher at school is possessed and acting strangely in one very odd way.

4 Character-Driven Short Story Writing Prompts

1. Write a short story about a character who is afraid of something.
2. Write a short story about a main character who is trying to find their place in the world.
3. Write a short story about a character who is trying to overcome a challenge.
4. Write a short story about a character who is trying to make a difference in the world.

4 Plot-Driven Prompts

1. Write a short story about a mystery that needs to be solved.
2. Write a short story about a disaster that happens.
3. Write a short story about a love triangle.
4. Write a short story about a journey that takes the characters on an adventure.

8 Theme-Driven Prompts

1. Write a story about the importance of friendship.
2. Write a story about the importance of family.
3. Write a story about the importance of courage.
4. Write a story about the importance of hope.
5. Write a story about the importance of friendship.
6. Write a story about the importance of family.
7. Write a story about the importance of courage.
8. Write a story about the importance of hope.

Whew. Those are some fantastic lists of short story prompts! Now, I have even more creative short story prompts, topics, ideas, and lists for you. Your next great story awaits you. So be sure to…

See 260 MORE Short Story Writing Prompts!

Ok, I hope you enjoyed these lists of creative short story writing prompts. Clearly, there is no reason whatsoever to experience writer’s block.

Now check out these…

Quick Tips for Writing Short Stories

• Start with a strong idea. The best short stories have a clear focus and a strong sense of purpose.
• Keep it short. A short story should be no more than 10,000 words.
• Introduce your characters and setting quickly. Readers should be able to get a sense of who your characters are and where they are within the first few paragraphs.
• Create conflict. Conflict is what drives a story forward. Make sure your characters face challenges that they must overcome.
• Build suspense. Suspense keeps readers engaged and wanting to read more. Use foreshadowing and cliffhangers to create suspense in your story.
• End with a bang. The ending of your story should be satisfying and leave readers wanting more.

I hope these prompts and tips help you write your own creative short stories.

Improve Your Creative Writing Skills with Journal Buddies

If you looking to improve your creative writing skills, you are in luck! You see, my Journal Buddies blog has thousands of free creative writing prompts in a variety of categories, as well as loads of tips and ideas to help you become a better creative writer (or simply a better writer).

Now go for it and explore the ideas linked above. Then, check back for new prompts. I know you’ll be glad you did.

Until next time, write on…

If you enjoyed these Short Story Writing Prompts,
please share them on social media Facebook, Twitter, and/or Pinterest.
I appreciate it!

Sincerely,
Jill
journalbuddies.com
creator and curator

PS Here you will discover How to Write a Short Story That Captivates Your Reader