Some fun challenges and prompts to get the creative juices flowing

Writing Prompts

S/Cally's Short Story Generator.  Created by Cally Taylor  and Sally Quilford. Simply Click on each button to generate a character, setting and conflict to aid your story writing.

Links to other writing related sites can be found here

Sites that offer writing prompts

Mslexia Workshop - Over 2 dozen writing exercises to get you started

Writers Digest Writing Prompts - 52 writing prompts to get you started.

Imagination Prompts - creativity at the click of your mouse.

Creative Writing Prompts.  over 200 prompts to get you started.

Writers Dock Writers' Block Unblocker - Natty little programme to give you a character, setting and a conflict

Seventh Sanctum Quick Story Ideas Generator - Whilst most of them sound suspiciously like variations on the The Maginificent Seven, it still might get the juices flowing!

 

Try one of Polti's 36 plotlines (and mix them up for a really rich story):

    1. Supplication - Persecutor, Suppliant, a Power in Authority
    2. Deliverance - Unfortunates, Threatener, Rescuer
    3. Revenge - Avenger, Criminal
    4. Vengeance by Family upon Family - Avenging Kinsman, Guilty Kinsman, Relative
    5. Pursuit - Fugitive from Punishment, Pursuer
    6. Victim of Cruelty or Misfortune - Unfortunates, Master or Unlucky Person
    7. Disaster - Vanquished Power, Victorious Power or Messenger
    8. Revolt - Tyrant, Conspirator(s)
    9. Daring Enterprise - Bold Leader, Goal, Adversary
    10. Abduction - Abductor, Abducted, Guardian
    11. Enigma - Interrogator, Seeker, Problem
    12. Obtaining - Two or more Opposing Parties, Object, maybe an Arbitrator
    13. Familial Hatred - Two Family Members who hate each other
    14. Familial Rivalry - Preferred Kinsman, Rejected Kinsman, Object
    15. Murderous Adultery - Two Adulterers, the Betrayed
    16. Madness - Madman, Victim
    17. Fatal Imprudence - Imprudent person, Victim or lost object
    18. Involuntary Crimes of Love - Lover, Beloved, Revealer
    19. Kinsman Kills Unrecognised Kinsman - Killer, Unrecognised Victim, Revealer
    20. Self Sacrifice for an Ideal - Hero, Ideal, Person or Thing Sacrificed
    21. Self Sacrifice for Kindred - Hero, Kinsman, Person or Thing Sacrificed
    22. All Sacrificed for Passion - Lover, Object of Passion, Person or Thing Sacrificed
    23. Sacrifice of Loved Ones - Hero, Beloved Victim, Need for Sacrifice
    24. Rivalry Between Superior and Inferior - Superior, Inferior, Object
    25. Adultery - Deceived Spouse, Two Adulterers
    26. Crimes of Love - Lover, Beloved, theme of Dissolution
    27. Discovery of Dishonor of a Loved One - Discoverer, Guilty One
    28. Obstacles to Love - Two Lovers, Obstacle
    29. An Enemy Loved - Beloved Enemy, Lover, Hater
    30. Ambition - An Ambitious Person, Coveted Thing, Adversary
    31. Conflict with a God - Mortal, Immortal
    32. Mistaken Jealousy - Jealous One, Object of Jealousy, Supposed Accomplice, Author of Mistake
    33. Faulty Judgment - Mistaken One, Victim of Mistake, Author of Mistake, Guilty Person
    34. Remorse - Culprit, Victim, Interrogator
    35. Recovery of a Lost One - Seeker, One Found
    36. Loss of Loved Ones - Kinsman Slain, Kinsman Witness, Executioner

Click here for a more detailed description of Polti's plots

Also try 'Plots That Sell'

Website listing plots to avoid (which are amazingly similar to Polti's 36 plots)

Strange Horizons

 

If you have any writing prompts to share, please Contact Me