/r/SimplePrompts

Photograph via snooOG

There are lots of prompt subreddits out there. What sets us apart?

We're looking for a simpler source of inspiration. Here, we encourage simplicity in prompts. Our goal is to kick start the writer's mind into coming up with its own unique ideas by using prompts that are open-ended enough to appeal to everyone.

Welcome aboard.


Welcome to Simple Prompts, a place for open-ended writing prompts to help inspire creativity. Read the FAQ for basic information, and read below for how to get started.

Remember that this place is just as much about the responses as the prompts themselves. Please participate by writing responses or by commenting on other people's responses. Thanks!


It is mandatory that everyone read the Rules page and the Prompt Do's and Don'ts page before writing a prompt. If nothing else, please read the Do's and Don'ts.

Rules

Prompt Do's and Don'ts


Prompts: A good prompt should inspire creativity while being open-ended enough to allow the writer to craft his/her own story. When submitting a prompt, leave enough of the writing up to the writer. See here for the Do's and Don'ts, and see here for good examples.

Responses: You don't have to precisely follow the prompt. The prompt is meant to help you craft your own ideas. If you do want to follow it word for word, you may, but you don't have to. See here for more information on responses.


All posts are required to have a flair. Below is a list of all the Flairs. You can click on one and it will search the subreddit for posts with that flair.
See the Flairs page for more information.

Flairs (click to filter)

  • [BP] Beginning Prompt: The start of a story.
  • [SP] Setting Prompt: Outlines a setting (time or a place).
  • [CP] Character Prompt: Any prompt about a character.
  • [TP] Theme Prompt: Specifies theme, mood, etc.
  • [DP] Dialogue Prompt: Words spoken by a character. In quotation marks.
  • [CW] Constrained Writing: Puts a limitation on what can be written.
  • [MP] Miscellaneous Prompt: Any prompt that doesn't fit in the above categories.
  • [META] Meta Post: Any post that is not a prompt. Make sure it relates to the sub or to writing somehow.
  • [Image Prompt] Image Prompt: Post an Image meant to inspire stories. Make sure you link back to the original artist.

The rules here are pretty straightforward. Click here for a complete list. Flair all your posts. Don't be a jerk, don't be a troll, and make sure you follow basic guidelines for good prompts and good responses.

Featured Subreddits | (hover to show)

Prompts for Artists | (hover to show)

  • /r/SketchDaily: Daily drawing prompts.
  • /r/dailydraw: Daily drawing prompts.
  • /r/Artprompt: Writers post written prompts for artists to draw pictures of, and artists post picture prompts for writers to write stories of.

/r/SimplePrompts

17,376 Subscribers

6

The sky began to crack. It was coming through.Again.

2 Comments
2025/01/28
16:14 UTC

6

A rich family, a forbidden marriage, and an abandoned hospital

0 Comments
2025/01/25
01:26 UTC

2

Though they stoodfast, their fear was showing.

0 Comments
2025/01/24
12:03 UTC

2

The correct tool was actually a hammer.

0 Comments
2025/01/24
12:02 UTC

3

Tilt your head. Can you see it now?

0 Comments
2025/01/24
11:03 UTC

6

The pull of the sea was too powerful

3 Comments
2025/01/23
01:25 UTC

3

"Too soft. Knock harder."

0 Comments
2025/01/20
18:07 UTC

3

“Nope. Even older than that.”

0 Comments
2025/01/18
23:38 UTC

4

"This is a bad foundation to stand on."

0 Comments
2025/01/17
06:34 UTC

1

"It's spinning."

0 Comments
2025/01/17
06:33 UTC

9

Two hundred years later we realized we'd killed them all

0 Comments
2025/01/09
01:58 UTC

1

It was climbing the walls.

2 Comments
2025/01/08
17:12 UTC

13

The slug was bleeding blue

2 Comments
2025/01/07
04:12 UTC

6

The consequence was losing a limb.

1 Comment
2025/01/05
14:04 UTC

5

Sword, Moon, Dancing

0 Comments
2025/01/04
22:31 UTC

4

"Cut it loose!"

0 Comments
2025/01/02
05:45 UTC

11

In retrospect, this was a pretty bad idea after all.

0 Comments
2025/01/02
03:39 UTC

9

"One day, we'll get out of here."

1 Comment
2024/12/28
20:50 UTC

3

Moldy bread

0 Comments
2024/12/22
07:11 UTC

3

A Migrating Herd

0 Comments
2024/12/17
08:34 UTC

8

"Do you think they can swim?"

2 Comments
2024/12/11
09:01 UTC

7

The cart was filled with supplies.

0 Comments
2024/12/10
04:45 UTC

3

A foggy area

1 Comment
2024/12/09
07:04 UTC

5

"It seems like you've used the wrong ingredients."

0 Comments
2024/12/09
03:46 UTC

9

No, I'm not going to kill you, I'm going to make you live forever.

0 Comments
2024/12/09
02:22 UTC

5

Resist the temptation.

0 Comments
2024/11/27
18:52 UTC

8

“Why’d you listen to me? Everyone said not to, but you did.”

!“Why’d you listen to me? Everyone said not to, but you did.” His words, ringing in my ears, loud and nauseatingly smug, drowning out all other thoughts of compassion and composure, till there was nothing left but rage and contempt for the man, oh how I now loathe that man, towering, laughing, sneering right above me. I couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe and as I stand holding my breath, the words, echoing from his forked tongue, leapt and hit me as a drunkard does his child: “You’re so fucked”. His face, sly and with the savoir faire of a rat, burned its way into my mind. Jason was always a troubled guy, smart but careless, and I trusted him, took him beneath my wing and I had ignored the warning signs, always. ‘I can fix him’, ‘I can make it work’, ‘I can help him; I can finally be useful to somebody’ oh, and how useful I was to him. My soul aching, sirens blaring, footsteps pounding, mind racing, handcuffs clinking: “I want a lawyer”.!<

0 Comments
2024/11/25
00:06 UTC

2

"It's sticky...and wet."

0 Comments
2024/11/21
23:35 UTC

5

The expected was unexpected. This is a bad sign.

0 Comments
2024/11/20
10:43 UTC

6

It was an unusual number of sharks.

1 Comment
2024/11/17
19:32 UTC

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