/r/WritingPrompts

Photograph via //r/WritingPrompts

Writing Prompts. You're a writer and you just want to flex those muscles? You've come to the right place! If you see a prompt you like, simply write a short story based on it. Get comments from others, and leave commentary for other people's works. Let's help each other.

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    We are a subreddit dedicated to inspiring people to write! Find a prompt that moves you and respond with a story or a poem.

    FAQ »

    The subreddit where it's all made up and the points don't matter.

    Apply to be a Mod!


    Charming Demon

    Click image for prompt

    Weekly Schedule

    Click features below for archives

    Feature Latest
    Sunday Smash 'Em Up Tonight, We Feast.
    Monday Spotlight jkhmattox
    Talking Tuesday (Tutoring) Magazine & Anthology Publishing pt 2
    Wednesday Wildcard Poetry Corner: Jinx
    Thursday [TT] Theme Decadence
    Fun Trope Friday Finish Line Trip & Western
    Saturday SatChat How Many Words Have You Written Lately?

    Rules & Guidelines

    Hover/tap for details

    Full Explanations »

    Commenting
    • < 1. Prompt responses must be good-faith attempts at new stories/poems (No AI)

    • 100 words minimum for stories, 30 for poems but include [Poem]
    • Write something new using the prompt for inspiration (No AI)
    • Plagiarism will result in a ban
    • No joke, copypasta, or AI-generated responses
    • For off topic/clarification, reply to sticky comment
  • < 2. No sexually explicit responses, hate speech, or other harmful content

    • Includes, but is not limited to, pedophilia, bestiality, incest, rape, violence against children, and explicit abuse or torture
    • Avoid racism and detailed uses of suicide, mental health stereotypes, and political debate
    • Use your best judgment, but mods have final say
  • < 3. Be civil in discussion, feedback, and critiques

    • Users are held to a higher standard here. Think before posting
    • Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail
    Submitting Posts
    • < 4. All submissions must be tagged at the beginning of the post, capitalized in square brackets

    • Click [tag] to filter. Click » for more detail
    • Prompt Posts (Inspire new writing)
    • WP - Writing Prompt: No restrictions (other than the rules of the sub) »
    • SP - Simple Prompt: Max 100 characters in the title (including the tag) »
    • EU - Established Universe: Based on existing fiction »
    • CW - Constrained Writing: Limitations or forced usage of words, letters, etc. (don't ask for less than 100 words) »
    • TT - Theme Thursday: Weekly themes announced Thursdays »
    • MP - Media Prompt: Audio or video »
    • IP - Image Prompt: A striking image or album »
    • RF - Reality Fiction: Things that have happened or could happen to unknown people »
    • Response Posts (Write based on prompts)
    • PM - Prompt Me: Answer prompts by other users (if answered prompts before) »
    • PI - Prompt Inspired: Stories inspired by prompts older than three days (include link and max 1 a day) »
    • Other Posts
    • OT - Off Topic: Not a prompt, but writing related, not for complaints regarding subreddit content, stories, or advertising without prior approval »
  • < 5. No recent reposts, even if changing small details

    • Search before submitting! (Popular ideas can cause floods)
    • Reposts are allowed, given time (around two weeks)
    • Don't take a recent prompt and change/invert small details
  • < 6. Prompt users in the title, but don't play writing games or commission stories

    • Prompt in the title and only use text for commentary or links for [IP]s and [MP]s. Avoid too many details
    • No requesting writing or editing services, or homework help
    • Don't post ads without getting permission in modmail first
    • Don't ask writers to pick titles or content from another sub or site
    • Prompts should not call for using autocorrect, autocomplete, or only emojis
  • < 7. Prompts will be removed if there's a high possibility for rule breaking responses

    • Avoid real-world drama (politics, recent tragedies, etc.)
    • Inspire an effort, avoid simple questions, "write anything", word games, fill-in-the-blanks, or "in X words or less"
    • Prompts must actually be a prompt, not just the suggestion of a genre or emotion
    • Don't ask for preexisting content (prompts are meant for new writing)
    • No sexually explicit themes, hate speech, or other harmful content (suicide, mental health stereotypes, violence against children, torture, etc.)
    • No troll, joke, poop, meme-based, or all CAPS prompts
    Community Guidelines
    • < 8. Keep it about the writing here, not competing or making money

    • Authors are allowed to link to a personal sub or profile, but don't link back here until the prompt is 24 hours old
    • Patreon and Paypal links are not allowed. Link to your sub or profile instead
    • Recording of other people's work must follow the guidelines in the FAQ.

    Rule breaking posts or comments may be removed without notice. Rule breaking may result in a permanent ban without prior warning.

    If you spot a violation, please use the Report button underneath the post. This is the best way to help! If you have an issue with other users, send us a modmail.

    All content is © by the original authors.

    Flair Filter

    Click on a link below to filter posts


    Prompt Posts (Inspire new writing)

    [WP] [SP] [EU] [CW] [TT] [MP] [IP] [RF]

    Response Posts (Write based on prompts)

    [PM] [PI]

    Other Posts

    [OT] [MOD]


    More Info

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    /r/WritingPrompts

    18,660,082 Subscribers

    10

    [WP] a witch that your family made a deal with 1000 years ago appears in front of you, the price of that deal being that she would take away the next boy born in the family with you being that boy, this surprisingly is very gender affirming as trans man

    1 Comment
    2024/11/22
    06:16 UTC

    1

    [SP] These two countries are literally called Country A and Country B. This is why.

    1 Comment
    2024/11/22
    06:07 UTC

    5

    [WP] there exist a spell so destructive that everyone even the gods vow to never let it be casted again, with no true name for the spell it’s simply referred to as … “14 billon skeleton”

    2 Comments
    2024/11/22
    05:51 UTC

    0

    [WP]Sometimes you regret not having children, because your treatment at the hands of your parents traumatized you and your didn't want to do that to your children. Then, your sibling was arrested for how they treated their children. You realize you made the right choice.

    1 Comment
    2024/11/22
    05:25 UTC

    1

    [WP]You and your fellow disciples all got drunk and decided to build a shrine for your beloved mentor. That wasn't fun to explain your mentor, who appreciate it but don't like being in the spotlight. On the bright side the shrine was beautiful and become a tourist attraction.

    1 Comment
    2024/11/22
    05:18 UTC

    1

    [WP] Aliens stumble upon a long destroyed Earth. The only thing they find, are the ruins of a dead civilization, and the ghosts they left behind.

    1 Comment
    2024/11/22
    05:10 UTC

    1

    [WP] "All the new engineers have a... naive view of technology. Technology isn't about creating gadgets—it’s about understanding systems. Like the laws of physics, the rules are invisible, but they shape everything we build. To truly innovate, you need to comprehend the system." The lead engineer cl

    1 Comment
    2024/11/22
    05:09 UTC

    0

    [WP] In a world where elves rule over humans, a secret army has been preparing for retributiom againt their enslavers. So imagine the surprise of the faces of Elves as giant machines rise from under mountains and lakes.

    1 Comment
    2024/11/22
    04:54 UTC

    60

    [WP] when most people envision a "war mage" they envision what the school of magic churns out: wafer thin scholars shieking "fireball!!" Not a brute with a large greathammer for an arcane focus.

    6 Comments
    2024/11/22
    04:14 UTC

    3

    [WP] The humans turned the meteor that hit the ship into a new ship. You don’t know how but you can’t complain.

    1 Comment
    2024/11/22
    04:13 UTC

    7

    [WP] “Yes, hello? I, uh… I’d like to report a murder? Whose? Um… Mine.”

    2 Comments
    2024/11/22
    04:11 UTC

    8

    [WP] "Why are we always fighting? We're married." "You're trying to take over the world and I'm a superhero!"

    1 Comment
    2024/11/22
    03:58 UTC

    1

    [WP]You are aro, but have no problem having sex. That makes you a prefect seduction expert.

    1 Comment
    2024/11/22
    03:47 UTC

    2

    [WP] Centuries ago, your people sent a starship crewed by your best scientists and soldiers into a wormhole to see what they would find wherever it led. They have returned, and have not aged a day.

    1 Comment
    2024/11/22
    03:16 UTC

    2

    [WP] It’s just like every fantasy story, a lone figure trapped in the highest tower, waiting for their knight in shining armor. When their knight finally shows up, though, they didn’t expect them to be covered in glitter and stick on gems and a thousand-watt smile…

    Aka literally a knight in shining armor

    1 Comment
    2024/11/22
    03:14 UTC

    47

    [WP] An elderly stranger wills her magical paraphernalia to her only living descendant -- your four-year-old daughter. Your late wife never told you she came from a family of witches, and now your daughter carries the power.

    3 Comments
    2024/11/22
    03:03 UTC

    2

    [WP] 1000 years after the apocalypse, all humans have been annihilated. Now billions of restless souls wander the Earth. Soon alien researchers visit Earth, unaware of the supernatural forces below

    1 Comment
    2024/11/22
    02:43 UTC

    41

    [WP]All the pets in a neighborhood abruptly find themselves possessing human level intellects. While they can communicate with each other humans still cannot understand them. Today they are meeting to discuss this strange situation.

    5 Comments
    2024/11/22
    02:37 UTC

    3

    [WP] "There is a vast difference between offering lifeblood to nourish and honor the gods, and spilling blood to defile and blaspheme them."

    1 Comment
    2024/11/22
    02:18 UTC

    0

    [WP] The Humans are surprised to find out that the aliens look exactly like them

    1 Comment
    2024/11/22
    02:13 UTC

    2

    [WP] You have been drafted to an interplanetary war you don't want to be involved with and now you are trying find a way to end it

    1 Comment
    2024/11/22
    01:46 UTC

    2

    [WP] The alien flagship destroys the space shuttle, reducing humanity’s hope to ashes. Suddenly reindeer sledge charge through alien fire as Santa commands his elves. “Charge!” he shouts as they break through the alien flagship’s shield, determined to give Earth one last gift: a fighting chance.

    1 Comment
    2024/11/22
    01:27 UTC

    2

    [WP] "Boy, you're going to hold this line or, so help me God, I'm going to hold it myself and then come kill you when the battle is done."

    1 Comment
    2024/11/22
    01:22 UTC

    1

    [WP] An orphan kid asks Santa for a family this Christmas. Santa decides this time, for Christmas, he’s gonna be that family.

    1 Comment
    2024/11/22
    01:06 UTC

    3

    [WP] Babysitting newborn dungeons is one of the most important (and also most frustrating) quests an adventurer can take.

    1 Comment
    2024/11/22
    01:03 UTC

    8

    [WP] An eldritch deity becomes bound by a mortal as their familiar and, contrary to expectations, is extremely thrilled about it.

    2 Comments
    2024/11/22
    00:48 UTC

    13

    [WP] "Professor, you didn't need to blow up your lab just because your experiment was a failure." "Oh no, you don't understand; the experiment was a success. I had to destroy the lab because it was too suceessful."

    1 Comment
    2024/11/22
    00:48 UTC

    18

    [WP] "I don't care how many gold coins and gemstones they have in their vault, we're only here to steal their stamp collection."

    2 Comments
    2024/11/22
    00:44 UTC

    5

    [WP] The Eastern Dragon tries to explain the virtues of philosophy & spirituality to The Western Dragon. Meanwhile, The Western Dragon tries to explain the joys of lying on a hoard of treasure & scouring your enemies from the earth with immense amounts of fire and lightning to The Eastern Dragon.

    1 Comment
    2024/11/22
    00:40 UTC

    4

    [WP] Humanity makes contact with benevolent aliens but the aliens appearance strongly triggers the uncanny valley effect in humans making diplomacy difficult.

    2 Comments
    2024/11/21
    23:40 UTC

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