/r/SimplePrompts
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)
- /r/PromptOfTheDay: Once-a-day prompts, usually picture prompts.
- /r/WritersDustbin: A place to practice free writing.
- /r/WorldBuilding: For crafting fully-realized fictional worlds.
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
17,317 Subscribers
Resist the temptation.
18:52 UTC
“Why’d you listen to me? Everyone said not to, but you did.”
Like many here, I'm an amatuer writer, posting here for the first time to share a writing prompt I liked and I'm happy to see what people will write!
Below is my own piece of flash fiction I wrote in under 30 minutes to go along with the prompt, which admittedly isn't great but I had fun writing it!
!“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”.!<
00:06 UTC
"It's sticky...and wet."
23:35 UTC
The expected was unexpected. This is a bad sign.
10:43 UTC
It was an unusual number of sharks.
19:32 UTC
The air began to cool.
10:29 UTC
"Break them in half if you have to."
10:28 UTC
"This is an 'oh shit' moment."
03:37 UTC
"Keep cutting! Don't stop!"
03:36 UTC
An ancient Egyptian archaeologist finds ancient Egyptian ruins
07:08 UTC
“So, will you let us in or not?”
01:47 UTC
The ships don't come by here anymore
04:49 UTC
"How fitting: a one last act by a spiteful man who had nothing to lose and everything to gain."
08:34 UTC
In a distant future, pharmacy, the field, is a taboo
11:00 UTC
"Isn't that your friend?"
23:28 UTC
A lot can happen in less than a second.
Alt prompt: "A lot can happen in less than a minute." for more wiggle room.
11:01 UTC
There's someone unexpected waiting for you in the living room.
05:07 UTC
Could someone draw me baba from baba is you but in a Halloween costume and in a Santa hat, getting prepared for holidays and im gonna make them my pfp
20:38 UTC
You may be on your own but you'll never be alone.
This is a really good lyric from "No one's home" by the Stupendium. I thought it'd make for a good prompt.
05:18 UTC
Write a character introduction without said character ever appearing in the story.
I feel like this is a really cool idea for a prompt.
08:45 UTC
Some titles are relative
07:59 UTC
Sharing hoodies
16:14 UTC
It was mostly expected.
03:36 UTC
Bleeding Edge
01:19 UTC
The planetoid that had been mined for the past 3 centuries was now nearly hollow, but still stitched together with scaffolding and gigantic metallic appendages.
17:20 UTC
"It's a little short for a tower."
13:02 UTC
Check-in
02:13 UTC
Break it down
03:32 UTC
A vampire that only eats mimes
02:33 UTC
You adopt a child who is a demon
11:37 UTC