good prompts for a short story

A mysterious old house on a hilltop could be a great prompt. You can build a story around who used to live there, what secrets it holds. Maybe there are strange noises coming from it at night and a curious kid decides to investigate.

A time - traveling device that malfunctions. The protagonist might end up in a completely unexpected era, facing challenges like fitting in, finding a way back, and dealing with the historical events that are happening around them.

A mysterious old house at the end of a desolate street. You can start with a character being drawn to it out of curiosity, and then strange things start to happen, like hearing unexplained noises or seeing shadowy figures.

Good prompts for short stories include 'A broken - down car in the middle of nowhere'. This might lead to a story of survival, self - discovery, or an encounter with unexpected help. 'A photograph that shows a different time and place' can inspire a story about memories, nostalgia, or time travel. Also, 'A magic potion that has an unforeseen side effect' which can result in all kinds of creative and wild short story ideas.

A character who wakes up one day with a strange power. For example, the ability to read people's thoughts. This could lead to various interesting situations, such as accidentally discovering a conspiracy.

Well, a good short - story setting should be well - described so that the reader can easily picture it. It could be a bustling city street with different kinds of people and noises. It should also have the potential for conflict. A small, cramped apartment where two people with different lifestyles are forced to live together can create interesting situations. Additionally, the setting can change over the course of the story to reflect the character's journey, like a character starting in a dark alley and ending up in a bright, open park.

One good prompt could be 'A mysterious letter arrives in the mail with no return address'. This can lead to a story about mystery, secrecy, and perhaps a journey to uncover the sender's identity. Another prompt is 'You wake up in a world where colors have disappeared'. It allows for a creative exploration of a dull, monochromatic world and the character's attempts to bring back color. And 'A strange noise coming from the attic at midnight' can inspire a spooky short story.

A group of friends who find an ancient map. They decide to follow it, believing it will lead them to a long - lost pirate's treasure. Along the way, they face many obstacles, including rival treasure hunters and dangerous terrains, and they also learn more about their friendship and themselves.

First, choose a prompt that really grabs your interest. If you're excited about it, it'll be easier to write. For example, if the prompt is about a hidden treasure, start thinking about the characters who might be searching for it. Are they pirates? Adventurers? Then, develop a simple plot around it. Maybe they face a rival group also after the treasure.

Once upon a time, in a far - off land, there was a young girl named Lily. One day, she found a mysterious map in her attic. The map led her to an enchanted forest. There, she met a talking fox who became her guide. They journeyed through the forest, facing challenges like crossing a river on a rickety bridge and avoiding thorny vines. Eventually, they reached a hidden cave filled with glittering jewels and a magic wand. With the wand, Lily was able to bring peace and prosperity to her village.