writing prompts

Write a poem inspired by extreme weather, a fiction piece in which the protagonist reevaluates the definition of home, and a lyric essay incorporating scenes written like a script.

Write a poem attempting to find meaning in visual artifacts, a short story about a world in which memories can be manipulated, or a nonfiction piece about the season’s soundscape.

Write a poem exploring the idea of slipping into another’s skin, a story inspired by your school days, or an essay that attempts to decipher a deeper meaning in a piece of literature—three prompts to get you started. 

Write a poem that uses illogical language, a short story inspired by a historical figure’s words, or an essay based on a photo—three prompts to get you started. 

Write a poem that flows like a river, consider food in your fiction, or create a catalogue of objects in an essay—three prompts to get you started.

Write a poem inspired by emptiness, explore your characters’ perceptions of love, or write about your interior self—three prompts to inspire you in the New Year.

Explore emotional ties to personal objects in a poem, write a short story about the holiday season, and use interviews for an essay—three prompts to get you writing.

Consider earthly and celestial bodies, write a prequel to a horror story, or explore emotional ties to clothing—three prompts to get you writing.

Connect with nature, delve into dystopia, and reflect on a relationship with a guardian—three prompts to get you writing.

Get deep into the fabric of a poem, strike a subversive tone in a holiday story, or ruminate on a relationship ritual—three prompts to get you writing in the new year. For more, check out our weekly online writing prompts.