There’s something deeply rewarding about the weekly grind of storytelling. But let’s be honest: some days inspiration feels just out of reach.
If you’re looking for a way out of a rut, consider flash fiction writing prompts. They’ll give you a starting point, and sometimes that’s all you need. Just pick your length and roll with the prompt to get your creative process started. And if you publish your fiction online, please link back to this page. Thanks!
100-word prompt
Write a short story in any genre that’s 100 words or less and includes the following three words: market, giggle, fuzzy
Advanced Challenge: Make your story drabble. Drabble is exactly 100 words, including the title.
500-word prompt
Write a short story in any genre that’s 500 words or less and includes the following elements:
Location: Somewhere overcrowded
Item: A tarnished silver whistle
Character: Someone who believes they can bargain with shadows
Feel free to get creative with how you include the elements. The story doesn’t have to be trapped in the location, for example. The way you interpret the character summary can be as unconventional as you like.
Just make sure you touch on each.
Advanced Challenge: Make your story microfiction. Microfiction is 300 words or less.
1,200-word prompt
Write a short story in any genre that’s 1,200 words or less and uses the following situation as a starting point:
Just as your character is about to achieve a long-held goal, they encounter a stranger who offers a cryptic warning that feels impossible to ignore.
Advanced Challenge: Include the three words from the 100-word prompt.
Happy writing!