WRITER'S BLOCK-BUSTERS
Sometimes, writers get stuck and just thinking about writing creates so much mental and emotional stress that every word is effort.
​
This is writer's block.
It's okay, writer's block is normal; every writer suffers this torture at some point. If you're looking to break free of this stressful time, or even if you're bored or lacking inspiration, check out the block-buster prompts below.
​
Most of the prompts on this page can inspire a range of prose genres and poetry styles. We set the series prompts aside for those who enjoy creating longer works.
​
This page is open to any writer with a free Writer's Workout membership. Anyone may use these prompts for their own purposes.
​
Please credit The Writer's Workout if one of our prompts inspired a piece you publish.
​
Better Writer subscribers may submit their creations as their monthly feedback option.
​
We will update this page as often as possible.
Good luck, writer!
​
Prose and Poetry
These prompts are in no particular order. You'll find suggestions below each prompt to push you creatively; prose suggestions focus on strengthening the Core Concepts while poetry suggestions target emotional expression.
If something you publish was inspired by a Writer's Workout prompt, please credit our nonprofit organization to help spread the word about this amazing resource.
​
​
Your character’s new home is haunted.
Prose: focus on horror tropes
Poetry: show fear
​
​
Your character finds a magical item in an ordinary place.
Prose: focus on description
Poetry: show wonder
​
​
Your group of adventurers splits up.
Prose: focus on fantasy tropes
Poetry: show anxiety
​
​
Your character explains their family tree to a non-relative.
Prose: focus on a backstory
Poetry: show nostalgia
Add a frenemy
​
Your character cooks a special dish.
Prose: focus on show, don't tell
Poetry: show joy
​
​
Your character explores the world from someone else’s point of view.
Prose: focus on out-of-body perspective
Poetry: show compassion
Explore the body-swap trope
​
​
Your character takes something that doesn’t belong to them.
Prose: focus on description
Poetry: show thrill
​
​
Your character is forced to move homes.
Prose: focus on description
Poetry: show despair
​
Your character is on the hunt for something specific.
Prose: focus on perspective
Poetry: show longing
Your character explains the story behind their nickname.
Prose: focus on backstory
Poetry: show nostalgia
Your character goes back in time to undo a mistake but makes the future much worse.
Prose: focus on cohesion
Poetry: show defeat
A secret society seeks new members.
Prose: focus on thriller tropes
Poetry: show anticipation
Add the symbols hidden in plain sight trope
Your character creates a companion for themselves.
Prose: focus on dialogue
Poetry: show inner peace
​
Your character is immortal and witnessing the final moments of the universe.
Prose: focus on character development
Poetry: show loss
Your character is falsely accused.
Prose: focus on dialogue
Poetry: show fear
​
Your character finds or receives a family heirloom with special properties.
Prose: focus on backstory
Poetry: show surprise
​
Your character creates an elaborate lie to avoid punishment.
Prose: focus on cohesion
Poetry: show smug
​
Your character finds themselves living the same day over again.
Prose: focus on foreshadowing
Poetry: show confusion
Add the frozen clock trope
Your character loses themselves in something they love.
Prose: focus on pacing
Poetry: show love
​
Your character attempts to become a costumed superhero.
Prose: focus on thriller tropes
Poetry: show anticipation
Add a rural setting
​
​
Your character must learn a new skill in a short amount of time.
Prose: focus on character development
Poetry: show stress
​
Someone from your character’s past delivers an important message.
Prose: focus on backstory
Poetry: show surprise
​
Your character wakes up on the opposite side of the world.
Prose: focus on cohesion
Poetry: show wonder
​
Write a story about an ordinary trip turning into a fantastic adventure.
Prose: focus on pacing
Poetry: show curiosity
​
Your character duels an opponent to the death.
Prose: focus on pacing
Poetry: show pride
Your character makes their last creative work.
Prose: focus on character development
Poetry: show reminiscence
​
Your character gets a raise at work but it’s less than they feel they deserve.
Prose: focus on perspective
Poetry: show anger
​
Your character fixes something they broke.
Prose: focus on cohesion
Poetry: show panic
​
What happened outside the frame when the photographer snapped the shot?
Prose: focus on show, don’t tell
Poetry: show surprise
​
Your character writes a letter to someone they know.
Prose: focus on perspective
Poetry: show awe
​
Your character dies but the afterlife doesn’t live up to the hype.
Prose: focus on description
Poetry: show frustration
​
Write a story about a tree.
Prose: focus on description
Poetry: show peace
​
Two of your character’s friends are fighting.
Prose: focus on pacing
Poetry: show annoyance
​
Your character discovers a strength they didn’t know they had.
Prose: focus on character development
Poetry: show empowerment
Add the antihero character archetype
Your character has a huge ego and falls from grace.
Prose: focus on show, don’t tell
Poetry: show sorrow
​
Your character finds a strange object.
Prose: focus on foreshadowing
Poetry: show curiosity
​
After years apart, you character is reintroduced to someone from their past.
Prose: focus on dialogue
Poetry: show nostalgia
​
Your character wins a very large prize.
Prose: focus on foreshadowing
Poetry: show shock
​
Your character finds out they can become invisible.
Prose: focus on show, don't tell
Poetry: show wonder
​
Your character starts a new job.
Prose: focus on dialogue
Poetry: show intimidation
Add a high-level responsibility position
​
Series Prompts: novellas
If longer works are more your speed, check out these novella-length prompt series. Each prompt in the series is designed to inspire a scene or small section of a longer work. The prompts fit together in various orders to create a unique story each time.
​
Links open a Google Doc; genre definitions are just suggestions.
​
​
​
​
Looking for even more prompt series? Click here.
​
​