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8 Best Short Story Writing Prompts

8 Best Short Story Writing Prompts

Writing a short story means creating a realistic, but brief look into a new world for a reader. If you’re struggling to find your inspiration to create this world, here are some of the best short story writing prompts that you can use to get your creative juices flowing once again.

#1. Aliens Among Us

There’s strange light outside. You step out onto your back porch and get hit with a heavy gust of wind. Looking up, fighting against the breeze, you see what looks like a giant airplane landing in your backyard. Then a door opens and the figure you see silhouetted in the light is clearly not human. What happens next?

#2. Stranger Danger

You’re taking a long walk, trying to hatch an egg for a game your kids are playing. It’s a nice day, maybe a little hot, and you’re wondering if you should have put on some deodorant. Then there’s a door slam, shouting, and someone you’ve never seen before comes barreling down a driveway and right into you. “You’re in danger,” the stranger says. Then they run away. The door to that home opens up again. What do you do?

#3. Evil Churches

With the results of the political election, you decide that it’s time to go to church for the first time in years. You step through the doors and everyone seems friendly enough. The pews are just as hard as you remember them being. After the service, you’re invited to stay for the potluck. Your stomach rumbles. Having some food could be a good idea. But then you realize that the congregation is planning on cooking you up for lunch. How do you escape?

#4. Fly on the Wall

Sitting there, watching TV, a fly lands on your head. Out of instinct, you attempt to smash it into several bug pieces. You miss and the fly flies away. Or so you think. In reality, the fly has decided that it is time to take revenge. What kind of revenge does the fly try to take? How do you respond to this act of vengeance?

#5. One Lone Survivor

You’ve always hated to fly, but since your father just died, you need to get across the country quickly. You get an emergency fare, board near the back of the plane, and take off. The flight is going smoothly until you notice a hole beginning to form in the ceiling. You unbuckle from the seat to take a closer look, but then the plane explodes. You’re sucked out at 30,000 feet and watch the plane begin to crash as you fall. Then you blackout. But then you wake up. You’re the only survivor. What happens next?

#6. An Affair to Remember

You caught their eye from across the room. A smile was shared. Then a lingering gaze. It’s clear that you have chemistry. All you can do is imagine holding that person. Undressing them. So you decide to make your move. Everything seems to be going well until a child makes their way up to you and tells you to leave their parent alone. How do you respond?

#7. TV Threats

You’re watching the news while you eat dinner, just as you’ve done for the past 3 years. Except this broadcast is different. Your picture is on the TV. The anchor says that you died in a tragic accident. This is clearly not true since you’re eating lasagna and having a beer right then. Family and friends are interviewed, talking about how much they loved you and will miss you. Then a black van pulls up and three guys in dark suits with guns walk up to your porch. What are you going to do?

#8. Equal Opportunity Employer

You’ve been unemployed for 3 years now. Your savings are almost gone. You’ve been eating cheap noodles for dinner for 6 months now to make your money stretch further. Now you’ve got an interview for a job that can get you back on your feet. You show up early, dressed to the nines, and are ready to make a great presentation. When the hiring manager sees you, he’s immediately disgusted. “Sorry,” he says. “We don’t hire people like you here.” What happens next?

The best short story writing prompts help you to personalize a short story while creating immediate action and drama so you can bring the reader into your world. Use these prompts with your own idea to create your own short story today.

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