We’ve asked writers to share some of their favorite writing prompts — perhaps they will inspire you!

If you have your own favorite prompt, please put it in a comment to share it with the community.

From Volume VII Contributor Logan Jefferson —

My favorite prompt is this one: Take a real historical event, and write a short fictional conspiracy detailing the “true events.” It can be as outlandish as you want it to be, it only needs to be convincing. Optional substitute: Write a story about a character that believes in an outlandish conspiracy theory.

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From Volume XI Editor Heather Perry —

Write a thriller “in which no woman is beaten, stalked, sexually exploited, raped or murdered.” This was inspired by a new contest looking for novels that “keep us on the edge of our seats without resorting to the same old clichés – particularly female characters who are sexually assaulted (however ‘necessary to the plot’), or done away with (however ingeniously).”

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 From Volume VI and VII Contributor Victoria Neely —

Some book recommendations:

• The Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglish: I use this all the time when I need ideas on how to describe characters emotions in ways that are more nuanced than heavy sighs, sheepish grins, etc.
• On Being Stuck by Laraine Herring: Instead of treating writer’s block as an enemy to be conquered, Herring suggests that being blocked is just a natural part of the creative process, and she presents it as an opportunity to explore why you feel stuck.
• Writing Tools by Roy Peter Clark: I like that Clark doesn’t present his writing advice as rules; they’re just tools. Lots of writing advice rails against adverbs, long sentences, and passive voice, but Clark explains why you might need them in your toolbox.

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From English professor Carly Smith —

Write down five different story ideas in 150 words or less. Generate these ideas from these five sources:

• From an interview or conversation you’ve had
• From research you’ve done (reading science news, military history, etc)
• From observation (go for a walk!)
• From a piece of media (watch a movie)
• From a piece of music (with or without lyrics)

This exercise might not generate the very best ideas you’ve ever had, but it will definitely flex your idea muscles in new ways. Now play with the story ideas:

• Take two of them and combine them into one story.
• Take one and change the genre underneath it.
• Take one and change the ages and genders of everybody you had in mind for it.
• Take the last one and have a character make the opposite choice.
• Take one of the ideas you’re excited about, and then audition five different characters for the lead role in that story. Make sure they’re all different from each other.

More good prompts can be found here: http://www.writingexcuses.com/tag/ideas/

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From English professor Dr. Emily Bobo —

Make three lists: one of your favorite things, one of your most-hated things, and one of your most-wished-for things. Pare down the lists to three stanzas’ worth of items that you combine in ways that surprise you and reveal something essential about you to us.
Click here to see an example of this prompt.

If you like this prompt, consider signing up for ENGL 202 or 203 with Dr. Bobo.

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From English professor Elizabeth Starr —

Create a “segmented” essay (a series of vignettes) on the topic of your hair. Include scene, summary, and reflection. Play with different perspectives. Look for the extraordinary in the ordinary. Arrange in an order that makes sense to you. Start and end with a strong scene or image.
Note: This prompt comes from Imaginative Writing by Janet Burroway, and we actually published a piece inspired by this prompt back in 2011!

If you like this prompt, consider signing up for ENGL 202 or 203 with Prof. Starr.

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