25 Creative Writing Prompts For Adults - Lore Publication
25 Creative Writing Prompts for Adults
Hello and welcome back to Lore Publication! If
this is your first time finding us, we are an online publication that publishes
all sorts of goodies - from free short stories and free flash fiction to
writing tips and tricks for beginners. For fiction, we mainly publish horror,
science fiction, fantasy, thriller and mystery themed stories. All the details
of our submission process can be found on the Submit page. We also like publishing
articles that can help writers improve their craft such as articles of
different writing techniques.
Below we have a list of 25 creative writing prompts for
adults. While not exactly R rated, some of the prompts will approach dark
themes and wouldn't be suitable for kids. Just a friendly warning! Perhaps you
will find your next book idea or a few short story prompts lurking in one of
these entries. Or maybe you just want to break through your writer's block for
today. In any case, here are 25 prompts for all you adults out there 👀😃
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Image credit: pixabay |
Writing
Prompt #25:
For today's
first prompt, we will be giving you a situational prompt. Put yourself in the
situation. How would you feel? How would you react? Don't over think it and
just go with what naturally comes into your head.
Imagine you
are a cat being brought back to your new home for the first time. What is the
experience like? Where do you go first? How do you feel?
Writing
Prompt #24:
Here
we have a prompt meant to stir your memories. Write the first things that start
coming into your head when you think about it. Then maybe question why? Why did
you think of this? What is the deer doing? Is anyone nearby? Usually I always
find a short sentence or two from that alone! The rest you can develop if you
so wish.
Imagine a deer, isolated in the sparse wilderness of the Scottish
Highlands.
Writing
Prompt #23:
Let's
delve into some horror prompts for all the horror writers out there. Imagine
this scenario and develop what happens next.
I first saw it in the distance; the headlamps. They wound their way up
towards my small little cottage in the middle of the countryside. At first it
was lovely to look at, it was s soothing reminder of civilization. Then it
turned onto my road. Tonight I am not expecting any visitors...
Writing
Prompt #22:
Another
horror prompt? Coming right up!
I never knew that my cat could fly. It was the strange cat like shadow
hovering above my computer screen that caused me to turn round. Apparently my
cat never knew she could fly either but there she was, in the dead of the
night, hovering in the middle of the room with a terrified expression on her
face.
Writing
Prompt #21:
We
just can't resist. We promise this is the last one for now!
I followed him into the alleyway. He quickened his pace. So did I. We
both knew, however, I like to think the knife resting in my pocket was my little
secret...
Writing
Prompt #20:
So,
for this prompt we want you to imagine the first thing that pops into mind when
you read the word. After you have this item (or person) in mind, write a short
paragraph that includes the second word. Let's see what you come up with!
Cyan.
A golden watch.
Writing
Prompt #19:
Similar
to prompt #19, we want you to imagine whoever pops into your head when you read
the word. Hold this person in mind and put them or it into situation that
follows!
Blue hair.
This person learns that they need to stand in for you at a wedding. How
do they react and why?
Writing
Prompt #18:
Let's delve into some fantasy themed prompts! First, a situational
prompt for you!
The sword felt heavy in my hands. The shield lay in a heap of the dead.
Blood stained the once lush fields. I didn't know what was going to happen
next. All I knew was...
Writing
Prompt #17:
Now we will move onto a conceptual prompt based in a fantasy
theme. Take the concept and develop any kind of story from it. It could be a
grand quest of a hero or villain. Or maybe it could be a commoners point of
view of this world. You decide!
Imagine a far off distant land where dragons roamed the skies. Now
imagine factions of humans, elves and orcs warred alike over the mountain these
dragons called home. Why?
Writing
Prompt #16:
At
prompt number seventeen we will have a memory induced prompt. Read the word
below and think about how it makes you feel. Then write a story using a female
character about that subject.
Snow.
Writing
Prompt #15:
Similar
to the previous prompt, except a bit more vague to allow your creativity to
take hold! Read the word below and write a story with that object as the main
centre of attention in some way, shape or form.
Grandfather clock.
Writing
Prompt #14:
Another object based prompt! Read the word below like before and
write a story about the object. This one is ideal as a short story prompt.
A pebble.
Writing
Prompt #13:
This
prompt will be a bit different from the others on this list and our previous
list; 10
writing prompts that you can do in 10 minutes.
For this prompt we want you to read the word and its definition. Write a story
about that concept and your understanding of the word.
Solander; a box made in the style of a book to store items in.
Writing
Prompt #12:
This
is another situation prompt. Imagine you find yourself in the situation as
described below. How do you react? What are your first thoughts? Why?
You wake up and you are no longer in your bed. You are tied. You hand a
blindfold on. You can hear a train coming.
Writing
Prompt #11:
This one is simple! For this entry we will have
an image prompt. Write a story inspired by this image.
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Image credit: pixabay |
Writing
Prompt #10:
Another
situational prompt. This time take a character you have written in the past or
imagine yourself in the following situation. Finish what happens!
A bag soared out the window landing on the front lawn. Money spilled
from it, notes being whisked away by the wind. A second or two later, a chrome
Beretta pistol could also be seen soaring from the window. It made a very soft
thump as it hit the soil.
Writing
Prompt #9:
For
this prompt we want to inspire all the horror fans and horror writers out
there. Let's get creative!
I could feel it. Or maybe I couldn't? It was terrible; the feeling that
is. Or was it? In any case, it felt like there were bugs scratching away under
the surface of my skin; tickling every inch of my body...
Writing
Prompt #8:
This is another word prompt! Simply begin writing the scene or
scenario your see you in your head when you read the word below.
Star.
Writing
Prompt #7:
Back
with another horror prompt. Just like a creepy stalker, our horror prompts are
back for more! Sticking with that theme, finish writing a story or even just a
paragraph starting with the following.
I sat were I was most comfortable. I had my tea, my sandwiches and my watch.
The watch's hand slowly ticked towards six o'clock. He would be home soon...
Writing
Prompt #6:
Let's
do something different! Let's bring in a hardcore science fiction prompt for
all the scifi fans out there!
You wake up in the command seat. You originally thought you had gone to
sleep on your bed. All your brdige staff are staring at you. An enemy ship
looms in the exapnse of space beyond. It begins charging weapons...
Writing Prompt #5:
This
one could be called a science fantasy prompt, or even a horror prompt, how you
finish it will depend what you want to classify it as!
Imagine you wake up with the ability to kill upon command. The only
condition being that if you kill someone that is not considered bad, it reduces
your lifespan.
Writing
Prompt #4:
So this list is the first in which we have
incorporated some image based prompts. In the spirit of trying new things, we
now have a GIF based prompt to get those creative juices flowing! Write a story
about the GIF below. What is she doing? Where has she been? Where is she going?
After coming up with your own answers, you can find the full experimental short
film this GIF is from by clicking
here!
Writing
Prompt #3:
Clocking
in on our third last prompt for today's post we have another situational prompt.
Have a crack at getting creative with this one!
I could see it lurking in the shadows. I didn't move; not an inch. I
dared not even breathe in its direction. The swamps were always a wonderfully
gross place, but up until now scary had never even crossed his mind for adjectives
to describe this place. All I knew was...
Writing
Prompt #2:
For
our second last prompt today, we want to delve deep into your own experiences.
Experiences are a fantastic spring of ideas you can draw upon in your writing.
In a way, how a writer experiences life is how they will write. Experiences
define us and our writing is how we explain a story from our own perspective.
Perspective and experience go hand in hand! With all that in mind, read the
prompt below and tell a story with it from your own experiences and perspective!
Imagine that your favourite TV character found out their best friend was
cheating on their partner with another very good friend of theirs. Now write
how you think that character would react and what that character would do using
your own sense of moral compass, your own experiences and your own perspective
on the subject.
Writing
Prompt #1:
Last
but by no means the least we have a simple word prompt to round off our list.
Just like the previous word prompts, we want you to write a story based upon
that object. However, if you love creating scenes for your readers, use the
second word to set the atmosphere for your story!
A worn bible.
Deep Purple.