Creative writing can be difficult, even for experienced writers. Finding inspiration to craft stories from nothing but your imagination takes skill and practice. Using writing prompts is an excellent way to get inspired, practice writing skills, and generate new story ideas. using AI tools such as ChatGPT, Bing ai, etc. Below are 36 premium short story prompts perfect for testing AI writing assistants.
Horror and Suspense Prompts
Horror stories send chills down readers’ spines. The best horror focuses on suspense and psychological tension rather than gore. Try these spine-tingling story starters:
1. An old doll
You find an antique doll that looks eerily lifelike. Its eyes seem to follow you as you move…What happens next?
2. Footsteps upstairs
It’s 2 AM and you hear footsteps upstairs in the old house. You know you live alone…or do you? Craft a creepy tale.
3. “Get out!”
Start with dialogue: “I’m warning you. Get out of this house before it’s too late!” Why should the character flee?
Sci-Fi Story Ideas
Science fiction allows boundless creativity. Focus on novelty and plausibility.
4. Perfect humanity
Genetic engineers have created a “perfect” human being. What abilities does it possess? At what cost?
5. Time loop
A character becomes stuck repeating the same day over and over like Groundhog Day. How do they react? How do they escape?
6. Talking appliances
In a futuristic smart home, the appliances unexpectedly develop AI. Where could this lead?
Unique Magic and Fantasy Prompts
Fantasy stories with new takes on magic inspire wonder. Try these magical ideas:
7. Tree portal
An ancient oak tree contains a portal to a magical realm. What lies beyond?
8. Mesmerizing melody
A mystical flute’s melody places all listeners into a trance. To what aim?
9. Bibliomancer
An eccentric woman can divine predictions from the contents of books. How does she use this unique talent?
Thought-Provoking Philosophical Ideas
Speculative fiction prompts philosophical pondering. Stretch your imagination:
10. Simulation revelation
A scientist reveals that “reality” is an intricate computer simulation. How does society react?
11. Selective memory removal
Technology allows selective deletion of memories. How is this used and abused?
12. Human obsolescence
Robots now outperform humans at all tasks. How do people find meaning and purpose? Is a robot uprising inevitable?
Comedic and Humorous Prompts
Laughter creates connection. Try your hand at humorous tales via:
13. Venusian vacation mishaps
Focus on all the ways a trip to Venus goes hilariously awry. What happens when you travel to unfamiliar places?
14. Talking pets
Explore the comedic mayhem when pets suddenly start conversing with their owners. What secrets do they reveal?
15. Body part mix-up
A mad doctor accidentally switches brain hemispheres between characters. Describe the silly mayhem that ensues.
Intriguing Relationship Story Ideas
Relationships drive compelling personal drama:
16. Instant attraction
Two strangers experience love-at-first-sight in an elevator during a power outage. Do they ever meet again?
17. Unrequited office crush
A quirky employee tries increasingly inventive schemes to get their oblivious deskmate to notice them. How far will they go?
18. Artificial intelligence romance
A person falls madly in love with the AI assistant on their smart device. Can the affection be reciprocated? At what cost?
Mysterious Concepts to Explore
Captivate readers with fascinating mysteries like:
19. Message in a bottle
A tattered message arrives via bottle at a character’s feet. The message promises riches but where did it come from? When was it sent?
20. Glimpse beyond death
In a near death experience, a character glimpses something beyond. Were their perceptions real? Why did they return?
21. Special destiny
A total nobody realizes they have a mystical calling steering the fate of humanity. Do they embrace it or run away?
Story Ideas Exploring Culture and Values
Cultural differences breed narrative tension:
22. Immigrant struggles
An immigrant with different values clashes with their new homeland’s culture. Can they find common ground?
23. Artificial intelligence rights
As AIs become smarter, activists lobby for recognizing them legally as people. How does society grapple with this?
24. Language limitations
Invent a culture where language itself limits cognition of some concepts. What concepts? What is the cultural impact?
Complex Characters Ripe for Development
Compelling characters hook readers. Outline intriguing roles like:
25. Amnesiac awakening
An amnesiac character struggles with rediscovering their identity. Who were they really? Do they want to find out?
26. Undercover at boarding school
A police officer goes deep undercover as a boarding school teacher investigating… what? What do they discover?
27. Widowed witch
A recently widowed witch must navigate magical and mundane hardships while coping with grief over her late magician husband. What adventures await?
Story Prompts Inspired by Dreams
Dreams overflow with plot potential:
28. Message from the depths
Use a strange dream you really experienced as inspiration. What was the hidden meaning or message?
29. Be who you want to be
In lucid dreams, the character can do anything imaginable without consequences. What fantasies do they explore?
30. Dream walker
A character discovers they can enter others’ dreams. How do they use this ability, for good or ill?
Abstract and Surreal Story Ideas
Bizarre concepts compel unpredictable plots like:
31. Reality breakdown
Physics increasingly breaks down. Clocks melt, buildings distort, the ground liquefies. What is behind this phenomenon? Can it be stopped before reality dissolves completely?
32. Journey within
During a hallucinogenic trip, a character takes a fantastical Jungian journey into the dusty corners of their own psyche. What do they encounter?
33. Infinity trap
A character finds themselves in an Escheresque infinite recursion filled with replicas of themself, but each slightly different. Can they ever return to reality?
Quirky Story Premises
Oddball scenarios invite peculiarity:
34. Missing Miss Universe
The reigning Miss Universe disappears just days before relinquishing the crown. Was she kidnapped? Did she run away? Why?
35. Song spell
A one-hit-wonder pop song from the 1960s starts hypnotically infecting people decades later with bizarre consequences. Why this song?
36. Trophy theft spree
A tropy thief steals only the trophies awarded to middle school spelling bee champions across the country. Who is this mysterious swindler? Why are they targeting these eclectic prizes?
Conclusion
Imagination is the only limit for short fiction! From spine-tingling horror to laugh out-loud humor, relationship drama to philosophical pondering, short stories let creativity run wild. Which of these though provoking story starters stands out most to you? Will it blossom into your next tale? The key is selecting ideas resonating on a personal level. A premise matching your interests and life experiences sparks richer scenes, complex characters, and fully-imagined settings. Do any particular individuals come to mind who could bring these roles to life? Jot down any vivid possibilities before they fade!
Review this expansive list whenever you need story inspiration. Mix and match scenarios in unexpected combinations to synthesize something wholly unique. Change up genres and emotional tones story-to-story to challenge your skills. Treat writing itself as a journey of personal growth and discovery. What matters most is embarking on that journey, one word at time. Where will your imagination carry you?
Frequently Asked Questions
Which three story ideas seem most promising to develop into a full short story draft? Why?
The amnesiac awakening, artificial intelligence romance, and magical tree portal ideas seem very promising to me. The amnesia concept allows for rich exploration of identity. The AI romance poses thoughtful questions about consciousness and connection. And the tree portal offers limitless fantasy potential. All three can unfold in emotional yet unpredictable ways.
Do you tend to prefer writing certain genres over others? Which ones best fit your skills and interests currently?
I tend to gravitate toward science fiction and fantasy. I enjoy pondering technology’s double-edged potential and questioning the nature of reality. Building wholly original magical systems and societies that subvert tropes intrigues me. I also relish comedy; humor and tragedy often intertwine wonderfully.
What real life relationships and personal experiences might enrich the chosen story concepts with authentic emotions?
My own experiences with relationships both rewarding and difficult surely would influence the amnesiac, AI, and magical tree tale concepts. I’d also draw from special places and periods in my life evoking meaning, joy, heartache and nostalgia to better immerse readers emotionally.
For new writers, what are three quick tips to get started actually drafting short fiction inspired by prompts??
First, read widely within your chosen genre to better grasp effective narrative elements. Second, set a doable daily word count goal; 500 words daily builds a story swiftly! Finally, silence your inner critic and embrace imperfection during early drafts to avoid writer’s block.
Can someone share feedback once your short story draft is complete? What specifically could they comment on constructively??
Feedback highlighting what emotional moments resonate most powerfully would help immensely. Also, I’d request comment on whether the characters’ motivations and personal arcs feel authentic and complete. Finally, do any elements risk falling into tired tropes or genre clichés? Fresh perspectives strengthen creative work!
