Tag: Writing prompts for short stories

Fantasy Prompt for a Short Story

I’m wrapping up this month’s theme with a fantasy prompt for a short story. I chose this image because of the blend of fantasy and real-world elements.

What?–An old trumpet found in Great-grandfather’s chest

Who?–A high school girl who needs an instrument for marching band

Where?–Not sure. Girl starts out in her bedroom, practicing.

When?—At the beginning, after school.

Why?– She’s trying out the new trumpet

How?— After playing a few notes, her bedroom melts away and she finds herself on a rocky outcrop with a dragon flying by.

Let me know how this prompt inspires you!

For more short story prompts, click here.

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Object Prompt for a Short Story

I enjoyed the object prompt for a short story from two weeks ago so much that I’ve chosen another one. What short story do these objects inspire, answering the questions who, what, when, where, why, and how? Here’s my take on it.

What?–An old film camera

Who?–An elderly amateur photographer.

Where?–In his study or home office

When?—A rainy fall afternoon on a weekend.

Why?–The elderly man bought the camera at a garage sale.

How?— After seeing strangers lurking around his house and finding a window tampered with, the old man examines the camera and sees a faint name on it. He gets out his magnifying glass and …

What short story can you write from this prompt?

Click here for the other object prompt.

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Character Prompt for a Short Story

After starting the month with a setting prompt and an object prompt, this week I’m offering a character prompt for a short story. I chose this photo because the expression on the little boy intrigued me. He’s holding a plane, like he’s been playing with it, but he looks so serious or stunned. Like I did with my other short story prompts, I’m answering what, where, when, who, why, and how to spark my imagination.

What?–A toy plane.

Where?–In the neighbor’s woods.

When?–During a spring shower in the afternoon.

Who?—A six-year-old boy and an elderly neighbor.

How?–The little boy was throwing his plane. It sailed into the woods owned by his grouchy neighbor.

Why?–The little boy looks stunned because he retrieved his plane but now sees his neighbor walking into the woods

I can’t decide whether the little boy learns that the neighbor isn’t really grouchy or is much meaner than he ever suspected. What do you think?

How does the photo inspire you to answer the questions?

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Prompt for a Short Story

Last week the prompt for a short story was a setting. This week it’s an object. Asking who, what, when, where, why, and how can help kick off your inspiration. Here’s how I answered those questions.

What?–An empty shoe with spots of wet blood.

Where?–An abandoned railway line.

When?–A hot July afternoon.

Who?—Two brothers, middle school age.

Why?–The brother are killing time in the woods near their home and find the shoe.

How?–They begin to look for the owner of the shoe and find more blood deeper in the woods.

How does the photo inspire you to answer the questions?

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Prompts for Short Stories

This month’s theme is short stories. I loved reading them and writing them! My prompts for short stories provide inspiration by asking who, what, when, where, how, and why questions.

Today’s prompt is a setting. Answering the questions below gives me the beginning of a story.

What?–A well-kept room in an old family mansion

Where?–A small midwestern town.

When?–A dusty, hot August afternoon.

Who?— An elderly woman, who lives alone in the house, and a young woman, who cleans her house.

Why?–The young woman knows a mystery surrounds the elderly woman’s family and has found something in the attic that might be connected to it.

How?–The young woman shows the elderly woman the object and tells her what she thinks it has to do with the mystery.

For another setting prompt, click here. How does the photo inspire you to answer the questions?

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