college narrative writing prompts

125 Awesomely Clever Narrative Writing Prompts

From the time you learn how to talk, you have stories to tell.

Faced with a classroom writing assignment, though, you can feel the fog rolling in, hiding all your best personal narrative ideas. 

To clear that fog, sometimes, all you need are some simple questions to get started, which is why so many of the personal narrative prompts in this post include them. 

You’ll find the prompts grouped by theme to make your search for ideas easier. 

What Are Narrative Prompts? 

Childhood narrative prompts, growing pains narrative prompts, overcoming adversity narrative prompts, parents and family narrative prompts, dating and friendship narrative prompts, food and drink narrative prompts, school or education narrative prompts, jobs and career narrative prompts, morality and religion writing prompts, personality narrative prompts, fun narrative writing prompts, how to use narrative writing prompts to improve your writing.

Narrative prompts get you started telling parts of your own story . You won’t tell it all at once, but what you share in each narrative will answer a question or expand on an idea. And your readers will have a better idea of who you are and how you think. 

Here are some possible sources for personal narrative questions: 

• Dating questions
• Relationship questions
• Job interview questions
• “Never have I ever” questions
• “Would you rather” questions

So, if you’re wondering, “What are good personal narrative topics?” think of the questions you’ve been asked that got you writing so quickly your fingers could barely keep up. 

The following list should jog some memories and provide new ideas for a personal narrative you’ll be happy to share. 

125 Narrative Writing Prompts 

Look through each category of prompts for the personal narrative topics that trigger a stream of thoughts in your mind. Jot down your ideas as they come. 

What’s your favorite memory from childhood? What impression did it make?

What’s an important memory you only know from others who remember it?

What places from your childhood do you remember most fondly? 

Did you have an imaginary friend (or friends)? What were they like?

What was the best gift you remember receiving as a child? Why was it the best?

What were your favorite childhood shows, movies, or games? 

Did you ever have a moment in the spotlight? What was it, and did you enjoy it? 

What people do you remember most fondly, and when did you last see them?

What actor would play you in a movie based on your life, and why? 

What objects tell the story of what you were like as a child? 

What was your most precious childhood possession, and why? 

Have you ever had to deal with a bully? What did you do?

What have you learned from people of different generations or backgrounds? 

What do older generations not understand about yours? How is your life different?

What’s your most embarrassing memory from your teenage years? 

What’s your proudest memory from your teenage years, and why?

What was the hardest thing about going through puberty?

When was the first time you asked someone out, and how did it go?

When was the first time someone asked you out (or to a dance)? What did you say?

Did you ever try something you wish you hadn’t? What happened? 

What did you learn to be grateful for in your teenage years? 

What habit/s did you pick up as a teen that helped you along the way?

Have you had to overcome a childhood disease or injury? 

Did you lose someone to disease, a tragic accident, or natural causes?

Were you born with a visible, physical challenge that affected your childhood?

Were you born with an invisible health challenge that affected your childhood?

Have you struggled with a mental health challenge that has affected your life ? 

Have you had to undergo extensive medical treatment for a health problem? 

Have you needed special accommodations in school, work, etc.? Describe them.

Have you experienced discrimination because of gender, race, sexual orientation…?

What are your favorite survival or coping strategies for stress, anxiety, poverty…? 

Has financial stress affected your educational, career, or relationship prospects? 

What challenges have you overcome? How have you responded to them?

Describe your parents or guardians and their parenting styles? 

Describe a favorite memory about growing up with your family? 

Are you close to your parents and/or siblings? Are any estranged from you?

What is your racial or ethnic identity, and did your family share that with you?

How have you paid tribute to loved ones you’ve lost? 

To which family members did you feel closest growing up? Are you still close?

What hobbies did you pick up from your family? Which do you still have?

How did your family celebrate birthdays or holidays when you were growing up?

If you have in-laws, what is your relationship with them? Are you close with any?

Whom do you trust in your family, and whom do you keep at arm’s length? 

Do you talk to your parents (or siblings) about politics or religion? Why or why not?

How, when, and where did you meet your first love ? 

How, when, and where did you meet your first BFF and become friends?

Who were your best childhood friends, and what did you do together?

Have you ever wanted a friend to be more than that? Did you tell them?

Have you ever lost a friend who wanted to belong to a popular group? 

Have you ever had to put an end to a one-sided friendship? 

Have you ever had to break off a relationship with a toxic person? 

When have you told a lie of omission, and how did it affect your relationship?

Has anyone ever spread an unkind rumor about you? What did you do about it?

Have you ever been betrayed by a friend or family member? 

When was the last date you had that left you thinking, “More, please”? 

What were your favorite foods growing up, and how often could you have them?

What did you usually drink at home, and do you still drink them?

What did you like as a child that you don’t like now? 

What did you dislike as a child that you like now? 

What is a favorite food splurge, and what do you love about it?

How often do you cook for yourself, and what foods do you usually make? 

How often do you cook for others, and what’s the best meal you’ve prepared? 

Did you have a favorite birthday dinner or celebratory meal growing up?

What place did alcohol have in your family life, and how did that affect you?

What is your favorite baked good, and who makes the best?

When have you changed your food choices based on something you learned? 

More Related Articles:

66 Horror Writing Prompts That Are Freaky As Hell

23 Things to Write About For Your Next Nonfiction Book

61 Fantasy Writing Prompts To Stoke Your Creativity

11 Of The Best Writing Prompts Books

Who were your favorite teachers in elementary school? 

When you graduated high school, what did you want to study in college? 

Did you go to college, and what do you remember most about your first year?

When and how did you learn to manage your money? 

Could students at your high school talk openly about mental health challenges?

How have Health and Phy Ed classes influenced your body image? 

How have Health and Phy Ed classes influenced your attitude toward exercise?

What did you like most or least about the high school you attended? 

How did your school’s bullying policy affect you or someone you care about?

Have you ever acted on a dare to earn the respect or admiration of classmates? 

When did it hit home for you how different life is for poor vs. rich people?

When you were in grade school, what did you want to be when you grew up?

What was your first job? How did you get it, and how old were you?

Did you get a job in your chosen field right out of college? If so, how and when?

Do you have a life calling? And if so, is your current job part of it?

What do you hope to be doing within a year of graduating college? 

What have you made yourself? And does it relate to your chosen career or calling?

What would you do or create if you had all the funding you could possibly need? 

Would you rather work from home or in an office?

Would you rather work as a supervisor, a team member, or a connected hermit? 

What have you done to earn money? And what is your favorite way to do so?

Do you have (or think you will have) a career or job you love? 

What did you believe as a minor that you no longer believe? 

What did you not believe as a minor that you do believe now?

What role does religion play in your life (if any)? Has it ever (not) played a role?

How important is it that your life partner share your religious beliefs? Why?

What ethical or moral dilemmas have you faced? How did you respond?

Have you ever given money to a stranger who asked for it? 

Have you ever “paid it forward”? Or has anyone helped you to pay it forward?

How comfortable are you with lying? When have you told a lie and not regretted it?

How do your religious or spiritual beliefs differ from your parents/guardians?

Have you ever looked up to a religious leader only to be disappointed by them? 

How would you sum up your view of the afterlife — or your life’s purpose?

What do you think are the biggest strengths of your personality? 

What do you think are your greatest weaknesses?

When did you learn you’re an introvert or an extravert? 

Is your best friend an introvert or an extravert? 

What personality traits do you admire in other people? 

What personality traits have gotten you into trouble in the past? 

What role does procrastination play in your life? 

What is your personal credo or mantra? When or how did you choose it?

When faced with a problem, do you rely more on your head or your heart?

How do you respond to criticism? When have you responded badly?

What motivates you? Are you driven, or do you just go with the flow?

How productive or organized are you? How does your workspace look? 

What would happen if you discovered a hidden door in your bedroom that led to a magical world?

Imagine you could swap lives with your favorite celebrity for a day. How would you spend your time in their shoes?

If you could travel back in time and witness any historical event, which one would you choose and why?

You wake up one morning to find that you have the ability to read minds. How do you use this newfound power?

What if you discovered that your pet could talk? What kind of conversations would you have?

Suppose you found a genie in a bottle who granted you three wishes. What would you wish for and why?

You stumble upon a mysterious old book in a library. When you open it, you’re transported into the story. What happens next?

If you could create your own superhero, what powers would they have, and how would they use them to save the world?

Imagine you’re stranded on a deserted island with only one object of your choice. What would you bring, and how would it help you survive?

You receive an invitation to attend a secret society’s meeting. What happens when you arrive?

What if you could live in any fictional world from a book or movie? Which one would you choose, and what adventures would you have?

Suppose you had the power to invisibility for a day. How would you use this ability?

You discover a mysterious key that can unlock any door. Where would you go, and what would you discover?

Imagine you’re given the opportunity to create your own country. What would you name it, and what laws would you establish?

These narrative prompts are an excellent tool for enhancing your storytelling skills and sparking your creativity. They provide a starting point for your writing journey and encourage you to explore new ideas, characters, and plot lines. 

By incorporating prompts into your writing routine, you will unlock your imagination and develop your writing abilities. Try these ways to use narrative writing prompts effectively:

• Use prompts as a warm-up exercise to get your creative juices flowing before diving into your main writing project
• Challenge yourself to write short stories or flash fiction based on the prompts to practice concise storytelling
• Expand on a prompt to create a longer piece, such as a novella or novel, by developing the characters, world-building, and plot
• Incorporate elements from multiple prompts to create a unique and complex story
• Share your prompt-inspired stories with fellow writers or in writing workshops to receive constructive feedback and improve your craft

By regularly engaging with narrative writing prompts, you’ll find your writing skills growing and your creativity flourishing.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Narrative Essay Topics: TOP 200 Choices for Students

Imagine yourself facing a blank page, ready to fill it with your memories and imagination. What story will you tell today?

As students, you often have to write narratives that capture people's attention. But with so many stories to choose from, where do you start? How do you find the perfect topic that will grab our readers' interest and make them think?

Join our essay service experts as we explore 200 topics for college where stories are waiting to be told, and experiences are ready to be shared. From everyday events to unforgettable moments, each topic is a chance to connect with your readers and make them feel something.

Best Narrative Essay Topics: How to Choose the One That Resonates 

A narrative essay is a type of writing that tells a personal story, including characters, plot, setting, and the order of events. Its main goal is to connect with readers emotionally and share a specific message or insight through the retelling of a meaningful experience.

Students write narrative essays as part of their studies for several reasons. Firstly, it allows them to express themselves creatively by sharing their unique experiences, thoughts, and feelings. Secondly, it helps them develop important writing skills like organizing ideas and thoughts effectively.

Choosing good narrative essay ideas involves looking at personal experiences, interests, and the potential for engaging storytelling. Here's a simple guide to help you pick the right topic:

• Think about significant moments in your life that had a lasting impact, such as personal growth or overcoming challenges.
• Choose topics related to your hobbies, interests, or areas of expertise to make your story more engaging.
• Consider what your audience would be interested in and choose topics that resonate with them.
• Focus on a specific event or detail to make your narrative more focused and impactful.
• Look for universal themes like love or personal transformation that connect with readers on a deeper level.
• Brainstorm ideas and write freely to uncover compelling topics.
• Decide on storytelling techniques like flashbacks or foreshadowing and choose a topic that fits.
• Get feedback from friends, peers, or instructors to see if your topics are interesting and impactful.
• Choose topics that evoke strong emotions for a more compelling narrative.
• Select a topic that you personally connect with to make your story authentic.

Once you've chosen a topic, brainstorm ideas and create an outline for your essay. Follow your professor's instructions carefully and consider seeking help from our narrative essay writing service if needed.

Bring your stories to life with EssayPro. Select from a vast array of narrative essay topics and let our professionals help you weave your tales into captivating essays. Whether it's adventure, reflection, or imagination, we're here to assist.

Do You Need Professional Help with Your Hometask?

Ideas for Narrative Essay Topics

After exploring how students write narrative paragraphs, we've put together a list of narrative essay topics designed specifically for college and school students. This list covers a wide range of subjects, so pick one that speaks to you! If you want to see how to develop a topic into a written essay, check out our narrative essay example . 

Literacy Narrative Essay Topics for College Students

How about delving into captivating literacy narrative essay topics designed specifically for college-level writing? Exciting, isn't it?

• How did learning to read change my perspective on the world?
• What was my favorite childhood book and why?
• How did writing my first story impact my love for storytelling?
• What challenges did I face when learning a new language?
• How did keeping a journal help me improve my writing skills?
• How did my family influence my attitude toward reading?
• What role did literature play in shaping my identity?
• How did participating in a book club enhance my reading experience?
• How did technology affect my reading habits?
• What was the most memorable book I read in school?
• How did my favorite teacher inspire my passion for literature?
• What impact did reading diverse perspectives have on my worldview?
• How did overcoming a reading difficulty shape my relationship with books?
• What lessons did I learn from writing my first poem?
• How did storytelling traditions in my culture influence my literacy journey?

Personal Narrative Essay Topics on Relationships

Take a moment to reflect on your past experiences and craft compelling personal narratives with these essay ideas.

• How did my relationship with my best friend change over time?
• What lessons did I learn from my first romantic relationship?
• How did my relationship with my sibling influence who I am today?
• What challenges did I face in maintaining a long-distance friendship?
• How did a conflict with a family member teach me about communication?
• What role do my pets play in my life and relationships?
• How did volunteering together strengthen my bond with a friend?
• What impact did a mentor have on my personal growth?
• How did a betrayal affect my trust in relationships?
• What did I learn from a failed friendship?
• How did traveling with a friend deepen our connection?
• What role does forgiveness play in maintaining healthy relationships?
• How did my relationship with my parents evolve as I grew older?
• What lessons did I learn about teamwork from a group project?
• How did a disagreement with a colleague teach me about compromise?

Best Narrative Essay Topics on Education and Learning

Consider the beauty of sharing your personal experiences and emotions in a captivating manner through these ideas for personal narrative essays.

• How did a particular teacher inspire me to excel in school?
• What challenges did I face while adapting to online learning?
• How did participating in extracurricular activities shape my educational experience?
• What lessons did I learn from a memorable field trip?
• How did studying abroad broaden my perspective on education?
• What role does technology play in modern education?
• How did overcoming a learning obstacle impact my academic journey?
• What did I gain from tutoring a classmate in a challenging subject?
• How did a hands-on learning experience change my understanding of a topic?
• What impact did a mentor have on my educational and career aspirations?
• How did peer collaboration enhance my learning in a group project?
• What lessons did I learn from a failure or setback in school?
• How did my cultural background influence my approach to education?
• What role does self-directed learning play in my academic success?
• How did participating in a debate or public speaking event shape my communication skills?

At this point, we think you might've already been interested in our term paper writing service that helps busy students succeed in college. 

Personal Narrative Essay Ideas on Reflection on Life

Why not ignite your creativity with a range of narrative essay topics, from extraordinary moments to everyday experiences?

• How did confronting a fear change my view on courage and growth?
• How do family traditions shape my personal values and beliefs?
• What does success mean to me, and how has it evolved?
• Reflecting on friendships as a source of support in tough times.
• How have travel experiences expanded my global perspective?
• How do my hobbies and passions bring fulfillment to my life?
• Exploring the link between self-love and mental well-being.
• How can challenges lead to unexpected personal growth?
• Reflecting on the importance of setting and reaching personal goals.
• What pivotal moments mark my journey to self-acceptance?
• Investigating how forgiveness resolves personal conflicts.
• How do cultural expectations shape my idea of success?
• Reflecting on the significance of self-care for overall well-being.
• Exploring how technology influences my connections and worldview.
• What did I learn from facing a life-changing decision?

Ideas for a Narrative Essay on Culture and Society

Engaging your readers with narrative essays on culture and society is a great way to spark interest, offering captivating ideas for exploration.

• How has my cultural heritage shaped my identity?
• Reflecting on a tradition or ceremony that holds significance in my culture.
• Exploring the impact of globalization on local traditions and customs.
• How does language influence the way I perceive the world around me?
• Investigating the role of food in cultural identity and expression.
• Reflecting on a cultural celebration or festival that left a lasting impression.
• How does media portrayal affect societal perceptions of different cultures?
• Exploring the intersection of culture and religion in shaping values and beliefs.
• Reflecting on experiences of cultural assimilation or integration.
• How do stereotypes impact individuals within a cultural group?
• Investigating the role of art and literature in preserving cultural heritage.
• Reflecting on the challenges and benefits of multiculturalism in society.
• Exploring the significance of storytelling in passing down cultural traditions.
• How do cultural norms influence gender roles and expectations?
• Reflecting on the cultural exchange experiences that have broadened my perspective.

Since you're working on essays, we think it's suitable to suggest you learn more about the case study format , which is another common college assignment.

Narrative Writing Topics on Hobbies and Interests

Wow your readers by turning your passions and hobbies into compelling narrative essay topics that will get them thinking.

• Describe a memorable adventure or experience related to your favorite hobby.
• Reflect on how your hobby has evolved over time and its significance in your life.
• Write about a moment when your hobby provided a sense of escape or relaxation.
• Explore the role of hobbies in promoting mental health and well-being.
• Share a story of how you discovered your passion for a particular hobby.
• Describe a challenge you faced while pursuing your hobby and how you overcame it.
• Reflect on the impact of your hobby on your relationships with others.
• Write about a hobby-related achievement or milestone that you are proud of.
• Explore how your hobby connects you to a community or group of like-minded individuals.
• Describe the process of learning a new hobby and the lessons you gained from it.
• Reflect on the role of hobbies in balancing work, leisure, and personal growth.
• Write about a hobby-related project or creation that you are passionate about.
• Explore the connection between your hobbies and your broader interests and values.
• Describe a favorite memory or experience involving your hobby.
• Reflect on how your hobbies have influenced your perspective on life and the world around you.

Narrative Essay Titles on Life-Changing Moments

Life is full of unexpected twists that can lead to life-changing moments. Take a look at these narrative essay titles for stories that have had a lasting impact on your life.

• How did meeting a lifelong friend change my life?
• What lessons did I learn from overcoming a major obstacle?
• How did traveling to a new country broaden my perspective?
• Reflecting on the day I discovered my passion.
• How did a health scare transform my lifestyle?
• What impact did volunteering in my community have on me?
• How did I find strength in a moment of loss?
• Reflecting on the decision that altered my path.
• How did a random act of kindness change my outlook?
• What lessons did I learn from a failed endeavor?
• How did confronting a fear empower me?
• Reflecting on the day I realized my potential.
• How did experiencing a natural disaster shape my priorities?
• What insights did I gain from a cultural exchange?
• How did a mentor's guidance impact my life trajectory?

Have you ever wondered about the challenges of essay writing? What happens when you're assigned a larger paper, like coursework? Make a preemptive strike by exploring coursework writing service right now!

Good Narrative Topics on Travel and Adventure

Consider creating intriguing titles for your narrative essay ideas by exploring thrilling travel adventures.

• What was my most unforgettable travel experience?
• How did a solo journey change my perspective on life?
• Reflecting on an unexpected adventure in a foreign land.
• How did traveling on a budget lead to unexpected discoveries?
• What lessons did I learn from getting lost in a new city?
• How did a cultural immersion experience broaden my understanding of the world?
• Reflecting on the friendships formed during a travel adventure.
• What was the scariest moment I encountered while traveling?
• How did volunteering abroad impact my outlook on life?
• What cultural differences surprised me the most while traveling?
• Reflecting on the beauty of nature experienced during a hiking trip.
• How did traveling to a remote destination challenge my comfort zone?
• What was the most delicious food I tried while traveling?
• Reflecting on the kindness of strangers encountered during a journey.
• How did a travel mishap turn into a memorable experience?

Narrative Essay Topic Ideas on Career and Work Experience

College students can uncover captivating narrative essay ideas by exploring potential career paths or reminiscing about past job experiences.

• What was my first job, and what did I learn from it?
• Reflecting on a challenging project that taught me resilience.
• How did a career setback lead to unexpected opportunities?
• What lessons did I learn from transitioning to a new career?
• Reflecting on a mentor who influenced my career path.
• How did a workplace conflict teach me about communication?
• What was the most rewarding moment in my career so far?
• Reflecting on the importance of work-life balance in my career journey.
• How did networking help me advance in my career?
• What challenges did I face as a new graduate entering the workforce?
• Reflecting on the decision to pursue a passion versus stability in my career.
• How did a career change impact my sense of fulfillment?
• What skills did I develop through volunteer work that helped in my career?
• Reflecting on the role of mentors in my professional growth.
• How did a career milestone shape my future aspirations?

Interesting Narrative Essay Topics about Challenges and Obstacles

If you're not sure what to write about for your narrative essay, think back to the tough times you've had and how you managed to get through them.

• How did I overcome my fear of failure?
• Reflecting on a time when I felt like giving up but persevered.
• How did a personal setback lead to unexpected growth?
• What lessons did I learn from navigating a difficult relationship?
• Reflecting on a time when I had to step out of my comfort zone.
• How did I overcome a major health challenge?
• What strategies did I use to overcome procrastination?
• Reflecting on the resilience I developed after facing adversity.
• How did I navigate financial challenges and come out stronger?
• What did I learn from failing at something I was passionate about?
• Reflecting on the obstacles I faced while pursuing my dreams.
• How did I overcome imposter syndrome in my academic or professional life?
• What role did self-care play in helping me overcome challenges?
• Reflecting on a time when I had to stand up for myself in the face of adversity.
• How did I find motivation and inspiration during tough times?

Final Remarks

As we wrap up, our list of 200 narrative essay topics is here to fuel your creativity for your next writing project! Whether you're sharing a memorable event, reliving a childhood memory, or expressing a profound insight, crafting a narrative essay can be an uplifting experience that resonates deeply with readers.

And if you're gearing up for college admissions, why not check out our admission essay writing service ? We've already assisted countless students in securing their spots at their dream colleges, and we'd love to help you, too!

Give Us Your Task

We provide coursework writing help as well as editing and proofreading. Every paper we deal with is written and triple-checked by a team of experts—which means that you are guaranteed to get top-quality work from our term paper writing service . Order now!

Related Articles

Kindlepreneur

Book Marketing for Self-Publishing Authors

Home / Book Writing / Narrative Writing Prompts: 50+ Ideas for Your Literary Masterpiece

Narrative Writing Prompts: 50+ Ideas for Your Literary Masterpiece

Narrative writing is the style of writing used in fiction and creative nonfiction, such as memoirs. It's the telling of a story, with a beginning, middle, and end. As such, becoming proficient at narrative writing is essential if you want to make a living writing.

Even if you want to write only as a hobby, you'll need to be more than passingly familiar with this kind of writing. Luckily, this article will help you do just that. First, we'll discuss a bit more about narrative writing, then dive into some narrative writing prompts to get the ideas flowing.

• Kinds of narrative writing.
• Who narrative writing prompts are for.
• List of narrative writing prompts.

Table of contents

• Different Types of Narrative Writing
• Who Should Use Narrative Writing Prompts?
• Linear Narrative Prompts
• Non-Linear Narrative Prompts
• Viewpoint Narrative
• Descriptive Narrative
• Finding Your Market Niche

There are several types of narrative writing that are used in fiction and some nonfiction books. The most common type is the linear narrative, in which the story progresses in a logical manner. Most fiction is of the linear narrative type .

There's also the non-linear narrative, in which the story jumps around through time. A couple of well-known non-linear story examples include movies such as Pulp Fiction , Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind , and Memento .

Then you have the viewpoint narrative, in which the story is written from the narrator's point of view. Memoirs are examples of viewpoint narrative works, but there are also many first-person point-of-view works of fiction.

Formatting Has Never Been Easier

Write and format professional books with ease.  Never before has creating formatted books been easier.

Finally, you have the descriptive narrative, in which a scene, person, place, or thing is described with detailed description using the five senses. A good story will contain enough description to immerse the reader in the story.

We've grouped the creative writing prompts below according to these narrative types. You can pick a prompt from each and get writing, or you can choose only ones that are interesting/pertinent to whatever work-in-progress you're currently involved with.

But before we get to the prompts, do you really need to practice narrative writing?

Whether you're a middle school or high school student, a young writer or an old hand, practicing your craft can only help your writing. While it's true you may remember narrative writing exercises from your elementary school days (no matter how long ago they were), that doesn't mean these exercises can't help you today.

The best writers work on their craft constantly. Like anything else, writing skills need to be sharpened and honed. And one of the best ways to do that is through the various types of narrative writing.

Narrative writing prompts can also help you overcome writer's block so you can get back to writing, whether it's a horror story or a narrative essay. Getting the creative gears turning is great for overcoming creative blocks.

So it doesn't matter where you are in your writing career, narrative writing prompts can help!

Narrative Writing Prompts

These prompts provide a fun way to sharpen your writing skills. You can choose one narrative prompt at a time, or work on multiple to really make things interesting.

Make sure to include a beginning, middle, and end for these linear prompts. They should tell a story in which the main character has to solve a problem or overcome some obstacle , whether physically, emotionally, or both.

1. Write a short story about a fantasy character who gets stuck in our world and has to find their way back home.

2. Write a scene in which a kid has to get home for dinner across a treacherous landscape and through a gauntlet of imaginary monsters and evil sorcerers.

3. Pick three tropes from your favorite writing genre and use them to inform your story. (Example: Horror story (genre), vampires, mad scientist, and a questionable ally.)

4. Write about a character who goes on a blind date that either goes really well or really poorly.

5. Write about a character who wants nothing more than to ride a Ferris wheel, but has a phobia of balloons.

6. Write about an art thief going to great lengths to steal a piece of art.

7. Write about a police officer who must talk someone out of doing something drastic and terrible.

8. Write a scene about a woman meeting a date at a coffee shop and running into her ex.

9. Write about a woman who must brave a violent storm to get home to her children.

10. Write a story detailing a harrowing visit to another country.

Get creative with these prompt ideas. Non-linear narrative prompts are often told from multiple perspectives and/or through the use of epistolary means (i.e. letters, journal entries, news reports, etc.).

11. Write about a fictional character through ripped-out pages from a journal that another character finds.

12. Write a story about a group of friends who go camping and end up getting assaulted by strange creatures. But piece the story together from the point of view of two or more characters.

13. Recount the end of a relationship from the POV of the two participants. Is there a misunderstanding at work, or do both people have the exact same story about why the relationship ended?

14. Write about a family who experiences an earthquake in different parts of the city.

15. Write a scene in which a cop and a criminal are matching wits in an interview room.

16. Start with the end of a story you know well, and then write it backward.

17. Write a story about a character with amnesia who remembers events out of order.

18. Explore a major historical event through the eyes of fictional characters who were “there.”

19. Start in the middle of a story about a long journey, then use flashbacks to fill in essential plot elements.

20. Using an unreliable narrator , tell the story of a disastrous music festival.

Viewpoint narrative can be completely made up or a product of your own personal experience. You can always combine fiction and personal narrative for a great writing exercise . If you're having trouble with writer's block , then the following prompts may be the easiest way to get your writing back on track.

21. What's your favorite memory from childhood? Write it down in as much detail as possible.

22. What's the proudest moment of your life so far? Use it as a starting point to craft a scene in which the moment gets even better.

23. What drew you to creative writing? Describe what inspired you to become a writer.

24. Think back to a day in 7th grade when you had a great day. Describe the day and what made it so great.

25. Write a comedic scene about your family on vacation.

26. Have you ever broken the law? Don't answer that. Instead, write a fictional story in which you do break the law.

27. Think of a famous person who gives you inspiration. Write about what you would do if you ever met them.

28. Write about what you would do on your dream vacation.

29. Write a short story about becoming a superhero.

30. Write a story from the viewpoint of a fictional character planning something nefarious.

31. Write a romantic story about meeting the love of your life.

32. Write a journal entry from the viewpoint of a character who has just accomplished their biggest goal.

33. Write a story about a day in the life of someone from a different cultural background.

34. Write a personal narrative in which you become a professional athlete in your favorite sport.

35. Write a story in which you're a rock star or a movie star.

36. Write a story from the POV of a character struggling to change the world for the better.

37. Write a first-person story about a police officer cracking the big case.

38. Write about a time you tried and failed at something. Explore your feelings and the aftermath.

39. Write about the weirdest thing that's ever happened to you.

40. Write about a near-death experience you've had.

In descriptive narrative, plot is secondary. It's more about getting the details down using all five senses . This can really help strengthen your fiction writing by helping readers feel immersed in the world of your story.

41. Describe a haunted house in detail.

42. Describe a fantasy creature you've made up or one from existing lore.

43. Write about the neighborhood park, including people who frequent it.

44. Write about a breathtaking building you've always liked.

45. Write about a landfill.

46. Write about a fantasy world in which dragons, demons, and elves exist.

47. Write about a building you're intimately familiar with.

48. Write about a spooky forest.

49. Write about a person (either real or fictional) without leaving any details out.

50. Describe the most beautiful sunset or vista you've ever seen.

While most of these writing prompts are mere exercises to strengthen your writing, you may find that they result in a story idea or two. So whether you use them as journal prompts for creative, stream-of-consciousness writing or as a way to come up with stories doesn't really matter. What matters is the writing activity you get out of them. Each hour you spend writing (and not just staring at the screen or surfing social media) adds to the 10,000 hours it takes to become an expert at something.

But what do you do when you want to put your writing out into the world? Well, if you want to make some money from your craft, you'll need to find the right market for your work.

Just as getting to know your characters is important for writing a good story, getting to know your market niche is essential for getting your story in front of readers . There are a couple of ways to do this, but only one that leaves you more time for actual writing. And that means using Publisher Rocket , made by the team here at Kindlepreneur.

With Publisher Rocket, you can get data in seconds that would otherwise take you hours if you were to comb through Amazon yourself. The main PR tools allow you to:

• Learn what keywords Amazon customers use to search for books like yours — and how many searches a given keyword (or phrase) receives per month.
• See what's working for other authors in your genre with data on book price, monthly sales, ranking, and book cover styles.
• Find niche categories with the right amount of demand and competition for your books.
• Gather keywords to use in your Amazon Ad campaigns.

Check out Publisher Rocket here to learn more.

Dave Chesson

When I’m not sipping tea with princesses or lightsaber dueling with little Jedi, I’m a book marketing nut. Having consulted multiple publishing companies and NYT best-selling authors, I created Kindlepreneur to help authors sell more books. I’ve even been called “The Kindlepreneur” by Amazon publicly, and I’m here to help you with your author journey.

Related Posts

How to write a whodunit, top 8 best scrivener alternatives for writers (+ the only one that matters), scrivener vs. ulysses: which writing tool should you buy, sell more books on amazon, amazon kindle rankings e-book.

Learn how to rank your Kindle book #1 on Amazon with our collection of time-tested tips and tricks.

Join the community

Join 111,585 other authors who receive weekly emails from us to help them make more money selling books.

• Time & Season
• Miscellaneous

45 Narrative Writing Prompts for Every Writer

The art of storytelling is timeless, offering windows into worlds both known and imagined. Narrative writing prompts can serve as a catalyst, igniting the flame of creativity and guiding authors on mesmerizing journeys of narrative exploration.

Here are 45 narrative prompts to inspire captivating tales:

• A stranger leaves a mysterious package at your doorstep with a note saying, “Protect it at all costs.”
• You inherit an old clock that seems to have the power to turn back time—but only by five minutes.
• After a thunderstorm, every person in town develops a peculiar ability.
• A secret door in the library leads to an alternate universe where stories come alive.
• Every year on your birthday, a postcard arrives from a location you’ve never visited.
• You find an untouched, ancient city hidden deep in the Amazon rainforest.
• An anonymous diary appears on your bed every morning, narrating your day in advance.
• Your reflection in the mirror starts to communicate with you.
• A rare comet passing Earth grants wishes, but with unforeseen consequences.
• After adopting a stray dog, you realize it can detect untruths.
• An old family heirloom holds the key to a treasure buried during a war.
• Every photograph you capture shows an additional person that wasn’t present.
• A lighthouse on a distant cliff seems to communicate messages through its light.
• After a meteor shower, a crystal-clear lake now shows people’s deepest desires.
• A childhood toy reappears, leading you on a quest you’d imagined as a kid.
• At a family gathering, an unknown elderly relative shares tales of a parallel family lineage.
• An abandoned railway station becomes active again at midnight.
• A tattoo artist in town has the power to make inked wishes come true.
• A local café serves beverages that let patrons relive memories.
• A snow globe displays not just winter scenes but also hints at future events.
• A vintage radio picks up broadcasts from the past.
• A peculiar phone booth allows callers to speak to their younger selves.
• After a solar eclipse, animals start exhibiting human traits.
• Every time you write in a particular notebook, the previous owner responds.
• A peculiar storm changes the color of everything it touches.
• An amusement park ticket grants access to your childhood memories.
• A dreamcatcher not only captures nightmares but also reveals their origins.
• A midnight train journey where passengers must trade memories for tickets.
• A forgotten childhood friend reappears, but they haven’t aged a day.
• A music box plays a melody that transports listeners to its origin.
• A necklace allows its wearer to hear the whispers of trees.
• A beach where the sands show visions of historical events.
• A fountain that grants age reversal, but only once.
• Every time you paint, the scenes begin to manifest in reality.
• An ancient tree in a park tells tales of the city’s past.
• A map leading to an island where forgotten dreams reside.
• An opera with the power to change a spectator’s life based on the performance.
• A pawnshop where customers trade objects for memories.
• A diary that reveals the unknown stories of strangers you cross paths with.
• A bakery where pastries let consumers taste emotions.
• An elevator that transports passengers to significant moments in their ancestry.
• An umbrella that shields its holder from more than just rain.
• A candle that, when lit, illuminates hidden secrets.
• A street performer who can pull real objects from his paintings.
• A forgotten alley where one can meet characters from discarded book drafts.

Conclusion:

In the grand tapestry of storytelling, these narrative writing prompts provide the threads of inspiration. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or someone taking their first steps into the realm of narrative creation, may these prompts offer a wealth of tales, memories, and dreams waiting to be penned.

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Be keep up get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox., leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

30 Captivating March Writing Prompts

50 inspiring poetry writing prompts.

Poetry, a canvas for the soul, invites us to explore the depth of human emotions …

35 Deep Writing Prompts for Profound Reflections

In the realm of creative expression, delving deep into the complexities of existence, human nature, …

30 Engaging Dialogue Writing Prompts

In the realm of storytelling, dialogues breathe life into characters, giving them depth, personality, and …

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address

Remember Me

The New York Times

The learning network | 500 prompts for narrative and personal writing.

500 Prompts for Narrative and Personal Writing

Updated, March 2, 2017 | We published an updated version of this list, “650 Prompts for Narrative and Personal Writing,” as well as a companion piece, “401 Prompts for Argumentative Writing.”

Every school day since 2009 we’ve asked students a question based on an article in The New York Times. Now, five years later, we’ve collected 500 of them that invite narrative and personal writing and pulled them all together in one place (available here as a PDF ).

The categorized list below touches on everything from sports to travel, education, gender roles, video games, fashion, family, pop culture, social media and more, and, like all our Student Opinion questions , each links to a related Times article and includes a series of follow-up questions. What’s more, all these questions are still open for comment by any student 13 or older.

So dive into this admittedly overwhelming list and pick the questions that most inspire you to tell an interesting story, describe a memorable event, observe the details in your world, imagine a possibility, or reflect on who you are and what you believe.

Childhood Memories

• What Was Your Most Precious Childhood Possession?
• What Were Your Favorite Childhood Shows and Characters?
• What Were Your Favorite Picture Books When You Were Little?
• What Things Did You Create When You Were a Child?
• What Places Do You Remember Fondly From Childhood?
• Have You Ever Felt Embarrassed by Things You Used to Like?
• Do You Wish You Could Return to Moments From Your Past?
• Was There a Toy You Wanted as a Child but Never Got?
• What Objects Tell the Story of Your Life?
• What Are Your Best Sleepover Memories?
• What’s the Best Gift You’ve Ever Given or Received?
• What’s the Most Memorable Thing You Ever Got in the Mail?
• What Nicknames Have You Ever Gotten or Given?

Coming of Age

• What Have You Learned in Your Teens?
• What Personal Achievements Make You Proud?
• What Are Some Recent Moments of Happiness in Your Life?
• What Are You Grateful For?
• What Rites of Passage Have You Participated In?
• What Advice Would You Give Younger Kids About Middle or High School?
• What Can Older People Learn From Your Generation?
• What Do Older Generations Misunderstand About Yours?

• Who Is Your Family?
• What Have You and Your Family Accomplished Together?
• What Events Have Brought You Closer to Your Family?
• What’s Your Role in Your Family?
• Have You Ever Changed a Family Member’s Mind?
• How Do You Define ‘Family’?
• What Are Your Family Stories of Sacrifice?
• What Possessions Does Your Family Treasure?
• What Hobbies Have Been Passed Down in Your Family?
• How Much Do You Know About Your Family’s History?
• Did Your Parents Have a Life Before They Had Kids?
• How Close Are You to Your Parents?
• How Are You and Your Parents Alike and Different?
• Do Your Parents Support Your Learning?
• What Have Your Parents Taught You About Money?
• Do You Expect Your Parents to Give You Money?
• How Permissive Are Your Parents?
• Do You Have Helicopter Parents?
• How Do Your Parents Teach You to Behave?
• How Do You Make Parenting Difficult for Your Parents?
• If You Drink or Use Drugs, Do Your Parents Know?
• Do You Talk About Report Cards With Your Parents?
• Would You Mind if Your Parents Blogged About You?
• How Well Do You Get Along With Your Siblings?
• How Well Do You Know Your Pet?
• What Role Do Pets Play in Your Family?
• What Is Your Racial and Ethnic Identity?
• Have You Ever Tried to Hide Your Racial or Ethnic Identity?
• How Do You Feel About Your Last Name?
• What’s the Story Behind Your Name?
• What Are Your Favorite Names?
• How Have You Paid Tribute to Loved Ones?

Community and Home

• Would You Most Want to Live in a City, a Suburb or the Country?
• How Much Does Your Neighborhood Define Who You Are?
• What’s Special About Your Hometown?
• What Would You Name Your Neighborhood?
• Who Is the ‘Mayor’ of Your School or Neighborhood?
• Who Are the ‘Characters’ That Make Your Town Interesting?
• What Would a TV Show About Your Town Spoof?
• What ‘Urban Legends’ Are There About Places in Your Area?
• What Local Problems Do You Think Your Mayor Should Try to Solve?
• Do You Know Your Way Around Your City or Town?
• Have You Ever Interacted With the Police?
• How Often Do You Interact With People of Another Race or Ethnicity?
• Who Would Be the Ideal Celebrity Neighbor?
• What Is Your Favorite Place?
• How Much Time Do You Spend in Nature?
• What Small Things Have You Seen and Taken Note Of Today?
• What Would Your Dream Home Be Like?
• What is Your Favorite Place in Your House?
• How Important Is Keeping a Clean House?
• Is Your Bedroom a Nightmare?
• Do You Plan on Saving Any of Your Belongings for the Future?
• With Your Home in Danger, What Would You Try to Save?
• What Would You Put in Your Emergency ‘Go-Bag’?
• Have You Ever Lost (or Found) Something Valuable?

Personality

• What Is Your Personal Credo?
• What Motivates You?
• What Makes You Happy?
• What Are You Good At?
• How Much Self-Control Do You Have?
• How Good Are You at Waiting for What You Really Want?
• What Role Does Procrastination Play in Your Life?
• When in Your Life Have You Been a Leader?
• How Well Do You Perform Under Pressure?
• How Well Do You Take Criticism?
• Are You Hard or Easy on Yourself?
• How Full Is Your Glass?
• Do You Have a Hard Time Making Decisions?
• How Good Are You at Time Management?
• How Productive and Organized Are You?
• How Would Your Life Be Different if You Had Better Listening Skills?
• How Competitive Are You?
• Do You Perform Better When You’re Competing or When You’re Collaborating?
• Do You Take More Risks When You Are Around Your Friends?
• Do You Unknowingly Submit to Peer Pressure?
• How Much of a Daredevil Are You?
• What Pranks, Jokes, Hoaxes or Tricks Have You Ever Fallen For or Perpetrated?
• How Do You React When Provoked?
• How Often Do You Cry?
• Do You Think You’re Brave?
• What Are You Afraid Of?
• What Are Your Fears and Phobias?
• What Are Your Personal Superstitions?
• Do You Like Being Alone?
• How Impulsive Are You?
• Are You a Novelty-Seeker?
• What Annoys You?
• Do You Apologize Too Much?
• Do You Have Good Manners?
• Are You a Saver or a Tosser?
• Are You More Introvert or Extrovert?
• Are You Popular, Quirky or Conformist?
• Are You a Nerd or a Geek?
• What Would Your Personal Mascot Be?
• What Assumptions Do People Make About You?

Overcoming Adversity

• What Challenges Have You Overcome?
• What Do You Do When You Encounter Obstacles to Success?
• What Are Your Secret Survival Strategies?
• How Do You Find Peace in Your Life?
• How Have You Handled Being the ‘New Kid’?
• Do You Ever Feel Overlooked and Underappreciated?
• How Stressed Are You?
• How Do You Relieve Stress?
• Does Stress Affect Your Ability to Make Good Decisions?
• What Challenges Have You Set for Yourself?
• How Often Do You Leave Your ‘Comfort Zone’?
• What Did You Once Hate but Now Like?
• Does Your Life Leave You Enough Time to Relax?
• Do You Set Rules for Yourself About How You Use Your Time?
• Is ‘Doing Nothing’ a Good Use of Your Time?
• What’s Cluttering Up Your Life?
• What Work Went Into Reaching Your Most Difficult Goals?
• When Have You Ever Failed at Something? What Happened as a Result?
• When Have You Ever Succeeded When You Thought You Might Fail?
• What Life Lessons Has Adversity Taught You?
• What’s the Most Challenging Assignment You’ve Ever Had?
• What Kind of Feedback Helps You Improve?
• Is Trying Too Hard to Be Happy Making You Sad?
• Do Adults Who Are ‘Only Trying to Help’ Sometimes Make Things Worse?
• What Are Five Everyday Problems That Bother You, and What Can You Do About Them?

Gender and Sexuality

• How Do Male and Female Roles Differ in Your Family?
• Do Parents Have Different Hopes and Standards for Their Sons Than for Their Daughters?
• Is There Too Much Pressure on Girls to Have ‘Perfect’ Bodies?
• How Much Pressure Do Boys Face to Have the Perfect Body?
• How Did You Learn About Sex?
• How Should Parents Address Internet Pornography?
• What Experiences Have You Had With Gender Bias in School?
• What Have Been Your Experiences With Catcalling or Other Kinds of Street Harassment?
• Do You Know Boys Who Regard Girls as ‘Prey’?
• Do You Consider Yourself a Feminist?

Morality and Religion

• How Do You Help?
• What Ethical Dilemmas Have You Faced?
• Would You Help an Injured Stranger?
• When Is the Last Time You Did Something Nice for a Stranger?
• Have You Ever ‘Paid It Forward’?
• How Much Do You Gossip?
• How Comfortable Are You With Lying?
• Have You Ever Taken Something You Weren’t Supposed To?
• What Could You Live Without?
• Do You Ever Feel Guilty About What, or How Much, You Throw Away?
• Do You Ever Eavesdrop?
• How Important Is Your Spiritual Life?
• Do You Believe That Everything Happens for a Reason?
• Can You Be Good Without God?
• Are You Less Religious Than Your Parents?
• Can You Pass a Basic Religion Test?
• What Can You Learn From Other Religions?

Role Models

• Who Is Your Role Model?
• Who Are Your Heroes?
• Who Inspires You?
• What’s the Best Advice You’ve Gotten?
• Who Outside Your Family Has Made a Difference in Your Life?
• If You Had Your Own Talk Show, Whom Would You Want to Interview?
• To Whom, or What, Would You Like to Write a Thank-You Note?
• What Leader Would You Invite to Speak at Your School?
• What Six People, Living or Dead, Would You Invite to Dinner?

Technology and Video Games

• Are You Distracted by Technology?
• Do You Always Have Your Phone or Tablet at Your Side?
• What Tech Tools Play the Biggest Role in Your Life?
• What New Technologies or Tech Toys Are You Most Excited About?
• To What Piece of Technology Would You Write a ‘Love Letter’?
• Does Your Digital Life Have Side Effects?
• Do Apps Help You or Just Waste Your Time?
• Do You Spend Too Much Time on Smart Phones Playing ‘Stupid Games’?
• When Do You Choose Making a Phone Call Over Sending a Text?
• Do You Know How to Code? Would You Like to Learn?
• Whom Would You Share Your Passwords With?
• What Are Your Favorite Video Games?
• What Have You Learned Playing Video Games?
• Do You Play Violent Video Games?
• When Should You Feel Guilty for Killing Zombies?
• Who Are Your Opponents in Online Gaming?
• Do You Like Watching Other People Play Video Games?

The Internet

• How Careful Are You Online?
• Do You Ever Seek Advice on the Internet?
• How Do You Know if What You Read Online Is True?
• How Much Do You Trust Online Reviews?
• How Do You Use Wikipedia?
• What Are Your Favorite Internet Spoofs?
• What Are Your Favorite Viral Videos?
• What Would You Teach the World in an Online Video?
• What Are Your Experiences With Internet-Based Urban Legends?
• What Story Does Your Personal Data Tell?
• Do You Worry About the Lack of Anonymity in the Digital Age?
• Do You Wish You Had More Privacy Online?
• California Notice
• Have You Ever Been Scammed?

Social Media

• How Do You Use Facebook?
• What Is Your Facebook Persona?
• What Memorable Experiences Have You Had on Facebook?
• Does Facebook Ever Make You Feel Bad?
• Would You Consider Deleting Your Facebook Account?
• Do You Have ‘Instagram Envy’?
• Do You Use Twitter?
• Why Do You Share Photos?
• How Do You Archive Your Life?
• Have You Ever Posted, Emailed or Texted Something You Wish You Could Take Back?
• Have You Ever Sent an Odd Message Because of Auto-Correct?
• Would You Want Your Photo or Video to Go Viral?
• Do You Worry Colleges or Employers Might Read Your Social Media Posts Someday?

• What Are You Listening To?
• Who in Your Life Introduces You to New Music?
• How Much Is Your Taste in Music Based on What Your Friends Like?
• What Music Inspires You?
• How Closely Do You Listen to Lyrics?
• Which Pop Music Stars Fascinate You?
• Who Is Your Favorite Pop Diva?
• What’s Your Karaoke Song?
• What Song/Artist Pairings Would You Like to Hear?

Movies, Theater and Television

• What Were the Best Movies You Saw in the Past Year?
• What Movies Do You Watch, or Reference, Over and Over?
• What Movies, Shows or Books Do You Wish Had Sequels, Spinoffs or New Episodes?
• Do You Like Horror Movies?
• Who Are Your Favorite Movie Stars?
• Would You Pay Extra for a 3-D Movie?
• What Is Your Favorite Comedy?
• What Are the Best Live Theatrical Performances You’ve Ever Seen?
• Have You Ever Stumbled Upon a Cool Public Performance?
• What Role Does Television Play in Your Life and the Life of Your Family?
• What Television Shows Have Mattered to You?
• Do Your Television Viewing Habits Include ‘Binge-Watching’?
• How Often Do You Watch a Television Show When It Originally Airs?
• What Old Television Shows Would You Bring Back?
• Why Do We Like Reality Shows So Much?
• What Ideas Do You Have for a Reality Show?
• What Are Your Favorite Commercials?
• How Much Are You Influenced by Advertising?

Reading, Writing and Fine Arts

• Read Any Good Books Lately?
• Do You Read for Pleasure?
• What Are Your Favorite Books and Authors?
• What Are the Best Things You’ve Read, Watched, Heard or Played This Year?
• What Are Your Favorite Young Adult Novels?
• What’s on Your Summer Reading List?
• What Memorable Poetry Have You Ever Read or Heard?
• What Are Your Favorite Cartoons?
• What Magazines Do You Read, and How Do You Read Them?
• Do You Enjoy Reading Tabloid Gossip?
• When Have You Seen Yourself and Your Life Reflected in a Book or Other Media?
• Do You Prefer Your Children’s Book Characters Obedient or Contrary?
• Do You Read E-Books?
• Would You Trade Your Paper Books for Digital Versions?
• To What Writer Would You Award a Prize?
• Why Do You Write?
• Do You Keep a Diary or Journal?
• Do You Have a Blog?
• Do You Want to Write a Book?
• When Do You Write by Hand?
• Do You Write in Cursive?
• Do You Write in Your Books?
• What ‘Mundane Moments’ From Your Life Might Make Great Essay Material?
• What’s the Coolest Thing You’ve Ever Seen in a Museum?
• What Are the Most Memorable Works of Visual Art You Have Seen?
• What Are Your Favorite Works of Art?

Language and Speech

• What Are Your Favorite and Least Favorite Words?
• What Words or Phrases Do You Think Are Overused?
• How Much Slang Do You Use? What Are Your Favorite (Printable) Words?
• How Much Do You Curse? Why?
• Why Do So Many People Say ‘Like’ and ‘Totally’ All the Time?
• Do You Sometimes ‘Hide’ Behind Irony?
• How Good Is Your Grammar?
• What New Emoticons Does the World Need?
• Are You Fluent in Vocal Fry, Creaky Voice or Uptalk?
• How Much Information Is ‘Too Much Information’?
• When Did You Last Have a Great Conversation?
• Do You Speak a Second, or Third, Language?
• When Do You Remember Learning a New Word?

School and Teachers

• Do You Like School?
• What Are You Really Learning at School?
• What Are You Looking Forward To, or Dreading, This School Year?
• Would You Want to Be Home-Schooled?
• Would You Like to Take a Class Online?
• Would You Rather Attend a Public or a Private High School?
• How Would You Grade Your School?
• What Can Other Schools Learn — and Copy — From Your School?
• Is Your School Day Too Short?
• What Do You Hope to Get Out of High School?
• Do You Have Too Much Homework?
• Does Your Homework Help You Learn?
• What Is Your Best Subject?
• What Memorable Experiences Have You Had in Learning Science or Math?
• Are You Afraid of Math?
• Do We Need a New Way to Teach Math?
• What Are the Best Ways to Learn About History?
• How Would You Do on a Civics Test?
• How Important Is Arts Education?
• What Is Your Most Memorable Writing Assignment?
• What Would You Like to Have Memorized?
• Does Your School Value Students’ Digital Skills?
• What Was Your Favorite Field Trip?
• Do You Participate in Class?
• What Are Your Best Tips for Studying?
• Do You Use Study Guides?
• Is Everything You’ve Been Taught About Study Habits Wrong?
• How Well Do You Think Standardized Tests Measure Your Abilities?
• Do You Have a Tutor?
• Are Your Grades Inflated?
• When Has a Teacher Inspired You?
• What Teacher Do You Appreciate?
• What Teacher Would You Like to Thank?
• What Do You Wish Your Teachers Knew About You?
• Do Your Test Scores Reflect How Good Your Teachers Are?
• Do Your Teachers Use Technology Well?

School Social Environment

• What Role Do School Clubs and Teams Play in Your Life?
• Who Has the Power in School Social Life?
• How Big a Problem Is Bullying or Cyberbullying in Your School or Community?
• Does Your School Seem Integrated?
• What’s the Racial Makeup of Your School?
• Do You Ever ‘Mix It Up’ and Socialize With Different People at School?
• Can Students at Your School Talk Openly About Their Mental Health Issues?
• Is Your School a ‘Party School’?
• How Common Is Drug Use in Your School?
• Do You Know People Who Cheat on High-Stakes Tests?
• How Does Your School Deal With Students Who Misbehave?
• How Much Does Your Life in School Intersect With Your Life Outside School?
• Would You Ever Go Through Hazing to Be Part of a Group?

Senior Year, College and Applications

• Where Do You Want to Go to College?
• What Are Your Sources for Information About Colleges and Universities?
• Is College Overrated?
• How Much Does the SAT or ACT Matter in Your Life?
• What Personal Essay Topic Would You Assign to College Applicants?
• What Qualities Would You Look For in a College Roommate?
• What Would You Do With a Gap Year?
• What Makes a Graduation Ceremony Memorable?
• How Do You Feel About Proms?

Work and Careers

• What Are Your Longtime Interests or Passions?
• Do You Have a Life Calling?
• What Do You Want to Do With Your Life?
• Do You Think You Will Have a Career That You Love?
• What Investment Are You Willing to Make to Get Your Dream Job?
• Would You Consider a Nontraditional Occupation?
• Would You Want to Be a Teacher?
• What Hidden Talents Might You Have?
• What Do You Hope to Be Doing the Year After You Graduate From College?
• Would You Rather Work From Home or in an Office?
• What Career or Technical Classes Do You Wish Your School Offered?
• What ‘Back-to-the-Land’ Skills Do You Have, or Wish You Had?
• What Have You Made Yourself?
• What Would You Create if You Had Funding?
• How Did You Start Doing Something You Love?
• Did You Ever Take a Break From Doing Something You Love?
• What Have You Done to Earn Money?
• Do You Have a Job?
• Would You Quit if Your Values Did Not Match Your Employer’s?
• What Are Your Attitudes Toward Money?
• Can Money Buy You Happiness?
• Where Do You See Yourself in 10 Years?
• What Do You Want to Be Doing When You’re 80?
• Do You Want to Live to 100?
• What Do You Want Your Obituary to Say?

Dating and Friendship

• Have You Ever Been in Love?
• What Are the Most Meaningful Relationships in Your Life?
• What Advice Would You Give to Somebody Who Just Started Dating?
• What Are the Basic ‘Rules’ for Handling Breakups?
• What Are Your Beliefs About Marriage?
• Are You Allowed to Date?
• Is Dating a Thing of the Past?
• Do You Have a Best Friend?
• How Do You Feel About Introducing Friends from Different Parts of Your Life?
• How Should You Handle the End of a Friendship?
• How Often Do You Have ‘Deep Discussions’?

Sports, Exercise and Games

• Do You Like to Exercise?
• How Has Exercise Changed Your Health, Your Body or Your Life?
• Why Do You Play Sports?
• What Is the Most Memorable Sporting Event You’ve Ever Watched or Played In?
• What’s the Most Impressive Sports Moment You’ve Seen?
• When Has a Sports Team Most Disappointed You?
• What Sports Teams Do You Root For?
• Does Being a Fan Help Define Who You Are?
• How Far Would You Go to Express Loyalty to Your Favorite Teams?
• What Fan Memorabilia Would You Pay Big Bucks For?
• What Rules Would You Like to See Changed in Your Favorite Sports?
• What Game Would You Like to Redesign?
• What Are Your Favorite Games?

• Where in the World Would You Travel if You Could?
• What Is Your Fantasy Vacation?
• What Would Your Fantasy Road Trip Be Like?
• What Crazy Adventure Would You Want to Take?
• How Has Travel Affected You?
• What Famous Landmarks Have You Visited?
• What’s the Coolest Thing You’ve Ever Seen in Nature?
• What Are the Best Souvenirs You’ve Ever Collected While Traveling?
• Would You Like to Live in Another Country?
• Would You Want to Be a Space Tourist?

Looks, Fashion and Health

• What Does Your Hairstyle Say About You?
• How Far Would You Go for Fashion?
• What Are the Hot Fashion Trends at Your School Right Now?
• Do You Have a Signature Clothing Item?
• Has Anyone Ever Said That You Look Like Someone Famous?
• Would You Ever Consider Getting a Tattoo?
• What Are Your Opinions on Cosmetic Surgery?
• Do Photoshopped Images Make You Feel Bad About Your Own Looks?
• What Are Your Sleep Habits?
• How Much of a Priority Do You Make Sleep?
• Do You Get Enough Sleep?
• What Health Tips Have Worked for You?

Shopping and Driving

• What’s Your Favorite Store? Why?
• To What Company Would You Write a Letter of Complaint or Admiration?
• To What Business Would You Like to Give Advice?
• How Would You Make Over Your Mall?
• Do You Shop at Locally Owned Businesses?
• What Are the Best Things You’ve Acquired Secondhand?
• How Important Is It to Have a Driver’s License?
• Are You a Good Driver?

Food and Eating

• What Are the Most Memorable Meals You’ve Ever Had?
• What’s Your Favorite Holiday Food Memory?
• What’s Your Comfort Food?
• What Are Your Favorite Junk Foods?
• What Food Would You Like to Judge in a Taste-Off?
• Do You Prefer Your Tacos ‘Authentic’ or ‘Appropriated’?
• Do You Pay Attention to Nutrition Labels on Food?
• How Concerned Are You About Where Your Food Comes From?
• Are Your Eating Habits Healthy?
• What Are Your ‘Food Rules’?
• Do You Eat Too Quickly?
• What Do You Eat During the School Day?
• Do You Eat Cafeteria Food?
• How Much Food Does Your Family Waste?
• What Messages About Food and Eating Have You Learned From Your Family?
• What’s Your Favorite Restaurant?
• What Restaurant Would You Most Like to Review?
• Do You Cook?
• What Would You Most Like to Learn to Cook or Bake?

Holidays, Seasons, Weather and Weekends

• How Can People Make the Most of Long Holiday Weekends?
• What’s Your Sunday Routine?
• What’s on Your Fall Fashion Shopping List?
• Will You Be Wearing a Halloween Costume This Year?
• Do You Like Scary Movies and Books?
• Do You Believe in Ghosts?
• What Are Your Thanksgiving Traditions?
• What Are Your Tips for Enjoying the Holiday Season?
• How Will You Spend the Holiday Break?
• Do You Make New Year’s Resolutions?
• How Do You Fight the Winter Blues?
• What Are Your Experiences With Severe Weather?
• How Do You Feel About Valentine’s Day?
• How Do You Celebrate Spring?
• What Would Your Fantasy Spring Break Be Like?
• How Careful Are You in the Sun?
• What Are You Looking Forward to This Summer?
• What Would Your Ideal Summer Camp Be Like?
• What Are Your Favorite Summer Hangouts?
• What’s Your Favorite Summer Food?
• What Is Your Favorite Summer Movie?
• Do You Have a Summer Job?
• Do You Choose Summer Activities to Look Good on Applications?
• What Are the Best Things You Did This Summer?
• How Do You Prepare to Go Back to School?

Beliefs, Politics and Current Events

• How Would You Like to Help Our World?
• What Cause Would Get You Into the Streets?
• What Would You Risk Your Life For?
• When Have You Spoken Out About Something You Felt Had to Change?
• What Would You Invent to Make the World a Better Place?
• How Do You Feel About Zoos?
• What Is Your Relationship With Guns?
• Do You Trust Your Government?
• Do You Know Your First Amendment Rights?
• Do You Worry About Terrorism?
• Do You Believe in Intelligent Alien Life?
• Given Unlimited Resources, What Scientific or Medical Problem Would You Investigate?
• What Would You Do if You Were President?
• Would You Vote This Year if You Could?
• Do You Consider Yourself a Republican, Democrat or Independent?
• What Event in the Past Do You Wish You Could Have Witnessed?
• What Are the Most Important Changes, in Your Life and in the World, in the Last Decade?
• What Do You Remember About Sept. 11, 2001?
• What News Stories Are You Following?
• How Do You Get Your News?
• Why Should We Care About Events in Other Parts of the World?
• What Questions Do You Have About How the World Works?
• What Big Questions Do You Have?

If Only…

• What Would You Do if You Won the Lottery?
• What Superpower Do You Wish You Had?
• What Era Do You Wish You Had Lived In?
• Would You Want to Be a Tween or Teen Star?
• Would You Want to Grow Up in the Public Eye?
• What Kind of Robot Would You Want?
• What Would You Outsource if You Could?
• What Would You Like to Learn on Your Own?
• What Would You Wait in Line For?

This resource may be used to address the academic standards listed below.

Common Core E.L.A. Anchor Standards

3   Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details and well-structured event sequences.

Comments are no longer being accepted.

This is such a fabulous resource for inspiration! Thank you so much for putting this list together. I’ll refer to it often and share it with my readers on my poetry and writing blog.

These are great writing prompts. These remind me of the questions on StoryShelter.com. It’s nice to write there and have all your personal stories in one place where you can share them with friends or post anonymously. Anyone who does narrative or personal writing will find it really useful.

For example, this is how a bunch of people answered the question: “What would you do if you won the lottery?” https://www.storyshelter.com/question/what-if-i-won-the-lottery

Cool, right?

Wonderful list! The topics are thought-provoking and exciting to write. I can go writing on and on, on these topics.

How much do you know about your family history?

I know a little bit about my family history. My grandma talks about our religion sometimes, not every day. So I get to hear some facts about my religion. For example what we do on New Year’s or what happened when I wasn’t born yet. My family history is very interesting.

My mom she is Cambodian and my dad is Thai so I’m mixed Asian. Everybody say that I mostly look like my dad than my mom, and that’s interesting to me.

My dad side of the family, my great great grandma, grandpa and aunts and uncles. They are living in Thailand. I want to go to Thailand really bad. My mom side of the family, my great great grandpa, grandma and my grandma siblings. They are living in Cambodia. My grandma took some pictures in Asia. It looks so different than the United States of America.

So first off, my dad he was born in Thailand and my mom I think she was born in Cambodia. She said that she didn’t went to Cambodia so I really don’t know. So my family (parents, grandparents, aunts and uncle immigrated to the United States of America and became citizens. That time they lived in Stockton, California. I could of live there still. But my dad he went to school in New Hampshire and got a job here and the job over here paid a lot more money than California. So Then my mom side of the family came with my parents, and my dad side of the family stayed in California that was in the 1990s when they moved to New Hampshire. Then they separated, so now we don’t live together anymore.

Now my aunt lives in Massachusetts and my other aunt lives in Rhode Island. So when my parents lived in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, I wasn’t born yet. But I wish that we still lived in California. So we

My life is interesting to me. I have families in Cambodia and Thailand, and I haven’t met them yet. Also the things we do on New Year’s and other occasions. So that’s what I know about my family history.

Very interesting

OMG!! Where have you been all my life I am very excited about this!!

I wish I was more of a journaler. These are some fantastic prompts for writing personal stories. With 500 listed here, there’s no way you wouldn’t find an inspiring prompt.

I’m more of a fiction writer, and I’ve chosen to write prompts that help fiction writers expand their imagination.

What's Next

A Full List Of Narrative Writing Prompts To Boost Your Writing Process

• March 14, 2022

Narrative writing prompts are the beginnings of stories, an idea to work on, or sometimes even a picture or image to inspire writers. Teachers often use them to inspire personal narrative writing.

Personal narrative writing prompts can be used by students, writers, or anyone at all to write a personal narrative. Personal narratives are personal stories that are usually written in first-person and tell the story of something that has happened to the writer.

They are invaluable tools to help students write a story based on their own lives. These ideas can lead to a passion for writing for many students in a classroom setting.

Personal Narrative Prompts

Writing personal narratives can be difficult because there is so much that occurs within a person’s life, not just in milestones but emotionally and psychologically.

Narrowing down a topic with no prompts can take time and lead to frustration, especially for students in a writing or English class who are just learning the writing process.

Rather than asking them to write a story out of thin air, asking them to describe a memory or experience about a time they cannot forget can inspire a student to really put themselves into the story.

The aspiring writers can connect with it in a way that they otherwise wouldn’t if you simply told them to write about any ideas they had.

Learning to Write from Prompts Early On

Personal narrative stories are often assigned as early as middle school. Students writing their own stories and personal experiences with the aid of a writing prompt can reflect on their own lives and write about it, at the same time, and improve their writing skills.

Personal narratives are used to improve the writing skills of middle school students because when students write more technical or dry papers, such as procedural writing, they often have trouble connecting with the work.

Unless you plan to write user manuals as a writer, you most likely won’t get many creative jobs from writing “how-to” papers that procedural papers demand.

Teaching Students

If you’re a teacher and you’d like to teach students or lead students to be able to write fictional short stories, a great place to start is with personal narrative prompts.

Students can write a fictional story based on a writing prompt and have a successful moment as a writer, especially if they already have experience with personal writing prompts.

Using personal narratives as inspiration for a fictional story will invite students to get creative and use descriptive language about something that they are already familiar with.

Students can also fictionalize their own experiences in this way and write about a traumatic event but translating painful memories into short stories , which makes for a healing and therapeutic experience.

Personal Narratives Do More Than Improve Writing Habits

Including narrative writing prompts in your lesson plans as a teacher is an excellent idea if you’d like to help students reflect, deal with the challenging moments in life using creativity as an outlet, and improve the skills of a young writer.

When students write anything creative, they improve not only as writers but as thinkers, and that’s the goal of nearly every middle school grade level teacher.

Personal Narrative Writing Prompts

Giving personal narrative prompts to students and asking them to turn them into short stories is a great assignment to add to lesson plans.

You can assign a wide variety of prompts and topics, from asking students to write about their favorite song, to asking them to make themselves the main character in a story about their favorite memory.

The possibilities are truly endless. Thinking about a time that proved to be significant, can inspire a wonderful narrative writing piece and lead to students reflecting and learning to connect with their writing.

Attaching strong emotion to a story or a character can help to lend a story weight, and when you draw off of your own personal experiences, a story can go from a dull and flat narrative to a thought-provoking and emotional, immersive experience.

Examples of Personal Narrative Writing Prompts

Personal narrative writing can be about anything that the writer has experienced, felt, or been through. It can be about a time that really impacted or changed the person, or it can be about something light and trivial.

Drawing off of your own experiences as a writer often makes the writer care more about the content, which is what makes personal narrative prompts such powerful tools for teachers and students.

The following are some examples of personal narrative writing prompts that can be assigned to anyone.

You don’t have to give them to your students. You don’t have to be a teacher. You don’t really even have to be a writer.

It’s healthy to reflect upon your own life, about a time that meant something to you. Having personal narrative prompts can be a great way to provide yourself with self-care if you choose a prompt each day and journal about it.

Topics for Personal Narrative Writing

Feel free to add to this list or expand upon it. The possibilities are truly endless when it comes to topics to write about in narrative writing. Every event, experience, need, dream, desire, fear, and goal, is a story waiting to be written.

• Write about an old house you or a friend have lived in. Was it scary, or was it cozy? What about it made you feel that way?
• Who was your role model growing up? What about that person who you look up to?
• What is/was your favorite subject in school? Do you enjoy school? 
• Describe the worst thing that has ever happened to you. How did you react to it?
• What is the scariest thing you’ve ever had to do? 
• Who are you closest to in your family? 
• What is your favorite book? Why do you like it so much? 
• If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?
• Write about a time in history that interests you most? Explain why.
• What makes a good friend? 
• What is your favorite place to relax by yourself? 

Ideas for a Personal Narrative

Personal narratives often evoke a vast array of emotions for both the reader and the writer., whether you are writing about an experience that had a positive outcome or a circumstance that affected you in a negative way.

Personal narratives are often very detailed and told in first-person . Below are some ideas that you may use to jump-start your personal narrative writing:

• Write about how you succeeded in something you thought was impossible. 
• Write about a defeat where you expected to win.
• Think of a contest or a club you participated in when you were a student. How did this milestone affect you?
• Reminisce about a moment when your idea led to the establishment of something important.
• Tell a story about a time in your life that you wish would not happen to anyone else. How did you recover from that event?
• Recall a most memorable moment which caused you a lot of fear and whether or not you were able to overcome it.
• Consider a story in your life when a friend or your significant other showed loyalty to you or completely betrayed you.
• Try to remember a happy or sad circumstance in your family that occurred years ago.
• Narrate a time when you had a culture shock from visiting another place.
• Tell a story about a problem you experienced which until now has not been solved.
• Narrate a story where you witnessed something remarkable, peculiar, or creepy.
• Tell a story related to your greatest accomplishment in life and what you had to sacrifice to get there.

Personal Narrative Examples in the Real World

Throughout history, people have been using personal narratives to explain events that occurred. Often with no reader in mind at all, people have documented and told the stories of events that have helped to shape the world that we live in and know now.

Imagine where we’d be if Lewis and Clark had not documented their journey. Think about the history we’d have if Anne Frank hadn’t written down her experiences during the Holocaust.

Explain to students what an impact this sort of writing has and how it has enabled all of society to discover things that we otherwise may not have known.

Sure, the Holocaust happened with or without one Jewish girl’s diary. Still, that diary made it possible for us to be able to create powerful personal images from the memory of one small child. We still have this sort of “diary writing” in use today, just in a different form.

Technology Gives Us an Online Diary

Technology has given us the internet, and with that wonderful tool, we are able to post our own narratives in real-time and give the entire world a chance to read our short stories. Personal narrative writing can help us to describe things to people outside of our own culture and experiences.

Through the use of a blog, website, or social media, we can share our ideas, a moment that meant something to us, a significant event that happened that changed us profoundly, and a look at how family life is evolving and shaping the way we live.

Students can be shown through the use of personal narrative that they have a voice and that when they write a story at school, that narrative does more than help them pass the class.

The Use of Prompts in School

When you ask students in your classroom of any age, whether it’s elementary, middle, high school, or college, to describe personal experiences or write a story that can describe the way an event made them feel, you are opening up the door for a writer to learn that ideas can come from any moment.

There is a story in every small experience, each family is its own story, and each person is its own story.

When you ask your class to write about just one moment, they are forced to put thoughts down in an organized fashion and turn it into a narrative of what happened, rather than the scattered rendition of it that lives inside the writer’s mind.

Using prompts in the classroom allows teachers to point to a writer’s internal story and personal history as inspiration. The use of details to help a reader who did not experience these events will enable a writer to become more skilled and well-rounded.

The point is to write about a time that meant something to the writer and can be conveyed to the audience in a way that makes them feel something.

Many times, a personal narrative takes on a casual tone and helps an audience to better connect with it. This can be a valuable way for young or beginning-level writers to learn how to write in a tone that will invoke feeling from an audience.

It’s more than just the subject matter that makes readers feel something. For example, in a blog, the writer addresses the audience most of the time in the same way you would speak to a friend.

The casual tone of a personal narrative makes the audience feel like you’re all friends.

When a writer is striving for that connection, it’s much easier to explain why their favorite place is a dark closet, a coffee shop, their bed, a shopping mall, a church pew, or some other personal and sometimes vulnerable secret and personal thing.

The more details that you use when you write about a time that affected your life, the more the audience will understand the feelings and thoughts associated with that memory.

Personal narrative writing is truly a multi-faceted learning experience. It teaches reflection skills, tone, narrative elements, and so much more.

Where to Find More Writing Prompts

Many instructors find that beginning the class with a writing prompt is a great way to get creative juices flowing, get a classroom ready for learning, and connect with the students. There are many ways to develop writing prompt ideas, especially personal ones.

Think about your own life and the events and memories that shaped you. Ask yourself if these are common experiences or if they are exclusive to your life.

If they’re fairly common experiences, like the feeling you got when you learned to ride a bike, then ask everyone in the classroom to write about their own experience with this topic.

Participate in Your Own Assignments

Feel encouraged to also take part in the assignment and demonstrate either before the task is given or after the narrative writing process has wrapped up so that your pupils can witness an example written by their instructor.

This will not only teach them the mechanics of narrative writing. It will also help them to connect to you as their teacher and open up new lines of communication and understanding, which can make a student feel safer to share personal experiences in their writing.

Where to Find Narrative Writing Prompts

The internet is a plethora of writing ideas. Writing prompts can be searched for and found easily by performing a simple Google search.

Another fantastic option is to buy a physical copy of a book of writing prompts . These can be found online for purchase and at most bookstores.

If you are a writer or aspire to be a novelist, having a book of writing prompts can help you jump-start your creativity when you begin your writing process each day. The benefits of good writing prompts are endless.

Fictional Narrative Writing

As you enter the world of fictional narrative writing, feel free to use your imagination and completely release all of your creative juices. Here are some prompts you can utilize for fictional narrative writing:

• Write a story about an earphone that tells its owner what will happen the next day.
• Consider a situation where a schoolgirl draws something that could solve a recent crime. The catch is she was never a witness. Keep the plot going.
• Create a plot where teenagers of today go back to the time when there was no Internet.
• Suppose a reunion of friends leads to the discovery of the long-lost treasure. 
• Imagine a teacher goes missing on a school day and her diary entries suggest that someone close to her has been sending her death notes. However, the one who has been sending the death notes isn’t the criminal.
• Write about an investigator who is the accomplice of an evil villain.
• Visualize a writer finding an old letter sent to her parents about her being a jinx.
• Imagine an introverted boy who is bothered by his own ability to remember minute details in his surroundings. This skill however, will be what allows him to save his family.
• Write a story where you visited a place and they believed you to be a member of the royal family. The twist is that you are with your biological parents, who do not have any royal blood at all.
• Write about a fictional world where all significant events are considered opposite to how we experience them. For instance, a birthday is not a celebration but instead a day of great gloom.

“The best way to predict the future is to invent it.” Alan Kay

Fairy Tale Writing Prompts

What could be more enchanting than to write a fairy tale story? A fairy tale lets you create delightful scenarios which appeal to readers of all ages, especially children. Here are some fairy tale writing prompts that may entice you into writing an entire plot:

• Conceptualize a fairy tale where the prince is a coward.
• Suppose, on your way home, you found a shopping bag full of items in front of your door. The next thing you know, they are all magical and begin interacting with you.
• Write about a character you do not wish to be in your life. Make that character the villain of your fairy tale story.
• Create a story about a cursed princess who transforms into different animals every single waking hour, starting from 6:00 a.m each morning.
• Imagine a schoolboy tracing the whereabouts of his parents through magical potions.
• Visualize that you discovered your best friend as an evil princess, trying to take revenge on the school bullies. You are the only person who knows it. What would you do?
• Construct a fairy tale story out of your favorite love song. Consider the song’s message as the theme of your story.
• Browse through online shops, and make their bestsellers the magical items possessed by a king.
• Create a story where the king and queen unwillingly part ways and find their way back together after a decade.
• Imagine a story where all the things being written by the protagonist come true in real-time.

Superhero Writing Prompts

As a child, you may have believed that superheroes can fly, have supernatural powers, or are immortal. As you grow older, you may have discovered that heroes are not how you have once imagined them. However, heroes exist in many different ways, and stories about them are still captivating. Below are some helpful superhero writing prompts:

• Write a story about a superhero who is hot-tempered. Explore how this trait affects the superhero’s way of saving lives.
• Imagine a group of scientists trying to experiment with a superhero’s antibodies.
• Visualize a scenario where a superhero was wrongfully accused killing a victim whom he tried to save from the real villains.
• Consider a scene where the current hero dies, and the world needs another. How would another superhero rise up?
• Write a story about a hero with claustrophobia who has to rescue a significant person from an enclosed space.
• A superhero is in a dilemma whether to save a loved one or save the majority. If the hero saves her loved one, the majority dies and vice versa.
• Suppose a superhero discovers telekinesis one day when he is almost kidnapped. How did he discover it and is he able to use it to save himself?
• Weave a story where the black sheep of a family turns out to be the greatest superhero of this generation.
• Create a story where the villain is the superhero’s first love. The superhero is still in love with her and which makes being a superhero incredibly difficult.
• Put together a narrative writing where the superhero is an alien who assumed a human body to protect the people of Earth.
• Write about how the superhero’s allergies are triggered whenever he goes to different places to save people.

Narrative writing can be challenging especially if you are not inspired. However, we can draw from various events, experiences, even people we connect with in life to glean some personal narrative prompts to a start a basic short story and perhaps progress into a full length novel.

If you find yourself stumped, we hope that the narrative writing prompts shared here can help you improve the writing skills of your students or inspire you to pick up your pen or tap on your keyboard to start writing on what may be your bestselling work.

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Sign up to our newsletter!

Related articles

120 Motivational Quotes About Writing To Inspire A New Writer Like You

How To Register A Kindle On Amazon To Enjoy Your Ebooks In 4 Easy Ways

How To Market A Self-Published Book And Be Profitable In 9 Easy Ways

50 Creative Narrative Writing Prompts to Ignite Your Imagination

• February 21, 2024
• Freelancing Tips

Table of Contents Hide

What is narrative writing, best creative narrative writing prompts for elementary, creative narrative writing prompts for high school, creative narrative writing prompts middle school, narrative writing prompts for students, fictional narrative writing prompts, recommendations.

Prompts for creative narrative writing are effective instruments that stimulate writers’ imaginations and foster creativity.

These writing prompts provide authors a place to start as they build captivating stories by letting them experiment with different characters, settings, and storylines.

They allow carrying the story in unexpected places while simultaneously establishing a structure for storytelling.

Through the use of creative narrative writing prompts, authors are forced to step outside of their comfort zones and try out different genres and styles.

These writing prompts might assist overcome writer’s block by generating original ideas and offering a novel viewpoint on narrative.

For writers who want to improve their craft and broaden their storytelling abilities, creative narrative writing prompts are a useful resource. They can be utilized as daily exercises or as inspiration for longer projects.

This article has a compilation of over 50 Creative Narrative Writing Prompts to Ignite Your Imagination. Check them out!

Narrative writing is a powerful tool that allows writers to create compelling stories that captivate readers and evoke emotional responses.

It does more than just retell events; instead, it digs deeply into the motivations, feelings, and ideas of the characters to weave a complex tapestry of experiences that the audience can fully immerse themselves in.

Authors can take readers to other places, eras, and points of view through narrative writing, allowing them to experience the world from a fresh perspective.

The capacity of narrative writing to emotionally connect with readers is one of its fundamental features. Writers can create a sensory experience that engrosses readers and gives them a sense of participation in the story by skillfully combining descriptive language with vivid pictures.

In addition to keeping readers engaged in the narrative, this emotional connection helps them sympathize with the characters and their hardships, which promotes a better comprehension of human emotions and experiences.

Narrative writing, at its core, is a transforming process that allows people to share a common story, so bridging gaps between them. It is more than just storytelling.

By creating gripping narratives with vivid characters and captivating storylines, authors can influence readers’ opinions, pose provocative questions, and motivate behaviour changes.

Read ALSO: 107+ Creative Writing Prompts For Middle School Students

Why use Creative Narrative Writing Prompts?

For writers of all skill levels, creative narrative writing prompts are an indispensable resource that provide a host of advantages.

• Inspiration: Writing exercises offer a springboard for ideas or a starting point. They can serve as an inspiration to authors who are having trouble coming up with ideas or experiencing writer’s block.
• Exploration: Authors are encouraged by prompts to write about themes, genres, people, and places that they might not have otherwise thought of. This investigation expands writing horizons and stimulates creativity.
• Practice: Developing one’s writing skills requires consistent practice. Writing prompts provide writers with organized chances to hone their narrative, character, dialogue, and descriptive writing abilities.
• Flexibility: Prompts can be modified to accommodate different writing objectives and tastes. They can serve as starting points for longer projects or as quick exercises or stories.
• Overcoming Fear: The blank page might terrify some authors. It’s simpler to get started writing when you have a direction and are less anxious thanks to prompts.
• Writing prompts promote experimenting with various narrative approaches, vocabularies, and styles. It’s a low-stakes setting where writers can push themselves.
• Building Community: Prompts are a typical beginning point for group activities in many writing communities and workshops. Writing prompt responses to one another promotes writerly friendship, feedback, and teamwork.
• Talent Development: Writers can hone particular writing abilities, such as world-building, pacing, character development, and story structure, by taking on a variety of prompts.
• Productivity: By offering daily or weekly ideas to keep authors motivated and accountable, writing prompts can assist writers in developing a regular writing habit.
• Self-Reflection: Writing responses to various prompts and investigating them can help authors gain a deeper awareness of their own passions, assets, and areas in need of development.
• Write a story about a character who looks in their backyard and finds a secret portal to another realm.
• Tell the tale of a person who wakes up and has to put together what happened after losing all recollection of the previous twenty-four hours.
• Envision a society in which feelings are traded like goods. What impact does this have on everyday life and relationships?
• Write a story about a time traveller who has to undo the effects of unintentionally altering a momentous historical event.
• Tell the story of a group of survivors surviving in a post-apocalyptic world where machines have taken over sentience.
• Write a story that takes place in a universe where everyone, save the protagonist, is born with a special magical skill.
• Describe a civilization in which dreams are valued as commodities. What occurs if someone exhausts themselves?
• Write a story about a character who inherits an ancient, enigmatic mansion that is haunted by the ghosts of its previous owners.
• Describe the experience of someone who finds they have the capacity to speak with animals.
• In a future where humanity has colonized other worlds, imagine the unanticipated difficulties that arise from otherworldly cultures.

Read ALSO: Chinese vs Japanese Writing: A Side-by-Side Comparison

For high school students, here are interesting creative narrative writing prompts for them:

• Write about a world where music is forbidden, and one individual dares to defy the ban.
• Describe a character who possesses the power to bring their drawings to life.
• Tell the tale of a scientist who accidentally creates a potion that grants immortality.
• Create a story set in a dystopian society where citizens’ thoughts are monitored and controlled by the government.
• Write about a group of adventurers on a quest to retrieve a legendary artefact that holds the key to saving their kingdom.
• Imagine a world where mythical creatures coexist with humans, but their existence is threatened by environmental changes.
• Describe a character who discovers they can manipulate time, but soon realizes the consequences of their actions.
• Tell the story of a person who finds a map leading to a hidden treasure buried deep in the jungle.
• Write about a city where the streets come alive at night with magic and mystery.
• Imagine a future where robots have replaced humans in the workforce, leading to widespread unemployment and social unrest.
• Describe a character who can see glimpses of the future but struggles with the burden of knowing what’s to come.
• Tell the tale of a group of unlikely allies brought together by fate to overthrow a tyrannical ruler.
• Create a story set in a world where everyone is born with a tattoo that reveals their destiny.
• Write about a person who discovers they have the ability to enter books and interact with the characters within.
• Imagine a society where people are sorted into factions based on their personality traits, and one individual doesn’t fit into any category.
• Describe a character who, unless they can end the cycle, is cursed to repeat the same day again and over.
• Describe the tale of a sorcerer who finds out they are the last in a long line of people whose job it is to keep the world safe from evil.
• Write about a future in which humans can upload their consciousness into virtual reality thanks to advancements in technology.
• In a future where humanity is forced to find a new home among the stars because Earth is no longer livable, picture this.
• Describe a character that has the capacity to hear other people’s thoughts but finds it difficult to control this power.
• Tell the story of a person who discovers a mystery thing that gives them amazing skills but has a fatal cost.
• Write a tale about a town where everyone lives with a secret, and a newcomer poses a threat to them all.
• Write a narrative about a party of adventurers who discover a lost civilization beneath the ocean.
• Imagine a society in which magic exists but is forbidden by a dishonest administration.
• Tell the story of a character who finds they are the one chosen to vanquish an evil that has been threatening the planet for a long time.

Read ALSO: 140 Exclusive Writing Prompts For Adults

• Tell the tale of a person who can travel between parallel universes and who has to deal with the fallout from their decisions in each one.
• Write about a civilization in which recollections are traded, bought, and sold on the underground market.
• In a world where sickness has been abolished by genetic engineering, imagine also that there is a difference between those who are genetically modified and those who are not.
• Describe a character who, upon the full moon, is cursed to change into a new beast.
• Tell the story of a rebel group that is up against an oppressive government that has complete control over society.
• Write a story that takes place in a world where everyone, save the protagonist, has a guardian angel.
• Write a story about a person who finds a hidden underground metropolis that is home to surviving members of a vanished civilization.
• In a future in which sentient robots and humans coexist, imagine a situation in which a single person befriends an AI.
• Describe a character who can telekinesis but finds it difficult to control.
• Tell the tale of a person who discovers a doorway to a different dimension and has to avoid its perils to return home.
• Write about a civilization in which reading is outlawed and one person goes to great lengths to protect literature and information.
• Imagine a society in which the government rigorously regulates time travel, yet it is still possible.
• Describe a character who learns they are descended from a mythical hero and that they have to live up to their destiny.
• Tell the story of someone who, overnight, acquires the ability to speak every language in the world.
• Write a tale that takes place in a future when global warming has wreaked havoc on the environment and people must adjust to survive in a hostile new environment.

Read ALSO: 50 Exclusive 4th Grade Writing Prompts That Are Printable For Free

Here are some fictional narrative writing prompts to inspire your storytelling:

Lost in Time: A young archaeologist finds an antiquated relic that allows them to travel back in time to a crucial historical period. They must avoid the perils of the past and learn the truth about the artifact’s enigmatic beginnings as they attempt to travel back in time.

The Forbidden Library: A curious adolescent discovers a hidden library full of knowledge that is prohibited in a society where books are outlawed. They discover a plot that has the potential to destroy their society as they investigate its mysteries further.

The Carnival of Dreams: Every year, an enigmatic carnival makes an appearance in the town and promises to fulfill its guests’ wildest dreams. But the magic of the carnival has a sinister cost, as a group of friends quickly learns.

The woodland Guardian: A lone guardian keeps the last remaining woodland in a realm beset by darkness safe from harm. However, the guardian must go out on a treacherous quest to defend their home and bring the land back into balance as a vicious tyrant threatens to completely destroy the forest.

The Clockwork City: A young inventor discovers a plot that might topple the ruling class of the steampunk metropolis, which is run by clockwork and steam. They have to uncover the truth before it’s too late, with the aid of a courageous journalist and a former robber.

The Memory Thief: A young girl learns she has the ability to take memories from other people in a world where memories are traded for money. But she has to go on a perilous journey to recover a memory that could save her dying sister when she unintentionally takes it, lest it be lost forever.

The Starlight Academy: A group of youngsters realize they have tremendous powers beyond their wildest imaginations at a prestigious academy for talented students. However, when they learn the dark secrets of the academy, they will need to work together to fend off an impending threat to both themselves and their world.

Creative narrative writing prompts are designed to stimulate creativity and inspire writers to explore new ideas and storylines.

For additional tips, guides, and resources on honing your narrative writing skills, explore our website’s blog section dedicated to helping writers unlock their full potential.

Of course! Feel free to share your creations with friends, family, or online communities to showcase your talent and receive feedback from fellow writers.

You can use these prompts as often as you like—daily, weekly, or whenever you feel stuck or in need of inspiration for your next story.

By using narrative writing prompts, you can practice storytelling, character development, and plot creation, ultimately enhancing your overall writing abilities.

Whether you’re an experienced writer looking for new ideas or a novice writer eager to explore different genres, these prompts will kindle a fire inside of you that can only be put out by writing the most captivating stories you can imagine. So grab a seat, reader, and join us as we explore this wealth of storytelling gems that are just waiting to be unearthed and brought to life by your vivid imagination.

• Vibrantteaching.com – 20 prompts for narrative writing that spark creativity
• Kindlepreneur.com – Narrative writing prompts
• 50 Exclusive 4th Grade Writing Prompts That Are Printable For Free
• 140 Exclusive Writing Prompts For Adults
• 107+ Creative Writing Prompts For Middle School Students
• Chinese vs Japanese Writing: A Side-by-Side Comparison

Related Posts

21+ homophones examples in english for writers from a-z.

• April 12, 2024

How To Write Dates Correctly In English, Spanish, MLA Format, Formal Letter

Feature writing: tips, types & importance in writing.

🎉 Our next novel writing master class starts in – ! Claim your spot →

WEEKLY WRITING PROMPTS

Join (probably?) the world's largest writing contest. Flex those creative muscles with weekly writing prompts.

Showing 2119 prompts

All fun and games, write about a character who treats everything like a game and struggles to be serious when they most need to, or vice versa..

LIVE – Character

Write a story about someone who takes a joke way too far.

Write a story about someone participating in a seemingly innocent game that suddenly takes a turn..

LIVE – Dark

Set your story in a playground: two characters are having a serious conversation while on the seesaw/in the jungle gym/on the swings.

LIVE – Angst

Write a story that includes the phrase “It’s all fun and games…”

LIVE – Dialogue

Introducing Prompted , a new magazine written by you!

🏆 Featuring 12 prize-winning stories from our community. Download it now for FREE .

Set your story in a world where astrology and the movements of celestial bodies deeply impact the lives of inhabitants.

LIVE – Fantasy

People have gathered to witness a once-in-a-lifetime natural phenomenon, but what happens next is not what they expected.

LIVE – Mystery

Imagine an origin myth that somebody might use to explain an eclipse, or some other celestial event.

Write a story in which a character navigates using the stars..

LIVE – Adventure

Set your story during a total eclipse — either natural, or man-made.

LIVE – Fiction

Subscribe to our prompts newsletter

Never miss a prompt! Get curated writing inspiration delivered to your inbox each week.

Begin or end your story with a character taking a selfie.

Write about a character who sees a photo they shouldn’t have seen., write a story about a character who risks their life to take a photo., start your story with a character staring at a picture they don’t remember taking., center your story around a photo that goes viral., write a story where time functions differently to our world., write a story about a character who wakes up in space., write a story from the point of view of a non-human character., write a story with a strong sense of place. how is the setting of your world the same as, but different to, our own, write a story imagining 'what if' one historic invention had never happened. how would our world be different now, win $250 in our short story competition 🏆.

We'll send you 5 prompts each week. Respond with your short story and you could win $250!

Contest #246 LIVE

Enter our weekly contest.

This week's theme: All Fun and Games

Prize money

Contest entries, closes at 23:59 - apr 19, 2024 est, recent contests ✍️.

#245 – Heavenly Bodies

#244 – Oh Snap!

#243 – Re-Imagining Our World Through Speculative Fiction with Alice McIlroy

#242 – Fine Art

Recent winners 🏆

Kerriann Murray-Todd – read

Thomas Iannucci – read

Niamh O'Dea – read

Liz Grosul – read

Leaderboard 🥇

#1 Zilla Babbitt

32360 points

#2 Deidra Whitt Lovegren

28689 points

#3 Abigail Airuedomwinya

22414 points

#4 Graham Kinross

14378 points

#5 Scout Tahoe

13195 points

#6 Chris Campbell

11126 points

#7 Thom With An H

10604 points

#8 Rayhan Hidayat

10210 points

#9 Michał Przywara

9876 points

#10 Deborah Mercer

9608 points

Bring your short stories to life

Fuse character, story, and conflict with tools in the Reedsy Book Editor. 100% free.

Creative Writing Prompts

When the idea to start a weekly newsletter with writing inspiration first came to us, we decided that we wanted to do more than provide people with topics to write about. We wanted to try and help authors form a regular writing habit and also give them a place to proudly display their work. So we started the weekly Creative Writing Prompts newsletter. Since then, Prompts has grown to a community of more than 450,000 authors, complete with its own literary magazine, Prompted .  

Here's how our contest works: every Friday, we send out a newsletter containing five creative writing prompts. Each week, the story ideas center around a different theme. Authors then have one week — until the following Friday — to submit a short story based on one of our prompts. A winner is picked each week to win $250 and is highlighted on our Reedsy Prompts page.

Interested in participating in our short story contest? Sign up here for more information! Or you can check out our full Terms of Use and our FAQ page .

Why we love creative writing prompts

If you've ever sat in front of a computer or notebook and felt the urge to start creating worlds, characters, and storylines — all the while finding yourself unable to do so — then you've met the author's age-old foe: writer's block. There's nothing more frustrating than finding the time but not the words to be creative. Enter our directory! If you're ready to kick writer's block to the curb and finally get started on your short story or novel, these unique story ideas might just be your ticket.

This list of 1800+ creative writing prompts has been created by the Reedsy team to help you develop a rock-solid writing routine. As all aspiring authors know, this is the #1 challenge — and solution! — for reaching your literary goals. Feel free to filter through different genres, which include...

Dramatic — If you want to make people laugh and cry within the same story, this might be your genre.

Funny — Whether satire or slapstick, this is an opportunity to write with your funny bone.

Romance — One of the most popular commercial genres out there. Check out these story ideas out if you love writing about love.

Fantasy — The beauty of this genre is that the possibilities are as endless as your imagination.

Dystopian – Explore the shadowy side of human nature and contemporary technology in dark speculative fiction.

Mystery — From whodunnits to cozy mysteries, it's time to bring out your inner detective.

Thriller and Suspense — There's nothing like a page-turner that elicits a gasp of surprise at the end.

High School — Encourage teens to let their imaginations run free.

Want to submit your own story ideas to help inspire fellow writers? Send them to us here.

After you find the perfect story idea

Finding inspiration is just one piece of the puzzle. Next, you need to refine your craft skills — and then display them to the world. We've worked hard to create resources that help you do just that! Check them out:

• How to Write a Short Story That Gets Published — a free, ten-day course by Laura Mae Isaacman, a full-time editor who runs a book editing company in Brooklyn.
• Best Literary Magazines of 2023 — a directory of 100+ reputable magazines that accept unsolicited submissions.
• Writing Contests in 2023 — the finest contests of 2021 for fiction and non-fiction authors of short stories, poetry, essays, and more.

Beyond creative writing prompts: how to build a writing routine

While writing prompts are a great tactic to spark your creative sessions, a writer generally needs a couple more tools in their toolbelt when it comes to developing a rock-solid writing routine . To that end, here are a few more additional tips for incorporating your craft into your everyday life.

• NNWT. Or, as book coach Kevin Johns calls it , “Non-Negotiable Writing Time.” This time should be scheduled into your routine, whether that’s once a day or once a week. Treat it as a serious commitment, and don’t schedule anything else during your NNWT unless it’s absolutely necessary.
• Set word count goals. And make them realistic! Don’t start out with lofty goals you’re unlikely to achieve. Give some thought to how many words you think you can write a week, and start there. If you find you’re hitting your weekly or daily goals easily, keep upping the stakes as your craft time becomes more ingrained in your routine.
• Talk to friends and family about the project you’re working on. Doing so means that those close to you are likely to check in about the status of your piece — which in turn keeps you more accountable.

Arm yourself against writer’s block. Writer’s block will inevitably come, no matter how much story ideas initially inspire you. So it’s best to be prepared with tips and tricks you can use to keep yourself on track before the block hits. You can find 20 solid tips here — including how to establish a relationship with your inner critic and apps that can help you defeat procrastination or lack of motivation.

NEW VIDEO COURSE 🎉

How to Write a Novel

Join Tom Bromley for a writing master class and finish your first draft in 3 months . Learn more →

Explore more writing prompt ideas:

Adults Writing Prompts ⭢

Adventure Writing Prompts ⭢

Angst Writing Prompts ⭢

Character Writing Prompts ⭢

Christmas Writing Prompts ⭢

Dark Writing Prompts ⭢

Dialogue Writing Prompts ⭢

Dramatic Writing Prompts ⭢

Dystopian Writing Prompts ⭢

Fall Writing Prompts ⭢

Fantasy Writing Prompts ⭢

Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Fluff Writing Prompts ⭢

Funny Writing Prompts ⭢

Halloween Writing Prompts ⭢

High School Writing Prompts ⭢

Historical Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Holiday Writing Prompts ⭢

Horror Writing Prompts ⭢

Kids Writing Prompts ⭢

Middle School Writing Prompts ⭢

Mystery Writing Prompts ⭢

Narrative Writing Prompts ⭢

Nonfiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Novel Writing Prompts ⭢

Poetry Writing Prompts ⭢

Romance Writing Prompts ⭢

Sad Writing Prompts ⭢

Science Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Short Story Writing Prompts ⭢

Spring Writing Prompts ⭢

Summer Writing Prompts ⭢

Teens Writing Prompts ⭢

Thanksgiving Writing Prompts ⭢

Thriller and Suspense Writing Prompts ⭢

Valentine's Day Writing Prompts ⭢

Vampire Writing Prompts ⭢

Winter Writing Prompts ⭢

Oops, you need an account for that!

Log in with your social account:

Or enter your email:

13 Thought-Provoking Personal Narrative Prompts

by Suzanne Davis | Sep 12, 2019 | Writing Essays and Papers | 2 comments

To be a person is to have a story to tell. –Isak Dinesen

What stories are within you?  A personal narrative is a story from your life. So, it is simple to write.  Maybe.  If you come up with an experience you’re dying to share–it is easy to get started. But, it isn’t always easy to think of an idea for a personal narrative.  So, I put together a list of 13 personal narrative prompts to help you find a compelling story you long to write about.

The idea of longing to write it is important because personal narratives need to show readers what your experience was like.  Desire to write inspires you to put more effort into your narrative’s description, character development, and plot.  Sounds a lot like writing a fictional story doesn’t it? Both are narratives, they need to engage your readers and show them something unique.

Personal narrative writing shows settings, people, actions, and feelings. When you write a personal narrative, you describe a story so that your reader sees, feels, and understands what you experienced.    When you write a personal narrative, you describe a story so that your reader sees, feels and understands what you experienced. Click To Tweet

You show (don’t tell) readers a personal story .  Check out the post “How to Master Writing a Compelling Personal Narrative Essay” https://www.academicwritingsuccess.com/writing-a-personal-narrative/   to see how to use the show don’t tell approach in writing personal narratives.

Finding an engaging personal narrative prompt will help you discover a memorable essay.  Let’s find the right topic for you.

13 Personal Narrative Prompts

One of the best ways to show a personal story is to select a small episode or anecdote from your life and dig deep into it.  These 13 personal narrative prompts help you find a great essay topic.

#1 Favorite School Memory

Write a story about your favorite school memory.  Who was there? Where was it?  How did it happen?  How does it end?  Focus on one single event.  For example, if you played the violin in school you could tell a story about playing the violin in a concert.  Or if you played on a soccer team, you could tell the story of your tryout.

# 2 Worst School Memory

This is the opposite of #1.  Select a memory that is focused on a terrible situation.  What triggered that situation and what happened?  What was the result?  For example, this could be a situation where you were bullied.  Describe what happened, and how it ended for you.  Did anyone defend you, or help you?  Or did the bullying continue?

#3 Frightening Story

Write a story about a scary or frightening moment in your life.  What happened?  How was it scary?  Are you still frightened?  Fear is a strong emotion and it motivates people to keep reading and find out what followed.  Some examples of frightening moments are being trapped in a cave, lost in the woods or inside an old house with strange noises, or a traumatic event.  A frightening experience could also be any personal event where you didn’t feel safe and were afraid something terrible was going to happen.

# 4 “Just Between Friends” 

Write a story about something that happened between you and a friend.  Is it something important you experienced together?  Did your friend do something to help you?  Did that person hurt you?  Or did you do something to help your friend?  Did you hurt a friend?  Some ideas for this topic are an activity or event you both participated in, something you both started, a great act of kindness, a sacrifice one of you made to help the other.  It could also be something where you betrayed your friend, or your friend betrayed you.

#5 Family Story

This is similar to the topic of friendship except in this case it’s something that happened within your family.  What occurred, who was there, and what did you do? Is there an important funny, sad, or happy event in your family?  Did you do something important or special with your family?   Some examples of this topic are the birth of someone in your family, the death of a loved one, or something fun you did with your parents, siblings or grandparents, etc.

Write a story of the best, strangest, or worst thing that happened to you on a vacation or trip to another place.  Focus on one event or experience. One mistake writers make with this essay idea is they describe an entire travel experience, and that isn’t interesting to your readers.  Some ideas for this writing prompt are getting lost in a city, being pickpocketed on a trip, or visiting a historical site.

#7 First Love

First loves are powerful and vivid stories.  Consider a story about how you met that person or a significant memory between you. This could be something wonderful, funny, or even terrible,  If the relationship is over how did it end?  Were you heartbroken?  These stories, or a story about any important relationship, leave an imprint on us.

#8 Success Story

Write a story about something you accomplished.  Describe what you did to achieve success, and how you reached your goal.  Were there obstacles you had to overcome? This is a tricky essay topic because sometimes people focus on the feelings of success or the final achievement rather than the story of how they succeeded.  Some ideas for this topic are to write about winning an event, earning an honor, confronting a personal challenge, or getting over a phobia.

#9 Personal Failure

Write about how you failed to do or failed to achieve something.  Describe what you tried to do, how you failed, and what you gained/learned from it.  Everyone fails at something.  Your readers understand the feeling of failure.  Some people connect with these personal narratives more than stories of success because they empathize with you. People learn a lot through failure, so when you write this type of story, hint or convey what you learned from failing.

#10 Accident

Write a story about an accident you caused or an accident that happened to you.  This could be negative as in a car accident or maybe it’s an accident of good fortune.  Describe how the accident occurred, who was involved, and how it ended.  Was it a bicycle accident?  How did it happen?  Did someone get hurt?

#11 Unresolved Experience

Describe something that happened to you, but where there’s no resolution.  What was the experience and how did it occur? What don’t you understand or know about the experience? Then, instead of having a resolution to the story, convey how you feel about not knowing what happened.

#12 An International or National Event or Incident

Write a personal story describing how you acted, witnessed, or responded to a significant national or international event or incident.  Did you play in the Olympics, or join a protest?  Did you survive a natural disaster?  What was your role in this circumstance?  What did you do?  For example, if you were in a hurricane describe what happened, who you were with, and how you survived.

#13 Change the World Experience

One of the best experiences I had in my life was creating and organizing a family literacy program for public schools. There are several stories within that experience I could write. If you were a volunteer for an organization or participated in a service project, think about what happened.  Was there a moment that changed everything? What occurred? Did any of those stories change you, your community, or another person?  These stories can be very moving because they have impacted you, what you believe, and how you see or view others. 

Choose a Personal Narrative Prompt and Write

The most important factor to consider in a personal narrative is yourself.  Choose an idea for a personal narrative that intrigues you.  If your narrative bores you, it’ll bore readers.  You want to write a descriptive personal story with vivid characters, actions, and emotions.

Also, select a story you want to share with others.  You’re revealing not just what happened to you, but also a piece of yourself.  Is your personal story something you want people to know?

It’s your story .  You decide what to write and who reads it.  Then write it well.

What is your favorite personal narrative topic?  Please share it below! 

Great prompts, Suzanne! I especially liked #10 the unresolved experience. Very thought provoking. These prompts would also be great for personal journaling.

Terri, thank you. You’re right. These writing prompts would work well with personal journaling. I’m glad you liked #10. It’s one of my favorites!

[…] So which descriptive essay prompt inspires you?  And if you want more creative writing prompts, check out my blog post, “13 Thought-Provoking Personal Narrative Prompts” https://www.academicwritingsuccess.com/13-thought-provoking-personal-narrative-prompts/ . […]

Tutorpreneur Hero Award

http://becomeanonlinetutor.com/tutorpreneur-hero/

SSL Certificate Seal

Session expired

Please log in again. The login page will open in a new tab. After logging in you can close it and return to this page.

Privacy Overview

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

168 Writing Prompts to Spark Discussion and Reflection

Here are all of our Student Opinion questions from the 2021-22 school year. Each question is based on a different New York Times article, interactive feature or video.

By The Learning Network

Each day of the school year we publish a Student Opinion question : an invitation for students to share their own opinions and experiences in response to New York Times stories on the news of the day. Each of these prompts is introduced with an article, interactive feature or video produced by The Times.

The 168 questions we asked during the 2021-22 school year are available below and in this PDF . The prompts are organized into two sections: questions that lend themselves well to persuasive writing, and questions that encourage narrative writing. We have also published a short, visual post highlighting five of the most popular questions we asked this school year.

For ideas on how to use these Student Opinion prompts in your classroom, you might consult this comprehensive teacher’s guide , which includes practical strategies from a dozen educators.

Questions for Debate and Persuasive Writing

1. Should There Be a Minimum Voting Age? 2. Should College Be Free? 3. Should Parents Give Children More Responsibility at Younger Ages? 4. How Much Should Speech Be Moderated on Social Media? 5. Does Prayer Have Any Place in Public Schools? 6. Is Teen Mental Health in a State of Crisis? 7. Should We Be More Optimistic About Efforts to Combat Climate Change? 8. If Two Songs Sound Alike, Is It Stealing? 9. What Should Be Done About the Gender Pay Gap in Sports? 10. Is Taking the SAT a Necessary Step in Preparing for Post-High School Life? 11. Should Libraries Get Rid of Late Fees? 12. Do You Think It Is Time to Get Rid of Daylight Saving Time? 13. Is It Bad Sportsmanship to Run Up the Score in Youth Sports? 14. Should We Eliminate Gifted and Talented Programs? 15. Should We Bring Back Animals From Extinction? 16. Should Greek Life on College Campuses Come to an End? 17. What Is Your Reaction to Efforts to Limit Teaching on Race in Schools? 18. Is It Ethical to Be a Football Fan? 19. Do You Support Affirmative Action in College Admissions? 20. When Should You Tip? 21. Should the U.S. Be Doing More to Prevent Child Poverty? 22. What Do You Wish Lawmakers Knew About How Anti-L.G.B.T.Q. Legislation Affects Teenagers? 23. Should Parents Weigh in on Their Kids’ Dating Lives? 24. Do You Think We Need to Change the Way Math Is Taught? 25. Are You Concerned About Violence in America? 26. Should There Be Limits on How Much Time Young People Spend Playing Video Games? 27. Should Phones Ever Be a Part of Family or Holiday Gatherings? 28. Should Students Be Allowed to Miss School for Mental Health Reasons? 29. Are You a Crypto Optimist or Skeptic? 30. Do You Think Pluto Should Be a Planet? 31. How Important Are College Rankings to You? 32. How Would You Describe the State of Our Union? 33. Are Zoos Immoral? 34. What Sports Deserve More Hype? 35. What Is Your Reaction to the State of Abortion Rights in 2021? 36. What Can History Teach Us About Resilience? 37. When Should School Mask Mandates Be Lifted? 38. ‘Love-Bombing.’ ‘Gaslighting.’ ‘Victim.’ Is ‘Trauma Talk’ Overused? 39. Does the N.F.L. Have a Race Problem? 40. What Work of Art Should Your Friends Fall in Love With? 41. What Do You Think About Efforts to Ban Books From School Libraries? 42. What Should Spotify Do About Joe Rogan? 43. How Excited Are You About the Metaverse? 44. Can Laziness Be a Good Thing? 45. What Do You Think of Pet Weddings? 46. What Are Your Thoughts About Hunting Animals? 47. Are You a Fan of ‘School Accounts’ on Social Media? 48. How Worried Should We Be About Our Democracy? 49. 9/11 Happened Before You Were Born. What Does It Mean to You? 50. What Is Your Choice for Word of the Year? 51. What Is Your Reaction to the Verdict in the Kyle Rittenhouse Trial? 52. Do Celebrities and Influencers Make You Want to Buy What They’re Selling? 53. Should Parents Ever Be Held Responsible for a School Shooting? 54. Should Websites Force Users to Prove How Old They Are? 55. Does Your Family Need to Cut Down On Screen Time? 56. How Useful Is It to Be Multilingual? 57. How Do You Feel About ‘Nepotism Babies’? 58. Does Class Rank Matter to You? 59. What Can Older Generations Learn From Gen Z? 60. Should Schools Require Students to Get the Coronavirus Vaccine? 61. When Talking About Identity, How Much Do Words Matter? 62. How Well Is Your School Handling Covid This Year? 63. How Should We Honor and Mourn Those We Have Lost to Covid? 64. What Are Your Texting Dos and Don’ts? 65. What Ideas Do You Have to Bring Your Community Closer Together?

Questions for Narrative and Personal Writing

66. Do You Think You Will Ever Travel to Space? 67. How Good Are You at Handling Challenging School Work? 68. What Is a Meaningful Family Relationship That You Have? 69. How Do You Get and Spend Money? 70. What’s Your Sunday Routine? 71. How Much Does Having a ‘Dream Job’ Matter to You? 72. Have You Ever Helped an Adult? 73. Where Is Your Favorite Place to Read? 74. How Comfortably Can You Speak Your Mind at School? 75. Who Is in Your Chosen Family? 76. Who Is the Best Cook You Know? 77. How Do You Silence Your Inner Critic? 78. How Good Are You at Recycling? 79. What Have Been Your Experiences With Substitute Teachers? 80. What’s in Your Queue? 81. What Music Are You Listening to Right Now? 82. Do You Experience Climate Anxiety? 83. How Have You Experienced Extreme Weather? 84. Have You Ever Felt Too Much Pressure to Win? 85. What Broadway Show Would You Most Like to See? 86. What’s It Like to Be Back in School? 87. How Would You Describe Your Pandemic Experience in Six Words? 88. Who in Your Community Might Be Interesting to Interview? 89. What Do You Think Your Favorite Book or Movie Character Eats For Dinner? 90. If You Could Have Any Animal Feature, What Would It Be? 91. Do You Like Horror? 92. What’s Your Favorite Item of Clothing? 93. How Does Social Media Affect Your Mental Health? 94. What Things Remind You of Your Childhood? 95. Is Your School Facing Shortages Because of the Pandemic? 96. What Do You Dream About Now? 97. How Many Close Friends Do You Need? 98. What Competition Do You Think You Could Win? 99. What Do You Think Are the Secrets to a Long Life? 100. What Role Do Parks Play in Your Life? 101. Have You Witnessed Bad Behavior in Youth Sports? 102. How Diverse Is Your School? 103. How Diverse Is Your Community? 104. How Do You Come Together With Your Community? 105. What Are the Most Memorable Works of Visual Art You’ve Ever Seen? 106. Where Do You Go to Find Cool, Strange or Fascinating Information on the Internet? 107. What Does Judge Jackson’s Supreme Court Confirmation Mean to You? 108. How Important Is Mindfulness to Your Daily Life? 109. Do You Like Romance Stories? 110. How Often Do You Treat Yourself to Something Special? 111. Who Was Your Favorite Musical Artist This Year? 112. Do You Enjoy Taking Long Walks? 113. A Special Poetry Challenge: What Small Kindnesses Do You Appreciate? 114. How Similar Are You to the Adults Who Raised You? 115. What Would You Like to Ask Your 40-Year-Old Self? 116. What Role Does Religion Play in Your Life? 117. Do You Like a Comeback Story? 118. How Have You Noticed Inflation? 119. Does Social Media Affect Your Body Image? 120. What Are Your Plans This Summer? 121. What Is the Coolest Thing You Have Seen in Nature? 122. How Do You React When Your Friendships Change? 123. Do You Keep a Journal? 124. What Is Your Relationship Like With Your Grandparents and Elders? 125. How Does Your Body React to Stress? 126. How Emotionally Intelligent Are You? 127. Do You Like Spending Time Alone? 128. Do You Ever Ignore Text Messages? 129. What Is Your ‘Good Luck Charm’? 130. What Do You Collect? 131. How Much of Your Life Do You Share Online? 132. Are You a Risk-Taker? 133. Whom Do You Turn to for Good Advice? 134. What Does Love Feel Like to You? 135. What Would You Write a Book About? 136. Would You Want to Be a Child Star? 137. How Do You Celebrate Your Culture Through Food? 138. How Much Have You Learned About Black History? 139. How Good Is Your Sense of Direction? 140. Have You Ever Jumped Into Ice-Cold Water? 141. What Are the Essential Foods to Eat Where You Live? 142. Are You Optimistic About the Future? 143. How Do You Overcome Your Fears? 144. What Fictional House Would You Want to Stay In? 145. Have You Ever Benefited From Rejection? 146. What Disgusts You? 147. Have You Ever Been Surprised by an Act of Generosity? 148. What Do You Want to Investigate? 149. How Has Omicron Affected Your School and Community? 150. How Have School Shootings Shaped Your Experience as a Student? 151. Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine: A Forum for Young People to React 152. Do You Make New Year’s Resolutions? 153. What Was the Best Day of Your Year? 154. What Are Your Holiday Plans This Year? 155. What Healthy Habits Do You Hope to Build in the New Year? 156. What Were the Best and Worst Things About 2021 for You? 157. Which Emoji Do You Use the Most? 158. What Is Unique About Your Hometown? 159. When Have You Made the Best of a Difficult Situation? 160. What Is the Bravest Thing You’ve Ever Done? 161. Do You Find It Hard to Let Other People Help You? 162. What Will Your Thanksgiving Look Like This Year? 163. What’s Your Favorite Local Business? 164. The Racist Massacre in Buffalo: A Place for Young People to React 165. Would You Ever Want to Run a Marathon? 166. How Do You Feel About Tattoos? 167. Have You Had a Job Recently? What Has the Experience Been Like? 168. Do You Like Getting Dressed Up?

Want more writing prompts?

You can find even more Student Opinion questions in our 300 Questions and Images to Inspire Argument Writing , 550 Prompts for Narrative and Personal Writing and 130 New Prompts for Argumentative Writing . We also publish daily Picture Prompts , which are image-centered posts that provide space for many different kinds of writing. You can find all of our writing prompts, added as they publish, here .

Search the blog

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

Vibrant Teaching

Teaching Resources Creator and Blogger

20 Prompts for Narrative Writing That Spark Creativity

Using prompts for narrative writing motivates kids and gets them excited to write. Read on to learn more about narrative writing, mentor texts, ideas, and assessments. Plus you will find 20 fun prompts for narrative and personal narrative writing. These will be sure to spark student’s creativity and imagination!

What’s Narrative Writing?

Narrative writing tells a story using a beginning, middle, and end.  It includes elements such as characters, setting, problem, and solution.  The author’s purpose is usually to entertain or teach a lesson.  Narrative writing can be fact or fiction but the process is the same.  When it’s a real story from the author’s life, it is considered a personal narrative.  

Examples for Narrative Writing

There are so many wonderful examples of narrative writing.  Some are even written as personal narratives.  Below you will find a list of mentor texts for elementary school.  It’s helpful to immerse students in the genre before and during a narrative writing unit.  These books model different strategies that kids can try in their writing.

Narrative Writing Mentor Texts:

• Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
• Come on, Rain! by Karen Hesse
• Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts
• Fireflies! by Julie Brinckloe
• Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems
• Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall
• Enemy Pie by Derek Munson
• Blackout by John Rocco

Narrative Writing Teaching

There are many features to include in narrative writing, but it depends on the grade level being taught.  For the lower grades, it’s important to start with the concept of beginning, middle, and end written in sequential order.  Then you can expand to the introduction, body, and conclusion using details.  Other important elements are character, setting, problem, and solution.  As the student’s abilities increase the number of sentences will grow and expand to paragraphs.

For the older grades, you can introduce plot structure.  It follows the beginning, middle, and end format but on a higher level.  This story arc includes exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.  Use the diagram below to see how these features overlap.

Plot Structure

Topics for Narrative Writing

The possibilities are endless when it comes to narrative writing ideas.  Kids can create a fiction piece or write about an experience in their life.  Check out some writing prompt ideas below for narrative and personal narrative writing. You might also like this blog post about opinion writing prompts: 20 Prompts for Opinion Writing That Motivate Kids

Writing Prompts for Narratives

• I was taking my friend’s picture in front of the volcano when all of a sudden . . .  
• What if you were given 3 wishes but couldn’t use them on yourself.  Tell a story about what you would wish for and why.
• Write a story called, “The Luckiest Day of My Life.”
• Imagine you went to the zoo and could take home any animal for the day.  Tell a story about your time together.
• Write a silly story that uses these words: airplane, grapes, elephant, and book.
• You have just been shrunk down to the size of an ant.  Write a story including the good and bad things about being so small.
• Think about your favorite character from a book.  Tell a story about getting to meet them for the first time.
• What would happen if you lived during a time when there was no electricity?  Write a story about your school day.
• Finish this story: The pirates set sail on their ship in search of . . .
• Suppose you were teacher for a day.  Write a story about the changes you would make.

Writing Prompts for Personal Narratives

• Have you ever been so proud of yourself for learning something new?  Write a story about a time this happened.
• Write a story about a time you felt your heart race.  What happened and how were you feeling at the end?
• What was your most memorable vacation?  Tell a story from part of that trip and why it stands out in your mind.
• Have you ever done something you knew would get you in big trouble?  Write a story about a time this happened and how you felt about it.
• Write a story about the strangest thing that has ever happened to you.  Why was it so unusual?
• What was your most memorable moment from this year?  Write a story telling why it’s so special.
• Tell a story about a time when you were so excited and couldn’t wait for an event to happen.
• Write a small moment story about a time you had with your favorite person.
• Write about a time that you lost something important.  Tell whether or not you found it.
• Think about the worst day you ever had.  What made it so terrible and did it get better by the end?

Rubrics for Narrative Writing

I often hear from teachers that one of the most difficult parts of teaching writing is how to assess it.  Assessments should be accurate and helpful for both the student and teacher.  When it comes to narrative writing, there are many different approaches.  Some teachers prefer to do a more informal assessment for daily writing pieces and then a formal assessment for the final copy.  Informal assessments can be completed with written comments or student-teacher conferences.

It would be very difficult to use a rubric for every narrative writing a student completes in their notebook.  Instead, most teachers prefer to choose one to three writing pieces to assess with a rubric.  These assessments are ideal for benchmarks, progress reports, and report cards.  Below you will find three types of narrative writing rubrics.  Check out this blog post to learn more about student-friendly, teacher-friendly, and time-saving rubrics: 3 Types of Writing Rubrics for Effective Assessments

Narrative writing enables kids to be creative and use their imagination. They can write a fiction story or about a real event from their life. Writing prompts are a helpful tool to get kids engaged and ready to get started. Did you grab your Free Writing Prompt Guide yet? I love using prompts for morning work, writing time, centers, or as a homework assignment. The possibilities are endless! Be sure to try these prompts for narrative writing with your students!

Genre Based Prompts

Related Articles:

20 Prompts for Opinion Writing That Motivate Kids

• What is Narrative Writing
• A Complete Guide to Narrative Writing
• Personal Narrative Writing for Elementary School
• Narrative Writing: How to Teach a Story Arc That’s as Exciting as a Roller Coaster

Angela Sutton

Related posts.

20 Prompts for Information Writing That Empower Students

3 Types of Writing Rubrics for Effective Assessments

No Comments

Leave a reply cancel reply.

I accept the Privacy Policy

I specialize in helping elementary teachers with writing resources, tips, and ideas. My goal is to save teachers time and energy so they can be vibrant inside and outside of the classroom! Read More

SEARCH THE BLOG

Subscribe to our mailing list.

Get the news right in your inbox!

Health and Wellness