99+ ‘Endurance’ Writing Prompts
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The Locket’s Secret
An ancient locket purchased as a Valentine’s Day gift bestows a horrifying curse upon its recipients.
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Liberation of the Cursed
Create a narrative about a witch or warlock born with a terrible curse, and their quest for liberation.
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Escape From The Labyrinth
Imagine a labyrinth, not with minotaurs, but different horrifying creatures in each turn.
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The Clash of the Ash
Compose a poem about the beauty and excitement of a Hurling match, focusing on the sound of the hurleys (sticks), known as ‘the clash of the ash’.
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Consecutive Pages
Imagine and write about the lives of two childhood sweethearts who managed to stay together and grow up together.
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The Migratory Return
Chronicle the return of migratory birds to your region in April, detailing their journey.
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Warrior of Wasteland
Create an adventure set in a futuristic dystopia where a lone warrior has to traverse a toxic wasteland to find a fabled sanctuary.
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Frozen in Time
Write a poem illustrating a frozen landscape, and unravel the metaphors housed within it.
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Hushed Horrors in the Himalayas
Build a narrative around a group of mountaineers on a Himalayan expedition who stumble upon a murder mystery.
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Mercy of the Sunlight
Write about a vampire who is in love with the sunrise, something they can’t witness without suffering harm.
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The Gritty Core
Write about an experience that was remarkably difficult, focusing on how this experience shaped your character.
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Beneath the Ice
Create a story in which the main character performs a brave deed under the harshest Antarctica conditions.
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Subzero Expedition
Pen an emotional journey of a team traversing snow-covered landscapes on an archaeological search.
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Living with Trisomy
Imagine a day in the life of a family affected by a Trisomy condition. Describe their challenges, victories, and the strength they exemplify.
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Journey of Survival
Write about a character embarking on the Trail of Tears and focusing on their personal survival.
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Code Red Survival
In a world on the brink of annihilation, your character stumbles upon a plan to save humanity.
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The Art of Restarting
Describe a moment when you had to start again from scratch, focusing on the challenges and strengths discovered in this process.
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Endurance Test: Surviving on a Sand Planet
Describe a perilous journey of a group of Rebels crossing a desert planet.
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Fading Footprints
Pen a narrative set in a post-apocalyptic world where humanity is struggling to reassemble.
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The Theodosian Walls
Create a story about a soldier stationed on the Theodosian Walls, defending Constantinople from invaders.
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Resilience Reframed
Write about how the events of 2020 have altered your perception of personal resilience.
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Underwater Hellscape
A deep-sea exploration team becomes trapped at the bottom of the Mariana Trench, with communication and escape routes disabled.
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The Hero Paradox
Explore a society that becomes too reliant on their superhero, falling into complacency and jeopardizing their self-government.
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Witness to History
Write about an individual participating in a historic long distance march, like Gandhi’s Salt March or Martin Luther King’s Selma to Montgomery March.
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Vehicle Survival
Describe surviving a zombie apocalypse solely using a vehicle for shelter and transport.
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Interstellar Survival
Write about a group of astronauts who were not supposed to be on a space mission but got stuck on a ship heading out into the void.
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Lessons from Frozen Peaks
Write about a winter mountaineering expedition you embarked upon, whether real or fictional.
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Warrior Lost
Write about a warrior princess who is captured by her adversaries during a battle and needs to rescue herself.
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The Pioneer’s Diary
Compose a story from the perspective of a pioneer crossing the American West with their family in a covered wagon.
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Immortal November Willow
Detail a connection with the November Willow who has lived for generations.
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The Never-Returning Explorers
Write about a group of explorers who ventured into a mysterious forest known to have a history of ominous abductions.
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Resolution Evolution
Describe a resolution you made in the past, and discuss how the process of accomplishing or failing to accomplish this goal affected you.
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Desert Mirage
You wake up stranded in the middle of a desert with only a day’s water supply and no sense of direction. Write about what you would do to survive and find civilization.
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Life From A Hooverville
Create a story set in a Hooverville (a shanty town built by the homeless during the Great Depression), illustrating people’s struggles, hopes, and endurance.
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Dancing for Dinner
Imagine the lives of dance marathon participants during the Great Depression, an era of poverty, and desperation.
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Jungle Guardian’s Perspective
Write from the perspective of an ancient tree witnessing the evolution of the jungle.
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Gradual Transformation
Create a multi-year narrative detailing the gradual transformation of an immature child into a responsible adult.
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Innovation of Necessity
Craft a narrative about a society facing a daunting crisis that gets resolved by an unexpected innovation.
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Saving for a Special Gift
Write about a character who goes to great lengths to save money to buy a special Christmas present for someone they cherish.
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Deaths Do Us Part
A couple find a forbidden love beyond mortal bounds, despite constant paranormal dangers.
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Marathons and Sprinters
Think about a time you witnessed or participated in a race. Write about the transformation you observed or experienced from start to finish.
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Embracing Insurmountable Odds
Discuss how faith can help overcome obstacles by examining the trials and tribulations faced by St. Patrick.
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Love in the time of War
Spin a tale of a passionate romance set against the backdrop of a grueling war.
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Experience of Fasting
Share your experience of fasting during Lent, the challenges and the revelations.
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Forceless Heroes
Imagine a protagonist who relies on wits and brawn, not the Force, to overcome an overwhelming challenge.
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Window to the Past
Write about a haunted house where each room is essentially a window to some past events of its former residents.
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Surviving the Arctic
Write about a survival journey in the Arctic circle, testing your endurance against the extreme cold.
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Early Spring Snowfall
An unexpected late snowfall has covered your town on Easter morning. How does this change your Easter plans?
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Life Amidst Brown Shadows
Write a story illustrating the day-to-day life of a family trying to navigate and survive the peak of the Dust Bowl.
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The Laser’s Edge
Write a gripping scene where two enemy starships, badly damaged and crippled, are facing off against each other.
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Chase in the Wilderness
Your protagonist is chased through a rugged and dangerous wilderness. How does they survive?
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Phoenix Heart
Write about a character’s unrequited love whose feelings haven’t diminished, but continue to smolder like embers.
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Endurance Challenge
Describe a climber participating in a race to be the first to reach the summit of a newly discovered mountain.
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The Selfless Miracle
Reflect on a time when you experienced a personal ‘miracle’, much like the miracle of oil in Hanukkah.
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Dangerously Double-Crossed
Write a thrilling plot where your main character is double-crossed by their most trusted ally.
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Desert Diaries
Step into the shoes of a camel on a desert expo, discovering ancient ruins and meeting unique desert creatures.
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Crossing Continents
Write an adventure story about a group of friends who decide to cross continents in their homemade hot-air balloon.
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Treasure Hunt in Dreadful Dunes
Write about an adventurous tale of treasure hunters venturing into forbidden desert landscapes in pursuit of hidden wealth.
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Solitary Survivor
Write about a character stranded alone in an unforeseen desert environment and their fight for survival.
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Evolving Through Endurance
Write down the challenges you faced that transformed into achievements by year-end.
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Captain’s Diary
Imagine finding an old ship captain’s diary. Write about their voyages, discoveries, and challenges they faced.
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Spacecraft Survival
A spaceship has broken down, stranding a group of astronauts lightyears away from Earth. How do they cope with the situation?
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Ghost of Shakespeare
Compose a narrative from the perspective of the ghost of William Shakespeare, observing the modern world and how his works are interpreted today.
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Battle For Survival
Create a scenario where characters are trapped and have to rely on each other to survive.
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Quest for the Lost Oracle
Your characters are chosen or compelled by fate to go on a quest to find a legendary oracle.
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Hero of Ferelden
Write about the life and exploits of an ordinary citizen of Ferelden who rises to become a hero that saves his/her nation.
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Tears in the Veil
Imagine the impact and chaos caused by a sudden tear in the Veil in your city. Describe the day-to-day life for people living around a rift.
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Mental Marathon
Describe a long-term project or challenge you took on, and the mental endurance it required.
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Climbing Your Mountain
Describe a difficult situation you have overcome and explain what inner strength helped you through it.
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Overcoming a Personal Challenge
Reflect on a personal challenge you overcame and how you grew from the experience.
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Navigating the Dark Clouds
Write about a time you felt overwhelmed by depression and detail the strategies you used to navigate through the darkness.
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Lost in Amazonia
You are part of a scientific expedition that goes horribly wrong, and you’re stranded in the Amazon rainforest. What happens next?
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Cryptic Clues
Create a story involving a meticulously planned scavenger hunt for a coveted treasure, designed by a famous cryptographer.
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The Mysterious Text
Your protagonist wakes up to an unknown text message, predicting an event that shockingly comes true. What path does this message lead them on and who is the mystery sender?
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Second Chance Romance
Write about a couple who separated due to a misunderstanding but find their way back to each other years later.
