1846+ ‘Exercise’ Writing Prompts
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Night Shift Mystery
Set in a sleepy, late-night store, your character interacts with a string of peculiar customers, gradually suspecting that they aren’t ordinary.
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The Generosity of Others
Write about a time someone showed you unexpected kindness or generosity and how it made you feel.
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Mindful Manifestations
Pen down a real or imaginative scenario where you accomplished a personal goal and describe the journey and the feelings associated with it.
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The Giving Tree
Imagine if the trees could talk. Pick a tree in fall and write a conversation you’d have with it.
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Leafy Life Cycle
Write a story from the perspective of a leaf transitioning through the seasons until it falls in autumn.
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My Own Pandemic Hero
Write a tribute to a person you consider as your hero during the pandemic.
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Legend of the Lost Kingdom
Write about a forgotten fairy tale kingdom that’s slowly being rediscovered.
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Gardener of Growth
Write about the personal growth of a seed into a beautiful flower, using the plant as an analogy for your own self-development.
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The Magic of Solitude
Write about how solitude after heartbreak has ignited self-discovery.
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Flash Fiction in Waiting Rooms
Imagine scenarios in which people utilize flash fiction in everyday life situations like in waiting rooms.
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Playing the Fool
Write a scene where the comic villain uses their perceived incompetence to their advantage.
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Shedding Shadows
Envision a conversation between you and your shadow self. Discuss the negative traits you wish to let go of in this new year.
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Unveiling the Mask
Imagine a stereotypical villain who reveals a shockingly sympathetic side to their character. How do they maintain their terrifying facade while battling with their own inner demons?
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Dusk Till Dawn: An Easter Day
Write a descriptive account of Easter day, beginning with daybreak’s soft pastel skies until nightfall.
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Journey to Storyland
You have received an invitation to a land where all stories come from. Describe your journey and your experiences there.
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The Birth of Jazz
Imagine you are a musician during the Jazz Age, describe your experiences and struggles you went through to perfect your craft.
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Your Future Self
Write a letter to your future self focusing on your academic and personal goals. Consider the role of writing in achieving these dreams.
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Golden Acts of Kindness
Imagine that you find a pot of gold. Write about how you choose to use it to spread kindness and positivity.
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Embracing Winter Solitude
Reflect on your experiences of spending time alone in winter and how it affects your well-being.
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Letters to Jack Frost
Pretend to write a letter to Jack Frost on the first day of snow, expressing your feelings about his arrival.
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Embrace the Shadows
In an alternate Star Wars Universe, you’ve been drawn to the Dark Side. What was the temptation that led you there?
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Dance of the Dry Leaves
Write a short story about a day in the life of a dry leaf being swept away by the fall wind.
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Brogues and Ballads
Write a toast that incorporates the Irish brogue (accent) and a traditional ballad.
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Designing The Armor
Design your superhero’s costume with utmost detail. What does it look like, what is it made of, and what are its unique properties?
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Thanksgiving Future Predictions
Predict where you’ll be and what you’ll be thankful for by next Thanksgiving.
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Inter-generational Perspective
Imagine experiencing your Thanksgiving family reunion from the perspective of someone two generations older or younger than you.
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Thankful for Each Other
Write a note of gratitude to each of your family members, explaining why you are thankful for them.
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Daily Blessings
Write about the three things you are most grateful for in your current day to day life.
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The Unheard Verse
Your all-time favorite Christmas song has a long-lost verse. What are the lyrics and how do they change the story?
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Letter to your Future Self
Write a letter to your adult self from the perspective of your child-self – what hopes, dreams and worries did you have for your future and how do you view them now?
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Doodling Your Dream
Draw or describe a recurrent dream or a very memorable dream from your childhood.
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Exploring Your Imaginary World
Write about a personal fantasy world you imagined or daydreamed about during your childhood.
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The Ideal Reader
Create a character who is your ideal reader and write a short story targeted specifically at them.
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Letters To The Future
Imagine you’re writing a letter to a future generation, describing the sustainable lifestyle changes you have made.
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Global Crisis – Superhero’s Response
Construct a global crisis scenario and narrate your superhero’s response to it.
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Superhero’s Secret Identity
Explore the reasons behind why your superhero maintains a secret identity.
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Conflict Within the Ranks
Write about a disagreement between members of a superhero team that threatens to dismantle the group.
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Hero of Hometown
Create a superhero whose sole purpose is to protect your hometown.
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Travelers and Locals
Write a fictional story about meeting a local on a summer vacation who altered your perspective on life.
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Terror in the Details
Choose a mundane object and describe it in such meticulous detail that it becomes unsettling or creepy.
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Mystery Of The Haunted Library
Write about a group of young detectives solving a ghostly mystery in their local library.
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Outer Space Adventures
Imagine you’re an astronaut traveling to a mysterious planet. What do you see and who do you meet?
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Bursts of Gratitude
Set a timer for five minutes and write down as many things you’re grateful for within the duration.
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Gratitude Ladder
Jot down ten people or things that you feel grateful for, ranging from the small to large in importance.
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Shift of Perception
Imagine being a shape-shifter, but your transformations are triggered by extreme emotions.
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Midnight in the Cemetery
Create a thrilling tale of an accidental nighttime stroll into a graveyard.
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Dear younger me
Write a letter to your younger self and impart the wisdom you’ve gained over the years.
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Planet’s Voice
You are a planet in a solar system far away from Earth. Narrate your cosmic journey from your creation to the present day.
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Inner Universe Exploration
Pen down about an aspect of your inner self that you rarely show to others.
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Mapping Future Hopes
Focus on the future and compose a list or story of things you look forward to after healing.
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Journey to Self-Care
Compose a list of daily self-care practices you can implement during this difficult time.
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From a Snowflake’s Perspective
Consider life from the viewpoint of a snowflake descending from the cloud-laden sky.
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Whispers of the Wind
Envision yourself stranded in a remote, snow-covered cabin. Describe your experience.
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Rapid Resolution
Identify a problem in your life and describe how you would solve it if time, money, and resources weren’t an issue.