258+ ‘Familiar’ Writing Prompts
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The Lighter Side of Deadpool
Create a parody of a renowned superhero by exaggerating their personality traits or powers.
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Festival Melting Pot
Describe a traditional festival or celebration from your culture you would want to share with your classmates.
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The Cost of Urbanization
Describe a city you know well, focusing on its environmental issues related to urbanization.
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Fairy’s Flight
Write about the world and its marvels from the perspective of a tiny fairy who has just learned to fly.
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Home Away From Home
Imagine you’re an evacuated child in the World War era, living in a stranger’s home away from your parents. Describe…
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Unfinished Lines
Write a story where one of the sweethearts moved away during childhood and they reconnect in their adulthood.
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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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Snowbound Serenity
Create a descriptive piece around the tranquil experience of looking out the window on a snowy morning.
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Santa’s Unexpected Visit
Imagine catching a glance of Santa Claus from your window on a cold Christmas night.
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Comfort in Childhood Sounds
Recall sounds from your childhood that evoke comfort and warmth, and incorporate them into your inner sanctuary.
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Reality Altered
Imagine waking up in the same place but a different time, how will your normal routine be affected?
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The Inner Monologue
Write about your thoughts during a usual school day, from morning until you go to bed.
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The Hidden Borough
Imagine a hidden borough in your city which can only be accessed through a magical portal.
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The Shifted Reality
Imagine a story where the protagonist wakes up one day in a reality subtly different from theirs.
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A Christmas Reunion
Write about an old friend or relative who surprisingly turns up at your Christmas dinner after years of absence.
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The Shadow’s Screams
Describe a recognizable, everyday sound that suddenly becomes terrifying in a different context.
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Transforming Genres
Choose a iconic piece of fiction and rewrite the synopsis for it in a completely different genre.
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Cybernetic Dystopia
Write a fictional account about living in a dystopian society dominated by advanced technology and corporate power.
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The Disappearing Snack Mystery
Write about how a favorite snack disappears from the class cabinet every day.
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Haunting Hunger
Be a zombie, your next meal is in sight but it’s more familiar than you thought. How does the last…
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Loner’s Journey
The superhero is cut-off from their support system, friends, and allies, write about their journey of surviving alienation, and possibly,…
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Story World
Write about a favorite story that gets transported into the real world. What changes occur in your surroundings and how…
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A Different Perspective
Tell the Star Wars saga from Darth Vader’s point of view, showcasing the story from his unique perspective.
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The Apparition in the Attic
Imagine returning to your childhood home and being confronted by a terrifying apparition.
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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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Alien Yuletide Encounter
A curious alien entity visits Earth for the first time and experiences the unique phenomenon of Christmas firsthand.
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Alien School Trip
Imagine you’re an alien visiting Earth for a field trip. Write about your experiences and impressions.
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Interstellar Voyage
Imagine you’re an astronaut sent on a voyage to colonize a habitable planet in another galaxy. Write about the journey’s…
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Mocking Mirrors
Describe a day in an alternate universe where everything is the polar opposite of our universe.
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The Grit Between
Write a piece that communicates the feeling of having salt or sand in a shoe, using it as a metaphor…
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Life Through Other Eyes
Imagine and describe a typical day in your life told from the perspective of a household object.
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Yuletide Myths Unraveled
Write about a lesser-known Christmas folklore or myth and discuss the value it adds to the festive season.
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Discovering New Academic Territories
Choose an area of study you know little or nothing about and spend some time researching it. Write about your…
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Fantastical News Headlines
Write a news report on an event from a myth, fairy tale, or well-known story as though it happened today.
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Intertwining Realities
Write a piece that blends a contemporary setting with elements of a famous novel or play.
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The Outbound Migration
Write about watching birds flying south for the winter and relate it to your own instance of leaving home or…
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The Extraordinary School
Envision an unusual school where magical things happen. Write a story about a day at this school.
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Guardians of the Secret Realm
Create a story where safeguarding an enchanted realm and its inhabitants rests in the hands of a select few.
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Cryptic Coma
A protagonist awakes from a long coma, only to discover that he/she can now see the spirits of those who…
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Unwanted Move
Write a story about a child whose family is moving and they must say goodbye to their hometown.
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A Taste of Excitement
Write about a moment when you felt extremely excited. What sparked this feeling?
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Post-Apocalyptic Cartographer
Describe a journey through the forsaken world, mapping the new landscapes.
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Underneath the Prairie Sky
Write a letter from the perspective of a homesteader on the prairie to their family back home.
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“No-Shave November’s Curious Case”
Write about an investigator who uses the change in men’s faces during No-Shave November to crack a case.
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Lunar New Year Traditions
Write about your experiences or perceptions of Lunar New Year practices if you are familiar, or research and fictionalize a…
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Nighttime Nature Walk
Narrate a nocturnal walk through a local nature site, paying particular attention to contrasting sights, sounds, and feelings.
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Mysterious Mascot
Suppose your school mascot costume has been stolen just before the big game. Write about how you and your group…
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Titan of the Seas
Write a story about a recently retired S.W.A.T. officer who witnesses a murder on the world’s largest cruise ship, and…
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Hidden Evils
Journey through a tale where ordinary items are randomly imbued with malevolent sentient spirits.
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Nature’s Choir
Imagine being an early morning bird in spring, responsible for starting the ‘dawn chorus.’
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Warmth of Indoor Retreat
Describe the warmth and coziness of being indoors on a chilly November night. Write about the sense of contentment this…
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Spectral Familiar
Create a narrative in which an individual, mourning a dearly departed loved one, starts seeing their spirit manifested in a…
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Blink of Reality
Write a story in which a ubiquitous object suddenly gains a magical property, affecting the daily lives of everyone.
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The Witch’s Familiar
You are a magical creature who serves as a familiar to a notorious witch, describe a typical day in your…
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Discovered Destiny
Luke’s early life on Tattooine is uprooted when he finds R2D2’s hidden message. Write about a pivotal moment that set…
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Interrupted Story Arcs
Choose a narrative that deviates from the traditional plot structure, analyzing how it changes the impact on the reader.
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Once Upon a Pride
In this alternative universe, retell a classic fairy tale that features an LGBTQ+ character in the lead role.
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The Familiar Fright
Pen a story where something as mundane as a piece of furniture or a household item holds a horrifying secret.
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Hospital Holdup
Your main character is trapped in a hospital during a lockdown. Something’s not right, and they have to escape to…
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White Elephant Adventure
Write about an interactive version of the White Elephant gift exchange that involves a series of challenges or quests.
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The Door That Wasn’t There
A door appears in your character’s house that wasn’t there before. It doesn’t lead anywhere they’re familiar with.
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Crossing Over
Write a story where a character from a classic fairy tale ends up in a different fairy tale than their…
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First Contact
An interstellar explorer makes the first contact with a highly intelligent alien civilization.
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Bug’s-Eye View
Write from the perspective of a bug. Describe the world as you see it and the adventures you have.
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Parallel Existence
Create a scenario where your protagonist suddenly finds themselves transitioning into a parallel universe where everything is seemingly the same,…
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Shapes Of The City
Sketch an urban landscape using only basic shapes, then describe how each shape contributes to the city.
