258+ ‘Familiar’ Writing Prompts
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Stellar December Holidays
Describe how you would celebrate a traditional December holiday, like Christmas or Hanukkah, onboard a spaceship.
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Winter’s Canvas
You wake up one morning to find your small town completely blanketed in snow overnight. Write about this transformation and how it changes your perception.
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Cursed Childhood
A cursed object from your protagonist’s childhood resurfaces bringing doom and despair.
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Last Breath Recordings
Imagine you find an old tape recorder that only plays the last dying breaths of people; some are familiar.
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Dreadful Doppelganger
Write about a character who is haunted by their exact replica, who starts altering their life in horrifying ways.
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Shadows in the Playground
Write a story where a playground by day turns into the playground of the undead by night.
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Santa’s Helpers
Write a tale from the perspective of an elf working in Santa’s Workshop.
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Treats and Eats
Write a short story about a trip to a bakery using as many new descriptive words as you can.
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The Groundhog’s Snore
Write a story about how Punxsutawney Phil’s loud snores scared away his own shadow.
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Vanished Specter
Touch upon a ghost who has suddenly and mysteriously disappeared, leaving behind a puzzled human familiar.
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Scattered Snapshots
Create a story on finding a box of unnamed photographs revealing an intriguing mystery from your past.
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Elves After Christmas
Narrate the story of Christmas elves during their off-season, when it’s not Christmas.
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Timeless Tales in Technicolor
Take a classic folklore and reimagine it in a technologically advanced world.
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Enchanting School
What if your school was enchanted, and every classroom was a magical subject? Describe your average day.
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The Night the Toys Came Alive
Imagine that one night, all your toys came alive. What would they do and say?
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Tales from the Toy Chest
Choose a familiar fairy tale and rewrite it from the perspective of an inanimate object.
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Shadow City
Write about an urban landscape where shadows come to life at night and hold their own secret society.
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Lent Through the Eyes of a Non-Follower
Envision you are explaining the concept of Lent to someone who is not familiar with it.
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The Talking Pet Adventure
Your pet begins to talk one day and leads you on an unexpected adventure. Write about this journey.
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Superpowers in Disguise
Imagine if your teacher secretly had superpowers. Write a story about how they use these powers in their everyday life.
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A Trip Down Memory Lane
Recall a remarkable family trip and expound on the unforgettable experiences.
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Dazzling Space Adventure
Describe a journey through space, based on a picture of various celestial bodies – galaxies, stars, planets etc.
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The Unfamiliar Familiar
Imagine waking up with no memory of your life and having to navigate your day in your own home.
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Masterchef at Home
Step by step, explain a recipe of your favourite dish and describe why you love it.
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Cyber Superhero
Create a superhero whose power is internet-based, and narrate a story where they save the day.
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Flash of Anomaly
Devise a storyline around a world that seems normal at first, but then an event happens that makes the protagonist and the readers question reality.
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The Familiar Stranger
In a small town, a local is found murdered and the prime suspect is a stranger who swears he’s never visited, despite residents remembering him clearly.
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Remembered Melodies
Write about a found music box or a familiar tune, that triggers a wave of memories bringing both comfort and despair.
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Winter’s Soft Blanket
Write about the transformation of a familiar landscape under a heavy snowfall.
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“Pet’s Adventure”
What kind of adventure would your pet go on if they could have a day out all by themselves?
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Space-Camp Letter
Pretend you’re a first-grader attending a science-oriented space camp on Mars. Write a letter home, detailing your exciting experiences and observations.
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Folklore and Legends
Choose a folklore or legend from a foreign culture that fascinates you, and narrate it in your words.
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Pot O’Gold Mission
Suppose a human has discovered your leprechaun’s gold. Write about the mission to retrieve it.
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Enter the Mundane
Describe an ordinary, seemingly uninspiring setting — like a laundromat, a grocery store, or a bus station — in such a way that it becomes extraordinary.
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Absence of Reflections
In a world where everyone can see their reflections, your primary character discovers one day they no longer have one.
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The Christmas Spirit Realm
What if the Christmas Spirit isn’t just an idea, but a whole magical world? Write a narrative about your journey there.
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Midnight Disturbances
Your character wakes at midnight each night, to a strange and ominous sound coming from within their house.
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The Sinister Playground
Detail an event where a familiar playground transforms into a nightmarish landscape at dusk.
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Unpacking a Genre
Choose a music genre you don’t typically enjoy, and try to fathom why others might like it.
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Forgotten Homework Rescue
You left your homework at home. What creative solution do you use to convince the teacher you really did it?
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Stuck in a Book
You wake up one day to find yourself in the world of your favorite book. Describe your journey.
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Creepy Children’s Nursery Rhyme
Use a harmless nursery rhyme as inspiration for a bone-chilling horror story.
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The “Prince Charming” Misconception
Compose a humorous account where the traditional ‘Prince Charming’ is in fact, a couch potato who is neither brave nor particularly charming.
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Hitchcock Halloween
Compose a suspenseful scene that builds on the horror of the everyday as inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho.
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Return and Resolution
Pen a gripping scene where your hero returns home transformed, sharing the fruits of their journey.
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Crossing the Threshold
Describe your hero’s initial leap into the greater world beyond their comfort zone.
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Future Fables
Imagine a classic Aesop’s fable like The Tortoise and the Hare or The Lion and the Mouse is happening in the far future.
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Tiny Tim’s Perspective
Retell a memorable event or moment from A Christmas Carol, from Tiny Tim’s perspective.
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Dictionary Dive
Choose a random page in the dictionary and write a short story that utilizes five words from that page.
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Hidden Door in the School
Narrate an adventure where you and your friends discover a hidden door in your school, leading to an enigmatic place.
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From a Bird’s Eye View
Imagine you are a bird returning to a familiar area for spring. Write about your experiences.
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Snapshot of Changes
Describe a location you are familiar with, and reimagine it in 50 years considering the decline or growth of biodiversity.
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School Night Magic
Imagine that the school comes alive after hours. What kind of mischief or adventure takes place?
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Ship of Discovery
Imagine you were the captain of a 15th century exploration vessel setting sail to unknown lands.
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Harry Potter Goes to Pokémon School
Imagine a scenario where Harry Potter, instead of going to Hogwarts, is sent to a Pokémon training school.
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Journey to Platform Nine and Three Quarters
Envision Harry Potter’s first journey to Platform Nine and Three Quarters from Privet Drive.
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The Rejected Letter
Write a letter from one of the Hogwarts house ghosts to a student who didn’t get accepted.
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Whomping Willow Adventure
Create a short story around a dangerous, mythical object or creature you encounter on a seemingly normal day.