210+ ‘Lens’ Writing Prompts
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The Alpha Zombie
Write about a “survival-of-the-fittest” zombie society, driven by an Alpha zombie who leads and dictates the zombies’ actions.
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Romantic Bollywood
Explore the impact of Valentine’s Day in India, with a special focus on its reflection through Bollywood films.
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Dreamland Autobiography
Write an autobiography detailing the dream you remember best, and delve into the emotions it stirred.
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Science Fiction Societies
Create a futuristic society and discuss how its inhabitants would tackle a societal issue we face today.
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Storybook Letter Exchange
Choose two characters from your favorite book and write a conversation between them.
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The Missing Mascot
In your narrative, bring to life a story about a school mascot that mysteriously disappears on the eve of a big game.
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Understanding Poetry’s Role
Reflect on why you think poetry is essential and how it contributes to our understanding of the world.
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Romantic Rituals of Machines
Imagine a world where machines have emotions, then write a story about how robots celebrate Valentine’s Day.
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Parade Perspective
Write about observing the St. Patrick’s Day Parade from two different vantage points.
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Contemporary Resurrection
What would the resurrection of Jesus look like if it took place in the present day?
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Changing Seasons
Draft a letter to a friend or loved one discussing how season transitions, specifically autumn, impact your emotions and daily routine.
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Holiday Travellers
Describe a scenario of late-night travelers as viewed from your window on a cold Christmas night.
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Reconstructing Reality
Draft a story about a life-changing event but from an outsider’s perspective.
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Family Evolution
Write about the transitions and transformations your family has undergone through different generations.
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Time Cops
Your protagonist is part of a special task force that goes back in time to prevent crimes that have yet to happen.
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Territory & Fear
Develop a short story around a group of animals dealing with a common threat to their territory.
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Star Of Bethlehem
Write a fictional narrative from the perspective of the Star of Bethlehem on Christmas day.
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The Gratitude List
Create a detailed list of things, people and experiences you’re grateful for currently.
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The Portrait of Resilience
Write a character portrait of yourself in a time of pain that accentuates your strength and resilience.
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Species Swap
Write a story where the roles of animals and humans are switched, and animals are running everything.
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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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Heroes Behind the Lens
Craft a story about a superhero who maintains his low profile as a wildlife photographer.
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The Ancient Shape-Shifter
Tell the story of an ancient shape-shifter who has witnessed thousands of years of history.
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Feasting on Friendship
Describe a perfect “Galentine’s Day” meal, relishing in the delicacies of friendship and shared experiences.
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Rewrite History
Choose a historical event and reimagine it with a speculative element, such as alien intervention or time travel.
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Grace of Gratitude
Write about why you are grateful for your past failures and how they will guide your future goals.
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Harvest of Experience
Recapitulate your experiences, accomplishments, and setbacks as seen through the lens of harvest season.
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Robot Reindeer Rebellion
The AI-powered reindeer pulling Santa’s sleigh have gone rogue on Christmas Eve. Detail the chaos and the resolution.
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Plant Communication
Research the ways plants communicate with each other and write a fictionalized account of a ‘conversation’ between two plants.
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The Dictator’s Diary
Imagine you’re the dictator of a country and write a diary entry recounting your day.
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Love Letters from the Front
Describe a romantic relationship sustained through letters while one partner is away at war.
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Realistic Relationships
Explore a personal relationship with all its complexities, realistically detailing its progress over time.
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Surrealist Dreams
Write a narrative about a dream you once had – emphasize the ambiguous and irrational elements.
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Pivot Point of Gratefulness
Write about a challenging circumstance or event that you were initially upset about, but later became thankful for.
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Shifted Identity
Immerse yourself in the mindset of a character with a completely different background and life experiences from your own.
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Vivid Vacation Memories
Write a detailed account of your most memorable vacation, bringing the destination to life through your words.
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Granny’s Kitchen Diaries
Compose a biographical sketch of your grandmother through the lens of her kitchen.
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Crimson Sonnet
Write a tale about a vampire who sees his eternal life through the lens of poetic beauty.
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The Turning Point
Write about a moment in your life that felt like a significant turning point, making you thankful.
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Under a Cultural Lens
Choose a unique or particular cultural practice from around the world and express your thoughts on it.
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Lens of Life
Create a story centered around a photo of a spring landscape that elicits strong emotions in you.
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Reminiscing May
Recollect a significant event that happened in your life during the month of May in a previous year.
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Last Dance with Summer
Conjure an imaginary scenario where Summer is a person you can interact with, and share the final moments before their departure.
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City of Color
Mardi Gras is the epitome of vibrant color. Detail a day experienced solely through the lens of color.
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Lunar Diary Entry
Imagine you’re an astronaut observing the March full moon from space. Write a diary entry detailing your view and experiences.
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Ordinary Charms
Create a character who has the power to animate inanimate objects. Give life to mundane items he/she interacts with every day.
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Invisible Letters
Imagine finding a box of hidden love letters from different time periods in your attic, and describe how each letter depicts the tale of love therein.
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Gender Lens
Analyze a work of literature from the perspective of gender, exploring roles, stereotypes, or biases.
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Adaptation Lens
Choose a book that has been adapted into a movie or a TV series and share your opinion on how well the adaptation was executed.
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Characters that Resonate
Choose a character from one of the best books you read this year who you strongly identify with. Write about why you connect with this character and what you learned from their journey.
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Emerging Darkness
What will happen if your fairy tale is recast in a darker genre? Write a dark version of a fairy tale.
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Dream Childhood Book
Choose a favorite book from your childhood and recreate its story from another character’s perspective.
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Mythological Creatures’ Daily Struggle
Chronicle a day in the life of a mythological creature trying to survive in a world that doesn’t believe in their existence.
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Rethinking Classic Fairy Tales
Revise a popular fairy tale through lens of a present-day moral or social issue.
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Messages in the Raindrops
Imagine a world where raindrop patterns held cryptic messages — and you’re the only one who can decode them in March.
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Haunted Hanna-Barbera
Imagine a world where all the lovable Hanna-Barbera characters like Scooby Doo and the Flintstones exist, but in a twisted, nightmarish version.
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Urban Myth Reimagined
Create an engaging story based on a local urban myth or legend, set in contemporary times.
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From the Opposite Lens
Write a day in the life of an average citizen living during a major historical event.
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Historic Role Reversal
Choose a famous historical event and flip the roles of the key figures. What changes? How does it impact the event and its aftermath?
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Escape via the Underground Railroad
Imagine you are a slave trying to escape via the Underground Railroad.
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Claims to the Kingdom
Choose a historic era or event, and write your own fairy tale set during this time.
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Humbled Hercules
Craft a narrative where instead of a muscular demi-god, Hercules is a frail, geeky boy dealing with his twelve Herculean tasks.
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Dinosaur-ruled Democracy
Instead of humans, the dinosaurs developed intelligence and created their own societies based on democratic principles.
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Knights of the Round Turntable
King Arthur and his knights are widely known for their courage, chivalry, and… disarming DJ skills? Delve into a world where music battles replaced sword fights in Medieval England.
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Crossing Paths with Characters
Pen a review of a book focusing on the personalities and traits of the book’s key characters.
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A Day with Tree Friends
One day you wake up and discover you can talk to trees. How different is your day now?
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Through the Lens of an Ant
Imagine an ordinary man suddenly waking up as an ant and experiencing the world from this tinier, but captivating perspective.
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Transatlantic Letters
Craft a series of letters between an Irish immigrant in America and a loved one left behind in Ireland.
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A Day in the Life of a Sandwich
Assume the role of your favorite sandwich. Detail a day in your life from the sandwich’s perspective.
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Veins of History
Write about a vampire who has lived through some of human history’s pivotal moments.
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Unnoticed Beauty
Describe something beautiful you’ve seen today that you typically wouldn’t have paid attention to.
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Humans Through Elven Eyes
Describe the human world through the eyes of an elf visiting for the first time.
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The Multiverse’s Embrace
Imagine a society where the inhabitants are cognizant of being just one reality within an infinite multiverse.
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Legally Sound Revenge
Craft a case against a famous literary villain, using their own fictional actions as evidence.
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The Diary of Emotions
Describing a day through the lens of your feelings, relating each event with an emotion.
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Nostalgic Lens
Write about a visit to your grandparents’ house when you were younger, emphasizing the atmosphere and tiny details.
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Childhood Epiphanies
Reflect on a significant realization or moment of learning you experienced as a child.
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Lights and Shadows of Your City
Write a detailed account of your city, including its beauty, issues, and the unnoticed corners.
