252+ ‘Nostalgia’ Writing Prompts
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Yearning for the Past
Narrate the sentiment of longing for the lost civilization through the perspective of a character.
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Last Standing Structures
Depict the known landmarks or monuments and how they still stand in your narrated post-apocalypse world.
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Fallen Leaves, Fallen Moments
Chronicle the most significant memory that comes to you under an October night.
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Elementary School Encounters
Narrate an incident from elementary school that you still remember vividly.
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Hidden Time Capsule Conundrum
Craft a narrative where a time capsule, meant to be opened after a decade, mysteriously goes missing before the long-awaited day arrives.
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Haunted Heirloom
Create a story around an ancestral item that is haunted by a disgruntled ancestral spirit.
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A Child’s Yuletide
Relive Christmas as a child: the overwhelming anticipation, the joy of unwrapping presents, and the wonder of Christmas stories.
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From Rags to Quilts
Write a story about a particular piece of fabric that finds its way into a quilt.
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Nostalgia Trip
Create a narrative about a memorable trip from the past, wishfully reimagined in 2020’s context.
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Gone with the Snowflakes
Create a narrative about an old man watching the year’s first snowfall from his window and reminiscing over his lost love.
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Snow-Painted Memories
Experiment with a narrative where memory is represented as snow – covering everything with an ethereal beauty.
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Christmas Memories from Childhood
Write a detailed story about a specific Christmas from your past, allowing yourself to become immersed in the fond memories.
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Feasting Eyes on Decorations
Write about a neighborhood’s Christmas decorations as seen from your window on a cold Christmas night.
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Robot Horse Roundup
In a dystopian future where the old West is a theme park filled with robotic animals, narrate the tale of an ageing cowboy taming a rebellious robot horse for a big rodeo event.
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Window Imprint
You see a child’s handprint on your frosty cottage window. Who is the child and what is their story?
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Haunted by Humanity
Craft a story about a vampire who struggles with the moral implications of their immortal existence.
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Ancient Vampire’s Artifact Hunt
Write a story about a centuries-old vampire who goes on an adventure to find a long-lost artifact.
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Lost Love Rediscovery
Re-encounter an old love and describe how you both have changed since your relationship.
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Romantic Restoration
Write a story in which the main character finds an old, discarded Valentine’s Day card and restores it to give to their loved one.
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Ode to a Bygone Valentine
Craft an adventure tale about a character who discovers an old Valentine’s Day tradition and tries to bring it back.
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Faded Photographs
Write about a character stumbling upon old photographs, triggering memories of an event that significantly impacted their life.
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Love Letter Proposal
Craft a proposal to your sweetheart; but the catch, the whole proposal should be through an old-school love letter.
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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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Twilight Reunion
Pen a tale about a long-awaited meeting between two individuals during a particularly breathtaking sunset.
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A Way Back Into Time
Imagine your character has the ability to travel back in time to a period and place, where and when will that be and why.
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Time-Travelling Souvenirs
Describe an object you’ve collected from your travels and imagine what it would say if it could narrate its own journey.
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Candy Corn Chronicles
Write about the classic Halloween tradition through the eyes of a piece of candy corn.
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Colorful Kitchen Stories
Recall your experience making or eating a multicolored meal for National Jelly Bean Day.
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Nature’s Sweetest Gift
Write an account of a time you indulged in a honey-inspired meal for National Honey Day which is celebrated in April.
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Embellishing The Hearth
Describe a specific holiday decoration in your home in December and explore how it adds to the warmth of your home.
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Pre-Winter Traditions
Recall or create a family or cultural tradition that signifies the arrival of winter.
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The Forgotten Sidekick
Write about a former sidekick who decides to start anew, leaving behind their superhero career.
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Artifact from Another Era
Describe a day in the life of a character who stumbles upon an artifact from a bygone era.
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Surprise Reunion
Write about two high school friends who reunite after many years and discover romantic feelings for each other.
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December Night Symphony
Describe the unique sounds that fill a December night and how they make you feel.
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Thankful Throwback
Recall a past event or person that brought immense joy and express your gratitude towards that.
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Behind the Lyric
Choose a single line from a Christmas song and embellish its meaning in a multi-paragraph story.
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Comfort Closeness
Craft a tale around an old, cherished sweater and what it means to the protagonist.
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Letter to Past Self
Compose a letter to your younger self, imparting advice and reflections on the journey so far.
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Guitar Strings & Fallen Leaves
Write a story where a forgotten autumn melody found in an old songbook brings about significant change in the protagonist’s life.
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Hot Chocolate Memories
Recount a memorable or significant moment from the past when you enjoyed a cup of hot chocolate.
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Forgotten Love Story
Tell the story of an elderly person recalling a tragic love story on Valentine’s Day from their youth.
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First Love’s Reunion
Write about two people who were the first loves of each other’s lives, meeting again on Valentine’s Day after many years apart.
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The Vernal Letters
Write about two old lovers who find themselves through letters they wrote to each other one spring.
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Decade in Review
Dedicate a piece of writing on the decade past, reminiscing the notable experiences and transformations.
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Nostalgic Reverie
Write a heartfelt letter to yourself, describing your most favourite childhood hobby.
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Holiday Recipes
Write about a particular recipe or dish your loved one used to make during the holidays.
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A Love Unforgotten
Describe an elderly character who realizes they still have feelings for their first love.
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Walk Down Your Old Street
Describe your childhood neighborhood and the feelings it stirs in you today.
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Jingle All The Way Back to Past
You are sent back in time to the filming of a classic Christmas movie. What happens, and how does it change the movie?
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Fall Traditions
Recount your most cherished fall traditions and explain why they are significant to you.
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A Taste of Nostalgia
Write about a specific food or dish that transports you back to your childhood.
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Reverence of the Hearth
Write a detailed narrative about a quiet winter evening spent by the hearth, basking in the glow of the fire.
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Future Life Recollection
Write a story from the perspective of an elderly person reflecting on a life yet to happen.
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Posthumous Memoirs
Write a story from the perspective of a ghost, documenting their observations and experiences in the world after death.
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Forgotten Memories of Civilization
The character stumbles upon remnants of a once thriving city. What memories do these remnants trigger and what story unfolds from there?
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Snapshot Symphony
Compose a story inspired by a personal family photograph. What are the emotions and situations depicted?
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Long Lost Letters
Discover a trove of letters from your younger self. What do they say, and how do they make you feel?
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Winter Traditions
Narrate your favorite winter traditions and how they have shaped your experience of the season.
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Echoes of A Forgotten Party
The mansion was renowned for its grand soirées once, but now the grand ballroom remains eerily quiet.
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Lost Traditions
Write about a cherished family tradition from your childhood summers that are no longer practiced.
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Moody Weather Musings
Elaborate on the changing weather patterns and the influence they hold on your mood.
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Library Discovery
Write about your first memory inside a library. Describe what it looked like, smelled like, and how it made you feel.
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Carousel of Time
Narrate a story about a seemingly normal carousel that spins in the reverse direction, taking its riders back in time.
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Uncloseted Memories
Pick a piece of clothing from your spring wardrobe that holds a specific memory and write about it.
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The Love Letter Never Sent
Craft a monologue in form of a love letter that will never be sent, full of heartfelt confessions, unrequited love, and heartbreaking nostalgia.
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Resurgence of the Lost Squad
Base your story on an old, long-forgotten military squad suddenly resurfacing to enact a plot of revenge.
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Nostalgic Flavor
Write about a meal or a particular food that takes you back to a specific moment in your past.
