150+ ‘ONCE’ Writing Prompts
-
Essence Extraction
Imagine a procedure to extract the essence of a person before they become a zombie, to be reinserted once a…
-
Once Upon A Dream
Craft a fairytale that begins with the main character waking up from an unusual dream.
-
Superhero Origin Story
Your superhero isn’t born a hero. Write about the pivotal event that transforms them from an ordinary individual to a…
-
French Valentine’s Customs
Write about “une loterie d’amour” – the love lottery, a now extinct French Valentine’s Day tradition.
-
The Fall from Inside
Write from the perspective of a Jedi who becomes disillusioned with the Jedi Order and chooses to leave.
-
Mind-Boggling Mysteries
Write a mini-mystery and then solve it using logical deduction and clues you’ve embedded in the story.
-
Beast’s Transformation
Craft a narrative about a mythical beast who was once a human, now cursed and seeking to return to its…
-
A Special Meal
Write about a meal that is particularly memorable because of the place, the people, or the event that transpired.
-
Nutcracker, the Unseen Hero
Pen a first-person narrative from the Nutcracker’s point of view showcasing the untold trials and triumphs he faces.
-
Kingdom in Decline
Write about a once-grand royal kingdom experiencing decline and is on the brink of collapse.
-
Expedition into the Lost Jungle City
Craft an exploration tale centered around a lost city hidden in the heart of the Amazon rainforest.
-
Once upon a Christmas Eve
Narrate a story of two old friends who become more than just that after they get stranded in a cabin…
-
The Clown of Shadows
Pen down a story about a villain who is a rogue circus clown, with a dark sense of humor.
-
Unmasked not Unchanged
The villain’s identity is revealed but it does not change his evil personality.
-
Beauty in the Beast
Construct a narrative where the villain was once a kind and compassionate individual but was transformed into a monster due…
-
Tragic Tyrant
Pen down a story of a villain who was once a hero, or had the potential to be one, but…
-
Face of the Monster
A vampire, once a considerate human, has to battle with his new monstrous identity against his residual human conscience.
-
Vampire’s Requiem
Narrate a story of a vampire consumed with guilt and longing for the innocence he once possessed.
-
Redemption’s Hunger
Explore the character arc of a vampire seeking redemption and attempting to right the wrongs of their past.
-
Hidden Scandals
Imagine a drama story involving high-status individuals and a series of unknown scandals.
-
Once Upon a Time in a Land Far Away
Create a completely new land and write a tale taking place there.
-
Knight in Tainted Armor
In your story, the villain starts as a hero helping to save the day, but is gradually corrupted and becomes…
-
Road to Redemption
Craft a story revolving around an ex-criminal who stumbles upon his old murder weapon while renovating his house.
-
Transplant Love
You’re an organ about to be transplanted into a patient who has never experienced love. Write about your first encounter…
-
Amnesia in Love
Write about a character who falls in love again with their partner after suffering through an episode of amnesia.
-
The Victim Turned Hero
Create a narrative where a superhero was once a victim of a major catastrophe they couldn’t prevent.
-
Timescape Specter
Picture a ghost that is stuck time-traveling, causing it to exist in multiple timelines at once.
-
Echoes of the Past
Place yourself in the rotting shoes of a former leader figure, now a zombie, surveying the rubble of the city…
-
Puppeteer in Disguise
A powerful entity has been controlling your superhero’s actions for evil, unbeknownst to them. Now they discover the truth.
-
Dual Lives’ Consequence
Your superhero has been leading a dual life. Now their secret identity is on the verge of being exposed. What…
-
Resilient Alienation
After years of protecting the world, suddenly the superhero finds themselves as the enemy, write about their feelings of rejection…
-
Gloomy Asylums
Craft a tale set in an abandoned, eerie-looking asylum that was once a place of suffering.
-
Equinox Adventure
Craft a sci-fi or fantasy story based on the premise of a once-in-a-millennium celestial event happening on the March Equinox.
-
Surviving the Super-War
Describe a war-ridden world where superheroes fighting each other have wreaked havoc.
-
The Echoes of the Past
You’ve just discovered that your mentor and guide in The Force were once involved with the Dark Side. How do…
-
Redemption Song
Detail the path of redemption Darth Vader takes towards the end of his life and how it changes the perception…
-
Golden Years’ Gauntlet
Write about a once all-powerful superhero who grapples with limitations of their fading powers.
-
The Ideal Reader
Create a character who is your ideal reader and write a short story targeted specifically at them.
-
Emotional Payload
Write a fight scene between a superhero and villain who share a deep emotional connection.
-
Celestial Crusader
Draft a tale focusing on a superhero who was once a villain but metamorphosed after an encounter with an alien…
-
The Lone Star
Create a story about a superhero who was once a star, but was supernova’d into a sentient being.
-
Forgotten Legacy
In a grim future where humanity lost its superpowers, write about a child who suddenly manifests unusual abilities.
-
Fallen Heroes
In a post-apocalyptic world, your protagonist is a superhero who has lost their powers.
-
Crisis of Pantheons
Write about a crisis that requires the collective effort of superheroes from different universes.
-
Ghost Town
Animate a whole deserted town with ghosts, each building holding its own spectral inhabitant.
-
Spectral Scribe
Imagine you’re a ghost writer for a deceased celebrity or public figure. Write a memoir as if it is coming…
-
Echoes of the Past
Your protagonist has stumbled across a forgotten graveyard. What emotions or thoughts does this graveyard evoke?
-
Captured in Canvas
A portrait in the haunted house, once a beloved family member, is believed to roam the hallways after dark.
-
Dystopian Invasion
Write an action-packed fanfiction where the protagonist’s world goes through a dystopian transition.
-
Re-Encounter
Imagine that your two favourite characters who were once childhood friends, separate and meet years later under different circumstances.
-
Vaults Below
Detail a dystopian narrative where your main character has to navigate a labyrinthine bunker filled with lost technologies of a…
-
Gallifrey Reborn
What if the Time Lords managed to rebuild Gallifrey and recover the civilisation they once lost?
-
Once Unlikely Friends
Write about two Marvel characters who, in typical storylines, are hardly friends or associates but form an unlikely friendship.
-
The Sword of Mercy
Write about a Dragon Age character who has just received the mythical weapon known as Andraste’s Sword.
-
Messages from Beyond
A message or prophecy is delivered to a character once they step through the Eluvian.
-
The Eluvian’s Secrets
Write about the mystery and secrets that one could possibly find after walking through the Eluvian.
-
Lost Civilization
Construct the narrative of a Chasind exploring the ruins of an ancient Alamarri tribe.
-
Legacy of the Inquisitor
Envision your Inquisitor’s life post the events of Dragon Age: Inquisition.
-
Necessary Shadows
Consider an anime character with a shadowy, mysterious past. Adventure into the narrative arc they could have, explained by their…
-
Fallen City
Imagine a modern city, much like the ones we live in today, but now deserted and empty following an apocalyptic…
-
Specter’s Wrath
Narrate the tale of a once-treasured hero turned vengeful ghost who returns to exact revenge on the kingdom that betrayed…
-
The Once Laughed At Psychic
Write about a character who was once ridiculed for claiming they had psychic abilities, but they become a crucial part…
-
Recipe of Self-Soothing
Figure out your personal recipe for self-soothing and try to make it tangible.
-
Breaking Barriers
Write about a personal barrier or limitation you have recently overcome and how it influenced your personal growth.
-
Belief Evolution
Describe a belief that you once held strongly but have since changed, and explain what led to this transformation.
-
Unrealized Ambitions
Write about a goal or ambition you have always had but haven’t yet accomplished.
-
Philosophical Evolution
Explain a belief or philosophy that you once held strongly but eventually discarded or replaced.
-
The Fork in the Road
Reflect on a life-changing decision you once made, describe its impact and how it has shaped you.
-
Embracing Your Inner Child
Write about a memory from childhood and give their past self an affirmation.
-
A Letter to My Younger Self
Compose a tender letter to your younger self, offering advice, assurances, or words of comfort.
-
Unlocking Hidden Passions
Write about a hobby or activity that you used to love which has been sidelined.
-
The Power of Perspective
Jot down an event where your initial perspective changed after revisiting it later.
-
Defining Core Values
Reflect on and list down at least 5 core values that you think you currently embody.
-
Setting Sights High
Write about your biggest, most daunting goal that you have for yourself in your recovery.
-
The Memory Box
Write about a beloved object or keepsake that connects you strongly to the person you lost.
