1995+ ‘Past’ Writing Prompts
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Prodigal’s Hidden Resolve
Walk in the shoes of a seemingly weak character returning to a place of great personal pain or trauma, only…
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Disaster Survival
Write a story about surviving a natural disaster from your past, but add a fantastical element to it.
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Truth or Dare
Create a story built around a childhood game of ‘truth or dare’ that leaves a lasting impact on the characters.
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Echoes of the Past
Write a contemporary story where a protagonist discovers their lineage linked to the Trail of Tears.
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Traveling Back to the Past
If you could travel back in time, where in history would you go, who would you meet, and what would…
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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…
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Travels Past, Future, and Present
Reflect on where you’ve been, where you are, and where you hope to go.
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Lessons Learnt
Write about your greatest lesson from the past year and how it will influence your decisions in the new year.
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Post-Human Identity
Craft a story where humans have evolved and integrated so extensively with technology, that pre-digital humans are considered a different…
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Time-Traveling Poet
Turn your past pain into future strength with a reflective letter to your future self.
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Seal Of Memories
Conjure a tale where a superhero physically locks away their traumatic memories to cope.
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Unwanted Superpower
Write about a superhero who views their superpower as a curse due to a traumatic event.
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Haunted Protector
Write a story in which a superhero is haunted by a traumatic incident from their past.
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Love Letters Unsent
Imagine finding an unsent love letter that you wrote in the past. Describe the person it was intended for and…
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Remnants of a Ruthless Regime
Write a character who used to be a part of a terrifying dystopian government and still bears scars, both physical…
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Treaded Eternity
Design a story where deceased souls must time travel to atone for their sins in life before they can pass…
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Chrono-Apparition
Think of a story where a group of ghost friends go on time-traveling adventures to witness history’s greatest mysteries unfold.
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Phantom of the Past
Write about a ghost that travels back in time to prevent its living past self from making a disastrous decision.
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The Archivist
A super-powered historian travels through time, chronicling the unrecorded lives of ordinary people.
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The Time Machine Breakdown
You’re stuck in the past due to a time machine malfunction. Your only way back is to convince someone from…
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Accentuate the Positive
Write about a time-traveller who uses his power to spread positivity by preventing negative events from happening in the past.
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Stepping Into Famous Shoes
You’ve just time-traveled and wake up as a famous figure from the past. Who are you and what could your…
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Reshape History
You are offered an opportunity to witness a historical event firsthand. What event would it be and why?
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Past Lives, Future Adventures
Write a story where you wake up 100 years in the past. How do you adjust to life without modern…
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Temporal Healing
Write about a protagonist who travels back in time to fix a regretful moment in their past.
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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…
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Across The Time Rift
Create a story where a time-traveler falls deeply in love with a woman from the past, despite the temporal rift…
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The Forgotten Memory
You suddenly recall a forgotten childhood memory which reveals a shocking truth.
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Soldier of Fortune
Craft a story about an ex-military operative turned treasure hunter, who stumbles upon an artifact that puts them in the…
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The Unopened Letter
An old, unread letter arrives postmarked from many years ago, setting off a sequence of puzzling events.
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Mystery of the Lost Heirloom
Write a story around a precious family heirloom that suddenly goes missing.
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Time-Travel Paradigm
If you could travel back in time and change one event from your past, what would it be and why?
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Time-Travelling Explorer
Imagine if you had a time machine; what era or historical event would you like to witness? Write about your…
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Mindful Manifestations
Pen down a real or imaginative scenario where you accomplished a personal goal and describe the journey and the feelings…
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Unseen Witness
You’re a zombie, endlessly wandering through destroyed remnants of civilization, a silent observer of poignantly human scenes.
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Echoes of the Past
Place yourself in the rotting shoes of a former leader figure, now a zombie, surveying the rubble of the city…
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Robbed Redemption
Imagine a villain who tries to redeem himself, but his past actions prevent others from accepting this change.
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Reincarnation Review
Imagine being able to remember every single past life, describe your journey through the eras.
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The Shattered Reflection
Write about a superhero who discovers their doppelgänger, forcing them to reevaluate their values and purpose.
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Puppeteer in Disguise
A powerful entity has been controlling your superhero’s actions for evil, unbeknownst to them. Now they discover the truth.
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Back to Civilian
Narrate a story about a superhero who retired and returned to a normal civilian life.
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Forgotten Past
The superhero’s past before they discovered their powers, their relationships, their passions and dreams.
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The Reluctant Mentor
Children suddenly start developing superpowers. A recluse old superhero gets dragged into becoming their mentor.
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Fashioned from History
Design a costume for your superhero that is closely tied with their historical or cultural heritage.
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Birth of a Symbol
Write about your superhero realizing the significance of their emblem or symbol on their costume.
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Gratitude in Grief
Write a letter of gratitude to your past love for the growth experienced through your heartbreak.
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The Guilt Trip
Feature a villain who feels guilty about their past actions and struggles to seek forgiveness.
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Gratitude and Memory
Write about a past event that you didn’t necessarily appreciate at the time, but now with perspective, feel grateful for…
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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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Hidden Kingdoms
Write about a secret royal lineage hidden within a seemingly ordinary family. How is this extraordinary truth revealed?
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Tool of Tackling Writer’s Block
Describe personal experiences where writing prompts have helped overcome writer’s block.
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Authentic Self-Reflection
Recall a moment in your life when you felt you were not being your genuine self.
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Echoes of the Past: Jedi’s Legacy
Write a story about a character who discovers an ancient Jedi artifact that belongs to their ancestors.
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Preserving Humanity
In the midst of a zombie apocalypse, write about a group of survivors who make efforts to preserve art, culture,…
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The Humanity Behind the Mask
Analyze the persona and real life of a superhero, and the influences that drive their actions.
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Behind the Mask
Write a backstory for a comic villain, exploring their journey to becoming the antagonist.
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Release, Renew, Repeat
Create a ritual of release for something you’ve been clinging onto from your past.
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Forgiveness Festivities
List the people who you feel have wronged you over the past year, and write a letter of forgiveness to…
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Releasing Regrets
Write about one regret you have from the past year, and then draft a plan for letting it go.
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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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Kaleidoscopic Sunset
Describe a sunset so vivid and alluring that it feels like it’s casting a spell on the protagonist.
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A Villain’s Redemption
Write about a well-drawn villain who feels a genuine remorse for their actions and desires redemption.
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Remember It All
Create a character who has the superpower of perfect recall, never forgetting any detail.
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Time Traveling Mind
Imagine a superhuman who could insert their consciousness into past versions of themselves.
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Christmas Time Machine
Imagine you have a time machine and you can spend the Christmas day at any point in history.
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Gift From Santa’s Sack
Describe a gift you received from Santa Claus as a child that still holds a significant place in your heart.…
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Christmas Day Wonder
Write about the magical moment when you first experienced a White Christmas, detailing your emotions, thought process, and interactions with…
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Sands of Time
Imagine a beach bonfire that has the mystical power to show the past or future. Write a story revolving around…
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Curing the Apocalypse
Write a narrative about a potential cure being found after years of survival.
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The Power of Kindness
Describe an instance when a simple act of kindness made a significant impact on your life.
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Honesty vs. Consequence
Write about a time when you had to make a difficult decision between telling the truth and facing the consequences,…
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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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Gratitude in Hard Times
Write about a challenging experience in your life and specify certain aspects of that period that you’re grateful for.