225+ ‘Regret’ Writing Prompts
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Revisiting the Ballroom
Write a story set in an abandoned grand ballroom where a couple had once professed their love.
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Parallel Possibilities
Imagine if a pivotal decision you made in life was made differently – how would your life look now?
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Serendipitous Deception
Write a story where you unintentionally betray someone you care about and the process of making amends.
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Reframing Regrets
Choose a regret that you’re holding on to. Rewrite the story in a way that transforms the regret into a learning opportunity.
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Letters of a Broken Heart
Write a series of letters by a heartbroken protagonist to their estranged lover.
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Unfulfilled Farewells
Write about a character who turns into a zombie without having a chance to say their goodbyes to family and friends.
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Choice of the Undead
Write about a person who willingly decided to become a zombie, believing they’d be part of the inevitable majority, only to find that a cure was discovered soon after.
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Regretted Goodbye
Write about a character who was infected with the zombie virus right after having a heated argument or serious falling out with a loved one.
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The Lovesick Zombie
Write from the perspective of a newly infected individual that had a significant other and reluctantly had to cut ties.
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Decay of Dreams
Write as a character who was on the brink of fulfilling their lifelong dreams when they became infected with the zombie virus.
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Unwriting Valentines
Imagine you are unwriting love letters from a past relationship. What would these unsent letters say?
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Haunting History
Write a story of a group exploring an old mansion only to realize the presence of spirits still clinging to their past lives.
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Unfeeling Justice
Consider a world where AI have taken over law enforcement and judgement. How does this change society and how fair would it be?
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Reframing Regret
Write about a past mistake or regret and reimagine the scenario in a positive light.
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Guilt’s Embrace
Write a piece wherein a character has done something they deeply regret and must grapple with their guilt.
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Disaster Day
Imagine a fictional world where Earth Day represents a pivotal event marking the survival of a major environmental catastrophe.
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Rekindled Old Flames
Create a story about two people who were once in love, but had to part ways due to extreme circumstances, crossing paths again.
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Past Reconnection
Draft a dialogue characterized by old lovers reunite unexpectedly, resurrecting old feelings.
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The Mighty Earthquake
Describe the earth-shattering moment of Christ’s death from the viewpoint of a non-believer.
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Estranged Relationships
Describe a relationship between two characters who have been estranged for a long time.
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Change of Heart
Weave a narrative about a vampire who abhorringly changes his ways after biting an innocent.
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Echoes from the Past
Write about a character who begins to spot signs of a haunting past wherever they go.
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Aztec Warrior’s Heart
Create the diary of a seasoned Aztec warrior preparing for his final battle.
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The Mulligan Moment
Write a story in which the main character is offered a ‘mulligan’, or do-over, for one major life decision.
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The Temporal Love Letter
Your ship can use time travel to send letters, but not people, into the past.
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Destiny Denied
Imagine Hermione decides to use the Time Turner for her personal uses rather than academic.
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The Time-Turner Dilemma
Imagine you have a Time-Turner like Hermione. What past situation would you like to change and how would it affect your present?
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Unfinished Business
Pen a tale about a ghost who cannot find peace until they complete their unfinished business.
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Phantom’s Lament
Imagine a ghost trying to communicate its sorrows and regrets to the living, hoping for the chance of a final redemption.
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Reclaiming Inner Peace
Recall a ghost’s past mistakes and detail its journey towards finding forgiveness from the people it had affected.
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Unseen Connection
Write about someone from their life who cannot see or interact with the ghost now.
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Heartfelt Regrets
What are some things that the ghost didn’t get to do in life or feels regret about?
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Quantum Ghosts
In a world where technology has advanced to harness quantum energy, people start seeing echoes or “ghosts” of their past selves.
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Haunting Memories
Write from a ghost’s perspective as they reminisce on pivotal life events that tether them to the physical realm.
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Captured in Canvas
A portrait in the haunted house, once a beloved family member, is believed to roam the hallways after dark.
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Fading Memoirs
Consider that you are a fading celebrity’s ghostwriter, witnessing firsthand their despair and regret as they review their life through the writing process.
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Twisted Reality
Write a story from the perspective of a villain who enters an alternate dark reality.
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Unintended Consequences
Write a fanfic where a character’s good intentions lead to unintended negative outcomes.
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Past Heartbreaks Unleashed
Write about a character reconnecting with a past love and the feelings that resurface.
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Seeker of the Truth
Create a narrative where a Seeker of Truth tries to reverse the Rite of Tranquility.
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The Fall of a Revered Warrior
Write about the moment Oghren learned of his wife, Branka’s, disappearance and how it changed him.
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Trials and Tribulations
Write an account of the Joining, the solemn ritual of becoming a Grey Warden.
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Interpreting Past Mistakes
Pick a past mistake and write how it could be seen as an opportunity for learning and growth.
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Empathy vs Sympathy
How do you want people to perceive and react to your illness? Do you prefer empathy or sympathy, and why?
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Avoiding Regret
Write about a past decision you regret and describe how you could have approached it differently.
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Revisiting Dreams
Write about a dream or aspiration your loved one never got to fulfill. How would you help them achieve it if you could?
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Regretless Life
Imagine you lived a life without regrets. What would it look like?
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Right a Past Wrong
What is one wrong from your past that you wish you could right? How would you do it?
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Unshared Apologies
Imagine you have the chance to apologize to someone for a past mistake. What would you say?
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Trading Past for Present
Imagine a regret from your past could be traded for an event in your present. What would you change?
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Monetary Regrets
Recall a financial decision you regret and explain why.
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Guilt Dissection
Write about a time when you felt guilty, identifying what caused this guilt and how you addressed it.
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The Art of Forgiveness
Write a letter to yourself about a mistake or regret you have, explaining why you forgive yourself.
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The Compassionate Critic
Write a movie review about an incident you regret. Discuss both the ‘good’ and ‘bad’ scenes.
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Journey to Forgiveness
Write about a situation you regret, but recount it as if you were narrating it about a different person, not yourself.
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Revisiting Past Regrets
Think of a past regret. Write about what happened, how you felt then, and how you feel now.
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Moving Forward with Lessons from Your Past
Write about a past event that, although painful, helped shape you into the person you are today.
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Road to Apology
Consider someone you feel you have wronged and have never apologized to. Write an apology letter to that person.
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Letter to the Past Self
Write a letter to your past self, before you started on your recovery journey.
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Rewriting History
Choose an episode from your past that has contributed to your depression and rewrite it with a different, more positive outcome.
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The Apology Letter
Write an apology letter to someone you feel you may have wronged in the past.
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Release Guilt Letter
Write a letter to yourself forgiving yourself for something that you feel guilty about.
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Forgiving Your Past Self
Write a letter of forgiveness to your past self for a mistake or regret.
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Unsent Letters
Compose an unsent letter to someone who has passed away.
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The Burning Bridge
Write about an emotional burden or regret that you want to let go of. What would your life look like without this weight on your shoulders?
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Waving Goodbye to Guilt
Examine a time when you felt guilty about something and consider what you might do differently now.
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Letter of Apology
Write an apology letter to yourself for a specific event, period of your life or frame of mind for which you blame yourself.