182+ ‘Sound’ Writing Prompts
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The Final Transmission
Write about a character’s last moments in a spacecraft before a critical malfunction.
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The Clash of the Ash
Compose a poem about the beauty and excitement of a Hurling match, focusing on the sound of the hurleys (sticks), known as ‘the clash of the ash’.
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Nurture and Nature
Write about a time when you found healing in nature, or imagine a place in nature where you could bring your heart back to wholeness.
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The Melodious Malefactor
Create a villain whose signature style is deeply tied to a particular piece of music or collection of sounds.
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Sorrow of the Undead
Write about a vampire who begins to experience regret for the things he can never have – a normal life, a family, growing old.
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Diving Deep into Language
Imagine creating a new language for an underwater civilization that includes non-auditory forms of communication.
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Harmony in Sounds
Explore memories related to music or sounds from your childhood that made you feel comfortable and safe.
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The March of Time
Craft a narrative centered around a pocket watch that ticks louder as something ominous approaches.
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The Shadow’s Screams
Describe a recognizable, everyday sound that suddenly becomes terrifying in a different context.
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The Unseen Face
Craft a riveting story about a detective who must solve a case with only the sound of the suspect’s voice as a clue.
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The Sound of Crisp Leaves
Write about hearing the sounds that define fall for you, whether it be leaves crunching underfoot or a rush of a cool wind.
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Elvish Enchantment
Imagine living for a day as an elf and write about the magical experiences you encounter.
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Framing December
Create a descriptive scene capturing a moment of warmth in your home during December.
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Whispers in the White
Describe a scene in a snow-covered landscape punctuated only by the sound of snowfall.
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Overwhelming Silence
Create a story set in a world where all sound suddenly disappears, and convey how your characters navigate through this silence.
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Understanding the Alphabet
Take one letter from the alphabet and describe what it looks like, sounds like, and how it feels to write it.
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A Day in Green
Describe the most memorable St. Patrick’s Day parade you attended or would like to attend.
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Spring’s Melody
Narrate a tale where the sounds of spring serve as a backdrop or even play a character.
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Zombie Deterrence Tactics
Describe unique solutions your characters invent to repel or evade zombies.
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Springtime Symphony
Craft a sensory-rich story about waking up to the first warm, sunny day of spring.
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Celestial Symphony
Write about the emotions you would feel if you could listen to the sounds of the universe.
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Seasonal Sensorium
Write about the smells, sounds, tastes, textures, and sights that you associate with each season.
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Change of Command
Imagine being the principal of your school for a day. Write about the reforms you would initiate and the responsibilities that follow.
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Forbidden Feast
Imagine a character experiencing a sensual, metaphorical feast in a forbidden place.
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“Who Am I?”
Draft and present a speech introducing yourself to an audience who knows nothing about you.
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Crafting Perfect Paragraphs
Write a paragraph describing a meal that you recently had, in a way that stimulates all the senses.
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Frozen Solitude
Describe a scene where you are completely alone in a snowscape, focusing on sensory details.
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Menu Creation
Make a menu for your own dream restaurant; describe the dishes, the layout and style of your restaurant.
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The Sound of Colors
Write a poem about your favorite color, but instead of focusing on how it looks, write about how it sounds, feels, or even tastes.
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The Silence after the End
Describe a post-apocalyptic world where the absence of sound has become the defining feature.
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Frost’s First Touch
Imagine waking up to the first frost of November. Describe this scene in detail.
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Springtime Symphony
Imagine and write about what it would be like if springtime’s natural events were set to music.
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Songwriter for a Day
Imagine if you were a songwriter and had to craft a hit song about your life. What would it sound like?
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Sounds of the Seasons
Write a short paragraph on how each season (spring, summer, autumn, and winter) would sound if they were songs.
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Soundtrack for a Season
If you were to compose a soundtrack for your current life season, what would it sound like?
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The Sounds of Spring
Pick a particular sound that is bountiful in May-such as singing birds, buzzing bees or rustling leaves. Explain how this sound affects you.
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Whispers of the Wind
Calm your mind and listen closely to the sound of summer breezes in your garden, penning a story or a poem guided by those whispers.
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Duck, Dodge, and Dance
Write about a staid dodgeball game that suddenly turns into a spontaneous dance competition.
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The Snow Creature
As you walk through a snowstorm, you see a shadow looming up ahead. What creature do you encounter and how do you interact with it?
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“The Seasons Song”
Describe your favorite season using all your senses. What does it look, feel, sound, and smell like?
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Auditory Appetites
Imagine how food might taste if you could hear it. Describe three different foods and their hypothetical sounds.
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Personification of the Seasons
Imagine each season – winter, spring, summer, and fall – as a person. Describe them in detail.
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Nature’s Orchestra
If each natural element (water, soil, air, fire) had its own song, how would each song sound and what story would it tell?
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Raindrops on My Windowpane
Write a self-reflective piece inspired by the view of a rainy day in March from your window.
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Understanding Homophones
Use a homophone in a sentence and then explain the different meanings it can have.
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Banshee Wail
Your protagonist hears the wail of a Banshee – an omen of death in Irish folklore. How does he/she react?
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Eerie Silence
Write about the unsettling calmness in the first hours before the zombie apocalypse erupts.
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Mozart’s Unheard Masterpiece
You’ve uncovered a lost score written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. What does it sound like, and how does it change the world of music?
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Embracing the Autumn Essence
Compile a list of things engrained in November that you’re grateful for.
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The Joy of Easter Meal
Write a sensory-rich description of preparing and/or enjoying a traditional Easter meal.
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Melody of the Falling Leaves
Write a short story imagining that the falling leaves are playing their own kind of music.
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The Magic Word
Write a poem about a word that sounds magical to you, and describe why it’s enchanting.
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Legally Sound Revenge
Craft a case against a famous literary villain, using their own fictional actions as evidence.
