Prompts for Writing Short Stories
Give me a short story prompt in the [genre, e.g. "literary fiction" or "mystery"] genre, under [word count, e.g. "2000"] words. Include one genuine constraint -- a specific required object, an unusual point of view, or a strict scenario detail -- not just a general theme to interpret on my own without direction.
A short story prompt needs a specific genre and one genuine constraint to be immediately usable — a bare “write a short story” request tends to return an abstract theme that’s harder to start from than no prompt at all.
What this produces
A specific short story prompt with a named genre, a concrete constraint, and a target word count — built to get you writing immediately rather than leaving you to interpret an abstract theme.
Variations
Two ready-to-copy versions for different constraint types.
Give me a short story prompt in the [genre, e.g. “literary fiction” or “science fiction”] genre, under [word count, e.g. “2000”] words. The story must involve [a specific object, described concretely, e.g. “a broken pocket watch”] in a meaningful way — not just as background detail or set dressing.
Give me a short story prompt in the [genre] genre, under [word count] words, told from [an unusual point of view, e.g. “the perspective of a minor character” or “second person”]. Include a specific scenario and setting, not just a general theme to explore.
Related: try Prompts for Scary Stories or What Is a Prompt for Writing for a different angle on this.
FAQ
What makes a constraint “good” versus arbitrary?
A good constraint forces a specific creative choice — a required object or an unusual POV changes how the story has to be told, rather than just adding a random rule with no effect on the writing.
Can I ask for a prompt in a genre I don’t normally write?
Yes — naming an unfamiliar genre is a good way to stretch your writing; ask for the prompt to include a brief note on that genre’s typical conventions if you want guidance.
Should I follow the prompt exactly?
Treat it as a starting point — deviating once you’re actually writing is completely normal and often improves the story.
