Want to write, but don’t know where to start?
Dive into the archive of StoryADay writing prompts and write today, not ‘some day’!

The Prompts

Write A Story In 30 Minutes
This prompt is a great one for the first day because this is a day when you’re probably the most excited about the challenge and
[Write On Wednesday] StoryADay May Warmup
Today I encourage you to write a warm-up story today, and invite you to join the StoryADay Superstars The Prompt
Day 4 – Tell A Story In 40 Minutes
Sometimes limits can be good… The Prompt Set A Timer For 40 Minutes, Write A Story Spend 10 minutes brainstorming and starting the story, 20

2019 Day 2 – Set A Timer
How did you get on yesterday? Did you write a story? Remember, set your own rules, and stick to them. If you miss a day,

[Writing Prompt] First Person POV
You’ve done it! You’ve made it to the end of the first week! I hope you’ve met or come close to your goals. But if
[Writing Prompt] Cross Dressing
Today (and by the way, Day 25?! You’re still turning up and giving this a shot on Day 25? You amaze me!)…ahem. As I was
[Writing Prompt] Ageism
Today we’re going to take a look at a character from the perspective of age. The Prompt Write About A Character In A Different Age
[Write On Wednesday] Inner Thoughts
Prompt: Write a story in the present tense from a limited third person perspective
[Writing Prompt] First Person Story
For the next few days we’re going to be concentrating on point of view. Sometimes it’s tempting to write all our stories in the same
[Writing Prompt] Third Person, Limited
So did you all have fun with Second Person yesterday? Today we’re focusing on a perspective that you’ve likely had more practice with. The Prompt


[Daily Prompt] May 4 – May The Fourth Be With You
Sorry, but give the sheer weight of all the Star Wars Lego in my house these days, I couldn’t resist. Write A Story Featuring An

[Daily Prompt] May 9 – Moonlight
Today’s prompt comes from a line in an Edna St. Vincent Millay sonnet (from The Harp Weavers) “…a broken dart / of moonlight…splintered on the

[Daily Prompt] – May 11 – Little Red Riding Hood
Today I’m recycling an idea from last year’s StoryADay because it was so much fun: Re-Write The Story Of Little Red Riding Hood If you
[Writing Prompt] Fanfic
Yet more stealing! After stealing from actors on Friday and songrwiters yesterday, today I’m just going to advocate just plain old ripping off your favourite
[Writing Prompt] Guest Prompt from Debbie Ridpath Ohi
Today’s prompt is from writer, illustrator and all-round good egg Debbie Ridpath Ohi, who shares one of her Daily Doodles with us today to help
May 6 – Ripped From The Headlines
The Prompt Steal a story from another source, and use it as inspiration Tips Great places to look for stories like this include: News sites.

[Writing Prompt] Guest Prompt from Cat Lumb
Today we have a guest prompt from aspiring-to-be-published writer and StoryADay participant, Cat Lumb. Thanks, Cat! The Prompt Your character wants to find the source
[Writing Prompt] Guest Prompt from Neil Gaiman
Welcome To StoryADay May 2014! To kick off our 5th Year of writing a StoryADay in May, I have a special treat for you: a
[Guest Prompt] Therese Walsh – Magnetic Words
THERESE WALSH is the author of The Moon Sisters and the cofounder of Writer Unboxed. She lives in upstate New York with her husband and
[Guest Prompt] Mary Robinette Kowal
The Prompt Work the words vermillion and musky somewhere in the next 250 words you write. Mary Robinette Kowal is the author of the GLAMOURIST
[Guest Prompt] Angela Ackerman – Shame
The Prompt Shame is a powerful emotion, and one of the most wounding experiences a character can face. Write a story where your character does
[Guest Prompt] Heidi Durrow – Passions
[Ooo, I’m particularly excited about this one. This is a challenging prompt but one that should yield some great stories, since character and conflict are

[Write on Wednesday] Tell a Story Backwards
This week I’m encouraging you to flip the order of your story to help you think differently about the storytelling process. The Prompt Start your

Day 20- Down The Rabbit Hole by Gabrielle Johansen
Write a ‘hermit crab’ story, a story written in the form of someone’s browser history

Day 18 – Overheard and Understood by Julie Duffy
today’s writing prompt invites you to write a short story in an unusual format: an overheard conversation

Day 21- Chat to the Future by Julie Duffy
Your character writes a letter to their future self, in today’s StoryADay writing prompt
