Prompts are like maps. They don’t dictate where you go — they just get you on the road. Some will take you a block from home. Some will lead you halfway across the country. The trick is to start walking. And because we’re The Collective Pen, I’m not just giving you prompts to keep to yourself. This is an open invitation to share your responses, swap feedback, and maybe even find a writing buddy. So, kettle on. Timer ready. Let’s get stuck in.
There’s a rumour that prompts are only for beginners. Rubbish. Prompts are the weights in the gym, the warm-up before a marathon, the coffee before… well, more coffee. Whether you’re brand new to writing or you’ve got more manuscripts under the bed than shoes in your cupboard, prompts keep the creative muscles limber.
The best part? They can lead you somewhere you never expected — a short scene that grows into a novella, a scrap of dialogue that becomes your next poem, a blog post that sparks an entire series.
And because we’re The Collective Pen, I’m not just giving you prompts to keep to yourself. This is an open invitation to share your responses, swap feedback, and maybe even find a writing buddy. So, kettle on. Timer ready. Let’s get stuck in.
Here are my top three prompts for each Genre.
Fiction – General
- A letter arrives at the wrong address. Opening it changes everything.
- A group of strangers is stranded overnight in a Queensland country pub during a flood.
- Your main character’s favourite place in the world is about to be demolished.
Crime & Mystery
- The victim’s alibi is identical to the detective’s.
- A body washes up on the Sunshine Coast with no ID — only a cryptic note.
- The crime scene has been staged to look like a famous painting.
Romance
- Two people meet at a Moreton Bay ferry terminal — one is leaving forever, the other is begging them to stay.
- A love letter found in a library book leads to an unexpected romance.
- A couple agrees to break up at midnight on New Year’s Eve. Something changes at 11:58pm.
Historical
- Your character receives a diary from an ancestor. The last entry is dated tomorrow.
- A lighthouse keeper in 1890 discovers a strange glowing object washed ashore.
- The story of a WWI nurse told entirely through letters she never posted.
Speculative / Fantasy
- The sun hasn’t risen for thirty days. People are starting to change.
- A child finds a key that opens any door — but only once.
- In a small Queensland town, the tide goes out one morning and never returns.
Horror / Thriller
- Footsteps follow your character everywhere — but only when they’re alone.
- Every mirror in the house reflects a slightly different version of the character.
- A voicemail arrives from the future — and it’s a warning.
Memoir & Life Writing
- Write about the moment you realised a family tradition had a darker origin.
- Describe the soundscape of your childhood home.
- Write a letter to your younger self, but you can only give one piece of advice.
Poetry
- Capture the feeling of a summer storm in six lines.
- Write about the last time you held someone’s hand without thinking about it.
- A poem shaped like the object it describes.
Blog / Opinion Writing
- “Five Things I Wish I’d Known Before…” (finish the sentence for your field)
- Write a rebuttal to a popular opinion in your niche.
- Tell a story that explains your core belief — without ever stating it outright.
Flash Fiction (Under 500 Words)
- Your character wakes up to find tomorrow’s newspaper on their doorstep.
- An argument between two inanimate objects in the same room.
- A child’s imaginary friend comes to life — and they’re not friendly.
For the Brave (Mix-and-Match Prompts)
Take one from any two genres above and mash them together.
- Historical romance in post-apocalyptic Queensland.
- Memoir told as speculative fiction.
- Poetry written in the form of police interview transcripts.
How to Make the Most of These Prompts
- Set a Timer – 15 minutes, no editing. You’ll be surprised by what you can produce.
- Switch the POV – If it’s “I,” try “he/she/they.” If it’s third person, switch to first.
- Flip the Tone – Turn a horror idea into comedy or a romance into a tragedy.
- Share with Someone – Don’t just close the notebook. Share it on the Scribbly Facebook Page, in a writing group, or with a trusted beta reader.
Final Word:
Prompts are like maps. They don’t dictate where you go — they just get you on the road. Some will take you a block from home. Some will lead you halfway across the country. The trick is to start walking.
☕ If this list got your fingers moving, you can buy me a coffee at buymeacoffee.com/scribblyteam. Keeps the prompts coming and the ideas flowing.