Prompts to Get Rid of Writer’s Block – How to Cure Writer’s Block
Writer’s block can be a frustrating experience for anyone looking to express themselves creatively. When the words just won’t flow, writing prompts can be a powerful way to kickstart your creativity and help you get back on track. Below, you’ll find a diverse collection of prompts to get rid of writer’s block, whether you’re working on fiction, non-fiction, poetry, or journaling.
These prompts are tailored to spark new ideas, reignite your passion for writing, and push past mental barriers. Written by a former literary agent who’s helped 400+ authors get literary agents and/or traditional book publishers as an author coach/consultant, this article is part of a guide about How to Overcome Writer’s Block.
General Writing Prompts to Spark Creativity
Sometimes, a broad prompt is all you need to begin writing again. These general prompts can work for any genre or medium, helping you focus your thoughts and ease back into the writing process.
- Write about a moment in your life when everything changed unexpectedly.
- Imagine you wake up in a world where everyone speaks in rhymes—describe a day in your life.
- Write a letter to your future self, detailing your hopes and fears.
- Describe the view from a window in a place you’ve never visited.
- Start with the sentence: “I had never seen such a strange and beautiful place before.”
- Write about a character who finds an old photograph that changes their perception of someone they love.
- Create a story where the main character is given a mysterious key with no explanation.
- Imagine an ordinary object suddenly gains magical properties. How does it change the person who owns it?
Fiction Writing Prompts
If you’re working on a story or novel, these fiction-specific prompts are designed to jumpstart your imagination and inspire new plotlines or characters.
- Your protagonist wakes up to find they’ve swapped bodies with their sworn enemy.
- Write about a small-town rumor that turns out to be true—but with a surprising twist.
- A stranger gives your main character an envelope containing $10,000 and a cryptic note. What happens next?
- Write a scene where two characters who have never met are forced to rely on each other to survive.
- Set a story in a world where everyone is born with a countdown clock that tells them when they’ll meet their soulmate.
- Your character finds a diary that seems to predict the future.
- A group of unlikely friends discovers a portal to another dimension in the local library.
- Write about a secret that has been passed down in your protagonist’s family for generations—and why it must remain hidden.
Non-Fiction and Memoir Prompts
For those working on personal essays or memoirs, these prompts will help you mine your own experiences for inspiration.
- Write about a meal that changed your perspective on life.
- Describe a time when you felt truly out of your comfort zone.
- Reflect on a decision you made that you would never change, no matter the consequences.
- Write about an object you’ve kept for years and why it holds so much meaning for you.
- Think of a person who has had a profound impact on your life—what would you say to them now?
- Describe the most challenging experience you’ve ever faced and how it shaped you.
- Write about a place you visited as a child that still lingers in your memory.
- Revisit a moment of failure and explore what you learned from it.
Poetry Prompts
If poetry is your medium, these prompts will help you find rhythm and meaning in your words, even during a creative slump.
- Write a poem using only sensory details—what can be seen, heard, touched, tasted, and smelled.
- Begin a poem with the line: “The sky was a map of promises.”
- Write about an emotion as if it were a living, breathing person.
- Create a poem that captures the fleeting nature of time.
- Write a haiku about a childhood memory.
- Explore the idea of home—what it means, how it feels, and where it exists.
- Use a single color as inspiration and describe everything it makes you think of.
- Write a poem addressed to a version of yourself from 10 years ago.
Journal Prompts
Journaling can be a therapeutic way to get past writer’s block while exploring your thoughts and emotions. These prompts are perfect for self-reflection.
- What is the most significant lesson you’ve learned in the past year?
- Describe your ideal day from start to finish.
- Write about a dream you’ve had recently and what you think it means.
- Reflect on three things you’re grateful for today and why.
- What is something you’ve been avoiding, and how can you face it?
- Write a letter to someone you’ve lost, saying everything you wish you could have said.
- Explore what makes you feel most alive and why.
- Imagine your life five years from now—what does it look like, and what steps will get you there?
Dialogue Prompts
If your writing involves characters and dialogue, these prompts can help you create dynamic conversations that move your story forward.
- “I can’t believe you kept this from me for so long.”
- “That’s not just a star—it’s a signal.”
- “Why are you so afraid of the truth?”
- “Do you ever think about what would’ve happened if we’d made a different choice?”
- “I swear, it wasn’t me. You have to believe me.”
- “Sometimes the hardest part is letting go of what you thought you wanted.”
- “I don’t need you to save me. I need you to trust me.”
- “It’s not stealing if it was mine to begin with.”
Prompts for Specific Genres
Fantasy Prompts
- Write about a kingdom where dreams are currency.
- Your protagonist discovers they are the last of an ancient magical bloodline.
- A forbidden spell accidentally merges two worlds into one.
- A mythical creature becomes your character’s unlikely ally.
Science Fiction Prompts
- Write about a world where memories can be bought and sold.
- A malfunctioning AI begins to develop a moral code of its own.
- Humans have colonized Mars, but something is awakening beneath the surface.
- Time travel exists, but it comes at an unexpected cost.
Romance Prompts
- Two strangers meet during a flight delay and fall in love over the course of a single evening.
- Write about a couple who reconnects years after a bitter breakup.
- A love story unfolds through letters found in a forgotten attic.
- Your protagonist is matched with their perfect soulmate—but they despise each other.
Unconventional Prompts
Sometimes, the most effective prompts are the ones that break the mold. These unconventional prompts challenge your creativity in unexpected ways.
- Open the nearest book to page 43 and use the first sentence as the opening line of your story.
- Write a scene from the perspective of an inanimate object.
- Imagine a world where gravity works in reverse—how does this change everyday life?
- Create a story where the main character wakes up with a completely different identity.
- Write a piece inspired by your favorite song lyric.
Conclusion – Writing Prompts for Writer’s Block
These prompts are designed to help you push through writer’s block and rediscover the joy of writing. By exploring a variety of genres, themes, and perspectives, you’ll open the door to new creative possibilities. Whether you’re working on fiction, poetry, or non-fiction, these ideas can provide the spark you need to keep writing. Remember, writer’s block is just a temporary obstacle—your creativity is always within reach.
Now that you’ve read “Prompts to Get Rid of Writer’s Block,” click here to read “5 AI Prompts to Get Rid of Writer’s Block.”
Writer’s Block Help – The Bestselling Author, LLC
This guide about How to Conquer Writer’s Block was created by The Bestselling Author, LLC, a coaching and consulting company established in 2011 that’s helped 400+ writers get literary agents and/or traditional publishers. Mark Malatesta, the founder, is a former: literary agent, literary agency owner, AAR member, and Marketing & Licensing Manager for the gift and book publisher Blue Mountain Arts.
Writers Mark has worked with include Scott LeRette, author of The Unbreakable Boy, published by Thomas Nelson and now a major motion picture by Lionsgate starring Patricia Heaton, Zachary Levi, and Amy Acker; Nelson Johnson, author of Boardwalk Empire, which Martin Scorsese produced for HBO; and Leslie Lehr, author of A Boob’s Life, which is being adapted for an HBO Max TV series by Salma Hayek. Click here for Mark Malatesta reviews by authors Mark has worked with, and publishing industry professionals.
