TV-Inspired Writing Prompts

Writing prompts from your television set

I’ve always had mixed feelings about television. It’s a bit disturbing when people spend all their free waking hours staring at a screen with their brains turned off and a glazed look on their faces. And television is unreliable as a source of information. I’ve found that many of the news shows and documentaries that air on commercial television stations are full of factual errors and misinformation. These days, we all need to double check the facts (and sources) before repeating what we hear on TV.

On the other hand, there are some great shows that have graced television screens in the past century.

I often think about how my favorite books, movies, and TV shows can influence my own writing. For example, I’ve recently named a few of my characters after TV actors. I’ve observed non-linear storytelling on television and thought about how I could translate that to a novel. I’ve even made it a point to study television show dialogue (TV writers have a knack for good dialogue).

All in all, I’ve found that if you’re selective about your viewing habits and thoughtful about how much time you give the old boob tube, television can actually be an excellent source of inspiration. Therefore, all of today’s writing prompts are inspired by TV shows.

Writing Prompts from Television

For these writing prompts, I tried to cover a variety of decades and genres. Each prompt includes a brief overview of one television show plus a few writing prompts and ideas that come directly from the show.

Because of the nature of television, these prompts are perfect for fiction writing and storytelling, but feel free to use them to write whatever you want — poems, blog posts, or essays. You can even write a review of one of these TV shows (make sure you watch all the episodes first!).

• Star Trek boldly went where no one had gone before, to the far reaches of outer space. Set your story somewhere in deep space. Or write about a group of adventurers (in any time or place) intent on discovery and exploration. Star Trek also emphasized logic and rational thinking balanced by compassion and humanism. These ideals were embodied in the characters of Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock. Try creating characters that embody specific philosophic ideals.
• Happy Days was a classic show about family, friendship, and growing up. From its sock-hop theme song to all the characters telling each other to “sit on it,” Happy Days captured the culture of the 50s and imparted coming-of-age lessons to its audience. Write about an iconic time period. Mix friends, family, and outcasts together in a ensemble of characters for your story. Develop catchy bits of dialogue and original expressions that belong to your tale.
• What a great premise for a serialized TV show: every week, guests visited Fantasy Island to live out their dreams. I don’t think we ever learned where the island got its magic or how Mr. Roarke and Tattoo came to live there and run the place. Write a concept for a series (novels, books, or movies) in which characters’ greatest fantasies or worst nightmares are realized. Focus on world building and explaining how this mysterious fantasy fulfillment works by developing an origin story. Or, write a poem about wish fulfillment.
• Twin Peaks is a cult classic, a mystery show about the murder of a teenage girl that had everyone asking, “Who killed Laura Palmer?” This dark story was colored with bizarre symbols and dream sequences contrasted against intensely ordinary characters living in a small town. The show featured a haunting score and a deeply disturbing conclusion. Everyone has a dark side and we are all subject to evil. Face your own dark side by writing something mysterious, terrifying, and horrific — but believable (in other words, not supernatural or paranormal). Look for ways to embellish your piece with bizarre surrealism through hallucinations and dream sequences.
• Friends was one of the most successful shows in television history. It seemed like everyone in the country watched must-see TV on Thursday nights for Friends’ entire run. Stories about friendship have always been a hit when they are cast with lovable and relatable characters in a distinct setting. These New Yorkers were in their late twenties, navigating friendship, their love lives, and New York City (a premise we’ve seen in many stories). Write about friendship and group dynamics. Put your characters in a real but vivid setting. Establish their age group and think about the types of issues they would be facing. What are their goals? Struggles? What challenges affect their group dynamics?
• I had to save the best for last. LOST is the ultimate adventure — a story about a group of survivors living on a mysterious island after their plane crashes. They must learn to survive and live together. They have to remember and let go. LOST was considered a breakthrough show because it felt like a movie, with sweeping cinematography and an original, live-recorded score. Mysteries and puzzles abounded and every time the show answered one question, we got ten new questions to puzzle over. The show’s unique format included non-linear storytelling through flashbacks, flashforwards, and flashsideways. LOST was also deeply philosophical. But for all of its experimentalism, the characters always came first. Think about how you can use non-linear storytelling in a story or poem. Develop a setting that has magical and mysterious qualities and functions as a character. Plant lots of classic literary symbols, pop culture references, and just plain confusing twists in your story. Go ahead and get LOST in your writing!

Do you watch a lot of TV? What are your favorite shows? Has television ever inspired you? Do you love stories, whether they are told on film or paper? Did any of these writing prompts spark ideas? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment.

Writing Prompts for the Young at Heart

Writing prompts that ignite your youthful imagination

Stories and poems for children are among the most magical and delightful written works in the literary canon.

Children’s literature has a universal appeal; the phenomenal international popularity of the Harry Potter books and movies is a testament to the power of children’s stories.

But there plenty of other works that affirm the longevity of children’s literature: nursery rhymes, fairy tales, and classics such as Where the Wild Things Are, Goodnight Moon, The Giving Tree, and everything Dr. Suess ever wrote.

Most of us writers first fell in love with the written word when we were children. Stories carried us on fantastical adventures. Words danced and soared through our imaginations. Many of us never grew out of the poems and stories that we first cherished. We continue to enjoy them, and we pass them on to our children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

Today’s writing prompts celebrate children’s literature and pay tribute to the young and the young at heart.

Writing Prompts

These writing prompts are filled with childlike wonder. Use them to write a poem, a story, or anything else that comes to mind.

Mythological Creatures

Dragons, unicorns, fairies, and mermaids. Trolls, goblins, and things that go bump in the night. Lore, legend, and myth are heavily populated with mythological beasts and creatures.

Maybe a character in your story discovers and befriends a legendary creature. Or maybe one of these creatures is the main character in your story. Better yet, invent a mythological creature of your own.

Magic Portals

Alice went down the rabbit hole and found herself in Wonderland. Lucy stepped through the wardrobe and into Narnia. Wendy, John, and Michael were sprinkled with pixie dust, which enabled them to fly off to Neverland. All great adventures begin somewhere, and some of the best stories start out in the ordinary world and then take readers through a portal to a fantastically magical place.

How do your characters get from one world to another? Create your own magic portal, and then, if the mood strikes, build the fantastical world beyond. 

Silly Nonsense

The nonsense of writers like Dr. Suess and Shel Silverstein are a wonder to behold. What is it about their stories and poems that delight children? Much of their work defies logic and is purely nonsensical. But it is riddled with wondrous images and language that rolls off the tongue like music.

Forget about the laws of physics and the rules of the real world. Write a bit of silly nonsense in prose or verse. Fill it with unusual but mesmerizing characters and images and try to make it rhyme!

Loving Lessons

Children’s literature is often full of simple, useful lessons. But presenting a lesson without sounding preachy, whiny, or nagging is anything but easy. These stories have to be fun and intriguing, and the best lessons are not immediately obvious.

Think of a lesson or value that you’d like to impart to children, then build a story around it. Better yet, just write a story for children and see if holds a message within it. 

Sing-a-Long

Nursery rhymes like “Hey Diddle Diddle” and ”Ring Around the Rosie” have captivated children for centuries. They are often nonsensical and always easy to remember and fun to sing.

Write a nursery rhyme from scratch — if you get stuck, use an existing nursery rhyme for your rhythm and meter, and then make up new words for it.  

Some tips for these writing prompts:

• Children’s writing uses simple language and made-up words.
• Nothing speaks to children like bright, vivid images and lively characters.
• Use rhyme and other musical devices with words that are fun to say.

Do you still read children’s poems and stories? Do you remember the ones you loved best as a child? Have you ever tried writing for kids? Do these writing prompts inspire you? Share your thoughts in the comments, and keep on writing!

Event-Inspired Writing Prompts

Writing prompts inspired by real events

Nonfiction writers are obviously inspired by the real world, but fiction writers and poets also take inspiration from real people and events.

Wars, scandals, scientific advances, and famous figures in history have all been represented in every form of writing.

Works of fiction that resonate best with readers contain a kind of truth, a reflection of our own real experiences. That’s why looking to the events of history for story ideas is a great way to inspire a writing session. And of course, poetry takes inspiration from everything in the universe. While personal experiences may be more popular sources of inspiration, some incredible poems have been triggered by real events throughout history.  

Today’s writing prompts come from major events of the 21st century. These prompts are for writing inspiration only and are not meant to be a comprehensive list of big events from the 1900s. They were chosen at random for their potential for igniting creative writing ideas.

Writing Prompts

You can use these writing prompts to write anything you want — a poem, a short story, a blog post, or a journal entry. The idea is to find the prompt that speaks to you and then just start writing.

Prohibition and the Great Depression

In a country that rants and raves about freedom, the government decides that its people should not be allowed to drink liquor. The Great Depression filled the space between Prohibition (which was still in effect during the Depression) and World War II. Well-to-do people lost everything and found themselves standing in food lines. Ordinary people went to extraordinary measures to get a few bucks. Meanwhile, someone, somewhere profited.

World War II

WWII gave rise to the great generation (and they in turn gave birth to baby boomers). It was a vicious war and most believe it was a righteous war (for the Allies). It gave us models for villains in Hitler and Mussoloni. It gave us patriotism and the atomic bomb.

Entertainment: Hollywood, radio, television

The entertainment industry boomed in the 20th century. Technology moved entertainment from something you paid to go see in a theatre or other public setting to something you could enjoy from the comfort of your home. Black and white silent films evolved into technicolor talkies. What in the world will we think of next?

Spaceships, Planes, and Men on the Moon

We started out traveling around on foot. Then some clever neanderthal invented the wheel. Now, we soar through the skies and tear through space. We’ve even landed men on the moon! Invention doesn’t stop here. Next stop: Mars.

1960s: Civil Rights, Woodstock, Protests

What happens when a nation’s people are divided? What happens when people are oppressed? What happens when ordinary kids suddenly decide they don’t want to grow up and live just like their parents? Mix in the fact that there’s a war nobody understands and most people don’t believe in. Add a few drugs, flowers, and peace signs and you’ve got the sixties, complete with hippies. What cultural movement will sprout up next?

Assassinations: Ghandi, Martin Luther King, JFK, John Lennon

Sometimes it seems like the bad guys never get what’s coming to them, especially when heroes like these are taken down by madmen, political or religious zealots, revenge seekers, and whomever else you think was behind it all.

Good luck with these writing prompts! Have fun and don’t forget to come back and tell us how they worked for you.

Got any writing prompts of your own to share or add to this list? Leave a comment.

Winter-Inspired Writing Prompts

Writing prompts for a wintery day or night

Writers and artists have always been inspired by the seasons. Winter, spring, summer, and fall have functioned as metaphors, backdrops, and even characters in literature.

Like all artists, writers are constantly hunting for inspiration. But inspiration is fleeting. Sometimes, we need a little help.

When inspiration isn’t coming from within us, all we need to do is look out the window or step outside, where nature offers an abundance of ideas.

That’s where these writing prompts come in. These prompts are designed to generate imagery that will inspire a writing session. Use these writing prompts to create a poem, a short story, or just spend about twenty minutes freewriting.

Writing Prompts

You can use these writing prompts to write anything you want. Change them or mix them up. Choose the prompts that seem most vivid to you. Just have fun with them.

1. The sky is laden with dark clouds and the land is buried under a blanket of pale, gray snow. The ground, the streams, and the lakes are frozen and the whole world is eerily quiet and still. It’s the perfect day for . . .
2. You have decided that this year, you’re going to take up a winter sport. Now that winter is here, you . . .
3. There’s an old man out on the lake. He’s sitting in a rickety wooden chair and fishing through a hole in the ice. A loud cracking suddenly reverberates and he feels the ice shift beneath him. He scurries, but the hole expands too quickly and he goes into the icy water before he can get away. What happens next?
4. It’s the season of snowmen and sleigh rides. Children are out galavanting on snowy slopes and making snow angels in their backyards. One little boy longs to join them, but he cannot, so he watches from his lonely upstairs window. (Why can’t he go play outside?)
5. It’s the end of the fall semester and two college students are tackling an unusual project. They’re building an igloo. First, they choose an isolated spot on the crest of a small mountain that borders the university town in which they live. Then, they start digging. It’s freezing cold and the work is tough. They’re exhausted. But they are awakened and warmed with excitement when they dig up something unexpected  . . .

Do you ever use writing prompts to initiate your writing sessions? Have you found them useful? Do you have any writing prompts of your own to share? Leave a comment!