Brainstorming Prompts
Day 1
List 3 problems in society. How might they be fixed? What new problems might arise from fixing them?
Day 2
Describe the physical appearance of 3 characters. Make them as distinct and interesting as possible.
Day 3
Pick a country you've never been to. Research the climate, culture, architecture, and natural features. Write a 300 word travel guide.
Day 4
Browse TV Tropes. Find 3 tropes that interest you, then outline a story that encompasses them all.
Day 5
List 3 things that everyone should learn as they become an adult. Then write a character who learned none of them.
Day 6
Write 7 positive and 7 negative character traits. Then choose one of each to create 7 unique characters.
Day 7
Select 3 cards from a tarot deck: past, present, and future. Outline a story based on the cards.
Day 8
List 10 professions. Pick 2 and make them into characters, then write a scene with them.
Day 9
Write a 300 word synopsis of a book you know well. Rewrite the synopsis with the same structure, changing the details.
Day 10
Go to a public place and observe 3 people. Write a short description of each, including their appearance, expression, and behaviour.
Day 11
List 5 situations a character might resent. How might they lash out? What reasons do they have to stay?
Day 12
Write 3 things you believe about friendship. How might your story represent or challenge those beliefs?
Day 13
Pick 3 animals. Create a character based on each one.
Day 14
Describe your protagonist from 3 perspectives: a stranger, a close friend, and someone who hates their guts.
Day 15
Describe 3 locations that might be in your story. Make them as distinct and interesting as possible.
Day 16
List 5 common tropes in your genre. How might you subvert these tropes?
Day 17
Write 3 things about the nature of evil. Then write about a good person who disagrees.
Day 18
Describe 3 strengths and 3 weaknesses of a character. How might you show off their strengths? How might their weaknesses cause problems?
Day 19
Describe a room where an action scene might take place. Consider what tools and obstacles might be available.
Day 20
Write 3 things you believe about love. Write a paragraph from the perspective of a character that disagrees on every point.
Day 22
List 3 things that cause loss or grief. Write characters that have experienced each, and then write a group therapy scene.
Day 23
Draw a family tree for 3 different characters. Consider how the relationships (or lack thereof) affected each character's upbringing.
Day 24
What is the climate like in your setting? Describe the different seasons. What do people wear to cope with the weather?
Day 25
Describe the animals of your setting. How might they interact with your characters, or cause problems?
Day 26
Who are the authority figures in your story? How do they enforce their will, and how might they cause problems for your protagonist?
Day 27
What is your antagonist's goal? Write 3 steps they might take to reach it, and 3 ways your protagonist might stand in the way.
Day 28
What is your protagonist's goal? Describe 3 steps they might take to reach it, and 3 things that might stand in their way.
Day 29
Pick two characters who are not romantically involved and send them on a date.
Day 30
What is the theme of your story? Write the theme as a single sentence, then write a paragraph outlining how the theme will be explored.
Day 31
Build an outline: list the events that will happen in your story.