One by one, even the most experienced writers have fallen victim to it. As you stare at a blank screen, you fear it’s your turn. No matter how hard you wrack your brain, the pages remain blank—you’ve contracted writer’s block.
The horror!
But fear not: we’re here to save you with the power of some neat tools that are only possible thanks to today’s digital technology. Check out some of the best writing prompt generators listed below!
Writing Prompt Generators
Writing prompts are story starters and topics that can help jumpstart your writing process. They can range from simple sentences to a few paragraphs.
They can be expanded and run in any direction you want. The only real rule is that you incorporate the prompt into your work. They’re perfect for any writer, whatever their extent of experience, genre, or style.
1. Squibler
Squibler has a simple and distraction-free interface. You simply need to click on the button to generate a prompt. Don’t like it? Feel free to keep clicking until you find one you like.
If you like pressure when you’re writing, you can try its dangerous mode. What’s different is it’ll delete everything you’ve written so far if you stop writing for a few seconds.
You can adjust how much time you’ll need to write each prompt, or how many words you need to write before the website closes of your workspace. You can download whatever you’ve written into a word document.
2. Random First Line Generator
The first line of a story can hook a reader or turn them away. That’s what this site is all about. It’ll generate a first-line suitable for a story that you need to expand on.
If even with the prompt, you still feel stuck, the site also has some random generators for names, dialogue, places, and more. Mixing and matching all of these random information can make it more fun or more challenging for you. Whatever works to get out of writer’s block, right?
3. Spring Hole
Spring Hole is an all-around website for writers. It provides tips, advice, and exercises that can be helpful for any writer.
Don’t be put off by their simplistic interface and look because the site packs a punch. They have a ton of writing generators that range from the specific to the general. Some of their generators focus on names, backstory and origin, location, plot, and more.
With all of those choices, its pretty easy to have fun building your story details. If you’re not sure where to start, you can even random which generator you’ll use.
4. Seventh Sanctum
Seventh Sanctum is one of the oldest writing idea generators on the internet. Similar to Spring Hole, it contains a wide variety of generators aside from writing prompts. There are generators for characters, names, settings, love interests, and a lot more.
Its writing prompt generator gives you random ideas that can include dialogue. For something more specific, you can further choose from genres, themes, and specific topics. With all these generators and the flexibility they provide, it’s pretty easy to start the bones of your story and fill up the gaps.
5. The Story Shack
If you’re looking for prompts with more detail, then check out the Story Shack. It offers you just a bit more structure while still leaving you plenty of freedom to write whatever you want.
Their prompts consist of a word count, a genre, a character, a thing, a sentence you need to use, and bonus information that’s up to you to use. They may seem like a mishmash of components, but they’re an excellent way of firing up your creative process.
6. diyMFA Writer Igniter
diyMFA‘s writer igniter is easily the most fun writing prompt generator on this list. It operates like a slot machine. All you need to do is click on the shuffle button and it spins to generate a random character, a situation, a prop, and a setting.
If you have a bit of visual preference, then this generator might be your best bet in getting unstuck from the literary mire.
7. Book Fox
Book Fox offers you a detailed premise and questions you’ll need to answer in your story. Its simple interface makes it easy for a quick writing exercise.
The prompts range in a wide variety of genres so there’s a lot of materials you can use here if you’re exploring new ways to write.
8. Song Lyrics
You don’t need a generator for this one. It’s fairly simple, open your music app, play a random song, and choose any of the lyrics as your writing prompt.
Songs usually convey emotions, and a story of their own, which can inspire the listener. So not only are they enjoyable to listen to, but you can use them as material to conquer your writer’s block.
9. r/WritingPrompts
This subreddit is more of a community, but what better way to overcome the block than talking with fellow writers right?
Everyone is free to post their own writing prompts and respond to others. You’ll be able to read what others write and understand their own way of going about the craft. One of the community’s better advantages though is that others can leave critiques on your finished work.
It’s a full package! A writing prompt, a community, and an opportunity for critique. It’s basically a writer’s dreamland.
Try Our Writing Prompts
In addition to these fantastic writing prompt generators, you may want to try some of our own writing prompts:
- 70 Creative Writing Prompts to Inspire You to Write
- 40 Short Story Prompts You Can Write in a Day
- 72 Journal Prompts to Boost Your Creative Writing Skills
- Writing Prompts for Kids: Questions to Inspire Young Writers
Overcoming Writer’s Block
It can be hard to be consistently creative as a writer. There’s just no standard formula for it. Sometimes you get an excessive amount of creativity, sometimes you’re just drained.
Writing prompts are stimulants. They’re a way of developing your own writing process and finding your own way of writing even when you’re not motivated to. You can let loose with your writing skills, channel your frustrations, and discover new horizons when you regularly engage with these prompts.
Later on, you’ll realize that the writing process is no longer as frustrating; it’s easier to get in the zone, and your skills are sharper— just because you responded to a silly prompt generated from a jumble of words.
Happy writing!
Did you ever experience writer’s block? Share your experiences in the comments below!
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
- Ideas for Writing a Book: 17 Sources of Inspiration for Your Next Story
- How to Become an Author: Your Ultimate Guide to Success
- How Morning Pages Can Improve Your Writing (and Your Life)
- 72 Journal Prompts to Boost Your Creative Writing Skills
Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
