Inspiring creative writing prompts for writers

Every writer enounters periods when they are low on ideas and inspiration is hard to come by.

Creative writing prompts for writers

If you're a creative writer, explore these creative writing prompts for writers set in Canada, Ireland, and the UK. We hope they fire up your imaginination and that your creativity flows. If you create something from one of these prompts you're especially happy with, send it to us and we'll look at publishing it on the site.

Best of luck with using these prompts. We hope they help you find the basis of a plot or idea for your next piece of writing!

Creative writing prompts set in Canada

1. The Unexpected Discovery: While hiking in Banff National Park, a character stumbles upon a small, unmarked cabin hidden deep within the woods. Inside, they find a journal filled with cryptic entries and sketches. Write a story about what the character does with this discovery and the secrets the journal might hold.
   

2. Northern Lights Revelation: Two estranged siblings travel to Yellowknife to witness the Aurora Borealis. During a particularly vibrant display, a long-held family secret is revealed. Write a scene focusing on the moment of revelation and the siblings' reactions.
   

3. The Last Ferry to the Island: A character living on a small island off the coast of Nova Scotia misses the last ferry of the season. They must find an alternative way back to the mainland. Write a story about their unexpected journey and the people they encounter.
   

4. Prairie Windfall: A struggling farmer in Saskatchewan discovers a valuable and unusual object buried on their land during a drought. Explore the moral dilemma they face and the impact of their decision on their community.
   

5. Urban Wildlife Encounter: A busy professional living in downtown Montreal witnesses a rare wild animal in an unexpected urban setting. Write a short piece about the encounter and how it shifts the character's perspective on city life.
   

6. The Mystery of the Frozen Lake: In a small town in Northern Ontario, a perfectly circular hole appears in the middle of a frozen lake during the coldest part of winter. Write a story exploring the possible explanations and the local legends that emerge.
   

7. A Gift from the Rockies: A character receives an anonymous package containing a beautifully carved wooden bird, with no return address and no explanation. Set your story in a small town in the Canadian Rockies and explore who might have sent it and why.
   

8. Lost in Translation (Literally): A tourist visiting Quebec City who speaks no French accidentally swaps suitcases with a local artist. Write a scene or short story about the chaotic and humorous consequences of this mix-up.
   

9. The Haunting of the Lighthouse: A young woman takes a summer job as the caretaker of a remote lighthouse on the coast of British Columbia. She soon begins to experience strange occurrences. Write a story about the unsettling events and their possible origins.
   

10. The Toronto Time Capsule: During the demolition of an old building in Toronto, a time capsule from the 1970s is unearthed. Write a scene or short story about the reactions of the people who open it and the glimpse it offers into the past.

    
    

Creative writing prompts set in the Republic of Ireland

The Cliffs of Moher in Ireland, a setting that can inspire all kinds of ideas for flash fiction, poems, short stories, or novels

1. The Whispering Stones: While exploring an ancient stone circle in County Kerry, a character hears faint whispers carried on the wind. Write a story about what the whispers might be saying and their effect on the character.
   

2. A Pint and a Prophecy: In a traditional pub in Galway, an old local tells a seemingly outlandish prophecy to a newcomer. Write a story about whether the prophecy comes true and the newcomer's role in it.
   

3. The Cliffs of Moher Secret: A character visiting the Cliffs of Moher discovers a hidden cave with a message carved into the wall. Explore the mystery of the message and who might have left it.
   

4. The Dublin Busker's Song: A struggling musician busking on Grafton Street in Dublin plays a melody that unexpectedly evokes a powerful memory in a passerby. Write a scene focusing on the encounter and the story behind the memory.
   

5. The Aran Islands Letter: A letter washes ashore on one of the Aran Islands, written in a language the locals don't recognize. Write a story about their attempts to decipher it and the potential sender.
   

6. The Legend of the Lough Ness . . . of Ireland: In a small village near a remote lough in County Donegal, rumors of a mysterious creature resurface. Write a story exploring the truth behind the legend and its impact on the community.
   

7. The Emigrant's Return: After decades living abroad, a character returns to their childhood home in rural Ireland. Write a story about their emotional journey and the changes they find.
   

8. A Chance Encounter in a Cork Market: Two people with a shared but forgotten past meet unexpectedly at the English Market in Cork. Write a scene about their initial interaction and the slow dawning of recognition.
   

9. The Fairy Fort's Influence: A new development encroaches on an ancient fairy fort in the Irish countryside, and strange things begin to happen to the construction workers. Write a story exploring the consequences of disturbing the mythical site.
   

10. The Ghost of the Library: A student working late in the Long Room of Trinity College Library in Dublin believes they have seen a ghost. Write a story about their investigation and the potential identity of the spectral figure.
    

Creative writing prompts set in the United Kingdom

1. The London Underground Anomaly: A commuter on the London Underground witnesses something impossible happen on their daily journey. Write a story about the event and its repercussions on their perception of reality.
   

2. The Yorkshire Moors Discovery: While hiking across the Yorkshire Moors, a character finds an old, leather-bound book filled with strange symbols and drawings. Write a story about their attempts to understand it.
   

3. A Message in a Bottle (Cornwall edition): A group of friends finds a message in a bottle washed up on a beach in Cornwall. The message hints at a local mystery. Write a story about their efforts to solve it.
   

4. The Edinburgh Fringe Encounter: During the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, a character has a brief but significant encounter with a performer that changes their life. Write a scene or short story about this meeting.
   

5. The Secret Garden Revisited in Wales: An adult character returns to a childhood secret garden in the Welsh countryside, only to find it altered in unexpected ways. Write a story about their memories and the garden's current state.
   

6. The Mystery of the Missing Village: A character researching their ancestry in a remote part of Wales discovers that an entire village has seemingly vanished from historical records. Write a story about their investigation.

   
   

7. A Royal Mishap: A seemingly ordinary person in London accidentally stumbles into a private and embarrassing moment involving a member of the Royal Family. Write a humorous or suspenseful scene about what happens next.
   

8. The Haunted Pub in the Cotswolds: A group of travelers stays overnight in an old pub in the Cotswolds rumored to be haunted. Write a story about their experiences and the pub's spectral inhabitants.
   

9. The Street Art Prophecy (Bristol): A new piece of street art appears overnight in Bristol, depicting a future event. Write a story about the reactions of the locals and whether the prophecy comes true.
   

10. The Last Lighthouse Keeper (Scotland): On a remote Scottish island, the last lighthouse keeper begins to experience strange and unsettling occurrences as the automated system is about to take over. Write a story about their final days in the isolated tower.