Copy-paste AI prompts for every stage of the writing process — story ideation, craft improvement, editing feedback, non-fiction writing, and building a sustainable writing practice.
Overcome blank page paralysis — prompts for generating story ideas, characters, plots, and creative concepts.
Generate 10 original story ideas based on this theme or premise: [Describe the theme, setting, or seed idea] For each idea, give me: - A one-sentence logline (what happens and why it matters) - The genre (literary fiction / thriller / sci-fi / etc.) - The central conflict (internal, external, or both) - One unexpected or subversive element that makes it stand out I write [genre] for [audience]. Make the ideas feel fresh — avoid the most obvious directions.
Help me develop a fully realised character for my story. I want to avoid clichés and create someone complex and specific. Starting point: [Give me any starting details — name, role in story, a vague idea, or just a feeling] Develop: - Physical presence (not just description — how they carry themselves, what people notice first) - Voice and speech patterns - Core wound or formative experience that shaped who they are - What they want (external goal) vs what they need (internal truth) - Their fatal flaw and their hidden strength - 3 contradictions that make them real (e.g. generous but controlling, brave but afraid of intimacy) - How they would react to [scenario relevant to your story]
I'm stuck on my story and need help figuring out what happens next. Here's where I am: Story so far: [Summarise the plot up to this point — key characters, what's happened, what's at stake] Where I'm stuck: [Describe the specific moment or scene where I've stalled] What I've tried: [What directions have you already considered and rejected?] What the story needs emotionally at this point: [e.g. tension, relief, revelation, turning point] Give me 5 different directions the story could go from here, with pros and cons of each. Include at least one unexpected or risky option I probably haven't considered.
Help me develop the world/setting for my story. I want it to feel specific and alive, not generic. Genre / type of story: [Describe] Basic setting: [Time period, location, type of world — real / speculative / fantasy / etc.] What I already know: [Any details you've already decided] Develop: - The rules of this world (physical, social, cultural) - What's different here from our world or expectations? - What do people here fear / value / celebrate? - The sensory details that will make it feel real (sounds, smells, textures) - 3 specific details that would only exist in THIS world (not generic "medieval village" details) - How does the setting create or compound the central conflict?
Prompts for improving your prose, mastering dialogue, writing better scenes, and strengthening your style.
Edit this passage to improve the prose. Diagnose the problems first, then provide an edited version. [Paste your passage here] Look for: - Passive voice that weakens the action - Telling instead of showing - Redundant or filler words - Weak verb choices (especially overuse of "was", "had", "got") - Adverbs that could be replaced by stronger verbs - Sentences that are too similar in length and structure Show me: (1) what's wrong and why, (2) your edited version, (3) 3 specific choices you made and why they improve the writing.
Help me write a scene where the real meaning is beneath the surface. The characters should want one thing but say or do something else. Scene context: [Describe what's happening on the surface — two characters having coffee, a job interview, a family dinner, etc.] What's really going on: [The emotional or relational undercurrent — unspoken love, simmering resentment, hidden guilt, fear of being left, etc.] Characters: [Brief description of each] What each character actually wants from this scene: [Character A wants X, Character B wants Y] Write the scene with the subtext fully alive. None of the real feelings should be stated directly — they should be visible only in actions, word choices, silences, and what's deliberately not said.
Write a dialogue scene between [number] characters with distinct, authentic voices. Characters: - [Character 1]: [Age, background, personality, speech patterns, emotional state in this scene] - [Character 2]: [Same] - [Character 3 if applicable]: [Same] Scene context: [What's happening? What are they talking about? What does each person want from this conversation?] Emotional arc of the scene: [How should it start vs. how should it end emotionally?] Requirements: - Each character should sound completely different — you should be able to tell who's speaking without dialogue tags - Use interruptions, incomplete sentences, deflections, and subtext - Avoid "on-the-nose" dialogue where characters say exactly what they mean
Write 5 different opening lines / paragraphs for my story. Each should work as a standalone hook that makes someone want to keep reading. Story context: [Brief description of what the story is about — genre, tone, central character, what's at stake] Write one opening in each style: 1. In medias res — drop us into action already happening 2. Voice-driven — hook through a distinctive narrator's perspective 3. Mystery or question — something that demands to be resolved 4. Image or atmosphere — a specific sensory detail that establishes world and tone 5. Statement that subverts expectations — a line that surprises or provokes After each opening, explain in one sentence why it works as a hook.
Prompts for writing compelling essays, articles, blog posts, and non-fiction content that engages and persuades.
Create a detailed blog post outline for this topic: [Topic] Target audience: [Describe — who is this for and what do they already know?] Angle / unique POV: [What's the specific take or argument — not just "a post about X" but "the counterintuitive thing about X that most people miss"] Desired length: [Word count] Goal: [Inform / persuade / entertain / rank in search / grow email list] Outline format: - Headline options (3 variants) - Introduction structure (hook + problem + promise) - H2 sections with H3 sub-points under each - Key examples, stories, or data points to include in each section - Conclusion structure - CTA Make the outline specific enough that someone could write the post from it without needing to do additional research planning.
Help me write a personal essay about [topic / experience]. I want it to go beyond what happened to explore what it means. The experience: [Describe it — be as specific as possible with details, people, places, dates] What I think the essay is about (the surface): [What you'd tell someone it's about] What it's really about (the deeper theme): [The universal truth or question underneath — if you're not sure, that's okay] Essay structure I want: - Start in a specific scene or moment (not "I was born" or broad background) - Move between past and present or multiple time periods - Build toward a revelation or shift in understanding - End with resonance, not a tidy conclusion Write a first draft of [500 / 800 / 1200] words. I'll edit it to add my voice.
Help me explain this complex idea in plain, engaging language for [audience: general readers / beginners / non-experts in this field]: Concept: [What is the idea, theory, system, or phenomenon you want to explain?] Requirements: - Use an analogy or metaphor that makes it click - Break it into 3-4 stages or components - Anticipate the most common points of confusion and address them - Use a concrete real-world example - Avoid jargon — if a technical term is necessary, define it immediately Target length: [200-400 words] Tone: [Conversational / Authoritative / Educational / Enthusiastic]
Rewrite this passage to have a stronger, clearer point of view. It currently reads as too neutral or hedged. [Paste your draft here] The argument I'm actually trying to make: [State your thesis clearly — what do you believe and why?] Why I've been hedging: [e.g. "I'm worried about being wrong" / "I don't want to alienate readers" / "I'm not sure I believe it fully"] Rewrite it to: - State the position clearly and early - Use confident language (remove "perhaps", "might", "some would argue") - Back the claim with one strong piece of evidence or example - Acknowledge a valid counter-argument briefly, then dismiss it - End the passage with a sentence that lands Maintain my writing voice — don't make it aggressive, just decisive.
Use AI as your developmental editor — get honest, specific feedback on structure, pacing, character, and prose.
Act as a developmental editor and give me honest, specific feedback on this piece of writing. [Paste your draft — or a detailed summary if it's a full manuscript] Genre: [Fiction / Essay / Long-form article / Memoir / Other] What I think is working: [What you're proud of] What I'm worried about: [Where you suspect it's not working] What kind of feedback I want: [Be specific — structure, pacing, character, argument, voice, opening, ending] Please: - Be direct — I need honest feedback, not reassurance - Identify the 3 biggest structural issues - For each issue, explain why it's a problem and suggest how to fix it - Tell me what IS working so I know what to protect in revision
Analyse the pacing of this [story / chapter / article] and tell me where it's too fast, too slow, or unbalanced. [Paste the piece or section] Specifically: - Which scenes or sections feel rushed? (What's missing that I've compressed too quickly) - Which sections drag? (What could be cut or condensed) - Where is the tension / reader engagement at its highest? (What's making this work) - Where does the reader's attention most likely drop off? - Does the pacing serve the emotional arc? (Is the climax given enough weight? Does the ending feel earned?) Give me a section-by-section pacing map and your top 3 revision priorities.
This piece is too long. I need to cut approximately 20% of the word count. Help me identify what to cut without losing what matters. [Paste the piece here] Please: 1. Identify the sections or passages that add the least value (weak arguments, redundant scenes, over-explained ideas) 2. Flag any sentences that could be cut or condensed without loss 3. Identify any digressions that could be removed entirely 4. Show me one example paragraph fully cut/condensed to demonstrate the approach After identifying cuts, confirm: does the piece still make its argument / tell its story effectively at 80% length?
I've written a character / scene that deals with [sensitive topic — e.g. a character from a different culture, a mental health experience, a trauma, a marginalised identity]. I want to make sure I'm handling it respectfully and authentically. [Paste the passage or describe the portrayal in detail] The character / situation is: [Describe] My relationship to this topic: [Are you writing from inside or outside this experience?] My intentions: [What are you trying to achieve with this portrayal?] Please flag: - Any details that feel inaccurate, stereotyping, or reductive - Anything that could be read as exploitative or voyeuristic - Places where I've oversimplified a complex experience - Suggestions for how to deepen or complicate the portrayal - Questions I should research further before publishing
Use AI to manage your writing practice — overcome blocks, set goals, build habits, and sustain a long-term creative life.
I have writer's block right now and need to get unstuck immediately. Help me. What I'm working on: [Project name and brief description] Where I'm stuck: [The specific moment, scene, or passage I can't get past] How long I've been stuck: [Hours / days / weeks] What I think is stopping me: [Fear, perfectionism, unclear direction, energy, life stuff — be honest] Give me: 1. A 10-minute low-stakes writing exercise to get the words flowing again (not related to the stuck piece) 2. One permission to write badly — a specific reframe for why bad first drafts are fine 3. The simplest possible next sentence I could write to move forward 4. One question to ask myself that might unlock the block
Help me build a sustainable writing habit that fits my real life. My situation: - Available writing time: [When and how long — e.g. "mornings before work, 45 mins" / "weekends only" / "sporadic evenings"] - Current project: [What are you working on?] - My biggest obstacle: [What always gets in the way — energy, time, motivation, perfectionism, life] - What I've tried before: [Habits that didn't stick and why] Design a writing habit system that includes: 1. A non-negotiable minimum (small enough to feel easy on hard days) 2. A specific trigger that starts the writing session 3. How to handle the days I miss (no guilt spiral) 4. One way to track progress that actually motivates me 5. A quarterly milestone to work toward
Help me write a query letter / book pitch for my project. Project details: - Title: [Title] - Genre and word count: [e.g. Literary fiction, 82,000 words] - Comparable titles (comp titles): [2 books published in the last 5 years that are similar in feel or audience] - One-sentence logline: [What happens and why it matters — protagonist + conflict + stakes] - Brief synopsis: [3-5 sentences: setup, conflict, what's at stake, a hint of the ending tone] - Why I'm the person to write this: [Author bio — relevant credentials, personal connection to material, platform] Write a query letter following standard agent submission format. Keep it professional and specific.
Help me create a realistic writing and revision roadmap for my book project. Project: - Type: [Novel / Memoir / Essay collection / Non-fiction] - Current status: [Idea stage / First draft in progress / X% complete / First draft done] - Word count target: [Target] - Deadline or goal: [If you have one — publication, writing group deadline, contest, personal goal] - Writing pace: [Current realistic words per session / per week] Create a roadmap with: 1. Phase 1: First draft — timeline and milestones 2. Phase 2: Structural revision — what to focus on and when 3. Phase 3: Line editing — timeline 4. Phase 4: Beta readers / sensitivity readers — timeline 5. Phase 5: Query / submission prep (if applicable) Build in buffer time for life. Make it ambitious but realistic.
Honest answers about using AI as a writing tool.
Story starters, fiction prompts, and creative challenges
Personal statements, academic essays, and argument prompts
All-purpose writing prompts for every format and audience
Start your writing practice with guided, accessible prompts