Surreal Writing Prompts: Write the Extraordinary

Surreal Writing Prompts

Welcome to a world where the ordinary bends, twists, and transforms into something magical. Surreal writing is your ticket to exploring the limitless possibilities of your imagination. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or just dipping your toes into creative writing, surreal prompts can help you break free from the mundane and discover new depths of creativity. Let’s dive into 37 inspiring prompts that will spark your imagination and motivate you to write something truly extraordinary!

Why Surreal Writing?

Break Free from Reality

Surreal writing is all about pushing boundaries. It’s a chance to let go of logic and embrace the strange, the whimsical, and the unexpected. When you write surreal stories, you’re not just telling a tale—you’re creating an experience that transports readers to a world they’ve never imagined.

Fuel Your Creativity

Surreal prompts challenge you to think outside the box. They encourage you to explore ideas that might feel unconventional or even bizarre at first. But that’s where the magic happens! By stepping into the surreal, you’ll unlock new ways of thinking and writing that can inspire your work in any genre.

Find Your Unique Voice

The beauty of surreal writing is that there are no rules. You’re free to experiment, play, and discover what makes your writing truly unique. It’s a space where your voice can shine in ways you might not have thought possible.

37 Surreal Writing Prompts

  1. A forest where the trees are made of intricate clockwork mechanisms, and one day, one of the trees stops ticking.
  1. A library where every book contains a forgotten dream, and one dream pulls you in so deeply that you can’t escape.
  1. A city that floats upside down in the sky, and one day, gravity shifts, turning it right-side up.
  1. An ocean where the waves are made of liquid memories, and wading into it floods you with the thoughts of strangers.
  1. A train that travels through time, but only when the passengers are asleep.
  1. A house where every room exists in a different dimension, and the doors change locations every night.
  1. A carnival that only appears at midnight, and the rides are powered by emotions.
  1. A desert where the sand is made of tiny, glowing stars, and the dunes shift to form constellations.
  1. A mirror that shows you not your reflection, but the person you were in a past life.
  1. A garden where the flowers bloom with tiny, singing faces, and their songs tell the future.
  1. A clock that doesn’t tell time but instead counts down the moments until your next life-changing decision.
  1. Write about a café where the patrons are all characters from unfinished novels, waiting for their stories to be completed.
  1. A mountain that whispers secrets to those who climb it, but the higher you go, the heavier the secrets become.
  1. A river that flows backward, carrying with it the regrets of everyone who has ever touched its waters.
  1. A sky that rains colors instead of water, and each color changes the mood of whoever it touches.
  1. Describe a forest where the animals are made of glass, and their movements create hauntingly beautiful music.
  1. A town where everyone’s shadow has a mind of its own, and one day, the shadows decide to rebel.
  1. A bookstore where the books rewrite themselves every time someone reads them.
  1. A lighthouse that doesn’t guide ships but instead illuminates lost memories floating in the sea.
  1. A bridge that connects two worlds, but crossing it requires you to leave behind something you love.
  1. A field where the grass grows in reverse, and each blade contains a fragment of someone’s forgotten dream.
  1. A theater where the audience becomes part of the play, and the lines between reality and performance blur.
  1. A forest where the trees grow upside down, their roots reaching into the sky.
  1. Write about a city where the streets are made of water, and the buildings float like boats.
  1. A clockmaker who creates timepieces that can steal moments from people’s lives.
  1. A museum where the exhibits come to life at night and share their untold stories.
  1. A forest where the wind carries whispers from the future, but listening too closely drives people mad.
  1. A lake that reflects not the sky above, but the sky of an alternate universe.
  1. A train station where the trains arrive but never leave, and the passengers are trapped in an endless loop.
  1. A forest where the trees grow in perfect geometric shapes, and their leaves are made of paper covered in cryptic symbols.
  1. A town where it rains every day, but the rain is made of tiny, glowing orbs that grant wishes.
  1. A mountain that grows taller every time someone reaches its summit.
  1. A forest where the animals speak in riddles, and solving their riddles grants you a piece of their wisdom.
  1. A city where the buildings are alive, and they rearrange themselves every night to form new streets.
  1. A library where the books are written in a language that only your subconscious can understand.
  1. A forest where the trees are made of light, and their roots stretch into the fabric of time itself.
  1. A desert where the sand is alive, and it whispers the names of those who will never return.

5 Longer Surreal Writing Prompts

1. The Clockwork Forest

Deep in the heart of an uncharted wilderness lies a forest unlike any other. The trees are made of intricate clockwork mechanisms, their branches ticking and tocking like the hands of a clock. The air hums with the sound of gears turning, and the ground is littered with tiny, discarded cogs. One day, a traveler stumbles upon this strange place and notices that one of the trees has stopped ticking. As they investigate, they discover that the forest is not just a collection of trees—it’s a living, breathing entity that exists outside of time. But when the traveler accidentally disrupts the delicate balance of the forest, they must find a way to restore it before time itself unravels.

2. The Library of Forgotten Dreams

Hidden in the basement of an old, crumbling mansion is a library that holds the forgotten dreams of every person who has ever lived. The books are bound in strange, shifting colors, and their pages are filled with swirling, ever-changing text. When a curious librarian discovers this secret collection, they begin to read the dreams, only to find themselves pulled into the dreamers’ minds. Each dream is more vivid and surreal than the last, but one dream in particular refuses to let them go. As the librarian struggles to escape, they realize that the dream is trying to tell them something—something that could change the course of their life forever.

3. The City That Floats Upside Down

High above the clouds, there is a city that floats upside down. Its skyscrapers hang like icicles, and its inhabitants walk on the ceilings, their lives governed by a strange, otherworldly logic. One day, a young woman from the surface world discovers a hidden staircase that leads to this bizarre place. As she explores the city, she learns that it is held together by a delicate balance of forces—forces that are beginning to shift. When gravity starts to right itself, the city’s inhabitants are thrown into chaos. The woman must decide whether to help them adapt to their changing world or return to her own before the city collapses entirely.

4. The Ocean of Memories

On the edge of a forgotten coastline lies an ocean unlike any other. Its waves are made of liquid memories, and its currents carry the thoughts and experiences of countless strangers. When a grieving artist stumbles upon this strange sea, they wade into its waters, hoping to find solace. But as the memories of others flood their mind, they are overwhelmed by emotions that are not their own. One memory, in particular, stands out—a memory of a life they never lived but feels hauntingly familiar. As the artist delves deeper into the ocean’s secrets, they must confront the truth about their own past and the memories they’ve tried to forget.

5. The Carnival of Lost Time

Every century, a mysterious carnival appears in the middle of a dense, foggy forest. Its rides are powered by the lost time of those who visit, and its attractions are filled with strange, otherworldly wonders. When a group of friends stumbles upon the carnival, they are drawn in by its enchanting lights and eerie music. But as they explore, they realize that the carnival is not what it seems. Each ride steals a piece of their time, leaving them disoriented and lost. To escape, they must navigate the carnival’s twisted logic and confront the enigmatic figure who runs it—a figure who claims to hold the key to reclaiming their lost time.

Tips for Writing Surreal Stories

Embrace the Absurd

Surreal writing thrives on the unexpected. Don’t be afraid to let your story take strange and unexpected turns. The more you lean into the absurd, the more unique and captivating your story will become.

Focus on Emotion

Even in the most bizarre settings, emotions ground your story and make it relatable. Whether it’s fear, joy, curiosity, or longing, let your characters’ feelings drive the narrative.

Play with Imagery

Surreal writing is a visual medium. Use vivid, dreamlike imagery to paint a picture that feels both familiar and alien. Let your descriptions transport readers to a world they’ve never seen before.

Ready to Write?

Surreal writing is more than just a creative exercise—it’s a journey into the unknown. These 37 prompts are here to inspire you, challenge you, and help you discover new facets of your imagination. So grab your pen, open your mind, and let the surreal take over. Who knows what incredible stories you’ll create?