74 Unconventional Writing Prompts to Break Your Creative Block

Every writer has been there: staring at a blank page, fingers hovering over the keyboard, waiting for inspiration to strike. But sometimes, the muse is elusive, and the more you try to force it, the more your creativity seems to retreat. That’s where unconventional writing prompts come in.

These prompts are designed to shake up your thinking, push you out of your comfort zone, and spark ideas you never knew you had. Whether you’re a novelist, poet, blogger, or just someone who loves to write, these 50 unconventional writing prompts will help you break through that creative block and get your words flowing again.

Unconventional Writing Prompts

1. Write a story where the protagonist is a sentient piece of furniture.
2. A character starts hearing a voice in their head that claims to be their unborn twin.
3. Describe a hotel where every room is a different era in time, but you can’t leave until you’ve lived through all of them.
4. Write a story about a character who finds a necklace that grants wishes—but each wish comes with a horrifying consequence.
5. Create a dialogue between two characters who speak entirely in metaphors.
6. Describe a day in the life of a color that has just been invented.
7. Write a letter from the perspective of a tree to a passing bird.
8. Imagine a world where emotions are traded like currency. What happens when someone goes bankrupt?
9. Write a story that begins with the sentence: “The clock struck thirteen, and everything changed.”
10. Create a poem using only words that start with the letter “S.”
11. Describe a society where people communicate solely through music.
12. Write a story about a character who discovers their shadow has a life of its own.
13. Imagine a world where books are alive and can choose their readers.
14. Write a scene where the weather reflects the emotions of the characters.
15. A character starts receiving letters from their future self, warning them not to make certain choices.
16. Describe a town where everyone disappears at sunset, and no one remembers why.
17. Write a story about a character who can see the exact moment someone will die—but only if they touch them.
18. Create a story about a library that exists outside of time.
19. Write a monologue from the perspective of a forgotten childhood toy.
20. Imagine a world where dreams can be recorded and replayed like movies.
21. Write a story about a character who can only tell the truth in reverse.
22. Describe a day in the life of a professional “memory eraser.”
23. Write a poem about the sound of silence.
24. Create a story where the main character is a ghost who doesn’t realize they’re dead.
25. Imagine a world where everyone has a personal theme song that plays wherever they go.
26. Write a story about a character who can communicate with inanimate objects.
27. Describe a society where people are judged by their handwriting.
28. Write a story that takes place entirely in a single room, but the room changes every hour.
29. Create a dialogue between two characters who are trapped in a painting.
30. A character receives a package containing an object they lost years ago—but it’s not the same as they remember.
31. Describe a carnival that only appears at midnight, and the rides are powered by fear.
32. Write a story about a character who can hear the thoughts of the dead—and the dead are angry.
33. Imagine a world where words have physical weight. What happens when someone says too much?
34. Write a story about a character who discovers a door to a parallel universe in their closet.
35. Describe a day in the life of a professional “cloud sculptor.”
36. Write a poem about the taste of nostalgia.
37. Create a story about a character who can only see the world in black and white until they fall in love.
38. Imagine a world where everyone has a personal narrator who follows them around.
39. Write a story about a character who finds a map to their own mind.
40. Portray in your writing a society where people are born with a single word tattooed on their skin that defines their destiny.
41. Write a story about a character who can hear the thoughts of animals.
42. Create a poem using only questions.
43. Tell a story of a world where memories can be bottled and sold.
44. Write a story about a character who discovers they are a character in someone else’s story.
45. Describe a day in the life of a professional “time traveler’s assistant.”
46. Write a story about a character who can only speak in riddles.
47. Imagine a world where every person has a unique superpower, but it’s completely useless.
48. Write a poem about the smell of forgotten places.
49. Create a story about a character who can see the future but only in their dreams.
50. Describe a society where people are required to wear their emotions on their sleeves—literally.
51. Write a story about a character who discovers a hidden city beneath their bed.
52. Imagine a world where every word you speak appears on your skin.
53. Write a story about a character who can only communicate through drawings.
54. Create a poem about the sound of a star exploding.
55. Describe a day in the life of a professional “dream interpreter.”
56. Write a story about a character who can only move forward in time when they’re asleep.
57. Imagine a world where every person has a personal soundtrack that changes based on their mood.
58. Write a story about a character who discovers they are the last person on Earth—or so they think.
59. Create a story that begins with the sentence: “The moon fell from the sky, and no one noticed.”
60. Write about a town where every mirror reflects a version of you that’s slightly… wrong.
61. A character discovers their shadow moves on its own—and it’s plotting something.
62. Describe a house that grows new rooms every night, each one more unsettling than the last.
63. Write a story about a radio that broadcasts messages from the dead, but only to you.
64. A character finds a diary that writes itself, predicting their future in horrifying detail.
65. Imagine a world where everyone has a doppelgänger, and yours is trying to replace you.
66. Write about a library where the books are bound in human skin and whisper secrets to their readers.
67. A character discovers their reflection is aging faster than they are, and it’s trying to escape the mirror.
68. Imagine a forest where the trees have faces, and they remember everything they’ve seen.
69. Write about a character who finds a door in their basement that leads to a version of their home, but everything is reversed.
70. A character finds a photograph of themselves as a child, but they don’t remember the moment being captured.
71. Imagine a world where dreams are contagious, and a nightmare is spreading like a virus.
72. Write about a character who discovers their pet has been secretly protecting them from something… inhuman.
73. A character discovers their childhood imaginary friend is real—and it’s been following them their entire life.
74. Imagine a world where every time someone lies, their body changes in a grotesque way.

These unconventional writing prompts are designed to challenge your imagination, push you to think outside the box, and explore new creative territories. Don’t overthink them—just pick one, start writing, and see where it takes you. Remember, the goal isn’t to write a masterpiece (though you might!). The goal is to break through your creative block and rediscover the joy of writing.

With these 74 unconventional writing prompts, you’ll never run out of ideas to spark your creativity. So, grab your pen, open your laptop, or pull out your notebook, and let these prompts guide you to new and unexpected places. Happy writing!