prompts from Ready, Set, Novel! A Writer's Workbook by Chris Baty, Lindsey Grant, and Tavia Stewart Streit from the National Novel Writing Month
Have each character retell their first memory.
Write your opening scene from the point of view of a supporting character.
Write a scene of dialogue between your main character and a younger version of themself.
Describe the worst thing that ever happened to your villain.
Flash forward twenty years into the future and write a scene that involves at least three of your characters.
Have your characters share tales of their first kisses.
Write about the last five things your main character bought and why they bought them.
Write a scene in which your protagonist and villain get drunk together.
Lock a few of your characters in a broken elevator.
People rarely get sick in novels. Have your protagonist come down with something.
Write a thank-you card from your protagonist to their sidekick.
Relate the dream your villain had last night.
Your protagonist's mother is interviewed for the local newspaper about her child's achievements. Write that article.
Add a scene in which your character loses something very valuable.
Write a week's worth of Facebook posts from a supporting character. Take it a step further and add comments made by their friends... and enemies.
Have your villain bust out their high school yearbook. Write some of the notes they find in it.
Have your character recount a (hilarious) childhood trauma.
Write a scene describing how your main character's parents met.
Does your main character collect anything? Maybe they should. Describe their collection and why they started it.
Write a really cheesy love song that your main character will sing to their love interest.
Describe the worst thing your main character ever did.
Write a scene in which your main character and the villain have to work together, and explain why.
Send your protagonist to a psychic. What do they find out?
Write a description of your setting in the style of a travel brochure.
Deprive a character of sleep for three days and write about how it affects them.
Read "Today's Featured Article" on Wikipedia and integrate something you learn into your novel.
Your main character finds a genie in a bottle. What three wishes do they make?
Place a few characters in a karaoke bar. Describe the scene and what songs they choose to sing.
Have a character win a huge prize out of the blue. How do they react when they get the news?
Your villain houses a dinner party. What's on the menu? Who is invited?
Write a 200-word newspaper obituary for your villain.
snowghoul
theartofmadeline
germansingergirl
yousharknotpass
turnnoffyourmind
areudirty
titsay
tangentwithtanner
romaincrisis
