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Writing Prompt Generator: AI-Powered Writing Prompts

Every writer knows the struggle of staring at a blank page, waiting for inspiration to strike. It’s that familiar tug of wanting to write but not knowing where to start. Enter the modern solution: AI-powered writing prompts generators. These tools are not just about spitting out ideas; they’re about sparking creativity and offering a starting point that can lead to your next great story. Whether you’re looking to break through writer’s block or add some variety to your writing sessions, leveraging these generators can provide an endless stream of prompts tailored to ignite your imagination. Let’s discover how to harness the power of these tools to continuously inspire your writing journey.

Table of Contents

Understanding Writing Prompts

To truly release your creative potential, understanding what writing prompts are and how they can ignite your imagination is important. Writing prompts are specific suggestions or sparks designed to help you engage in creative exercises. They’re not just about putting words on a page; they’re about opening your mind to the vast possibilities of storytelling and expression. Whether it’s a single word, a complex scenario, or even visual aids, these prompts serve as a starting point for your creativity.

Effective writing prompts are clear, thought-provoking, and tailored to you, the writer. They push you to explore new ideas, characters, and worlds. With open-ended questions, you’re encouraged to think deeply and critically, allowing your creativity to flow in unexpected directions. Additionally, incorporating feedback on your writing into these exercises can improve your skills and insights.

Types of Prompts

Understanding the purpose of prompts sets the stage for exploring the various types they come in, each designed to spark creativity in distinct ways. Whether you’re using a writing prompts generator, acting as a prompt writer yourself, or exploring types of writing prompt like descriptive prompts and narrative prompts, each plays a crucial role in guiding the flow of ideas and enhancing storytelling or analytical skills.

Creative Writing Prompts:

• Story Prompts:   Plot ideas , character descriptions, settings, opening lines, objects, first lines, etc.
• Genre Prompts:  Specify a genre (fantasy, mystery, romance) to guide the writer’s style and tropes.
• Character Prompts:  Focus on character development, prompting descriptions of personality, motivations, flaws, secrets, desires, etc.
• Setting Prompts:  Provide details about the world the story takes place in, sparking ideas about atmosphere, tone, culture, history, etc.

Educational Prompts:

• Open-Ended Questions:  Encourage critical thinking and exploration by asking broad questions without a single answer (e.g., What if history had taken a different turn?)
• Problem-Solving Prompts:  Present a scenario or challenge that requires analysis and creative solutions (e.g., How would you design a society on Mars?)
• Discussion Prompts:  Spark debate or analysis by posing a thought-provoking question about a particular topic (e.g., Should artificial intelligence have rights?)
• Journaling Prompts:  Guide self-reflection and exploration of emotions and experiences (e.g., Write a letter to your younger self)

Instructional Prompts:

• Task Prompts:  Clearly outline what needs to be done, providing specific instructions for completing an activity (e.g., Write a persuasive essay on why recycling is important)
• Essay Prompts:  Provide a topic or question for an essay, often with specific guidelines for structure and content (e.g., Analyze the themes of power and corruption in Shakespeare’s Macbeth)
• Coding Prompts:  Provide a problem or challenge that requires coding skills and knowledge of specific programming languages (e.g., Develop a program that can sort a list of numbers)

User Interface Prompts:

• Form Prompts:  Guide users through filling out forms by providing clear labels and instructions for each input field (e.g., Enter your name, email address, and phone number)
• Dialogue Prompts:  Appear in chatbots or virtual assistants, prompting users for specific information to complete a task (e.g., “How can I help you today?”)
• Menu Prompts:  Offer options for users to choose from within a program or interface (e.g., Select “Print” to create a hard copy)

Additional Prompts:

• Creative brainstorming prompts:  Can involve random word generators, image prompts, or even unusual questions to spark ideas.
• Personal prompts: Used for self-discovery, goal setting, or reflection (e.g., What is your biggest fear? What does your ideal future look like?

Techniques for Coming Up Writing Prompts

You’ve explored the basics, now let’s focus on specific techniques to generate writing prompts. Look around you; everyday life, different genres and themes, and even random visual aids can spark your creativity. Don’t hesitate to tap into writing communities or use a writing prompt generator for fresh ideas.

Drawing Inspiration from Daily Life

Drawing inspiration from daily life can greatly enrich your writing prompts, as everyday experiences offer a wealth of ideas and perspectives. Whether you’re observing your surroundings, reflecting on conversations, or tuning into your emotions, these moments serve as a fertile ground for creative writing. Consider using a journal to capture these sparks of daily inspiration, turning them into fuel for your creative spontaneity. This practice not only hones your observational skills but also transforms ordinary experiences into extraordinary stories. Engaging in activities that stimulate creativity, like nature walks or exploring new places, can act as a natural writing prompt generator. Experiment with different perspectives and scenarios based on your daily life, and you’ll find an endless stream of ideas for your creative writing endeavors.

Exploring Different Genres and Themes

Venturing into different genres, such as fantasy and mystery, and exploring themes like love and betrayal can greatly enhance your creativity in generating writing prompts. By diving into the territories of sci-fi prompts, you can craft stories that push the boundaries of imagination. Fantasy prompts allow you to explore magical worlds and mythical creatures, while mystery prompts challenge you to weave intricate plots of suspense and intrigue. Don’t overlook non-fiction prompts; they encourage you to explore reality, bringing forward compelling narratives based on true events or personal experiences. Combining genres and themes, like mixing romance with historical fiction or adding a twist of adventure to a redemption story, can generate unique and engaging prompts that captivate both writers and readers alike.

Using Visual Aids as Creative Catalysts

Often, visual aids like photographs and art pieces can serve as powerful sparks for your writing creativity, helping you craft vivid settings and complex characters. By turning to visual aids as creative catalysts, you’re unleashing a treasure trove for your imagination. These tools not only enhance your descriptive skills but also encourage a deeper exploration into the nuances of storytelling.

Incorporating Prompts from Writing Communities

Building on the inspiration that visual aids provide, consider tapping into the resources of writing communities to further enrich your prompt collection. These communities are bustling hubs where creative minds converge, offering a goldmine for anyone seeking specific writing prompts. Here’s how you can immerse yourself :

• Join online writing platforms where members regularly share and critique prompts.
• Participate in writing workshops to engage in collaborative brainstorming sessions, exploring a wellspring of ideas.
• Enter prompt challenges or contests hosted by these communities to spur your imagination.

Using a Writing Prompt Generator

You might wonder why you’d use a writing prompt generator in the first place. It’s simple: these tools can quickly offer you a variety of themes and ideas, breaking through any creative blocks you’re facing. Next, we’ll look at the steps to effectively use one, ensuring you get the most out of this resource.

What is a Writing Prompts Generator?

A writing prompts generator is a tool designed to help writers generate ideas for stories, essays, or other creative writing projects. Powered by artificial intelligence, it efficiently facilitates the creative process by providing fresh and engaging prompts based on user inputs.

How a Writing Prompts Generator Works:

The operation of a writing prompts generator involves a few clear steps that turn user specifications into actionable writing ideas:

User Inputs :

• Type of Prompt : Users specify the genre or nature of the writing prompt they need, such as story, dialogue, or essay.
• Details to Include : Users can further refine the prompt by adding specific elements they want to incorporate in their writing. This could include characters, a setting, a particular conflict, or even a unique object.

AI Analysis :

• Data Processing : The generator’s AI analyzes the input using advanced algorithms that interpret the user’s requirements. It draws on a comprehensive database that includes narrative structures, genre-specific tropes, and thematic elements.
• Creativity Algorithms : Beyond mere analysis, the AI applies creative algorithms designed to mimic human creativity. This means combining elements in novel ways that might not be immediately obvious even to experienced writers.

Generating the Prompt :

• Synthesis : The AI synthesizes the information from its analysis to create a cohesive and engaging prompt. This involves crafting scenarios that align with the specified genre and include the requested elements.
• Presentation : Finally, the prompt is presented to the user. This prompt is not only tailored to fit the initial specifications but is also designed to be open-ended enough to inspire further development and personalization by the writer.

Benefits of Using a Writing Prompt Generator

Exploring the benefits of using a prompt generator can significantly enhance your creative writing process, offering a treasure trove of ideas that counteract writer’s block and ignite your imagination.

Steps to Use the Writing Prompt Generator

Harnessing a prompt generator effectively requires understanding its features and how to apply them to your creative needs. Here’s how you can make the most out of it:

Select the Type of Prompt : Choose the type of writing prompt you need. Options typically include different genres such as mystery, romance, or science fiction; types of writing like stories, essays, or poems; and even specific focuses such as character development, setting, or plot twists.

Add Any Details (Optional) : You have the option to add specific elements to tailor the prompt more closely to your needs or interests. This could include character traits, a particular setting, a historical period, or a unique conflict. Adding details helps refine the generator’s output to better match your creative vision.

Click on ‘Generate’ : Once you’ve made your selections and added any desired details, simply click the ‘Generate’ button. The generator will then process your inputs using AI technology to produce a customized writing prompt based on the criteria you’ve set.

Tips for Using Writing Prompts

Using writing prompts effectively can transform them from simple sentences into gateways of endless creativity. Here are some additional tips to maximize their potential and enrich your writing practice:

Set a Timer: Begin with a short, focused writing session. Setting a timer for 15 to 20 minutes forces you to write without overthinking, encouraging spontaneous creativity that can lead to surprising discoveries.

Don’t Edit as You Go: Resist the urge to edit while writing your initial response to a prompt. The goal is to let ideas flow freely without the interruption of critical self-assessment.

Explore Multiple Angles: If a prompt catches your interest, try tackling it from different perspectives or genres. Writing multiple short pieces on the same prompt can reveal its various dimensions and enrich your creative exploration.

Combine Prompts: Mix and match prompts to create a new, more complex challenge. This can lead to innovative stories or ideas you might not have explored otherwise.

Use Prompts for Character Development: Apply prompts to your existing characters. How would they react in the scenarios proposed by the prompts? This can add depth to your characters and provide new insights into their personalities and motivations.

Create a Prompt Journal: Keep a dedicated journal or digital document for writing prompts and your responses to them. This not only tracks your progress over time but also serves as a personal idea bank for future projects.

Reflect and Revise: After writing, take time to reflect on what the prompt helped you uncover about your writing style, preferences, or recurring themes. Use this insight to revise your piece with a more focused intention.

Share Your Work: If you’re comfortable, share your responses to prompts with a writing group or on social media. Feedback can offer new perspectives and encouragement, enriching your writing journey.

Transform Prompts into Projects: Don’t hesitate to expand a prompt-driven story that feels particularly compelling into a full-blown project. Many novels, plays, and scripts have begun as simple exercises in response to a prompt.

Let Prompts Guide Research: Use prompts as a starting point for research, exploring the historical, scientific, or cultural contexts they evoke. This deep dive can add authenticity and richness to your writing.

Customize Prompts: Adjust and personalize prompts to better fit your current project or interests. Tailoring a prompt can make it more relevant and stimulating to you.

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generatestory.io is a hub of AI-powered story and content generators. We provide innovative tools for writers, educators, and creatives seeking to enhance their storytelling and content creation. Our platform offers diverse prompts and resources tailored to various genres and needs, supporting your journey from idea to execution. Explore our range of generators and find the perfect aid for your next creative project.

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Creative Writing Prompts

When the idea to start a weekly newsletter with writing inspiration first came to us, we decided that we wanted to do more than provide people with topics to write about. We wanted to try and help authors form a regular writing habit and also give them a place to proudly display their work. So we started the weekly Creative Writing Prompts newsletter. Since then, Prompts has grown to a community of more than 450,000 authors, complete with its own literary magazine, Prompted .  

Here's how our contest works: every Friday, we send out a newsletter containing five creative writing prompts. Each week, the story ideas center around a different theme. Authors then have one week — until the following Friday — to submit a short story based on one of our prompts. A winner is picked each week to win $250 and is highlighted on our Reedsy Prompts page.

Interested in participating in our short story contest? Sign up here for more information! Or you can check out our full Terms of Use and our FAQ page .

Why we love creative writing prompts

If you've ever sat in front of a computer or notebook and felt the urge to start creating worlds, characters, and storylines — all the while finding yourself unable to do so — then you've met the author's age-old foe: writer's block. There's nothing more frustrating than finding the time but not the words to be creative. Enter our directory! If you're ready to kick writer's block to the curb and finally get started on your short story or novel, these unique story ideas might just be your ticket.

This list of 1800+ creative writing prompts has been created by the Reedsy team to help you develop a rock-solid writing routine. As all aspiring authors know, this is the #1 challenge — and solution! — for reaching your literary goals. Feel free to filter through different genres, which include...

Dramatic — If you want to make people laugh and cry within the same story, this might be your genre.

Funny — Whether satire or slapstick, this is an opportunity to write with your funny bone.

Romance — One of the most popular commercial genres out there. Check out these story ideas out if you love writing about love.

Fantasy — The beauty of this genre is that the possibilities are as endless as your imagination.

Dystopian – Explore the shadowy side of human nature and contemporary technology in dark speculative fiction.

Mystery — From whodunnits to cozy mysteries, it's time to bring out your inner detective.

Thriller and Suspense — There's nothing like a page-turner that elicits a gasp of surprise at the end.

High School — Encourage teens to let their imaginations run free.

Want to submit your own story ideas to help inspire fellow writers? Send them to us here.

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Finding inspiration is just one piece of the puzzle. Next, you need to refine your craft skills — and then display them to the world. We've worked hard to create resources that help you do just that! Check them out:

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Beyond creative writing prompts: how to build a writing routine

While writing prompts are a great tactic to spark your creative sessions, a writer generally needs a couple more tools in their toolbelt when it comes to developing a rock-solid writing routine . To that end, here are a few more additional tips for incorporating your craft into your everyday life.

• NNWT. Or, as book coach Kevin Johns calls it , “Non-Negotiable Writing Time.” This time should be scheduled into your routine, whether that’s once a day or once a week. Treat it as a serious commitment, and don’t schedule anything else during your NNWT unless it’s absolutely necessary.
• Set word count goals. And make them realistic! Don’t start out with lofty goals you’re unlikely to achieve. Give some thought to how many words you think you can write a week, and start there. If you find you’re hitting your weekly or daily goals easily, keep upping the stakes as your craft time becomes more ingrained in your routine.
• Talk to friends and family about the project you’re working on. Doing so means that those close to you are likely to check in about the status of your piece — which in turn keeps you more accountable.

Arm yourself against writer’s block. Writer’s block will inevitably come, no matter how much story ideas initially inspire you. So it’s best to be prepared with tips and tricks you can use to keep yourself on track before the block hits. You can find 20 solid tips here — including how to establish a relationship with your inner critic and apps that can help you defeat procrastination or lack of motivation.

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AI Prompt Generator | ChatGPT Prompt Writer

Introduction

An AI prompt generator is an innovative tool that uses advanced natural language processing and machine learning algorithms to generate prompts for ChatGPT. These prompts serve as instructions for guiding artificial intelligence in various tasks, such as writing text , creating images , or generating ideas .

Introducing Junia's AI Prompt Generator—an adaptable tool designed to enhance the quality of prompts for a wide range of uses. Whether you're using it with ChatGPT for conversations, finding ideas for blog posts and essays, creating visual art, or working on academic projects, this tool represents a new level of interaction with AI.

By harnessing the power of Junia's AI Prompt Generator, you can:

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Understanding AI Prompt Generation

When you interact with an AI system, like when you ask it to write a message or generate an image, the words or instructions you give it are called a prompt . AI prompt generators, such as Junia's AI Prompt Generator, are specialized tools powered by OpenAI's large Language models that help you come up with these prompts. They utilize sophisticated natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning algorithms to understand your intentions and create the most effective input for the AI.

How Junia's AI Prompt Generator Works

Junia 's AI Prompt Generator is designed to provide contextual details in ChatGPT prompts. It follows a series of steps to ensure optimal prompt generation:

• Data Processing : Using NLP techniques, the tool comprehends human language, including the meaning of words, their usage in sentences, and the overall goal of your prompt.
• Algorithmic Learning : By leveraging machine learning algorithms, Junia's tool learns from examples and identifies patterns in data. This knowledge is then utilized to generate prompts that align with your specific requirements.
• Customization : The generator allows for personalized prompts based on factors like style, subject, tone , and desired keywords. By incorporating specialized instructions or guidelines, you can tailor the prompts to your needs.
• Interactivity Optimization : An important focus of this tool is optimizing prompt quality to elicit the best response from the AI. Whether generating text or images, a well-crafted prompt significantly impacts the output.

Junia AI's AI Prompt Writer also functions as a generator for ChatGPT prompts , Dalle prompts , Midjourney prompts , and various other AI models. It is a versatile tool that can be utilized across different platforms and applications, offering valuable assistance in generating prompts for a wide array of tasks.

It goes beyond simply expediting tasks; it enables clear expression of ideas while ensuring AI technology comprehends and supports them.

Benefits of Using Junia's AI Prompt Generator

Junia's AI Prompt Generator serves as an effective tool for prompt engineering , offering solutions to overcome obstacles to creativity and boost productivity in multiple disciplines. By delivering customized prompts, this tool simplifies the process of generating content, be it for social media, educational resources or entertainment.

1. Image Generation

The rise of AI that can turn text into images has completely changed the world of digital art and content creation. Junia's AI Prompt Generator is a key player in this creative transformation, providing a variety of prompts that make generating images easier. Artists and content creators sometimes hit a wall creatively, but the right prompt can spark loads of inspiration. Here's how Junia's tool boosts productivity and encourages new ideas:

How Junia's Tool Enhances Productivity and Fosters Innovation

1. overcoming creative blocks.

Even the most talented artists sometimes hit a wall. The AI prompt generator acts as a digital muse, offering fresh perspectives and ideas that can ignite the spark of creativity.

2. Productivity Boost

Time is precious, especially when meeting tight deadlines for social media campaigns or educational materials. The generator provides a variety of prompts quickly, streamlining the brainstorming phase and accelerating project timelines.

3. Diverse Content Creation

Whether for social media content, educational purposes, or entertainment, the prompts from Junia's tool are crafted to cater to a wide audience. With prompts tailored to different themes and styles, creators can easily produce visuals that resonate with their target demographic.

4. Synergy with Text-to-Image AI Generators

By integrating prompts from Junia's AI Prompt Generator with advanced text-to-image platforms like MidJourney, Dalle or Stable Diffusion , creators can manifest complex ideas into tangible visuals. These generators interpret the nuanced language of the prompts to produce images ranging from hyper-realistic to stylistically abstract.

5. Enhanced Visual Storytelling

For those looking to tell a story through imagery, the right prompt can set the tone for a compelling narrative. Junia's tool helps conceptualize scenes that can later be transformed into stunning visual stories by text-to-image AI generators.

Through these benefits, Junia's AI Prompt Generator not only simplifies the task of coming up with original ideas but also empowers creators to explore new artistic horizons. By leveraging such innovative tools, one can seamlessly translate abstract thoughts into striking visual representations.

2. Blog Generation

Bloggers often need to consistently create new and interesting content that connects with their audience and performs well in search engine rankings. This is where Junia's AI Prompt Generator can be incredibly helpful.

Key Advantages:

• SEO-Friendly Ideas: By entering relevant keywords, bloggers can get custom prompts that follow SEO best practices, increasing their chances of ranking higher on search engine results pages (SERPs).
• Structure and Flow: The prompts act as a framework for blog posts , giving ideas a clear structure and making it easier to organize thoughts, which is important for keeping readers engaged.
• Overcoming Writer's Block: When creativity is lacking, Junia's tool provides a starting point with thought-provoking prompts that can inspire fresh perspectives on topics or uncover hidden subtopics.

Expanding Reach in Various Areas:

• Social Media Content: Create prompts specifically for the fast-paced world of social media, where attention-grabbing headlines and interesting topics drive traffic and interactions.
• Education: Educators can use the generator to come up with informative blog posts that resonate with students or colleagues, encouraging a love for learning and discussion.
• Entertainment: Entertainment bloggers can explore popular themes and genres to create content that captures readers' attention and keeps them coming back for more.

Enhancing Productivity:

The AI prompt generator isn't just about generating ideas; it's about boosting productivity by:

• Providing instant suggestions to save time on brainstorming.
• Offering different perspectives that may not have been considered otherwise.
• Allowing writers to focus more on the quality of content rather than the initial topic selection process.

By incorporating Junia's AI Prompt Generator into their blogging routine, writers unlock a smooth flow of ideas that result in high-quality blog posts tailored to their audience's interests while also meeting search engine requirements. This tool not only makes the content creation process easier but also improves the blogging landscape with innovative and optimized content.

3. Creative Writing for AI Tools (e.g., ChatGPT)

Writers and artists often struggle with creative blocks, unable to come up with fresh ideas. Junia's AI Prompt Generator is here to help! It serves as a source of inspiration, helping you overcome these obstacles and boost your productivity. This tool is especially useful for creative writers who are using advanced AI ChatBots like ChatGPT, as it can generate one-of-a-kind writing prompts that will get your creativity flowing.

Benefits for Creative Minds:

• Overcoming Creative Blocks: By providing an array of thought-provoking stimuli, Junia's AI Prompt Generator helps disrupt stagnant creative phases.
• Boosting Productivity: Time otherwise spent in pursuit of the initial spark can be redirected toward actual content creation, thanks to the generator’s rapid prompt delivery.
• Diverse Content Creation: Whether the aim is to craft narratives for social media content, educational materials, or entertainment pieces, Junia's tool caters to a broad spectrum.

Pushing Boundaries with ChatGPT:

AI prompts from Junia's toolkit enrich the interaction between human creativity and machine intelligence. Such prompts elevate the capabilities of AI tools like ChatGPT by:

• Sparking New Ideas: Each prompt serves as a catalyst, igniting fresh ideas that lead to unprecedented storytelling avenues.
• Encouraging Dynamic Responses: Unique prompts elicit more nuanced and unexpected responses from AI models, adding depth to the conversation.
• Tailoring Content: Writers can tailor prompts to specific genres or themes, ensuring relevance and appeal for their target audience.

Junia's AI Prompt Generator thus acts not only as a creative ally but also as a strategic partner in content generation across various platforms. By integrating this tool into the creative process, writers and artists harness the synergy between human ingenuity and artificial intelligence—leading to a richer, more vibrant tapestry of digital expression.

4. Essay Writing and Research

For students and researchers, it can be difficult to go from a vague idea to a well-structured essay or research paper. One of the biggest challenges is choosing the right topic and formulating the right questions. That's where Junia's AI Prompt Generator comes in handy! It's a powerful tool that offers many advantages, making it easier and faster to come up with ideas

Criteria for an Effective Prompt for AI

Crafting a powerful and effective prompt can mean the difference between a valuable output and a confusing one. But what exactly makes a good prompt?

Understanding Different AI Models

Different AI models are designed to handle specific types of tasks. Therefore, it's essential to understand their unique capabilities when creating prompts. For instance:

• Language models like GPT-4 often respond better to clear directives within their prompts.
• Recommendation systems , on the other hand, may prefer user-specific data incorporated into their prompts to generate tailored recommendations.
• Image recognition models require distinctly different inputs, often in the form of visual data.

Developing Prompts for Content Generation

Prompts for content generation need to be more nuanced and detailed because they need to guide the AI in producing complex outputs such as essays, reports or blog posts.

To create an efficient content generation prompt:

• Clearly specify your desired style and tone: If you want a professional report, mention this explicitly in your prompt.
• Include keywords or phrases: Highlighting important concepts or themes helps guide the AI's output.
• Give examples: When possible, provide an example of the kind of content you want.

Formulating Prompts for Image Generation

Image generation is a unique field within AI, requiring a different approach towards prompt creation. Here are some tips:

• Use descriptive language: The more detailed your description, the better the AI can generate an image that matches your vision.
• Specify colors and shapes: These details can greatly enhance the accuracy of the generated image.
• Request specific styles or themes: If you want an image in a particular artistic style (e.g., impressionist, abstract), be sure to include this in your prompt.

When using Junia's AI Prompt Generator, keep the following tips in mind to maximize your creative potential and enhance your AI interactions:

• Be Clear and Specific : Write prompts that clearly communicate what you want the AI to generate. Use concise and specific language to avoid ambiguity and get the desired results.
• Experiment with Different Approaches : Don't be afraid to try different styles and formats for your prompts. You can experiment with open-ended questions, descriptive scenarios, or even provide partial sentences for the AI to complete. This will help you explore various creative possibilities.
• Provide Context and Constraints : Give the AI some context or constraints to work within. For example, if you're looking for a specific genre or tone, mention it in your prompt. This will guide the AI in generating more relevant and tailored responses.
• Use Interesting Triggers : Incorporate intriguing keywords or phrases into your prompts to spark the AI's imagination. Unusual or unexpected triggers can lead to unique and innovative outputs.
• Utilize Industry-Specific Terms : If you're working on a project in a particular field or industry, use relevant terminology in your prompts. This will ensure that the generated content is aligned with the subject matter and adds credibility to your work.
• Break Down Complex Concepts : If you need the AI to explain a complex concept or provide step-by-step instructions, break it down into smaller parts in your prompt. This will help the AI understand and generate more accurate responses.
• Encourage Creativity : Prompt the AI with prompts that encourage creative thinking and exploration of new ideas. Push boundaries by asking thought-provoking questions or requesting alternative perspectives on a topic.
• Iterate and Refine : Don't settle for the first prompt you write. Experiment with different variations, iterate, and refine your prompts based on the outputs you receive. This will help you fine-tune the AI's responses to better suit your needs.

Remember, Junia's AI Prompt Generator is a tool designed to amplify your creativity and productivity. By following these prompt writing tips, you can unlock the full potential of AI in your creative projects, research endeavors, and content creation.

By understanding these criteria and tailoring your prompts accordingly, you can optimize your interactions with diverse AI models and maximize their potential output.

Frequently asked questions

• What is an AI prompt generator? An AI prompt generator is an innovative tool at the forefront of AI technology, designed to provide contextual prompts for various purposes such as content generation, social media content, education, entertainment, and more.
• How does Junia's AI Prompt Generator work? Junia's AI Prompt Generator is designed to provide contextual prompts based on specific needs. It enhances productivity and fosters innovation by overcoming creative blocks, expanding reach in various areas, and enhancing productivity for tasks such as blog generation, creative writing, essay writing, image generation and research.
• What are the benefits of using Junia's AI Prompt Generator? Junia's AI Prompt Generator stands as a powerful ally in content generation, social media content creation, education, entertainment, and more. It helps in overcoming creative blocks, enhancing productivity, fostering innovation, and expanding reach in various areas such as SEO-friendly ideas and social media content.
• How can Junia's AI Prompt Generator help you overcome challenges? Junia's tool can assist you in overcoming challenges by providing contextual prompts for various purposes such as creative writing, essay writing and research. It also helps in developing effective prompts for content generation and image generation while enriching the interaction between writers and artists with tools like ChatGPT.
• What are the key advantages of using an AI prompt generator? An AI prompt generator offers key advantages such as providing SEO-friendly ideas for bloggers by entering relevant keywords, creating prompts specifically for social media content to expand reach in various areas, and enhancing productivity by generating a wide array of thought-provoking prompts.
• What are the criteria for an effective prompt for AI? Crafting a powerful and effective prompt can mean the difference between success and failure. Effective prompts need to be more nuanced and detailed to cater to different AI models designed to handle specific types of tasks such as content generation or image generation.

What Is a Prompt in Writing? (Ultimate Guide + 200 Examples)

Ever stumbled upon a blank page and didn’t know where to start?

That’s where a writing prompt steps in, kicking your creativity into gear and guiding your pen (or cursor) in the right direction.

What is a prompt in writing?

A prompt in writing is a starting point designed to ignite creativity, guiding writers to explore themes, genres, or emotions. It can be a word, question, image, or scenario, aiding in overcoming writer’s block.

Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about prompts in writing.

What Is a Prompt in Writing (Long Description)?

Table of Contents

A writing prompt is essentially a starting point.

Think of it as a spark designed to ignite your creativity and guide your thoughts in a specific direction.

This little nudge can come in various forms – a word, a sentence, a question, or even a picture – and serves the purpose of inspiring you to write.

Whether you’re drafting a story, an essay, or just jotting down your thoughts, prompts help overcome the intimidation of a blank page.

It sets a predefined theme or direction for your writing.

They’re not just about what you write, but how you think and approach writing, encouraging you to explore new ideas, genres, and perspectives.

Here is a good video that explains prompts in writing:

Types of Prompts in Writing

Now let’s go over different types of prompts in writing.

Common prompt types include:

The Story Starter

The question quest, picture this, the first line frenzy.

The Story Starter is your classic nudge towards narrative creativity.

It’s a sentence or scenario meant to kick off your storytelling journey, helping you dive straight into the plot, characters, or setting.

This type of prompt is great for fiction writers looking for a jumping-off point to explore various themes or genres.

It can be as detailed or as open-ended as you like, providing just enough information to spark an idea without dictating the direction of your story.

• “When the clock struck midnight, she realized…”
• “Lost in the forest, he stumbled upon a hidden village…”
• “The last person on Earth sat alone in a room. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door…”
• “In a world where magic is real, a young apprentice discovers…”
• “The photograph in the old book revealed a secret that would change everything…”
• “Stranded on a desert island, they found a message in a bottle…”
• “On her hundredth birthday, she received a letter that took her back to her youth…”
• “The map led them to a place that wasn’t supposed to exist…”
• “In the midst of war, a forbidden love blossomed…”
• “He inherited an old mansion, not knowing the ancestors would still be around…”

The Question Quest prompt type uses intriguing questions to push your thinking boundaries and explore ideas in depth.

It’s perfect for essays, reflective writing, or exploring complex themes and issues.

These prompts challenge you to consider different perspectives, analyze situations, and develop reasoned arguments or narratives based on the question posed.

• “What would you do if you could travel back in time?”
• “How would society change if humans lived to be 300 years old?”
• “Is it possible to live a completely ethical life in today’s world?”
• “What does true bravery look like?”
• “How would the discovery of extraterrestrial life impact humanity?”
• “What is the true cost of progress?”
• “Can happiness be measured?”
• “What role does fate play in our lives?”
• “Is technology bringing us closer together or driving us apart?”
• “What would you change if you were the leader of your country for a day?”

Picture This prompts use images as the springboard for writing.

A photograph, painting, or even a random doodle can unlock a flood of creativity.

Which makes it an excellent tool for both fiction and non-fiction writers.

This visual cue encourages you to dive into descriptive writing, storytelling, or even analytical essays, exploring the emotions, stories, or ideas evoked by the image.

• A deserted street at dawn, with an old bicycle leaning against a lamppost.
• A vintage suitcase, open and filled with letters and photographs.
• A bustling market scene in a foreign country.
• A child gazing out of a rain-spattered window.
• A majestic mountain range under the stars.
• An abandoned house, its rooms still furnished but covered in dust.
• A close-up of a spider web with dewdrops.
• A lively street festival, with people dancing and musicians playing.
• An old, faded map with several places marked in red.
• A serene lake at sunset, with a lone boat tied to a wooden dock.

The First Line Frenzy is a thrilling way to dive into a story.

These prompts provide the opening sentence of your narrative, setting the tone and direction for everything that follows.

It’s a fantastic method for overcoming writer’s block and sparking your imagination, as the initial line can lead to unexpected and exciting story developments.

• “The day began with a mysterious package on my doorstep.”
• “I never believed in ghosts until I moved into the old Henderson house.”
• “The moment I heard the news, I knew my life would never be the same.”
• “Under the light of a full moon, the city revealed its true secrets.”
• “It was the kind of café you’d stumble upon once and never find again.”
• “With a deep breath, I stepped into the unknown.”
• “The letter, sealed with a wax emblem, contained a proposition I couldn’t refuse.”
• “As the train pulled away, she realized her mistake.”
• “In the heart of the ancient forest, a hidden path led to unexpected wonders.”
• “The discovery promised to rewrite history, but at what cost?”

Dialogue Driven

Dialogue Driven prompts center around a snippet of conversation, offering a dynamic entry point into your writing.

This approach is particularly effective for character development and exploring relationships through direct speech.

It can set the scene, reveal personalities, and drive the plot forward, all through the power of dialogue.

• “Did you really think I wouldn’t find out?” “I was hoping.”
• “Why is this door always locked?” “You’re not ready to know what’s behind it.”
• “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.” “That’s where you’re wrong.”
• “The stars look different here.” “Everything does.”
• “I wish I could stay.” “Then why are you leaving?”
• “It’s not about what I want anymore.” “Then what’s it about?”
• “I’ve never seen anything like it.” “And you never will again.”
• “Can you keep a secret?” “Depends on the secret.”
• “We’re not in Kansas anymore.” “We’re not even on the same planet.”
• “It was supposed to be a simple plan.” “Since when does anything go according to plan?”

The Sensory Dive

The Sensory Dive prompts are designed to immerse you and your reader in vivid, sensory-rich experiences.

These prompts encourage descriptive writing that appeals to the senses, painting a scene so tangible that readers feel they can touch, taste, hear, see, and smell it.

It’s a powerful tool for creating immersive worlds and experiences.

• Describe the cacophony of a bustling city market at noon.
• The taste of the first snowflake of winter.
• The scent of old books in a forgotten library.
• The feeling of sand between your toes as waves crash on the shore.
• The sight of a landscape transformed by autumn’s touch.
• The sound of a distant thunderstorm approaching.
• The warmth of a crackling fire on a cold night.
• The chill of walking through a foggy graveyard at dusk.
• The texture of an ancient, carved stone.
• The silence of a snow-covered forest.

The What-If Wonder

The What-If Wonder prompts take you on a journey of imagination, exploring alternate realities and scenarios.

These prompts ask you to consider how different choices, events, or conditions might alter the world, characters, or story.

It’s an excellent way to delve into speculative fiction, science fiction, and fantasy, pushing the boundaries of reality.

• What if humans had the ability to communicate telepathically?
• What if gravity suddenly became a variable force on Earth?
• What if you woke up 100 years in the past with your current memories intact?
• What if plants were the dominant intelligent species on the planet?
• What if you could see the future but only 24 hours ahead?
• What if water was as rare as gold?
• What if everyone had their lifespan displayed above their heads?
• What if you found a door that could take you to parallel universes?
• What if animals could petition for their rights?
• What if dreams were actually glimpses into alternate realities?

The Emotional Rollercoaster

The Emotional Rollercoaster prompt is all about exploring the depths of human emotion, challenging you to convey complex feelings and reactions.

These prompts are perfect for delving into character development, interpersonal relationships, and personal reflection.

By focusing on the emotional landscape, writers can create compelling narratives that resonate with readers on a deeply personal level.

• The moment you realized you were in love.
• Feeling utterly lost in a place you once called home.
• The bitter sweetness of a farewell.
• Overcoming a fear that once held you back.
• The complex emotions of reuniting with someone after many years.
• The guilt of a lie that spiraled out of control.
• The rush of achieving something you thought was impossible.
• The profound sadness of losing a cherished memory to time.
• The unexpected joy found in a simple act of kindness.
• The peace of accepting things you cannot change.

The Genre Blender

The Genre Blender prompts encourage you to mix elements from different genres, creating unique and innovative narratives.

These prompts are excellent for writers looking to break the mold and experiment with their storytelling.

Whether it’s combining science fiction with historical fiction or fantasy with mystery, the possibilities are endless.

• A detective in a dystopian future solving a crime that could change the course of history.
• A romance blossoming in the midst of a zombie apocalypse.
• A fantasy world where magic is dying, and technology is on the rise.
• A historical drama set in ancient Rome, but with a twist of time travel.
• A horror story set in space, aboard a ship with a mysterious alien artifact.
• A western where the frontier towns are protected by wizards instead of gunslingers.
• A cyberpunk thriller featuring a heist in a virtual reality world.
• A mystery set in a magical school where the students must uncover a dark secret.
• A superhero story grounded in the real-world challenges of modern society.
• An adventure tale that blends deep-sea exploration with ancient mythology.

The Time Traveler’s Gateway

The Time Traveler’s Gateway prompts explore the intricacies of time travel, its implications, and its paradoxes.

This type of prompt is perfect for science fiction and speculative fiction writers, offering a playground for the imagination that challenges our understanding of time, history, and causality.

• Discovering a time machine in your backyard and deciding where to go first.
• A message from the future warning of an impending disaster.
• The consequences of changing a small event in the past.
• A society where time travel is common, but strictly regulated.
• An ancient civilization that had advanced time travel technology.
• Meeting your ancestors and learning their secrets.
• The ethical dilemmas of using time travel for personal gain.
• A love story that transcends time barriers.
• The discovery that history is a construct, shaped by time travelers.
• A time loop where the protagonist must solve a puzzle to escape.

The World Builder’s Dream

The World Builder’s Dream prompts invite you to create entire worlds from scratch.

This type of prompt is a boon for fantasy and science fiction writers, offering the freedom to craft unique settings, cultures, laws of nature, and societies.

It’s an opportunity to let your imagination run wild and establish the groundwork for epic tales.

• A planet where the seasons last for decades.
• A city built entirely on the back of a giant, wandering creature.
• A society where people’s roles are determined by their innate magical abilities.
• An underwater civilization that has never seen the surface.
• A world where dreams can be entered and manipulated.
• A floating island nation that travels the skies.
• A dystopian future where memories can be bought and sold.
• A kingdom where music is the source of all magic.
• A realm where the night lasts half the year.
• An alternate Earth where the continents never split apart.

The Unseen Perspective

The Unseen Perspective prompts challenge you to write from the viewpoint of non-human characters or entities.

This approach forces you to step outside the human experience and consider the world from a completely different angle.

It’s a fantastic way to explore themes of consciousness, nature, and the interconnectedness of life.

• The life of a tree over centuries, witnessing the changes in the world.
• A day in the life of a household pet during a major family event.
• The thoughts of a spaceship AI as it travels through the cosmos.
• The experiences of a ghost haunting an old mansion.
• A story told from the perspective of a river, from source to sea.
• The journey of a single leaf from sprout to falling to the ground.
• The collective consciousness of a hive of bees facing environmental challenges.
• The ancient spirit of a mountain overseeing its surroundings.
• The adventures of a book as it passes from reader to reader, experiencing different interpretations and emotions.
• The perspective of a city as it grows and evolves over centuries, through peace and conflict.

The Emotional Journey

The Emotional Journey prompts focus on the internal growth and transformation of characters.

It invites writers to delve into personal development, self-discovery, and the overcoming of obstacles.

This type of prompt is ideal for character-driven narratives, where the emphasis is on emotional depth and the evolution of the protagonist’s inner self.

• A character grappling with the loss of a loved one and finding a way to move forward.
• The journey of self-acceptance for someone who feels out of place in their world.
• A hero facing their darkest fears in order to save what they cherish most.
• A villain’s realization of the impact of their actions and their quest for redemption.
• A young adult’s transition into independence and the challenges they face along the way.
• The transformation of a skeptic into a believer through a series of unexplainable events.
• The struggle of a character to forgive themselves and others for past mistakes.
• The process of rebuilding one’s life after a catastrophic event.
• A character’s journey from indifference to passionate advocacy for a cause.
• The evolving relationship between two characters who start as rivals and become allies.

The Moral Dilemma

The Moral Dilemma prompts put characters in situations where they must make difficult choices, often between two equally undesirable options.

These prompts are great for exploring ethical questions, character morality, and the complexity of human nature.

They challenge writers to think deeply about what it means to make a “right” decision.

• Choosing between saving a loved one or a group of strangers from danger.
• Deciding whether to expose a painful truth that could destroy a friend’s happiness.
• The choice of upholding the law or doing what is morally right in a corrupt society.
• A character must decide whether to seek revenge or forgive an unforgivable act.
• The dilemma of sacrificing personal dreams for the greater good.
• Deciding whether to keep a secret that protects one person but harms others.
• A leader’s choice between peace at the cost of justice or war for the sake of freedom.
• The ethical implications of using advanced technology to alter human nature.
• A scientist faces a moral conflict over a discovery that could change the world but has dangerous implications.
• The struggle of a character who finds out that their entire life is based on a lie and must choose how to react.

The Creative Challenge

The Creative Challenge prompts are designed to push the boundaries of conventional storytelling.

It encourages experimentation with narrative structure, style, and content.

These prompts invite writers to play with unconventional formats, such as a story told in reverse, a narrative composed entirely of dialogue, or a tale that weaves multiple perspectives into a cohesive whole.

• A story told through a series of diary entries, each revealing a piece of the puzzle.
• A narrative structured as a series of text messages between characters.
• A tale that begins with its conclusion and works backward to the start.
• A story where each chapter is from the perspective of a different character, all revolving around a single event.
• A narrative composed entirely of letters sent between two characters.
• A story told through the lens of an inanimate object witnessing events unfold.
• A tale that intertwines the past and present, revealing how they mirror and affect each other.
• A narrative that challenges the concept of linear time, mixing moments from various points in the characters’ lives.
• A story where the setting changes in each chapter, influencing the plot and characters in unique ways.
• A narrative that plays with genre conventions, blending elements from different genres in unexpected ways.

Final Thoughts: What Is a Prompt in Writing?

I hope this guide “prompts” you to understanding, creativity, and motivation to write.

Check out some of our other great guides below.

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Prompt Generators

Writing prompt generator.

Overcome writer's block! Get inspired with our AI-powered writing prompt generator for all genres and styles.

Example of Writing Prompt

Open-Ended Generation: Begin a story/piece with a broad theme or idea.

Example: "Write a story about the concept of time."

Specific Generation: Request a piece on a precise topic.

Example: "Describe the process of photosynthesis."

Visual Generation: Describe an image or scene.

Example: "Write a paragraph about a serene sunset by the ocean."

Dialogue Generation: Create a conversation between characters.

Example: "Write a dialogue between a detective and a suspect."

Scenario or What-If Generation: Pose a hypothetical situation.

Example: "What if humans could breathe underwater?"

First Line Generation: Provide an opening sentence.

Example: "Start a story with the sentence: 'The old mansion had secrets.'

Character Generation: Describe a character's attributes.

Example: "Create a character who is a brilliant but socially awkward scientist."

Fantasy or Sci-Fi World-Building Generation: Develop a fictional world.

Example: "Design a futuristic city on a distant planet."

Character Development Generation: Explore character growth.

Example: "Show how a timid child becomes a courageous hero."

Sentence Expansion Generation: Expand a given sentence.

Example: "Expand on the sentence: 'She walked through the forest, listening to the whispering trees.'

Genre-Specific Generation: Specify a literary genre.

Example: "Write a mystery story set in a small, isolated village."

Reflective or Personal Generation: Encourage personal reflection.

Example: "Share a meaningful life lesson you've learned."

Historical or Research-Based Generation: Request a historical or research-based piece.

Example: "Write an essay on the impact of the Industrial Revolution."

Question Generation: Generate thought-provoking questions.

Example: "Pose five questions about the effects of climate change."

Comparative Generation: Compare two or more subjects.

Example: "Compare and contrast the advantages of city life and rural life."

Persuasive or Argumentative Generation: Write a persuasive argument.

Example: "Argue for or against the use of renewable energy sources."

Poetry Generation: Encourage poetic composition.

Example: "Compose a haiku about a blooming cherry blossom."

Daily or Journaling Generation: Prompt daily journaling.

Example: "Write about your most memorable moment from today."

Flash Fiction Generation: Create a very short story.

Example: "Write a 100-word story about a lost key."

Random Word or Object Generation: Include a random word or object.

Example: "Incorporate the word 'umbrella' into your story."

What are you writing about today?

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How to Create a Writing Prompt: Step-by-Step

Learn how to create a writing prompt that works using step-by-step in our guide.

Writer’s block can be a serious problem for many writers. Even the best writing has to come from somewhere, and when you are struggling to get started, you will feel frustrated. Learning how to create a writing prompt will help you get your creative writing ideas flowing, so you can get past your writer’s block and start writing engaging, effective content.

If you find it challenging to start writing while staring at a blank page, this guide will teach you how to create a writing prompt that will help. Whether you’re writing an essay or a short story, use these steps to generate creative  writing prompts .

Step 1: Try Free Writing

Step 2: expand on an idea, step 3: change the point of view, step 4: start with a quote, step 5: explore your favorite place, step 6: use images or objects, step 7: choose a generic writing prompt, step 8: use your writing prompt.

If you’re stuck, consider some free writing. Grab a piece of paper and write down anything that comes to your mind. As you brainstorm, you will see your creative juices start flowing.

Perhaps the first thing that comes to mind is a funny story about a family member from last Christmas, or maybe it’s an expository essay you just read on a political topic. Just write it down and write down as many thoughts on that topic as you can, and you might pull a writing prompt from the mix. Don’t know how to copyright your book? Check out our guide on how to copyright a book . You can also check out our other how-to articles by typing “how to” in our search bar.

After brainstorming, look at your list. Does any particular idea stand out? Ask questions about that idea to expand on it.

One of the best ways to do this is to ask “what if” questions. With your idea, ask “what if” something happened a different way. This will help you generate your own writing prompts just from the ideas already in your head. Stuck? Read our list of brainstorming tips .

If you have a writing idea from a particular fairy tale or book, consider changing the point of view. Could you tell the story of Sleeping Beauty but from the evil queen’s point of view?

This writing exercise works for middle school and high school students and adults, and it often comes up with some interesting finished products. By changing the point of view, you can look at a well-known story in a completely different light. Learn more about first versus third person

Maybe you don’t have a fleshed-out idea to use. Instead, take a favorite quote and use it as the first line of your essay or story. Let your writing skills shine as you take that quote and turn it into something interesting.

This option can be a great way to create persuasive writing prompts. Grab a list of quotes designed to persuade, and transform them into something great. Check out our quotes about writing .

If you are still stuck, consider writing about your favorite place or a place you go regularly, like the grocery store. Use all of your sensory words to describe this place. Talk about what you hear, see, smell, feel and even taste while you walk through it.

This type of real-life writing can be very powerful, and it can be a great story starter. Give the writer the prompt to explore their favorite place, then write a narrative or expository essay that involves that place. The opportunities for creativity are endless. If you are just starting your writing career you might find our guide on how to write a personal essay helpful to kickstart your journey! You can also check out our other how-to articles by typing “how to” in our search bar.

Instead of using words, consider making a writing prompt  out of an image or even an object. Collect images, old postcards or physical objects, and present these as the prompt.

The key to this type of writing is to create a story or essay about that object. It requires imaginative thinking to determine where the object came from and what it might have meant. You can take this a step further by blindfolding the writers and asking them to experience the object using their other senses, then put the object away and let them write.

Sometimes, a one-line, generic writing prompt is all you need to start generating ideas. Some thoughts include:

• I want to…
• I know that…
• What I fail to notice is…
• I wonder…
• I am looking for…

These options are great for personal writing, as they ask the writer to dig into their own ideas and thoughts.

Now that you’ve explored some ideas, you are ready to start creating the prompt . Keep it short, simple, and open-ended. The goal is to provide yourself or a writing group with an idea they can expand on for their writing time.

The length of a good prompt varies. You can keep it very short, one sentence or opening phrase, or provide the foundation for a story that the writer expounds upon. The key is to leave enough to the imagination that the writer can express themselves more easily.

Bryan Collins is the owner of Become a Writer Today. He's an author from Ireland who helps writers build authority and earn a living from their creative work. He's also a former Forbes columnist and his work has appeared in publications like Lifehacker and Fast Company.

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8 Ways to Create AI-Proof Writing Prompts

C reating 100 percent AI-proof writing prompts can often be impossible but that doesn’t mean there aren’t strategies that can limit the efficacy of AI work. These techniques can also help ensure more of the writing submitted in your classroom is human-generated. 

I started seeing a big uptick in AI-generated work submitted in my classes over the last year and that has continued. As a result, I’ve gotten much better at recognizing AI work , but I’ve also gotten better at creating writing prompts that are less AI-friendly. 

Essentially, I like to use the public health Swiss cheese analogy when thinking about AI prevention: All these strategies on their own have holes but when you layer the cheese together, you create a barrier that’s hard to get through. 

The eight strategies here may not prevent students from submitting AI work, but I find these can incentivize human writing and make sure that any work submitted via AI will not really meet the requirements of the assignment. 

1. Writing AI-Proof Prompts: Put Your Prompt Into Popular AI tools such as ChatGPT, Copilot, and Bard 

Putting your writing prompt into an AI tools will give you an immediate idea of how most AI tools will handle your prompt. If the various AI chatbots do a good, or at least adequate, job immediately, it might be wise to tweak the prompt. 

One of my classes asks students to write about a prized possession. When you put this prompt into an AI chatbot, it frequently returns an essay about a family member's finely crafted watch. Obviously, I now watch out for any essays about watches. 

2. Forbid Cliché Use

Probably the quickest and easiest way to cut back on some AI use is to come down hard on cliché use in writing assignments. AI tools are essentially cliché machines, so banning these can prevent a lot of AI use. 

Equally as important, this practice will help your students become better writers. As any good writer knows, clichés should be avoided like the plague. 

3. Incorporate Recent Events

The free version of ChatGPT only has access to events up to 2022. While there are plugins to allow it to search the internet and other internet-capable AI tools, some students won’t get further than ChatGPT. 

More importantly, in my experience, all AI tools struggle to incorporate recent events as effectively as historic ones. So connecting class material and assignments to events such as a recent State of Union speech or the Academy Awards will make any AI writing use less effective. 

4. Require Quotes

AI tools can incorporate direct quotations but most are not very good at doing so. The quotes used tend to be very short and not as well-placed within essays. 

Asking an AI tool for recent quotes also can be particularly problematic for today’s robot writers. For instance, I asked Microsoft's Copilot to summarize the recent Academy Awards using quotes, and specifically asked it to quote from Oppenheimer's director Christopher Nolan’s acceptance speech. It quoted something Nolan had previously said instead. Copilot also quoted from Wes Anderson’s acceptance speech, an obvious error since Anderson wasn’t at the awards .  

5. Make Assignments Personal

Having students reflect on material in their own lives can be a good way to prevent AI writing. In-person teachers can get to know their students well enough to know when these types of personal details are fabricated. 

I teach online but still find it easier to tell when a more personalized prompt was written by AI. For example, one student submitted a paper about how much she loved skateboarding that was so non-specific it screamed AI written. Another submitted a post about a pair of sneakers that was also clearly written by a "sole-less" AI (I could tell because of the clichés and other reasons). 

6. Make Primary or Scholarly Sources Mandatory

Requiring sources that are not easily accessible on the internet can stop AI writing in its tracks. I like to have students find historic newspapers for certain assignments. The AI tools I am familiar with can’t incorporate these. 

For instance, I asked Copilot to compare coverage of the first Academy Awards in the media to the most recent awards show and to include quotes from historic newspaper coverage. The comparison was not well done and there were no quotes from historical newspaper coverage. 

AI tools also struggle to incorporate journal articles. Encouraging your students to include these types of sources ensures the work they produce is deeper than something that can be revealed by a quick Google search, which not only makes it harder for AI to write but also can raise the overall quality.  

7. Require Interviews, Field Trips, Etc. 

Building on primary and scholarly sources, you can have your students conduct interviews or go on field trips to historic sites, museums, etc. 

AI is still, thankfully, incapable of engaging in these types of behavior. This requires too much work for every assignment but it is the most effective way to truly ensure your work is human- not computer-written. 

If you’re still worried about AI use, you can even go a step further by asking your students to include photos of them with their interview subjects or from the field trips. Yes, AI art generators are getting better as well, but remember the Swiss cheese analogy? Every layer of prevention can help. 

8. Have Students Write During Class

As I said to start, none of the methods discussed are foolproof. Many ways around these safeguards already exist and there will be more ways to bypass these in the future. So if you’re really, really worried about AI use you may want to choose what I call the “nuclear option.” If you teach in person you can require students to write essays in person. 

This approach definitely works for preventing AI and is okay for short pieces, but for longer pieces, it has a lot of downsides. I would have trouble writing a long piece in this setting and imagine many students will as well. Additionally, this requirement could create an accusatory class atmosphere that is more focused on preventing AI use than actually teaching. It’s also not practical for online teaching. 

That all being said, given how common AI writing has become in education, I understand why some teachers will turn to this method. Hopefully, suggestions 1-7 will work but if AI-generated papers are still out of hand in your classroom, this is a blunt-force method that can work temporarily. 

Good luck and may your assignments be free of AI writing! 

• 7 Ways To Detect AI Writing Without Technology
• Best Free AI Detection Sites
• My Student Was Submitting AI Papers. Here's What I Did

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Picture Prompts

125 Picture Prompts for Creative and Narrative Writing

What story can these images tell?

By The Learning Network

For eight years, we at The Learning Network have been publishing short, accessible, image-driven prompts that invite students to do a variety of kinds of writing via our Picture Prompts column.

Each week, at least one of those prompts asks students: Use your imagination to write the opening of a short story or poem inspired by this image — or, tell us about a memory from your own life that it makes you think of.

Now we’re rounding up years of these storytelling prompts all in one place. Below you’ll find 125 photos, illustrations and GIFs from across The New York Times that you can use for both creative and personal writing. We have organized them by genre, but many overlap and intersect, so know that you can use them in any way you like.

Choose an image, write a story, and then follow the link in the caption to the original prompt to post your response or read what other students had to say. Many are still open for comment for teenagers 13 and up. And each links to a free Times article too.

We can’t wait to read the tales you spin! Don’t forget that you can respond to all of our Picture Prompts, as they publish, here .

Images by Category

Everyday life, mystery & suspense, relationships, science fiction, travel & adventure, unusual & unexpected, cat in a chair, happy puppy, resourceful raccoon, cows and cellos, people and penguins, opossum among shoes, on the subway, sunset by the water, endless conversation, falling into a hole, lounging around, sneaker collection, the concert, meadow in starlight.

Related Picture Prompt | Related Article

Public Selfies

Night circus, tarot cards, castle on a hill, security line, batman on a couch, reaching through the wall, beware of zombies, haunted house, familial frights, witches on the water, blindfolded, phone booth in the wilderness, shadow in the sky, a letter in the mail, hidden doorway.

Point of No Return

Darkened library, under the table, playing dominoes, looking back, a wave goodbye, out at dusk, conversation, walking away, alone and together, a new friend, heated conversation, up in a tree, hole in the ceiling, under the desk, at their computers, marching band, band practice, in the hallway, in the lunchroom, the red planet, tech gadgets, trapped inside, astronaut and spider, computer screen, special key, tethered in space, on the court, in the waves, city skateboarding.

Fishing in a Stream

Over the falls.

Under the Sea

Sledding in the mountains, cracked mirror, wilderness wayfaring, car and cactus, walking through town, tropical confinement, travel travails, roller coasters, atop the hill, climbing a ladder, under the ice, other selves.

Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public and may appear in print.

Find more Picture Prompts here.