Over 182 "Contemporary Fiction" Writing Prompts
Notes from the Dog Park
Write a story about two people who meet at a dog park every day, each unaware that their dogs have been swapping notes between them. They start to fall for each other, guided unknowingly by their pets' matchmaking skills.
The Letter in the Used Book
Write a story about a retired professor who finds an old, unopened letter in a used book, which reveals a secret that challenges everything they thought they knew about their past.
The Spirit of the Unsolved Case
Explore the life of a professional medium who can communicate with the spirits of a city, leading ghost tours by day and helping unsettled spirits find peace by night. One evening, they encounter a spirit that doesn't want peace, but rather seeks assistance to complete an unfinished task tied deeply to the city’s most infamous unsolved mystery.
Faith Beyond the Family
The youngest child of a strictly religious family secretly joins a non-denominational spiritual group. Explore the dynamics of love, acceptance, and identity as they navigate their family's reactions and discover their own path in faith.
Three Women and the Vineyard
Tell the tale of three generations of women from the same family who come together to save the family vineyard during a particularly challenging season, uncovering long-buried secrets and mending old wounds along the way.
The Naiad and the Rising River
In a bustling modern-day city, mythological creatures hide in plain sight as regular citizens. Write a story from the perspective of a young naiad who runs a popular floral shop, but must conceal her true identity as water levels in the city's river mysteriously begin to rise.
The Writer at the Lighthouse
Pen a story about a failed writer who decides to start a new life by moving into an old lighthouse. The isolation and the people they meet there inspire a new novel based on their own experiences and the tales of the sea told by locals.
The Town Beneath the Tide
A small coastal village hosts a secret every full moon: the sea inexplicably recedes to unveil an ancient, submerged town only accessible for a single night. Tell the story of a young historian and a local fisherman teaming up to uncover the submerged town’s lost legends and treasures.
The Dogs at the Park
Write a story about two people who meet at a dog park every morning. Though they've never spoken, they've noticed each other because their dogs—complete opposites in breed and personality—have inexplicably become inseparable friends. This silent mutual acknowledgment leads to a first conversation and slowly unfurls into something more.
Saving the Old Meeting House
Set in a multicultural urban neighborhood, bring to life a story where members of different religious communities come together to save a historic building slated for demolition. Highlight their journey of collaboration, overcoming prejudices, and discovering shared values.