The Farmer's Scroll Case
In ancient China, a humble rice farmer discovers a mysterious, beautifully carved scroll case hidden deep within his new land. The contents inside lead him on a journey through the forbidden parts of the imperial city, uncovering secrets that could change the course of history.
Suggested length: A short story: 1,500 to 5,000 words, or flash fiction under 1,000
Start the clock
Pick a sprint, press start and keep going until it stops. Momentum beats polish on a first draft.
Make it yours
Three ways to take this prompt somewhere nobody else will.
- Let your character believe something about their world that turned out to be wrong.
- Give the hero a rule of the era they have to break.
- Choose one real detail of the period, like a price, a law or a song, and build a scene around it.
Writing historical fiction
Step into another time and feel what it was like.
Historical fiction is set in the past, usually at least 50 years before it was written. Real events and people often appear, but the story belongs to its characters. Readers come for the immersion: the smells, the rules, the dangers of a world that's gone.
What readers expect
- A vivid, well-researched setting
- Real events as backdrop or engine
- Characters shaped by their era
- Details that feel lived, not looked up
A tip before you start
Research deeply, show lightly. One telling detail in a scene beats a paragraph of facts.
More Asian Historical Fiction prompts
- The Merchant of MalaccaExplore the bustling streets of 15th century Malacca at the height of its power as a trading port. Your protagonist is a local merchant who encounters…
- The Samurai Who Dreamed of PeaceSet your narrative in 19th century Japan, during the final years of the Samurai before the Meiji Restoration. Focus on the life of a young Samurai who…
- Resistance in the PhilippinesTransport your readers to the Philippines during the Spanish colonization. A young Filipino, striving to understand his identity amid oppressive…
- Lives Along the Great WallWrite a story set during the construction of the Great Wall of China. Include the perspective of a young soldier who's far from home, a local villager…
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