Ancient Egypt writing prompt

The Pharaoh's Secret Scroll

In the bustling market square of Thebes, a young scribe finds a mysterious scroll not meant for his eyes. The scroll reveals hidden secrets of the Pharaoh's court that could destabilize the entire kingdom. Torn between loyalty and truth, the scribe must decide what to do with the information while navigating the dangerous political waters of Ancient Egypt.

Suggested length: A short story: 1,500 to 5,000 words, or flash fiction under 1,000

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Three ways to take this prompt somewhere nobody else will.

  1. Make the dialogue sound of its time without becoming hard to read.
  2. Tell it from someone the history books ignored.
  3. Write it as a letter that took weeks to arrive.

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 about historical fiction in our book genres guide

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