A Signatory in Philadelphia
Write a tale centered around the drafting of the Declaration of Independence, but from the perspective of a lesser-known signatory. Include his journey to Philadelphia, the behind-the-scenes debates, and his personal contributions and reservations about the future of the thirteen colonies.
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.
- 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.
- Keep the famous event offstage and show its ripples.
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 American Revolution prompts
- The Midnight Printing ShopTell the story of a printing shop owner who secretly prints revolutionary pamphlets. Explore the dangers they face, the characters who visit the shop…
- The Drummer Boy's First BattleImagine you are a young drummer boy in the Continental Army, experiencing your first battle. Describe the sights, sounds, and smells around you and…
- The American Spy in New YorkCraft a tale of espionage and intrigue featuring a spy for the Americans embedded within the British ranks in New York City. What secrets do they…
- Drummer at Valley ForgeWrite a story from the perspective of a young drummer boy in the Continental Army during the harsh winter at Valley Forge. Detail his daily struggles…
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