A Roman Market Deal
Write about a day in the life of a merchant in the bustling marketplace of Rome. Through his eyes, depict the diverse array of goods from all over the Empire, the myriad people he interacts with—from patricians to plebeians—and a dramatic negotiation that could make or break his career.
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 Ancient Rome prompts
- A Soldier's New LandYou are a retired Roman soldier granted a piece of land in a remote part of the Empire. Describe your journey to this new home, the people you meet…
- Rivals at the Circus MaximusCraft the tale of two siblings who compete as charioteers in the Circus Maximus. Explore their rivalry, deep bond, and the political intrigue they…
- The Roman General Behind Enemy LinesSet during the peak of the Roman Empire, a seasoned general finds himself stranded in enemy territory after a brutal battle. With minimal resources…
- Friends in Augustus’s RomeSet during the reign of Caesar Augustus, recount the tale of two childhood friends whose paths diverge drastically as one rises through the political…
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