18th Century writing prompt
The Venetian Glassblower's Commission
Write about a day in the life of an 18th-century Venetian glassblower who is tasked with creating a unique piece for a visiting dignitary. Explore the intricate and secretive world of glassblowing, including the personal and political conflicts that arise in this highly competitive field.
Suggested length: A short story: 1,500 to 5,000 words, or flash fiction under 1,000
Write it now
Pick a sprint, start the clock and keep going until it stops. Momentum beats polish on a first draft.
0 words · saved in this browser
Make it yours
Three ways to take this prompt somewhere nobody else will.
- 1Write it as a letter that took weeks to arrive.
- 2End with a choice that history would never record.
- 3Let your character believe something about their world that turned out to be wrong.
More 18th century prompts
See them all- Siblings Across the AtlanticConstruct a narrative around two siblings separated during childhood due to the transatlantic slave trade. One grows up on a plantation in the West Indies, while the other becomes a merchant's apprentice in London. Describe their different lives and how they eventually seek each other out.
- The Sugar Plantation MapCreate a story about a slave on a sugar plantation in the Caribbean who discovers an ancient map that hints at the location of a significant religious artifact. Explore their journey towards freedom, using the map as a guide, and their interactions with various characters of different colonial powers.
- The Mapmaker’s Secret CipherWrite a story set during the height of the French Revolution, where a Parisian mapmaker is unwittingly thrust into espionage. After crafting a map for a mysterious patron, he realizes the map is a cipher leading to a secret meeting spot. How does he navigate the dangerous political waters that follow?
- The Samurai's Last DaysChannel the voice of an aging samurai in 18th-century Japan, providing a first-person narrative of his final days. As he reflects on his life, battles fought, and the evolution of the samurai code, introduce a young relative eager to take up the way of the warrior in a changing world.
Tell your story ✍️📚Captivate readers 😍Start earning 💸🤑💳Tell your story ✍️📚with Chapterly.
Get started for as low as $9.99 a month risk free for 30 days