Flash fiction writing prompt generator
A character, a place, a want, an obstacle and a twist, with a word limit and one constraint. Roll until something sparks, then write for twenty minutes.
Rolling a prompt…
Twenty hand-picked flash fiction prompts
Flash fiction prompts under 100 words
- A voicemail you were never meant to hear.
- The last line of a shopping list reveals everything.
- Two strangers share an umbrella and a lie.
- A child explains death to a goldfish.
- The elevator stops. The music keeps playing.
Speculative prompts
- Memories are currency; you are broke.
- The moon files a noise complaint.
- Your future self sends a one-star review of your life.
- A town where everyone gets one wish at 40.
- The generation ship's last child meets the first alien: a mirror.
Literary prompts
- Clearing out a parent's kitchen, you find a recipe with your name on it.
- A retired teacher corrects the grammar on a gravestone.
- The night before a divorce, a couple assembles flat-pack furniture.
- A photograph shows you at a place you have never been.
- A last swim before the lake is drained.
Horror and mystery prompts
- The babysitter hears a second heartbeat on the baby monitor.
- Every photo you take includes the same stranger, closer each time.
- The village counts its children every night. Tonight the number is higher.
- A detective receives her own missing-person poster.
- The house has one more stair going down than coming up.
Prefer to start from a sentence? Try the opening line generator. Want a full premise? Use the plot generator.
Questions writers ask
What is a flash fiction prompt?
A small, specific starting point (a character, situation, object or constraint) designed to be finished in one sitting and under 1,000 words.
How does the daily challenge work?
Everyone gets the same prompt, word limit and constraint each day, generated from the date. Come back tomorrow for a new one. Your completed days are ticked off in this browser only.
Should I use every part of the prompt?
No. Prompts are a push, not a contract. If the object or twist does not serve your story, drop it.
How long should I spend on a prompt?
Try 20 minutes for a first draft. Timed writing stops you from over-planning, which is the most common way flash fiction goes stale.