creative writing prompts with images

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Picture Prompts

125 Picture Prompts for Creative and Narrative Writing

What story can these images tell?

By The Learning Network

For eight years, we at The Learning Network have been publishing short, accessible, image-driven prompts that invite students to do a variety of kinds of writing via our Picture Prompts column.

Each week, at least one of those prompts asks students: Use your imagination to write the opening of a short story or poem inspired by this image — or, tell us about a memory from your own life that it makes you think of.

Now we’re rounding up years of these storytelling prompts all in one place. Below you’ll find 125 photos, illustrations and GIFs from across The New York Times that you can use for both creative and personal writing. We have organized them by genre, but many overlap and intersect, so know that you can use them in any way you like.

Choose an image, write a story, and then follow the link in the caption to the original prompt to post your response or read what other students had to say. Many are still open for comment for teenagers 13 and up. And each links to a free Times article too.

We can’t wait to read the tales you spin! Don’t forget that you can respond to all of our Picture Prompts, as they publish, here .

Images by Category

• Everyday Life
• Mystery & Suspense
• Relationships
• Science Fiction
• Travel & Adventure
• Unusual & Unexpected

We are having trouble retrieving the article content.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and  log into  your Times account, or  subscribe  for all of The Times.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

Already a subscriber?  Log in .

Want all of The Times?  Subscribe .

70 Picture Prompts for Creative Writing (with Free Slides)

Share this post!

Visual writing prompts help young writers generate new ideas and overcome writer’s block. We’ve put together 70 picture prompts for creative writing that you can use for morning work or in your writing centers or lesson plans to get your students’ creative juices flowing.

The Benefits of Using Visual Writing Prompts

Writers of all ages and experience levels can get stuck thinking about what to write. Writer’s block is not just a challenge for reluctant writers. Even professional writers have days when they feel less than inspired.

Visual prompts can result in a vast array of story ideas. A single image viewed by ten writers will result in ten completely different short stories. Even if you use verbal cues to get students thinking about the picture, each student will still write a unique response to the image.

Visual creative writing prompts are fantastic for elementary school because younger students often relate more to a pictorial prompt than a written one, but don’t shy away from using these with high school and middle school students as well. Pictures make a fun alternative to your typical writing prompts and story starters and can help shake up your regular English language arts routine.

How to Use Picture Prompts for Creative Writing

There’s no limit to the ways you can use writing prompts. Here are some of our favorite ways to incorporate image prompts into your weekly lesson plans .

• Writing Center. Print cards or writing pages with these images on them and put them in a writing center for your students to discover at their own pace.
• Specific Skills. Use story picture prompts to help kids work on specific writing skills. For example, you could work on descriptive writing by having them describe the setting of the picture in detail, character development by having them make up a history for a person (or animal) in the picture, or narrative writing by having them make up a story based on the picture.
• Warm-up Activity: Download the slides that accompany this post and project an image on a screen or whiteboard for the first fifteen minutes of class and have students work on a short story as soon as they enter. This helps jumpstart the creative process before you move into your regular writing program.
• Independent Work: If you need a fun activity for kids to do when they’ve completed their assignment and are waiting for other students’ to finish, keep a supply of these images on hand and challenge them to write flash fiction of 250 words or less while they wait.
• Sub binders: Want to have some easy, no-prep projects on hand for those days when you’re unexpectedly away? Elementary picture writing prompts are perfect for substitute teachers to do with your students in your absence.
• Distance learning: If you are working with students whom you don’t see face-to-face, picture writing prompts are a great way to inspire them. You can use them in a virtual lesson to kickstart a discussion on brainstorming story ideas or post a few of these images to your learning management system and let students select the one they want to write about.

No matter how you decide to use them—whether at home or in the classroom—photographic writing prompts are a great way to cultivate a daily writing habit and encourage kids to explore new topics.

Picture Writing Prompts for Kids

We’ve selected 70 of the most interesting pictures we could find for this exercise. When choosing photos for writing prompts, we look for high-quality photos with intriguing subject matter, but we try to go beyond that. We want to share images that suggest a story, that make the viewer ask questions and wonder why things are the way they are.

We want to feel propelled to explore questions like, What happened before the photo that led to this moment? What are we witnessing in this photo? What’s about to happen?

A photo doesn’t make much of a story starter if it doesn’t suggest that there might be a bigger picture lurking beneath the surface.

We hope you and your students love these picture prompts for creative writing as much as we do. If you love them, go ahead and fill out the form below to grab your own copy.

Sign Up for Your FREE Picture Writing Prompt Slides

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

We’ve included a couple of questions with each picture that you could use to spark pre-writing conversations in your classroom, which can be helpful when working with younger students who might need a little more direction.

Bear in mind though that some kids really struggle with these types of questions that ask them to make inferences about details that they can’t possibly know the ‘answer’ to. When you ask them things like, “What was the author probably trying to do?” they have no idea and won’t dare to hazard a guess. If you are working with kids who feel paralyzed by these questions, now is not the time to push them. Ignore the questions completely and have them simply focus on the picture.

It could be a good idea to write a few short stories yourself based on a single picture to show demonstrate how there are no wrong answers in this exercise—only endless possibilities.

70 Picture for Story Writing with Guiding Questions

• Whose cat is this? What is he looking at? Where is he?

2. What is the owl thinking about? Is he alone? What does he hope to eat for dinner?

3. Who are these frogs? What is their relationship with each other? Why are they taking photos?

4. How did the dog get a phone? Why is he taking selfies? What is he doing with the pictures he takes?

5. This cat doesn’t look too happy. What’s bugging him? Did he get too many phone calls or is he waiting on an important call that’s taking too long to come?

6. What do these chicks think of the dog? What does the dog think of the chicks? Do you think they can communicate with each other? If so, what would they say?

7. Where do these lemurs live? What are they looking at? What is something unusual that might happen to them?

8. What is this fox doing? Is he yawning and stretching or is he trying to scare someone away? What kind of mischief does he like to get up to?

9. Is this wolf alone? If not, who is with him? What is he planning to do? Does he have a family to feed or protect?

10. What is this child doing on the laptop? Can he actually read and type or is he just playing? If he can read and type, how did he learn that at such a young age? What other cool things can he do?

11. Where is this woman? Is she lost? How did she get to this street? What interesting things might she discover as she explores this new city?

12. Why is the dog wearing glasses? Can he see through them? What are he and the girl doing? How does he feel about it?

13. Who are these two little boys? What is their relationship with each other? What is the teddy bear’s story?

14. Who are these children? Why are they running? Is it a race or are they playing a game? Who’s going to win?

15. Whose horse is this? Does the little boy own it or does he just visit it? Can the horse talk? How does the boy feel when he’s with the horse?

16. What is this boy reading? Does the book have a magical power? Does the boy? Do the stories in the book become real or does something else special happen?

17. Where is this man? How did he get there? What is he looking for?

18. Who is walking over the bridge? What’s on the other side? Is it worth the risk?

19. What are these people doing on the elephant? Where are they? Are they tourists or is the elephant their pet? What would life with an elephant be like?

20. Who made this map? It looks old. Has it been hidden away for a long time? Who discovered it and how? What does it lead to?

21. Whose typewriter is this? What important or secretive thing might they be working on? What could happen if the wrong person finds their work?

22. Who are these three stuffed animals? Are they living? What is their story?

23. Whose ukulele is this? Why did they leave it here? Who might find it?

24. Where is the owner of the bike? Where does this path lead? What if the bike’s not there when the owner returns?

25. Whose shoes are these? Why did they leave them here? Why are they so dirty?

26. Who was reading the newspaper? What was the most interesting thing they read? Where have they disappeared to?

27. Who put this sign on the old truck? What do you think of it? How did the truck end up in its current condition and location?

28. Who set the table? Who are they expecting? What special occasion are they celebrating? What could go wrong?

29. Whose birthday cake is this? Are they having a party? Who is there? Who did they want to have there that didn’t show up?

30. Who lives here? How do they access their home? What is their life like?

31. Who built the igloo? Where is it? How does it feel to spend the night inside it?

32. What is the history of this castle? Who lives in it now? Does it have any special or magical features?

33. Is this barn abandoned or do people live on the property? What kind of animals might live here? How do they keep themselves entertained?

34. What is it like living on a houseboat? What kind of community do you think forms among the neighbors? Imagine you live on one of these boats and think about how your daily life might change. What interesting things could you do if you lived here? What would you miss the most?

35. Where is this hut? Who lives here? What mystery might unfold if a stranger came knocking at their door?

36. What is this lighthouse called? Who runs it? How often do they leave? What is the most memorable experience they’ve had as a lighthouse operator?

37. How did this house get here? Does anyone live in it? What would life be like here?

38. Where is this festive street? Are the people there celebrating something? Where is everybody?

39. Who lives here? How did they build this house? Are they hiding from something? What does it look like inside?

40. Whose notebook is this? Why did they leave it here? What’s written in it and how might it change the life of the person who finds it?

41. What are these women doing? What are they supposed to be doing? Will they be in trouble if they get caught?

42. Who might be represented in this statue? Why is she being pulled by lions? What amazing things might she have done to deserve a statue in this prominent place?

43. Where is this? Who is riding in the hot air balloons? Where are they going and why?

44. How old is this large tree? Where is it? What are some of the most fascinating stories it could tell?

45. Where is this carousel? Who is riding it? Can you think of a special or strange story about how it came to exist in this particular place?

46. What are these people thinking about? What’s at stake for them? What happens if one of them sneezes?

47. Where are these penguins? What are they talking about? Which one of them is the leader?

48. What is this place? Was it designed to be open like this or was it once part of someone’s home or a public building? How have people’s opinions of this place changed over time?

49. Who are these kids? Is this what they’re supposed to be doing? What happens when their teacher sees them?

50. Who is supposed to ride in this boat? Where are they going? Will they make it there?

51. Is this plane special to someone? What did they have to do to get it/build it? Where will they fly to in it?

52. Who decorated this train car? Which passengers will fill it up? What will they talk about?

53. Whose skis are these? Why are they sticking out of the snow? How did their owner get down the mountain without them?

54. Where does this gondola go? Who rides it? How does it feel to ride it?

55. Who’s driving the monster truck? Why is it at the beach? What is it going to crush? Who is watching?

56. Where is the boat going? Who is on it? What is their mission?

57. What city is the helicopter flying over? Why? Is the driver looking for something specific or do they have a special delivery?

58. What’s the little boy doing in the boat? Is he alone or is someone with him? Where is he trying to go?

59. Who is in the sub? What’s it like inside? What are they doing?

60. Whose book is this? What’s it about? What’s happening to it?

61. How did that piece of land with the house on it break off from the rest of the world? Why? Where is it going? Is anyone in the house?

62. Who is this girl? Where is she? Who is she shooting at?

63. Where does this scene take place? Is the lizard/dragon good or bad? What is its relationship with the girl?

64. What do these books represent? What kind of world is this? What (or who) is inside the books?

65. What are these dinosaurs discussing? Where are they? What do they do for fun?

66. Whose cottage is this? Do they still live there? If not, where have they gone? If so, what do they do there?

67. What is the moth thinking about? Is it alone? What’s the biggest challenge it faces in this moment?

68. Who is the owl looking at? Has it read these books? What is its greatest talent?

69. Where are these trees? Why are they pink? Do they have any special powers or features?

70. What are these best friends thinking about? Do they have something to hide? What adventures do they go on together?

What do you think? Which kind of pictures do you like best for creative writing prompts ? Let us know in the comments.

Thursday 9th of May 2024

I love this website because I was using it with my kindergartners and it work so so so well!!!!

Monday 20th of May 2024

That's wonderful. Thanks for sharing!

Tuesday 5th of March 2024

I LOVE these! My daughter has always struggled with written story prompts and an internet search this week convinced me of the value of picture prompts for reluctant readers/writers (https://youcanjournal.com/journal-picture-prompts/ if you're interested!). I'll definitely be using these to help improve her writing skills. Thanks so much!

Tuesday 26th of December 2023

I think the idea of using picture prompts is a great idea. It initiates oral language thus building vocabulary. It allows lends itself to students working in small groups to stimulate new ideas. The prompts engage the students and gives the teacher the opportunity to focus on specific writing skills.

luke elford

Wednesday 13th of December 2023

cloey mckay

Tuesday 17th of October 2023

I tried this with myself and my 6th-grade students, and they love it. it gives room for so much creativity.

Privacy Overview

• Grades 6-12
• School Leaders

NEW: Classroom Clean-Up/Set-Up Email Course! 🧽

150 Inspiring Picture Writing Prompts To Spark Creativity (Free Google Slides)

Use a picture to write a thousand words!

Creative writing is a challenge for many students, often because they can’t come up with anything to write about. That’s why we love picture writing prompts. Each one sparks the imagination and helps young writers jump right into crafting a story to match. We rounded up a whole collection of intriguing images for use with kids in grades K-12 along. Plus we designed a set of free Google Slides featuring all of the prompts so you can easily share them with students.

Tip: Start by showing students the picture (or let them choose from among several) without making any comment about what they’re seeing. For kids who still struggle to get started, suggest a potential title or opening sentence, like the examples included here.

Don’t miss our free downloadable. Grab your full set of ready-to-go Picture Writing Prompts Google Slides with all of the prompts below.

Elementary Picture Writing Prompts

Middle school picture writing prompts, high school picture writing prompts, art picture writing prompts.

When kids first see these picture writing prompts, they may or may not immediately feel inspired. If they need some help, ask them questions like “What led up to this moment?” or “What’s going to happen next?”

When Larry fell in love, he fell hard.

When the new sign appeared on Main Street, everyone in town wondered exactly what it meant.

Snowy Footprints

After that crazy day, all that was left to show for it was footprints in the snow.

Dinosaur Bones

“Come with me if you want to live!” Ash said, reaching out a hand.

Undersea Treasure

For years, no one saw the locked treasure chest but the local fish, who wondered what it could contain.

A Game of Fetch

To Scout, it was a game, but to Mr. Freezy, it was much more.

Ladybug Gossip

The ladybug’s picnic was an excellent chance to meet up with old friends and hear all the latest gossip.

We met them when they peeked into our window, watching us as we ate lunch and watched cartoons.

King of the Jungle

It wasn’t the crown that made Amari the king of all he surveyed.

The Final Pitch

It all came down to this—the final pitch in a game that was tied 2-2.

Doggie Massage

Every dog in the neighborhood knew that Rocky gave the best massages and was always willing to lend an ear too.

Skateboard Life

When Charli got her first skateboard, she made herself a promise.

Garden of the Past

The woman walked in the garden every day, never saying a word.

Sunset Friends

They met on the jungle gym every day at sunset, sharing everything about their days.

Pink Umbrellas

When the pink umbrellas first appeared, Toni thought they might be magic.

Firefly Forest

Olivia was surprised to discover that the fireflies didn’t just glow, they also sang.

Robot Spider

When it first crawled ashore, the mechanical spider moved slowly.

Fallen House

Staring at their house, which was now on its side, the whole family was in shock.

Red Riding Hood

If only she’d been riding her faithful steed the day she’d met the Big Bad Wolf, things might have been very different.

Kangaroo Fall

“Well, this is embarrassing,” thought Bouncer, as laughter filled the air around him.

Daci’s big brother said her signs wouldn’t help them find their runaway cat, but he was wrong.

Penguin Bookshop

A visit to Mr. Pickerel’s Penguin Bookshop is always an adventure.

Of all the eggs in the carton, Ella was the one who could always crack you up.

That was the year Min was finally tall enough to ride the Sky Swings, but now she wasn’t so sure.

Rubber Duck Parade

It was truly an honor to be asked to lead the Spring Duck Parade.

Teddy Story Time

Every afternoon, the three friends gathered for story time in their favorite spot in the woods.

Underwater School

Nia thought going to school underwater would be exciting, but some days she really missed going outside for recess.

The day Amos started his journey down the river, the sun was shining brightly.

Turtle Trouble

“None shall pass,” growled the old sea turtle, blocking the way.

Dinosaur Race

Pia was supposed to keep Balthazar on a leash, but once they reached the forest, she set him free and they both began to run.

Finally Seeing Eye to Eye

“So, we meet at last, face to face,” Lord Squeakerton said to his enemy, the Count of Catnip.

It takes a lot to surprise a monkey, but you don’t see something like this every day.

Not Coming Out

The day started out normally enough, but by the end, Chris knew he was in over his head.

Life on Other Planets

“Hurry up,” Grnklor told his robopup. “We have to get back inside before nightfall.”

Reindeer Games

The wind had died down, but the setting sun seemed to take all the warmth of the day with it.

Something to Celebrate

Their classmates could hear their shouts of joy from all the way down the hall.

Home Sweet Mushroom

When the fairies that lived in the garden invited her to stay with them for awhile, Maria wasn’t sure what to expect.

Loch Ness Mystery

“There it is! I told you Nessie is real!” Angus whispered to Lee.

Lonely Bear

It was hard to say who was lonelier that night, Amil or his lost stuffed bear, Jasper.

Sometimes You Lose

When his team lost the championship, Miguel was crushed, but it turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to him.   

Middle school writing prompts can be a little more complex, with pictures that have a lot of potential interpretations. Encourage students to delve deeper into the story by describing how the characters feel and why they behave the way they do.

Morgan was incredibly proud of those shoes, paid for entirely with money from after-school jobs.

Never Lose Hope

With his last bit of energy, Kai scrawled his message in the wet paint.

The keyboard button could only be used once, and no one knew exactly what happened when you pressed it.

Piano Lessons

Before she could even speak, Arya was drawn to the black and white keys.

There was no doubt about it, this was was indeed a very special kind of garden.

No matter how you looked at it, it had been a very rough day to be the Easter Bunny.

Empty Chairs

By sunset, all four chairs were empty, and the only signs of life were the gulls swooping down from above.

Floating Treasure

To the birds, it was simply a convenient place to land, but Ali and I knew it was much more than that.

Shadow Question

That was the day they discovered that just because you were invisible didn’t mean your shadow was.

Letter and Key

The day she turned 12, Vivi’s aunt handed her an envelope containing the family secret.

Space Target

Onyx paused, knowing that once their arrow hit the target, there was no knowing what would happen.

Mermaid Mystery

It was a mermaid—or was it?

World on a String

Her dad had promised to give her the world, but she wasn’t expecting three more planets as well.

Bee Standoff

“This flower ain’t big enough for the both of us!” said Bianca.

Solitary Seat

For as long as anyone could remember, Angus McGee spent his evenings in the same chair next to the woodstove.

Best Friends

When you decide to run away from home forever, you can’t possibly leave your best friend behind.

Dinosaur Demise

In retrospect, setting the time machine to randomly choose a day and time in the past might not have been such a good idea.

Magic Lamps

“Choose wisely,” said the old shopkeeper, “for only one of these lamps is truly magic.”

Message in a Bottle

The message floated at sea for more than 50 years before the day we found it on the beach.

Barrel Boat

Of all the ways to impress someone, Jonah thought to himself, this had to be one of the most ridiculous.

Dragon Guardian

When your parents give you your own dragon guardian, your childhood is bound to be enchanted.

Octopus’s Garden

Wouldn’t you like to be under the sea, in an octopus’s garden in the shade?

Around the Corner

After finally pressing “send,” she couldn’t resist peeking around the corner to watch him read the text.

Beam Me Up!

Milo’s earliest memory was of watching his beloved tricycle float into the sky above him, caught in a beam of light.

Poison Apple

To join the club, all Aaron had to do was creep up and snatch the apple from the skeleton’s hand without being seen.

Giraffe Council

“It is now 3 p.m., and I call this meeting of the Mighty Council of Giraffes to order,” announced Imari.

Mystery Creature

At first glance, it was hard to tell whether the little creature was friend or foe.

As the sky turned orange, Keisha ran faster than ever and used the last of her energy to push off and soar over the water below.

The End of Days

Despite their best efforts, they arrived too late—the battle had already begun.

Out of the Book

“Happily ever after” was about to take on a whole new meaning.

Stopped Clock

I was sure that the time on the broken clock was the clue to solving the mystery.

Dueling Webs

It’s never a good idea to build your web too close to another spider’s, but this time I had no choice.

Do Shoes Grow on Trees?

The day I threw my own shoes into the tree was the day I really started to grow up.

Abstract Art

“So,” asked their art teacher, “what do you think this painting means?”

Wandering Robots

Everything about NB-317 was made of cardboard except his heart—that was made of flesh and blood and very capable of being broken.

Dream Come True

It all started when Quinn watched her favorite movie the night before they assigned partners for the eighth grade science fair project.

Mysterious Cave

The cave was unlike anything we’d ever seen before, and what was more, it almost seemed like the rock was alive.

Storm at Sea

As the rain lashed his face and lightning tore apart the sky, Kiran had to admit he’d always thought it would be a lot more fun being a pirate.

Grasshopper Close-Up

That’s when Javed realized it wasn’t that the grasshopper was too big—it was that he was suddenly very, very small.

UFO Parking

“Well, that’s convenient,” Javdok remarked to Qabow when they saw the sign.   

High school writers are ready to dig deep, exploring character development and detailed plots. These pictures offer a jumping-off point to set their imaginations free.

Cyborg Girl

When she was 14, Tasha’s parents finally told her the truth about what she really was.

BBQ Cookout

“So, I’m guessing no one told you I’m a vegetarian?” asked Sadie with a smile.

The latest app was like a time machine, allowing people to look back in time, but it also had a dark side.

She was surrounded by people but never felt more alone.

Hippo Troubles

Like all parents, hippos sometimes really need a break from their kids.

iPad Farmer

Grandpa Jack never failed to surprise us.

Marching Band Blues

Kaleel sat sadly on the bench, watching the rest of the band march away in jaunty time to the music.

Never-Ending Tunnel

The tunnel seemed to stretch to infinity, but Jayma knew what was at the end, and it terrified her.

Carving Out Love

For years, we wondered who “WP” was, and who it was who loved them so much they carved it into a tree for all to see.

Glowing Globe

Just then, the globe began to glow, and Jaxson knew he was about to leap through space and time once again—destination unknown.

See No Evil

It seemed like a funny joke to pose the skeletons in front of old Mrs. Petoski’s house, but then she turned up dead, and the police said it was murder.

Upside Down

It’s an odd feeling to wake up one morning and find yourself able to walk on the ceiling.

Face at the Fence

So much depended on which side of the fence you were on.

Bicycle Race

Finley had trained too hard for this race to come in third—it just wasn’t good enough.

Family Travels

In the picture, my grandmother’s expression is hard to interpret, but she’s told me the story many times.

Laundromat Antics

Dani never expected to meet her first love feet first.

Molly’s mom probably didn’t mean for her to be the one to find the note, but that’s how things turned out.

Through the Storm

Javier knew it would have been smarter to stay put, but he had to make sure his mom was safe before the worst of the storm arrived.

Lifetime Friends

They’d been friends for as long as they could remember—even longer, in fact.

Stray Kitten

“I am NOT taking you home with me,” Kai told the tiny mewling kitten firmly.

Abandoned Greenhouse

Willow was free to leave at any time, but she couldn’t make herself go.

Amani’s earliest memory was razor wire—miles and miles of it.

Church Graveyard

Everyone feels differently in a graveyard, but for me, they’re very peaceful places.

Orb of Death

“Do you really want to know?” Death asked. “Because once you know, you won’t be able to forget.”

Missed Shot

Steve was sure his shot would make it, but it bounced off the rim just as the buzzer rang to end the game.

First Contact

This was it—the moment that would change what it meant to be human forever.

One Life To Live

His face said his life had been a hard one, but his eyes told a different tale.

Winter Walk

Snow fell, creating a blank canvas to record the story of that fateful walk.

Train to Nowhere

It certainly wasn’t the most luxurious way to travel, but then again, no one really wanted to make this trip in the first place.

Modern Mary Poppins

She dropped into our lives on a gray day in midwinter, a hint of the spring that was to come.

All That Remains

Dust motes filled the air of the abandoned hallway, replacing the voices once heard there.

From the day he found the little creature, Luis refused to go anywhere without him.

The Question

Their happily ever after began quietly, with a bouquet of wildflowers.

Night Lights

Misty rain both blurred and emphasized the lights that lit Suri’s way home that evening.

Forest of Fear

At first, Mateo thought it was a joke, but the screams that followed told him there was nothing remotely funny about it.

At the elite level, being a spy meant serious commitments.

The Yellow Door

On their 14th birthday, every resident of Fresnia was required to stand before the Wall of Doors and make a choice.

Graffiti Palace

To strangers, it seemed random, but every mark on those walls had deep meaning for us.

Fossil Fish

Millions of years ago, the fish gave one final flop before lying still in the deep mud.

On the Rails

Aliyah stood on the tracks, uncertain of where to go next.

These picture prompts are all works of art, some more well known than others. Try providing them to students without sharing the titles first, then offer up the titles if they need some help getting started.

The Dance Class (Edgar Degas)

Greek Funerary Plaque (520-510 BCE)

Washington Crossing the Delaware (Emanuel Leutze)

Kyōsai’s Pictures of One Hundred Demons

First Steps, After Millet (Vincent van Gogh)

Lady Lilith (Dante Gabriel Rossetti)

A Sunday on La Grande Jatte (Georges Seurat)

After the Hurricane, Bahamas (Winslow Homer)

Drawing Lots for Prizes (Kitagawa Utamaro)

Portions of Field Armor (Jacob Halder)

Sadie Pfeifer, a Cotton Mill Spinner (Lewis Wickes Hine)

Still Life With Monkey, Fruits, and Flowers (Jean Baptiste Oudry)

Man Leading a Giraffe, 5th Century Byzantine

The Three Skulls (Paul Cézanne)

The Madame B Album (Marie-Blanche Hennelle Fournier)

Coiled Trumpet in the Form of a Snarling Feline Face (c. 100 BCE to 500 CE)

Crazy Quilt With Animals (Florence Elizabeth Marvin)

Storytime (Eugenio Zampighi)

Cubist Village (Georges Gaudion)

Zig-Zag Passenger and Freight Train (Unknown)

The Power of Music (William Sidney Mount)

The Large Tree (Paul Gauguin)

After the Bath (Mary Cassatt)

Wedding Gown (Korea, Late 1800s)

The Contemplator (Eugène Carrière)

The Girl I Left Behind Me (Eastman Johnson)

24c Curtiss Jenny Invert Single

Creeping Baby Doll Patent Model

Wrecked Zeppelin (British Library)

Skeleton (Tales of Terror Frontispiece)

Get Your Free Picture Writing Prompts Google Slides

Just click the button below to fill out the form and get instant access to free downloadable Picture Writing Prompts Google Slides with all the prompts included above.

How do you use picture writing prompts in your classroom? Come share ideas and ask for advice in the We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook .

Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved. 5335 Gate Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32256

• Image Prompts

85+ Picture Writing Prompts For Kids (+ Free Printable)

A picture is worth a thousand words. So how many words can you write for these 85 picture writing prompts for kids and grow-ups alike! Pictures, whether something as simple as an apple or as complex as an action scene can spark the imagination in more ways than one.

Of course, when looking at pictures you can take the literal route, and describe whatever you see in front of you. Or you can explore your imagination, and think about the ‘What Ifs..’ of a picture. What if that person is actually upset? What if this picture is of a broken family? What if the world looked like this years ago? A picture can have so many hidden meanings and can hide so many secrets. The slightest detail could mean everything. Just imagine you’re a detective solving a crime from one picture alone. Examine every detail, write it down and think why? Only then can you fully understand a picture.

For more inspiration take part in our daily picture writing prompt challenge . Each day you will be given a new picture prompt to write about.

Picture Prompt Generator

In this post, we have included a mix of simple pictures, story picture prompts, photographs, fantasy images and even some action-packed images.

You can find the complete list of our picture writing prompts below. We’ve also created a smaller PDF version that includes 30 random picture prompts. Download the printable PDF here .

You might also be interested in the following posts:

• 30 Christmas Pictures To Get You Writing ‘Tis Jolly Season
• 25+ Halloween Image Prompts For Mastering Horror Stories
• How to Use Image prompts To Inspire You

150 Picture Prompts To Inspire

Over 85 picture prompts for creative writing, story-telling and descriptive writing assignments:

How to Use these Prompts

Picture prompts are the perfect writing stimulus especially when you hit writer’s block . Here are a number of ways you can use these picture writing prompts to spark your imagination:

• Descriptive Writing: Directly describe everything you see in extreme detail. You could even go beyond the physical appearance of things, and explore your other senses, such as smell, hear, feel and taste.
• Story-Telling: Pick just one image, and tell a whole story based on this one image.
• Story Starter: Similarly you can pick one image, and use it as the starting place of your story.
• Collaborative Story-Telling: In a group of 5 – 7 students, each student can have a random picture. The first student uses their picture as the story starter, and then the next student continues the story based on their own image. Keep going until the final student ends the story.
• Idea Generation: Pick one image and try to think of at least 3 story ideas related to that one image. 
• Daily Writing Challenge: Give your students 7 images, and tell them to write a description for each image every day. 

These are just some ways to use images as writing prompts. You can also check our post on 8 fun story-telling games using image prompts for more ideas.  Did you find our picture writing prompts useful? Let us know in the comments below!

Marty the wizard is the master of Imagine Forest. When he's not reading a ton of books or writing some of his own tales, he loves to be surrounded by the magical creatures that live in Imagine Forest. While living in his tree house he has devoted his time to helping children around the world with their writing skills and creativity.

Related Posts

Comments loading...

100 Picture Writing Prompts to Spark Your Creativity

What is picture prompt writing?

100 pictures prompts for creative writing

Nature and Landscapes

Urban settings, fantasy and sci-fi, everyday life and emotions, mystery and intrigue.

Ever find yourself staring at a blank page, the cursor blinking mockingly as your creativity takes an unexpected hiatus? I get it, we've all been there. But what if I told you there's a magical portal to a realm of inspiration, where a single image can set your imagination ablaze? Intrigued? I know I was when I stumbled upon the transformative power of picture writing prompts. 'Can a simple picture really unlock a floodgate of ideas?' you might wonder. The answer? A resounding yes! Join me on a journey through 100 captivating visuals that will not only jumpstart your writing but might just redefine your creative process altogether. Let's embark on a quest to turn images into stories, one prompt at a time.

WHAT IS PICTURE PROMPT WRITING?

If you're new to the concept of picture prompts, they serve as a unique form of writing stimuli employing images to initiate storytelling.

Students are tasked with crafting a narrative, utilizing the image either as the backdrop for their tale or as a creative springboard. The advantage of these visual prompts lies in their ability to provide a solid starting point for students. Not only does this method offer guidance, but it also fosters the use of vivid adjectives and the construction of more intricate sentences.

While students often require more direction than a generic "write about this," bombarding them with excessive details can be overwhelming. Picture prompts strike a balance, offering just enough information to serve as a stress-free launchpad. Subsequently, students can weave their own narratives.

Although not indispensable for every writing exercise, picture prompts inject an element of enjoyment and simplicity into the process, igniting creativity and prompting students to think (and write!) beyond conventional boundaries.

100 picture prompts for creative writing

• A serene sunrise over a mountain range.
• An ancient, mystical forest with towering trees.
• A secluded beach at sunset, waves gently kissing the shore.
• A vibrant, otherworldly waterfall surrounded by lush vegetation.
• A desert oasis with a lone camel resting in the shade.
• A snowy wilderness with footprints leading into the unknown.
• A vast field of wildflowers stretching to the horizon.
• A moonlit night over a calm lake, reflecting the stars.
• A city skyline viewed from a rooftop during a thunderstorm.
• A meandering river through a peaceful countryside.
• A group of hot air balloons floating over rolling hills.
• A tropical rainforest with colorful birds and exotic flowers.
• A thunderstruck landscape with a rainbow breaking through the clouds.
• A serene pond surrounded by weeping willows.
• A canyon bathed in the warm hues of a setting sun.
• A mysterious cave entrance with a soft glow emanating from within.
• A futuristic city on another planet, with alien architecture.
• A serene Japanese garden with a stone bridge over a koi pond.
• A dense fog rolling over a tranquil lake.
• A field of sunflowers stretching towards the sun.
• A bustling marketplace with diverse characters and colors.
• An abandoned amusement park with rusted rides.
• A futuristic cityscape with hovering vehicles.
• A hidden alleyway filled with street art.
• A crowded subway station during rush hour.
• An old bookstore with dusty shelves and hidden corners.
• A rooftop garden overlooking a city skyline.
• An antique clock tower in the heart of the city.
• A vibrant street festival with food stalls and performers.
• A quirky, colorful neighborhood cafe.
• A neon-lit cyberpunk street with holographic advertisements.
• A dilapidated industrial district with overgrown vegetation.
• A retro diner with checkered floors and red vinyl seats.
• A contemporary art gallery with avant-garde installations.
• A bustling harbor with ships coming and going.
• A street musician performing in a busy city square.
• A skyscraper under construction with cranes in action.
• A trendy coworking space with people collaborating.
• A vintage cinema with a marquee displaying classic films.
• A serene canal in a European city with historic architecture.
• An alien landscape with strange flora and fauna.
• A magical door hidden in a tree, leading to another realm.
• A steampunk-style airship soaring through the clouds.
• A dragon's lair filled with treasures and mysteries.
• A time-traveling device with intricate dials and buttons.
• A futuristic space station with advanced technology.
• A hidden portal in an ordinary-looking wardrobe.
• A wizard's library filled with enchanted books.
• A floating island in the sky with gravity-defying landscapes.
• An underwater city inhabited by merfolk.
• A mechanical golem standing guard in an ancient city.
• A celestial observatory on a distant planet.
• A futuristic cityscape with flying cars and neon lights.
• A mystical potion laboratory with bubbling concoctions.
• A parallel dimension where gravity works differently.
• A cyberspace landscape with digital structures.
• A mythical creature market with vendors selling magical items.
• A space explorer's ship floating in the vastness of space.
• A cosmic library containing knowledge from across the universe.
• An enchanted forest with talking animals and sentient plants.
• A child's messy room with toys scattered about.
• A moment of joy captured in a family photo.
• An old suitcase filled with travel memorabilia.
• A rainy day seen through a window with raindrops.
• A pair of hands holding a handwritten love letter.
• A solitary figure in a quiet library reading a book.
• A crowded cafe with people engrossed in their laptops.
• A broken mirror reflecting fragmented images.
• A person staring out of a window lost in thought.
• A worn-out pair of shoes with stories to tell.
• A kitchen filled with the aroma of baking cookies.
• A cozy fireplace in a cabin with snow falling outside.
• A child's drawing taped to a refrigerator door.
• A musician composing a song in a cluttered studio.
• A couple dancing under a starlit sky.
• A gardener tending to a vibrant flower bed.
• A student studying in a sunlit library.
• A group of friends sharing laughter around a bonfire.
• An artist's studio with canvases and paintbrushes.
• A parent teaching a child to ride a bike in a quiet neighborhood.
• A vintage key with an ornate design.
• A torn map with cryptic markings.
• A closed book with a mysterious symbol on the cover.
• A locked door with light seeping through the keyhole.
• A secret passage hidden behind a bookshelf.
• A message in a bottle washed ashore.
• A vintage magnifying glass on a detective's desk.
• A dusty attic with forgotten artifacts.
• A moonlit graveyard with ancient tombstones.
• A dimly lit room with a single flickering candle.
• A mysterious coded message written on an old parchment.
• A hidden treasure chest buried in the sand.
• A detective examining a crime scene with clues scattered.
• A conspiracy board with interconnected strings and notes.
• A mysterious silhouette in a foggy alley.
• A locked briefcase with unknown contents.
• A secret society meeting in an underground chamber.
• A haunted mansion with creaking doors and shadows.
• A mysterious figure in a dark cloak leaving a cryptic note.
• A forgotten diary with entries hinting at a hidden secret.

Still wondering how a simple image can be the key to unlocking a hundred different stories? Curiosity sparked? That's the magic of our 100 Picture Writing Prompts journey. Delve into landscapes that stir your imagination, explore urban settings bustling with stories, and venture into the realms of fantasy and sci-fi. Witness the beauty of everyday life and the emotions it evokes, or unravel mysteries that await your keen detective eye. Picture prompts transcend words, sparking creativity beyond limits. So, are you ready to transform a single frame into a hundred tales? Join me on this visual odyssey, where every prompt is a portal to endless possibilities, inviting you to weave your own narrative magic.

15 Inspiring Picture Prompts To Help Your Creative Writing

Writer’s block – is there anything worse? You know that you can write a masterpiece but sometimes your mind is empty of ideas. 

If you’re a student starting the world of creative writing or just someone looking to shake up your literacy skills, hitting the well-known creative wall is a rite of passage. It happens to all writers – even J.K. Rowling!  Head here to learn about 25 famous writers who experience writer’s block.

But here’s a little secret: it’s not always about drumming up ideas from thin air, sometimes you just need a little nudge to get into your writing flow, and that’s where the magic of an image prompt comes in. Combine these with some creative writing techniques and you’ll have a killer story in your hands.

This guide will introduce you to 15 must-have picture prompts designed to inspire your creative writing. Each prompt has been carefully selected to cover a wide selection of creative writing examples, ensuring that you find the perfect match when story ideas are difficult to find. 

What Are Picture Prompts?

Think of it as a creativity spark —a simple image that acts as a writing prompt. They kickstart your writing and generate so many ideas for characters, plots and even new worlds that you’ve never thought of.  No matter whether you’re piecing together a short story, starting the first chapter of a novel, or just in the mood for a fun writing exercise, weaving inspiring pictures into your routine can unlock storytelling abilities you never thought you had. 

How Do I Use Picture Prompts?

Below I’ve carefully selected 15 pictures that all depict different stories and will get your imagination clogs turning and spark creative ideas. 

But the best element of picture writing is that I’ve written questions above each photo that are designed to push you deeper into the narrative of each image, encouraging you to explore various angles and perspectives. By asking yourself these questions, you’re not just observing; you’re actively engaging with the scene, considering the emotions, backstories, and hidden details that might not be immediately apparent.  So jot down observations, ideas, emotions, or anything that comes to mind from the picture prompts. 

Ready to get started? Let’s turn those blank pages into a writing masterpiece!

1. Ancient Stories

Who drew these drawings? Why did they draw them? What story do they tell?

2. Takeoff Countdown

Where is man travelling and why? What is he thinking as he looks out onto the aeroplane? What does his outfit say about his character? 

3. Nature’s Nightlights

How does the light from the mushrooms and fireflies create a sense of magic? Who visits this spot when humans aren’t looking? 

4. Small But Mighty

Can you think of other people that appear insignificant to others but are strong in other ways? 

5. Wild Playgrounds

What smells, textures and sounds do you hear in the forest? Why are the children laughing? Is this in the present or a memory? 

6. Gateway to the Unknown

Where does the gateway lead to? Who put in this field and why? Does something happen to you as you enter the portal?

7. The Wolf’s Counsel

Is the wolf helping the woman or viewing her as prey? What is their relationship? What do the crows and moonlight signify? 

8. Corridors in the Cosmos

Where is this corridor? How do the metallic walls and clinical lights effect the image’s mood? What is behind the locked door? 

9. The Mountain Pass 

Where does this path lead? Home or an adventure? How does the stormy weather and snow-topped mountains set the mood for this scene? 

10. Cloud Wanderer

Is the traveller looking for something or simply taking in the view? What does the contrast of the tiny viewer and the vast scenery symbolise? 

11. Charting the Uncharted 

What land is this map showing? What does it show? What do the illustrations and style of the map say about the people who created it? 

12. A Handful of Mystery 

What emotions does this image evoke? How does the shadow of the hand add mystery to the image?

13. The Case of the Broken Door

Why did someone break into the door? Are they friend or foe? Where is the door located? 

14. The White Cover-Up

Who is the man painting the wall? Is he painting a new design or covering something he wants to stay hidden?

15. Sunshine Ride 

What do the colours, objects and scenery of this image evoke? Why has the driver chosen to travel here? 

End Writer’s Block For Good With Picture Prompts 

So, if you’re ever stuck or just looking for a fresh spark, remember the power of picture prompts. They’re an incredibly easy and effective way to turn a daunting blank page into the first chapter of your novel. Whenever I hit a creative roadblock, picture writing prompts have been my go-to solution for reigniting my imagination.  Let us know in the comments how you get on! 

Marie is a blogger who loves to share writing and reading tips online. If you want to learn more about literature or how to turn words into money, this is the blog for you.

Similar Posts

7 Creative Writing Techniques To Become A Best-Selling Author

Is there anything worse for a writer than to see their work fail? You spend months, maybe even years, pouring your heart onto paper, only to find that it didn’t work out. You’ve switched up your writing space, looked at inspiring picture prompts and reread your favourite books but still can’t find the right words….

5 Best Writing Desks To Keep You Productive and Organised

Suffering from backache, writer’s block or need to freshen up your space? You’re about to save yourself hours of internet searching because here are the best desks for writing that will elevate your home with a dedicated writing space and spark your creative writing. Best Cheap Writing Desk Our Cheapest Pick Loren Desk Simple, refined,…

15 Creative Writing Examples in 2024

Ever felt the urge to write but found yourself staring blankly at a page, unsure where to start? You’re not alone. Even with the best picture prompts, creative writing can be daunting, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. My name is Marie and after studying English Literature for over a decade, I’m here to guide you…

How To Write In Third Person Even If You Don’t Know What It Is  

Writing perspectives can be confusing – first, second, third – is there a fourth?! Choosing the narrative perspective completely changes your story’s tone, narration style and the details you share with the reader, so it’s important to pick the right one before you get to work at your writing desk! The most common perspective is…

• Skip to primary navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar
• Skip to footer

Don't Miss a Post! Subscribe

• Guest Posts

• Educational AI
• Edtech Tools
• Edtech Apps
• Teacher Resources
• Special Education
• Edtech for Kids
• Buying Guides for Teachers

Educators Technology

Innovative EdTech for teachers, educators, parents, and students

30 Creative Picture Writing Prompts

By Med Kharbach, PhD | Last Update: May 27, 2024

Picture prompt writing, as Carp et al. (2010) define it, is a technique that uses visual stimuli to inspire and guide students’ writing. Picture prompts are an excellent tool for overcoming writer’s block. They provide a visual stimulus that can ignite creativity and help students generate ideas and organize their thoughts, making the writing process more approachable and less intimidating.

In today’s post, I share practical tips for effectively using picture prompts in writing. I will start with some tips on how to best utilize picture prompts, discuss their numerous benefits, and provide examples to get you started. Additionally, I encourage you to read the references at the bottom of this page for a deeper understanding of this powerful educational tool.

All the picture prompts in this post are available for free download in PNG format. You can easily access and use these resources to enhance your teaching and engage your students in creative writing activities.

What Are The Benefits of Picture Writing Prompts?

The importance of picture writing prompts is well documented in the research literature. These visual tools have been shown to significantly enhance student engagement and creativity in writing tasks. By providing a concrete image to spark imagination, picture prompts help students of all ages and proficiency levels generate ideas more easily, organize their thoughts coherently, and express themselves more vividly.

Picture writing prompts offer a range of benefits supported by various studies:

• Enhanced Engagement and Motivation : Picture prompts capture students’ interest and motivate them to write, as they provide a stimulating visual context (Mukramah et al., 2023; Gonchar & Schulten, 2017).
• Improved Idea Formulation : Visual prompts help students generate and organize ideas more effectively, leading to richer and more detailed writing (Mukramah et al., 2023; Carp et al., 2020).
• Support for Diverse Learners : They are particularly beneficial for English Language Learners and students of different age groups, helping them overcome language barriers and express their thoughts clearly (Gonchar & Schulten, 2017).
• Encouragement of Creative Thinking : Picture prompts inspire creative storytelling and imaginative responses, allowing students to explore different narrative possibilities (Gonchar & Schulten, 2017).
• Facilitation of Critical Thinking : Analyzing and interpreting images encourages students to think critically about what they see and how they translate those thoughts into writing (Mukramah et al., 2023; Carp et al., 2020).
• Ease of Use Across Subjects : These prompts can be used in various subjects, not just language arts, to inspire writing related to science, social studies, and more (Gonchar & Schulten, 2017).

Tips for Using Picture Prompts in Writing

Using picture prompts in writing activities can be incredibly effective in enhancing students’ creativity and writing skills. However, to maximize their benefits, it’s essential to implement them thoughtfully. Below are some tips to help educators effectively use picture prompts in their writing lessons. These suggestions are designed to engage students, stimulate their imagination, and improve their overall writing abilities, making the writing process both educational and enjoyable.

• Select Diverse Images : Use a variety of pictures, including different subjects and settings, to cater to different interests and stimulate diverse ideas.
• Connect to Writing Goals : Choose images that align with specific writing objectives, such as descriptive, narrative, or persuasive writing.
• Encourage Observation : Ask students to closely observe details in the picture, fostering critical thinking and attention to detail.
• Ask Guiding Questions : Provide prompts like “What is happening in this scene?” or “How do you think the characters feel?”
• Incorporate Group Activities : Use picture prompts for group discussions to generate collaborative story ideas.
• Allow Creative Freedom : Encourage students to interpret the images in unique ways, supporting creativity and individual expression.
• Combine with Other Prompts : Mix picture prompts with text or question prompts to provide more structure and support.
• Use for Various Genres : Adapt picture prompts for different genres, such as poetry, essays, and fiction.
• Reflect and Share : Have students share their stories with peers and reflect on how the images influenced their writing.
• Integrate Technology : Utilize digital platforms to display images and enable students to write and share their responses online.

Using Picture Prompt Writing with Students with Special Needs

Picture prompt writing is also beneficial for students with special needs, particularly those with developmental delays such as autism. The research conducted by Carp et al. (2012) found that picture prompts significantly improved the acquisition of auditory-visual conditional discriminations in children with autism, compared to pointing prompts and trial-and-error learning.

The study showed that picture prompts facilitated faster learning and greater accuracy by enhancing the participants’ ability to discriminate relevant features of the comparison stimuli. This suggests that picture prompts are a valuable tool in teaching complex skills to children with developmental delays, supporting their use in educational programs for individuals with autism.

Additionally, Fisher, Kodak, and Moore (2007) demonstrated that picture prompts facilitated the acquisition of auditory-visual conditional discriminations in children with autism. Their study found that picture prompts were more effective than pointing prompts in promoting correct comparison selections.

Carp et al. also cited additional studies that explored various prompting tactics and their effectiveness in teaching complex skills to individuals with developmental disabilities. These findings underscore the importance of incorporating picture prompts into educational strategies to support the learning and development of students with special needs.

Picture Writing Prompts Examples

In this section, I’ve categorized picture writing prompts into three groups to suit different age levels: kids, middle school, and high school. Each category contains tailored prompts designed to engage students at their respective developmental stages.

For Kids (Elementary School)

In this section, we will explore picture writing prompts designed for elementary school students. These prompts are tailored to engage young minds with topics that are both fun and educational. Whether it’s imagining a day in the life of a lion or describing the wonders of a magical garden, these prompts encourage creativity and help children develop their descriptive writing skills.

1. Animals and Nature

Prompt: “Write a story about a day in the life of a lion in the savannah. What adventures does the lion have? Who are its friends?”

Prompt: “Describe what happens in a magical garden that changes with each season. What do you see, hear, and smell during spring, summer, autumn, and winter?”

2. Fantasy and Adventure

Prompt: “Imagine you found a dragon egg. Describe what happens when it hatches and the adventures you go on with your dragon.”

Prompt: “Write about a group of friends who find a treasure map and go on a pirate adventure to find the hidden treasure.”

3. Daily Life

Prompt: “Describe a fun day at the park with your friends. What games do you play? What do you see around you?”

Prompt: “Write a story about your family cooking dinner together. What do you make, and how do you all help?”

4. Holidays and Celebrations

Prompt: “Write about the most exciting Halloween night you can imagine. What costumes do people wear? What surprises do you find?”

Prompt: “Describe a special family tradition during Christmas. What activities do you do together? How does it make you feel?”

5. Community and Helpers

Prompt: “Imagine you spent a day with a firefighter. Describe the different tasks you help with and how you save the day.”

Prompt: “Write a story about a community event like a parade or fair. What different activities and people do you see?”

For Middle School

Middle school is a time of expanding horizons and growing curiosity. This section focuses on picture writing prompts that challenge students to think critically and creatively. From historical events to futuristic cities, these prompts are designed to foster deeper thinking and help students make connections between their writing and the world around them.

1. Historical Events

Prompt: “Imagine you are a reporter covering the moon landing. Describe the events as you see them unfold and how people react.”

Prompt: “Write a diary entry from the perspective of a child living in ancient Egypt. What is your daily life like?”

2. Science and Technology

Prompt: “Describe a futuristic city where robots help with everyday tasks. How do people live and interact with these robots?”

Prompt: “Write about an environmental project you would start to help reduce pollution in your city.”

3. Mystery and Suspense

Prompt: “A foggy forest path leads to an abandoned house. Write a story about what you find inside and the mystery you uncover.”

Prompt: “Describe the events of a night when you and your friends decided to explore a rumored haunted house.”

4. Emotions and Relationships

Prompt: “Write about a time when you felt incredibly happy. What caused this happiness, and how did it change your day?”

Prompt: “Describe a friendship that started unexpectedly and became very important to you.”

5. Exploration and Travel

Prompt: “Imagine you are exploring the Great Wall of China. Describe your journey and the sights you see.”

Prompt: “Write a story about a scuba diving adventure where you discover a hidden underwater city.”

For High School

High school students are ready to tackle more complex and abstract themes in their writing. In this section, we provide picture writing prompts that encourage them to explore social issues, abstract concepts, and literary inspirations. These prompts are intended to provoke thoughtful responses and help students develop their analytical and expressive abilities.

1. Social Issues

Prompt: “Write an essay on the impact of climate change on your community. What changes have you observed, and what solutions do you propose?”

Prompt: “Describe a protest you attended or would like to attend. What is the cause, and what do you hope to achieve?”

2. Abstract and Symbolic

Prompt: “Look at an abstract painting and describe what it represents to you. How does it make you feel, and what do you think the artist was trying to convey?”

Prompt: “Write a story inspired by a symbolic image, such as a broken chain or a lone tree in a vast field.”

3. Literary Inspiration

Prompt: “Imagine you are a character in a classic novel like ‘Pride and Prejudice’ or ‘To Kill a Mockingbird.’ Write a new scene that fits into the story.”

Prompt: “Describe a painting from the Renaissance era and create a story based on the characters and setting.”

4. Career and Future

Prompt: “Write a day in the life of your dream job. What tasks do you perform, and what challenges do you face?”

Prompt: “Describe your first day at college. How do you feel, what do you do, and who do you meet?”

5. Cultural Diversity

Prompt: “Describe a cultural festival you attended. What traditions did you observe, and what did you learn?”

Prompt: “Write a story about a family from a different culture moving to your town. How do they adapt, and what do they teach you?”

Related: 9 Great Books on Essay Writing

Final thoughts

In this post, I talked about picture writing prompts and covered their importance, practical tips for using them, their benefits, and examples to get you started. Picture prompts are excellent tools for overcoming writer’s block and enhancing students’ creativity and writing skills. I hope these insights and strategies will inspire you to incorporate picture prompts into your writing activities. For further reading and a deeper understanding, I encourage you to explore the references provided.

• Carp, C. L., Peterson, S. P., Arkel, A. J., Petursdottir, A. I., & Ingvarsson, E. T. (2012). A further evaluation of picture prompts during auditory-visual conditional discrimination training. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis , 45 (4), 737–751. https://doi.org/10.1901/jaba.2012.45-737
• Dube, W. V., & McIlvane, W. J. (1999). Reduction of stimulus overselectivity with nonverbal differential observing responses. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 32, 25-33. doi:10.1901/jaba.1999.32-25
• Fisher, W. W., Kodak, T., & Moore, J. W. (2007). Embedding an identity-matching task within a prompting hierarchy to facilitate acquisition of conditional discriminations in children with autism. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 40, 489–499. doi:10.1901/jaba.2007.40-489
• Gonchar, M., & Schulten, K. (2017). A Year of Picture Prompts: Over 160 Images to Inspire Writing. The new York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/01/learning/lesson-plans/a-year-of-picture-prompts-over-160-images-to-inspire-writing.html
• Mukramah, C., Mustafa, F., & Sari, D. F. (2023). The Effect of Picture and Text Prompts on Idea Formulation and Organization of Descriptive Text. Indonesian Journal of English Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics, 7(2), 325-341

Further Readings on Picture Prompt Writing

If you’re looking to delve deeper into the benefits and applications of picture prompts in writing, here are some valuable resources:

• “5 Reasons to Use Pictures as Writing Prompts” by The Write Practice
• “How to Use Images to Inspire Creative Writing” by Edutopia
• “ 144 Picture Prompts to Inspire Student Writing” by The Learning Network

Join our mailing list

Never miss an EdTech beat! Subscribe now for exclusive insights and resources .

Meet Med Kharbach, PhD

Dr. Med Kharbach is an influential voice in the global educational technology landscape, with an extensive background in educational studies and a decade-long experience as a K-12 teacher. Holding a Ph.D. from Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, Canada, he brings a unique perspective to the educational world by integrating his profound academic knowledge with his hands-on teaching experience. Dr. Kharbach's academic pursuits encompass curriculum studies, discourse analysis, language learning/teaching, language and identity, emerging literacies, educational technology, and research methodologies. His work has been presented at numerous national and international conferences and published in various esteemed academic journals.

Join our email list for exclusive EdTech content.

Creative Writing Prompts Pictures: Visualize Your Tale

By: Author Paul Jenkins

Posted on September 27, 2023

Categories Writing

You’re staring at a blank page, the cursor blinking mockingly. Writer’s block has you in its grip again. But what if there’s a tool that can spark your imagination?

Enter creative writing prompts pictures! They’re not just images; they’re catalysts, turning your ‘I can’t’ into an exhilarating ‘watch me’.

So buckle up, we’re diving into the world of picture prompts, where every image holds a story waiting to be penned by you.

Key Takeaways

• Picture prompts spark creativity in unexpected ways
• Visual cues enhance the quality of literary works
• Openness to diverse interpretations is crucial
• Choose images that align with the story’s mood and theme

Understanding the Concept of Picture Prompts

You’ll find that picture prompts can really spark your creativity in unexpected ways. They’re not just about drawing what you see, but about interpreting the images and evolving a story around them.

However, misunderstandings can occur. Imagine you’re looking at a picture of an old man holding an umbrella. You may see it as a tale of loneliness; someone else might interpret it as resilience against life’s storms.

Then there’s Prompt Picture Plagiarism – lifting others’ ideas instead of creating your own. Remember, every image tells different stories to different people. Your job is to listen closely and give life to that unheard narrative hiding beneath the surface. It’s all about originality and personal perspective!

The Importance of Visual Stimuli in Creative Writing

Visual cues play a pivotal role in sparking imagination and enhancing the quality of literary works. Your mind’s eye, influenced by visual perception, creates vibrant landscapes from the barest hints within a photograph.

You’re an explorer, charting unknown territories with nothing but ink and paper.

Consider how photographic inspiration impacts your writing process. A single image can bloom into an intricate narrative, each detail weaving itself into your story’s fabric. A crumbling castle becomes a haunted relic of past glory; a moonlit forest transforms into an enchanted realm for mythical creatures.

As you delve deeper into this visual journey, characters spring to life. They carry their histories etched on faces shaped by joy, sorrow, or rage. Through these figures, you explore the human condition; through these images, your stories gain depth and breadth.

Types of Creative Writing Prompts Pictures

Let’s delve into the different types of images that can trigger your imagination and enhance your storytelling ability.

Unconventional picture prompts can be a goldmine for imaginative thinking. Sometimes, a picture prompts misinterpretation, which, ironically, can lead to more creative narratives.

Abstract Art: These unconventional pictures free you from literal interpretations and encourage unique storytelling.

• Historical Images: They transport you back in time, allowing characters to live in bygone eras.
• Nature Shots: The beauty of nature inspires vivid imagery and profound themes.
• Candid Photographs: Ordinary moments captured candidly provide opportunities for relatable character development.

How to Use Picture Prompts Effectively

To use image cues effectively, it’s crucial that you’re open to diverse interpretations and let your imagination take the lead.

Picture Interpretation Techniques aren’t a one-size-fits-all approach; they require prompt personalization based on your unique perspective.

Imagine, for instance, an old woman hunched over her knitting in a cozy room. You might see a story of loneliness or resilience, a colorful tapestry of past memories or future hopes threaded through her stitches.

Every wrinkle tells tales of laughter and sorrow; every loop in her knitting is part of life’s complex pattern.

You’re not just viewing an image; you’re creating worlds from strands of thought, weaving narratives from threads of creativity. So dive deep into the photo prompts – there’s no right or wrong answer. Your interpretation is what makes your writing genuinely yours.

Tips for Choosing the Right Picture Prompts

Choosing the right image cues can significantly influence your storytelling, so it’s essential you pick ones that truly resonate with you. Remember, an image is worth a thousand words and it’s your job to find those words.

Now, here are some tips to navigate through prompt limitations and avoid any image selection controversies:

• Align with Your Theme: Choose images that match your story’s mood.
• Details Matter: Pay attention to the small elements in the picture; they can inspire subplots.
• Think Outside the Box: Don’t let conventional interpretations limit you. Surprise yourself.
• Resonance Is Key: The prompts should stir something within you.

Remember each image is a potential plot twist, character revelation, or emotive climax waiting for your unique interpretation!

The Role of Picture Prompts in Enhancing Creativity

You’ll find that image cues can play a significant role in enhancing your inventiveness and originality. The right picture prompt can ignite a flame of creativity, sparking ideas you never knew you had. Imagine yourself as an explorer, uncovering hidden stories within the strokes of color and shadow.

But it’s not just about looking; it’s about seeing.

Prompt interpretation strategies are your tools here- compasses guiding you through the creative wilderness.

Yet, remember: even the most captivating images have limitations.

Picture prompt limitations challenge you to think beyond what’s seen, to delve deeper into the unseen spaces, the gaps between reality and imagination.

Case Study: Successful Use of Picture Prompts

Stepping away from the theoretical aspects of picture prompts, let’s dive into a tangible example.

Prompt Selection Process: You choose images that ignite your imagination.

Prompt Inspiration Sources: The sun sinking into the ocean, an abandoned house consumed by ivy, or even a stranger’s smile.

The Story Unfolds: Your pen starts moving across the paper.

Success! A short story is born.

In this process, you’ve not only found inspiration but also honed your craft and built confidence as a writer—all thanks to the power of picture prompts.

Incorporating Picture Prompts in Writing Exercises

As we delve into the benefits of these captivating catalysts, explore vibrant examples of creative writing exercises, and share insightful tips on selecting just the right prompt, you’ll uncover an exciting new dimension to your storytelling journey.

Creative Writing Exercise Examples

Let’s dive into a few examples of exercises that’ll spice up your storytelling abilities.

Imagine you’re working with a picture prompt; an old, weather-beaten house standing alone in a field. Your task? Use symbolic interpretation to unravel its hidden narratives.

Look beyond the obvious, notice the cracked windows portraying life’s adversities, or the resilient structure symbolizing endurance. Now, focus on character development. Who might have lived here? A robust farmer weathering hardships with stoicism or perhaps an eccentric artist seeking solitude?

Next, employ storyboarding techniques to outline your narrative visually. Sketch significant scenes and decide their sequence. This approach helps you visualize how your plot unfolds and where tension builds.

These exercises stimulate creativity and train you to decode visual stimuli into compelling stories. Remember, every picture tells a tale – it’s yours to decipher!

Picture Prompts Selection Tips

Choosing the right visual stimuli can truly enhance your storytelling skills. It’s about more than just picking any image; it’s an Image Selection Process that requires thought and creativity.

Consider these steps:

• Identify a Theme : What’s your story about? Find images that align with this theme.
• Look for Symbolic Representation : Images loaded with symbolism can add depth to your narrative.
• Emotional Impact : Choose pictures that evoke strong emotions to attract and hold readers’ attention.
• Authenticity : Pick real, relatable images to draw readers into your world.

Addressing Challenges of Using Picture Prompts

You’re likely to face some obstacles when you start incorporating picture prompts into your writing routine.

The first hurdle might be overcoming prompt misinterpretation.

An image, vivid and complex, can ignite a thousand different narratives in your mind. You’ll find yourself sifting through an avalanche of ideas before you pinpoint the story that feels just right.

The next challenge is picture prompt accessibility.

Not every image will resonate with you or stir up creative juices. But don’t let it deter you! Remember, there’s a whole world within each photo waiting for exploration. Like an archaeologist unearthing ancient civilizations, dig deep into the details – the worn-out edges of a book or the melancholy echo behind someone’s eyes – and craft a story that only you could tell.

Exploring Different Genres With Picture Prompts

Try out these steps:

• Pick an image: It’s just the first step, but it sets the stage for everything else.
• Identify genre: What does the picture suggest? Mystery, romance or maybe fantasy?
• Create characters: Who are they? What’s their journey?
• Write your story: Now that you’ve set the scene, let your creativity shine!

Just imagine – one day it’s a dystopian sci-fi saga; another, a tender romance all from interpreting different images! That’s thrilling versatility right there!

Promoting Visual Thinking Through Picture Prompts

Each image, each symbol holds a story waiting to unfold through your creative lens.

You are not merely looking at pictures; you’re exploring worlds within them, finding hidden narratives and nuances that speak volumes. This is more than just observation – it’s about understanding and articulating what you see.

Picture Prompts for Beginner Writers

Choosing Suitable Images

You’ll find that selecting the right images can significantly enhance your creative writing process. It’s like picking characters for a play, each one brimming with potential stories and emotions. A picture is not just an image; it’s a world full of ‘Image Connotations’ and ‘Visual Metaphors’.

• Seek Emotional Resonance : Choose images that stir something in you, evoking emotions and thoughts.
• Look for Visual Metaphors : Find pictures that symbolize deeper meanings or abstract ideas.
• Consider Image Connotations : Understand what different elements in an image signify culturally or personally.
• Ensure Relevance : Make sure your selected image aligns with the theme or atmosphere of your story.

Interpreting Picture Prompts

Interpreting image cues isn’t just about understanding what’s visible, but also delving into the hidden meanings and stories they may represent. Picture prompts are your personal gateways to creative nirvana, where you’re the architect of symbolic interpretations.

You see a weathered boat on a beach; it’s not merely an abandoned vessel, but a symbol of resilience against life’s storms from your perspective.

Every picture whispers tales yet untold, urging you to lend them your voice. It’s like being in an old attic full of forgotten treasures waiting for someone with unconventional perspectives to discover their worth.

Inspiring Creativity With Pictures

Images aren’t just static visuals; they’re powerful tools that can ignite your imagination and inspire original ideas. When you dive into the world of visual literacy, every picture analysis becomes a journey into the unknown, sparking creativity and innovation.

Here are four steps to harness this power:

• Observe: Look at the image carefully, absorbing all its details.
• Interpret: Ponder what message or story it might be conveying.
• Connect: Relate elements in the image to your own experiences or emotions.
• Create: Based on these connections, craft your unique narrative.

You’re not just an observer; you’re an active participant shaping new narratives out of visual cues. So next time you see a picture prompt, remember – it’s not just an image, but a catalyst for your creative genius!

Picture Prompts for Advanced Writers

For advanced writers, picture prompts can be an excellent tool to trigger imagination and craft more complex narratives. By peering into a dynamic world ripe for exploration, you’re not just seeing a static image.

As you gaze at the prompt, don’t only observe what’s immediately visible. Instead, dive deeper. Envisage characters with compelling backstories, intricate emotions, and evolving motivations.

Let the setting shape your plot, allowing its mood to affect your characters’ actions and decisions. Allow the image to breathe life into every scene, infusing originality and vivid imagery that captivates readers’ minds.

The Impact of Picture Prompts on Writer’s Block

Picture prompts can serve as a springboard to unlock the creative juices and get the words flowing again.

Consider this:

• Observation: Look at the image carefully. What does it evoke in your mind? Feelings? Memories?
• Description: Flesh out your first impression into a vivid scene or character.
• Imagination: Let your mind wander beyond what’s visible in the picture.
• Creation: Start writing! Turn those thoughts and associations into compelling prose.

Next Steps: Expanding Your Use of Picture Prompts

Imagine being an archaeologist sifting through layers of ancient civilization. Each artifact uncovered is a new piece of the puzzle, fleshing out the narrative of bygone times.

Similarly, you probe through an array of images – from striking landscapes to candid emotions – each one breathing life into characters and plots yet unwritten.

So, you’ve explored the world of picture prompts. You’ve seen their power to kickstart creativity, overcome writer’s block, and add vivid imagery to your work.

Whether beginner or advanced, there’s a prompt out there for you. Now it’s time to choose your image and let the story unfold.

Remember, in writing as in life, every picture tells a story – yours is just waiting to be penned. Unleash your imagination!

🎉 Our next novel writing master class starts in – ! Claim your spot →

WEEKLY WRITING PROMPTS

Join (probably?) the world's largest writing contest. Flex those creative muscles with weekly writing prompts.

Showing 2159 prompts

The talk of the ton, write a story in the format of a gossip column..

LIVE – Short Story

Write a story where an important conversation takes place during a dance.

Write a story about two characters who start as mortal enemies but learn to embrace their differences., write a story where a rumor starts to spread. your protagonist is either the topic or the source., set your story at a regency-themed fair..

Introducing Prompted , a new magazine written by you!

🏆 Featuring 12 prize-winning stories from our community. Download it now for FREE .

Write about a character who has the ability to pause the passage of time.

Write a story that contains the line, "i wish we could stay here forever.", start your story with a character canceling their plans., set your story over the course of a few minutes; no flashbacks, no flashforwards., write a story about a highly-strung character learning to slow down, or someone pursuing a quieter way of life., subscribe to our prompts newsletter.

Never miss a prompt! Get curated writing inspiration delivered to your inbox each week.

Write a story that includes someone saying, “Be careful what you wish for.”

Make a character’s obsession or addiction an important element of your story., write a story in which one of the characters is a narcissist., write about a character who struggles to do the right thing., start your story with a character being followed., your protagonist is a voracious reader. lately, they’ve been noticing odd synchronicities in the books he or she is reading. what does the protagonist discover is happening, dream up a secret library. write a story about an adventurer who discovers it. what’s in the library why was it kept secret, write a story about a future academic (or another influential person) “rediscovering” a book that, in its time, was dismissed. the book can be fictitious or real., your protagonist is a writer who discovers a new favorite author. how does their writing, or even their own personality, change as the protagonist falls under the writer’s influence, write a story about discovering a lost manuscript. it can be from a famous (or infamous) author, or an unknown one., win $250 in our short story competition 🏆.

We'll send you 5 prompts each week. Respond with your short story and you could win $250!

Contest #254 LIVE

Enter our weekly contest.

This week's theme: The Talk of the Ton

Prize money

Contest entries, closes at 23:59 - jun 13, 2024 est, recent contests ✍️.

#253 – Slow Down

#252 – Obsession

#251 – Lost and Found Books with BookTrib

#250 – All Ears

Recent winners 🏆

Danielle LeBlanc – read

Adam Perschbacher – read

VJ Hamilton – read

Dena Linn – read

Leaderboard 🥇

#1 Zilla Babbitt

32376 points

#2 Deidra Whitt Lovegren

28745 points

#3 Abigail Airuedomwinya

22424 points

#4 Graham Kinross

14549 points

#5 Scout Tahoe

13199 points

#6 Chris Campbell

11434 points

#7 Thom With An H

10684 points

#8 Rayhan Hidayat

10216 points

#9 Michał Przywara

9947 points

#10 Deborah Mercer

9610 points

We made a writing app for you

Yes, you! Write. Format. Export for ebook and print. 100% free, always.

Creative Writing Prompts

When the idea to start a weekly newsletter with writing inspiration first came to us, we decided that we wanted to do more than provide people with topics to write about. We wanted to try and help authors form a regular writing habit and also give them a place to proudly display their work. So we started the weekly Creative Writing Prompts newsletter. Since then, Prompts has grown to a community of more than 450,000 authors, complete with its own literary magazine, Prompted .  

Here's how our contest works: every Friday, we send out a newsletter containing five creative writing prompts. Each week, the story ideas center around a different theme. Authors then have one week — until the following Friday — to submit a short story based on one of our prompts. A winner is picked each week to win $250 and is highlighted on our Reedsy Prompts page.

Interested in participating in our short story contest? Sign up here for more information! Or you can check out our full Terms of Use and our FAQ page .

Why we love creative writing prompts

If you've ever sat in front of a computer or notebook and felt the urge to start creating worlds, characters, and storylines — all the while finding yourself unable to do so — then you've met the author's age-old foe: writer's block. There's nothing more frustrating than finding the time but not the words to be creative. Enter our directory! If you're ready to kick writer's block to the curb and finally get started on your short story or novel, these unique story ideas might just be your ticket.

This list of 1800+ creative writing prompts has been created by the Reedsy team to help you develop a rock-solid writing routine. As all aspiring authors know, this is the #1 challenge — and solution! — for reaching your literary goals. Feel free to filter through different genres, which include...

Dramatic — If you want to make people laugh and cry within the same story, this might be your genre.

Funny — Whether satire or slapstick, this is an opportunity to write with your funny bone.

Romance — One of the most popular commercial genres out there. Check out these story ideas out if you love writing about love.

Fantasy — The beauty of this genre is that the possibilities are as endless as your imagination.

Dystopian – Explore the shadowy side of human nature and contemporary technology in dark speculative fiction.

Mystery — From whodunnits to cozy mysteries, it's time to bring out your inner detective.

Thriller and Suspense — There's nothing like a page-turner that elicits a gasp of surprise at the end.

High School — Encourage teens to let their imaginations run free.

Want to submit your own story ideas to help inspire fellow writers? Send them to us here.

After you find the perfect story idea

Finding inspiration is just one piece of the puzzle. Next, you need to refine your craft skills — and then display them to the world. We've worked hard to create resources that help you do just that! Check them out:

• How to Write a Short Story That Gets Published — a free, ten-day course by Laura Mae Isaacman, a full-time editor who runs a book editing company in Brooklyn.
• Best Literary Magazines of 2023 — a directory of 100+ reputable magazines that accept unsolicited submissions.
• Writing Contests in 2023 — the finest contests of 2021 for fiction and non-fiction authors of short stories, poetry, essays, and more.

Beyond creative writing prompts: how to build a writing routine

While writing prompts are a great tactic to spark your creative sessions, a writer generally needs a couple more tools in their toolbelt when it comes to developing a rock-solid writing routine . To that end, here are a few more additional tips for incorporating your craft into your everyday life.

• NNWT. Or, as book coach Kevin Johns calls it , “Non-Negotiable Writing Time.” This time should be scheduled into your routine, whether that’s once a day or once a week. Treat it as a serious commitment, and don’t schedule anything else during your NNWT unless it’s absolutely necessary.
• Set word count goals. And make them realistic! Don’t start out with lofty goals you’re unlikely to achieve. Give some thought to how many words you think you can write a week, and start there. If you find you’re hitting your weekly or daily goals easily, keep upping the stakes as your craft time becomes more ingrained in your routine.
• Talk to friends and family about the project you’re working on. Doing so means that those close to you are likely to check in about the status of your piece — which in turn keeps you more accountable.

Arm yourself against writer’s block. Writer’s block will inevitably come, no matter how much story ideas initially inspire you. So it’s best to be prepared with tips and tricks you can use to keep yourself on track before the block hits. You can find 20 solid tips here — including how to establish a relationship with your inner critic and apps that can help you defeat procrastination or lack of motivation.

NEW VIDEO COURSE 🎉

How to Write a Novel

Join Tom Bromley for a writing master class and finish your first draft in 3 months . Learn more →

Explore more writing prompt ideas:

Adults Writing Prompts ⭢

Adventure Writing Prompts ⭢

Angst Writing Prompts ⭢

Character Writing Prompts ⭢

Christmas Writing Prompts ⭢

Dark Writing Prompts ⭢

Dialogue Writing Prompts ⭢

Dramatic Writing Prompts ⭢

Dystopian Writing Prompts ⭢

Fall Writing Prompts ⭢

Fantasy Writing Prompts ⭢

Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Fluff Writing Prompts ⭢

Funny Writing Prompts ⭢

Halloween Writing Prompts ⭢

High School Writing Prompts ⭢

Historical Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Holiday Writing Prompts ⭢

Horror Writing Prompts ⭢

Kids Writing Prompts ⭢

Middle School Writing Prompts ⭢

Mystery Writing Prompts ⭢

Narrative Writing Prompts ⭢

Nonfiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Novel Writing Prompts ⭢

Poetry Writing Prompts ⭢

Romance Writing Prompts ⭢

Sad Writing Prompts ⭢

Science Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Short Story Writing Prompts ⭢

Spring Writing Prompts ⭢

Summer Writing Prompts ⭢

Teens Writing Prompts ⭢

Thanksgiving Writing Prompts ⭢

Thriller and Suspense Writing Prompts ⭢

Valentine's Day Writing Prompts ⭢

Vampire Writing Prompts ⭢

Winter Writing Prompts ⭢

Oops, you need an account for that!

Log in with your social account:

Or enter your email:

Inspire student writing

Picture prompts.

Dive into hundreds of images, each paired with a writing prompt and questions to spark ideas. There's also the option to generate, edit and save custom prompts tailored to the needs of your students.

Support student writing

Choose your own adventures.

Unleash the power of collaborative storytelling! Start with brainstorming before students pick from themed picture prompts and craft unique adventure narratives.

Excite student writing

Ignite creativity with animated writing prompts. Perfect for capturing the imagination of students in today's world.

0{{current_slide_index}}   |   0{{total_slide_count}}

Get full access (at no cost) picture prompts for creative writing.

Sign up for free and enjoy all these awesome features:

Picture Prompts for Creative Writing

Watch your budding thinkers and writers be inspired by interesting and engaging images.

Hundreds of dynamic picture prompts, each with discussion questions and a suggested writing prompt. Encourage creativity to flourish in every classroom.

Engage your class in collaborative storytelling through scaffolded Choose Your Own Adventure group writing. Ignite creativity and teamwork today.

Jump to navigation Skip to content

Search form

• P&W on Facebook
• P&W on Twitter
• P&W on Instagram

Find details about every creative writing competition—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, grants for translators, and more—that we’ve published in the Grants & Awards section of Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it in the Writing Contests database, the most trusted resource for legitimate writing contests available anywhere.

Find a home for your poems, stories, essays, and reviews by researching the publications vetted by our editorial staff. In the Literary Magazines database you’ll find editorial policies, submission guidelines, contact information—everything you need to know before submitting your work to the publications that share your vision for your work.

Whether you’re pursuing the publication of your first book or your fifth, use the Small Presses database to research potential publishers, including submission guidelines, tips from the editors, contact information, and more.

Research more than one hundred agents who represent poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers, plus details about the kinds of books they’re interested in representing, their clients, and the best way to contact them.

Every week a new publishing professional shares advice, anecdotes, insights, and new ways of thinking about writing and the business of books.

Find publishers ready to read your work now with our Open Reading Periods page, a continually updated resource listing all the literary magazines and small presses currently open for submissions.

Since our founding in 1970, Poets & Writers has served as an information clearinghouse of all matters related to writing. While the range of inquiries has been broad, common themes have emerged over time. Our Top Topics for Writers addresses the most popular and pressing issues, including literary agents, copyright, MFA programs, and self-publishing.

Our series of subject-based handbooks (PDF format; $4.99 each) provide information and advice from authors, literary agents, editors, and publishers. Now available: The Poets & Writers Guide to Publicity and Promotion, The Poets & Writers Guide to the Book Deal, The Poets & Writers Guide to Literary Agents, The Poets & Writers Guide to MFA Programs, and The Poets & Writers Guide to Writing Contests.

Find a home for your work by consulting our searchable databases of writing contests, literary magazines, small presses, literary agents, and more.

Poets & Writers lists readings, workshops, and other literary events held in cities across the country. Whether you are an author on book tour or the curator of a reading series, the Literary Events Calendar can help you find your audience.

Get the Word Out is a new publicity incubator for debut fiction writers and poets.

Research newspapers, magazines, websites, and other publications that consistently publish book reviews using the Review Outlets database, which includes information about publishing schedules, submission guidelines, fees, and more.

Well over ten thousand poets and writers maintain listings in this essential resource for writers interested in connecting with their peers, as well as editors, agents, and reading series coordinators looking for authors. Apply today to join the growing community of writers who stay in touch and informed using the Poets & Writers Directory.

Let the world know about your work by posting your events on our literary events calendar, apply to be included in our directory of writers, and more.

Find a writers group to join or create your own with Poets & Writers Groups. Everything you need to connect, communicate, and collaborate with other poets and writers—all in one place.

Find information about more than two hundred full- and low-residency programs in creative writing in our MFA Programs database, which includes details about deadlines, funding, class size, core faculty, and more. Also included is information about more than fifty MA and PhD programs.

Whether you are looking to meet up with fellow writers, agents, and editors, or trying to find the perfect environment to fuel your writing practice, the Conferences & Residencies is the essential resource for information about well over three hundred writing conferences, writers residencies, and literary festivals around the world.

Discover historical sites, independent bookstores, literary archives, writing centers, and writers spaces in cities across the country using the Literary Places database—the best starting point for any literary journey, whether it’s for research or inspiration.

Search for jobs in education, publishing, the arts, and more within our free, frequently updated job listings for writers and poets.

Establish new connections and enjoy the company of your peers using our searchable databases of MFA programs and writers retreats, apply to be included in our directory of writers, and more.

• Register for Classes

Each year the Readings & Workshops program provides support to hundreds of writers participating in literary readings and conducting writing workshops. Learn more about this program, our special events, projects, and supporters, and how to contact us.

The Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award introduces emerging writers to the New York City literary community, providing them with a network for professional advancement.

Find information about how Poets & Writers provides support to hundreds of writers participating in literary readings and conducting writing workshops.

Bring the literary world to your door—at half the newsstand price. Available in print and digital editions, Poets & Writers Magazine is a must-have for writers who are serious about their craft.

View the contents and read select essays, articles, interviews, and profiles from the current issue of the award-winning Poets & Writers Magazine .

Read essays, articles, interviews, profiles, and other select content from Poets & Writers Magazine as well as Online Exclusives.

View the covers and contents of every issue of Poets & Writers Magazine , from the current edition all the way back to the first black-and-white issue in 1987.

Every day the editors of Poets & Writers Magazine scan the headlines—publishing reports, literary dispatches, academic announcements, and more—for all the news that creative writers need to know.

In our weekly series of craft essays, some of the best and brightest minds in contemporary literature explore their craft in compact form, articulating their thoughts about creative obsessions and curiosities in a working notebook of lessons about the art of writing.

The Time Is Now offers weekly writing prompts in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction to help you stay committed to your writing practice throughout the year. Sign up to get The Time Is Now, as well as a weekly book recommendation for guidance and inspiration, delivered to your inbox.

Every week a new author shares books, art, music, writing prompts, films—anything and everything—that has inspired and shaped the creative process.

Listen to original audio recordings of authors featured in Poets & Writers Magazine . Browse the archive of more than 400 author readings.

Ads in Poets & Writers Magazine and on pw.org are the best ways to reach a readership of serious poets and literary prose writers. Our audience trusts our editorial content and looks to it, and to relevant advertising, for information and guidance.

Start, renew, or give a subscription to Poets & Writers Magazine ; change your address; check your account; pay your bill; report a missed issue; contact us.

Peruse paid listings of writing contests, conferences, workshops, editing services, calls for submissions, and more.

Poets & Writers is pleased to provide free subscriptions to Poets & Writers Magazine to award-winning young writers and to high school creative writing teachers for use in their classrooms.

Read select articles from the award-winning magazine and consult the most comprehensive listing of literary grants and awards, deadlines, and prizewinners available in print.

• Subscribe Now

Writing Prompts & Exercises

The time is now.

The Time Is Now offers three new and original writing prompts each week to help you stay committed to your writing practice throughout the year. We also curate a list of essential books on writing —both the newly published and the classics—that we recommend for guidance and inspiration. Whether you’re struggling with writer’s block, looking for a fresh topic, or just starting to write, our archive of writing prompts has what you need. Need a starter pack? Check out our Writing Prompts for Beginners.

Tuesdays: Poetry prompts Wednesdays: Fiction prompts Thursdays: Creative nonfiction prompts

Get immediate access to more than 2,000 writing prompts with the tool below:

Attentiveness

• Printable Version
• Log in to Send
• Log in to Save

Nearly fifty years ago, the writer George Perec spent three days sitting behind a café window in Place Saint-Sulpice in Paris recording everything he saw. In his short book, An Attempt at Exhausting a Place in Paris , his observations of mundane occurrences and objects often considered unnoteworthy—passersby, cars, buses, pigeons, signs, and slogans—are documented. This week situate yourself in one spot, perhaps in your home or workplace, or in a public space like a park, busy crossroad, commercial area, library, or café. Then, jot down the objects and behavior you see, and the snippets of conversation you hear. Write a lyric essay composed of these notes, trying to avoid interpretations or analysis. Taken together, how do your observations create a portrayal of a specific time or place? Pay particular attention to how one observation might lead to another, and to potential rhythms and repetitions.

Power Couple

The 2023 thriller film Fair Play , written and directed by Chloe Domont, follows the lives of a young, newly engaged couple, Luke and Emily, who are colleagues working as analysts in the cutthroat world of high finance in New York. The film focuses on the progression of their relationship, which has been kept hidden from their hedge fund office, and the bitter disintegration of their happiness after a promotion that was initially rumored to go to Luke is unexpectedly bestowed upon Emily, which situates him as a subordinate to his wife within a misogynistic workplace. Write a short story that revolves around an occurrence that catalyzes a shift in the power dynamic between two main characters who have a close relationship. What are the initial responses, and does the transformation happen suddenly or gradually? Are there gender, generational, or other cultural issues that play a role?

Organic Insinuations

“All too often, on a ‘poetry scene,’ people prioritise ‘subject matter,’” says John Burnside in a 2023 interview about his writing process by Jesse Nathan published on McSweeney’s Internet Tendency. “I am sure that, as I am working, environmental concerns insinuate their way into the content of a poem organically, as other concerns will—but I would never start from there.” Inspired by the late Scottish poet, who died at the age of sixty-nine on May 29, write a poem that springs not from a predetermined topic or subject matter, but instead allows you to “trust in the sounds, the rhythms that come out of the day-to-day, the sheer immediacy and truth of the quotidian…and the images that lead, sometimes via fairly roundabout paths, to metaphor.” Later, as you reread and revise, what do you discover is the subject of your poem? What might have organically insinuated itself into your poem?

The maintenance or restoration of native plant and animal species has long been at the heart of many ecological and conservation projects, and has historically been a focus of land and environmental stewardship principles held by native and first peoples all over the world. But what if a beloved plant or animal is considered invasive, like the palm trees of Los Angeles or the cattle of Texas? What are the effects or consequences of centuries of existence with this invasive species in a particular locale? This week reflect on the notion of belonging—what are various places and times when you have felt a strong sense of belonging, and situations when you did not feel you belonged? Consider your own perspectives and responses when you encounter someone or something else that seems invasive or does not belong.

In Stephen King’s 1983 novel, Pet Sematary , a doctor moves into a remote house in Maine with his wife, two young children, and their pet cat, and learns from a neighbor about an ancient burial ground nearby cursed by a malevolent spirit which gave it power to reanimate those buried there. This is put to the test first by the family cat, and then by members of the family who die throughout the course of King’s horror story. While each formerly dead being is returned to the land of the living, they don’t come back quite the same. Write a story in which a creature or person returns from the dead, either in actuality or under circumstances in which their reappearance feels as if they are “back from the dead.” What familiar traits remain the same and what is disconcertingly different? Is their return ultimately for the better or the worse?

“I told a friend about a spill at the grocery store, which—the words ‘conveyor belt’ vanishing midsentence—took place on a ‘supermarket treadmill,’” writes Madeleine Schwartz in a recent essay published by New York Times Magazine about her experience of negotiating with and toggling between the French and English languages after moving from New York to Paris. In the piece, Schwartz notes that as she became more comfortable with living and thinking in French, she noticed a blurring of her linguistic capabilities, including a muddling of her articulative abilities in English. Think about a time or situation when words have failed you, or you’ve drawn a blank as to the mot juste. Write a poem that traces or enacts a loss of language, perhaps using invented words, phrases, and spellings or experimenting with font sizes, line breaks, and spacing.

Edible Memories

Many foods, flavors, and dishes hold a wellspring of emotional associations because they remind us of loved ones, habits and traditions, specific locales, and a different time of our lives when we were different people. Write a series of flash nonfiction pieces this week with each segment focusing on an edible item that evokes particularly resonant memories for you. You might begin by jotting down lists of foods you ate regularly growing up—breakfasts, school lunches, vending machine go-tos, favorite fast-food joints, diners, late night spots, home-cooked specialties—as well as a few momentous meals. Who are the people you associate with each one? Aside from taste and smell, consider the surrounding environment, atmospheric sounds, time of year, and who you were at that point in your life.

Wheels and Nails

While the American proverb “the squeaky wheel gets the grease” may be one you’ve heard time and again, often in reference to the idea that whoever raises or vocalizes a criticism the loudest will be appeased, there is a Japanese saying that translates to “the nail that sticks out gets hammered down,” which points to the positives of conformity in order to maintain a productive and humble society. It can also refer to putting someone who has become too successful back down in their place. Write a story in which your main character diverges from a group of people, and sticks their neck out, so to speak. Perhaps they vocalize a contrary perspective, protest something they feel is unjust, or simply present themselves in an unconventional manner. What are the consequences? Does your story lean toward one proverbial lesson or the other, or does the conclusion demonstrate more ambiguity?

Night at the Museum

If you could spend a night at any museum, which would you choose, and why? The French publisher Editions Stock has a series of books that begins with this premise—each author selects a museum, arrangements are made for an overnight stay, and a book is written about the experience. In Jakuta Alikavazovic’s Like a Sky Inside , translated from the French by Daniel Levin Becker, she spends a night at the Louvre in Paris, where childhood memories of visits with her father are vividly recalled. “From March 7 to 8, 2020, I spent the night in the Louvre, alone. Alone and at the same time anything but,” writes Alikavazovic. Write a poem that imagines a night at a museum of your choosing, anywhere in the world. What memories will you excavate from this imagined, solitary experience?

Chosen Family

Although the origin of the term is unknown and can be defined in many ways, a chosen family is made up of a group of people who choose to embrace, nurture, and support each other despite conventional understandings of biological or marital relationships. Oftentimes a chosen family is formed to take the place of a biological family, however, in some cases, these relationships are formed to expand a family. Write a personal essay about a relationship you have with a chosen family member. How did you first meet? Was there a particular incident that catalyzed what would become an inextricable bond? Has your commitment to each other been tested in ways big or small? Reflect on past memories and experiences you have had with this special person and how your relationship has evolved over the years.

Kingdom of the Planet

In the 1968 science fiction film Planet of the Apes , which is based on French author Pierre Boulle’s 1963 novel and has spawned several sequels and a recent reboot, a crew of astronauts crash-lands on a planet ruled by apes who have developed an advanced and hierarchical civilization, complete with systems of governance, labor, scientific research, and a military force. In this far-off place, humans have been reduced to mute primitive beings who are subjugated and kept captive as workers for the primates. Write a speculative story that takes place in another universe with a premise revolving around a role reversal. What are the rules and governing structures of the society that you invent? You might decide to approach your narrative with a tone of horror, satire, or comedy to emphasize your perspective on stereotypical assumptions and social expectations.

Another Country

“I love these raw moist dawns with / a thousand birds you hear but can’t / quite see in the mist. / My old alien body is a foreigner / struggling to get into another country. / The loon call makes me shiver. / Back at the cabin I see a book / and am not quite sure what that is.” In these eight lines that comprise Jim Harrison’s poem “Another Country,” which appears in his final collection, Dead Man’s Float (Copper Canyon Press, 2016), the late poet moves between observations about a natural outdoor setting and the speaker’s own bodily presence, arriving in the final two lines at a sentiment that expresses a feeling of defamiliarization at the seemingly mundane sight of a book. This week write a poem that explores the concept of being so absorbed in one environment or circumstance that to behold a different scene is like traveling to a strange and unknown realm.

Self-Healing

A recent study in Scientific Reports journal revealed that, for possibly the first time, a nonhuman wild animal was seen using plant medicine to heal an active wound. In a rainforest in Indonesia, a Sumatran orangutan was observed ripping off leaves from a climbing vine plant, chewing them, and applying the plant sap to treat a wound on his face, which then healed after a few days. Write a personal essay on the theme of self-healing. Think about experiences when you’ve witnessed another person perform this task, or particularly resonant memories that pertain to your own past behavior. What are the primary emotions present throughout this process? What instances of self-treatment or self-medication in film, art, or literature created an impression on you?

Campus Story

Take inspiration from the concept of a campus novel—which takes place in and around the campus of a university and often involves the intertwined dynamics of students, professors, and conventions about learning and power—and write a story that engages with a school setting, whether prominently situated in the context of the plot or used for a particular scene. Some recent additions to the campus novel canon include Elif Batuman’s The Idiot (Penguin Press, 2017), Xochitl Gonzalez’s Anita de Monte Laughs Last (Flatiron Books, 2024), Kiley Reid’s Come and Get It (G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 2024), and Brandon Taylor’s Real Life (Riverhead Books, 2020). Will you include a character who is a student, teacher, administrative staff member, custodial worker or caretaker, or possibly an alumni revisiting the past? Consider the multitude of ways the incorporation of an educational environment might permeate the atmosphere of the narrative.

The Last Friend

“The day the last friend / dies / we sit alone. / A visitor / from outer space / tries hard / to summon us. / Someone says / EAT DEATH. / I fish around for answers / but the questions / still won’t come,” writes Jerome Rothenberg, who passed away in April, in his poem “The Last Friend.” Included in his collection of one hundred poems, A Book of Witness: Spells & Gris-Gris (New Directions, 2022), the poem presents a list of statements and observations, many of which refer to death or dying in some personal way, though the connections are enigmatic and the logical progression is oblique. Try your hand at writing a poem that mentions its subject directly, but which also deliberately obfuscates or remains ambiguous in its intentions. How might using the “I” as a witness include the reader into your point of view?

Mind Your Manners

The New York City culture and news website Gothamist recently asked New Yorkers about their thoughts on sidewalk etiquette in the crowded, bustling streets of their beloved city. What are the rules, who has the right-of-way, and who should yield? Respondents focused on always walking to the right of the sidewalk and to “move quickly and never stop.” One thoughtful respondent considered the cultural differences of sidewalks used for recreational strolls versus commuting. But the overall consensus was that among nine-to-fivers, tourists, parents with kids, dogwalkers, bicyclists, and groups, seniors deserve the right-of-way. Write an essay about the unwritten rules or etiquette you have observed in your daily surroundings. How have these common practices adapted to fit the needs of different people? Do they evolve over time as social norms change? Consider some of your own experiences with how public etiquette has helped or hindered harmonious community life.

The term sub rosa means “under the rose” in Latin and refers to something said or done in private. The rose has been associated with secrecy since ancient times, a decorative symbol often carved and painted in places like meeting rooms, banquet halls, and confessionals as reminders of confidentiality. This week write a short story that revolves around a conversation or discussion that occurs sub rosa in an enclosed space. Does a certain detail get leaked out or overheard? How might the secretive nature place a burden on your characters? Consider the ways in which the atmosphere and tone of your story feel distinctive in the time and space of your sub-rosa conversation versus the scenes that take place before or after the talk.

Wisdom in Translation

In the anthology Another Room to Live In: 15 Contemporary Arab Poets (Litmus Press, 2024) edited by Omar Berrada and Sarah Riggs, multinational and multilingual poet-translators challenge foundational narratives and rework mythologies through poetic expression. Yasmine Seale’s poem “Conventional Wisdom (Arabic Saying Translated Twenty Ways)” is composed of translations of an ancient aphorism expressing the inextricable place of poetry within Arab cultural heritage. Each line presents a variation on the truism: “Poetry is the record of the Arabs / The art of poetry is Arabs, collected / Good poetry is a list of Arabs / To speak in verse is to remain in Arab memory / To surpass another poet is the Arab odyssey.” Write a poem inspired by this idea of translating a proverb or maxim—either from another language or from English into English. How might you creatively interpolate different “translations” of the saying by incorporating connotations and riffing on free associations and personal experiences?

In Response

In a recent interview with Aria Aber for the Yale Review , when asked his thoughts on the responsibility of the poet, Jackson Prize–winning poet Fady Joudah says, “I often think that the responsibility of the poet is to strive to become the memory that people may possess in the future about what it means to be human: an ever-changing constant. In poetry, the range of metaphors and topics is limited, predictable, but the styles are innumerable. Think how we read poetry from centuries ago and are no longer bothered by its outdated diction. All that remains of old poetry is the music of what it means to be human.” Write a creative nonfiction piece that presents your personal theory of the responsibility of a writer or an artist. To construct an expansive approach, you might use observations about how different creative disciplines overlap in their goals, or consider what has remained resonant as the arts make their mark throughout various eras.

Earth to You

In honor of Earth Week, write a scene that revolves around a character who experiences an unexpected moment in a natural environment that produces a sensation of wonder, perhaps an unusual encounter with wild flora or fauna. You might contrast the elements of this scene with others in your story in which the character is interacting solely with humans or only attuned to the sounds, rhythms, and sights of city life and densely packed civilization. Is the occurrence mind-bogglingly quick and then reflected upon in hindsight, or does time slow down in the scene? How do you manage or manipulate the pacing and rhythm of your prose to draw attention to the emotional and psychological response of the character?

From Dirt Level

In Sharon Olds’s poem “May 1968,” the speaker recounts the memory of spending the night with other protesting students, who lay down their bodies on a New York City street at a university’s campus gates in order to obstruct the mounted police force that had been called in. While “spine-down on the cobbles,” she observes the city and surrounding scenery—the soaring buildings and the police and horses’ bodies—as she gazes upward, thinking about the state of her pregnant body. Write a poem this week from the vantage point of lying face-up, “from dirt level.” What circumstances bring you into this position? How does this upward point of view transform what you see, and how you feel about your own body?

More, please? Or, no more, please? In The Fast: The History, Science, Philosophy, and Promise of Doing Without (Avid Reader Press, 2024), John Oakes recounts his personal experience conducting a weeklong fast and examines the practice’s history and place within a wide range of religions and philosophies. The book also explores the act of self-deprivation and the potential transformative benefits of subtracting rather than adding to one’s life. “The act of fasting…won’t stop routine, but impedes it for a bit, signifying a shift and a determined unwillingness to follow standard operating procedure,” writes Oakes. Use this idea to consider your personal relationship with consumption—of food, conversation, media, clothes, space—and write a personal essay that reflects on what you might otherwise take for granted.

All in Your Head

In “Table for One,” a short story from Korean author Yun Ko-eun’s new collection of the same name, translated by Lizzie Buehler and published by Columbia University Press in April, a surreal quality seeps into the tale of a lonely office worker who enrolls in a course to make solitary dining easier. Tips from the course include: “Target corner tables rather than those in the middle. Seats at the bar are also good. Hang your coat or bag on the chair facing you and take advantage of tools like a book, earphones, a cell phone, or a newspaper.” The fantastic element of the story lies less in the oddity of the premise than in the narrator’s meticulously recounted neuroses and detailed rendering of processes that become seemingly cyclical. Write a scene that focuses on your character’s minute observations as they attempt to overcome something debilitating. Does the situation lend itself to a quirky or dark sense of humor?

Neither Questions nor Answers

“Where is the homeland / to lay a cradle for the dead / Where is the other shore / for poetry to step across the end point / Where is the peace / that lets the days distribute blue sky...” In Sidetracks , forthcoming in May from New Directions, the Chinese poet Bei Dao begins his book-length poem with a list of twenty-five enigmatic questions that dance around mythological, philosophical, and existential subjects. In Jeffrey Yang’s translation, the speaker’s questions lack the end punctuation of the original text, with question marks omitted. Through these unanswered questions, the poet conjures loss and nostalgia. Loosely following this structure, write a prologue to a poem that poses a series of questions gesturing toward your most pressing uncertainties. While Bei Dao’s lines are mysterious and mystical, allow your poem the tone and allusions that feel instinctive to you.

With Certainty

In a 1789 letter, Benjamin Franklin wrote the phrase, “in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Franklin was reflecting on the establishment of the U.S. Constitution, which he said promised to be durable, as well as his own ailing health and mortality. This week write a personal essay that riffs off this proverb, reflecting on your own worldview about what can be certain. You might start off with the prompt: “In this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death, taxes, and ______.” Tell the story of how you arrived at your own ideas about what you can always count on, whether good or bad. What past experiences, encounters, or memories seem to reinforce your belief?

About Our Writing Prompts

What is a writing prompt and how do you use one? Whether you find yourself in front of a blank page or stuck in a work-in-progress, writing prompts can offer a spark that ignites your creative thinking and can lead to new writing. Prompts offer guidance, fresh ideas, and direction for writers of all levels of experience. First, choose a prompt for the genre in which you’d like to write, then carefully read it and consider what it is asking you to think about. It could be a specific setting, a writing technique, or an element of an imagined character; a specific poem, story, essay, song, book, or film from which you might take inspiration; or a current event or a topical theme. A writing prompt is filled with endless possibilities—and there is no wrong way to use one to generate new writing!

What makes our writing prompts unique? We have an archive of over 2,000 prompts, all original and offered here and in our weekly newsletter . You’ll find a variety of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction prompts—some inspired by recent and classic literature and other forms of art, current events, and writing practices, and others that offer guidance for a particular form, including sonnets, erasure poetry, flash fiction, lyric essays, and more. For more than fifty years, Poets & Writers has supported creative writers with trustworthy information and inspiration, and our weekly prompts provide a regular dose of encouragement and motivation.

What are the benefits of using writing prompts? Writing prompts can help you get unstuck if you’re in a rut and the ideas aren’t flowing. But even if you’re not experiencing writer’s block, writing prompts can offer a fresh take or a new approach to a work-in-progress. Writing prompts can also provide the motivation to experiment with a new form, try out a new genre, or learn about other writing techniques. And writing prompts are an invaluable tool for teachers who want to encourage and inspire their writing students.

What is this list of Best Books? Best Books for Writers is a list of essential books for creative writers that we curate to support your writing practice. Every week, we add a book (whether new or a classic) with a synopsis and highlights. Included are books on the writing life, anthologies of craft essays, collections of lectures, practical guides with writing exercises, and more.

Poetry writing prompts Every Tuesday we post a new poetry prompt to guide you in your practice. Get to know the work of contemporary and classic poets, as well as a variety of poetic forms.

Fiction writing prompts Every Wednesday we post a new fiction prompt to spark your imagination. Take inspiration from recently published short stories and novels, and of course, the classics.

Creative nonfiction writing prompts Every Thursday we post a new creative nonfiction prompt to help your exploration of this ever-changing genre. These prompts include information and inspiration for a variety of essays as well as memoirs. Discover new writers and their craft, and fresh ways to generate writing inspired by your life.

Need a starter pack? Check out our Writing Prompts for Beginners .

Get the Reddit app

R/writingprompts we're looking for mods apply here.

Hey there writing friends! In a post-COVID world, we are all busy so we are accepting applications all year-round. So, if you're passionate about this community, keep reading!

We are looking for people to volunteer their time to help moderate our communities! If you love r/WritingPrompts and/or r/shortstories , please consider applying! Every little bit helps.

What we do:

We read every post on the sub and either approve or remove it

We check reported posts and comments

We scan posts and comments to ensure things are running smoothly

We answer modmails

We contribute to the community; which can mean writing, reading, and/or providing tips and motivation

We hang out with each other to discuss mod things and non-mod things

What we expect:

Someone honest and friendly

Someone cool in a crisis

Someone comfortable in open discussions with the team

Someone who will actively contribute to the subreddit and maintain 2% moderator actions

Someone willing to use RES and toolbox when on a desktop to assist in modding activities

Someone willing to mod via mobile when needed

Someone who will communicate effectively, including joining our discord chat, staying up to date on important discussions, and informing senior mods when you will be unavailable

What we are looking for:

You should be 18 years or older.

Your account should be at least 6 months old and have at least 100 combined karma.

You should be adaptable to the ever-changing environment of the online world.

You should be attentive to detail.

You should be skilled at handling difficult situations.

You should understand the subreddit and how things generally work on Reddit.

You should be able to see issues from different perspectives.

You should be eager to learn, and not be afraid to make mistakes.

You should be committed to the team.

What We Don't Want

Someone only doing the absolute minimum

Someone acting against the interest of the subreddit (for example: forgetting you are representing the sub when speaking officially)

Someone constantly disappearing or not contributing to the team without communicating effectively

If you are interested and meet these qualifications, click here to apply. The application will take 35 minutes to an hour, depending on how detailed you make your answers.

If you're interested but unsure if you can take on the full moderation commitment, why not apply to be a Discord Chan-Op?

Any questions can be directed to modmail or directly to me on Reddit or Discord .

SatChat! SatChat! Party Time! Excellent!

Welcome to the weekly post for introductions, self-promotions, and general discussion! This is a place to meet other users, share your achievements, and talk about whatever's on your mind.

Suggested Topic

Do you have any preparation rituals before you start writing?

( This topic has been used before! We always appreciate suggestions for new ones!! )

More to Talk About

Happy Pride Month! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

New here? Introduce yourself! See the sticky comment for suggested intro questions

Have something to promote? (Books, subreddits, podcasts, etc., just no spam)

Suggest topics for future SatChats!

Avoid outright spam (don't just share, chat) and not for sharing full stories

Apply to be a Mod | r/WPCritique | Discord Server (Weekly campfires every Wednesday at 6 pm CST!)

[WP] "Ha! You think your puny depression gun can work on me? Having to work two jobs, a receding hairline, a loveless marriage, and fighting crime while wearing spandex due to a midlife crisis has already left me no will to live!". u/Firefighter-Salt ADMIN MOD • [WP] "Ha! You think your puny depression gun can work on me? Having to work two jobs, a receding hairline, a loveless marriage, and fighting crime while wearing spandex due to a midlife crisis has already left me no will to live!". Writing Prompt

Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Welcome to the Purdue Online Writing Lab

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

The Online Writing Lab at Purdue University houses writing resources and instructional material, and we provide these as a free service of the Writing Lab at Purdue. Students, members of the community, and users worldwide will find information to assist with many writing projects. Teachers and trainers may use this material for in-class and out-of-class instruction.

The Purdue On-Campus Writing Lab and Purdue Online Writing Lab assist clients in their development as writers—no matter what their skill level—with on-campus consultations, online participation, and community engagement. The Purdue Writing Lab serves the Purdue, West Lafayette, campus and coordinates with local literacy initiatives. The Purdue OWL offers global support through online reference materials and services.

A Message From the Assistant Director of Content Development 

The Purdue OWL® is committed to supporting  students, instructors, and writers by offering a wide range of resources that are developed and revised with them in mind. To do this, the OWL team is always exploring possibilties for a better design, allowing accessibility and user experience to guide our process. As the OWL undergoes some changes, we welcome your feedback and suggestions by email at any time.

Please don't hesitate to contact us via our contact page  if you have any questions or comments.

All the best,

Social Media

Facebook twitter.

AI Image Generator

Type in a detailed description and get a selection of AI-generated images to choose from.

Experiment with AI-generated images to find the right vision

Speed up your creative brainstorms and generate AI images that represent your ideas accurately. Explore 100+ video and photo editing tools to start leveling up your creative process.

Break through creative blocks with text to image AI

With a detailed description, Kapwing’s AI Image Generator creates a wide variety of images for you to find the right idea. Generate AI images specially created for you with text to image AI.

Easily create AI images powered by OpenAI's Dall-E

Describe the image you want to create—the more detailed you are, the better your AI-generated images will be.

How to make AI-generated images

Start a new project in Kapwing, and click on the lightbulb in the upper left-hand corner to open Kapwing AI. Select "Create image."

Enter a prompt for the type of image you would like to generate. The more specific you are with your prompt, the better the results will be. Try any of the examples, if needed.

Choose from the selection of AI images and use the full creative suite in Kapwing to make any additional edits. Click “Export project” when you’re done, and download a file.

Your journey of finding the right AI Image Generator ends here

Full of creative editing tools, Kapwing offers everything from an image generator to a photo editor. Kapwing leverages Open AI's DALL·E 2 to power our image generator, embedded in the Image Search side-bar. Creators can type in a text prompt to generate four images and choose their favorite to add to the canvas and export. Tweak the prompt to create images that are closer to your vision.

When you're creating social media graphics and videos, AI generated pictures can be the ideal overlay, background, or subject. If you can't find the perfect picture online or take the perfect photograph, why not generate it from scratch?

Add original art to your designs

Because AI-generated images are original, a creator has full commercial license over its use. It's an ideal tool for making gradient backgrounds, visualizing abstract ideas, bringing to life a fantastical scene, crafting a unique profile picture, designing a collage, and getting tattoo design ideas . When generating images, be mindful of our Terms of Service and respect copyright of other artists when emulating a particular artistic style or aesthetic.

Try Magic Fill to resize photos without stretching

Never worry about distorting photos when you need to resize them. Use Magic Fill, Kapwing's Generative Fill that extends images with relevant generated art using artificial intelligence. Magic Fill uses generative fill AI to extend the background of your images to fit a specific aspect ratio while keeping its context.

Fine tune AI art with AI Photo Enhancer

Streamline your editing process and use artificial intelligence (AI) to automatically improve image quality—this AI tool is a one-click wonder for photos. You can also enhance videos with the inline adjustment tools.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are AI-generated images copyrighted?

Yes and no. According to the U.S. Copyright Office, people can copyright the image result they generated using AI, but they cannot copyright the images used by the computer to create the final image. In other words, you can only copyright artwork that is solely made by a human being, not a computer generator — AI-generated images and the final products of AI tools, although uses existing content and artworks made by other artists, are not protected by copyright.

What are AI-generated images?

In short, AI generated images are images crafted, or put together, by a computer. There are different types of AI approaches like generative AI and machine learning AI, so the way AI tools generate content can be different across the board. Typically, AI generates images by taking the prompt you give it, finding patterns and similarities between past-collected prompts and existing content, then combines multiple pieces of content to produce a unified piece of art.

What is the best AI image generator?

It all depends on how detailed your text description is and the image generator’s specialty. For example, Kapwing’s AI image generator is the best for easily entering a topic and getting generated images back in mere seconds. Whereas, Midjourney does the best with realistic images and Dall-E2 does best with cartoon and illustrated text prompts.

What are the best prompts for image generation?

Try these example prompts to get the most accurate images:

• "A realistic portrait of a family under soft, natural lighting."
• "Concept art for a tiny magical forest city."
• "An oil painting of Whitney Houston."

After a couple of examples, try this image generator with your own words and explore the creative possibilities.

What's the easiest text to image website to use?

Among the top AI image generators, we recommend Kapwing's website for text to image AI. From their homepage, dive straight into the Kapwing AI suite and get access to a text to image generator, video generator, image enhancer, and much more. Never wait for downloads and software installations again—Kapwing is consistently improving each tool.

Visit Kapwing's YouTube Channel for weekly tutorials, product launches, and feature showcases.

What's different about Kapwing?

Kapwing is free to use for teams of any size. We also offer paid plans with additional features, storage, and support.

• Font Generator
• Word Counter
• Add Text to Photo
• Go to the text page
• Generate text
• Open AI writer
• Go to the AI writer page
• Profile Picture Maker
• Sharpen Image
• Compress Image
• Rotate Image
• Resize Image
• HEIC to JPG
• Color Palette from Image
• Image Mirror
• Go to the Image page
• Calendar Maker
• Color Palette
• Go to the design page
• Letter cases
• Symbol Text
• Smileys & People
• Animals & Nature
• Food & Drink
• Travel & Places
• Mathematical
• Roman Numerals
• Translations
• Grammar checker

Paraphraser

• Blog titles
• Meta description
• Social media bio
• Story ideas
• Video titles
• Business names
• Email writer
• Side hustle ideas
• Landing page titles
• Product description
• WebM to MP4
• Go to the video page
• Color Picker
• Color Wheel
• Color Codes
• Go to the color page
• PDF to Word
• Excel to PDF
• Word to PDF
• Go to the convert page
• Compress PDF
• Go to the PDF page
• Photo editor
• AI image enhancer
• AI image generator
• Background changer
• Collage maker
• Background remover
• Go to Picsart all-in-one editor

100% free AI Writer - Quickly generate text

Picsart's AI Writer takes the pain out of writing text for social media, websites, documents, ads, and other online activities. We want everyone to create text with AI, so we made it free and easy to use! 🙌

Generate an example text with AI:

All ai writer tools.

Find your specific AI text tool, like generating a cool Instagram caption, a new Social Media Bio, or a fun story.

Article Writer

Use this tool to write the articles for you. Customize the input as much as you want to create high-quality SEO content.

We expand text. Do you have a short text and want to add more details? Expand now!

Title Generator

Without a catchy title, you won't catch the attention. Let this tool generate the titles for you. They are often better.

Idea Generator

This idea generator creates the ideas for you - No matter the topic. Give it a try!

Keyword Generator

Keywords can help you get started with landing pages, blog posts, and whole websites.

Grammar Checker

Quickly check your text's grammar to ensure you are doing everything correctly.

(Video) Script Generator

Level up your (video) creations with generated scripts that guide you through the creation process.

Simply, we shorten text. Do you have a long text and want to capture the essence? Give it a try!

Story Generator

A story can sell, explain, or visualize a thought or concept. Let us help you tell a good one!

Generate personalized digital ads with enterprise-grade marketing copy for any kind of business.

Social Media Bio

Create a unique and customized social media bio for all major social media platforms in minutes for personal or professional needs.

Easily and quickly rephrase copy into unique content for academic, SEO, marketing, and other uses.

Slogan Generator

Create a memorable and catchy slogan for your brand or business in seconds that will help users remember you easily.

Business Name Ideas

Find great names for your new buiness ventures with this simple tool; describe your business and have results in moments.

Hashtag Generator

Find the best hashtags for your new post which can generate additional clicks and views.

Product Descriptions

Create the perfect description for your products to attract and intrigue your customers to click and buy.

Image Caption Generator

Every good Instagram post needs a catchy caption to increase engagement on your post and profile.

Outline Generator

Landing page outlines improve the page structure and readability, increasing conversions.

Prompt Generator

Prompt writing is hard, so let us help you generate the perfect prompt for your next idea or project.

Paragraph Generator

Writing paragraphs takes time. This generator lets you quickly create paragraphs for landing pages, articles, social posts, etc.

Meta Description Generator

Nowadays, AI generates better meta data copy than most people, so what are you waiting for?

A true lifesaver. Save time and quickly summarize articles, social posts, essays, documents, or websites.

Easily translate your text to the most popular languages online. Swap, rephrase, and copy your translated text.

Essay Writer

Essays are tough, so we would like to help. Not to replace, but to make better quality content.

Email Writer

Lots of people spend hours per day sending emails. It's time to become more productive and send more emails faster.

• High-quality results & experiences
• 20+ AI accurate text tools 🎯
• Quick time to resolution 🚀
• People love our AI Writer (4.8/5) ❤️

What is an AI Writer and what does it do?

Benefits of using ai tools for writing, write ai text for these use cases.

The process of creating SEO content is significantly reduced by AI. You can now easily create SEO briefs that result into draft outlines, and written content for landing pages and blog articles.

How to get the best results from AI tools

Become a prompt master.

AI is all about writing a prompt that gets you what you want. It is best to use more than fewer words. Use descriptive words and give restrictions or limitations to fine-tune your result.

Make Optional Required

AI Tools give you optional fields to generate a result quicker, but if you want better results, we suggest treating the optional fields as important as the required fields.

Rephrase it!

Nobody is perfect. If your results are in the right direction, but it needs fine-tuning - rephrase. Most AI tools allow you to rephrase after generating a result.

Human touch.

AI is useful in many different scenarios but is mainly there to help you. Feel free to adjust the results to add that human touch and beat your competition.

What is an AI writer?

How does an ai writer work, how are ai writers impacting the writing industry, how can businesses and writers benefit from ai writers, can an ai text generator produce unique content, what is the best ai text generator.

• Text Tools 6 tools
• Image Tools 14 tools
• Video Tools 6 tools
• Design Tools 6 tools
• Color Tools 5 tools
• Convert Tools 16 tools
• PDF Tools 10 tools