Writers Regimen Fiction Prompts

Description:
The following works are fiction writing prompts that I have personally written and edited for
Southeast Review’s Writing Regimen. The prompts that were selected by my supervisors, would
be distributed monthly to writers subscribed to SER’s Regimen.

Fiction Prompt #1
Frist Draft: We all have a role model or idol that has changed our lives in one way or another.
This figure could be a parent, friend, celebrity, or even a fictional character that you make up.
This person may also be currently living or has passed away.
Imagine you are in a setting of your choice, having a short conversation with your role model.
This might take place over dinner at a nice restaurant, or in a car on a road trip. Write a small
scene of dialog between you and this figure. Try to make this dialog as realistic as possible.
Think about who they are and what they mean to you. Do you know this person personally, or
are you meeting them for the first time? What would you ask them? What would they tell you?
What could you learn from them?

Fiction Prompt #2
Close your eyes and imagine you are somewhere else. You can pick any setting during any
period of time. Maybe you are at a concert you have always dreamed of attending. Maybe you
are performing at this concert yourself. Or perhaps you are a foot soldier in World War Two
preparing to storm into battle on Normandy beach.
In the first-person perspective, describe this scenario in 500 words or less. Are you yourself or
someone else? Where exactly are you? Why exactly are you there? What are you doing?
The goal of this exercise is to work on your description, and realism. The best way to do this is to
put yourself in this character’s shoes literally. Describe what you are feeling through your five
senses. What do you see? Hear? Smell? Feel? Taste?

Fiction Prompt #3
Create a new character that you have not written about before. In a few sentences describe who
this character is and what they are striving to accomplish at this point in their life (gender, age,
ethnicity, hopes, fears, ect.) 
Now have this character face a major obstacle that they wish to overcome, but this time your
character fails. Choose a perspective that you normally shy away from (first-person, third-
person, omniscient, ect) so you can challenge yourself.  Your writing can be during, or after this
failure that your character faces. What was it that your character failed at? Why exactly did they
fail, and what was their weakness that led them to fail? How does your character feel about this
experience and what do they need to change? Your ability to create conflict amongst your
characters is crucial to creating a solid story. Do not be afraid to make your character face some
really hard times. No one wants to read a story in which there is no struggle.

Fiction prompt #4
Create a young character in your mind. Give this character a want and fear. 
Write a brief story describing a day in the life of this character. What did they do today and why?
Where do they live now? And who do they live with? Aim for around 250 words.
After you have written about this character, scale back your focus (perspective) and show the
realization that you have been writing from the POV of your characters’ father, who has not seen
them in years and is staring at an old picture, imagining what his/her/their daily life might be like
(250 words). This is a great exercise that can make you comfortable with drastic changes in
perspective within your stories.

Fiction Prompt #5
We have all been in arguments, fights, or disagreements with other people. Recall an unpleasant
interaction you have had in the past with another person. This dispute could have happened with
a friend, family member, or a worker at a fast food restaurant you are eating at. If nothing
specific comes to mind, create a fictional argument you wish to have with someone. Describe
this event through your memory/imagination (First person). -250 words
Once you finish your personal recollection of the story, transition back to the beginning, but this
time recall the same event in the shoes of the person (or people) you were arguing with. If there
are multiple people present in your story use the third-person omniscient perspective to enter the
thoughts of each individual. This is a really useful technique that can reveal extra information to
your readers that they did not know previously. Focus on the other characters’ thoughts leading
up to this argument/fight? How did they perceive this event? What were their thoughts about you
throughout the interaction, and what could you imagine they did after it was over? -250+ words 

Fiction Prompt #6
Write a story from the perspective of a character that has just woken up in a strange facility.
They do not know where they are or how they arrived there, and they cannot find anybody
around.
 Your character begins walking around this strange facility, seeing futuristic items and
technology. They venture toward a window at the end of the room and look up at the sky. To
their bewilderment, they see something in the night sky that does not make any sense to them...it
is Earth.

Fiction Prompt #7
Draft a story in which a character discovers a time machine. Without thinking, they instantly
jump into the machine, and go back in time to change something they have always wanted to.
Believing everything went fine, they return to the present day. However, what they went back to
change has caused their current reality to spiral into chaos. What was it that your character
changed? How has that altered event led to such drastic change, and how will your character stop
it?
Fiction prompt #8
You are wandering around your living room, getting rid of some old items, when you find an old
DVD. It is your wedding video. 
You pop it into your DVD player and begin watching. You are watching the night you and your
spouse were supposed to dance together for the first time as a happily married couple. At this
point in the video, you had no idea that your spouse had already left the venue without a trace. 
But you do not want to think about that right now. Now you are simply reimagining that night.
But this time, in your fictional imagination, they stayed, and you were finally able to have that
dance together. (500 words)
 
Fiction Prompt #9
Describe an outdoor landscape, giving intimate details as to what this setting looks like, who is in
this setting, and what exactly is going on. Have this description take place in the present (using
present tense.)
However, the catch is, you are not describing this setting through sight alone. Instead, have this
description come from the limited perspective of a prisoner that has been locked away in a
concrete cell. 
Your character has been in this cell for weeks, or maybe months, and has not seen the outside
world since they were imprisoned. They also have not seen the surrounding outside landscape.
The only connection your character has with the outside is the sounds coming through a small
window near the ceiling of their cell, which they use to imagine the world outside only from
what they can hear. Feel free to use whatever perspective you desire, but make sure you are
entering the thoughts of this character, and how they feel. (500 words.)
Fiction Prompt #10
Recall the biggest city you have ever lived in or visited. From the all-seeing omniscient
perspective (third person point of view that sees and knows everything), briefly describe the
setting of this city during rush hour. How chaotic is the city? What does it look, smell, feel, and
sound like? Treat this opening description as if it is the opening narration of a movie. Then
describe some sort of problem or event that is currently happening within the city. This could be
a bad car accident, the beginning of the zombie apocalypse, or some other substantial event.

After you have laid out your setting and description, jump into the perspective of someone taking
a cab home from work. Using the first- person (within their point of view) or third- person
limited point of view (that only knows this characters’ actions and thoughts), write about how
this character witnesses the event from their personal experience. What do they see of the
event/problem? What do they infer is happening, and how do they deal with it? How does their
limited knowledge of this event affect their actions? Do they have enough information to take
this event seriously?
(Remember that your character initially has no idea what is really going on. Whether they figure
it out eventually or not, make sure they do not do or think anything that they could not know in
their current situation). 500 words.
 
Fiction Prompt #11
Everyone knows about the five senses we all use on a daily basis (sight, sound, touch, taste, and
smell). 
Write down all five of these senses on separate pieces of paper. After you have done this, choose
two of the five senses randomly with as little bias as possible, if you have to put them in a shoe
and mix them up go for it.
These two senses that you have chosen randomly are now off limits. You must write a short story
in the first- person point of view, aiming for a length between 250 and - 500 words, in which you
wake up one day without these two senses.
What do you experience physically upon waking up in bed? How long does it take you  to realize
what is happening? How have the senses you no longer have affected your personal process of
getting out of bed in the morning? How do you feel emotionally, and how would you realistically
react? What can you do to get help, and what would you do? (Remember to avoid writing
anything that your character can not experience themselves.)

Fiction Prompt #12

Choose a location that you are very familiar with. This place may be the high school you
attended,  or where you live right now. Give this setting a fictional name without outright saying
what or where it is.
Now describe this place as vividly as possible without using any adjectives or adverbs. Focus
instead on implementing strong nouns and verbs to drive your description. If you find yourself
struggling, try to focus more on what the scenery is doing specifically rather than how it is doing
it.
(Example: The grass bloomed and the sunlight sliced)
(Example to avoid: The grass grew tall and the sunlight beamed brightly)

Fiction Prompt #13

Write down a list of 10 verbs, followed by 10 adjectives. Write these lists separately with no
relation to each other. When you are finished, pair each verb with an adjective as randomly as
you can. 
Now compose a story in which a character is describing someone that they are meeting for the
first time. In this description you must find a way to use all t10 verbs--, each of which is
followed by its paired adjective-- to describe this person's appearance, actions, personality, voice,
etc.
Do not be nervous if your description does not make logical sense, instead do your best to force
your description to make sense with how you assign the verb and +adjective to whom you are
describing. 

Fiction prompt #14

In fiction writing, the way we show how the characters we create act is crucial. We primarily do
this with the selection and utilization of verbs. Verbs can either be in the active voice or the
passive voice. Verbs in the active voice are those are show your character actively performing.
Verbs in the passive voice shows what is being done to an object or person.
Create a new character and give them somewhere to go, or something they need to do. Perhaps
they simply need to return an item of clothing to a store, or they are fighting off a dragon that is
destroying their city. 
Now write this story from a perspective of your choosing, but only using verbs in the active
voice.
Ex of active: Christina pushed the door open. (Follow)
Ex of passive: The door was opened by Christina. (Avoid)
 EDITED PROMPTS

Fiction Prompt #1Second Draft

Everybody has a role model or idol. This figure could be a parent, friend, celebrity, or even a
fictional character. This person may be currently living or has passed away.
Imagine you are in a setting of your choice, having a short conversation with your role model.
This might take place over dinner at a nice restaurant, or in a car on a road trip. Write a small
scene of dialog between you and this figure.
Think about who they are and what they mean to you. Do you know this person personally, or
are you meeting them for the first time? What would you ask them? What would they tell you?
What could you learn from them?

Fiction Prompt #2 Second Draft

Close your eyes and imagine you are somewhere else. You can pick any setting during any
period of time. Maybe it is a concert you have always dreamed of attending. Maybe you are
performing yourself. Or perhaps you are a foot soldier in World War Two preparing to storm
into battle. 
In the first-person perspective, describe this scenario in 500 words or less. Are you yourself or
someone else? Where exactly are you? Why exactly are you there? What are you doing?
Describe what you are feeling through your five senses. What do you see? Hear? Smell? Feel?
Taste?

Fiction Prompt #3 Second Draft

Create a new character that you have not written about before. In a few sentences describe who
this character is and what they are striving to accomplish at this point in their life (gender, age,
ethnicity, hopes, fears, ect.) 

Now have this character face a major obstacle that they wish to overcome, but this time your
character fails. Choose a perspective that you normally shy away from (first-person, third-
person, omniscient, ect) so you can challenge yourself.  Your writing can be during, or after this
failure that your character faces. What was it that your character failed at? Why exactly did they
fail, and what was their weakness that led them to fail? How does your character feel about this
experience and what do they need to change?
Fiction prompt #4 Second Draft
Create a young character in your mind. Give this character a want and fear. 
Write a brief story describing a day in the life of this character. What did they do today and why?
Where do they live now? And who do they live with?
After you have written about this character, scale back your focus and show the realization that
you have been writing from the POV of your characters’ father, who has not seen them in years
and is staring at an old picture, imagining what his/her/their daily life might be like.

Fiction Prompt #5 Second Draft:

We have all been in arguments, fights, or disagreements with other people. Recall an unpleasant
interaction you have had in the past with another person. This dispute could have happened with
a friend, family member, or a worker at a fast-food restaurant. If nothing specific comes to mind,
create a fictional argument you wish to have with someone. Describe this event through your
memory/imagination (First person). -250 words
Once you finish your personal recollection of the story, transition back to the beginning, but this
time recall the same event in the shoes of the person (or people) with whom you were arguing. If
there are multiple people present in your story use the third-person omniscient perspective to
enter the thoughts of everyone.  What were their thoughts leading up to this argument/fight?
How did they perceive this event? What were their thoughts about you throughout the
interaction, and what do you imagine they did after it was over? -250+ words 
Fiction Prompt #6 Second Draft:
Write a story from the perspective of a character that has just woken up in a strange facility.
They do not know where they are or how they arrived there, and they cannot find anybody
around.
 Your character begins walking around this strange facility, seeing futuristic items and
technology. They venture toward a window at the end of the room and look up at the sky. To
their bewilderment, they see something in the night sky that does not make any sense to them...it
is Earth. How would your character react to this reveal? What would they do to find their way
home?
Fiction prompt #7 Second Draft:
Draft a story in which a character discovers a time machine. This could be a character you are
writing about in the third-person, or it can be you in the first-person. Without thinking, your
character (or you) instantly jump into the machine, and go back in time to change something they
have always wanted to. Minimum 250 words.
Believing everything went fine, you return to the present day. However, what they went back to
change has caused their current reality to spiral into chaos. What was it that your character
changed? How has that altered event led to such drastic change, and how would your character
cope with this change?
Fiction prompt #8 Second Draft
You are wandering around your living room, getting rid of some old items, when you find an old
DVD. It is your wedding video. 
You pop it into your DVD player and begin watching the night you and your spouse were
supposed to dance together for the first time as a happily married couple. You had no idea that
your spouse had already left the venue without a trace. 
But you do not want to think about that right now. Now you simply reimagine that night. But this
time, in your reimagining, they stayed, and you were finally able to have that dance together.
(500 words)
 
Fiction Prompt #9 Second Draft
Describe an outdoor landscape, giving intimate details as to what this setting looks like, who is in
this setting, and what exactly is going on. Have this description take place in the present (using
present tense).
Have this description come from the limited perspective of a prisoner that has been locked away
in a concrete cell. 
Your character has been in this cell for weeks, or maybe months, and has not seen the outside
world since they were imprisoned. The only connection your character has with the outside is the
sounds coming through a small window near the ceiling of their cell, which they use to imagine
the world outside only from what they can hear. 

Fiction Prompt #10 Second Draft

Recall the biggest city you have ever lived in or visited. From the all- seeing omniscient
perspective (third person point of view that sees and knows everything), briefly describe the
setting of this city during rush hour. How chaotic is the city? What does it look, smell, feel, and
sound like? Treat this opening description as if it were the opening narration of a movie. Then
describe a sort of problem or event that is currently happening within the city. This could be a
bad car accident, or the beginning of the zombie apocalypse, or something else entirely.

After you have laid out your setting and description, jump into the perspective of someone taking
a cab home from work. Using the first- person (within their point of view) or third- person
limited point of view (that only knows this characters’ actions and thoughts), write about how
this character witnesses the events from their personal experience. What do they see of the
event/problem? What do they infer is happening, and how do they deal with it? How does their
limited knowledge of this event affect their actions?
(Remember that your character has no idea what is really going on. Whether they figure it out
eventually or not, make sure they do not do or think anything that they could not know in their
current situation).
 
Fiction Prompt #11 Second Draft
Everyone knows about the five senses we all use daily (sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell). 
Write down all five of these senses on separate pieces of paper, and then choose two of them
randomly with as little bias as possible. Mix them up in your hands if you have too.

The two senses that you have chosen are now off limits. You must write a short story in the first-
person point of view, aiming for a length between 250 and 500 words, in which you wake up one
day without these two senses.

What do you experience physically upon waking up in bed? How long does it take you to realize
what is happening? How have the senses you no longer have affected the process of getting out
of bed? How do you feel emotionally, and how would you realistically react? What can you do to
get help, and what would you do?

Fiction Prompt #12 Second Draft

Choose a location that you are familiar with. This place may be the high school you attended, or
where you live right now. Give this setting a fictional name without outright saying what or
where it is.
Now describe this place as vividly as possible without using any adjectives or adverbs. Focus
instead on implementing strong nouns and verbs to drive your description. If you find yourself
struggling, try to focus more on what the scenery is doing specifically rather than how it is doing
it.
(Example: The grass bloomed, and the sunlight sliced)
(Example to avoid: The grass grew tall, and the sunlight beamed brightly)

Fiction Prompt #13 Second Draft

Write down a list of ten verbs, followed by ten adjectives. Write these lists separately with no
relation to each other. When you are finished, pair each verb with an adjective as randomly as
you can. 
Now compose a story in which a character is describing someone that they are meeting for the
first time. In this description you must find a way to use all ten verbs, each of which is followed
by its paired adjective, to describe this person's appearance, actions, personality, voice, etc.
Do not be nervous if your description does not make logical sense, instead do your best to force
your description to make sense with how you assign the verb and adjective to whom you are
describing. 

Fiction prompt #14 Second Draft

When writing fiction, the way in which we show how our characters act is crucial. We primarily
do this with the selection and utilization of verbs. Verbs can either be in the active voice or the
passive voice. Verbs in the active voice are those are show your character actively performing. 
Create a new character and give them somewhere to go, or something they need to do. Perhaps
they simply need to return an item of clothing to a store, or they are fighting off a dragon that is
destroying their city. 
Now write this story from a perspective of your choosing, but only using verbs in the active
voice.
Ex of active: Christina pushed the door open.
Ex of passive: The door was opened by Christina.

WORD COUNT
Written: 2041 words
Edited: 1835