August is here, and it’s time to dive into a month-long creative writing adventure.
I’ve crafted 31 unique prompts—one for each day of the month—to keep your creativity flowing.
Each prompt comes with detailed instructions to guide your writing session. Let’s make this August your most productive writing month yet!
August 1: The Last Day of Summer
Prompt: Write a story about the perfect last day of summer from a child’s perspective.
Instructions:
– Begin by describing the weather and the early morning atmosphere.
– List at least three activities the child engages in throughout the day.
– Include dialogue between the child and a friend or family member.
– Describe the emotions the child experiences as the day progresses.
– End with a reflective moment as the sun sets.
August 2: The Mysterious Package
Prompt: Craft a tale that starts with a character receiving an unexpected package with no return address.
Instructions:
– Describe the package in detail: size, weight, wrapping, etc.
– Write the character’s initial reaction to receiving it.
– Narrate the process of opening the package, building suspense.
– Reveal the contents and their immediate impact on the character.
– End with a cliffhanger or a hint at how this package will change the character’s life.
August 3: The Secret Garden
Prompt: Create a vivid description of a hidden garden that hasn’t been tended to in years.
Instructions:
– Start with the character discovering the entrance to the garden.
– Use all five senses in your description: sight, sound, smell, touch, and even taste.
– Describe at least five different plants or features of the garden.
– Include an unexpected element, like a statue or an old fountain.
– End with the character’s emotional reaction to finding this secret place.
August 4: Time Travel Mishap
Prompt: Your protagonist accidentally travels 100 years into the future. Describe their experience.
Instructions:
– Begin with the moment of time travel—what causes it?
– Describe the future world in detail, focusing on technology and social changes.
– Have your character interact with at least two futuristic elements.
– Include a moment of realization about how the world has changed.
– End with the character’s attempt to return to their own time.
August 5: The Talking Tree
Prompt: Write a conversation between an ancient tree and a young sapling.
Instructions:
– Start by setting the scene in the forest.
– Give each tree a distinct voice and personality.
– Have the old tree share at least three pieces of wisdom.
– Include the sapling’s questions and reactions.
– End with a lesson learned or a change in perspective for the sapling.
August 6: A Day in the Life of a Raindrop
Prompt: Narrate the journey of a single raindrop from cloud to earth and beyond.
Instructions:
– Begin with the raindrop’s formation in the cloud.
– Describe its fall through the atmosphere, noting what it sees.
– Detail its landing—where does it end up?
– Follow its journey on the ground: does it join a puddle, a stream, or get absorbed by a plant?
– End with the raindrop evaporating, coming full circle.
August 7: The Forgotten Spell
Prompt: A novice witch finds an old spellbook with a mysterious spell. What happens when they cast it?
Instructions:
– Describe the witch and their discovery of the spellbook.
– Detail the spell’s ingredients and the casting process.
– Write about unexpected effects as the spell takes hold.
– Include dialogue as the witch reacts to what’s happening.
– Conclude with the consequences of casting the forgotten spell.
August 8: The Last Bookstore
Prompt: In a world where physical books are obsolete, describe the last remaining bookstore and its eccentric owner.
Instructions:
– Start with a description of the bookstore’s exterior and location.
– Detail the interior, including unique features and the smell of old books.
– Introduce the eccentric owner, describing their appearance and mannerisms.
– Include a conversation between the owner and a curious visitor.
– End with a reflection on the importance of physical books in a digital world.
August 9: A Recipe for Happiness
Prompt: Write a story in the form of a recipe, with ingredients and instructions for creating happiness.
Instructions:
– Begin with a list of abstract “ingredients” (e.g., “2 cups of laughter”).
– Write step-by-step instructions, mixing storytelling with the recipe format.
– Include at least one unexpected ingredient or step.
– Add “cook’s notes” that provide additional insights or variations.
– Conclude with a serving suggestion that ties the recipe to real-life application.
August 10: The Invisible Friend
Prompt: A child’s imaginary friend turns out to be real, but invisible to adults. Explore this concept in a short story.
Instructions:
– Introduce the child and their invisible friend.
– Describe an incident where the friend’s actions affect the real world.
– Include dialogue between the child and their friend, and the child and skeptical adults.
– Build tension as the child tries to prove their friend’s existence.
– End with a twist or a heartwarming resolution.
August 11: The Memory Thief
Prompt: Someone is stealing people’s happiest memories. Who is doing it, and why?
Instructions:
– Begin with a character realizing they’ve lost a cherished memory.
– Describe the process of memory theft from the thief’s perspective.
– Include dialogue as victims discuss their lost memories.
– Reveal the thief’s motivation—is it malicious or misguided?
– Conclude with a confrontation or a twist ending.
August 12: A Letter from the Future
Prompt: Write a letter from your future self to your present self. What advice or warnings do you give?
Instructions:
– Start with a greeting that establishes the time gap.
– Include at least three specific pieces of advice or warnings.
– Reference future events or changes in your life.
– Add personal details that only you would know to make it authentic.
– End with words of encouragement and hope for the future.
August 13: The Enchanted Paintbrush
Prompt: Everything painted with this brush comes to life. What does the artist create, and what are the consequences?
Instructions:
– Describe the artist’s discovery of the brush’s power.
– Detail the first thing they bring to life and its immediate impact.
– Include dialogue as the artist grapples with their new ability.
– Describe at least three different creations and their effects.
– End with the artist facing a moral dilemma related to their power.
August 14: The Last Firefly
Prompt: In a world where fireflies are going extinct, write about the last remaining firefly’s quest to find others of its kind.
Instructions:
– Begin with a description of the world without firefly light.
– Personify the firefly, giving it thoughts and emotions.
– Describe its journey through various environments.
– Include encounters with other creatures, both helpful and dangerous.
– End with either a hopeful discovery or a poignant acceptance of its solitude.
August 15: The Whispering Wind
Prompt: The wind carries messages from far-off places. What secrets does it reveal to those who know how to listen?
Instructions:
– Introduce a character who can understand the wind’s whispers.
– Describe the sound and sensation of the wind’s messages.
– Include at least three different secrets or messages from distant places.
– Show how this ability affects the character’s life and relationships.
– End with a particularly important or life-changing message.
August 16: The Reverse Bucket List
Prompt: Instead of things to do before dying, write a character’s list of things they want to undo or take back.
Instructions:
– Start with the character reflecting on their past.
– List at least five items they wish they could undo, ranging from minor to major.
– For each item, provide a brief explanation of why they want to reverse it.
– Include the character’s emotional response to revisiting these memories.
– End with the character choosing one item to focus on changing or accepting.
August 17: The Personality Swap
Prompt: Two people with opposite personalities switch bodies for a day. Describe their experiences and what they learn.
Instructions:
– Introduce both characters, highlighting their contrasting traits.
– Describe the moment they realize they’ve switched bodies.
– Detail how each character navigates the other’s life, including work and relationships.
– Include dialogue as they interact with others and each other.
– Conclude with what each character learns from the experience.
August 18: The Abandoned Amusement Park
Prompt: Write a story set in an old, abandoned amusement park that mysteriously starts working again one night.
Instructions:
– Begin with a description of the deteriorated park during the day.
– Detail the moment the park comes to life—lights, sounds, movement.
– Introduce characters who discover the functioning park.
– Describe at least three different attractions they experience.
– End with the revelation of why the park has reawakened.
August 19: The Color Thief
Prompt: Someone is stealing colors from the world. Describe a day in this increasingly gray world and the quest to bring color back.
Instructions:
– Start by describing the world as colors gradually disappear.
– Introduce the protagonist and their realization of what’s happening.
– Detail their investigation into the cause of the color loss.
– Include dialogue with others affected by the phenomenon.
– Conclude with either the confrontation of the color thief or a way to restore color.
August 20: The Forgotten Language
Prompt: You discover you can speak a language no one else remembers. How do you use this ability?
Instructions:
– Describe the moment of discovery—how does the character realize they know this language?
– Detail attempts to identify the language and its origin.
– Include at least three instances of using the language and its effects.
– Show how this ability changes the character’s life or perspective.
– End with a revelation about the language’s significance.
August 21: The Midnight Garden
Prompt: Write about a garden that only blooms at midnight and the secrets it holds.
Instructions:
– Set the scene as night falls and the garden begins to awaken.
– Describe at least five unique plants that only bloom at midnight.
– Introduce a character who discovers the garden.
– Include magical or mysterious elements within the garden.
– End with the revelation of a secret the garden has been protecting.
August 22: The Empathy Mirror
Prompt: Looking into this mirror allows you to experience the emotions of others. How does this change your protagonist’s life?
Instructions:
– Describe the mirror and how the character discovers its power.
– Detail the first experience of feeling someone else’s emotions.
– Include at least three different emotional experiences through the mirror.
– Show how this ability affects the character’s relationships and daily life.
– Conclude with a moral dilemma related to this power.
August 23: The Last Library Book
Prompt: In a digital age, write about the last physical book being checked out of a library. Where does its journey take it?
Instructions:
– Begin with the scene in the library as the last book is checked out.
– Describe the book itself—its appearance, smell, feel.
– Follow the book’s journey through at least three different readers.
– Include dialogue about the value of physical books vs. digital.
– End with the book’s final resting place or a twist about its fate.
August 24: The Dream Collector
Prompt: Describe a day in the life of someone whose job is to collect and catalog people’s dreams.
Instructions:
– Start with the dream collector’s morning routine.
– Detail the process of collecting dreams from at least three different people.
– Describe the system for cataloging and storing dreams.
– Include an unexpected or challenging dream that complicates their day.
– End with the dream collector reflecting on their unique profession.
August 25: The Shrinking Man
Prompt: Write a story about a person who wakes up a little bit smaller each day. How does their perspective change?
Instructions:
– Begin with the character noticing they’ve shrunk for the first time.
– Describe how they adapt to their changing size over several days.
– Include dialogue with friends or family who notice the change.
– Detail how their perception of the world changes as they get smaller.
– Conclude with how they cope with their new reality or find a solution.
August 26: The Origami Universe
Prompt: In this world, folding paper can create real objects. What happens when someone folds a paper boat?
Instructions:
– Describe the rules of this origami-powered world.
– Detail the process of folding the paper boat and its transformation into reality.
– Include the character’s reaction to their creation.
– Explore the consequences of this power—both positive and negative.
– End with a larger implication of this ability for society.
August 27: The Taste of Memories
Prompt: Describe a meal where each dish brings back a different memory for the person eating it.
Instructions:
– Set the scene for the meal—location, occasion, companions.
– Describe at least five dishes, each linking to a specific memory.
– For each dish, detail the memory it evokes, using all five senses.
– Include the character’s emotional reactions to revisiting these memories.
– Conclude with how this meal changes the character’s perspective on their past.
August 28: The Shadow’s Secret
Prompt: A person’s shadow starts moving independently and reveals a long-kept secret. What is it, and how does it affect them?
Instructions:
– Begin with the moment the character notices their shadow’s strange behavior.
– Describe the shadow’s actions and how it communicates.
– Reveal the secret gradually through the shadow’s movements or signals.
– Include the character’s reaction and attempt to understand or control their shadow.
– End with the impact of the revealed secret on the character’s life.
August 29: The Whispering Library
Prompt: In this library, the books whisper their stories to passersby. Write about a first-time visitor’s experience.
Instructions:
– Describe the library’s atmosphere as the visitor enters.
– Detail the sound and content of at least three different whispering books.
– Include the visitor’s emotional and physical reactions to the whispers.
– Show how other library patrons interact with the whispering books.
– Conclude with how this experience changes the visitor’s perspective on reading.
August 30: The Time Capsule
Prompt: Your character unearths a time capsule from 100 years ago. What’s inside, and how does it change their understanding of history?
Instructions:
– Describe the discovery of the time capsule and its appearance.
– List at least five items found inside, each with its own significance.
– Include the character’s reactions to each item.
– Show how these items reveal unknown aspects of history.
– End with how this discovery impacts the character’s view of the past and present.
August 31: The Endless Summer Day
Prompt: Write about a day that never ends—the sun doesn’t set, and time seems to stand still.
Instructions:
– Begin with the character’s realization that the day isn’t ending as usual.
– Describe how the endless day affects nature and the environment.
– Include interactions with other people as they cope with the phenomenon.
– Explore the emotional and psychological impact on your character.
– Conclude with either a resolution to the endless day or a new understanding reached by the character.
Conclusion
Remember, these prompts are just starting points.
Feel free to interpret them in your own unique way.
The goal is to write every day, stretch your creativity, and most importantly, enjoy the process.
Happy writing, and may your August be filled with wonderful stories!