My Favorite Writing Prompts for When I Feel Stuck

You sit down to write. The cursor blinks. You scroll Twitter, sip your coffee, reread yesterday’s email, and hope inspiration will strike. But it doesn’t.

Whether you're a novelist, blogger, poet, or journaler, writer’s block is real—and it sucks.

But over the years, I’ve discovered something that always gets me moving again: writing prompts.

Simple, thoughtful, sometimes strange little nudges that break through the mental fog. Prompts are like creative CPR—they restart your imagination when it's flatlined.

In this post, I’m sharing my all-time favorite writing prompts—the ones I turn to when I'm stuck, burned out, or just uninspired. These aren’t generic “write about your day” questions. They’re deeper. Quirkier. More alive.

Let’s dive in.

Why Writing Prompts Work

Before we jump into the list, let’s quickly talk about why prompts are so effective—especially when you’re creatively blocked.

1. They Bypass Perfectionism

A blank page feels like a test. A prompt says, “Don’t worry—just respond.” It lowers the stakes, and that frees your brain to take risks.

2. They Reignite Curiosity

A good prompt gets you asking What if? again. That’s the magic of creativity: curiosity, not pressure.

3. They Give You a Starting Point

Sometimes you just need the first brick. Once it’s laid, the wall builds itself.

My Favorite Writing Prompts (Grouped by Mood)

🧠 For Deep Thinking & Self-Discovery

These are my go-to prompts when I want to reflect, unpack emotions, or reconnect with myself.

1. What’s something you pretend not to care about—but secretly do?

2. Write a letter to yourself from five years ago. What do you want them to know?

3. If fear didn’t exist, what would you do today?

4. What truth are you avoiding right now?

5. What’s a belief you used to hold that no longer serves you?

6. Describe your ideal day—from morning to night—with no limits.

7. What do you want to be remembered for—honestly?

8. What version of yourself are you trying to become—and what’s in the way?

These prompts often lead to raw, personal writing that’s both healing and powerful. You might surprise yourself with what shows up.

💡 For Creative Sparks & Storytelling

Perfect for fiction writers, screenwriters, or anyone craving a bit of make-believe.

1. Someone wakes up with a memory that isn’t theirs. Whose is it—and why?

2. Write a scene where two ex-lovers run into each other… but only one of them remembers the relationship.

3. Describe a world where people stop aging at 30—but no one knows why.

4. Your main character receives a note that says only, “Don’t trust the mirror.”

5. A child’s imaginary friend comes back—but they’re not so imaginary anymore.

6. Write about a secret that would ruin someone’s life—but save another’s.

7. The last human on Earth gets a text message. What does it say?

8. Rewrite a classic fairy tale in a cyberpunk future.

These are meant to pull you into a story, even if you don’t know how it ends. Often, I’ll write a scene or a paragraph and suddenly… I’m in flow again.

📝 For Writer’s Block & “Just Write Something” Days

These prompts are like jumper cables for your brain. No pressure—just motion.

1. Write 100 words about the last object you touched.

2. Describe your current surroundings using all five senses—but don’t name anything directly.

3. Write about a moment that changed your life—in 10 sentences.

4. Open your favorite book to a random page. Use the first sentence you see as your starting line.

5. Write an apology from an inanimate object (e.g., your phone, a toaster, or your couch).

6. Describe a memory from childhood as if you were a detective solving a case.

7. Write a thank-you note to your anxiety, sadness, or fear.

8. Finish this sentence: “If I said what I really thought…”

You don’t have to write anything good. You just have to write. These prompts lower your internal resistance by giving you something oddly specific to work with.

🧘‍♀️ For Mindfulness & Journaling

Not every prompt needs to lead to a masterpiece. Sometimes, it’s just about slowing down and checking in.

1. What does your body need right now? What would happen if you gave it that?

2. Write about a moment today that made you feel something—however small.

3. Describe the last time you felt truly at peace.

4. What are you holding on to that it’s time to release?

5. Write down 10 things you’re grateful for—but make them oddly specific.

6. Describe a place where you feel completely safe. What details make it that way?

7. What’s something you’ve never said out loud—but think about often?

8. Write a short letter to your future self, one year from now.

These kinds of prompts help me turn writing into a form of meditation. There’s no right answer—just honesty.

🔄 For Reframing & Fresh Perspective

These are great when you’re in a rut, bored with your ideas, or craving a new lens on something familiar.

1. Rewrite a recent argument from the other person’s point of view.

2. Pick an ordinary object in your room. Now, write its life story.

3. Think of a mistake you made. Now write about it as if it was the best decision of your life.

4. Describe a “boring” day as if it were a suspense novel.

5. Write about your biggest insecurity—as if it were your superpower.

6. Tell the story of your life through the meals you’ve eaten.

7. Write a conversation between your past self and your present self.

8. Take a negative emotion you're feeling, and write it as a weather forecast.

These often lead to strange, brilliant insights I wouldn’t have found otherwise. They challenge my perspective—and that’s where new writing begins.

How I Use These Prompts

Having a list of great prompts is only half the battle. Here’s how I actually use them when I’m stuck:

1. Set a Timer

I give myself 10–15 minutes. No editing. No rereading. Just write. The time limit adds urgency and keeps my inner critic quiet.

2. Pick One at Random

I scroll the list with my eyes closed and stop somewhere. It feels more like play than work.

3. Use Them as Warmups

Before working on a big project (a blog, essay, or chapter), I’ll spend 5 minutes on a prompt to “stretch.” Like a mental warm-up.

4. Stack Them

Sometimes I’ll answer 2–3 prompts in one session. They often end up blending together in unexpected ways.

A Few Prompts I Wrote Into Full Pieces

Over the years, a few of these prompts turned into full essays, poems, or short stories I never expected to write. Some of my favorites:

• The prompt: “Write a thank-you note to your anxiety.”
  What it became: A spoken-word poem I later performed at a local open mic night.

• The prompt: “Someone wakes up with a memory that isn’t theirs.”
  What it became: The opening scene of a sci-fi screenplay I’m still working on.

• The prompt: “Rewrite a mistake as if it saved your life.”
  What it became: A viral Medium post on failure, redemption, and self-forgiveness.

That’s the magic of prompts. You never know where they’ll lead—but they always lead somewhere.

Final Thoughts: When In Doubt, Just Begin

Writer’s block doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means you’re human. It’s part of the process, not the end of it.

When I’m stuck, I don’t wait for inspiration anymore. I give myself something to respond to—something to push against. That’s what writing prompts are: small creative sparks that light a bigger fire.

So next time your mind goes blank and the page feels heavy, try one of these.

Don’t overthink it. Just start writing.

Even a sentence is progress.

Want to Save These Prompts?

If you’d like a printable or downloadable version of all the prompts in this post, let me know! I’m happy to create a free PDF guide or even a Notion template you can return to whenever you’re blocked.

Until then, keep writing—even when it’s hard.

That’s when it matters most.