# 100 AI Prompts for Authors & Fiction Writing  

Boost your storytelling engine with ready‑to‑use prompts that spark characters, plot twists, world‑building, and prose polish. Copy a prompt, fill in the brackets, and let the AI become your co‑author.

## 1️⃣ Character Creation  

1. **Hero’s Core Conflict** – “Describe the internal struggle of [Character Name], a [age]-year-old [occupation] who secretly fears [specific fear] but must confront it when [inciting event].”  
2. **Villain’s Origin** – “Write the pivotal childhood memory that turned [Villain Name] into a ruthless [title], including the sensory details of the setting in [location].”  
3. **Sidekick’s Secret** – “Create a hidden talent or dark secret for [Sidekick Name], the loyal companion of [Protagonist], and show how it could jeopardize the mission.”  
4. **Love Interest’s Motivation** – “Explain why [Love Interest Name] is drawn to the protagonist, focusing on a past betrayal involving [specific person or event].”  
5. **Antagonist’s Moral Code** – “Outline the personal code of honor that [Antagonist Name] follows, even if it contradicts their villainous actions.”  
6. **Character Voice Sample** – “Write a 150‑word monologue in the distinct voice of [Character Name], who speaks with a [dialect/quirk] and always uses the phrase ‘[catchphrase]’.”  
7. **Redemption Arc Seed** – “Sketch a moment when [Flawed Character] realizes they must change, triggered by the death of [minor character] and a symbolic object (e.g., a broken watch).”  
8. **Physical Quirk** – “Give [Character Name] a memorable physical habit (e.g., always tapping their left thumb) and explain how it reveals their inner state.”  
9. **Cultural Background** – “Detail the customs, food, and superstition of the tribe/ community that raised [Character Name], and how these influence their decisions.”  
10. **Unnamed Fear** – “Write a scene where [Character] confronts a fear they cannot name, describing the atmosphere, heartbeat, and the object that finally gives it a name.”  

## 2️⃣ Plot & Structure  

11. **Inciting Incident Twist** – “Generate three possible inciting incidents for a story about a [genre] detective, each revealing a hidden link to the protagonist’s past.”  
12. **Three‑Act Outline** – “Provide a concise three‑act structure for a novel where the protagonist must retrieve a [magical artifact] before the eclipse, listing key beats and turning points.”  
13. **Midpoint Reversal** – “Write a shocking mid‑story revelation that forces the hero to ally with their enemy, including the dialogue that seals the uneasy truce.”  
14. **Climactic Showdown** – “Describe the final confrontation between [Protagonist] and [Antagonist] in a setting that mirrors the story’s theme of [theme], using vivid sensory language.”  
15. **Subplot Integration** – “Suggest three ways to weave the subplot about [secondary character’s] quest for redemption into the main plot without slowing the pace.”  
16. **Foreshadowing Seed** – “Create a subtle foreshadowing line that hints at the true nature of the ‘[mysterious object]’, to be used early in Chapter 2.”  
17. **Plot Device Swap** – “Replace the traditional ‘MacGuffin’ of a stolen necklace with a [unusual object] and outline how this changes the stakes.”  
18. **Time‑Jump Blueprint** – “Plan a 5‑year time jump after the climax, detailing how the world and characters have changed, and what lingering mystery remains.”  
19. **Multiple POV Hook** – “Write the opening line for Chapter 1 from the perspective of [Character A], then the same moment from [Character B] to set up contrasting motives.”  
20. **Series Hook** – “Craft a compelling ‘what if…?’ question that can launch a trilogy based on the premise of [core concept].”  

## 3️⃣ World‑Building & Setting  

21. **City Snapshot** – “Describe the bustling market district of [City Name] in 200 words, highlighting three unique scents, two sounds, and a local legend that tourists ignore.”  
22. **Magic System Rules** – “List five hard limits for the magic system in a world where spells are cast by weaving [material] into clothing, and explain the consequences of breaking each rule.”  
23. **Political Faction Overview** – “Summarize the goals, symbols, and key leaders of the [Faction Name] that opposes the ruling council, and note their hidden agenda.”  
24. **Historical Event** – “Write a newspaper excerpt from [Year] recounting the Great Flood that reshaped the continent, including a quoted survivor’s reaction.”  
25. **Everyday Technology** – “Explain how ordinary citizens in [Future City] use [specific tech] for daily chores, and how it subtly influences social hierarchy.”  
26. **Cultural Festival** – “Create a description of the annual [Festival Name] celebrating the harvest of [mythical plant], focusing on rituals, costumes, and a forbidden rite.”  
27. **Geography as Metaphor** – “Design a mountain range called the ‘[Name]’ that physically mirrors the protagonist’s internal journey; describe its appearance and mythic meaning.”  
28. **Language Quirk** – “Invent a common idiom in the world’s primary language that reflects the society’s core value (e.g., ‘to stitch the sunrise’), and explain its origin.”  
29. **Economy Snapshot** – “Outline the primary trade goods of the kingdom of [Name] and how a recent shortage of [resource] is driving political tension.”  
30. **Map Prompt** – “Generate a textual map of a coastal town with five districts, naming each and noting a landmark that could serve as a plot point.”  

## 4️⃣ Dialogue & Voice  

31. **Argument Scene** – “Write a heated exchange between [Character A] and [Character B] about whether to trust the stranger, ensuring each line reveals a hidden motive.”  
32. **Subtext‑Heavy Conversation** – “Create a 10‑line dialogue where two characters discuss the weather, but the subtext reveals a looming betrayal.”  
33. **Accent Prompt** – “Provide a short speech for [Character] who speaks with a Southern Appalachian drawl, incorporating regional slang without overdoing it.”  
34. **Internal Monologue** – “Write a 150‑word stream‑of‑consciousness as [Protagonist] waits in a dark alley, fearing the sound of footsteps behind them.”  
35. **Humor Injection** – “Add a witty one‑liner for [Sidekick] that lightens a tense moment, using a reference to [popular culture element] appropriate to the setting.”  
36. **Formal Letter** – “Draft a formal letter from the queen of [Realm] to the commander of the northern guard, requesting aid against the invading [enemy].”  
37. **Silence as Dialogue** – “Describe a scene where two characters communicate only through gestures and glances after a vow of silence, focusing on what each movement conveys.”  
38. **Cross‑Cultural Misunderstanding** – “Write a conversation where [Character] from [Culture A] misinterprets a greeting from [Character] of [Culture B], leading to comic tension.”  
39. **Villain’s Persuasion** – “Compose a persuasive speech by the antagonist trying to recruit the protagonist, using logical fallacies and emotional appeals.”  
40. **Closing Scene** – “Write the final line spoken by [Character] as the sun sets over the battlefield, encapsulating the story’s theme of [theme].”  

## 5️⃣ Writing Craft & Revision  

41. **Show, Don’t Tell Exercise** – “Take the sentence ‘[Character] was angry.’ and rewrite it in three ways that show the anger through actions, dialogue, and environment.”  
42. **Pacing Checklist** – “Generate a checklist of five signs that a chapter is dragging, and five techniques to tighten the pace.”  
43. **Sensory Detail Prompt** – “Choose a mundane scene (e.g., a train station) and rewrite it, adding at least one detail for each of the five senses.”  
44. **Point‑of‑View Shift** – “Explain how to transition smoothly from first‑person to third‑limited within the same chapter, using an example with [Character].”  
45. **Hook Generator** – “Provide five different opening hooks for a thriller about a missing manuscript, each using a different literary device (question, action, mystery, etc.).”  
46. **Conflict Ladder** – “List a ladder of conflict escalation for a romance plot, from ‘misunderstanding’ to ‘life‑changing sacrifice.’”  
47. **Beta Reader Prompt** – “Create three specific questions to ask beta readers about the believability of [Character’s] magical abilities.”  
48. **Title Brainstorm** – “Generate ten potential titles for a novel centered on a courier who delivers secrets across a war‑torn empire.”  
49. **Scene‑Purpose Audit** – “Write a template that asks: What does this scene achieve? (Plot, character, theme, world). Fill in for a sample scene in Chapter 4.”  
50. **Mood Board Description** – “Describe a visual mood board for a gothic horror setting, listing colors, textures, and reference images to guide descriptive prose.”  

## 6️⃣ Prompt‑Powered Writing Sprints  

51. **10‑Minute Character Sketch** – “In 10 minutes, write a brief bio for [Character] covering birth, greatest fear, and one secret they’ll reveal later.”  
52. **Flash Fiction Challenge** – “Compose a 500‑word story that starts with ‘The last train left at midnight, and I was still on the platform.’”  
53. **Dialogue‑Only Scene** – “Write a 200‑word scene using only dialogue (no tags) that reveals a betrayal.”  
54. **First Line Expansion** – “Take the first line ‘She opened the door to find the world turned upside down.’ and expand it into a full paragraph, setting tone and stakes.”  
55. **World‑Building Prompt Sprint** – “Spend 15 minutes listing five unique laws that govern magic in your world, then write a short scene where one law is broken.”  
56. **Emotion Switch** – “Rewrite a sad scene as if the protagonist were feeling joy; note which words and details change.”  
57. **Alternate Ending** – “Write an alternate ending where the protagonist decides to keep the [object] instead of destroying it.”  
58. **Genre Swap** – “Take a scene from your current manuscript and rewrite it as if it were a sci‑fi story, keeping the core conflict intact.”  
59. **Narrative Voice Switch** – “Convert a third‑person paragraph into a first‑person diary entry for the same events.”  
60. **Plot Twist Reveal** – “In 150 words, reveal the twist that the mentor was the mastermind behind the villain’s plan.”  

## How to get the most from these prompts  

1. **Fill in the blanks** – Replace bracketed placeholders with specifics from your story; the more precise, the richer the output.  
2. **Iterate** – Run a prompt, read the result, then ask follow‑up questions (e.g., “Add more sensory detail” or “Make the dialogue snappier”).  
3. **Combine** – Merge two related prompts (e.g., character backstory + magic system) for deeper integration.  
4. **Save & Refine** – Keep a master document of generated text; edit for your voice, not just copy‑paste.  
5. **Set a timer** – Use the sprint prompts to break writer’s block and keep momentum.  

Happy writing!