AUTHOR TOOLS
8 ANIMAL Writing Prompts
Some zoological sparks for your creativity!
Writing prompts are a great way to tackle writer’s block, and get your creativity flowing. You can find lists of prompts that I have shared previously here and here.
Prompts can include various things, but the most common types are a scenario, a phrase, an object, or an image.
Your job is to take that idea and roll with it. Use it as the spark that lights the flame… start writing, and see where it goes.
Now, here is a new set that all focus on animals…
Idea 1
You (or your protagonist) are lying in bed, trying to sleep when you hear a scratching noise from outside the window. An intruder? No — you realize that whatever it has claws, and is making a hissing noise. Write what happens next.
Idea 2
Write an account of a person who is so besotted with their dog that they refuse to go anywhere without him/her, even to their workplace or on a date. What effect does this have on their life? This could be written as a diary entry (from their perspective or someone else’s) or a short story.
Idea 3
One person is trying to have a serious conversation, but the other keeps getting distracted by seeing/hearing a fly (or claiming to!).
Idea 4
Write about a person’s encounter with a monkey or ape (in a zoo or the wild), during which the person recognizes something about themselves.
Idea 5
A character has an obsession with a particular species of animal, from clothing to their preferred nickname. At what point does their interest become… just a bit weird? Consider a range of things that they might do, as well as how others will react.
Idea 6
Write flash fiction or scene in which a villain has one redeeming characteristic — they are very kind to an animal.
Idea 7
A junior academic has been researching snakes and is later found dead in the reptile house of a zoo. Cause of death — snake bite. But was it an accident? This could be a fictional news article or the beginning of a murder mystery.
Idea 8
Write a scene or chapter based on a character hunting an animal, with or without a team of companions. This could be a real-world animal, or you could craft a fantasy or sci-fi story. However, the hunter should discover something about themselves on the hunt and perhaps reconsider their motivations...
I hope found some inspiration from these prompts. And if you use any of the ideas above, why not share a link to your writing in the comments?
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