AUTHOR TOOLS
9 Nature-Related Writing Prompts
Enter the zone of creativity!
I write a lot of fiction, and writing prompts are great ways of kickstarting creativity. As I’ve said elsewhere, the creative process can really benefit from some random, chaotic ideas!
Each week will I share a list of prompts for you to try, and here are nine new ones to add to your collection! This week, there is a nature theme.
Idea 1
Sometimes the old ones are the best: write a fairy tale about a child who walks into the woods…
Idea 2
A pair of travellers stop on a patch of grass to enjoy the sunshine. However, they have only been lying and chilling for a few minutes when they realise that both of them have been swarmed by hundreds of tiny beetles. Write what happens next.
Idea 3
Write about a friend from work who is obsessed with climbing. Like — obsessed. It could be a conversation in which they try to persuade you to come along on a climbing trip. Maybe they succeed despite your protests? If so, how does it go?
Idea 4
A corporation is trying to build on an ancient patch of land — you decide what type. Our plucky hero/heroine is the only thing that stands in the way. Or are they? What kind of natural creatures or supernatural spirits much cause an additional obstacle?
Idea 5
Write a flash fiction story about a highly overconfident person who wants to prove that they can cross the desert (on foot/on a vehicle? You decide). Ten miles in, they begin to have serious second thoughts. But is it too late to turn back?
Idea 6
You are on holiday in a remote cottage in the mountains. Every morning, a strange elderly couple come out and swim in the lake. One day, you decide to join them for a swim. But all is not as it seems…
Idea 7
Craft a sci-fi tale in the form of a mission report, when the crew/captain of a ship finds a planet that at first looks ideal for colonisation. However, by report number 2, something has gone horribly wrong.
Idea 8
Write a scene describing the mountain lair of a superhero or master criminal. It should have tunnels, perhaps an underground lake, and all kinds of tech that is hidden in the wilderness.
Idea 9
Take a moment to think of a time you yourself experienced a very unusual natural environment — somewhere unique, that made a really lasting impact. Now, make that place the setting of chapter 1 of a murder mystery.
I hope you found these helpful!
And if you enjoyed them, it’s not hard to make more of your own. This article provides a foolproof method to follow:
If you do use any of the eight ideas above, why not share a link to your writing in the comments?
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