5 Best Writing Prompt Generators to SPARK Story Ideas

Do you get writer’s block?

Creative writing is a worthy and important endeavor. However, there are many ways in which a writer can get writer’s block, and sometimes it’s at the very beginning. 

Story ideas can be hard to find and sometimes writers will seek of help. One fantastic source of inspiration is a writing prompt generator and other writing exercises. 

Creative writing prompts will throw ideas at you. Sometimes it’s a single sentence and other times it’s a whole paragraph with lots of basic information. Either way, it’s meant to inspire you. 

It’s an idea you can take and run with. It’s the perfect place to start if you’re out of ideas. Not all writing prompt generators and plot generators are equal, however. The idea it puts out needs to be interesting and viable. Here are five of the best writing prompt generators available: 

1. Squibler

The Squibler story prompt plot generator is attached to a distraction-free writing space, making the creative process simple and seamless. The interface is clean, and a single click is all that’s necessary to generate a writing prompt with a random story. If you don’t like it, click again for another one. 

Once you find a random writing prompt you like, selecting the “start writing” button will allow you to start writing immediately. Once you’re finished with your session, you can export your work to a number of different file types. 

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can try the “dangerous” mode with the Squibler MDWA. This mode will delete your words if you stop writing for more than a few seconds. This is an excellent motivator to keep generating writing ideas.

2. Seattle 7 Writers

Seattle 7 Writers is a website with helpful writing content. This includes how-to guides and writing advice. They also have a creative prompt generator available to help you get started. It provides you with over 500 first-line suggestions. Whether you’re writing science fiction or looking to write a random story, this generator will help you do that.

One random prompt is created at a time, with a single click giving you a new one. These lines are interesting, unique, and have lots of potential for creative writing. Some are open-ended and require you to finish the sentence. This forces you to keep the writing ideas going. 

This generator offers exciting story ideas that are sure to get you thinking. Once you have a fully-formed idea, you’re on your way to spark ideas for your novel outline.

3. Spring Hole

Spring Hole is a website that is full of writing content in general. They provide tips, exercises, and advice. One of their main features is their series of random generators. They have multiple generators available to suit whatever you may need at the time. Some of these specific generators include: 

• Character generator
• Name generator
• Origin story generator
• Plot idea generator 
• Fan fiction generator

If you’re looking to craft a whole new short story from scratch, you can use a few of these at once and blend all of the story ideas together into one narrative. If you don’t know what you need yet or just want to see completely random ideas, they do have a random prompt generator that will spit out a random output from any category.

4. Seventh Sanctum 

Seventh Sanctum is a popular writing prompt generator that dates back to 1999. Like Spring Hole, they offer a series of specific generators depending on what you’re looking for. They have a basic “writing prompt generator” that gives you a series of random sentences. Some are ideas, some are dialogue, others can be both. 

If you’re looking for something more specific, they have plenty of options. You can choose genres as well as specific topics or themes. This includes plot twists, symbols, settings, characters, names, and humor. 

There are thousands of different options and combinations. It’s a great tool to use when outlining as it can give you plot lines and plot ideas for every stage and detail. 

5. Random First Line Generator

This generator provides ideas for the opening line of a novel. The first line is one of the most important parts of the whole book. It’s what either hooks the readers or turns them off. You need the first line to grab your reader and convince them to keep going. 

This generator provides suggestions for your first line. They range from mysterious to shocking and would all serve well as the first line in a novel. The rest is up to you, of course. These first lines are not only good hooks but they can usually spark a few ideas to expand on the line. 

If you find a line you like but you’re still feeling stuck, the website also has other generators that can help you with characters, names, places, and titles. 

Get Started with These Story Idea Generators

Writing takes a lot of skill, dedication, commitment, and imagination. While it’s often fun and exciting it can be difficult and draining at times too. When this happens, there’s no shame in seeking out help and kick-starting your own imagination. 

Writing prompt generators are the perfect writing tool because they are so random. They offer up things and ideas that you may never think of in a million years. Even a single sentence can be enough to spark an idea in your mind and before you know it, you’ve got a new story on the go.