73 Writing Prompts 2022-2024

These are prompts I am coming up with in my seventh and eighth year of judging "The Writer's Cramp" . There are significant gaps in time as my husband was critically ill and then passed away.

He mott was a great encourager of me with thinking of prompts and helping me with them.

I am always trying my best to think of prompts, all during the week days between my judging days.

You are free to use any of them if they will help you in your writing. I also include the number of entrants who tried writing to my prompt.

I have heard that my prompts are good and no good. Sometimes I will hear conflicting things about the same prompt.

But it is not easy to think of prompts consistently and have them all be great.

I try for prompts that inspire others to write. That is my simple goal.

One time someone even told me that my prompts were good, but this person didn't like them anyway.

Some prompts work and some do not, but if you think you can do better and be reliable to judge, I urge you to email SophyBells and volunteer to be a weekly judge or a substitute judge.

It's fun and she does a great job.

Strangely, those who are most critical of my prompts seem not to want to volunteer when I suggest it. Maybe it's easier to criticize and come up with excuses than to do the work.



1. Use the following as the TITLE of your poem or story:

"Moonlight on Cows"


Pick "Animal" as one of your genres.

Have fun!

Given April 9 - 10, 2022 = 4 Entries


2. Use the following as the TITLE of your poem or short story:

"The Great Egg Shortage"

You pick the genre.

Given April 16 - 17, 2022 = 3 Entries


3. Use the following as the TITLE of your poem or story:

"Broken Places"

You pick the genre.

Given April 23 - 24, 2022 = 2 Entries


4. Use the following as the TITLE of your poem or story:

"The Mystic Rose"

You pick the genre.

Given April 30 - May 1, 2022 = 3 Entries


5. Use the following as the TITLE of your poem or story:

"The Last Ticket"

You pick the genre.

Have fun!

Given May 14 - 15, 2022 = 4 Entries


6. Use the following bolded as the first AND last sentence (or line) of your story or poem:

"Blame it on the moon."

You pick the title and the genre.

Given May 21 - 22, 2022 = 3 Entries


7. Use the following as the TITLE of your story or poem:

Last Cat at the Bar

You pick the genre.

Given May 28 - 29, 2022 = 1 Entry


8. In honor of and tribute to Queen Elizabeth's celebration of 70 years on the throne this week, use the following as the TITLE of your story or poem:

"Street Party"

You pick the genre. It doesn't have to be about the Jubilee in England. It can be about any street party you prefer.

Given June 4 -5, 2022 = 1 Entry


9. Use the following as the Title of your story or poem:

"Trading Places"

Include the following words (in any order) being sure to BOLD them for judging convenience:

Electric Bike
Errand
White rabbit
Strawberries

You pick the genre.

Given June 11 - 12, 2022 = 3 Entries



10. Use the following as the Title of your story or poem:

"Knowing When to Leave"

Include the following words (in any order) being sure to BOLD them for judging convenience:

whisper
typewriter
pocket watch
blueberry muffins

You pick the genre.

Given June 18 - 19, 2022 = 1 Entry



11. Use the following as the Title of your story or poem:

"On the Grill"

Include the following words (in any order) being sure to BOLD them for judging convenience:

coconut
key lime pie
salamander
fireworks

You pick the genre.

Given July 2 - 3, 2022 = 2 Entries


12. Use the following as the Title of your story or poem:

"The Day that Bulls Chased Bears"

Include the following words (in any order) being sure to BOLD them for judging convenience:

coins
festival
music
forest

You pick the genre.

Given July 9 - 10, 2022 = 2 Entries


13. Use the following as the Title of your story or poem:

"Moon Over July"

Include the following words (in any order) being sure to BOLD them for judging convenience:

stars
storm
lyrics
wolf

You pick the genre.

Given July 16 - 17, 2022 = 3 Entries


14. Use the following as the Title of your story or poem:

"Lucky Summer"

Include the following words (in any order) being sure to BOLD them for judging convenience:

penny
railroad tracks
melody
squirrel

You pick the genre.

Given July 23 - 24, 2022 = 3 Entries



15. Use the following as the Title of your story or poem:

"July Heat"

Include the following words (in any order) being sure to BOLD them for judging convenience:

fan
shoeless
musical
rumor

You pick the genre.

Given July 30 - 31, 2022 = 2 Entries


16. Use the following as the Title of your story or poem:

"Captive Audience"

Include the following words (in any order) being sure to BOLD them for judging convenience:

rhythm
memory
scones
lizard

You pick the genre.

Given August 6 - 7, 2022 = 2 Entries


17. Use the following as the Title of your story or poem:

"The Wrong E-Mail"

Include the following words (in any order) being sure to BOLD them for judging convenience:

message
directions
romance
lucky

You pick the genre.

Given August 13 - 14, 2022 = 2 Entries


18. Use the following as the Title of your story or poem:

"Flowers of the Forest"

Include the following words (in any order) being sure to BOLD them for judging convenience:

grave
stranger
wild poppies
fiddle

You pick the genre.

To be given August 20 - 21, 2022 = 3 Entries


19. Get inspired by this excerpt from this poem:

"City Sorrow"   by Bandit's Mama

"...The concrete and steel of this city
Shelter not the things that I love.
Buildings lean over me, weight without pity.
They stifle the breath of my soul...."

The poem, "City Sorrow" was written by one of the first Moderators on this site, Bandit's Mama .

She died in the attack on the North Tower of the World Trade Center on 9/11, 21 years ago tomorrow.

Please write a poem or short story inspired by her words. You select the title.

And please select "Tribute" as one of your genres.

Given Sept 10 - 11, 2022 = 2 Entries


20. Please write a poem or short story with the following title:

"Waiting in Line"

This can be about current events (honoring the late Queen Elizabeth II) or something completely different. The genre is up to you.

Given Sept 17 - 18 2022 = 3 Entries


21. Please write a poem or short story with the following title:

"Fall From Grace"

The genre is up to you.

Given Sept 24 - 25, 2022 = 2 Entries


22. Please write a poem or short story with the following title:

"After the Storm"

Use the following in bold in your poem or story:

broken fence
power outage
fallen leaves
rude awakening

The genre is up to you.

Given October 1 - 2, 2022 = 3 Entries


23. Please use the following in bold in your poem or story in any order:

candy wrappers
discarded costume
shadow of a cat
bat in the wind


Please select "Horror/Scary" as one of your genres.

Given October 8 - 9, 2022 = 3 Entries


24. Please use the following in bold in your poem or story in any order:

spirit
tidal wave
torn curtain
fallen mask


Please select "Ghost" as one of your genres.

Given October 15 - 16, 2022 = 2 Entries



25. Please use the following in bold in your poem or story in any order:

afternoon shadow
red sunset
train in the distance
howl in the night
Basset Hound puppy


You pick the genres!

Have fun!

Given October 22 - 23, 2022 = 3 Entries


26. Please use the following in bold in your poem or story in any order:

black car
evil painter
nightmare come true
spare tire
abandoned ladder


You pick the genres!

Have fun!

Given October 29 - 30, 2022 = 2 Entries


27. Please use the following in bold in your poem or story in any order:

family gathering
travel plans
vacation
set the clock
leaves on the ground


You pick the genres!

Given November 5 - 6, 2022 = 1 Entry


28. Please use the following in bold in your poem or story in any order:

gray sky
dancing squirrel
lazy bat
morning regrets
afternoon sun


You pick the genre(s)!

Given November 12 - 13, 2022 = No Entries


29. Please use the following as the Title of your poem or story:

"Home for a Holiday"


Please pick "Food/cooking" as one of your genres and describe at least one type of "Food" in your story or poem.

Have fun!

For those in the U.S., Have a very Happy Thanksgiving!!! Happy Holidays to All!!

Given November 19 - 20, 2022 = 3 Entries



30. Please use the following as the Title of your poem or story:

"Less Than a Month"


Please pick "Holiday" as one of your genres.

Have fun!

Given November 26 - 27, 2022 = 2 Entries


31. Please use the following as the Title of your poem or story:

"Last Bird of Autumn"


The genre is up to you.

Have fun!

Given December 3 - 4, 2022 = 1 Entry


32. Please use the following as the Title of your poem or story:

"The Owl in Winter"


Pick "Nature" as one of your genres.

Have fun!

Given December 10 - 11, 2022 = 5 Entries


33. Please use the following as the Title of your poem or story:

"Song at Sunrise"


Pick Music as one of your genres, please.

Given June 3 - 4, 2023 - 1 Entry


34. Please use the following as the Title of your poem or story:

"Runaway Cow"


Pick Comedy as one of your genres, please.

Given June 10 - 11, 2023 = 4 Entries


35. Please use the following as the Title of your poem or story:

"Not Just Another Holiday"


Pick "Holiday" as one of your genres, please.

Have fun!

Given June 17 - 18, 2023 = 2 Entries


36. Please use the following as the Title of your poem or story:

"Faith at Sunrise"


Pick "Spiritual" as one of your genres, please.

Given June 24 - 25, 2023 = 3 Entries


37. Please use the following as the Title of your poem or story:

"Paw Prints"


Pick "Animal" as one of your genres, please.

Given June 30 - July 1, 2023 = 2 Entries


38. Please use the following as the Title of your poem or story:

"The Lost Summer"


The genre is up to you!

Given July 8 - 9, 2023 = 1 Entry


39. Please use the following as the Title of your poem or story:

"Wild Wicked Wind"


The genre is up to you!

Given July 22 - 23, 2023 = 2 Entries


40. Please use the following as the Title of your poem or story:

"Shadow Over July"


The genre is up to you!

Given July 29 - 30, 2023 = 3 Entries


41. Please use the following line BOLDED as the last line of your story or poem:

"Remembering that August night."


The genre is up to you!


Given August 5 - 6, 2023 = 5 Entries


42. Please use the following line BOLDED as the FIRST AND LAST lines of your story or poem:

"Meet me at the castle"


Please choose "Fantasy" as one of your genres.

Given August 12 - 13, 2023 = 4 Entries

43. Please use the following line BOLDED as the Last line of your story or poem:

"Challenging the Light"


Please choose "Spiritual" as one of your genres.

Given August 19 - 20, 2023 = 5 Entries


44. Please use the following line BOLDED as the first AND Last line of your story or poem:

"Things you didn't see"


Please choose "supernatural" as one of your genres.

Given August 26 - 27, 2023 = 6 Entries


45. Please use the following line BOLDED as the first and Last lines of your story or poem:

"23 Cows Are Missing"

Please choose "Comedy" and "Mystery" as TWO of your genres!

Given September 2 - 3, 2023 (Site 23rd Birthday) = 15 entries



46. Please use the following as the title of your story or poem:

"September Storm"


Please choose "Nature" as one of your genres!

Have fun!

Given September 9 - 10, 2023 = 4 Entries


47. Please use the following as the last line bolded of your story or poem:

"so far beyond repair"


The genres are up to you!

Given September 16 - 17, 2023 = 4 Entries


48. Please use the following as the title of your story or poem:

"Gathering Storm Clouds"


The genres are up to you!

Given September 23 - 24 = 3 Entries


49. Please use the following as the title of your story or poem:

"The Long Journey Home"


The genres are up to you!

Given Sept 30 - Oct 1, 2023 = 4 Entries


50. Please use the following as the last line of your story or poem:

"Inherit the Earth"


Please Bold the line for judging convenience.

The genres are up to you!

Given October 7 - 8, 2023 = 2 Entries



51. Please use the following as the Title of your story or poem:

"White Cow on the Hillside"


Please select "Animal" as one of your genres!

Given October 14 - 15, 2023 = 6 Entries


52. Please use the following as the Title of your story or poem:

"October's Lonely Squirrel"


Please select "Animal" as one of your genres!

Given October 28 - 29, 2023 = 4 Entries


53. Please use the following as the Title of your story or poem:

"Creeping Time"


Please select "Horror/Scary" as one of your genres!

Given November 4-5, 2023 = 5 Entries


54. Please use the following as the Title of your story or poem:

"Our Musical Street"


Please select "Music" as one of your genres.

Given November 11 - 12, 2023 = 4 Entries


55. Please use the following as the Title of your story or poem:

"Carrying the Light"


Please select "Spiritual" as one of your genres.

Given November 18 - 19, 2023 = 3 Entries


56. Please use the following as the Title of your story or poem:

"Perfect Holiday"


Please select "Holiday" as one of your genres.

Given November 25 - 26, 2023 = 1 Entry


57. Please use the following as the Title of your story or poem:

"Watch For Morning"


Please select "Nature" as one of your genres.

Given December 2 - 3, 2023 = 4 Entries



58. Please use the following as the Title of your story or poem:

"Candy Canes and Clouds"


Please select "Holiday" as one of your genres.

Given December 9 - 10, 2023 = 2 Entries



59. Please use the following as the Title of your story or poem:

"Remember the Red Bird"


Please select "Nature" as one of your genres.

Given December 16 - 17, 2023 = 2 Entries



60. Please use the following as the Title of your story or poem:

"Three Candles"




Please select "Spiritual" as one of your genres.

Given December 23 - 24, 2023 = 1 Entry


61. Please use the following as the Title of your story or poem:

"Abandoned Pasture"


Please select "Nature" as one of your genres.

Given January 6 - 7, 2024 = 3 Entries


62. Please use the following as the Title of your story or poem:

"Cow Shadows"


Please select "Ghost" as one of your genres.

Given January 13 - 14, 2024 = 4 Entries


63. Please use the following as the Title of your story or poem:

"A Quiet January Night"


Please select "Spiritual" as one of your genres.

Given January 20 - 21, 2024 = 4 Entries


64. In honor of the birthday celebrations of 22 Years, please write a story or poem that has the title:

"22 Dancing Cows"

As one of your genres, please select: "Comedy"

Given January 27 - 28, 2024 = 9 Entries


65. Please write a story or poem that has the title:

"Lonely February Bird"

As one of your genres, please select: "Nature"

Given February 3 - 4, 2024 = 7 Entries


66. A cow wanders onto the field at Halftime during the Super Bowl. What happens next? You decide. Please write a story or poem that has the title:

"Cow on the Field"

As one of your genres, please select: "Sports"





Have fun!

Given February 10 - 11, 2024 = 3 Entries


67. Please write a story or poem that has the title:

"Behind the Green Door"

Please choose "Mystery" as one of your genres.

Given Feb 17 - 18. 2024 = 7 Entries


68. Please write a story or poem that has the title:

"Beneath One Distant Spring"

Please choose "Nature" as one of your genres.

Given Feb 24 - 25, 2024 = 7 Entries


69. Please write a story or poem that has the title:

"Never Enough Cows"

Please choose "Animal" as one of your genres.

Given March 2 - 3, 2024 = 2 Entries




70. Please write a story or poem that has the title:

"The World's Worst Passenger"

Please choose "Comedy" as one of your genres.

Given March 9 - 10, 2024 = 3 Entries


71. Please write a story or poem that revolves around St. Patrick's Day and has the title:

"She Never Wore Green"

Please choose "Holiday" as one of your genres.

Given March 16 - 17, 2024 = 8 Entries


72. Please write a story or poem that has the title:

"My Rainbow Bunny"

Please choose "Holiday" as one of your genres.

Given March 23 - 24, 2024 = 5 Entries



73. Please write a story or poem that has the title:

"Flowers of the Field"

Please choose "Nature" as one of your genres.

Given March 30 - 31, 2024 = 5 Entries