When a novel stalls, the best prompts point back into your own story rather than starting a new one, for example "Write the scene your main character is most afraid of" or "What does the antagonist want today?". Pick one, write for 15 to 25 minutes without fixing earlier chapters, and add the result to your draft even if it's rough.
30 novel writing prompts
- Write the scene your main character is most afraid of.Write it blind
- What does the antagonist want today, and how do they get closer to it?Write it blind
- Skip ahead and write a scene you're excited about.Write it blind
- Write the argument two characters have been avoiding.Write it blind
- Give your main character a small win, then take it away.Write it blind
- Write a chapter from the point of view of a minor character.Write it blind
- Your main character lies to someone they love. Why?Write it blind
- Describe the setting at a time of day you haven't written yet.Write it blind
- Write the moment your main character realises they were wrong.Write it blind
- Add a visitor who changes the mood of the room.Write it blind
- Write a scene that takes place entirely during a meal.Write it blind
- What does your character do when nobody is watching?Write it blind
- Bring back something from chapter one that the reader has forgotten.Write it blind
- Write the phone call, letter or message that changes everything.Write it blind
- Your character has to choose between two things they want. Write the choice.Write it blind
- Write what your character wanted at age twelve.Write it blind
- Something breaks. Write who notices first.Write it blind
- Write the scene where the plan goes wrong.Write it blind
- Describe your main character through someone who dislikes them.Write it blind
- Write a quiet scene right after a loud one.Write it blind
- What is the secret in this story? Write the scene where someone nearly finds out.Write it blind
- Write a flashback you'll probably cut. Find out what it tells you.Write it blind
- Make the weather matter for one scene.Write it blind
- Your character makes a promise they can't keep. Write it.Write it blind
- Write the last scene of the book, as you imagine it today.Write it blind
- Put two characters in a car for a long drive.Write it blind
- Write a chapter that starts five minutes later than you'd normally start it.Write it blind
- Something your character owns goes missing. Write the search.Write it blind
- Write the scene where the reader learns what this book is really about.Write it blind
- Write your character's worst day so far, then make it slightly worse.Write it blind
How to use prompts in a long draft
- Stay inside your book. Every prompt above is meant for your own characters, not for a new story.
- Write the scene as a bracketed draft if you're not sure where it goes: [MAYBE CH 9]. Placing it can wait.
- Count every word. In a November challenge, prompt scenes count towards your total like any others.
- Don't fix earlier chapters. Make a note of the change and keep writing forward. This is the core advice in our guide on how to finish a first draft.
Planning a November novel
The 50,000-word November challenge works out at 1,667 words a day. The word count goal calculator works out your own target, with rest days and a catch-up plan, and our guide to writing a novel in November has a 30-day plan.
Frequently asked questions
What if the prompt doesn't fit my genre?
Change the details and keep the shape. "Put two characters in a car" works as a spaceship, a carriage or a lift.
What should I do when I'm behind on my word count?
Run two or three word sprints with a prompt each. Sprints with a clear starting point tend to produce more words than open-ended sessions.
Is it cheating to skip ahead to a scene I like?
No. Writing out of order is common, and it's often what gets a stalled draft moving again.
