r/SimplePrompts

7K archived posts · Feb 2015 – Sep 2026

Open-ended Writing Prompts

r/SimplePrompts

There are lots of prompt subreddits out there. What sets us apart? We're looking for a simpler source of inspiration. Here, we encourage simplicity in prompts. Our goal is to kick start the writer's mind into coming up with its own unique ideas by using prompts that are open-ended enough to appeal to everyone. Welcome aboard.

Created Feb 5, 2015

17KMembers (last snapshot)

7KArchived posts

Welcome to Simple Prompts, a place for open-ended writing prompts to help inspire creativity. Read the FAQ for basic information, and read below for how to get started.

Remember that this place is just as much about the responses as the prompts themselves. Please participate by writing responses or by commenting on other people's responses. Thanks!

It is mandatory that everyone read the Rules page and the Prompt Do's and Don'ts page before writing a prompt. If nothing else, please read the Do's and Don'ts.

####Rules ####Prompt Do's and Don'ts

Prompts: A good prompt should inspire creativity while being open-ended enough to allow the writer to craft his/her own story. When submitting a prompt, leave enough of the writing up to the writer. See here for the Do's and Don'ts, and see here for good examples.

Responses: You don't have to precisely follow the prompt. The prompt is meant to help you craft your own ideas. If you do want to follow it word for word, you may, but you don't have to. See here for more information on responses.

All posts are required to have a flair. Below is a list of all the Flairs. You can click on one and it will search the subreddit for posts with that flair.
See the Flairs page for more information.

##Flairs (click to filter)

[BP] Beginning Prompt: The start of a story.
[SP] Setting Prompt: Outlines a setting (time or a place).
[CP] Character Prompt: Any prompt about a character.
[TP] Theme Prompt: Specifies theme, mood, etc.
[DP] Dialogue Prompt: Words spoken by a character. In quotation marks.
[CW] Constrained Writing: Puts a limitation on what can be written.
[MP] Miscellaneous Prompt: Any prompt that doesn't fit in the above categories.
[META] Meta Post: Any post that is not a prompt. Make sure it relates to the sub or to writing somehow.
[Image Prompt] Image Prompt: Post an Image meant to inspire stories. Make sure you link back to the original artist.

The rules here are pretty straightforward. Click here for a complete list. Flair all your posts. Don't be a jerk, don't be a troll, and make sure you follow basic guidelines for good prompts and good responses.

###Featured Subreddits | (hover to show)

r/PromptOfTheDay: Once-a-day prompts, usually picture prompts.
r/WritersDustbin: A place to practice free writing.
r/WorldBuilding: For crafting fully-realized fictional worlds.

###Prompts for Artists | (hover to show)

r/SketchDaily: Daily drawing prompts.
r/dailydraw: Daily drawing prompts.
r/Artprompt: Writers post written prompts for artists to draw pictures of, and artists post picture prompts for writers to write stories of.

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