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Creative Writing Prompts

Need some inspiration for what to write next? Be inspired with these writing prompts for fiction, poetry, journaling and more!

108 Romance Writing Prompts & Love Story Ideas

7 Creative Writing Exercises For Writers

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300 Fun Writing Prompts for Kids: Story Starters, Journal Prompts & Ideas

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WEEKLY WRITING PROMPTS

Join (probably?) the world's largest writing contest. Flex those creative muscles with weekly writing prompts.

Showing 2205 prompts

Heroes and villains, write the origin story of a notorious villain..

LIVE – Character

Center your story around someone facing their biggest fear or enemy.

Write about two mortal enemies who must work together., start or end your story with a hero losing their powers., write a story from the antagonist’s point of view., set your story during the hottest day of the year., center your story around an unexpected summer fling., write about a character who is allergic to heat., start or end your story with a heatwave announcement., write about a summer vacation gone wrong., write a story in the form of a series of thank you cards., write a story about an unsung hero., write a story about a cynic who has been told to start a "gratitude journal," and does so — begrudgingly., write a creative nonfiction piece about something you're grateful for., write a story about a character trying to find a way to express their gratitude to someone., write a story using the most clichéd twist of all; it was all a dream., write a story that includes the line, "i didn't see that one coming.", write a story about someone who realises the story of their life has been pre-determined — until they decide to divert from the expected path., write a story in which a character learns something unexpected about someone they thought they knew well., win $250 in our short story competition 🏆.

We'll send you 5 prompts each week. Respond with your short story and you could win $250!

Contest #263 LIVE

Enter our weekly contest.

This week's theme: Heroes and Villains

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Contest entries, closes at 23:59 - aug 16, 2024 est, recent contests ✍️.

#262 – Turn Up the Heat

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The 28 Best Writing Websites of 2020

#scribendiinc

Written by  Scribendi

Updated in Feburary 2020 to reflect the best writing websites currently online.

Every writer needs a toolbox.

A writer's toolbox is filled with gadgets and gizmos that help a writer craft a story when he or she cannot do it alone. There are literal writers' toolboxes filled with assorted caffeinated beverages, napkins with plot outlines scribbled on them, and USB devices with novels backed up on them, and then there are metaphorical writers' toolboxes packed with character tics, favorite quotes, and—you guessed it—writing websites!

Writing websites are excellent resources to stash away in your toolbox (or browser bookmarks) to whip out in times of absolute distress (e.g., an existential crisis), piled-up excuses (i.e., writer's block), or uncertainty about the stages of writing (e.g.,  the publishing process ).

Scribendi's got a writer's toolbox fully stocked for you right here! Even better, these writing websites are categorized so you can find just what you're looking for at just the right moment. With everything from creative writing advice to publishing guidelines (and everything in between!), this list of the best websites for writers will be perfect for you to stow away in your bookmarks for when you need a helping hand.

Creative Writing Advice

These writing blogs give concrete advice for implementing literary techniques in your writing to help your work reach its full potential.

1. NaNoWriMo

The National Novel Writing Month blog provides inspirational posts year round for when you're stuck with writer's block, and offers guidelines on everything from the publishing process to finding feedback.

2. Write It Sideways

The articles for writers that can be found on Write It Sideways outline real-life advice (like writing grants, author branding, and gift buying) as well as writing tips and tricks, like spotting dialogue mistakes and learning how to build tension in your writing.

3. Helping Writers Become Authors

K.M. Weiland, the writer behind Helping Writers Become Authors, is an award-winning author who shares creative writing advice on story structure, character arcs, common writing mistakes, and much more!

4. Warrior Writers

Warrior Writers is run by the best-selling author Kristen Lamb, who guides writers using comprehensive and detailed posts that have a humorous and easy-to-read tone.

5. The Write Practice

Looking for articles and advice on creative writing? Consider checking out The Write Practice, which offers writing free (as well as paid) courses, and even holds writing contests for aspiring authors. 

Writer's Lifestyle

The following resources are great for writers who have some extra time, or need to take a quick, productive break.

6. Write to Done

Write to Done clearly outlines useful topics for writers, like treating imposter syndrome, recovering from destructive criticism, and finding a pen name.

7. Brain Pickings

Maria Popova's writings on culture, books, and other eclectic subjects are always extremely interesting reading material for any writer with some spare time.

8. Daily Writing Tips

With a blend of fun and fun damental writing topics, this writing website provides the tips you need to succeed.

9. Well-Storied.

Run by Kristen Kieffer, this writing website offers more than just blog articles; it links authors with writing communities on social media, provides tutorials on Scrivener (a word-processing software designed for authors), and offers free courses on a variety of subjects.

10. Writers in the Storm

This blog, written by a group of authors who specialize in different genres, is meant to inspire writers and help them to hone their craft. If you are struggling with the storms that rage internally (e.g., self-doubt) and externally (e.g., the publishing industry), this site will be a haven for you.

Marketing/Blogging

These blogs help writers market their books and create blogging personas to engage an audience more effectively.

11. The Write Life

This writing website offers solid ideas for blogging, including working from home, pitching ideas, guest posting, and much more.

12. Goins, Writer

National best-selling author Jeff Goins shares real-life experiences and reflections on building an audience, shortcuts to success, and engaging a community in the age of Internet fame.

13. The Book Designer

As stated in its tagline, The Book Designer gives "practical advice to help build better books," which includes writing creative disclaimers, choosing the right platforms, and using social media efficiently.

14. Angela Booth

Angela Booth, a copywriter, ghostwriter, author, marketer, and writing coach, writes ample posts to help authors improve book sales and ensure that a book will be a financial success.

15. Create If Writing

Need marketing advice on promoting your writing without coming off as too pushy? Create If Writing "is all about authentic platform building" for writers seeking to sell their work. Kirsten Oliphant, the site creator, offers relatable advice in her blog articles and podcasts.

Find some of the best writing blogs below for help with the publishing process, from behind-the-scenes intel to publishing tips and tricks.

16. Jane Friedman

Jane Friedman has more than 20 years of experience in the book publishing industry. She provides informative articles on both the writing process and the publishing process.

17. The Creative Penn

Run by  New York Times  and  USA Today  best-selling author Joanna Penn, this site offers articles and other resources related to book writing, publishing, and marketing.

18. Writers Helping Writers ®

This one-stop shop for writing resources includes links to informative sites on publishing, marketing, and professional services for writers. You can also find information on protecting your writing from scammers and online plagiarists.

19. Publetariat

Publetariat gives practical information on networking, author websites, and the publishing process. It also shares links to big news stories in the world of publishing.

20. The Independent Publishing Magazine

The Independent Publishing Magazine hosts articles about many different parts of the publishing process, such as growing a following, avoiding authorship problems, and finding the right editor.

21. The Complete Self-Publishing Guide for Authors

Thinking about the self-publishing route? If so, this writing resource is invaluable! Kirkus's free Self-Publishing Guide for Authors, available as a PDF or in print, covers everything you need to know about a book's design, format, distribution, and more.

Writing Inspiration/Prompts

These sites are excellent for writers who are stuck in a rut and need some inspiration or concrete prompts to get them writing again.

22. Writing Prompts

Writing prompts are posted here daily, offering inspiration for writers in all genres. Some of the prompts focus on breaking through writer's block, while others focus on building characters or refining your dialogue-writing skills. If you're feeling as though you're in a writing rut, the site also posts inspirational quotes from famous authors.

23. Positive Writer

Positive Writer was created for writers with doubt—like the website's author, Bryan Hutchinson—to provide inspirational posts that help writers keep on writing.

24. Blots and Plots

The Blots and Plots blog instructs writers to stay in the habit of writing, targeting specific problems and demonstrating how it's possible to write a novel even with a full-time job.

25. Writer's Digest

This well-known and comprehensive site offers all manner of advice and resources for authors. Of particular interest are the site's many creative writing prompts. New prompts are published weekly, and writers post their results in the comments section.

26. Poets & Writers

Poets & Writers is a non-profit organization that fosters creative writers. On this site, you can learn about professional development, connect with other authors in your area, and find weekly writing prompts on poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction.

With Reedsy's list of over 250 writing prompts to get you started on your next creative project, this is one of the best websites for writers to find inspiration. It also offers a search filter to help you find prompts from your writing genre (e.g., romance, fantasy, mystery). If you'd like to contribute to the site and help other aspiring authors, there is an option to submit your own writing prompts, too.

28. Live Write Thrive

Run by C. S. Lakin, an accomplished novelist, copyeditor, and writing coach, Live Write Thrive provides a wealth of information from proficient guest bloggers with the intent to instruct, motivate, and encourage aspiring and veteran writers alike.

We hope these tools are just what you need to continue crafting masterful writing. With a list of writing websites designed to help writers with everything from brainstorming to proofreading to publishing, you'll be unstoppable!

Don't forget about Scribendi’s very own  blog , which provides writers with all the guidance and tools they need to perfect their writing. Our articles cover every stage of the writing process, from planning and drafting any type of academic document to revising and finalizing it. Whether you’re looking for grammar tips, writing resources, or advice on any facet of the written word, Scribendi’s blog is the place for writers to perfect their craft.

Happy reading!

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PromptWhisper

Welcome to Promptwhisper, a haven for creative minds seeking inspiration and storytelling adventures. Whether you're an aspiring writer or a seasoned wordsmith, our curated collection of diverse writing prompts will ignite your imagination and spark your creativity. From thrilling sci-fi odysseys to heartfelt romance tales, our prompts encompass a wide range of genres and themes to suit every writer's preference.

Unleash your literary prowess and embark on a captivating journey through the power of prompts. Let your imagination soar as you breathe life into characters, craft intricate plots, and explore the depths of your storytelling potential. Get ready to embrace the joy of writing with our stimulating prompts that will set your creativity ablaze.

Genre: Drama

Daily Writing Prompt

As always, remember to keep your daily writing exercise short.

Aim to finish it in one session, ideally in 30 minutes or less. The idea is to get your creative juices flowing, not to create a polished masterpiece. Think of this exercise as a 'creative sprint' – short, intense, and brimming with energy.

Discover 10,000+ Writing Prompts in 127 Diverse Genres

Promptwhisper features an incredible array of over 10,000+ writing prompts meticulously crafted to spark your imagination and fuel your writing endeavors. With 127 diverse genres to choose from, you're invited to embark on a captivating journey through an expansive world of storytelling possibilities.

Unsure about how to make the most of writing prompts? Explore our guide for utilizing writing prompts effectively, and discover valuable tips to enhance your writing experience.

Supernatural Prompts

• Psychic Powers
• Angels and Demons
• Magical Artifacts
• Shapeshifters
• Curses and Hexes

Paranormal Prompts

Dystopian prompts.

• Resistance Movement
• Post-Apocalyptic
• Government Control
• Cyberpunk Dystopia

Poetry Prompts

• Epic Poetry
• Spoken Word Poetry

Biography Prompts

• Political Figures
• Entrepreneurs

Young Adult Prompts

• Dystopian Young Adult
• Coming-of-Age
• Contemporary Young Adult
• Fantasy Young Adult
• Romantic Young Adult

Western Prompts

• Revisionist Western
• Spaghetti Western
• Western Fantasy
• Western Noir
• Weird Western

Thriller Prompts

• Political Thriller
• Legal Thriller
• Spy Thriller
• Action Thriller
• Conspiracy Thriller

Science Fiction Prompts

• Alien Invasion
• Dystopian Science Fiction
• Time Travel
• Space Opera

Satire Prompts

• Satirical Historical Fiction
• Political Satire
• Social Satire
• Dark Satire

Romance Prompts

• Young Adult Romance
• Paranormal Romance
• Fantasy Romance
• Historical Romance
• Contemporary Romance

Mystery Prompts

• Crime Thriller
• Detective Mystery
• Cozy Mystery
• Psychological Thriller
• Noir Mystery

Horror Prompts

• Haunted House
• Psychological Horror
• Supernatural Horror
• Zombie Horror
• Gothic Horror

Historical Fiction Prompts

• Ancient Civilizations
• World War II
• Renaissance
• Victorian Era

Fantasy Prompts

• High Fantasy
• Urban Fantasy
• Sword and Sorcery
• Fairy Tale Retelling
• Magical Realism

Drama Prompts

• Romantic Comedy
• Slice of Life
• Social Issues
• Family Drama
• Psychological Drama

Crime Prompts

• Organized Crime
• Legal Drama
• Serial Killer
• Forensic Investigation

Comedy Prompts

• Screwball Comedy
• Slapstick Comedy
• Dark Comedy
• Stand-Up Comedy

Adventure Prompts

• Exploration
• Treasure Hunting
• Pirate Adventure
• Survival Adventure

Action Prompts

• Martial Arts

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10 Great Sites For Writing Prompts

Of course, a large part of being a writer is having ideas, harnessing them, molding them. But we all have days when the ideas aren’t coming. We still want to write, but where to start?

Here are some sites that provide writing prompts.

StoryADay.org Writing Prompts

Each prompt is intentionally ambiguous, adaptable to any genre and style, and comes with a list of tips to help you delve deeper into the ideas. Try one today or sign up to receive weekly prompts by mail.

DIYMFA Writer Igniter

Easily the most fun prompt generator around: hit a button and spin! The Writer Igniter generates a fresh Character, Situation, Prop and Setting (with a picture for the setting). Useful for sparking an idea when you need a quick writing hit.

Writers’ Digest Writing Prompts

Weekly writing prompts from the ultimate writers’ magazine. You can post 500 words about the prompt in the blog comments and see what other people have posted.

Anytime a Tumblr user tags their post as “Writing Prompt”, it’ll pop up in on this page. There is a strong (and youngish) writing community on Tumblr, serious about their art. Definitely worth bookmarking.

Writing Prompts That Don’t Suck

Over 600 writing prompts, mostly one-liners and snippets of dialogue and word lists (which can be surprisingly productive).

CreativeWriting Prompts

Never again can you say that you have nothing to write. Creative Writing Prompts lists 346 prompts all on one page — that’s almost one for every day of the year. Hover your mouse over a number to generate a prompt. More for journaling than short story writing, but still useful.

Writing Fix

These prompts seem to be aimed at kids, but they work for me! There are journal prompts and prompts for creative writing. I love that they have them separated into Right Brain prompts and Left Brain Prompts , among other things. You can choose from among different types of prompts too: story starters, titles, themes, character descriptions, tone, even prepositional phrases!

Reddit Writing Prompts SubReddit

A collection of user-submitted prompts. Often skewed towards apocalytic/sci-fi/fantasy/horror topics, this is the place to go if you like to write dark!

The Teacher’s Corner

This site is aimed at teachers who give their students a period of free-writing or journal writing ever day, but it can work for any writer. You can use them for freewriting/morning pages/writing practice, or you might use them to spark ideas for seasonal stories (which publications love). The prompts are batched by month and often relate to themes and historical events from that month. Well worth checking out, especially if you are trying to do morning pages/journaling to warm up your writing day.

Poets & Writers Prompts

This page posts three different prompts every week: one for creative non-fiction, one for poetry, and one for fiction. Often the fiction prompt is ‘write a scene in a story that…’, but sometimes it prompts you to write a whole story, and it usually illustrates you how to think more deeply about the idea.

9 thoughts on “10 Great Sites For Writing Prompts”

One website I love the best and that I find most unique is http://everywritersgenii.com/unique-short-story-ideas-and-prompts-to-trigger-your-creativity-now/ as it not just only gives you the best story ideas and prompts but makes you come up with yours. You should really check it out. http://everywritersgenii.com/unique-short-story-ideas-and-prompts-to-trigger-your-creativity-now/

Definitely check out Daily Prompt – I’m currently on a 101 day writing streak. They give you a new writing prompt every day. http://www.dailyprompt.co.uk

I am a professional author and my by far favorite writing prompt website is http://www.pobble365.com .

http://130words.com is a free daily writing tool

Great. Thanks for this:) I actually posted a short story in the comments section on the September 20th writing prompt.

Oh! And this one, on Facebook, by StoryADay participant Julia H. West.

You’re welcome. That reminds me I should update this with a few extras.

For now, I’m adding this user-based prompt group in the StoryADay Community that gets updated during the challenge.

This is so sweet. I want to get into doing more writing prompts. Thank you so much for including these links.

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Find details about every creative writing competition—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, grants for translators, and more—that we’ve published in the Grants & Awards section of Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it in the Writing Contests database, the most trusted resource for legitimate writing contests available anywhere.

Find a home for your poems, stories, essays, and reviews by researching the publications vetted by our editorial staff. In the Literary Magazines database you’ll find editorial policies, submission guidelines, contact information—everything you need to know before submitting your work to the publications that share your vision for your work.

Whether you’re pursuing the publication of your first book or your fifth, use the Small Presses database to research potential publishers, including submission guidelines, tips from the editors, contact information, and more.

Research more than one hundred agents who represent poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers, plus details about the kinds of books they’re interested in representing, their clients, and the best way to contact them.

Every week a new publishing professional shares advice, anecdotes, insights, and new ways of thinking about writing and the business of books.

Find publishers ready to read your work now with our Open Reading Periods page, a continually updated resource listing all the literary magazines and small presses currently open for submissions.

Since our founding in 1970, Poets & Writers has served as an information clearinghouse of all matters related to writing. While the range of inquiries has been broad, common themes have emerged over time. Our Top Topics for Writers addresses the most popular and pressing issues, including literary agents, copyright, MFA programs, and self-publishing.

Our series of subject-based handbooks (PDF format; $4.99 each) provide information and advice from authors, literary agents, editors, and publishers. Now available: The Poets & Writers Guide to Publicity and Promotion, The Poets & Writers Guide to the Book Deal, The Poets & Writers Guide to Literary Agents, The Poets & Writers Guide to MFA Programs, and The Poets & Writers Guide to Writing Contests.

Find a home for your work by consulting our searchable databases of writing contests, literary magazines, small presses, literary agents, and more.

Poets & Writers lists readings, workshops, and other literary events held in cities across the country. Whether you are an author on book tour or the curator of a reading series, the Literary Events Calendar can help you find your audience.

Get the Word Out is a new publicity incubator for debut fiction writers and poets.

Research newspapers, magazines, websites, and other publications that consistently publish book reviews using the Review Outlets database, which includes information about publishing schedules, submission guidelines, fees, and more.

Well over ten thousand poets and writers maintain listings in this essential resource for writers interested in connecting with their peers, as well as editors, agents, and reading series coordinators looking for authors. Apply today to join the growing community of writers who stay in touch and informed using the Poets & Writers Directory.

Let the world know about your work by posting your events on our literary events calendar, apply to be included in our directory of writers, and more.

Find a writers group to join or create your own with Poets & Writers Groups. Everything you need to connect, communicate, and collaborate with other poets and writers—all in one place.

Find information about more than two hundred full- and low-residency programs in creative writing in our MFA Programs database, which includes details about deadlines, funding, class size, core faculty, and more. Also included is information about more than fifty MA and PhD programs.

Whether you are looking to meet up with fellow writers, agents, and editors, or trying to find the perfect environment to fuel your writing practice, the Conferences & Residencies is the essential resource for information about well over three hundred writing conferences, writers residencies, and literary festivals around the world.

Discover historical sites, independent bookstores, literary archives, writing centers, and writers spaces in cities across the country using the Literary Places database—the best starting point for any literary journey, whether it’s for research or inspiration.

Search for jobs in education, publishing, the arts, and more within our free, frequently updated job listings for writers and poets.

Establish new connections and enjoy the company of your peers using our searchable databases of MFA programs and writers retreats, apply to be included in our directory of writers, and more.

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Find information about how Poets & Writers provides support to hundreds of writers participating in literary readings and conducting writing workshops.

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Every day the editors of Poets & Writers Magazine scan the headlines—publishing reports, literary dispatches, academic announcements, and more—for all the news that creative writers need to know.

In our weekly series of craft essays, some of the best and brightest minds in contemporary literature explore their craft in compact form, articulating their thoughts about creative obsessions and curiosities in a working notebook of lessons about the art of writing.

The Time Is Now offers weekly writing prompts in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction to help you stay committed to your writing practice throughout the year. Sign up to get The Time Is Now, as well as a weekly book recommendation for guidance and inspiration, delivered to your inbox.

Every week a new author shares books, art, music, writing prompts, films—anything and everything—that has inspired and shaped the creative process.

Listen to original audio recordings of authors featured in Poets & Writers Magazine . Browse the archive of more than 400 author readings.

Ads in Poets & Writers Magazine and on pw.org are the best ways to reach a readership of serious poets and literary prose writers. Our audience trusts our editorial content and looks to it, and to relevant advertising, for information and guidance.

Start, renew, or give a subscription to Poets & Writers Magazine ; change your address; check your account; pay your bill; report a missed issue; contact us.

Peruse paid listings of writing contests, conferences, workshops, editing services, calls for submissions, and more.

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Read select articles from the award-winning magazine and consult the most comprehensive listing of literary grants and awards, deadlines, and prizewinners available in print.

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Writing Prompts & Exercises

The time is now.

The Time Is Now offers three new and original writing prompts each week to help you stay committed to your writing practice throughout the year. We also curate a list of essential books on writing —both the newly published and the classics—that we recommend for guidance and inspiration. Whether you’re struggling with writer’s block, looking for a fresh topic, or just starting to write, our archive of writing prompts has what you need. Need a starter pack? Check out our Writing Prompts for Beginners.

Tuesdays: Poetry prompts Wednesdays: Fiction prompts Thursdays: Creative nonfiction prompts

Get immediate access to more than 2,000 writing prompts with the tool below:

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When you picture sea otters, you might think immediately of the many photos and videos of fuzzy otters holding hands while floating in the water, but do these images of cuddly creatures represent their true character? In a 2013 Slate article titled “Sea Otters Are Jerks. So Are Dolphins, Penguins, and Other Adorable Animals,” the violent behavior of these animals and their instinctive modes in the wild are described in detail and contradict the cute and cuddly depictions humans often project onto them. Write a personal essay that explores the theme of deceptive appearances, perhaps drawing on experiences you’ve had in which you misjudged someone and found your first impression contradicted other facts. Or you might think back to a time when someone else made assumptions about you based on superficial traits. What social conditions or cultural expectations contributed to those first impressions?

Convergence

In Michael Ondaatje’s 1992 Booker Prize–winning novel, The English Patient , four main characters—a young Canadian army nurse, an Indian Sikh working as a British military engineer, a thief, and the eponymous patient—find themselves at a bombed-out Italian villa toward the end of World War II. Through a convergence of sections that weave in and out of time, between the past and present, and told through the characters’ various points of view, the story comes into focus. Write a short story that takes place in a vivid locale where a small group of characters has converged. Experiment with telling the story from multiple perspectives, and alternating chronology. In Ondaatje’s novel, the nonlinear storytelling reflects the effects of war trauma—how might time in your story work on a thematic level?

Growing a Garden

“In colonial times, gardens were utilitarian. A cross between a grocery store and a pharmacy. In the gilded age, they became an entrance to high society, a place of conspicuous display,” narrates the main character in Paul Schrader’s 2022 film Master Gardener , a man with a secret past who works as the horticulturalist of an estate owned by a wealthy dowager. This week write a poem about a garden, perhaps a large and well-known one visited by tourists, a seasonal garden tended by family members that you frequented as a child, or one you pass occasionally on a neighborhood walk. You might explore the functions of the garden; list colors, shapes, textures, and smells; or make conjectures about its guiding aesthetics. What can a garden reveal about its gardener and the space in which it resides?

Intensity of Feeling

“When I say I have written from the beginning, I mean that all real writers write from the beginning, that the vocation, the obsession, is already there, and that the obsession derives from an intensity of feeling which normal life cannot accommodate,” said the late Irish author Edna O’Brien in a 1984 interview for the Paris Review ’s Art of Fiction series. O’Brien, who died last Saturday at the age of ninety-three, was the author of a series of novels beginning with The Country Girls , which were internationally acclaimed but banned in Ireland. Her work included memoirs, biographies, and plays, many of which revolved around intimate stories of women’s experiences of love and loss. Write a lyric essay that responds to O’Brien’s sentiment about being drawn to writing from “an intensity of feeling.” Does writing serve in some sense as an outlet for expressing something that seemingly can’t fit into the strictures of normal life?

In 1996, scientists created the first clone of a mammal, a sheep named Dolly. Since 2015, a company based in Texas called ViaGen Pets has cloned hundreds of dogs, cats, and horses for tens of thousands of dollars each. Scientists have warned of the ethical issues of cloning—both in the ways in which the process requires the use of multiple animals (an egg donor and a surrogate carrier), and in the precedence it sets for humans. Write a short story in which a cloned animal plays an integral role in a plot twist. Is the animal’s cloned history kept hidden for some reason? What made this animal so exceptional to be cloned? Consider the complexity and emotions involved with your characters’ values and ethics in this decision.

In Divya Victor’s poem “Blood / Soil,” which appears in her collection Curb (Nightboat Books, 2021), she writes about Sureshbhai Patel, a man who had traveled from India to visit his son and infant grandson in Alabama and was assaulted by police for alleged suspicious behavior while taking a neighborhood stroll. As she describes the physical encounter, Victor includes Newton’s laws of motion and experiments with the visuals of typography and spacing in her incorporation of quotations to draw attention to movement and a sense of confrontation between bodies and language. Write a poem inspired by a news incident that feels resonant to you and provokes a strong emotion. Consider adding bits of science, research, or reported dialogue that might help create a more expansive, interpretive angle.

Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright Annie Baker, who made her feature film directorial debut with the coming-of-age drama Janet Planet , recently shared her inspirations for the film with the New York Times through a mood board. The artistic influences included fin-de-siècle painter Édouard Vuillard’s portraits of his mother; Maurice Pialat’s 1968 film about a foster child, L’enfance Nue ; literature by Thomas Mann and Rainer Maria Rilke; and an album by Canadian jazz musician Beverly Glenn-Copeland. Write a lyric essay composed of short descriptions of creative works—perhaps similarly spanning visual and performing arts, music, and literature—that have served as inspiration to you over the years. What is special about each one, and what are the elements that draw them together?

The Spirit of Competition

This week, in preparation for the upcoming opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris, consider the Olympic creed: “The important thing in life is not the triumph, but the fight; the essential thing is not to have won, but to have fought well.” Write a short story that revolves around a competition of some sort—whether between friends, enemies, strangers, or within a liminal relationship of some kind. Decide between a contest of mental or physical abilities, or a battle of wills. Are there high stakes or is the contest seemingly inconsequential? Does all go as planned or is there a surprising upset? Think about your characters’ respective perspectives on the spirit of competition, and what constitutes as fighting fairly.

In the twentieth anniversary edition of Don’t Let Me Be Lonely: An American Lyric , Claudia Rankine writes in the preface about her use of the first-person voice “to bear witness to the witness” and provide emotion while maintaining an intimacy within the text. “Anybody could embody the first person and be our guide through the text,” writes Rankine. “For me, at the time, this was a liberating mechanism for getting at the ineffable affective disorder of the moment without disconnecting from the people affected by it.” Write a poem about an event currently unfolding in the world, either locally or on a global scale. Deploy the first-person “I” as a tool to guide the reader through what’s being witnessed. Are there multiple emotional truths at play? How can you give them shape?

Seeing Yourself

“I have known brilliant writers who could size people up in minutes with alarming accuracy.... And yet for all their ability to understand people, to see them, to capture them as characters, these writers could not see themselves,” writes Literary Hub editor-in-chief Jonny Diamond in a piece reflecting on a recent op-ed written by the daughter of Nobel laureate Alice Munro, Andrea Skinner, about her mother’s failure to protect her from sexual abuse by her stepfather. Write a personal essay that traces your self-awareness through several phases of your life, contemplating on how your understanding and perception of yourself has transformed through the years. Can you reconcile the differing points of view that various people in your life hold about you? Are there blind spots that, even if you can’t or don’t want to articulate, you wish to acknowledge?

Ghost Story

Ghosting, the social practice of suddenly cutting off communication without explanation by no longer accepting or responding to calls or messages, is often associated with dating but can also extend to other arenas of interpersonal communication and socializing, such as the interview process for a new job or with friends and family. Write a short story that revolves around two people, one of whom ghosts the other. What are the dynamics of communication that lead up to the ghosting, and what is the fallout? Are excuses made or is hindsight twenty-twenty? Consider how much of each party’s point of view to reveal prior to and after the ghosting.

States of Matter

In medieval European cathedrals, some of the panes of the beautiful stained glass windows are thicker at the bottom than at the top, creating misconceptions that the seemingly solid glass has melted over time. According to an article published in Scientific American , glass is an amorphous solid, a state that is neither solid nor liquid but something in between disproving the theory of melted glass. The differences in thickness of old glass windows is merely a product of the manufacturing process, giving them a melted look. This week write a poem inspired by the idea of something, or even someone, existing in an in-between state. Consider playing with the line breaks and white space of your page to mirror or contrast with your chosen subject.

Social Sacrifices

In “The Bear IRL: My Manic Day in a Michelin-Starred Kitchen,” Vice writer Nick Thompson visits a Michelin-starred restaurant in London for a day to capture a glimpse of the behind-the-scenes operations of a high-level kitchen, like the ones portrayed on the popular TV series The Bear . Thompson speaks to one chef who echoes the repercussions of sacrificing a social life that are depicted in the award-winning show, mentioning missing out on birthdays and special occasions because of long hours and weekend work schedules. “It’s more like a sports team, where you’re trying to achieve something. That’s what drives you forward,” says the chef. Write an essay about a time in your past when you had to make a sacrifice in your personal life because of your job. Was there a payoff? What were the factors that ultimately pushed you to choose your job over your social life?

Swimming Pools

The Swimmer , a group exhibition of around one hundred works by dozens of artists at the Flag Art Foundation in New York City, is inspired by John Cheever’s short story of the same name, published in the New Yorker in 1964, in which his protagonist ventures to return home by swimming across his affluent neighbors’ backyard pools on a summer day. Curator Jonathan Rider selected and arranged the artworks to reflect the story’s themes of idealism, identity, class, failure and loss, and the instability of time and reality. This week write a short story that incorporates a swimming pool in some way. Whether an integral part of the plot or seen somewhere in the periphery, spend a bit of time describing its visual imagery, colors, light, and texture. Does it feel static or dynamic, vacant or crowded? Are there multiple interpretations for what functions the pool could serve?

In the 2023 film Past Lives , writer and director Celine Song explores the concept of inyeon through the main character Nora, a Korean American woman who navigates her relationships with two loves, her husband and her childhood best friend. “There is a word in Korean— inyeon . It means providence or fate. But it’s specifically about relationships between people,” says Nora to her husband when first meeting him. “It’s an inyeon if two strangers even walk by each other on the street and their clothes accidentally brush. Because it means there must have been something between them in their past lives. If two people get married, they say it’s because there have been 8,000 layers of inyeon over 8,000 lifetimes.” Write a poem that contemplates a connection of this type, a fated or destined encounter with another person, whether brief or long-lasting. What might you have meant to each other in a past life?

Counterfactual

In an interview by Margaret Ross for the Art of Nonfiction series published in the Summer 2024 issue of the Paris Review , author and Harvard University professor Elaine Scarry says, “I see my writing on imagination and on war as continuous. Or rather, the two subjects are essentially locked in combat, because the act of inflicting injury or pain is really a willful aping of imagination, turning it upside down and appropriating it.” Write a lyric essay that braids together two subjects: Use the imagination or the artistic process as one topic, and then choose another subject that may seem “locked in combat” with your ideas around creativity, perhaps one more adjacent to pain or distress. What kind of truth can be coaxed to the surface when you think about the connections between them?

Story Within a Story

In the new horror film The Exorcism directed and cowritten by Joshua John Miller, Russell Crowe plays an actor who stars as a priest in a horror film, one that largely resembles the 1973 classic film The Exorcist , whose young priest was played by Miller’s father. This week take a page from this jumble of connections and nested narratives, and write a short story that contains within it another short story. The nested story could be something one of your characters is writing, or perhaps a story one of your characters comes across in a book. Decide whether to include some or all of the text of the nested story inside your larger story. You may want to play around with oppositional genres, such as humor and tragedy, or make use of similar plot points for an eerie effect.

A Wild Life

Zillow Gone Wild is a popular Instagram account, and new HGTV reality TV show, that highlights particularly strange, curious, extreme, or otherwise unusual homes listed on the real estate website Zillow. Even for those who are not actively looking to buy or sell a home, the descriptions and photographs on these listings can serve as an inspiring portal, sparking a curiosity about how others express themselves through their homes, and how one’s own life could be different in a new environment with an idiosyncratic character of its own. Browse through some wild real estate listings online and write a persona poem from the point of view of an imagined inhabitant of the home of your choice. Consider what kind of assumptions or preconceived notions you might be bringing to the persona, and how you can upend expectations.

Are you shoe obsessed? Do you prioritize fashion over comfort, seeking out the latest trends, or do you hold tight to a long-held personal style? This week, look through old photos and your closet to jot down notes about the shoes you’ve worn over the years—sneakers, slip-ons, boots, flats, heels, flip-flops—and how the elements of texture, color, and function have impacted your choices. Write a personal essay that traces how your shoe priorities have evolved over the years, perhaps connecting some favorite past pairs to certain phases of your life—places you’ve lived, fads you’ve endured, jobs or hobbies you’ve had. Unpack the specific memories associated with how you were shoed.

A Solitary Sentence

In a 2012 interview for the Guardian , Hungarian author László Krasznahorkai explained his predilection for writing extremely long sentences that manage to endure for dozens of pages: “This characteristic, very classical, short sentence—at the end with a dot—this is artificial, this is only a custom, this is perhaps helpful for the reader, but for only one reason, that the readers in the last few thousand years have learned that a short sentence is easier to understand.” For Krasznahorkai, the long sentence extends beyond the desire to reflect the natural continuousness of human speech, but to also express the speaker’s existential drive, a seemingly overwhelming desire to communicate, to be empowered to say their piece. Write a short story that consists of a single sentence, using any punctuation you’d like but saving the period until the very end. How does this constraint affect your story’s themes?

Defeat Is Inevitable

“In the end, I suppose, defeat is inevitable, / the closing of something once delicately propped / open,” writes Dawn Lundy Martin in her poem “From Which the Thing Is Made,” which appears in her collection Instructions for the Lovers , out today from Nightboat. With each line of the poem, Martin dives deeper into the connection between the narrator and their mother, and how her absence is still felt in the body of the narrator. “Even I can’t let go, can’t sift her being (that part / of her that’s her) from my hands,” writes Martin. This week, start a poem with Martin’s first line: “In the end, I suppose, defeat is inevitable…” What memories and imagery come to mind when you think of defeat or of something closing?

The Longest Day

This year’s summer solstice arrives in the Northern Hemisphere on June 20, marking it the longest day, and shortest night, of the year. And yet, no matter the exact number of daylight or nighttime hours measured out, any day can feel like a very long day, just as any night can end in the blink of an eye. Write a two-part lyric essay in which the first part details one long summer day you’ve experienced, and the second part focuses on one short summer night. For the day that seemed to last forever, did it drag on and on, producing exasperation, or did the hours ooze dreamily and pleasurably? For the night that whizzed by, was there nonstop action that was over before you knew it?

Domestication

In an interview published in Salon, Rosemary Mosco, author of A Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching: Getting to Know the World’s Most Misunderstood Bird (Workman Publishing, 2021), reflects on the historical connections between pigeons and people, and recounts a process of domestication, obsolescence, and abandonment. “The city pigeons around us…were domesticated by humans a really long time ago,” says Mosco. “They were really bred to be good at living near us. And then, we forgot, and now they keep hanging around us. And we’re like, ‘why are they here?’” Write a short story that involves an encounter or situation with a domesticated animal, whether a pet, livestock, or one wandering the streets. Think about the wild ancestors of this animal, and how they’ve become entwined with humans and civilization. How might you connect philosophical ideas around domestication with other larger themes of your story?

“We tend to treat odor in general as a sort of taboo,” writes Scott Sayare in a New York Times Magazine article about a woman who discovered she could smell Parkinson’s disease, in some cases over a dozen years before medical diagnosis. “Modern doctors are trained to diagnose by inspection, palpation, percussion and auscultation; ‘inhalation’ is not on the list, and social norms would discourage it if it were.” This week, focus your attention on your sense of smell as you go about your days, perhaps even ignoring social norms as you inhale all the odors around you. Then, write a poem that focuses solely, or primarily, on smell—perhaps juxtaposing scents that are in your everyday life now and those from a more distant past.

A Question of Belonging: Crónicas (Archipelago Books, 2024) by the Argentine writer Hebe Uhart, who died in 2018, translated from the Spanish by Anna Vilner, contains over two dozen crónicas—a form of narrative journalism popularized in Latin America that is characterized by short, informal musings about everyday topics and observations. In her introduction to the book, Mariana Enríquez notes Uhart’s lack of pretension in her chosen subjects, from what she observed around her to the locals with whom she conversed. “Her fascination with language is not limited to the spoken: She roams around cities and towns taking note of shop names, ads, and graffiti.…” Jot down intriguing or amusing fragments of language you see and hear as you go about your day, perhaps during your commute or while watching your favorite TV show. Write a series of short musings based on your observations, noting any humor or insights gleaned from contemporary language and what it reveals about our current times.

About Our Writing Prompts

What is a writing prompt and how do you use one? Whether you find yourself in front of a blank page or stuck in a work-in-progress, writing prompts can offer a spark that ignites your creative thinking and can lead to new writing. Prompts offer guidance, fresh ideas, and direction for writers of all levels of experience. First, choose a prompt for the genre in which you’d like to write, then carefully read it and consider what it is asking you to think about. It could be a specific setting, a writing technique, or an element of an imagined character; a specific poem, story, essay, song, book, or film from which you might take inspiration; or a current event or a topical theme. A writing prompt is filled with endless possibilities—and there is no wrong way to use one to generate new writing!

What makes our writing prompts unique? We have an archive of over 2,000 prompts, all original and offered here and in our weekly newsletter . You’ll find a variety of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction prompts—some inspired by recent and classic literature and other forms of art, current events, and writing practices, and others that offer guidance for a particular form, including sonnets, erasure poetry, flash fiction, lyric essays, and more. For more than fifty years, Poets & Writers has supported creative writers with trustworthy information and inspiration, and our weekly prompts provide a regular dose of encouragement and motivation.

What are the benefits of using writing prompts? Writing prompts can help you get unstuck if you’re in a rut and the ideas aren’t flowing. But even if you’re not experiencing writer’s block, writing prompts can offer a fresh take or a new approach to a work-in-progress. Writing prompts can also provide the motivation to experiment with a new form, try out a new genre, or learn about other writing techniques. And writing prompts are an invaluable tool for teachers who want to encourage and inspire their writing students.

What is this list of Best Books? Best Books for Writers is a list of essential books for creative writers that we curate to support your writing practice. Every week, we add a book (whether new or a classic) with a synopsis and highlights. Included are books on the writing life, anthologies of craft essays, collections of lectures, practical guides with writing exercises, and more.

Poetry writing prompts Every Tuesday we post a new poetry prompt to guide you in your practice. Get to know the work of contemporary and classic poets, as well as a variety of poetic forms.

Fiction writing prompts Every Wednesday we post a new fiction prompt to spark your imagination. Take inspiration from recently published short stories and novels, and of course, the classics.

Creative nonfiction writing prompts Every Thursday we post a new creative nonfiction prompt to help your exploration of this ever-changing genre. These prompts include information and inspiration for a variety of essays as well as memoirs. Discover new writers and their craft, and fresh ways to generate writing inspired by your life.

Need a starter pack? Check out our Writing Prompts for Beginners .

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"Adjective and noun associations are worthy of our consideration because by careful linkage of words such as 'black' with strong emotionally positive words (such as in 'black heavens' and 'noble black night') we can start to program subconscious bias from the brain by creating a background neurochemistry that is more positive. This keeps the prefrontal cortex more fully operational and encourages more empathy in both thoughts and behaviours. Thus society develops better through their own choices and evolves. This is part of social evolution and this kind of awareness in writers is essential."

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"It turns out, as obviousness would have it, that our brains (especially those of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in this case) have been teaching us neurology through comic books and the movies that have come from them." Full article linked to from my profile, click "abraham" below, awesome!!

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"For writers in the next half century and beyond, a comprehension of how creative writing, neurology, biology and our environment interact will be essential for a successful career." - a link to the full article is in my bio and on the Descriptionari "About" page. Much love!!! Angela Abraham (Daisy)

"When we make daily choices that are emotionally indifferent, the sort that the money-nexus makes faux-virtues of, we build our capacity for emotional indifference at the direct expense of our capacity for empathy, and thus the conflict between money and love is laid bare."

There was a happiness to her, not the kind that is loud and obvious, but more as early morning birdsong.

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Congratulations on the completion of your creative writing learning! Right now, you must be scrolling Google to find creative writing websites where you can publish your work. Why not! Publishing your work online is an ideal way to gain publicity and confidence as a writer.

There is something magical about the old-fashioned way to write using pen and paper. But for beginners who have just put their first step in the digital world, they definitely need a platform to create a portfolio. For this, either they need to create their own website (that will cost more) or they write can write on various online platforms that accept creative writing submissions or can find the online magazines accepting submissions.

There are a variety of different methods you can pursue before bringing your work online, whether this is a story you have only dreamed of or a story you have been working about and preparing for months. There are new websites coming up at this stage every month seeking to get authors to post online, and it’s not about how to find a place to post, but more what websites are really cool to post to.

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• Feedback: Engage with your audience to understand their preferences and interests.

Join a Writing Community

• Workshops: Participate in writing workshops or classes to improve your Creative Writing skills.
• Support: Find a community of writers for support, feedback, and motivation.

Study Writing Craft

• Books and Courses: Invest time in reading Books of different genres, themes and authors. This will help you in learning about writing techniques and theory.
•  Embrace Persistence
•  Persistence: Keep writing, revising, and https://www.henryharvin.com/creative-writing-coursesubmitting your work regularly.

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Through this write-up, I have curated a list of the top 50 websites that accept creative writing submissions.

Henty Harvin: No#1 Creative Writing Submission Website

Henry Harvin is a well-reputed No. 1 educational firm providing a wide range of certified Technical Courses and Non- non-technical courses PAN India. In addition, it has robust placement assistance and training for our learners to get placed in top Hiring Companies after completion of the course.

Henry Harvin has an educational web portal that is technically sound and with high PR, PA and DA. In addition to promoting in-house courses such as Content writing courses, creative writing courses, language courses and many more, we accept various guest postings, article submissions, link exchange, advertising, and listicle submissions in various categories to enhance visibility and promote your creativity online. Simply write down your creative and submit it in the Henry Harvin web portal to reach target audience.

Check Henry Harvin Other Courses

• Technical Writing Course
• Content Writing Course
• Medical Writing Course
• Henry Harvin Provide Creative Writing courses in these Cities

Mumbai ,  Hyderabad ,  Indore ,  Jaipur ,  Chennai ,  Delhi ,  Noida

• Henry Harvin Creative Writing Course Ranks #1 in India by  India Today

Top 50 Creative Writing Websites to Submit Your Masterpieces

Here is the list of creative writing platforms that you can use to publish your creative writing. This will boost traffic to your creative which further turns traffic to your business website or landing page. Let explore the top Creative Writing Submission websites and reach a mass audience with similar interests.

1.  Wat.tpad

Wattpad is one of the largest writer’s communities that boast over 65 million users. It allows authors to start their author journey by meeting millions of potential readers. This website also allows contests to earn the next major hit. It’s an easy way to create a readership for fans. It has a writers’ portal that is supposed to be a modern writers’ resource center. This is one of the most interesting new features of Wattpad, perhaps. This latest investment in Wattpad writers is a direct effort to appeal to the authors who run this enormous culture. 

The social media element of writing is taken by Inkitt.com and taking it up to another level. Similar to Wattpad, authors will compose and post their work on Inkitt.com, but stories that do well in terms of reader reaction, reviews, and interaction will be published in three formats: 

Overall, the website is simple and convenient to use, and it is progressing every day. It may not have a readership as broad as Wattpad, but it seems like it’s a little more fresh, sleek, and simpler overall than Wattpad. So on Inkitt, essentially, your success could win you a publishing contract.

3. Storybrid

Storybird.com brings a variant wrinkle on the online writer publishing platform options or creative writing submissions. Writers can create stories by utilizing various images on the website. Yes, by adding pictures and videos to them, you will actually bring your stories to life, and eventually, I believe it provides a more enjoyable platform for readers, ensuring you will get good exposure with your creativity. If your stories draw a broad readership, they provide an opportunity to build your career and promote your work.

This website allows polls and stories to be generated by people. It is labeled very well, which makes it easy to browse. If you would like to read or post fan-fiction, Quotev is a wonderful spot. It’s not just fan-fiction, but that genre sure has a huge amount of content.

5. Commaful

Commaful is a great platform for fan-fiction and short stories. Overall, very fun to layout, if you want to get away from your writing’s seriousness, this can be a perfect spot for a little whimsy. 

6. Alter Stories 

Of all the authors who publish articles, this is the most peculiar approach. This reflects on working together to create stories. The first author will come up with an idea for a story and write the first few hundred words. Then people who love the story will pick up the story and write down what happens next. Scope Of Creative Writing i

Readers/audience reaction to your story determines if you potentially get traditionally published with Macmillan – Think Americas got Talent for authors. Stories that are selected for publishing will get in house resources to publish their book. You can use the app or website to read and write. It is restrictive as it only accepts Young and New Adult fiction. Also, it accepts full-length novels- no serials.

7. Swoon Reads

Medium is a popular platform that is known to every person who is looking forward to reading or writing online. Medium is a platform where any content can be published. Non-fiction and essays appear to be preferred over fiction, but fiction also has its place. If you look about where there are large communities for fiction, there are a few publications within the media and sub-communities. Overall, people on Medium are pretty knowledgeable.

9. Fiction Press

Fiction Press is a fairly popular community that mainly writes novels and plays. It is less popular than some of the other sites on this list, but through it, you will probably get some positive reviews and readership. Here, you’ll find many active writers also the participants of fandoms.

10. Smashwords

It is an e-publishing site where short stories and collections are also welcome, but most novels are entertained. Romance appears to be by far the most popular genre and most of the stories are sold for a price there. This is a very good choice if you are trying to market your book and don’t like Amazon. Here, you can write for free as well. To filter by free and by genres, there are really simple filters, so free books always get good visibility.

11. Archive of your own

If you are a fan-fiction writer (characters from movies or TV shows), then you will enjoy this platform. This community is incredibly involved with millions of readers and contributors. Feedback is hit or missed, but there are certainly some sophisticated readers who read and offer valuable guidance, even editors. 

12. Fanfiction

It is one of the main repositories of fan fiction. The majority of people who come to this site are interested in fan-fiction, so much like Archive of Our Own, if you are posting fan-fiction, only post here. For Fanfiction.net, many of the same notifications and recommendations for Archive of Our Own are also real.

Fanfiction and relatable fiction topics still flourish, while not solely a writing platform. The best opportunity here is that, not only on Tumblr but across the world, Tumblr posts still always go viral. Tumblr is a cultural center where you can tap into it. They will re-share it and get it in front of more individuals if people want it. Fandoms play a huge role in Tumblr, so posts will really take off if you have a fan-fiction piece and use the proper tags. Tags are very relevant, so do some research into the best tags to use to ensure the Tumblr community maximizes your exposure.

14. Writers Cafe

Such an old place at school, but still there! There are many users and authors on the web, packed with enjoyable writing challenges, who still use it. On the web, individuals often post short stories, poems, fairy tales, and more. Its specialty is that it also has a range of tools, from writing classes to tournaments.

15. Booksie

You can see from the style that this site is still a little old-school, but it still draws a lot of very talented authors. There are hundreds of thousands of novels, short stories, poetry, spanning a number of genres and subjects on the website. In order to help artists, the platform has competitions and instruments. The self-publishing perspective seems to have a priority. It’s evident, though, that there’s some good talent posting here.

16. RoyalRoad

It is a platform with a genuinely engaged audience, a niche web novel, and a fan-fiction destination. People are really nice and a large number of designers are still around whom also work on book covers. Over the past few years, there have been a variety of famous articles that have millions of opinions. The platform also has a forum for users to hang out, talk, and encourage each other, as well as Discord.

17. The young Writer’s Society

It was primarily built for young authors and contained several short stories. They have a semi-active forum to communicate and exchange ideas with individuals. The website has a tonne of novels and poems written in the genre of fantasy and teen fiction. This website is very teen-focused and also has a somewhat active audience, but it does not appear like many updates have been obtained from the actual site itself as of now.

18. FanStory

For its submissions, this platform has some cash prizes and a number of short competitions related to literature. There are several competitions including poetry, short fiction, and more. To keep it fun, the site has live rankings and prompts for regular writing. This old-style website from the early 2000s is still alive and has a group that is quite healthy. However, many of the features and competitions require payment, so it is not just free stuff. The platform appears to be growing very slowly, but for anyone looking to create an audience, it still has a good user base.

19. Boulevard

The printing of the best literature is devoted to Boulevard Magazine. They want papers on topics like literature, poetry, and non-fiction. They are welcoming freelancers to submit pieces of no more than 8,000 words and no more than 200 lines of poetry.

20. The Capilano Review

The Capilano Review reflects on Canadian authors writing content. They urge authors to submit fiction that does not exceed the maximum of 5,000 words and submissions of 600 words for poetry. The Capilano Review encourages prospective authors to only submit work on their platform, so before beginning the process, please check the details.

21. Glimmer Train

A contemporary literature publication is Glimmer Train. They consider two kinds of submissions: competition and submissions for people. They assume that individual submissions would not surpass the sum of 12,000 words. Brand new authors are accepted by this magazine and their criteria and requirements have been listed on their blog.

22. Plough Shares

Plowshares is committed to standard literature printing. They are in search of content: poetry, longer fiction, and non-fiction, essays, and papers. For each group, they prefer posts to stick exclusively to the word count. This platform is not available for submissions during the year, although they have a very comprehensive page on their web with recommendations for submissions. Check for opening hours and before proposals are made, make sure the role blends into their brief.

23. The Southern Review

With a distinctive style and consistency, the Southern Review reflects on publishing literature. Among the genres of prose, verse, and essays (including artistic non-fiction and literary essays), their appeal for submissions is They assume that each submission would not reach the cap of 8,000 words. They choose to collect your manuscripts by fax.

24. Sub Tropics

Sub Tropics is a widely followed, well-respected publication that features comprehensive literary fiction, essays, and poetry. Essays, art, prose, and non-fiction are in search of material. It should be around 500 words for posts and 15,000 words for screenplays. 

With verse, short stories, and essays, AGNI publishes a diverse selection of content. In those three areas, they are currently in need of content. This website is only available for submissions at some times of the year, so before writing or sending, search their website.

26. Black Warrior Review

The literary quarterly Black Warrior Review focuses on writing comics, poems, novels, non-fiction, prose, and photography. They are now accepting proposals for prose, poetry, and non-fiction. Prose entries that are no more than 7,000 words are eligible.

27. Crazy Horse

Crazy Horse is committed to writing the finest literary articles. They require the following ingredients: prose, poetry, and non-fiction.

28. Grain Magazine

Grain Magazine is committed to presenting literary work that is insightful and enjoyable. They promote submissions from freelancers on poetry, prose, and literary non-fiction. They expect between 500 and 3,500 words to be both fiction and non-fiction.

29. Gulf Coast Magazine

Gulf Coast Magazine encourages quality literature and publishing. They require content like stories and essays, poetry, interviews, and literary selection reviews. They want submissions of essays of between 300 and 1,200 words.

30. Iron Horse

Iron Horse Review is a high-quality journal that deals with short stories, poetry, and non-fiction. Prose manuscripts are supposed to be 5,500 words or fewer.

31. The Creative Pen

This site provides reviews and other services related to book writing, printing, and marketing, managed by the New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Joanna Penn.

32. Writers Helping Writers

This one-stop shop for writing assets provides links to advertising, marketing, and consulting facilities for authors on insightful pages. Information on safeguarding your writing from scammers and cyber plagiarists can also be identified.

33. Publetariat

Proletariat offers functional networking information, websites for writers, and the publishing process. In the world of journalism, it also shares references to major news stories.

34. Positive Writer

For writers with questions, including the author of the website, Bryan Hutchinson, a Constructive Writer, was created to have inspiring posts to help authors keep writing.

35.  Blots and Plots

The blog of Blots and Plots instructs authors to keep in the habit of writing, targeting particular topics, and explaining how even with a full-time job, it is possible to write a book.

36. Writer’s Digest

All sorts of advice and resources for writers are offered by this well-known and informative platform. The site’s numerous creative writing prompts are of special interest. New challenges are released on a weekly basis, and in the comments section, writers share their findings.

37. Poets and Writers

It is a non-profit organization that supports innovative authors. You will read about career growth on this platform, interact with other writers in your field, and find weekly poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction writing prompts.

This is one of the best websites for authors to draw inspiration, with Reedsy’s collection of over 250 writing prompts to get you started on your next artistic idea. To help you locate prompts from your writing genre (e.g., romantic, fantasy, mystery), it also includes a search feature. There is an opportunity to upload your own writing prompts, too, if you want to link to the website and support other aspiring writers.

3.9 Live Write Thrive

Operated by C. S. Lakin, an experienced narrator, copyeditor, and writing mentor, Live Write Thrive offers a wealth of knowledge from proficient guest bloggers with the intent to teach, inspire, and promote young and seasoned writers.

40. Write it Sideways

Real-life advice (such as writing grants, author naming, and gift purchasing) as well as writing tips and tricks, such as finding dialogue flaws and learning how to generate suspense in your fiction, are illustrated in the posts for authors that can be found on Write It Sideways.

41. Warrior Writers

The best-selling author Kristen Lamb runs Warrior Authors, who advise authors to utilize extensive and informative articles that have a funny and easy-to-read sound.

42. Write to Done

For authors, this website specifically explains helpful subjects, such as curing impostor syndrome, healing from adverse feedback, and seeking a pen name.

43. Campus Diaries

As its name suggests, campus diary is a great platform for students who are looking to get their content publish.

44. Square Space

If you are progressing through creative writing content, this website will help you make a variance in showcasing your work. If you are in aesthetics, then this website will act as a huge bonus for you.

In case if you lose a brilliant idea, this website is a unique platform that helps you click your ideas and curate them till the time you’re ready to materialize them. It provides a writing interface with a 30-day trial period (paid afterward).

46. Big Bridge

Literature, poetry, photography, and non-fiction webzine founded in 1997, they retain a reputation as one of the most visited literary webzines in English. The Big Bridge is named for its guiding philosophy of constructing “bridges” between creative cultures to develop new ideas together.

47. Toasted Cheese

The Writer’s Digest has called Toasted Cheese one of the 101 Best Authors’ Websites four times. Toasted Cheese is both a literary magazine and a writers’ group, providing sound advice and a series of free contests for fiction. When reviewing submissions, the editors concentrate on consistency, so note to plan the work before submitting it!

48. Carve Magazine

Carve Magazine welcomes short stories, entries of poetry, and non-fiction from anywhere in the world. The authors they print are also compensated by them.

49. Short-Story.Me!

Readers and authors will score each other’s work with over 1000 stories published. Stories tend to be 2000 words or so.

50. Story Day

The month-long competitions for this platform to write a short story every day of the week are its highlight, but the writing prompts, Accountability Groups, Story A Day podcasts, efficiency tools and more are equally valuable.

Points to Remember

Before sending your write-up to the magazine accepting submissions or creative writing submissions, note to read previous articles and fiction on the internet. Ask yourself as well: 

• What sorts of fiction are written by them? 
• What is the intended demographic for them? 
• Does your short story fit their fictional tastes? 
• Take a look at their webpage for details and see who the editors are.

Bidding Words

Remember, if creative writing has worked for Shakespeare, why can it not work for you? Choose a spot or two and start reading other authors’ material. Interact with the groups, and then start writing about the one you think best suits your character and content. Note that on these pages, you don’t have to share your main idea; they will serve as a perfect forum for a side project. You can proceed to learn creative writing too. 

Look at these creative writing websites as a way to express your art and focus on it, to get reviews in real-time, while building an audience. Don’t forget about creative writing-related blog posts , which provide writers with all the tools and guidance they require to perfect their creative writing. It helps in understanding planning and drafting any type of creative writing. Focus on magazine accepting submissions or creative writing submissions and hit the leading world of creative writing.

Recommended Read-  

• Why Henry Harvin Content Writing Course
• Creative Writing Course in Navi Mumbai
• Best Content Writing Course in Bhubaneswar
• Top Content Writing Course in Noida
• Best Creative writing course in Varanasi
• Creative Writing Training in Lucknow
• Scope Of Creative Writing in India
• Top 10 Books on Creative Writing

Happy reading, creators!

Q1. What are the best platforms for submitting creative writing?

Ans. The best platform to submit creative writing are:

• Medium: A well-liked website that allows authors of all genres to publish their writing and connect with a large readership.
• Wattpad: Best platform for writers who want to interact with readers and get feedback.
• Submittable: A platform for managing submissions used by numerous literary magazines and competitions.
• Duotrope: A tool for tracking submissions and locating literary markets.
• Scribophile: A website dedicated to providing writers with feedback and reviews from their peers.
• Reedsy Discovery: An online book review and discovery platform for authors who self-publish.

Q2. What should I consider when choosing a platform for my creative writing?

Ans. Key points to consider while choosing an online platform for creative writing submission are: 

• Target Audience: Identify the platform’s primary audience and ensure it aligns and reaches your target readers.
• Genre Compatibility: Select the platform that supports your genre of writing.
• Engagement Opportunities: Submit your creative in a platform that is user-friendly and interactive such as comments or feedback. You must understand your reader’s interest and demand 
• Visibility: Consider platforms that provide good visibility and promotion for your work.
• Submission Guidelines: Review the submission guidelines to ensure they match your needs and capabilities.

Q3. Do these platforms charge fees for submissions?

Ans: There are various services provided by platforms with both paid and free option for submission, such as:

• Medium: Publication is free; membership is required for more services.
• Wattpad: Although there are premium services available, Wattpad is free to use.
• Submit table: Depending on the publication or competition, certain submissions can require a price.
• Duo trope: Full feature access requires a subscription cost.
• Scribophile: Basic membership is free; premium memberships are also offered.
• Reedy Discovery: Fees associated with sending books for review to Reedy Discovery.

Q4. How can I increase the chances of my work being accepted and read?

Ans: Checklist before submission of your creative writing , will enhance your audience. Here are the key points:

• Quality Work: High quality requires well-written, edited, and polished work.
• Research: Send your work to magazines and websites that complement your creative theme, genre, and style.
• Observe the Rules: Follow the platform’s submission rules.
• Participate: Take active participation in the community groups by sharing, reading, and leaving comments. This interaction will generate an audience that will participate and take an interest in your creative posts. 
• Promotion: To draw readers’ attention and generate traffic to your creative, use blogs, social media, and other platforms to promote your work.

Q5. How do I handle feedback and criticism from readers?

Ans. A feedback plays an essential role in improvement of your writing such as:

• Constructive Criticism: Pay close attention to criticism that can help you write better.
• Remain Positive: Keep your spirits up and see criticism as a chance to improve and grow.
• Engagement: Interact with readers who make comments in a courteous and professional manner.
• Balance: Strike a balance between the criticism and your personal writing objectives and vision.

Q6. Can I monetize my writing on these platforms?

Ans. There are various platforms that allow you to earn money for your creative writing, such as;

• Medium: Based on reader interaction, there is a chance to get paid through the Partner Program.
• Wattpad: Revenue-generating options include publication agreements and the Wattpad Stars Program.
• Submittable: For accepted entries, a few periodicals and contests give cash awards.
• Reedsy Discovery: Authors may increase book sales through reviews and receive advice from readers.

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With 3+ years of experience in technical writing, Kirandeep is a Technophile & Cybernaut who loves to learn and write on various emerging technologies like Data Science, Machine Learning, Cyber Security, Artificial Intelligence, Java, SQL, Digital Marketing, and so on. When she is not writing anything, you can find her playing mobile games, cooking, or surfing about technology trends. She is a music lover!

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• Writing Prompts

62+ Epic Fantasy Writing Prompts to Fuel Your Creative Journey

Are you ready to embark on a thrilling journey through realms of magic , heroism, and wonder? Our collection of 62+ epic fantasy writing prompts is designed to spark your creativity and transport you to fantastical worlds where anything is possible. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or just starting out, these prompts will provide the inspiration you need to craft tales of epic adventures , mythical creatures, and legendary heroes.

Writing a good epic fantasy story involves more than just an exciting plot; it requires a deep and immersive world, well-developed characters , and a sense of wonder that captivates readers. Begin by creating a detailed setting that feels alive and real, with its own history, culture, and rules of magic . Populate this world with complex characters who have clear motivations and undergo meaningful growth. Finally, weave a plot that challenges your characters, keeping readers on the edge of their seats with twists and turns . With these elements in place, your epic fantasy tale will not only entertain but also resonate deeply with your audience.

62+ Epic Fantasy Writing Prompts

Explore our selection of 62+ epic fantasy writing prompts, crafted to inspire your next grand adventure. Each prompt is designed to help you build immersive worlds and unforgettable stories.

• A prince discovers he has the ability to communicate with ancient dragons, but using this power brings a dark curse upon his kingdom.
• In a world where magic is tied to gemstones, a miner uncovers a gem that grants her unimaginable power but also attracts dangerous enemies.
• A warrior from a fallen kingdom seeks revenge on the sorcerer who betrayed his people, discovering a forgotten prophecy that may change his fate.
• A young witch must master her chaotic powers to stop a war between rival magical factions, but her greatest enemy may be her own fears.
• The last of the elven race embarks on a quest to find a mythical tree that could restore their people, facing trials that test her resolve and spirit.
• In a land where shadows can come to life, a thief accidentally steals the shadow of a legendary hero and must use it to fight a rising darkness.
• A magical artifact grants its wielder immense power but at the cost of slowly turning them into stone; a reluctant hero must decide whether to use it to save their world.
• A ship captain discovers an ancient map leading to a floating island in the sky, rumored to be the resting place of a lost god.
• A kingdom’s only hope against an invading army is a long-lost heir who was raised in secret by a rival clan; they must unite their people before it’s too late.
• A wizard’s apprentice accidentally opens a portal to another realm, unleashing creatures of myth and legend into the world.
• A princess cursed to turn into a wolf every full moon must navigate political intrigue and romance while searching for a cure.
• In a world where stars grant wishes, a fallen star chooses a young blacksmith to fulfill its last wish, setting off an adventure that spans realms.
• A forgotten deity awakens in the modern world and recruits a cynical teenager to help them regain their lost powers and stop an ancient evil.
• An ancient forest, rumored to be alive, chooses a young orphan as its guardian to protect it from encroaching dark forces.
• A bard discovers that the songs of his ancestors can summon legendary heroes, and must use this power to defend his homeland from an otherworldly invasion.
• A sorceress who can manipulate time must prevent a catastrophic event by reliving the same day over and over, each time with new challenges.
• A humble farmer finds an enchanted sword that speaks to them, revealing they are the chosen one to lead a rebellion against a tyrant king.
• A group of adventurers stumbles upon an ancient tomb, awakening a slumbering dragon and uncovering a prophecy that ties their fates together.
• In a kingdom where seasons are controlled by magical beings, the Winter Queen goes missing, causing chaos and threatening eternal winter.
• A knight who has never known defeat faces their greatest challenge when they are tasked with capturing a rogue mage who can bend reality.
• A child born with the mark of an ancient dragon must uncover the truth about their lineage and prevent a war between dragons and humans.
• A realm where dreams are real is in danger of being consumed by nightmares; only a dreamwalker can save it by facing their deepest fears.
• A sorcerer seeking immortality must find the three lost pieces of his soul, each guarded by a different mythical creature.
• A young scholar discovers a hidden library that contains the world’s lost magic and must protect it from those who would exploit its power.
• A hero awakens from a century-long slumber to find the world drastically changed and must reunite with old allies to stop a new threat.
• In a land where music is magic, a mute girl discovers she can create powerful spells through her paintings.
• A blacksmith’s daughter inherits a mysterious amulet that grants her the ability to forge weapons of unparalleled power, drawing the attention of dark forces.
• A disgraced knight is given a chance at redemption when tasked with protecting a royal heir who has the power to heal the land.
• A magical storm sweeps across the land, bestowing random people with extraordinary abilities; a group of these individuals must band together to stop a growing evil.
• A warrior and a sorcerer, bound by an ancient curse, must learn to work together to defeat a powerful necromancer threatening their world.
• A nomadic tribe discovers a hidden city beneath the desert sands, guarded by a timeless guardian who holds the key to their past and future.
• A prince must ally with a pirate queen to retrieve a stolen artifact that could either save or doom their world.
• A young druid must navigate political intrigue and natural disasters to unite warring factions and restore balance to the land.
• A legendary hero returns from the dead with no memory of their past life, only to find their homeland in ruins and a new evil rising.
• A mage’s apprentice accidentally binds themselves to a powerful spirit and must learn to control this new power while avoiding those who seek to exploit it.
• In a world where every lie creates a shadowy double, a truthseeker must unravel a web of deceit to uncover a hidden threat.
• A prince and a pauper discover they are twins separated at birth, each with a destiny that could change the fate of their kingdom.
• A cursed knight must gather a band of misfits to retrieve a magical artifact that can lift their curse and stop an impending apocalypse.
• A healer with the power to bring back the dead must decide whom to save in a war-torn land, knowing each resurrection takes a piece of their soul.
• An ancient prophecy foretells the rise of a hero with the blood of both elves and humans; a half-elf must embrace their dual heritage to fulfill it.
• A scholar deciphers an ancient language that awakens elemental spirits, and must prevent them from destroying the world.
• A kingdom’s fate rests on the shoulders of a young girl who can speak to animals, as she uncovers a plot to overthrow the king.
• A legendary beast awakens every thousand years to choose a new guardian; this time, it selects an unlikely candidate with a hidden past.
• A mage who lost their powers in a magical duel must embark on a quest to regain them and prevent a rival from unleashing an ancient evil.
• A knight is sent on a quest to retrieve a holy relic, only to discover the relic is tied to their own mysterious past.
• A powerful sorceress must protect a young prince who has the ability to end all magic in the world.
• A group of rebels discovers an ancient machine that can turn thoughts into reality, but its use comes with a terrible price.
• A young woman discovers she is the reincarnation of a legendary hero and must reclaim her past life’s memories to defeat a rising darkness.
• A kingdom’s fate depends on a mystical flower that blooms once a century; a band of unlikely heroes must protect it from dark forces.
• A cursed musician can only break his curse by performing a song of pure magic, a task that seems impossible until he meets a mysterious muse.
• A warrior discovers a hidden realm where time flows differently, and must use this to their advantage to stop an impending invasion.
• A sorcerer who can control the weather must find a way to stop a series of unnatural storms threatening to destroy their world.
• In a land where the stars dictate one’s destiny, a young noble defies her fate and sets out to change the stars’ course.
• A child born under a blood moon is prophesied to either save or destroy their kingdom; as they grow, they must choose their path.
• A young mage must travel to the center of a forbidden forest to retrieve a lost spellbook, encountering mythical creatures and ancient magic along the way.
• A prince and a sorceress must join forces to prevent a dark ritual that could plunge their world into eternal night.
• A mysterious plague sweeps through a kingdom, and only a healer with forbidden knowledge can find the cure.
• A warrior with the ability to control shadows must protect their kingdom from an army of light-wielding invaders.
• A young alchemist discovers a potion that grants eternal life, but using it comes with unforeseen consequences that could doom the world.
• A princess with the power to communicate with the dead must solve the mystery of her parents’ murder to save her kingdom.
• A legendary warrior returns from the dead to guide a young hero in their quest to stop an ancient evil from rising again.
• A blacksmith’s apprentice discovers a hidden talent for magic and must use it to forge a weapon capable of defeating an immortal sorcerer.
• In a world where dreams hold power, a dreamweaver must navigate a realm of nightmares to save their loved ones.
• A prince cursed to live as a beast must find true love to break the spell, but time is running out as his kingdom faces a dire threat.
• A young woman discovers she is the last of a line of dragon riders and must reclaim her heritage to stop a war between dragons and humans.

Interested in more epic fantasy prompts? Check out our book on Amazon, “1, 000 Fantasy Writing Prompts” by Imagine Forest (Amazon Affiliate Link):

Summary 

We hope these 65 epic fantasy writing prompts have sparked your imagination and inspired you to dive into new and exciting worlds. Whether you’ve crafted a complete story or just started exploring an idea, we’d love to hear about your creative journey. Share your thoughts, questions, or even snippets of your work in the comments below.

Marty the wizard is the master of Imagine Forest. When he's not reading a ton of books or writing some of his own tales, he loves to be surrounded by the magical creatures that live in Imagine Forest. While living in his tree house he has devoted his time to helping children around the world with their writing skills and creativity.

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Picture Prompts

142 Picture Prompts to Inspire Student Writing

A school year’s worth of short, accessible image-driven posts that invite a variety of kinds of writing.

By The Learning Network

We’ve been publishing our Picture Prompts series four days a week since 2016. Below, we’ve rounded up all the prompts we published for the 2023-24 school year.

These short, accessible, image-driven prompts invite students to pen short stories, poems and memoirs; share experiences from their lives; analyze illustrations, graphs and charts; and tell us their opinions on hot-button issues.

You can find even more in our roundups for the 2022-23 , 2021-22 and 2020-21 school years, as well as in our collections of 125 picture prompts for creative and narrative writing and 25 spooky images for writing scary stories .

To learn how you can use Picture Prompts to build literacy skills, promote critical thinking, inspire discussion and foster creativity in your classroom, watch our three-minute tutorial video or our on-demand webinar . For dozens more ideas, see our lesson plan “ How to Teach With Our Picture Prompts (and Other Times Images) .”

If you use this feature with your students, or if you have other ideas for how to use photos, illustrations and graphics to encourage writing, let us know in the comments.

Share experiences from your own life.

Boys and Cologne Soapbox Derby Graphs Old and Young 2,000 Bags Spring Holidays Baking Spring ‘Floor Person’ Checking Your Watch ‘Wild’ Ice Skating Lunar New Year Hot Pot Distracted Walking Breakfast Wild Weather Maps Healthy Habits Holiday Classics Compliments Family Drama Thanksgiving Dinner Libraries Scary Movies Carving Pumpkins Fall Friday the 13th Our Own Language Skydiving Lazy Days Back to School

What story does this image inspire for you?

Falling Into a Hole Friends? Up, Up and Away! Pet Alligator Shadowy Figures Help Fishing in a Stream Tiny House Rats on a Dog Walking Away Public Selfies Hidden Doorway Playing Dominoes Point of No Return Sunset by the Water Valentines Biking Climbing a Ladder Reflections Happy Creatures Snowfall Blindfolded The Red Planet Dog TV Walking Through Town People and Penguins Witches on the Water Spying Show Time! A Wave Goodbye Ancient Arrow A Hand Up Darkened Library The Concert

What do you think this image, chart or cartoon is saying?

Pink Head, Green Check City Street Lapel Buttons One Seat Underwear on a Statue Justices An Elevator Filled With Robots Flying Plastic In a Box Watching Snacks and Drinks Tree Stump Behind Columns Lying in Bed Soccer and Dollars Two People Sitting Package and Globe Hot-Air Balloon Civil Conversation Raking A Shadow Parent and Child Atop a Cellphone The Super Wealthy Brick Wall Eagle and Ropes Painting Blank Space Exercise Football and Bag of Money Worm in an Apple Head in the Clouds

What’s your opinion on this issue?

‘Cowboy Carter’ New Stamp Design Prizewinning Miniature Poodle Cicadas for Dinner Met Gala Student Orchestra Tech in the Classroom Salt Movie Memorabilia 100 Years of Furniture March Madness Texting Styles Concerts Leap Day Broadway Shows Ice Cream Celebrity Feuds A.I.-Generated Faces World’s Largest Cruise Ship Your Energy Playlist Taylor Swift and the N.F.L. In-and-Out Lists Contenders Coveted Cup Your 2024 Most-Anticipated List 2023 in Pictures Style in 2023 $700 Million Deal Dream Décor Skipping School Giving Tuesday Pop-Tart Critic Time Change Pink Jersey Floating Home The Mall Breaking Police Robot Celebrity Relationships Fall Music New iPhone Tiny Homes Floods in Libya Football Season Land, Man and Sky Fall Video Games

Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public and may appear in print.

Find more Picture Prompts here.

15 of the best design portfolio examples

The best design portfolios come in all shapes, sizes and formats.

Getting your portfolio right is vital – it can be the difference between getting hired or not. And there's no end to how creative you can be with your portfolio design. If you need to update yours, looking at a few examples is a good place to start, which is why we've collated this list of the best design portfolios around.

To start building your design portfolio, you need a platform to create it on. Check out our best website builder roundup, or you can head over to the best portfolio templates for pre-existing designs. But for now, just scroll down to indulge in some of the best design portfolios, listed in no particular order.

Top design portfolio examples for inspiration

01. bruno simon.

Paris-based creative developer Bruno Simon has approached his portfolio in an unexpected way. You can actually drive a virtual car between his projects and experience using a keyboard. In 2019, it won Site of the Year at  awwwards , and it's not hard to see why. We wouldn't recommend this type of portfolio to everyone, but if you can make the design of your portfolio show off the skills you want to highlight, then you should.

Gus is a creative strategy company rather than a straight design site, but we think there are plenty of lessons to be learned from its brilliant site. It's cleverly laid out on a grid, and strikes an irreverent tone while giving the reader exactly what they're looking for, with an easy to navigate UX. We particularly like the ' frequently asked questions ' section.

03. Good Habit

London branding and design studio, Good Habit , has a fun and fresh portfolio that beautifully displays its work. A plainer Studio section outlines what the studio does, while the brands section displays projects with large format photography intermixed with sections of texts. It really works.

04. Studio Feixen

This Switzerland based design studio is absolutely jam-packed full of fun and characterful work. Studio Feixen perfectly showcases its vibrant work with a mix-match style portfolio that abstains from a 'less-is-more' approach. Despite the examples being framed in a range of different sized shapes on the portfolio page, the site still looks cohesive.

05. RoAndCo

Founded by creative director Roanne Adams, NYC-based RoAndCo offers beautifully crafted design, branding and creative direction to clients in fashion, beauty, tech and lifestyle. Viewing RoAndCo’s portfolio is an experience in itself, in keeping with the studio's work ethos. Projects are presented in an editorial-like fashion, allowing the viewer to flick through split-screen images, animated web presentations and full-screen video. It's a carefully considered design portfolio and a pleasure to view, whether you're browsing on a computer or a mobile device. 

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06. Robin Mastromarino

Paris-based interface designer Robin Mastromarino employs some neat UI animation touches to keeps things fresh on his design portfolio site. His projects appear as though they're on a wheel, juddering into view, which is an engaging effect. The images in each case study respond to scrolling by warping slightly. It's an effect that we wouldn't recommend for every creative, but for a UI design specialist, this strikes the right note and gives a taster of what the designer can do. 

07. Active Theory

Entering Active Theory 's portfolio website is like visiting a whole other world. It employs a moody, almost cyberpunk aesthetic throughout, and to great effect. From the atmospheric homepage animation with mouse-activated glitch effects to the trippy About page, the setting all gels together to form a cohesive package. The studio keeps things cleaner for its project pages. Each example features a full-screen animation overlaid with a short blurb and relevant links to further information, including detailed case studies hosted on Medium.

08. Raw Materials

Raw Material' s site is a feast for the eyes. The Work section is particularly fun, with more detail on projects shown through diagrams and images. We also like the 3D models in the 'Hello' section, which also appear in 'Contact'. Overall it's a fun fresh site that makes the studio stand out from the crowd.

09. Velvet Spectrum

Velvet Spectrum is the online moniker of visual artist and designer Luke Choice. He shows that simplicity can also make an impact on his homepage, which shows a montage of uber-colourful thumbnails that lead through to visually arresting super-size examples of his work for maximum impact. The black background keeps things clean and helps the work stand out. It makes for a simple but highly effective design portfolio.

10. Locomotive

Locomotive , a studio based in Quebec, Canada, specialises in crafting digital experiences, so it's taken care to make its design portfolio site an all-round delightful and engaging experience. Playful, entertaining animations bring the site to life, and not just on the homepage. It seems like thought and effort has been put into every detail. Little surprises keep the viewer's interest while they browse through the site, making this a perfect example of how animated flourishes can be used effectively without them becoming gimmicky or distracting.

11. Studio Thomas

Named after its two creative directors, Thomas Austin and Thomas Coombes, Studio Thomas in East London creates visual communication for both physical and digital worlds. Its portfolio is a superb example of Brutalist web design with plenty of neat touches. Projects are presented in an orderly but eye-catching way with clear visuals and wireframe models. The site perfectly reflects the studio's explorative and experimental attitude, and it backs up the studio's claim to offer "design for bold brands."

12. Buzzworthy Studio

Describing itself as a "badass digital studio in Brooklyn", Buzzworthy Studio really needed to come up with the goods to back up that claim, and happily, its portfolio does the job. It features dazzling web techniques from the off. Bold typography and animation combine to grab your attention, and a strong eye for aesthetics ensures that viewers stick around to explore all of Buzzworthy's projects. It's one hell of a calling card.

13. Xavier Cussó

This stunning portfolio site for Barcelona-based designer Xavier Cussó was built by Burundanga Studio. It shows off Cussó's work with bold colours, in-your-face typography and practically every animation and parallax scrolling trick in the book. But that doesn't make it feel overloaded. The animation makes and impact and maintains the viewer's attention throughout.

14. Merijn Hoss

Illustrator and artist Merijn Hoss takes a more pared-back approach, but his design portfolio is still very effective. Hoss creates beautifully detailed psychedelic works of art, but his profile presents his work in quite a simple, clean format. It's one of the most traditional approaches we've included on this list of design portfolios and isn't nearly as flashy as some of the previous examples, but it works well because the colourful thumbnails really pop out of the gallery's white background, putting the focus on the artist's work. Click the thumbnails, and large project images and a short description are revealed. Hoss's design portfolio is proof that you don't need all the bells and whistles to make an impact.

15. Malika Favre

Illustrator Malika Favre uses a full-screen edge-to-edge tapestry of thumbnails to entice visitors into viewing her vibrant artwork in more detail. The colours and layout already draw attention, while the arrangement of animated pieces within still artworks serves even more to keep eyes on the screen. Once clicked, the thumbnails reveal a full-screen gallery presentation of the work featured. It's displayed on complementary coloured backgrounds that show off her work to great effect and makes for a bold, colourful presentation that grabs the viewer's attention.

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Ruth spent a couple of years as Deputy Editor of Creative Bloq, and has also either worked on or written for almost all of the site's former and current print titles, from Computer Arts to ImagineFX. She now spends her days reviewing mattresses and hiking boots as the Outdoors and Wellness editor at T3.com, but continues to write about design on a freelance basis in her spare time. 

• Rosie Hilder

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How To Make Money As A Creative Writer – 9 Solid Creative Writer Jobs

Creative writers are always in demand, whether it be for television, advertising, or books. But it can be difficult to know how to monetize this skill set, especially in the competitive world of freelancing.

However, there are plenty of ways you can make money with creative writing. And some of these ideas even have full-time income potential or can help you start your own business!

Want to boost your writing income? Checkout :

• Freelance Writing For Freedom : My new course that outlines the exact steps I took to go from $0 to $100,000+ in writing income!

How To Make Money With Creative Writing

These are some common ways you can get paid for creative writing and turn your passion into an income source:

• Enter writing competitions
• Publish a book
• Start a blog
• Write on Medium
• Write for online publications
• Write newspaper snippets
• Write game and movie storylines
• Get into TV writing
• Become a copywriter

1. Enter Writing Competitions

It's sometimes hard to find steady work as a creative writer versus just regular freelance writing . Creative writing contests on the other hand…now these are pretty common!

Much like other passions and hobbies, there is an entire competitive side to creative writing, one which offers publicity and large cash prizes to those who dominate it.

A good place to start is Writer's Digest magazine. It runs several competitions throughout the year to cover different styles of creative writing, including poetry, e-books, short stories , and personal essays.

The grand prize winner receives $5,000 cash and an interview in the magazine, and there are also pretty great payouts for 1st-10th place winners in each of the many categories.

Looking for more? Here are a few other competitions to checkout:

• Cabell First Novelist Award
• Short Fiction Prize
• John Gardner Fiction Book Award
• Nelson Algren Short Story Award

Tom actually won a writing contest or two back in school. So this is also a great side hustle for teens or college students.

2. Publish A Book Or EBook

While it might seem intimidating to take a crack at publishing your own book, you actually have a few options here.

For starters, you can always try the traditional publishing route or simply publish short stories.

Alternatively, you can take your best story and work to expand it into a fully-fledged novel. Amazon is one great selling platform for indie writers, especially if you know how to market yourself and make sales .

If your book becomes a hit on Amazon, you could be looking at some serious passive income while you work on your next writing project.

Note : if you go down this route and want to keep yourself afloat while trying to finish your book, I suggest looking into gig economy apps or considering a second job .

Extra Reading – 19 Ways To Make Money On Amazon .

3. Turn A Blog Into A Business

Another way to make money with creative writing is to start your own blog and to grow it as an income source.

Now, this is definitely harder than writing a niche blog , following strict SEO, and approaching a blog like a business. However, it's possible to make money blogging through a variety of methods, and you don't necessarily need thousands of monthly visitors to make money…a small and devout following that like your stories might be pretty powerful!

For example, WebMonkey makes $20,000 a month or more through a mixture of display ads and affiliate income:

The above screenshot is a snapshot of advertisement revenue for WebMonkey from Mediavine , a premium ad-network for bloggers.

This might be tough to reach with a blog that just focuses on creative writing, but you can make money with other sources like affiliate marketing, subscriptions, and selling your own book.

So, if you can be patient and work hard, there's money to be made from blogging, especially if you’re putting out good content and attracting the right audience.

My post on how to decide to start a blog also outlines what you should know before getting into this hustle.

Ready to start blogging? I suggest using SiteGround for your blog hosting because they're affordable and the same host I use (and love) for all of my websites.

4. Write On Medium

Making money on Medium is one of the easiest ways to dip your toes in the world of writing for income.

In a nutshell, Medium pays you when Medium members spend time reading your content. The top writers on Medium can earn  five figures per month , which is insane.

You need to build a decent following and write stories with captivating headlines to get the ball rolling, but Medium is  incredibly  beginner friendly. However, Medium is great  for creative writers.

Some categories with massive followings on Medium include:

• Human parts (humanity)
• Slackjaw (humor)
• Poetry (general topic that's popular)
• The Writing Cooperative (writing)
• Personal growth
• Better Humans (self-improvement)

In short, making money with creative writing is possible on Medium, and there are so many niches you can explore!

And if you have a story trend or stay at the top of Medium's rankings for certain topics, you basically make money on autopilot as the views come in every day.

Extra Reading – 6 Best Websites Like Medium .

5. Write For Online Publications

If you're looking for creative writer jobs with a bit more structure than blogging or entering writing contests, your best bet is to write for online publications.

There are so many online articles that you can easily find one geared to your interests or writing style. Cracked.com and The Onion will publish humour pieces, and offer a good platform to increase visibility as well.

Longreads accept well-written non-fictional stories that can be relatable for others, and they pay very well for publications.

Extra Reading – Make $100 A Day With PayPal .

6. Write Snippets & Features

Some magazines will actually pay for submissions for smaller filler sections. Small written sections are essential to any printed subscription piece, from recipes, jokes, lifestyle tips and tricks, and just about anything else you can think of.

General lifestyle and conversational magazines like Reader's Digest are always looking for additional content, as well as the family sections of magazines like The Guardian .

Don’t let the length of these submissions fool you…there is still a professional rate to be made from this type of work.

It can be an excellent supplement to your income and also presents an awesome opportunity for new writers to step into the print world.

Extra Reading – The Best Ways To Write And Get Paid Instantly .

7. Write Storylines For Games

If you’re already familiar with game design or if it’s something that you would be interested in learning about, you could use your creative writing skills in the gaming world.

When it comes to game development, smaller teams usually place the storyline on the bottom of their priority list. However, the right gaming studio will know the value of having an actual creative writer to craft their storyline, and you can stumble across gigs for this sort of thing.

You can actually find storyline gigs online, or even on forums like Reddit For Hire:

Extra Reading – How To Make Money On Reddit .

8. Get Into Television Writing

Breaking into the world of TV writing is tough, but if you have a knack for it then it could be your chance at a big break.

Beyond your writing skills, it’s good to have extensive knowledge of television history. You need to be an expert in the genre you’re writing for and know why other shows in that genre either failed or succeeded.

There’s also a lot of work that you’ll need to do before landing a show. Take master classes, enter TV writing competitions , and network with industry professionals. All of these things will give you a leg up in the working world.

Once you feel ready, you should write a speculative script– otherwise known as a spec script– which is basically a script that is not commissioned by a network.

9. Become A Copywriter

One final way to get paid for creative writing is to get into copywriting, which is essentially writing for advertising.

There’s an end goal involved, which is usually to make a sale for a product or service or to tell a better brand story. Companies hire copywriters all the time for things like website redesign, advertising copy help, and creating brochures or marketing material.

The great thing about working as a copywriter is that you can work your way up to an  insane  hourly rate. I mean, checkout this copywriter salary data from Payscale .

The median hourly rate is  awesome , but the top percentile of copywriters can make an amazing salary.

To get started, you can find gigs on freelancer marketplaces like  Fiverr , People Per Hour , and Upwork . You can also check out  FlexJobs   since it has thousands of high-paying, flexible remote gigs, including copywriting ones.

It’s important to note that these platforms are super competitive, so you have to be good at selling yourself and be prepared to charge competitive prices for your work (which may be a lot less than you’re used to).

The upside is that once you’re well established in the community, you can be pickier with what work you take and will have the ability to manage your own schedule.

Extra Reading – Young Money Interview – How Araminta Became A Successful Freelance Copywriter .

Creative Writing vs Content Writing – What's The Difference?

Creative writing is often done for artistic purposes or for personal enjoyment, and is usually subject to literary themes and typical storytelling structures. Content writing, on the other hand, is intended to be consumable and persuasive to a specific targeted audience .

This form of writing has to be clear, concise, and easy for the reader to consume. Oftentimes, content writing jobs also require understanding SEO.

Because of this, it usually involves strict rules or guidelines to follow, in terms of tone and structure, with less room for creativity.

Typically, content writers are contracted to develop content for advertisements, blogs, branding, and more– with the general goal being measurable results in terms of visibility, traffic, and profit.

If you’re a more creatively inclined writer, you may be worried that you are confining yourself to a life as a starved artist.

Final Thoughts

There are so many ways to sell your skills online as a creative writer….it’s all about finding the right avenue for your specific talents and to find work that makes you happy.

While some creative writing jobs are definitely more lucrative than others, you can definitely get yourself some steady earnings if you devote your energy into any of the above options.

Regardless of what option you choose, the main takeaway is just to get writing.

Having a good portfolio– no matter what the contents are– will not only make you a more viable option when applying for positions, but it’s guaranteed to make you better at writing.

Hopefully, this guide has helped you figure out how to make money with creative writing.

If you want other ideas to maximize your income, you can also checkout:

• The Best Online Jobs That Pay Daily .
• The Best Ways To Make Money With A Laptop .

Selena Fulham knows how valuable having a side hustle can be. She’s a freelance content writer with a focus on SaaS, B2B technology, social media, and the art of making money online. Currently based in Montreal, Quebec, Selena can usually be found either drinking coffee, hiking up a mountain, or snowboarding down it.

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7 free tools to support your writing day-to-day

Whether you’re putting together a cover letter, drafting an email, or penning a LinkedIn post, details like spelling and grammar affect how you come across, whatever you’re writing. Trying to translate what you want to say into well-structured and easy-to-read sentences, however, is often easier said than done. Luckily, there are plenty of free tools that offer a helping hand! We’ve curated seven free tools and platforms to help save you time and keep your written work accurate.

1. Grammarly

Good for: Real-time spelling and grammar checking Pricing: Free, with optional paid premium

One of the most popular and well-known writing tools for a reason, Grammarly provides grammar and spelling checks, style and tone suggestions and a plagiarism checker. With the option of integrating across your internet browser, Grammarly will tell you in real time if you’re about to send an email with a spelling mistake or if there’s a way to reword something to improve how it reads.

Check it out here .

2. Hemingway Editor

Good for: Improving readability Cost: Free

3. LanguageTool

Good for: Spelling and grammar Cost: Free, with optional paid premium

Available in over 25 languages and powered by AI, LanguageTool is a writing assistant that helps with grammar, spelling, punctuation, style and formatting. Particularly useful as a browser add-on, the software can correct spelling mistakes as you go, whether you’re writing an email or a Google doc.

4. ProWritingAid

Good for: Real-time spelling, grammar and style checking Cost: Free, with optional paid premium

Another bit of software using AI to check your writing, on the surface ProWritingAid offers very similar functionalities to Grammarly in terms of spelling and grammar, but was also designed with a focus on storytelling in mind. It offers suggestions to improve style, clarity and readability, as well as including a thesaurus, word explorer and a plagiarism checker.

5. Ahrefs AI Grammer Checker

Good for: Spelling and grammar checking Cost: Free

SEO specialists Ahrefs host a number of AI-powered tools on their site relating to writing. Although most relate to marketing copy, their grammar checker is useful for inputting any chunk of text. It uses a language model that learns patterns, grammar and vocabulary, then uses that knowledge to generate human-like text. It only operates on their site rather than integrating into other platforms, but if you’re looking for more straightforward checking, this might be for you.

6. LibreOffice

Good for: Word processing Cost: Free

If you need somewhere to draft your writing that isn’t your notes app, LibreOffice is a free, open-source, cross-platform office suite that can perform many of the same functions as Microsoft Office, but for free! You can write documents, create spreadsheets and embed images on the downloadable app. It does lack more complex features like collaboration, built-in translation or a dictation option, but if you want an affordable alternative it might be worth trying out.

7. Quillbot

Good for: Paraphrasing Pricing: Free If you’re trying to summarise your work experience into some key skills, or cut down the intro of a brief you’re writing, this tool can help! Another AI-powered writing tool, amongst the usual spelling and grammar suggestions, Quillbot is designed to assist users in rephrasing and paraphrasing content. Also able to be integrated into platforms like Microsoft Word and Google Docs, it is especially useful for help rewriting content to refine things like sentence structure.

... If you have any other suggestions for affordable creative software, feel free to get in touch and let us know at [email protected] !

Written by Creative Lives in Progress

Related Content

12 free and affordable creative tools and software, all the design teams you might not know exist in tech.

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How to cite ChatGPT

Use discount code STYLEBLOG15 for 15% off APA Style print products with free shipping in the United States.

We, the APA Style team, are not robots. We can all pass a CAPTCHA test , and we know our roles in a Turing test . And, like so many nonrobot human beings this year, we’ve spent a fair amount of time reading, learning, and thinking about issues related to large language models, artificial intelligence (AI), AI-generated text, and specifically ChatGPT . We’ve also been gathering opinions and feedback about the use and citation of ChatGPT. Thank you to everyone who has contributed and shared ideas, opinions, research, and feedback.

In this post, I discuss situations where students and researchers use ChatGPT to create text and to facilitate their research, not to write the full text of their paper or manuscript. We know instructors have differing opinions about how or even whether students should use ChatGPT, and we’ll be continuing to collect feedback about instructor and student questions. As always, defer to instructor guidelines when writing student papers. For more about guidelines and policies about student and author use of ChatGPT, see the last section of this post.

Quoting or reproducing the text created by ChatGPT in your paper

If you’ve used ChatGPT or other AI tools in your research, describe how you used the tool in your Method section or in a comparable section of your paper. For literature reviews or other types of essays or response or reaction papers, you might describe how you used the tool in your introduction. In your text, provide the prompt you used and then any portion of the relevant text that was generated in response.

Unfortunately, the results of a ChatGPT “chat” are not retrievable by other readers, and although nonretrievable data or quotations in APA Style papers are usually cited as personal communications , with ChatGPT-generated text there is no person communicating. Quoting ChatGPT’s text from a chat session is therefore more like sharing an algorithm’s output; thus, credit the author of the algorithm with a reference list entry and the corresponding in-text citation.

When prompted with “Is the left brain right brain divide real or a metaphor?” the ChatGPT-generated text indicated that although the two brain hemispheres are somewhat specialized, “the notation that people can be characterized as ‘left-brained’ or ‘right-brained’ is considered to be an oversimplification and a popular myth” (OpenAI, 2023).

OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (Mar 14 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat

You may also put the full text of long responses from ChatGPT in an appendix of your paper or in online supplemental materials, so readers have access to the exact text that was generated. It is particularly important to document the exact text created because ChatGPT will generate a unique response in each chat session, even if given the same prompt. If you create appendices or supplemental materials, remember that each should be called out at least once in the body of your APA Style paper.

When given a follow-up prompt of “What is a more accurate representation?” the ChatGPT-generated text indicated that “different brain regions work together to support various cognitive processes” and “the functional specialization of different regions can change in response to experience and environmental factors” (OpenAI, 2023; see Appendix A for the full transcript).

Creating a reference to ChatGPT or other AI models and software

The in-text citations and references above are adapted from the reference template for software in Section 10.10 of the Publication Manual (American Psychological Association, 2020, Chapter 10). Although here we focus on ChatGPT, because these guidelines are based on the software template, they can be adapted to note the use of other large language models (e.g., Bard), algorithms, and similar software.

The reference and in-text citations for ChatGPT are formatted as follows:

• Parenthetical citation: (OpenAI, 2023)
• Narrative citation: OpenAI (2023)

Let’s break that reference down and look at the four elements (author, date, title, and source):

Author: The author of the model is OpenAI.

Date: The date is the year of the version you used. Following the template in Section 10.10, you need to include only the year, not the exact date. The version number provides the specific date information a reader might need.

Title: The name of the model is “ChatGPT,” so that serves as the title and is italicized in your reference, as shown in the template. Although OpenAI labels unique iterations (i.e., ChatGPT-3, ChatGPT-4), they are using “ChatGPT” as the general name of the model, with updates identified with version numbers.

The version number is included after the title in parentheses. The format for the version number in ChatGPT references includes the date because that is how OpenAI is labeling the versions. Different large language models or software might use different version numbering; use the version number in the format the author or publisher provides, which may be a numbering system (e.g., Version 2.0) or other methods.

Bracketed text is used in references for additional descriptions when they are needed to help a reader understand what’s being cited. References for a number of common sources, such as journal articles and books, do not include bracketed descriptions, but things outside of the typical peer-reviewed system often do. In the case of a reference for ChatGPT, provide the descriptor “Large language model” in square brackets. OpenAI describes ChatGPT-4 as a “large multimodal model,” so that description may be provided instead if you are using ChatGPT-4. Later versions and software or models from other companies may need different descriptions, based on how the publishers describe the model. The goal of the bracketed text is to briefly describe the kind of model to your reader.

Source: When the publisher name and the author name are the same, do not repeat the publisher name in the source element of the reference, and move directly to the URL. This is the case for ChatGPT. The URL for ChatGPT is https://chat.openai.com/chat . For other models or products for which you may create a reference, use the URL that links as directly as possible to the source (i.e., the page where you can access the model, not the publisher’s homepage).

Other questions about citing ChatGPT

You may have noticed the confidence with which ChatGPT described the ideas of brain lateralization and how the brain operates, without citing any sources. I asked for a list of sources to support those claims and ChatGPT provided five references—four of which I was able to find online. The fifth does not seem to be a real article; the digital object identifier given for that reference belongs to a different article, and I was not able to find any article with the authors, date, title, and source details that ChatGPT provided. Authors using ChatGPT or similar AI tools for research should consider making this scrutiny of the primary sources a standard process. If the sources are real, accurate, and relevant, it may be better to read those original sources to learn from that research and paraphrase or quote from those articles, as applicable, than to use the model’s interpretation of them.

We’ve also received a number of other questions about ChatGPT. Should students be allowed to use it? What guidelines should instructors create for students using AI? Does using AI-generated text constitute plagiarism? Should authors who use ChatGPT credit ChatGPT or OpenAI in their byline? What are the copyright implications ?

On these questions, researchers, editors, instructors, and others are actively debating and creating parameters and guidelines. Many of you have sent us feedback, and we encourage you to continue to do so in the comments below. We will also study the policies and procedures being established by instructors, publishers, and academic institutions, with a goal of creating guidelines that reflect the many real-world applications of AI-generated text.

For questions about manuscript byline credit, plagiarism, and related ChatGPT and AI topics, the APA Style team is seeking the recommendations of APA Journals editors. APA Style guidelines based on those recommendations will be posted on this blog and on the APA Style site later this year.

Update: APA Journals has published policies on the use of generative AI in scholarly materials .

We, the APA Style team humans, appreciate your patience as we navigate these unique challenges and new ways of thinking about how authors, researchers, and students learn, write, and work with new technologies.

American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000

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