August 2023 Writing Prompts

An article made up entirely of writing prompts isn’t anything new for this site, but this one is different. Here you have an entire month’s worth of writing prompts for August, a new one for each day. Write at least a section of a story—even if it’s just a paragraph—for each one. Some of them could be used to create a short story or even be the basis of a book. But most importantly, you get to put your creative writing skills to work.

Stray dog, Wikimedia Commons

1  – A stray dog wandered into our yard first thing that morning.

2 – An old piece of paper—maybe a list, a misplace note, a love letter— falls out of a book when your character opens it.

3 – What is your dream job? Your character is offered a job that is the dream of a lifetime but turns it down.

4 – Huge fully grown mushrooms pop up all over the yard one evening. Why?

5 – Working in the yard one evening, your character discovers fairies are living in her yard.

6 – Your character—a student, teacher, janitor, cafeteria worker, etc.—is being bullied at school and has a brilliant idea how to stop the intimidator.

7 – Catching fireflies (lightning bugs) – Your character has a sleepover, and they all go outside to catch fireflies. While they are running around having fun, a stranger appears in their midst.

8 – Your character is throwing a stick, a Kong, or some other dog toy for his dog to retrieve. But his dog brings back something he didn’t throw this time.

9 – Cats are notorious for getting into places they really shouldn’t be able to. Your character’s cat disappears into a small hole in the wall and comes back out with something unusual.

Euthanasia coaster profile, Wikimedia Commons

10 – A euthanasia coaster has been designed and built to give those with no hope of survival a painless and fun way to die, but someone evil is using for their own purposes.

11 – A lucky man unearths hidden treasure in his back yard. Does it really bring him luck?

12 – An internet tech does something strange to the Wi-Fi settings on the modem at the house where he is doing repairs.

13 – If we became lazy, nature would beat us.

14 – One morning, Bob wakes up and can only speak in an accent that is foreign to him.

        English woman who suddenly woke up with a Welsh accent appeals for medical help – LBC

15 – You take an online virtual walking tour through UK’s national parks to help you get in better shape

16 – Stephanie receives a plant in the mail one day that says it is from the Plant a Month Club, but she isn’t a member of this club.

17 – Your character has the opportunity to go back and change one thing about his life.

18 – Strange giant mushrooms fill your character’s yard. Much to her astonishment, she sees movement beneath one of them.

19 – Laundry is such a boring chore. But on this day . . .

20 – An unusual thing happens at your 90th birthday party.

21 – A small fib is told, but it escalates into something bigger and far worse.

22 – Zombie butterflies

23 – It’s so humid it’s like getting punched in the face with a sauna.

Isabella Rose, photo by Lisa Binion

24 – Isabella Rose, an old doll, has been waiting for the perfect owner for a long time. She has finally found her.

25 – Bodies in the sand. Are they dead or alive? Laying out in the sun or waiting for burial?

26 – The new dog doesn’t get along with the cat. How is this problem solved without getting rid of either animal?

27 – He kept it so cold in his house during the summer so when someone walked inside it was like walking out of the Sahara Desert into Antarctica.

28 – During a really hot day, a bear is spotted relaxing in a backyard pool.

29 – A book, 120 years overdue, is returned to the library.

30 – You’re in the middle of cooking a huge dinner when your electric goes out.

31 – You are having a nightmare that you are chained up in a dungeon, but you sleep soundly knowing it is just a dream. But when you wake up, you find yourself in the same dungeon you were dreaming about.

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