Best ChatGPT Storytelling Prompts for Writers & Creators
These prompts help writers use ChatGPT to create entire story universes, character arcs, emotional scenes, and compelling plot twists.
Why Use ChatGPT for Storytelling?
ChatGPT can become your writing collaborator, helping you generate plots, world-build, brainstorm dialogue, or even polish your query letters. Whether you're working on:
- A short story, novel, or screenplay
- Lyrics for a song
- A blog post with narrative
- Or a marketing campaign with emotional storytelling
These prompts give you powerful ways to generate ideas, overcome writer’s block, and keep your stories engaging.
Top Storytelling Prompts to Try
Here are some of the most effective prompts to guide your creativity:
| Prompt | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Write a story about X in the style of Y. | Mimic voices, test genres, or explore tone shifts. |
| Generate an emotional goodbye scene between a father and son. | Develop heart-wrenching emotional arcs. |
| Make an outline for a novel called (title) about (premise). | Build a solid structure before writing. |
| Write a back cover blurb about (story premise). | Create pitch-worthy book blurbs. |
| Write a query letter for a novel called (title) about (premise). | Help with submissions to agents or publishers. |
| Write an outline for a screenplay about (subject). | Structure a script with key scenes. |
Character, Setting, and Worldbuilding Prompts
Use these prompts to flesh out every corner of your fictional world:
- Describe a fictional character named (name) who has these qualities (list qualities).
- Create a setting description of (location) at (time).
- Design a world and its inhabitants that would be interesting to explore in a novel.
- Describe the relationship between two characters who are enemies but have to work together.
- Design a unique set of monsters with distinct personalities and qualities.
- Create an interesting world with its own laws, customs, and creatures.
Plot Development & Twists
Craft better narratives, pacing, and surprises:
- Make a detailed novel outline about (premise) with three major plot twists.
- Come up with 10 original ideas for a story set in the future.
- Come up with three possible endings for a story about (describe the premise).
- Craft an action-filled opening paragraph for a novel about (describe premise).
- Come up with five unique plot twists for a story about (premise).
Sample Twist Ideas Table
| Premise | Plot Twist |
|---|---|
| A hero chasing revenge | The villain is their future self |
| A spy embedded in enemy lines | They've been double-crossed by their handler |
| A love triangle | One person doesn’t exist it’s a split personality |
Dialogue & Emotional Scenes
- Write a scene of dialogue between a couple who just broke up but are stuck in an elevator together. Format it for a screenplay.
- Create a scene where one character must confess a dark secret to another.
- Write the same scene above from the POV of another character.
- Generate 10 compelling hooks to describe my story about (insert description).
- Write the first chapter of a story about (character) facing a difficult moral choice.
Thematic and Genre-Specific Story Aids
- Give me step-by-step instructions on how to write a marketing plan for a (genre) novel about (premise).
- Write a customer testimonial story about (product/service).
- Paint a picture of a future world in which (current event or issue) has changed everything.
- Describe the journey of a character who is trying to find themselves.
- Make a list of challenges and obstacles for a character on their quest to find love.
- Write a story about an unlikely group of characters who come together to save the world.
Bonus: Prompt Combinations for Deeper Results
Try combining multiple prompts for maximum creativity:
- “Create a setting description of a dystopian desert city and write an emotional scene between two siblings planning to escape.”
- “Write the first chapter of a fantasy novel in the style of Neil Gaiman, with a twist ending revealed through dialogue.”
- “Generate a world with unique religions, and outline a political thriller that takes place within it.”
Final Thoughts
With the right prompts, ChatGPT can help you build an entire story ecosystem, from big-picture structure to dialogue lines. Whether you're polishing a pitch, outlining a novel, or just looking for creative inspiration, these storytelling prompts are your creative springboard.
Save your favorite prompt combos, and keep experimenting until your story shines.