Short Story prompts

Develop a short story, within 100 words, from the given outline. Also suggest a suitable title of the story.

A beautiful old lady lived in a hamlet---had a lamp--- lighted every night---lamp was proud---believed itself to be the brightest object in the universe--- one evening cold wind blew it off---lamp started crying--- lady told the lamp not to be  unreasonably proud -- don't be in vain---lighted again -- happy. 

Answer: In a small hamlet, a beautiful old lady owned a lamp that she would light every night. The lamp was proud and believed that it was the brightest object in the universe. One evening, a cold wind blew the lamp off, and it started crying. The lady comforted the lamp and told it not to be unreasonably proud and vain. She then lit the lamp again, and it shone brightly once more, now happy with its place in the world. The lamp learned a valuable lesson that it was essential to be proud but not to let pride consume it. 

Try these by expanding them into a short story of about 100 words.

1. A young girl finds a magical key that unlocks a door to a secret garden.

2. A man wakes up with no memory of who he is and must piece together his past.

3. A group of friends go on a camping trip and encounter a mysterious creature in the woods.

4. A girl receives a strange message from her future self warning her not to make a certain decision.

5. A person discovers they have the ability to time travel but must navigate the consequences of changing the past.

Outline:

• A poor woman has a coin that she cherishes as it's all she has.

• She loses the coin while out running errands and is devastated.

• As she retraces her steps, she meets several kind strangers who help her search for the coin.

• Eventually, she finds the coin in a place she never thought to look.

• Overjoyed and grateful for the kindness of strangers, she returns home with the coin and a newfound appreciation for the good in people.

Story prompt:  With this outline, you could develop a 100-word story about the woman's search for her lost coin and the kind strangers she meets along the way. The story could focus on the woman's emotions as she worries about losing all she has, and her relief and gratitude when she finds the coin. It could also highlight the generosity of the strangers who help her and the power of kindness to make a difference in someone's life. (Title could be: The Lost Coin)

Outline:

• A father promises to take his son to the park, but keeps getting delayed with work.

• The son is disappointed but understands his father's job is important.

• One day, the father finally has time to take his son to the park, but the son is sick and unable to go.

• The father feels guilty for breaking his promise and vows to make it up to his son.

• He spends the day with his son, playing board games and telling stories, and they both realize that spending time together is more important than any promise.

With this outline, you could develop a 100-word story about a father's struggle to balance work and family time and the importance of keeping promises to loved ones. The story could focus on the father's guilt for breaking his promise and his efforts to make it up to his son, as well as the realization that quality time together is more valuable than anything else. It could also explore the son's perspective and understanding of his father's job, and the bond between father and son despite the broken promise. (Title: The Broken Promise)

Outline:

• A group of survivors are stranded on a deserted island after a shipwreck.

• They are running out of food and water and have no way of calling for help.

• One day, a woman discovers a message in a bottle that offers a glimmer of hope for rescue.

• The survivors come together to try and make the message known to passing ships.

• In the end, they are rescued and learn the power of hope and perseverance in the face of adversity.

With this outline, you could develop a 100-word story about a group of survivors' struggle to stay alive and find rescue on a deserted island. The story could focus on the desperation of the survivors and the glimmer of hope that the message in the bottle provides. It could also highlight the group's efforts to make the message known, whether through signals or constructing a makeshift beacon, and the eventual arrival of rescuers. The story could conclude with the survivors' gratitude for being rescued and their newfound appreciation for the power of hope and teamwork. (Title: The Last Hope)