My old writing prompts were basically just 'what if a guy had a sword'

Then my niece, who is 7, asked me to write a story about a sentient potato that gets elected mayor of a small town in Vermont, and honestly it was the most fun I've had writing in ages. What's the weirdest prompt someone has ever given you that actually worked?

2 comments

2 Comments

shanegibson1mo ago

Honestly, the best one came from my little cousin who wanted a story about a toaster that was deeply, spiritually afraid of bread. It sounds silly, but writing from the toaster's point of view, where every slice of wheat was a terrifying intruder it had to bravely face, gave it this weirdly epic feel. The climax was it finding peace with a bagel because the hole meant it wasn't a full threat.

harper_owens1mo ago

My own niece once asked for a story about a squirrel who was a terrible secret agent, constantly dropping his acorn gadgets and getting his tail stuck in vents. Ngl, it was way more fun to write than my usual stuff about brooding knights. That potato mayor idea is pure gold, you gotta tell me how the town meetings go.