Creative Writing Prompts: Endings and Beginnings

Although the end of the year often sees us reflecting on the year that has been and considering what lies ahead, beginnings and endings can happen any time – and the following prompts can also be used at any time for whatever creative project you wish to start or continue developing.

1. Endings

Write a story that starts with an ending – e.g. the end of a relationship, the end of sharing a house, the end of the road (literally or metaphorically).

2.Beginnings

Write a story that starts with the following:

Let me start at the very beginning …

Or

In the beginning was …

3. The Year in Review

Spend time reflecting on the year that has been – yours, an ancestor, or a fictional character.

4. Christmas

Write a story (or chapter of a longer project) that makes reference to Christmas Day (or some other festive or religious holiday) in some way.

5. A New Year

Write a story (or chapter of a longer project) set either on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day.

6. Resolutions

Research new year’s resolutions. Where did this tradition originate? And why do so many new year’s resolutions fail?

Write a story about a new year’s resolution that fails.

Why did your protagonist make the resolution? What went wrong? What were the consquences?

7. Arrivals and Departures

Write a story that begins with someone arriving in or leaving the town, city or country in which your story is set.

Over to You

Just begin …