It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Well, no, it’s not quite Christmas yet. But it is fall, the season of orange leaves, cozy sweaters, and spooky Halloween happenings. And with NaNoWriMo just around the corner, now is the perfect time to get some writing done.
So if you’re an author struggling with writer’s block or just looking for fun seasonal writing activities for yourself or a group, these 25 writing prompts will give you some autumn inspiration for your next short story!
1. Find Your Inspiration
First, let’s get inspired by flexing our writing muscles and exploring the season.
If you can, get outdoors and experience what fall has to offer. You can also read some ghost stories or revisit your favorite fall-themed books to get in the mood.
Then, try writing:
● A list of your favorite things about fall
● A summary of your favorite scary story
● A memory from a first day of school
● An acrostic poem using the words fall or autumn
● A short piece that starts with Last fall, I…
Still struggling? You can find even more ways to get inspired in our blog post Get Creative! (5 Tips for Writing Poetry and Fiction).
2. Location, Location, Location
Next, let’s try some exercises that focus on setting.
Write a story that takes place:
● At a Halloween party
● In an autumn woodland
● In a haunted house
● In a corn maze
● In a busy cafe
● At a store’s Black Friday sale
● In a neighborhood packed with trick-or-treaters
Remember to keep those five senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch) in mind to flesh out your story’s environment.
Find this useful?
Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox.
3. Get in Character
Now it’s time to practice character and voice.
Write a story from the perspective of:
● A runaway turkey
● A ghost with no memories
● A barista who hates pumpkin spice
● A scarecrow who has come to life
● The new kid at school
● The Greek mythological figure Persephone
● A witch’s familiar
For advice on how to make your characters realistic and compelling, check out our post, 5 Top Tips for Writing Fictional Characters.
4. Answer the Question
Finally, let’s jump into the deep end with some fall-themed scenarios. Answer some of the questions below to develop a story.
● It’s fall, and the leaves on the trees are starting to change color… to blue?! Why is this happening?
● You’re exploring an abandoned building at night, and all the doors are locked except for one. What’s behind that door?
● It’s Thanksgiving, and your family has sat down to enjoy dinner when your phone starts ringing. Who’s calling?
● You’re looking out your bedroom window when it starts to get foggy. You can’t see anything, but somewhere outside, you hear a noise. What is it?
● You’re a farmer preparing to bring in the harvest, but all your crops have disappeared! Where’d they go?
● An alien is visiting Earth, and they don’t understand what Halloween is. How do you explain it to them?
Proofread Your Work
If you’ve been inspired to write your own piece of fall-themed creative writing, make sure to get your draft proofread!
Our proofreading team specializes in editing short stories, from haunting Halloween tales to heartwarming autumn romances. You can even get your first 500 words checked for free!