85 Interesting Topics to Get Your Creative Juices Flowing

Finding fresh, engaging topics to write about can be challenging. Whether you’re working on a blog post, essay, journal entry, or other piece of writing, coming up with creative ideas is not always easy. That’s why we’ve put together this massive list of over 85 interesting writing prompts and topics to get those creative juices flowing!

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll provide a wide variety of unique, thought-provoking, and fun writing ideas. From personal journal prompts to fiction story starters to debate topics, we’ve got you covered. Let’s dive in and explore over 175 ideas to inspire your next writing project!

Personal Reflection Writing Prompts

Journaling and reflective writing allow you to dive deep into your personal experiences, thoughts, and emotions. Here are some personal prompts to get started:

1. Identify a moment in your life that made you feel like you had superpowers. What did you do exceptionally well? How did circumstances change as a result of your actions?
2. How have you handled being the “new kid” throughout your life? What were the challenges? What did you learn?
3. When you’re feeling powerful, what song best motivates you? How does it make you feel?
4. What is your power animal? What qualities does it represent?
5. Dear Me in 5 Years… What hopes, goals or wisdom do you want to share with your future self?
6. How has water impacted your life? Discuss memories related to oceans, rivers, lakes, pools, etc.
7. What would you like to go back and tell a teacher from your past? Why were they impactful?
8. Look at the following quotes and write whatever comes to mind:

• “Art is when you hear a knocking from your soul and you answer.” -Star Richés
• “Whether you think you can or you can’t, either way, you are right.” – Henry Ford
• “Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted.” – Albert Einstein

1. Describe the last time you got super embarrassed. What happened? How did you handle it? What did you learn?
2. Write a letter to your five-year-old self. What advice or encouragement would you share?

Fun & Lighthearted Writing Ideas

Sometimes you need some quirky, weird, or silly ideas to get the creative juices flowing. Here are some fun writing prompts:

11. Is it the end of the beginning or the beginning of the end? Philosophize on this question.
12. How do dogs help humanity? Explore all the ways our furry friends enrich our lives.
13. Flesh out the ideal life that you would like to experience. Let your imagination run wild!
14. Why is fast food healthy? Make an ironic case for this argument.
15. Imagine you haven’t slept for a week. Describe how you’re feeling right now. Get creative and exaggerate the effects of sleep deprivation.
16. Which animal would you have been born as? Why? Describe how your life would be different.
17. What’s your least favorite social media platform and why? Critique the problematic elements of modern social media.
18. Is there a pop culture fad that you hate? Shed light on why certain trends get popular even when they seem ridiculous.
19. Parody your favorite song. Poke fun at the lyrics with your own silly version.
20. What are the most boring ways to cure boredom? Sometimes the “cures” are worse than the problem itself.

Thought-Provoking Ideas

These prompts deal with impactful social and philosophical issues. Use these to flex your analytical thinking:

21. How have the top failures in your life shaped you? What valuable lessons did you gain?
22. What does writing mean to you? Why is it important? How does it impact you?
23. How has your education shaped your thinking? What ideas, beliefs, and values stem from your educational experiences?
24. You’re stuck in an elevator with the high school teacher you hated the most. What will you tell her? Have your perspectives shifted since then?
25. Act as your father and write a letter to yourself. What life advice or wisdom would he impart?
26. Describe your first encounter with politics. How did it shape your views?
27. Recall the first fight you had in your childhood. Now, write an apology to the person you fought with. How would you handle disagreements differently today?
28. Assume you’re wrong about the way you think the world functions. Now find as much evidence as possible to prove it. Challenge your own assumptions and beliefs.
29. What are the top things people know about you that aren’t true? Why do these misconceptions exist? How would you set the record straight?
30. The world is coming to an end in a week. What are the three things you would like to do? Re-examine your priorities.

Worldly Topics

Explore global issues, historical analysis, and social commentary with these writing ideas:

31. Was the Korean War a civil war or an international war? Make an evidence-based case defending your perspective.
32. Do social networks improve communication skills or reduce social activity in the real world? Weigh both sides of this debate.
33. Why do riots happen? Analyze the social, political, and psychological factors that can lead to riots.
34. When will the world be able to function without bureaucrats? Envision a society without bureaucratic governance.
35. What role does sugar play in our everyday life? Discuss the health, cultural, and economic impacts.
36. You live in Gotham and the Joker wants to meet you for coffee. Write a script for a five-minute conversation with him. Get inside the mind of this diabolical villain.
37. How can minorities in your locality feel more secure and at home? Brainstorm ideas to cultivate inclusion and belonging.

Business Blog Topics

If you run a business blog, use these prompts to create useful, engaging content:

38. Write the story of how you started your business and the key learnings so far. Share your authentic founder’s journey.
39. Summarize your favorite business book and share key lessons you apply. Provide genuine recommendations.
40. Answer the most common question prospective customers ask. Create a definitive guide on the topic.
41. Review your most purchased product, sharing tips on how new users can maximize value from it. “How to” articles build trust and authority.
42. Roundup conferences and events in your industry. Curate a helpful list your readers would appreciate.
43. Share ethical dilemmas you’ve faced and how you tackled them. Vulnerability and transparency connect with readers.
44. Imagine launching a web show for your brand. Write a one-page introduction to the screenplay. Get creative with digital content ideas!
45. Create a listicle of business tools you can’t live without. Offer genuine recommendations based on your own experience.
46. Write a “day in the life” article showing how you run your business. Give readers a peek behind the curtains.
47. Find fresh angles on popular topics in your niche. Research what content already exists and determine what’s missing.
48. Roundup and link to great posts in your field from the past year. Curate a “best of” list with key takeaways.

Random Writing Topics

If you’re feeling uninspired, get the creativity flowing with these random prompts:

49. How do you define family? What does family mean to you?
50. When have events brought you and your family closer together? Reflect on bonding experiences and challenges faced.
51. What were your parents’ lives like before kids? Imagine and describe their young adult lives.
52. What sounds comprise the background noise of your life? Discuss the ambient sounds you hear daily.
53. What sounds irritate you? List and reflect on sounds you find grating or intolerable.
54. What is your favorite snow activity? Snowball fights? Sledding? Snowmen? Discuss why you love it.
55. What “urban legends” have you heard firsthand? Retell local folklore or scary stories from your hometown.
56. If the color blue could speak, what would it say? Get imaginative with this personification prompt.
57. When is your most productive time of day? Discuss why you feel most inspired and energized at certain times.
58. Outside of family, who has made the biggest impact on your life? Reflect on how this person influenced you.
59. If you had a talk show, who would you interview? Choose a personal hero, celebrity, author or public figure.
60. List three things you would do if you weren’t afraid. How would an absence of fear alter your actions and outlook?

Essay Topics for Students

Struggling to come up with ideas for your next essay? Here are 35 thought-provoking prompts:

61. Should abortion be legal? Construct a well-researched argument defending your perspective.
62. Is it fair for models to use Photoshop if athletes can’t use steroids? Critically assess this double standard.
63. Can genetic engineering help end world hunger? Weigh the potential benefits and ethical concerns.
64. How long can you talk about politics before getting into an argument? Test this out with your peers and examine debate culture.
65. Does society need standardized beauty ideals? Discuss the impacts of imposing versus celebrating diversity.
66. What’s your take: nature vs. nurture? Make a case for which factor has the greatest influence in human development.
67. Should artists be responsible for separating their art from their politics? Why or why not?
68. Is money the biggest determinant of success? Define “success” and analyze how finances enable it.
69. Can “bad genes” excuse criminal behavior? Critically assess the complex interplay of nature and nurture.
70. Do violent video games cause behavioral problems? Review evidence on both sides of this debate.
71. How do gender roles differ in your family versus others? Compare generational and cultural influences.
72. Have memes shaped culture, and is it good or bad? Assess the cultural impact of viral internet content.
73. Can laziness lead to success? Make a counterintuitive argument.
74. Does an artist need talent to create abstract art? Philosophize on the nature of creativity.
75. Are men and women really that different? Critically analyze gender stereotypes and similarities.
76. What makes for a great conversation? Reflect on engaging dialogue and awkward exchanges.

Proposal Topics

Get creative imagining proposals on these topics:

77. Propose educational reforms you believe would benefit students. What policies would you enact if you ran the school system?
78. Craft a policy to strictly regulate the pharmaceutical industry. What rules and oversight would you put in place?
79. Propose programs and initiatives to curb racism in your community. Outline grassroots solutions and ways to foster inclusion.
80. Present your concept for new regulations on social media companies. What rules or structures could make these platforms safer and more ethical?
81. Propose solutions to combat climate change. Outline the environmental policies we need going forward.
82. Map out an action plan to reduce teenage smoking and vaping. Detail the educational programs, regulations, incentives, etc. that could help.
83. Propose an initiative to provide shelter for local homeless populations. What facilities, resources, and support programs would you implement?
84. Design a campaign to decrease cyberbullying. What practices, digital literacy programs, and regulations could help the cause?
85. Propose ideas to solve the problem of fake news. Suggest policies, tech solutions, education programs, etc. that could help diminish misinformation.

Possible Mistakes to Avoid

When working on any piece of writing, there are some common mistakes inexperienced writers often make:

• Choosing topics that are too broad or too narrow in scope. Find ideas with sufficient focus while still allowing room for depth.
• Selecting a topic with very limited audience appeal. Know who you are writing for and ensure the subject aligns with their interests.
• Relying too much on personal experience rather than research and sources. Back up ideas with facts, statistics, expert opinions, etc.
• Failing to adequately organize content. Use section headings, transitions, and structure the flow in a logical way.
• Neglecting to cite sources properly. Any referenced content must be quoted and attributed correctly to avoid plagiarism.
• Using too much jargon or technical terminology. Write in clear, plain, accessible language suited for your readers.
• Allowing grammar, spelling, or punctuation errors. Always proofread thoroughly.

By avoiding these common pitfalls, you can create captivating, polished writing on any topic!

FAQs

Where can I find more unique writing prompts and essay topics?

• School/university writing labs often provide tip sheets with creative prompts and essay ideas across various categories.
• Blogs and websites focused on writing, journaling, literacy, and education also share interesting prompts.
• Books like The 3 A.M. Epiphany by Brian Kiteley offer thought-provoking writing exercises.
• English teachers and professors may suggest provocative discussion topics or debate prompts to inspire writing.

How do I choose which writing prompts to use?

• Consider your target audience and select prompts that align with their interests and knowledge level.
• Pick themes and ideas you personally feel enthusiastic about or curious to explore further.
• If working on fiction, use character-based scenarios to develop backstory and personality.
• For academic essays, choose intellectually stimulating prompts that allow critical analysis.

What makes a good writing prompt?

• Open-ended questions that spark imagination and introspection
• Controversial topics that have arguments on multiple sides
• Scenarios that set-up imaginative “what if?” thought experiments
• Universal themes and social issues we all grapple with as humans
• Quirky, weird ideas that force you to think differently

How do I expand a writing prompt into a full piece?

• Flesh out background details – settings, characters, context, etc.
• Provide personal examples, anecdotes, and experiences related to the theme.
• Research facts, history, statistics, and expert opinions to support your ideas.
• Consider alternative perspectives to critically assess the issue.
• Organize writing logically with transitions between key points.

Can I use writing prompts if I’m not a skilled writer?

Absolutely! Writing prompts provide jumping off points to get your creative juices flowing, whether you’re a novice or seasoned writer. Everyone has to start somewhere. Use prompts to gain confidence expressing thoughts in writing.