Yahoo Lifestyle 115 Best Things To Write About When You Need Something To Do
Writing can be a fun hobby that lets you unleash your imagination and share your thoughts and dreams. It’s like stepping into a new universe every time you put your thoughts on paper. If you ever find yourself feeling bored and searching for something to do, starting a writing project can be the perfect way to pass the time. But you might be left without much inspiration. What are the best things to write about when you're bored, looking for journal prompts or creating a story? Fortunately, we've got plenty of ideas to share.
Whether you’re crafting a whimsical story, jotting down your thoughts, or exploring a new idea, writing invites you to dive into a world of creativity and self-expression. And the best part is, you can literally write anywhere. Whether you’re cozying up at home in your favorite nook, sipping coffee at a local cafe or sitting on a plane, the possibilities are endless. Each location brings its own unique energy, so no matter if you’re looking for a peaceful retreat or a lively backdrop, all you need is a pen and paper (or a laptop and table).
If you’ve always wanted to write but aren’t sure where to begin, or if you’re someone who frequently gets writer’s block, having a trusty list of writing topics and prompts you can refer to can be a game changer. These little starting points can lead you down unexpected paths you never thought to explore and can transform a dull moment into a delightful brainstorming spree, helping your creative juices flow. That’s why Parade has come up with over 100 different ones you can use. They range from story ideas to song inspiration, poem prompts, travel reviews, adventure reflections and more! That way, you’ll have a little help getting started.
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Why Use Writing Prompts?
Writing prompts are a great way to ignite your imagination and kickstart your creativity when it comes to writing. They can help spark ideas you might not have considered and give you a push when you have no clue what to write about, which makes the writing process feel like an adventure. They can also help transform the act from a chore into something enjoyable by encouraging you to explore unexpected themes. Overall, writing prompts are an amazing way to help you transform a blank page into the start of something extraordinary. Afterall, all you need is one idea to get started.
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Best Writing Ideas When You Don't Know What To Write
1. A special memory you always want to remember: Describe a moment in your life that fills you with joy, nostalgia, or warmth every time you think about it, and explain why it holds such significance for you.
2. A random daydream: Share a whimsical thought that transports you to another world, whether it’s an adventure, a fantasy scenario, ect., and explore what it means to you.
3. A cute meet-cute scene: Imagine a charming encounter between two characters that sets the stage for an unexpected romance, highlighting the details of their first interaction where sparks fly that leads to their happily-ever-after.
4. Something that is on your mind: Dive into something that has been preoccupying your mind lately.
5. Something you’re curious about: Nail down a topic that fascinates you then explore it further, and reflect on what questions you have and what you hope to learn.
6. Something you’re looking forward to: Describe an upcoming event, like a holiday, birthday, concert, trip, etc. and why you can’t wait for it to happen.
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Personal Experiences and Anecdotes
7. Your first date experience: Share the nerves and excitement of your first-ever date, capturing the moments that made it unforgettable (good or bad).
8. A childhood memory: Reflect on a childhood memory that’s shaped who you are today, filled with nostalgia and lessons learned.
9. A failure you had: Discuss a failure and the valuable lessons it taught you, highlighting your growth through adversity.
10. Getting your first pet: Relive the joy and challenges of welcoming your first pet into your home, and the bond that formed.
11. Your college experience: Explore the highs and lows of your college years, from friendships to late-night study sessions, to dating to parties to graduating.
12. Memories of your first job: Share the valuable lessons and amusing moments from your very first job experience.
13. Getting COVID and surviving: Reflect on your journey through COVID-19, including the challenges, scary moments, crazy experiences and unexpected silver linings.
14. Trying something new: Describe the thrill and apprehension of stepping out of your comfort zone to try something new.
15. Conquering a fear: Write about a fear you faced and overcame, and how it transformed your perspective.
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Travel and Adventure
16. Having an unexpected animal encounter: Share why it was memorable, where you were, what made it special, etc.
17. Your first time on an airplane: Reflect on the excitement and nervousness of your first flight and where you went.
18. Your first time traveling outside the United States: Describe the wonder and cultural experiences of your first international trip.
19. Your experience visiting a National Park: Capture the beauty and adventure of exploring a National Park, highlighting the landscapes and activities you did.
20. A camping memory: Share a memorable camping experience and don’t forget to mention who went with you and where you camped at.
21. Exploring a new place on your own, solo traveling: Reflect on the empowerment and challenges of solo travel, and the discoveries you made along the way.
22. An unexpected adventure: Write about a spontaneous adventure that took you by surprise and changed your plans in a delightful way.
23. A scary traveling abroad story: Share a travel experience abroad that turned unexpectedly frightening.
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Reviews
24. Review movies: Write about a film’s plot that is coming out and if it’s truly worth seeing based on your option from watching it, or create a roundup of films you can review based on a certain theme, like Halloween movies.
25. Review makeup products: Pick a specific genre you want to review, like red lipsticks, and mention the reasons why it’s good or not so great by giving examples and comparing different brands.
26. Review toys and games: Roundup popular or trendy toys and games and share your honest opinion so people know if they are genuinely engaging for kids, or are they a total waste of money.
27. Review pet products: Test some of the best options for pampering your fur baby and then give feedback on the reasons why or why not they are great.
28. Review books: Break down some books that are trending on BookTok and review what is captivating about them and also which ones you should skip entirely.
29. Review restaurants: Embrace your inner foodie and evaluate culinary delights that are worth the hype and the dining experiences that might leave you disappointed.
30. Review hotels: If you love to travel, share accommodations you’ve stayed at that offer true comfort and luxury and explain what makes them stand out.
31. Review spas: Turn your love of getting spa treatments into experience reviews and highlight the latest trends and your results.
32. Review home decor products: Share cute home decor pieces and include if they’re easy to put together, if their price is fair, if it is durable, how to style it in your home, etc.
How-Tos
33. How to decorate for fall: Share creative ideas for transforming your space with cozy autumn-themed decorations that capture the season’s vibe.
34. How to carve a pumpkin: Write about the steps for selecting, preparing, and carving a pumpkin to create the perfect spooky or festive design.
35. How to start a home garden: Share essential tips for beginning your own garden at home, from selecting plants to nurturing them as they grow.
36. How to host a game night: Give advice on how to plan and organize a fun game night, including game selections, snacks, and how you can set the atmosphere.
37. How to make a holiday charcuterie board: Give tips on assembling a beautiful and delicious charcuterie board perfect for holiday gatherings and celebrations.
38. How to plan a budget-friendly Disney vacation: Teach others how to create an affordable Disney vacation itinerary without sacrificing fun and experiences.
39. How to contour like a pro: Share techniques and tips for mastering the art of contouring to help others execute it flawlessly.
40. How to avoid blush blindness: Give practical advice on how to apply blush effectively for a natural glow without overdoing it.
41. How to build a capsule wardrobe: Break down the essentials of creating a versatile capsule wardrobe that simplifies your style while maximizing outfit options.
42. How to make projects rental friendly: Recommend several different creative ways someone can personalize their space using temporary and removable solutions that won’t damage their property.
43. How to style leggings for fall: Share a variety of outfit ideas that can help people know different ways they can wear leggings that are cute and cozy.
44. How to make homemade apple pie: Provide a step-by-step guide on how to make a delicious homemade apple pie, from crust to filling.
45. How to bake a turkey for Thanksgiving: Tell others the best practices for preparing and baking a turkey to achieve a juicy and flavorful centerpiece for your Thanksgiving feast. Give tips along the way.
46. How to create a gallery wall: Offer steps for others to curate and design a stunning gallery wall that showcases your personal style and favorite art. Give tips, themes and where people can find great art to use.
47. How to plan the wedding of your dreams: Suggests key elements to consider when planning a wedding that reflects your vision and style while staying organized.
48. How to make a disco ball centerpiece: Help others get creative with ideas for crafting a disco ball centerpiece that adds fun to any celebration.
49. How to spend less than $200 a week in NYC: Share practical tips for budgeting and enjoying life in New York City without breaking the bank.
50. How to plan the perfect first date: Give memorable first date recommendations and explain why each one would help set the tone for a potential relationship.
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Personal Essay Reflections
51. Your first heartbreak: Reflect on the emotional journey and lessons learned from your first experience with love and loss.
52. Share the story behind how you got a particular scar: Write about a moment that left its mark—literally.
53. A blessing in disguise: Explore situations where something negative ultimately led to unexpected positive outcomes.
54. The influence of astrology in your life: Reflect how astrology has shaped your understanding of yourself and your relationships.
55. How a stranger’s kindness affected you: Share a story about an act of kindness from a stranger that made an impact on your life.
56. Moving to a new city: Write about the challenges and adjustments you experienced while relocating and adapting to a new environment.
57. Your wedding day: Relive meaningful moments and experiences that happened on your special day by reflecting on that experience.
58. A life-changing experience in a foreign country: Reflect on a transformative experience you had while traveling abroad and its impact on you.
59. Growing through a toxic relationship: Reflect on the lessons learned from a challenging relationship and how it contributed to your personal growth.
60. Surviving a natural disaster: Share your experiences and the resilience you discovered while navigating the aftermath of a natural disaster.
61. Your life: Reflect on your life so far.
62. Happiness: Think about all the things that truly make you happy and reflect on those particular moments.
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Funny Things to Write About
63. Awkward family gatherings: Share humorous stories about the antics that happen during family reunions.
64. Dating disasters: Share amusing tales of awkward dates, cringeworthy pickup lines, and unexpected surprises.
65. Bizarre dreams: Write about the ridiculous and silly scenarios that can occur in dreams.
66. Parenting blunders: Write about the funny side of parenting, from kids’ outrageous questions to unexpected messes.
67. Awkward moments: Share funny stories about social faux pas, misunderstandings, and embarrassing situations.
68. Fashion fails: Write about questionable fashion choices, wardrobe malfunctions, or trends that didn’t quite hit the mark.
69. Misunderstood texts: Write about the hilarity that ensues from miscommunications or autocorrect fails in texts.
70. DIY fails: Share hilarious stories of DIY projects that turned out completely different from the original vision.
71. The hilarity of things kids do: Focus on things they do turning everyday tasks into dramatic performances or mixing up words in the most adorable ways that leave everyone laughing.
Things To Write Poems About
72. Loneliness: Express feelings of isolation, longing, or the search for connection.
73. Imaginary places: Dive into whimsical worlds, mythical creatures, or magical experiences.
74. Hope: Write about optimism, resilience, and the light at the end of the tunnel.
75. Regret: Explore feelings of remorse, missed opportunities, or lessons learned.
76. Secrets: Write about hidden truths, confessions, or the weight of keeping secrets.
77. Heartbreak and healing: Explore the emotions surrounding the end of a relationship and the journey to heal.
78. Moments of connection: Capture the small, everyday moments that strengthen love and intimacy.
Things To Write About When Bored
79. A bucket list: List things off you want to accomplish or experience you want to have in your lifetime.
80. Favorite quotes: Write about quotes that inspire you and how they resonate with your life experiences.
81. Short stories: Challenge yourself to write a fictional short story.
82. Reimagine a classic tale: Take a well-known story or fairy tale and give it a modern twist.
83. Superhero origins: Create a superhero character, detailing their origin story, powers, and challenges.
84. What makes you smile: List the things that bring you joy and write about why they are meaningful to you.
Things To Write Songs About
85. A loss: Express the emotions and memories tied to a significant loss, capturing the depth of sorrow.
86. Your first heartache: Sing about heartbreak and the bittersweet memories.
87. Falling in love: Celebrate the exhilaration and vulnerability of falling in love, embracing the magic of new connections.
88. Liking someone and them not knowing: Capture the feelings of secret admiration and unspoken longing in lyrics.
89. Being in love with your best friend: Explore the complexities of friendship mixed with deep, unconfessed love.
90. Wishing you could go back in time: Reflect on nostalgia and the desire to relive a cherished moment that is withing a certain period of time or targeted toward a specific instance.
91. What you would tell your future self: Imagine the wisdom you would share with your older self about life, meeting your soulmate, etc.
92. Being proud of your younger self: Celebrate your own personal growth and the journey you took to get in a song.
93. A message to your future son or daughter: Convey dreams, lessons, and the love you have for your future baby.
94. What you would do if you were a king or queen: Sing about what you’d do if you were royalty.
95. Something you had feeling about and it turned out to be true: Talk about intuition you had about something and it being right.
96. Being brave: Highlight the courage of facing a fear and embracing the challenge
Things To Write About in a Letter
97. Future plans: Share your hopes and dreams for the coming weeks, months, or years with a friend or family member.
98. Missing someone: Express how much you miss the person you are writing to.
99. Random thoughts: Not all letters have to be about one thing. You can jot down any interesting observations and talk about anything that has crossed your mind lately.
100. Life updates: Provide a recap of recent changes or milestones in your life to help someone stay updated on what’s going on with you.
101. Appreciation: Thank someone for their support, love, or friendship in a letter and share specific reasons why they matter to you.
102. A family recipe: Share a cherished family recipe along with the story behind it with someone.
103. Your feelings: Open up about your emotions regarding a specific situation or your current state of mind to someone.
104. Your pets: Describe a funny or sweet story about your pets to someone who hasn’t seen them in a while to make them smile.
105. Thank you: take time to write a heartfelt thank-you note for something specific they've done for you.
106. Encouragement: Offer words of support and motivation to someone you care about, especially if they’re going through a tough time.
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Things To Write Stories About
107. A woman who is profoundly in love is heartbroken when her fiancé ends their relationship.
108. Someone finds a secret passageway in the home that they never knew existed before.
109. A character moves to a new town and finds out its actually enchanted and her neighbors aren’t what they seem.
110. A pretty woman who is a stay-at-home mom by day, but an undercover cop at night.
111. A man who wakes up after having a migraine discovers he can read the minds of animals.
112. A secret society of mermaids is trying to stay hidden despite scuba divers recently almost seeing them.
113. Siblings discover a hidden treasure map while cleaning up their grandpa’s attic and realize their grandpa used to be a pirate.
114. A brilliant character who graduates law school by their 16th birthday and their journey to be taken seriously as a lawyer.
115. A fairy’s wings stop working and she has to try to blend in with people in a small town without them knowing who she really is.
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