Fiction Writing Prompts: Alternate Reality

Alternate Reality Writing Prompts

Events occur in a parallel universe…

1. In a parallel universe, the world is entirely underwater. Describe a day in the life of its inhabitants.
2. The Renaissance never happened. How did modern society evolve without it?
3. Write about a world where emotions can be seen as colors emanating from people.
4. Dinosaurs never went extinct, and now they coexist with humans. What does the hierarchy of life look like?
5. What if electricity was never discovered? How do societies communicate and entertain themselves?
6. Describe a reality where plants are sentient, and humans must negotiate with them for food and shelter.
7. Every time a baby laughs for the first time, a new star is born. Explain the cosmic significance of this event.
8. Libraries aren’t for books but for borrowing memories. What are the most checked-out memories?
9. Every person has two shadows. One represents their past, the other their future. How do people interact with their shadows?
10. People age backwards. What challenges and joys does this present?
11. In this world, famous historical wars never took place. How did countries resolve their differences?
12. Once a year, the sky changes colors for a day. What is the significance and how do people celebrate?
13. All animals have the ability to speak. Describe a UN-like meeting chaired by animals discussing human behavior.
14. Every dream a person has becomes a reality in another dimension. Follow a character as they navigate a dream they regret.
15. Artworks come to life once every hundred years. Describe a day in a museum on that special century mark.
16. Time travel exists, but only through exchanging consciousness with your alternate self. What are the ethical implications?
17. People live on floating islands in the sky. How did this come to be, and what challenges do they face?
18. Every song ever sung tells the future. How does society handle and interpret music?
19. Love isn’t an emotion but a tangible object that can be given, lost, or stolen. How do relationships evolve?
20. At age 18, everyone must choose to either remain human or transform into a mythical creature. Detail a young adult’s decision-making process.
21. Humans can photosynthesize. How does this change societal structures and norms?
22. The north and south poles are tropical paradises. How does this affect global politics and tourism?
23. People wear masks, which determine their societal status and role. What happens when someone changes masks?
24. The moon is inhabited, and its inhabitants view Earth with the same wonder as we see them.
25. Everyone can hear thoughts but only in a language they don’t speak. How does this change communication?
26. Historical figures and modern personalities coexist. Describe a dinner party with Cleopatra, Einstein, and a current celebrity.
27. Dreams are a communal experience, shared with everyone in your city. How does this affect the collective psyche?
28. In this world, the first word you speak determines your life’s path. Describe a naming ceremony.
29. People can physically enter books. What happens when a crime is committed inside a classic novel?
30. Animals rule the world, and humans are the pets. Describe a human’s day from the animal’s perspective.
31. Stars aren’t just balls of gas; they’re portals to other realms. Document a journey through one.
32. Instead of snow, every winter brings a different element. What happens during the year of molten gold?
33. Gravity can be manipulated. Detail a day in a city that’s vertically oriented.
34. Human life spans are only 25 years but they live each day as a year. Chronicle a “day” in such a life.
35. Seasons don’t change due to Earth’s tilt but by collective emotional states. Describe a prolonged season and its implications.
36. Food isn’t eaten but absorbed through the skin. How does this change dining experiences?
37. People have a lifespan of hundreds of years, but memories only last a week. How do they cope?
38. Magic is a recognized science. Follow a student’s day in a magical university.
39. Every time you tell a lie, a new flower sprouts in the world. Explore the consequences.
40. A world where every thought becomes a cloud above a person’s head. How do they maintain secrets?
41. Trees are the dominant species, and humans rely on them for wisdom.
42. The Earth is flat and explorers constantly try to find the edge.
43. People’s heights are determined by their moral integrity.
44. Every person has a unique elemental power. Describe a school training day.
45. Cities are built on the backs of giant roaming creatures.
46. Children choose their parents. What is the selection process?
47. The sun sets only once a year. Describe the world’s longest day.
48. Currency isn’t money but stories. Write about a transaction gone wrong.
49. When someone dies, they turn into a bird specific to their nature in life. Chronicle the life of a person turned raven.
50. Buildings grow like plants. What’s the job of an “architect”?
51. Oceans are made of a mysterious, thick gel. How do ships navigate?
52. Clouds are solid and can be mined for resources.
53. In this world, silence is the loudest sound. Explore its power.
54. There’s only one gigantic city, and the rest of the world is wild. How do inhabitants view the wilderness?
55. Every person is born with a prophecy. How does society handle the weight of predestined fates?
56. A universe where doorways connect distant planets.
57. Waterfalls flow upwards. What legends surround their origin?
58. Only children have the ability to see color.
59. When people write, the words come to life. Describe a writer’s responsibility.
60. Everyone has a second, ghostly figure attached to them which represents their soul.
61. Nighttime is bright, and daytime is dark. How do rituals and routines change?
62. Music is a physical entity and can be sculpted.
63. There’s a mirror world beneath ours. Describe an expedition to this under-realm.
64. Once a year, everyone swaps lives with a stranger.
65. Instead of rain, emotions fall from the sky.
66. Museums showcase extinct emotions.
67. Cities are suspended in bubbles. Describe a bubble collision.
68. Animals dream our realities. Dive into a lion’s dream of modern-day New York.
69. People remember the future and predict the past.
70. Instead of the ocean, a vast forest covers the Earth’s floor. Describe a deep-forest exploration.
71. Memories can be woven into cloth.
72. The Aurora Borealis is a gateway to another realm.
73. Books are sentient and choose their readers.
74. Once in a lifetime, the wind carries whispers of ancient wisdom.
75. The universe is a giant organism, and planets are its cells.
76. Volcanoes are the homes of gods. Detail a pilgrimage to appease them.
77. Children are the wise elders, and age diminishes knowledge.
78. Dancing is the only way to communicate.
79. People can morph into any object for a day in their life.
80. Dragons are the primary mode of transport.
81. Time is a river, and people can wade between moments.
82. Mountains float and often change locations.
83. The sky is a giant tapestry, and the patterns tell stories.
84. People shed their skin every year, revealing a new self.
85. Death isn’t an end but a transformation into another creature.
86. Sleep transports you to an alternate universe; staying awake too long can trap you there.
87. Every word spoken is a commitment that binds you.
88. Planets are giant fruits, and space travel is essentially harvesting.
89. In place of the moon, there’s a giant eye that observes all.
90. The universe is inside a colossal library, with each star representing a story.
91. Civilizations live on comets and wait for their turn to approach a sun.
92. Thoughts crystallize and can be gifted.
93. Continents are giant lily pads floating on the ocean.
94. Each person is a universe, and meditation lets you explore your inner galaxies.
95. The world resets every 100 years, but one person retains their memory each cycle.
96. Echoes are voices from parallel realities.
97. Constellations are not mere stars, but cosmic puzzles to unlock alternate dimensions.
98. Tattoos determine destiny, and inkers are revered prophets.
99. People are born from flowers and their life story is told through their unique scent.
100. When the heartbeats of lovers synchronize, their combined rhythm can wield magic.