More Known about Writing offers writing prompts, story starters, and tips for writers. Some of the topics were created as National Novel Writing Month writing prompts, but most focus on general creative writing. If any of the prompts were created with a specific age group in mind, it will be listed in the title.
All of the writing prompts below were created by the More Known website and can be used for your personal use, as teaching aids, or can be amended to fit any other needs that come up.
The full category list of writing prompts are available on the writing prompt category page for your convenience.
We encourage writers to link to their submissions in the comments. Consider posting your responses to your own site. Anyone looking to host might want to take a look at our first article on the topic, too.
Most recent articles on Writing
The Miser Fable Writing Prompts
This week’s writing prompts come from The Miser fable. Each week, we are releasing a new set of writing prompts based on Aesop’s Fables. As always, we encourage you to send any of your work to us directly. Some of our favorite reader submissions will end up on the More Known site (with full credit to you, the author). Submission information is below!
The Miser Fable
A miser sold all that he had and bought a lump of gold, which he buried in a hole in the ground by the side of an old wall and went to look at daily. One of his workmen observed his frequent visits to the spot and decided to watch his movements.
He soon discovered the secret of the hidden treasure, and digging down, came to the lump of gold, and stole it. The Miser, on his next visit, found the hole empty and began to tear his hair and to make loud lamentations.
A neighbor, seeing him overcome with grief and learning the cause, said, “Pray do not grieve so; but go and take a stone, and place it in the hole, and fancy that the gold is still lying there. It will do you quite the same service; for when the gold was there, you had it not, as you did not make the slightest use of it.”
The Miser Fable Writing Prompts
- For this rewrite, the miser has a criminal past. Write about how he came upon his great fortune (before he sold it all to buy the lump of gold).
- Make the neighbor the same workman who stole the gold. Give him a reason for having done so.
Writing Prompts from The Miser fable
To submit your work, please send a text-only email (no attachments) with your short story and contact info to moreknown at moreknown.com
Alternately, consider creating your own site to host your writing. We like Bluehost for site hosting. You can direct us to your site by leaving a link in the comments below.
The Rivers and the Sea Fable Writing Prompts
This week’s writing prompts come from The Rivers and the Sea fable. Each week, we are releasing a new set of writing prompts based on Aesop’s Fables. As always, we encourage you to send any of your work to us directly. Some of our favorite reader submissions will end up on the More Known site (with full credit to you, the author). Submission information is below!
The Rivers and the Sea Fable
The rivers joined together to complain to the Sea, saying, “Why is it that when we flow into your tides so potable and sweet, you work in us such a change, and make us salty and unfit to drink?”
The Sea, perceiving that they intended to throw the blame on him, said, “Pray cease to flow into me, and then you will not be made briny.”
The Rivers and the Sea Fable Writing Prompts
- Use the rivers and the sea to create a new set of characters that tell the same story. Consider using children for the rivers and a strict boarding school for the sea.
- Write this fable as an epistolary. First write a letter to the Sea from one of the rivers. Then, write a response from the Sea.
To submit your work, please send a text-only email (no attachments) with your short story and contact info to moreknown at moreknown.com
Alternately, consider creating your own site to host your writing. We like Bluehost for site hosting. You can direct us to your site by leaving a link in the comments below.
The Goat and the Goatherd Fable Writing Prompts
This week’s writing prompts come from The Goat and the Goatherd fable. Each week, we are releasing a new set of writing prompts based on Aesop’s Fables. As always, we encourage you to send any of your work to us directly. Some of our favorite reader submissions will end up on the More Known site (with full credit to you, the author). Submission information is below!
The Goat and the Goatherd Fable
A goatherd had sought to bring back a stray goat to his flock. He whistled and sounded his horn in vain; the straggler paid no attention to the summons.
At last the Goatherd threw a stone, and breaking its horn, begged the Goat not to tell his master. The Goat replied, “Why, you silly fellow, the horn will speak though I be silent.”
Do not attempt to hide things which cannot be hid.
The Goat and the Goatherd Fable Writing Prompts
- The Goatherd in this fable is the son of the woman who owns the goat. Why would he be so fearful that his mother will find out about the broken horn?
- Describe how the goat’s master discovers the broken horn. What happens to the Goatherd? To the goat? To the master?
To submit your work, please send a text-only email (no attachments) with your short story and contact info to moreknown at moreknown.com
Alternately, consider creating your own site to host your writing. We like Bluehost for site hosting. You can direct us to your site by leaving a link in the comments below.
