About this wheel
Writers use prompts to bypass the pressure of choosing a topic. The constraint of a random starter can free the imagination, which is why many writing groups and classrooms use them as warm-ups.
The ten prompts here suit fiction and creative journaling. Replace them with prompts for your genre, or build a wheel from your own story ideas.
How to use it
- Set a timer for ten minutes.
- Spin the wheel and read the prompt.
- Write without editing until the timer ends.
- Read your piece aloud, or share a favourite line.
- Spin again for a second try, or keep the prompt for a longer story.
Ways to customise it
- Make a genre wheel: mystery, romance, science fiction, fantasy
- Make a character wheel: a detective, a baker, a ghost
- Make a setting wheel: a lighthouse, a train, a market
- Combine three wheels to build a complete story seed
Tips
Combine a character, a setting and a problem. Spin each wheel once and weave the three together; it gives you a plot in seconds.
Do not judge the first draft. The purpose is practice. You can always keep the best idea and discard the rest.
Last updated 6 October 2026 · Winners are chosen with the browser’s cryptographic random generator. How it works
Frequently asked questions
Can teachers use it for class warm-ups?
Yes. Display the wheel on a projector and write for a short, timed session.
Can I use prompts in my published work?
The prompts on this wheel are short ideas. What you write from them is yours.
