365 days of writing prompts

10 writing prompts to help you build the spine of your story.

Welcome to Week 2! You’ve spent the first seven days exploring character, setting, and emotion. Now it’s time to give your story its backbone: plot and structure.

Every story is a journey, and plot is the map that guides both you and your reader. It’s not just about what happens, but why it happens and how each event transforms the people at its center.

When I think about plot and structure, two writers come to mind. Shaunta Grimes and K. M. Weiland. They are both plotters to the nth degree. They have both shared their wisdom with us through their websites and their books.

You can find Shaunta’s writings here. She also has a website. It’s located here: https://ninjawriters.org/

You can find Weiland’s writings here on her website.

1. The Spark
   What moment sets your story in motion? Describe the event that changes everything for your main character.
2. The Goal
   What does your protagonist want by the end of the story? How do they plan to achieve it?
3. The Obstacle
   Find the greatest force standing in their way. Is it another person, the world, or something within themselves?
4. The Chain Reaction
   Write about one small choice that leads to big consequences. How does this moment ripple through the story?
5. The Turning Point
   What scene shifts the direction of your story completely? Write that moment as if the world tilts beneath your character’s feet.
6. The Dark Moment
   Every great story has a point where all hope seems lost. Write that moment—and hint at the strength still hidden beneath the surface.
7. The Revelation
   What truth or realization changes how your character sees themselves or their world? Let this discovery reshape the path ahead.
8. The Climax
   Write the most intense, emotional, or decisive moment in your story. How do your character’s choices decide the outcome?
9. The Resolution
   What does your character gain, lose, or learn by the end? How has the story changed them?
10. The Hidden Thread
    Look back at your story’s moments. What theme or question quietly connects them all?

Plot isn’t just a sequence of events. Every step, choice, and consequence leads your characters toward who they’re meant to become. Today, trust your instincts. You’re not just building a story; you’re creating meaning.

Feel free to comment about which prompt helped you with your plot and/or the structure of your story.