Writing Prompts: Sentence Frames to Kickstart Your Creativity

Sentence frames - Novlr quick tips and writing prompts

Are you a creative writer struggling to get started on your next project? Do you find yourself staring at a blank page, unsure of where to begin? Fear not! Here are some sentence frames designed to inspire your creativity and help you generate story ideas.

Get to know your main character

  • [Character name] was not your typical [profession/role]; in fact, they…
  • Despite being [adjective], [character name] had always felt…
  • [Character name] had a secret, one that they had kept hidden for [time period]…
  • As [character name] looked out the window, they couldn’t help but wonder what life would be like if…
  • [Character name] had always been drawn to [hobby/interest], but had never had the courage to pursue it until…
  • The day [character name] met [another character], everything changed…

Setting the scene

  • The town of [name] was known for its [unique characteristic], but beneath the surface…
  • In a world where [fantastical element] was commonplace, [character name] stood out because…
  • The [building/location] had stood abandoned for [time period], but on this particular night there was [an event]…
  • The [place/location] was famed for its [unique characteristic], but [character] found themselves drawn to [thing]…

Introduce conflict

  • [Character name] had always believed that [belief], until [event] forced them to question everything.
  • When [character name] discovered [secret/revelation], they knew they had to…
  • The arrival of [character/object] in [setting] threw [character name]’s life into chaos, as they…
  • [Character name] had always been content with their [status quo], but when [event] occurred, they realised that they could no longer ignore their true calling.
  • The arrival of [character name] in [place/location] set off a chain of events that would uncover long-buried secrets and force the [people of location] to confront their darkest demons.

Show character growth

  • [Character name] had spent their entire life [doing/believing something], but now they began to wonder if…
  • As [event] unfolded, [character name] realised that they were capable of…
  • [Character name] had always been afraid of [fear], but in the face of [challenge], they discovered…
  • [Character name] used to [old behaviour], but now they [new behaviour]…
  • As [character name] faced [challenge], they discovered a [new strength/quality] within themselves…
  • [Character name] never thought they could [achievement], but with [catalyst], they learned to [lesson]…

Create suspense and mystery

  • [Character name] knew that [mystery/secret] held the key to [goal], but the closer they got to the truth…
  • As [character name] delved deeper into [investigation/quest], they began to suspect that…
  • The [object/clue] seemed insignificant at first, but as [character name] examined it more closely, they saw [detail].
  • [Character name] had a nagging feeling that something was off about [person/place/thing], but couldn’t quite put their finger on it until [event].
  • The [sound/smell/sight] was hauntingly familiar to [character name], but they couldn’t remember why until [event].

Explore character relationships

  • [Character name] had always looked up to [other character], but now they began to see them in a different light because [event/change].
  • Despite their differences, [character name] and [other character] found themselves drawn to each other because of [detail].
  • [Character name] knew that [other character] was hiding something, but they never expected [revelation].
  • [Character name] and [other character] were once inseparable, but [change] meant they grew apart.
  • [Character name] never expected to find a friend in [other character], but [character detail/event/location] brought them together.
  • [Character name] couldn’t shake the feeling that [other character] was hiding [secret] from them.

Remember, these sentence frames are just a starting point to help you generate ideas and get your creative juices flowing. Feel free to adapt, combine, or expand upon them to suit your unique story and writing style. The most important thing is to let your imagination run wild and enjoy the process of writing your novel!

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