100 One-Word Writing Prompts

Lately, I’ve been obsessed with one–word writing prompts and it all started with a children’s book.

The church I’m currently attending, First Church Birmingham, did a special sermon series during which we read and gleaned lessons from select children’s books. One of those books was The Word Collector by Peter H. Reynolds. It tells the story of a little boy named Jerome who is fascinated by words, and he collects them in a notebook, writing down any words that stand out to him throughout his day. Inspired by little Jerome, I started doing the same thing. And I’ve been turning these words into one-word writing prompts. Also, I’ve been sharing a one-word prompt each day in the See Jane Write Network Facebook group.

I talk about this more in my latest podcast episode.

What are one-word writing prompts?

The idea of using a single word as a writing prompt might sound silly. You may think you need a prompt that presents a scenario or gives you a deep question to contemplate. But as a writer, you know that there is great power in words. Yes, even a single word.

Chances are you could look at a word and fill an entire page pretty quickly with thoughts on what the word means to you, how the word sounds, and how the word makes you feel.

How To Use a Single Word As a Powerful Prompt

There are so many different ways to use a one-word writing prompt. If you’re a fiction writer, perhaps the prompt could be the first word a character speaks. Maybe as a poet, you challenge yourself to start and end your poem with the word. For a journal entry or a personal narrative, write about a life experience that the word makes you remember. Even journalists can use one-word prompts. Take the word and brainstorm article ideas related to it.