Story Prompt Generator by Genre
Generate story prompts filtered by genre, tone, setting and character type, each with a want, an obstacle, a twist and a word target.
About this tool
Story Prompt Generator by Genre
Generate story prompts filtered by genre, tone, setting and character type, each with a want, an obstacle, a twist and a word target.
A story prompt generator that builds each idea as a complete logline — protagonist, want, obstacle, setting and stakes — rather than a one-line 'what if'. Choose from ten genre packs, eight tones and twelve character types, and every prompt also names a reversal to aim at, a first line and a word target (100, 750, 3,500 or 7,500 words). Writers use it to break a blank page, run timed sprints, or set exercises for a workshop.
How to use Story Prompt Generator by Genre
- 1
Open Story Prompt Generator by Genre on AltFTool — it loads instantly in your browser.
- 2
Paste or type the text you're working with.
- 3
Choose how it should be transformed or analyzed.
- 4
Copy the finished text into your document or post.
Why use Story Prompt Generator by Genre
Loglines, not fragments
Each prompt carries a protagonist, a want, an obstacle and stakes, so the story has a shape before you type.
Genre-true details
Settings and reversals come from a pack built for that genre, so a fantasy prompt never borrows a courtroom from a thriller.
Reproducible seeds
The same seed rebuilds the same batch, so you can share a prompt with a writing partner by sending one number.
Common use cases
- Start a 20-minute writing sprint with a drabble-length prompt (100 words) that already has a want and an obstacle.
- Set six different prompts for a workshop so no two writers hand in the same premise.
- Break out of a habitual genre by generating the same character type inside horror, comedy and historical packs.
- Reuse a seed number to regenerate the exact prompt you liked last week without saving anything.
Frequently asked questions
What makes a good story prompt?
A usable prompt names who wants something, what stands in the way, and what it costs to fail — the classic logline shape. A prompt that is only a setting or only a twist leaves the hardest work undone, which is why every prompt here fills all four slots plus a reversal.
How long should a story from these prompts be?
Pick the target that matches where you want to submit: 100 words for a drabble, up to about 1,000 for flash fiction at most journals, and up to 7,500 words for the short-story category as defined by SFWA's award rules. The tool sets a target of 100, 750, 3,500 or 7,500 words and tells you how much structure that length supports.
Can I use these prompts for a story I publish or sell?
Yes. A premise or idea is not protected by copyright — only the expression is — so the story you write from a prompt is your own work. Crediting the generator is optional and never required.
What is the seed number for?
The seed makes the output reproducible: the same genre, tone, character, length and seed always produce the same prompts. Change it to shuffle, or note it down so you can bring back a prompt you liked without copying the text.