Over 471 "Historical Fiction" Writing Prompts
The Bakery Before the Fire
On the eve of the 1871 Great Chicago Fire, a struggling immigrant family must make a critical decision: fight to save their small bakery, or flee to ensure their safety. Weave a tale of resilience and sacrifice, detailing the impact of the decision on generations to come.
The Nile Village Artifact
Describe the power struggle that unfolds in a small village along the Nile when a precious and rare artifact is unearthed by a local farmer. Detail how various factions within the village, including the priest, the village chief, and foreign traders, vie for possession of the artifact.
The Child and the German Soldier
Write from the perspective of a young child in occupied France who unknowingly befriends a German soldier. Detail their interactions, the soldier’s hidden doubts about the war, and the child’s innocent but poignant insights into the conflict around them.
The Merchant’s Miracles
Set your tale in the bustling trade city of Jerusalem during the time of Jesus. Imagine your protagonist is a skeptical merchant who has never paid much attention to religious matters, but after a chance encounter with Christ, he starts to see miracles happen in his day-to-day life. Explore his transformation and the reactions of those around him.
Leaving the Cliff Dwellings
Tell the story of a group of Ancestral Puebloans facing the decision to abandon their cliffside dwellings. Through the eyes of an elder matriarch, explore the reasons behind this drastic decision, the emotional toll of leaving their ancestral home, and the hopes and fears for their future.
A Renaissance Artist’s Journal
Imagine you are writing a journal as a lesser-known artist in the Renaissance period. Describe your interactions with giants of the era, your creative process, your struggles for patronage, and a detailed description of your most ambitious art piece.
The Black Death Village
Imagine a scenario during the Black Death in a small English village around 1348. Tell the story of one family deciding whether to flee or stay as the plague arrives, and what the choice costs them.
The Potter's Hidden Map
Set in a thriving city in the ancient Americas, you are a skilled potter who discovers a hidden map leading to a mysterious temple. Your story explores the weeks-long journey to find this temple, the friends and foes you meet along the way, and the potentially civilization-changing treasures and truths you uncover.
The Civil War Homefront
Develop a tale about a family whose home becomes a battleground during a significant skirmish of the Civil War. Explore their survival, the decisions they must make to protect one another, and the aftermath of the battle on their lives and home.
A Nurse's War Journal
Write a story centered around the private journal of a nurse who served in the battlefield hospitals during World War I. Through her entries, reveal the horrors, heroism, and humanity she experienced daily, and how these events shaped her both during and after the war.