Struggling to keep your fiction writing community active and engaged? Guessing games are the perfect way to spark conversation and playful interaction. Use these templates to easily invite members to guess, speculate, and connect over creative clues.
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Guessing games tap into our natural curiosity and love of puzzles. In fiction writing communities, they encourage members to think creatively and engage with shared story elements or genre tropes. When you offer a fun mystery or partial clue, you lower the barrier to participation and make it easy for everyone to join in, regardless of their writing experience.
This format also builds camaraderie among members as they share their guesses and celebrate correct answers together. It shifts the focus from critique or self-promotion to pure enjoyment, helping to foster a supportive and playful community atmosphere. Because these games are quick and low-stakes, even shy members are more likely to participate.
Guess the genre: A spaceship lands in a medieval kingdom. What is it?
💡 Example: "Guess the genre: A spaceship lands in a medieval kingdom. What is it? Drop your guess below!"
I am thinking of a classic villain who wears a mask. Who am I?
💡 Example: "I am thinking of a classic villain who wears a mask. Who am I? Any guesses?"
Which famous author wrote under the pen name Robert Galbraith?
💡 Example: "Which famous author wrote under the pen name Robert Galbraith? Can you guess?"
My main character can talk to animals but hates dogs. Guess their biggest secret.
💡 Example: "My main character can talk to animals but hates dogs. Guess their biggest secret!"
This story starts with a locked door and ends with a feast. What could happen in between?
💡 Example: "This story starts with a locked door and ends with a feast. What could happen in between? Share your guesses!"
Guess the setting: Fog, cobblestone streets, mysterious strangers. Where are we?
💡 Example: "Guess the setting: Fog, cobblestone streets, mysterious strangers. Where are we?"
Two writers enter, only one can win a dragon's egg. Who will tell the better tale?
💡 Example: "Two writers enter, only one can win a dragon's egg. Who will tell the better tale? Make your guess!"
Which literary device am I? I make comparisons without using like or as.
💡 Example: "Which literary device am I? I make comparisons without using like or as. Anyone know?"
My story has a twist ending. Can you guess what it is?
💡 Example: "My story has a twist ending. Can you guess what it is?"
Guess the trope: A hero wakes up with no memory and a mysterious tattoo.
💡 Example: "Guess the trope: A hero wakes up with no memory and a mysterious tattoo."
I am an object that grants wishes but always at a price. What am I?
💡 Example: "I am an object that grants wishes but always at a price. What am I?"
Which POV is this? The narrator knows everything, even thoughts.
💡 Example: "Which POV is this? The narrator knows everything, even thoughts."
Can you guess which genre has time travel and romance?
💡 Example: "Can you guess which genre has time travel and romance?"
I am a sidekick with a secret. Guess what I am hiding.
💡 Example: "I am a sidekick with a secret. Guess what I am hiding."
Which famous book starts with a letter to a wizard?
💡 Example: "Which famous book starts with a letter to a wizard?"
Guess the ending: The villain smiles as the curtain falls. What happened?
💡 Example: "Guess the ending: The villain smiles as the curtain falls. What happened?"
I am a story set on another planet. Guess my subgenre.
💡 Example: "I am a story set on another planet. Guess my subgenre."
Who said this? To be, or not to be, that is the question.
💡 Example: "Who said this? To be, or not to be, that is the question."
A cursed mirror changes your reflection. Guess what happens next.
💡 Example: "A cursed mirror changes your reflection. Guess what happens next."
Which element do you think is hardest to write: plot, character, or setting?
💡 Example: "Which element do you think is hardest to write: plot, character, or setting? Share your guess."
Can you guess my character's flaw if they never say no?
💡 Example: "Can you guess my character's flaw if they never say no?"
I am a symbol of hope in many stories. What could I be?
💡 Example: "I am a symbol of hope in many stories. What could I be?"
Guess the author: Wrote about a boy wizard and his friends.
💡 Example: "Guess the author: Wrote about a boy wizard and his friends."
What magical creature is often invisible and mischievous?
💡 Example: "What magical creature is often invisible and mischievous? Guess below."
I am the setting for many Gothic novels. What am I?
💡 Example: "I am the setting for many Gothic novels. What am I?"
Which season is most common for story climaxes? Guess why.
💡 Example: "Which season is most common for story climaxes? Guess why."
I am a character who never lies. Guess my biggest challenge.
💡 Example: "I am a character who never lies. Guess my biggest challenge."
Guess the word: Describes the turning point of a story.
💡 Example: "Guess the word: Describes the turning point of a story."
Which point of view uses 'I' to tell the story?
💡 Example: "Which point of view uses 'I' to tell the story?"
What object would you give your hero to help them win?
💡 Example: "What object would you give your hero to help them win? Share your ideas!"
Guess the genre: Haunted house, secret past, eerie noises.
💡 Example: "Guess the genre: Haunted house, secret past, eerie noises."
Which fairytale character slept for 100 years?
💡 Example: "Which fairytale character slept for 100 years?"
Can you guess the twist if the hero is really the villain?
💡 Example: "Can you guess the twist if the hero is really the villain?"
I am a color that often means danger in stories. What am I?
💡 Example: "I am a color that often means danger in stories. What am I?"
Guess the first line: It was a bright cold day in April...
💡 Example: "Guess the first line: It was a bright cold day in April... Which book?"
Which magical item lets you travel through time?
💡 Example: "Which magical item lets you travel through time?"
My story features a talking cat and a missing moon. Guess the genre.
💡 Example: "My story features a talking cat and a missing moon. Guess the genre."
I am a plot device that puts a hero on a journey. What am I?
💡 Example: "I am a plot device that puts a hero on a journey. What am I?"
Guess what happens: The magic spell goes wrong at midnight.
💡 Example: "Guess what happens: The magic spell goes wrong at midnight."
Which classic author created Sherlock Holmes?
💡 Example: "Which classic author created Sherlock Holmes?"
What kind of antagonist would you add to a peaceful town?
💡 Example: "What kind of antagonist would you add to a peaceful town? Share your ideas!"
I am a prophecy that sounds good but means disaster. What am I called?
💡 Example: "I am a prophecy that sounds good but means disaster. What am I called?"
To use these templates, simply copy and paste your chosen prompt into your community platform. Adjust any details to fit your group's current theme or shared interests. Consider pinning a guessing game post at regular intervals or using them as icebreakers for new members. Always follow up with the answer and celebrate creative or funny guesses to keep the energy high.
These templates work on all platforms. For best results, use eye-catching visuals or emojis where supported, and consider adding polls or reply threads to organize guesses. Adapt the length based on platform norms: keep it short for Twitter or Discord, expand for Facebook or forums.
Design templates where you post a short, anonymized excerpt or plot summary from a member’s work-in-progress, and challenge the community to guess the underlying trope or plot device (e.g., 'the chosen one,' 'red herring,' 'Chekhov’s gun'). This not only sparks discussion about narrative structure but also helps writers recognize and play with genre conventions in their own fiction.
Use the templates to present a brief scene or a character’s monologue, omitting key context. Ask members to guess the true motivation driving the character’s actions (e.g., revenge, guilt, ambition). This encourages nuanced analysis and helps writers craft more layered, believable characters by seeing how others interpret their work.
Create templates that focus on genre hallmarks—such as magic systems for fantasy or procedural details for detective fiction. Allow for multiple correct answers if genre blending is present, and clarify in the instructions that cross-genre works are welcomed. This fosters inclusion for experimental writers and educates the community about subgenres.
Prompt members to submit their story’s opening line anonymously. Use a template where others guess if it’s an original hook or a well-known cliché. Offer feedback and suggestions for freshening up clichéd openings. This approach turns a guessing game into a learning opportunity and supports writers in crafting stronger beginnings.
If featuring unpublished material, always obtain explicit permission from the author before posting. Use templates that anonymize the content, and remind members not to share or reproduce any excerpts outside the community. Consider a standing rule or disclaimer to protect writers’ intellectual property and foster a safe creative environment.
Invite members to submit short passages in their distinctive narrative voice. Post these anonymously using the templates and challenge the community to guess the author based on style, tone, and word choice. After revealing the author, provide a discussion space for feedback on what made their voice stand out, helping writers refine their unique style.
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