Struggling to spark creative conversations in your fiction writing community? Hypothetical scenarios are a simple way to ignite imagination, encourage participation, and get writers thinking outside the box. Use these ready-to-go templates to turn passive members into active storytellers.
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Hypothetical scenario prompts tap into the core of fiction writers' creativity, inviting them to play with new worlds and unexpected plot twists. These open-ended questions lower the pressure for 'right' answers, making everyone feel welcome to share their ideas, no matter their experience. By presenting a fun or thought-provoking 'what if,' you invite members to stretch their imaginations, which can help break writer's block and build deeper connections with each other.
This approach also naturally drives engagement by allowing members to showcase their personalities and writing styles in a low-stakes way. It encourages lurkers to join the conversation and gives top contributors fresh material to riff on. The result is a more lively, collaborative, and supportive community that keeps writers coming back for more.
What if your main character woke up with a totally different personality for one day? How would their story change?
💡 Example: "If my hero woke up timid instead of bold, she might run from the quest instead of leading it."
Imagine a world where lies are impossible. What challenges would your protagonist face?
💡 Example: "My detective would be out of a job if no one could lie."
If your villain suddenly became the hero, what would their first act be?
💡 Example: "He might save the city just to win public favor."
What if magic stopped working in your story's world overnight? How would people react?
💡 Example: "My wizards would panic and try science for the first time."
Suppose your story had to be set in the present day. What would change?
💡 Example: "My knight would use Google Maps to find the dragon."
If two of your characters switched bodies, what would happen next?
💡 Example: "My villain would be horrified to wake up as the hero."
Imagine your protagonist has to choose between saving a friend or completing their quest. What do they do?
💡 Example: "She would save her friend and hope to finish the quest later."
What if your main character could only speak in questions for a day?
💡 Example: "My character would drive everyone crazy. Why is this happening? How can I fix it?"
If your story's world was suddenly invaded by aliens, what would change first?
💡 Example: "The city council would panic and try to negotiate."
Suppose your antagonist had a secret soft spot. What is it and how would it affect the plot?
💡 Example: "My villain loves stray cats but hides it from everyone."
What if your story had to be told from a completely new character's perspective?
💡 Example: "The squire sees the hero as reckless instead of brave."
Imagine your main character loses their memory. How do they piece things together?
💡 Example: "She would rely on her friends to fill in the blanks."
If your protagonist found a mysterious object, what would they do with it?
💡 Example: "He would investigate it before telling anyone."
Suppose your world suddenly had no electricity. What happens next?
💡 Example: "My modern city would descend into chaos."
What if your main character had to make peace with their enemy?
💡 Example: "She would struggle but try to see their side."
Imagine your story takes place on the ocean instead of land. How would things change?
💡 Example: "My detective would chase sea pirates instead of land thieves."
If your characters had to communicate without words, how would they do it?
💡 Example: "They would use hand signals and drawings."
Suppose your main character's greatest fear came true. What would happen?
💡 Example: "My hero is terrified of heights and would freeze at the mountain pass."
What if every animal in your story could talk for one day?
💡 Example: "The family cat would reveal all the household secrets."
Imagine your antagonist was actually right all along. How does that change your story?
💡 Example: "The hero would have to question their own motives."
If your story's setting changed to the far future, what would stay the same?
💡 Example: "Family bonds would still be important."
Suppose your main character had the power to pause time. What's the first thing they do?
💡 Example: "He would sneak into the palace to find answers."
What if your story ended with the villain winning? How would you write that ending?
💡 Example: "The villain takes the throne and rewrites the laws."
Imagine your protagonist had to relive the same day until they fixed a mistake. What would they do differently?
💡 Example: "She would try to make amends with her rival."
If your main character could swap places with anyone in their world, who would they choose?
💡 Example: "He would trade places with the king for a day."
Suppose your world had a new, strange rule everyone must follow. What is it and how does it affect life?
💡 Example: "No one can say the word 'yes.'"
What if your protagonist had to hide their biggest secret in plain sight?
💡 Example: "She wears a magical ring but pretends it's cheap jewelry."
Imagine your antagonist turned out to be a close relative. How does this twist the plot?
💡 Example: "The hero discovers the villain is her uncle."
If your story was set during a massive festival, how would the characters act differently?
💡 Example: "Everyone would be distracted by the festivities."
Suppose your main character made a wish that actually came true. What was it and how does it change things?
💡 Example: "He wishes for bravery and suddenly acts without fear."
What if your protagonist had to team up with their rival to survive?
💡 Example: "They would bicker constantly but get the job done."
Imagine your story world had a sudden change of season overnight. How would the plot shift?
💡 Example: "A winter festival would be ruined by summer heat."
If your characters could visit our real world for a day, what would shock them most?
💡 Example: "My medieval knight would be amazed by smartphones."
Suppose your antagonist has a moment of redemption. What triggers it?
💡 Example: "She saves a child and regrets her choices."
What if every plot twist in your story happened at once?
💡 Example: "All secrets are revealed during the big feast."
Imagine your main character wakes up in a different genre. What do they notice first?
💡 Example: "My fantasy hero is confused by the sci-fi tech."
If your protagonist had to make a deal with a mysterious stranger, what would they bargain for?
💡 Example: "She would trade her voice for safety."
Suppose your world had no written language. How would history be passed on?
💡 Example: "Stories would be told through music and dance."
What if your protagonist's best friend betrayed them? How would they react?
💡 Example: "She would feel lost and question everyone."
Imagine your story's world suddenly became silent. How would characters communicate and adapt?
💡 Example: "They would invent new gestures to communicate."
To get the most from these templates, drop a hypothetical scenario in a new post or thread and invite members to share how they would respond. Use them as icebreakers, weekly challenges, or prompts for group writing sprints. Encourage replies by tagging members, asking follow-up questions, or highlighting creative answers. Rotate between serious and playful scenarios to keep engagement high and appeal to a range of writing styles.
These templates work on all platforms. For forums, use them to start new threads. In chat apps or social feeds, keep posts concise and tag members to join in. On writing platforms, consider combining with collaborative documents or comment threads for group storytelling.
To engage writers across genres, customize your prompts with genre-specific elements. For fantasy, incorporate magical systems or mythical creatures; for sci-fi, include technological advancements or alien cultures; for historical fiction, reference real historical events or settings. This ensures the scenarios resonate with members' interests and inspire more authentic, genre-appropriate writing.
Frame your prompts with open-ended questions that require members to consider motivations, ethical dilemmas, or the consequences of actions. For example, instead of 'What happens if your protagonist finds a magic ring?', ask 'How does your protagonist's worldview shift after discovering a forbidden magical artifact, and how does it affect their relationships?' This encourages richer storytelling and deeper engagement.
Periodically feature prompts that specifically request or highlight experimental narrative forms. For example: 'Write a scenario where the protagonist recounts events out of order, revealing critical information only at the end.' You can also spotlight member responses that use unique structures, encouraging others to try new techniques.
Carefully review prompts to avoid stereotypes and problematic tropes. Encourage scenarios that feature diverse characters with agency and avoid situations where trauma exists solely to motivate another character. Solicit feedback from members about representation and update your prompt library as needed to maintain inclusivity.
Accompany prompts with brief context or research tidbits. For example: 'A character wakes up with amnesia—consider real medical causes and recovery rates.' This provides a factual foundation, inspiring writers to weave realistic details into their stories and fostering discussion about research best practices in fiction.
Offer prompts that encourage members to place their existing characters in new, challenging situations outside their main narrative. For example: 'How would your antagonist react if forced to save their enemy?' This helps writers see their characters from fresh perspectives, often reigniting inspiration and generating new story ideas.
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