Struggling to spark quick, lighthearted engagement in your fiction writing community? This or That prompts are the perfect way to break the ice, encourage spontaneous participation, and get your members talking. Our ready-to-use templates make it easy to inspire creativity and connection with just a few clicks.
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This or That prompts succeed because they remove barriers to participation. By offering two clear options, you make responding effortless, even for shy or new members. This format invites quick, instinctive answers, lowering the pressure to be clever or elaborate. For fiction writers, these prompts tap into their love of choices and imagination, letting them share preferences and personal quirks in a low-stakes way.
These questions also drive community bonding. Seeing how others respond often sparks friendly debate, laughter, or deeper conversations about writing habits and tastes. Over time, these simple interactions build trust and camaraderie, making your community feel more welcoming and lively.
Write by hand or type on a computer - which do you prefer?
💡 Example: "Write by hand or type on a computer - which do you prefer?"
First drafts: messy and fast or careful and slow?
💡 Example: "First drafts: messy and fast or careful and slow?"
Plotter or pantser - which best describes you?
💡 Example: "Plotter or pantser - which best describes you?"
Write in silence or with music?
💡 Example: "Write in silence or with music?"
Morning writer or night owl?
💡 Example: "Morning writer or night owl?"
Fantasy or sci-fi worlds?
💡 Example: "Fantasy or sci-fi worlds?"
Standalone novel or series writer?
💡 Example: "Standalone novel or series writer?"
Strong villains or unforgettable heroes?
💡 Example: "Strong villains or unforgettable heroes?"
Dialogue or description - which is more fun to write?
💡 Example: "Dialogue or description - which is more fun to write?"
Pen and notebook or digital notes?
💡 Example: "Pen and notebook or digital notes?"
Write every day or write when inspiration strikes?
💡 Example: "Write every day or write when inspiration strikes?"
Outlines: love them or skip them?
💡 Example: "Outlines: love them or skip them?"
Happy endings or open endings?
💡 Example: "Happy endings or open endings?"
Short stories or epic novels?
💡 Example: "Short stories or epic novels?"
Prologue or jump right into the action?
💡 Example: "Prologue or jump right into the action?"
Write at home or write in a cafe?
💡 Example: "Write at home or write in a cafe?"
Multiple POVs or single perspective?
💡 Example: "Multiple POVs or single perspective?"
Edit as you go or edit after finishing?
💡 Example: "Edit as you go or edit after finishing?"
Write with snacks or without?
💡 Example: "Write with snacks or without?"
Classic tropes or twist them up?
💡 Example: "Classic tropes or twist them up?"
Love scenes: awkward or easy to write?
💡 Example: "Love scenes: awkward or easy to write?"
Write with a plan or just start and see what happens?
💡 Example: "Write with a plan or just start and see what happens?"
Third person or first person narration?
💡 Example: "Third person or first person narration?"
Beta readers or keep it secret until finished?
💡 Example: "Beta readers or keep it secret until finished?"
Start with character or start with plot?
💡 Example: "Start with character or start with plot?"
Write in bursts or slow and steady?
💡 Example: "Write in bursts or slow and steady?"
Antagonists: misunderstood or purely evil?
💡 Example: "Antagonists: misunderstood or purely evil?"
Write in order or jump between scenes?
💡 Example: "Write in order or jump between scenes?"
Urban fantasy or epic fantasy?
💡 Example: "Urban fantasy or epic fantasy?"
Worldbuilding: start with a map or with people?
💡 Example: "Worldbuilding: start with a map or with people?"
Write for fun or write to publish?
💡 Example: "Write for fun or write to publish?"
Flash fiction or novella?
💡 Example: "Flash fiction or novella?"
Paper books or e-books?
💡 Example: "Paper books or e-books?"
Revise chapter by chapter or whole draft at once?
💡 Example: "Revise chapter by chapter or whole draft at once?"
Villain redemption arcs: love them or not for you?
💡 Example: "Villain redemption arcs: love them or not for you?"
Write in short sprints or long sessions?
💡 Example: "Write in short sprints or long sessions?"
Start with title or come up with it last?
💡 Example: "Start with title or come up with it last?"
Write with coffee or tea?
💡 Example: "Write with coffee or tea?"
Dark themes or cozy vibes?
💡 Example: "Dark themes or cozy vibes?"
Share your work in progress or keep it private?
💡 Example: "Share your work in progress or keep it private?"
First line or last line - which is harder?
💡 Example: "First line or last line - which is harder?"
Pick a prompt from the list and post it as-is, or tailor it to fit your community's current themes or events. Encourage members to reply with their choice and, if they wish, a quick reason. Pin or feature popular prompts to draw in more responses. Rotate This or That questions regularly to keep engagement high and your community feed fresh. Consider using these as icebreakers for new members or as a fun break between more in-depth discussions.
For all platforms, keep your prompts short and visually clear. Use line breaks or emojis to separate the two options if the platform supports them. Tag or mention new members to encourage participation. On forums or Slack, pin or feature your post for better visibility. In chats or Discord, use threads to group responses. Keep timing in mind: post during peak hours for your community to maximize engagement.
Focus on crafting 'This or That' prompts that highlight distinctive features of each technique. For example, explain the strengths of first-person POV (intimacy, limited knowledge) versus third-person POV (multiple perspectives, broader scope). Pair the prompt with examples from well-known novels and invite writers to discuss how these choices impact their own storytelling. This will encourage nuanced discussion rather than simple preference polling.
Tailor your prompts to pit popular genre-specific tropes against each other, such as 'dragons vs aliens' for fantasy vs science fiction, or 'chosen one vs reluctant hero.' This approach encourages writers to reflect on their genre preferences and analyze how these tropes influence plot and character development. It also sparks creative ideas for subverting or mixing tropes in their own work.
Design prompts that address common writer workflows and terminology, such as 'pantser (writing by the seat of your pants) vs plotter (outlining in advance).' Offer context or ask members to share specific techniques, tools, or experiences with each method. This not only fosters engagement but also creates a knowledge-sharing environment for writers struggling with their own process.
Use prompts that contrast iconic archetypes or moral alignments, like 'anti-hero vs traditional hero' or 'mentor vs sidekick.' Encourage members to post examples from their works-in-progress or favorite novels. This gives writers a framework to reflect on their own character creation decisions and opens up conversations about complexity, sympathy, and reader expectations in fiction.
Frame your prompts with context and examples: instead of just saying 'show vs tell,' provide two short narrative excerpts (one showing, one telling) and ask which approach members prefer for a given scenario. This encourages deeper engagement and practical discussion about the balance between the two techniques in different storytelling contexts.
Absolutely! Create prompts that ask writers to choose between worldbuilding elements like 'hard magic system vs soft magic system' or 'dystopian future vs alternate history.' Follow up by inviting members to share how those choices influence plot constraints, themes, and character agency in their stories. This not only inspires creativity but also helps writers learn from each other's approaches.
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