Tired of trying to keep your writing community lively and interactive? Caption This posts are the perfect way to spark quick creativity and laughter, making participation easy for everyone. With this template library, you will never run out of playful prompts to keep your members inspired and engaged.
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Caption This posts tap into the universal appeal of images and humor, lowering the barrier for participation. By providing a visual focal point, members feel less pressure to write something lengthy or serious, making it easy for anyone to jump in with a witty or creative response.
This format encourages a playful competition, inviting members to outdo each other with clever captions. It also fosters a sense of community as people riff off each other's ideas, leading to more comments and interactions. For writing-focused groups, it is an excellent way to flex creative muscles in a low-stakes, entertaining way.
Importantly, Caption This posts can re-engage quieter members who may not contribute to more involved discussions. The fun, fast-paced nature of these prompts ensures everyone feels welcome, regardless of writing experience.
Caption this scene - what is happening here?
💡 Example: "Caption this scene - what is happening here? (Image: cat sitting at a laptop)"
Give this character a line of dialogue.
💡 Example: "Give this character a line of dialogue. (Image: squirrel holding a pen)"
What would you title this story?
💡 Example: "What would you title this story? (Image: stack of books on fire escape)"
If this image was a plot twist, what would it be?
💡 Example: "If this image was a plot twist, what would it be? (Image: spilled coffee on manuscript)"
Write a funny caption for this picture.
💡 Example: "Write a funny caption for this picture. (Image: dog wearing glasses and reading)"
What is the backstory behind this photo?
💡 Example: "What is the backstory behind this photo? (Image: person in pajamas at a desk with coffee)"
Imagine this is the cover for a bestselling novel. What is the tagline?
💡 Example: "Imagine this is the cover for a bestselling novel. What is the tagline? (Image: mysterious alley at night)"
Describe this scene in just five words.
💡 Example: "Describe this scene in just five words. (Image: open notebook in the rain)"
What is the first thought this character has?
💡 Example: "What is the first thought this character has? (Image: person gazing out window with pen in hand)"
If this was a writing prompt, what would the opening line be?
💡 Example: "If this was a writing prompt, what would the opening line be? (Image: typewriter with blank page)"
Give this image a punny caption.
💡 Example: "Give this image a punny caption. (Image: duck in a library)"
What would this character post on social media?
💡 Example: "What would this character post on social media? (Image: cat with a selfie stick)"
Finish this thought: 'When the author walked in...'
💡 Example: "Finish this thought: 'When the author walked in...' (Image: messy writing desk)"
Caption this with a famous quote twist.
💡 Example: "Caption this with a famous quote twist. (Image: owl on a stack of books)"
Invent a dialogue between two objects in the image.
💡 Example: "Invent a dialogue between two objects in the image. (Image: teacup and notebook)"
What happens next in this scene?
💡 Example: "What happens next in this scene? (Image: spilled ink near paper)"
If this was a comedy, what is the punchline?
💡 Example: "If this was a comedy, what is the punchline? (Image: parrot on a typewriter)"
Write a one-sentence story inspired by this.
💡 Example: "Write a one-sentence story inspired by this. (Image: pen hovering over blank page)"
What emotion does this picture capture? Caption it.
💡 Example: "What emotion does this picture capture? Caption it. (Image: person biting pencil in thought)"
Share a caption that would make readers laugh.
💡 Example: "Share a caption that would make readers laugh. (Image: dog wearing a bow tie at desk)"
Caption this using only three words.
💡 Example: "Caption this using only three words. (Image: overflowing bookshelf)"
If this was a scene in your novel, what is happening?
💡 Example: "If this was a scene in your novel, what is happening? (Image: person running with notebook in hand)"
Rename this image as if it were a short story.
💡 Example: "Rename this image as if it were a short story. (Image: coffee mug with lipstick mark)"
Give this scene a genre.
💡 Example: "Give this scene a genre. (Image: candle-lit writing desk)"
What would the blurb for this book cover say?
💡 Example: "What would the blurb for this book cover say? (Image: mysterious door with handwritten sign)"
If this image was a metaphor, what would it represent?
💡 Example: "If this image was a metaphor, what would it represent? (Image: crumpled paper overflowing trash bin)"
Write a caption in the style of your favorite author.
💡 Example: "Write a caption in the style of your favorite author. (Image: candle by an old book)"
Imagine this is the climax of a story. What is the dramatic caption?
💡 Example: "Imagine this is the climax of a story. What is the dramatic caption? (Image: pen snapped in half)"
What song would fit this scene best?
💡 Example: "What song would fit this scene best? (Image: headphones on an open book)"
Share the first sentence that pops into your head.
💡 Example: "Share the first sentence that pops into your head. (Image: blank page and pen)"
What advice would you give the character in this image?
💡 Example: "What advice would you give the character in this image? (Image: tired writer at desk)"
Write a sarcastic caption for this.
💡 Example: "Write a sarcastic caption for this. (Image: cat sitting on a manuscript)"
If this image had a secret message, what would it be?
💡 Example: "If this image had a secret message, what would it be? (Image: closed envelope on desk)"
Sum up this picture with an alliteration.
💡 Example: "Sum up this picture with an alliteration. (Image: piles of paper precariously placed)"
What would this image's hashtag be?
💡 Example: "What would this image's hashtag be? (Image: coffee next to laptop and book)"
Write a haiku inspired by this image.
💡 Example: "Write a haiku inspired by this image. (Image: sunrise over journal)"
If this was a rejection letter, what would it say?
💡 Example: "If this was a rejection letter, what would it say? (Image: red pen on manuscript)"
Caption this using a famous book title.
💡 Example: "Caption this using a famous book title. (Image: old man reading by window)"
What would an editor say about this scene?
💡 Example: "What would an editor say about this scene? (Image: red pen marks everywhere)"
If you could add a plot twist to this image, what would it be?
💡 Example: "If you could add a plot twist to this image, what would it be? (Image: empty chair at writing group table)"
Start by selecting or describing an image that is open to interpretation, amusing, or unexpected. Pair the image with one of the Caption This templates below to prompt your community. Encourage members to reply directly in the comments with their captions, and consider highlighting the funniest or most creative responses. Rotate images and prompt styles regularly to keep things fresh and maintain engagement.
For all platforms, ensure images are accessible and display well on both desktop and mobile. Use clear, concise prompts and highlight community contributions in follow-up posts or stories. Tag or mention active participants when possible to foster ongoing engagement.
Use images that could be described differently depending on the narrator or point of view—such as a scene from both a protagonist’s and antagonist’s perspective. Encourage members to write captions in first person, third person, or even unreliable narrator styles, then discuss how the perspective changes the story. This not only fosters engagement but also deepens members’ understanding of narrative techniques.
Select images that evoke elements of a specific genre—for example, a shadowy alley for mystery or an enchanted forest for fantasy. Instruct members to write captions adhering to genre conventions, such as incorporating a red herring in a mystery or magical elements in fantasy. This targets genre mastery and encourages members to think creatively within set parameters.
‘Caption This’ prompts provide a low-pressure creative exercise that can jumpstart stalled writing. Select intriguing or ambiguous images and ask members to write a single line or opening for a story. This bypasses the pressure of a blank page and can serve as a warm-up, helping writers ease into longer projects or break through creative ruts.
Yes. Set clear guidelines for feedback—encourage members to comment on what works in a caption and offer suggestions for improvement. Remind users to respect each other's work and explicitly state that copying captions is not allowed. Consider rotating moderators to review submissions and intervene if plagiarism or unconstructive criticism arises.
Choose images featuring people or implied action, and prompt members to write captions as lines of dialogue or inner monologue. You might specify that the caption should reveal a character’s motivation or emotional state. After posting, encourage discussion about how well the caption conveys character voice and backstory.
Align Caption This images with the current group challenge—for instance, select visuals that represent that month’s theme or a common trope from NaNoWriMo projects. Invite members to write captions that could become story starters for their challenge piece. Highlight captions that could be expanded, and invite members to share how they developed them into longer works, fostering continuity and deeper engagement.
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