39 ChatGPT Prompts for Fiction Writing (Fabled Futures)

ChatGPT is transforming the landscape of fiction writing.

From hatching novel story ideas to fashioning compelling characters, devising riveting plots, and even refining dialogue—its capabilities are truly remarkable.

But with this vast array of opportunities, it's challenging to identify the best starting point.

That's precisely why this guide was born.

In this guide, merging the essence of true-to-life author experiences and numerous hours playing around with ChatGPT, I'll divulge proven ChatGPT prompts for fiction writing.

Let's embark on this journey.

ChatGPT Prompts for Fiction Writing

Create interesting character profiles

Crafting compelling characters can be the most challenging part of writing fiction.

ChatGPT can help you design intriguing characters, from their backstory to their personality traits, motives, and even physical appearance.

Just provide ChatGPT with some basic details, like the type of character you want, their role in the story, and it will create a unique character profile for you.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as a seasoned fiction writer and help me create an interesting character for my upcoming fantasy novel.

The character is a cunning and charismatic thief who becomes an unlikely hero.

Give me a detailed profile, including physical characteristics, backstory, and personality traits.

Develop plot ideas

Developing a gripping plot can be a complex task for writers.

ChatGPT can help create interesting plot ideas based on a given genre, characters, or setting.

Simply ask ChatGPT to act as an experienced fiction writer and provide brief information about the world or characters in your story.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as an experienced fiction writer to develop interesting plot ideas.

The story is set in a dystopian future where artificial intelligence has taken over the world.

The main characters are a group of teenagers with special abilities.

Provide three diverse plot ideas based on this premise.

Identify key plot points

Whether you're brainstorming a new story or struggling with plot progression in an existing one, ChatGPT can help you identify key plot points.

By providing ChatGPT with a brief summary or the key characters of your story, it can generate various possible events and plot twists.

For instance, you can ask ChatGPT to come up with critical events in a romance novel or suggest a plot twist for a mystery story.

ChatGPT Prompt:

As a seasoned fiction writer, help me identify key plot points for my story.

It's a science fiction novel about a group of astronauts who discover an ancient alien civilization on Mars.

Develop setting descriptions

Crafting compelling setting descriptions is a critical part of fiction writing, adding depth and dimension to the narrative.

ChatGPT can help you describe settings in detail, stimulating readers' imaginations.

Provide the AI with a basic setting, whether it's a bustling city, an abandoned house, a peaceful forest, or any other place, and let ChatGPT generate a descriptive scene.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as a seasoned fiction writer and develop a detailed description of the following setting:

A quiet seaside town on a cloudy day in autumn.

Write engaging dialogues

With fiction writing, creating engaging dialogues can make or break the connection between your readers and your characters.

ChatGPT can help you craft compelling and authentic dialogues that will bring your characters to life.

Simply provide some context or background about your characters and the scenario, and let ChatGPT do the rest.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Help me write a dialogue for a fiction novel.

The characters are two detectives, one is seasoned and cynical, the other is a naive rookie.

They've just discovered a major clue in their case.

Create a story arc

ChatGPT can aid you in creating compelling story arcs for your fiction writing.

You simply need to provide the general setting, characters, or themes, and it can propose an intriguing narrative with a beginning, middle, and end.

This can assist you in visualizing your story better and ensuring a coherent and engaging narrative.

ChatGPT Prompt:

As an experienced fiction writer, create a captivating story arc based on the following elements: a dystopian future, a rebellious heroine, and a mysterious artifact.

Develop a conflict and resolution

ChatGPT can help you sketch out the central conflict and its resolution for your story, providing the necessary tension and plot development.

You only need to give it a brief about your characters and setting, and it can build a compelling conflict and a satisfying resolution.

For example, if you're writing a science fiction novel set in a dystopian future, ChatGPT could aid in developing these story elements.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Create a conflict and resolution for a science fiction story set in a dystopian future.

The main characters are a rebellious teenager with a secret power and a benevolent AI that seeks to restore humanity.

Write the first draft of a chapter

ChatGPT can help you craft the first draft of a chapter for your fiction novel.

Share a brief overview of your story, characters, and the events leading up to the chapter you want written.

The AI can then generate a draft that aligns with your story's tone, setting, and plot progression.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as a fiction writer and help me write the first draft of a chapter for my science fiction novel.

The story revolves around a group of astronauts who discover a new planet.

In this chapter, they land on the planet and encounter the first signs of alien life.

Refine a chapter with editing and rewriting

ChatGPT can be a helpful tool in refining and editing your fiction work.

It can proofread a chapter for grammar, punctuation and spelling errors, and suggest improvements in sentence structure and word choice.

Moreover, it can also aid in rewriting sentences or paragraphs to enhance the narrative flow or character development.

ChatGPT Prompt:

As an experienced editor, help me refine and rewrite the following chapter of my fiction novel.

Please focus on improving the narrative flow, character development, and overall readability.

Here is the chapter:

Identify themes and motifs in your story

In the process of crafting your fiction story, you might need help identifying underlying themes and motifs.

ChatGPT can assist you with this task, analyzing your story to detect recurring elements and ideas that contribute to its overarching message.

Simply provide your story or a summary to ChatGPT, and ask it to identify the themes and motifs present.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as an experienced literary analyst and identify the themes and motifs in my story.

Here is the summary of my story:

Develop a strong opening scene

Creating a gripping opening scene can be a daunting task for even the most seasoned writers.

ChatGPT can help you weave a compelling first scene that sets the tone for your entire story.

Provide the AI with a basic synopsis of your story including the setting, characters, and the general plot.

ChatGPT can then write a captivating opening scene based on the information you provided.

ChatGPT Prompt:

As a seasoned fiction writer, help me create an engaging opening scene for my story.

The story is set in a dystopian future, revolving around the life of a fearless rebel leader named Jane who is on a quest to overthrow a totalitarian regime.

Write a compelling ending

Fiction writing often involves crafting a conclusion that leaves readers wanting more, emotionally engaged, or contemplatively satisfied.

Whether you want a cliffhanger, a twist, or a simple resolution, ChatGPT can help you pen the perfect ending.

Just give ChatGPT the story details and the type of ending you want, and watch as it transforms your vision into a captivating conclusion.

ChatGPT Prompt:

As an established fiction writer, craft a compelling ending for a story about a man who discovers he has the power to time travel.

The tone should be melancholic yet hopeful.

Create suspense and tension in your story

Creating suspense and tension is essential to keep your readers hooked.

ChatGPT can help you craft suspenseful scenes by adding unexpected twists, slow reveals, or ominous foreshadowing.

Just provide ChatGPT with your story context and ask it to build suspense or tension.

ChatGPT Prompt:

As a seasoned fiction writer, add a layer of suspense and tension to the following scene:

The protagonist is about to enter an abandoned mansion at midnight, unaware of the lurking danger inside.

Write a dramatic climax

ChatGPT can be a great tool for coming up with a riveting climax for your story, full of suspense, emotion, and an unexpected twist.

To use this feature, describe the key elements of your storyline and characters, and ask ChatGPT to generate a climax based on that.

Here's how to prompt ChatGPT:

Act as a seasoned fiction writer and create a dramatic climax for my novel.

Here are the key details:

- The protagonist, Jane, is a detective trying to solve a high-profile murder case.

- The antagonist, John, is the unlikely suspect with a deep secret.

- The novel is set in 19th-century London.

Craft a suspenseful climax with a surprising twist that fits this storyline.

Create subplots and intertwining storylines

Creating intricate storylines and subplots can be a daunting task for any writer.

ChatGPT, however, can aid in creating layered narratives that add depth to your story.

Provide your main plot, characters, and setting, and ChatGPT will weave in compelling subplots and interlinking storylines.

ChatGPT Prompt:

As a seasoned fiction writer, create some interesting subplots and intertwining storylines to add depth to my main plot.

Here are the details of my main plot, characters, and setting:

Develop relatable character relationships

Creating character relationships that resonate with readers can sometimes be a challenging task.

However, you can use ChatGPT to help you develop these relationships.

By providing it with initial character profiles and describing the desired relationship type, ChatGPT can generate an interaction or dialogue that signifies the evolution of these relationships.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Using the character profiles of John, a rebellious teenager, and Sarah, a strict yet caring schoolteacher, create a dialogue between the two that shows the development of a mentor-mentee relationship.

Write a character's backstory

ChatGPT can help you build complex and engaging backstories for your characters that can bring them to life.

It can consider a wide range of elements such as the character's origins, childhood experiences, life-changing events, relationships, and much more to create a rich backstory.

For example, you can ask ChatGPT to create a backstory for a rogue bounty hunter character in a sci-fi novel.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Craft a compelling backstory for a rogue bounty hunter character in a dystopian sci-fi setting.

He's hardened by life, skilled, mysterious, and holds a secret from his past.

Create a world-building outline

Every great fiction story starts with a well-constructed world.

Use ChatGPT to help you design a comprehensive world-building outline.

Just provide your story's genre and basic premise, and ChatGPT can generate a detailed outline covering different aspects like geography, culture, history, and societal norms of your fictional world.

ChatGPT Prompt:

As an experienced fiction writer, create a world-building outline for a fantasy novel set in a parallel universe where magic is a part of everyday life.

Write a synopsis for your novel

Have you ever struggled with condensing your sprawling, complex novel into a concise and compelling synopsis?

With ChatGPT, you can simplify the process and craft a synopsis that captures the essence of your story.

Input your key plot points, character descriptions, and main conflict into ChatGPT and watch as it weaves them together into a synopsis designed to enthrall readers.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as an experienced author and write a synopsis for my novel.

Here are the key details:

Title: Midnight Symphony

Genre: Mystery thriller

Main Characters: Detective John, Serial killer The Maestro

Plot: Detective John races against time to stop The Maestro, a serial killer who kills musicians in the order of a symphony.

Setting: Modern-day New York

Main Conflict: John’s struggle to decipher The Maestro's clues while dealing with his own personal demons.

Develop a series of short stories with a common theme

ChatGPT is your ideal assistant when it comes to creating a captivating series of short stories with a shared theme.

Simply provide ChatGPT with a theme or central idea and it will generate a series of short stories revolving around it.

It could be a character, a setting, an event, or an abstract concept like love, time, and justice.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Create a series of three short stories centred around the theme of resilience.

Each story should introduce different characters and situations but showcase the theme in a unique way.

Write flashbacks and forward jumps effectively

Writing a narrative with effective flashbacks and forward jumps can be quite challenging.

However, ChatGPT can assist in crafting these elements seamlessly into your story.

Provide ChatGPT with the details of your plot, and specify the moments you want to feature as either a flashback or a forward jump.

With this information, ChatGPT can write sections of your story that transition smoothly between these temporal shifts.

ChatGPT Prompt:

As a professional fiction writer, write a scene that includes a character's flashback to their childhood and a forward jump to their future.

The character's name is John, who grew up in a small countryside town but moved to a bustling city for work.

Develop symbolism and foreshadowing in your story

ChatGPT can help you weave intricate storylines by developing symbolism and foreshadowing.

You'll just need to provide the basic details and context of your story, and it can generate suggestions on potential symbols that represent your characters or themes and how to foreshadow pivotal events.

ChatGPT Prompt:

As an experienced fiction writer, help me develop symbolism and foreshadowing in my story.

The story revolves around a rebellious teenager named Alex who is struggling with the transition to adulthood.

Please suggest some symbols that could represent his internal struggle and some instances of foreshadowing to hint at his eventual transformation.

Create a novel outline

When planning a novel, having a detailed outline can aid in structuring your plot and characters.

ChatGPT can assist you in creating an outline by generating chapter summaries, character development arcs, and even possible plot twists.

Just provide ChatGPT with a brief overview of the story you have in mind, and it will help you develop an organized, comprehensive novel outline.

ChatGPT Prompt:

As an experienced fiction writer, create a novel outline for a story about a young magician who discovers she's the prophesied savior of her magical world.

Outline key events, character developments, and plot twists for each chapter.

Write a query letter for your manuscript

A query letter can be a daunting task for any writer.

However, ChatGPT can help you write a compelling one that can catch a publisher's eye.

You can provide ChatGPT with the details of your manuscript such as the genre, word count, the plot, and the characters, and it will generate a query letter based on this information.

For example, you can ask ChatGPT to compose a query letter for your fiction manuscript.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Compose a query letter for my fiction manuscript.

The book is a science fiction novel set in a dystopian future with a word count of 80,000.

The story revolves around the protagonist's struggle against an oppressive regime and their journey of self-discovery.

The protagonist's name is Alex.

Develop a writing routine and strategies for overcoming writer's block

Establishing a consistent writing routine can help prevent writer's block, and ChatGPT can assist with this.

Give it a brief of your story and it can suggest daily writing prompts or objectives to help you stay on track.

For those days where you're stuck, it can propose alternative story directions or character developments.

ChatGPT Prompt:

As a seasoned fiction author, help me develop a writing routine and strategies for overcoming writer's block.

I'm working on a fantasy novel about a group of rebels trying to overthrow a tyrannical king.

Provide a writing schedule for the next week and ideas for progressing the story when I feel stuck.

Craft vivid descriptions

Harness the power of ChatGPT to elevate your fiction writing.

It can help you create vivid descriptions that breathe life into your characters and settings.

Input a basic description of a character, scene, or emotion, and ask ChatGPT to expand upon it.

With its ability to generate richly detailed narratives, it can turn your basic sketches into fully realized depictions.

ChatGPT Prompt:

As a seasoned fiction writer, transform this basic description into a more detailed and vivid narrative.

The character is a middle-aged detective living in New York.

He is tall, has a scar on his cheek, and is always seen in a trench coat.

Edit and revise your first draft

After crafting your first draft, it's time to refine and polish it.

ChatGPT can assist in this process by offering suggestions for improvements.

Provide your draft to ChatGPT and ask it to improve the flow, coherence, and grammar of your story.

For instance, you can ask ChatGPT to make your dialogues sound more natural or to enhance your descriptions.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as an experienced editor and revise the following draft of my fiction story.

Make the dialogues sound natural and enhance the descriptions where necessary.

Here is the first draft:

Give and receive constructive feedback

ChatGPT can be a valuable tool for providing constructive feedback on your fiction writing.

Feed it with your story, and ask for feedback on elements like plot, character development, dialogue, and setting.

Conversely, if you're critiquing someone else's work, ask ChatGPT to help you craft a thoughtful, effective critique.

ChatGPT Prompt:

As an experienced fiction writer and editor, I would like you to provide constructive feedback on this short story I've written.

Keep in mind elements like plot development, character depth, dialogue quality, and scene description.

Here's the story:

Learn to handle literary criticism

Dealing with literary criticism is a part of every writer's journey.

Whether you're a novice or an experienced author, ChatGPT can help you navigate through the critique.

Feed ChatGPT with the feedback or critique you received, ask it to analyze the content, and generate actionable improvements.

Remember, criticism is a tool for growth.

Use it to refine your writing and enhance your storytelling.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as an experienced fiction writer responding to literary criticism.

Here is the feedback received on my recent short story.

Analyze the criticism and give me pointers on how to improve my writing based on the feedback.

Explore different genres and writing styles

ChatGPT can assist you in exploring different genres and writing styles in fiction writing.

Whether you want to experiment with sci-fi, fantasy, romance, horror, or realistic fiction, the AI can provide examples or even write short passages.

Just specify the genre or writing style you are interested in, and ChatGPT will generate relevant content.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as an experienced fiction writer and provide me with a detailed exploration of the mystery genre and its common writing styles.

Alternatively, write a short passage in the style of a vintage noir detective novel.

Write from different points of view

ChatGPT can assist you in writing from different perspectives, such as first person, third person, or even an omniscient narrator.

This can help writers in developing characters and plot in a unique way, as they can explore how the story unfolds from different viewpoints.

You simply have to specify the point of view you want ChatGPT to adopt, and it will generate the narrative accordingly.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Write a short passage from the point of view of a detective in a crime novel who just discovered a crucial clue in the case.

Create a compelling book cover design brief

ChatGPT is capable of crafting a compelling book cover design brief based on the elements of the story.

Simply provide ChatGPT with important details about the book like genre, setting, key themes, and character descriptions.

The AI can then provide a creative brief that encapsulates the essence of your story.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Craft a comprehensive book cover design brief for a new science fiction novel.

The story is set on a distant planet, involves a quest for a legendary artifact, and centralizes around a strong female protagonist.

Provide your creative insights and considerations for the book cover design.

Develop a marketing plan for your novel

As a novelist, marketing your book is as important as writing it.

ChatGPT can assist you in developing a robust marketing plan by considering factors like target audience, marketing channels, and promotional strategies.

Let ChatGPT know the genre of your novel, your target readers, and any unique selling propositions, and it will use these details to draft a marketing plan.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as a seasoned marketing strategist and help me develop a marketing plan for my upcoming novel.

The novel is a science fiction thriller aimed at young adults, and it explores themes of climate change and resilience.

What are the key strategies, promotional channels, and target audience engagement methods I should consider?

Write a compelling author bio

Writing an author bio can be a tricky task, but with ChatGPT, you can create a compelling bio that resonates with your readers.

Just provide ChatGPT with key details about yourself, your writing journey, your accomplishments, and your unique style.

It will weave together these details into a concise, engaging author bio that highlights your passion and expertise in fiction writing.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as an experienced author and write a compelling bio for me.

I am a fiction writer who has written three bestselling novels.

My writing is known for its rich character development and unexpected plot twists.

I have received the Bram Stoker Award for my horror fiction.

Improve your writing skills and techniques

Writing can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to fiction.

Improve your skills by using ChatGPT as a writing coach.

Feed ChatGPT with your story, ask for feedback or suggestions to improve the plot, character development, dialogues, or the overall narrative flow.

ChatGPT can also help with generating ideas for plot twists or character backstories.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as a seasoned fiction writer and critique my short story.

Provide suggestions for improving plot, characters, dialogues, and overall narrative flow.

Here is the story:

Research and incorporate accurate details into your story

When writing a story, the devil is often in the details.

ChatGPT can help you with that.

Give it the context about your story - the setting, characters, and overall plot.

If your story involves specific details, such as historical settings or scientific concepts, ChatGPT can research and incorporate those accurately into your narrative.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as a diligent fiction writer researching for an upcoming novel.

The book is set in the Victorian era, centered around a young scientist's journey of discovery.

Research and incorporate accurate historical and scientific details into the story.

Understand copyright and plagiarism in fiction writing

ChatGPT can explain the concepts of copyright and plagiarism, and how they apply to fiction writing.

You can ask it for ways to avoid plagiarism, learn about fair use, and understand copyright laws protecting literary works.

For instance, you could ask ChatGPT to explain the difference between inspiration and plagiarism in fiction writing.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Act as an experienced fiction writer and copyright expert, explain the importance of understanding copyright laws and plagiarism in fiction writing.

Also, provide some practical tips on how to respect copyright and avoid plagiarism in my work.

Navigate the process of getting published

Getting published as a fiction writer can be a daunting process, but with the right guidance, it doesn't have to be.

ChatGPT can assist you in understanding the steps involved in getting published, including writing a query letter, finding an agent, and understanding publishing contracts.

Ask ChatGPT to provide a step-by-step breakdown of the publishing process or to critique your query letter.

ChatGPT Prompt:

Assume the role of a successful author and literary agent, familiar with the publishing process.

Explain step-by-step, the process a new fiction writer should follow to get their book published.

Identify your target reader audience.

As a fiction writer, understanding your target audience is critical to the success of your story.

ChatGPT can help you identify your target reader audience by analyzing factors such as genre, plot elements, and character types.

Provide ChatGPT with details about your work and ask it to suggest who might be interested in your story.

ChatGPT Prompt:

As a fiction writer, I need to identify my target reader audience.

My story is a psychological thriller set in the late 1800s, revolving around a female detective with a mysterious past.

Who might be my target reader audience?

 

Conclusion

Wow, what a journey we've had!

From inventing captivating storylines to crafting compelling character arcs, designing dynamic settings, and interpreting reader feedback, ChatGPT is revolutionizing every aspect of fiction writing.

It's your reliable sidekick when writer's block strikes, your calculator for intricate plot construction, and your brainstorming ally for creative storytelling.

But remember this:

ChatGPT is a resource, not a substitute for your creativity. Combine its capabilities with your imagination to bring forth truly remarkable narratives.

Now it's your time to shine.

Choose one or two prompts from this guide and implement them in your next writing session, plot development, or character design. You might just be amazed at how much more productive—and inventive—you become.

And if you’re ready to venture even further into powerful tools that transcend ChatGPT, take a look at Galaxy.ai.

With every AI tool gathered in one hub, it’s the ultimate productivity partner for modern fiction writers.

Happy writing! 🚀