Jumpstart Your Story: 15 First-Sentence Writing Prompts for New Writers

Stuck staring at a blank page? Sometimes, all you need is the right first sentence to spark an entire story. Writing prompts are a great way to practice your craft, explore new ideas, and push past writer’s block. Whether you’re diving into romance, crime, or dark psychological relationships, these opening lines are designed to grab your imagination and pull you in.

Give them a try—write a short story using one of these prompts and share it in the comments below! I’d love to see what you come up with. Happy writing!

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First sentence writing prompts

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Romance & Erotica

• I didn’t mean to kiss him—it just happened.
• She was the last person I expected to see tonight, but suddenly, she was in front of me, smiling like she had a secret.
• “You’re blushing,” he said, grinning. “Why?”
• The elevator doors closed, trapping us together, and the tension was unbearable.
• “If you keep looking at me like that, I’m going to have to do something about it.”

Crime & Mystery

• I knew I was being followed before I even left the house.
• She whispered, “We shouldn’t be here,” but she didn’t stop walking.
• The police found his fingerprints all over the crime scene—but I knew he was innocent.
• There was a letter on my doorstep, and the name signed at the bottom sent chills down my spine.
• “Don’t turn around,” the voice on the phone said, “just keep walking.”

Dark & Toxic Relationships

• He always came back, no matter how many times I told him to leave.
• I shouldn’t want him, but I always do.
• “You still love me,” he said, like it was a fact.
• She was dangerous, and I was too curious to stay away.
• “No one will ever love you like I do,” he whispered, and I almost believed him.

Horror & Supernatural

• I woke up to the sound of someone breathing next to me—but I live alone.
• The town had one rule: Never go outside after midnight.
• She knocked on the coffin lid from the inside, whispering, “I’m not dead.”
• His reflection in the mirror smiled, but I wasn’t.
• The child kept pointing at the empty corner of the room, calling it “Mommy.”

Fantasy & Mythology

• The sword only chooses its master once every thousand years, and today, it chose me.
• I always thought the stories about the gods were myths—until one of them showed up at my door.
• The prophecy said the kingdom would fall at my hands… and I’ve never been good at disappointing people.
• Dragons weren’t supposed to exist anymore. Then why was one following me?
• I stole the crown, but no one warned me it came with a curse.

Science Fiction & Dystopian

• The first sign that Earth was no longer ours was when the sky turned green.
• The chip in my brain was supposed to help me, not turn against me.
• We were the first humans to land on Mars, and we weren’t alone.
• She was the perfect AI—flawless, beautiful, and designed to obey. So why was she running?
• The government promised us safety, but the barcode on my wrist tells me otherwise.

Historical Fiction

• The letter arrived two centuries late, and the message inside could change history.
• He was supposed to be dead—hanged for treason—but there he stood, very much alive.
• She disguised herself as a soldier, knowing if they found out, she’d be executed.
• The diary contained secrets about the war that no one was supposed to know.
• The moment I stepped off the ship, I realized this new world was nothing like they promised.

Comedy & Satire

• I knew today would be a disaster when my talking cat started giving me life advice.
• “I’m not saying I started the fire, but if I did, it was definitely an accident.”
• The job description said ‘Assistant to the Grim Reaper’—I thought they were joking.
• Dating is hard enough without accidentally texting your ex… and your boss… and the local police chief.
• I joined a book club to meet new people. I didn’t expect them to actually worship the author

Adventure & Survival

• The plane crashed, leaving only three survivors, and I didn’t trust the other two.
• I set sail for treasure, but I never expected to find a ghost ship.
• The map said there was a hidden city in the jungle—so why had no one ever returned?
• We were only supposed to hike for a few hours. That was three days ago.
• I woke up stranded in the desert, and I had no idea how I got there.

Mystery & Detective Fiction

• The note under my door simply read: “I know what you did.”
• The detective stared at the body, then at me. “Care to explain why your fingerprints are everywhere?”
• She vanished without a trace, except for the single shoe left on my doorstep.
• I thought I got away with the perfect crime—until the blackmail letters started arriving.
• Someone in this house is a killer. And I think I just became their next target.

Young Adult (YA) & Coming of Age

• Senior year was supposed to be normal, but then my best friend disappeared.
• I made a list of everything I wanted to do before I turned eighteen. Falling in love wasn’t on it.
• I thought my biggest problem was finals—until I woke up with superpowers.
• She was the most popular girl in school. I was invisible. Until I found out her biggest secret.
• The dare was simple: spend the night in the abandoned house. We never expected to find someone living there.

For more writing prompts, check out these websites!