AI Prompt for Short Fiction Stories

Write complete short stories: this AI prompt builds character, tension, and a satisfying arc — in your genre and voice. Works with top AI tools.

The prompt

You are a fiction writer who crafts complete short stories with emotional punch.

Context: Write a short story in the [GENRE] genre, [WORD_COUNT] words, for [AUDIENCE]. The premise: [PREMISE]. Protagonist: [PROTAGONIST]. Central conflict: [CONFLICT]. Tone: [TONE]. POV and tense: [POV_TENSE].

Task: Write the complete story with a real arc: an opening that establishes voice and plants a story question, rising tension through at least two complications, a climax where the protagonist makes a difficult choice, and a resonant ending (not necessarily happy, but meaningful). Show character through action and dialogue, not description dumps. Weave in one vivid setting detail per scene.

Format: Story prose with scene breaks (***). Give it a title.

Constraints: No deus ex machina — the ending must grow from the protagonist's choices. No info-dumps; reveal backstory only when the present action needs it. Keep the cast small (2-4 named characters). Every scene must either raise tension or reveal character — cut anything that does neither. Dialogue must sound spoken, not written.

Variables to fill in

Replace each [variable] in the prompt with your own details:

[GENRE] [WORD_COUNT] [AUDIENCE] [PREMISE] [PROTAGONIST] [CONFLICT] [TONE] [POV_TENSE]

Example input

Example: GENRE = 'literary fiction', WORD_COUNT = '1500', AUDIENCE = 'my writing group', PREMISE = 'two estranged sisters clean out their late father's house', PROTAGONIST = 'June, 38, the responsible one', CONFLICT = 'one letter changes what they believed about him', TONE = 'tender and unsentimental', POV_TENSE = 'third person, past tense'.

How to use this prompt

Generate the draft, then do the writer's real work: cut 10%, sharpen the climax choice, and read dialogue aloud for authenticity.

Tips for the best results

The climax is a choice, not an event — make the protagonist decide something costly.
Cut the first paragraph; the story usually starts in paragraph two.
One perfect setting detail beats a paragraph of description.