Sometimes I know exactly what I want to write, and I jump in without hesitation. Other times, I need a good writing prompt to get me started. I have several craft books that I dig into when I’m uninspired by my own prompts, but I’d like to expand my own unique list and I thought I’d share them with you.

To honor the year 2021, I decided to come up with 21 prompts to keep me going. Some of them keep the “21” theme, others not so much. All of these could be fiction or nonfiction responses.

1. Tell a complete story using 21 correspondences between two people. My original idea had been 21 letters, but in our digital world, it could be 21 emails, private messages, photos, etc.
2. Keeping the digital theme, tell a story in 21 Tweets. One great source of inspiration for this one is Jennifer Egan’s “Black Box.”
3. Illinois is the 21st state to join the United States. Write a story set anywhere in Illinois, maybe somewhere in Chicago.
4. Go to the 21st photo in your camera roll and write a story about that photo.
5. Write about something that happens on the 21st of this month.
6. Write a story about a reoccurring event on the 21st of each month.
7. What would it be like to be the 21st person in line for the thrown (I usually think of the UK when I think of royalty, but there are a lot of monarchies throughout the world).
8. What happens inside the walls of the 21st house built on your street?
9. Write about a teacher that has 21 students in her class.
10. Write a hermit crab piece that incorporates 21 items.
11. If we had to reduce the alphabet to 21 letters, which letters would you eliminate? What would happen as a result?
12. Write a story about your grandparents at age 21.
13. Write a story set in the year 0021.
14. Write a story set in the year 3021.
15. Make a list of 21 things that you’re obsessed with
16. Write a story about one of the things on your list
17. Make a list of 21 reasons you write
18. Make a list of 21 things people have said to you when they find out you’re a writer
19. Write a poem with 21 lines
20. Write about a road trip that involves visiting 21 different places.
21. Set a timer for 21 minutes and write anything during that time. Try to write a complete flash fiction piece, if you can.