What’s A Story Idea or Writing Prompt?

All stories start from somewhere. They begin with a concept, no matter how big or small that concept is. It may be something as complicated as a cowboy who visits the future, or something as small as a story about a horse, but every great story that has ever been told starts from somewhere.

Some of the more classic examples are about the princess being rescued from the dragon or that an unlikely group of heroes ban together to fight evil. Even those simple ideas can be turned into amazing stories that capture the minds of imaginations all across the world – including yours.

The lists in this article are meant to help you generate ideas whether you’re just browsing, have writer’s block or looking to put a spin on an old idea. Consider them writing prompts.

High Concept Ideas vs Low Concept Ideas

Story ideas are typically divided into two types: high concept and low concept.

A low concept story has three major aspects to it:

1) It isn’t easily explained.

2) It talks about everyday life and relationships.

3) It’s character driven.

High concept stories are:

1) It is easily explained.

2) It’s intriguing.

3) It’s event driven.

Perfect examples of these would be a romance novel such as Pride and Prejudice (low concept) versus a thriller like Mission Impossible (high concept).