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I keep seeing the same 'what if' prompt in every writing group

It's always 'what if your pet could talk' or 'what if you woke up with superpowers'. Those aren't bad, but they're so broad they don't spark anything specific. I saw it three times just in the prompts posted here yesterday. What's a more unique prompt that actually makes you think of a story right away?
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jessica_miller
jessica_miller1d agoMost Upvoted
What if you could read minds, but only the thoughts of people who are deeply disappointed in you?
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taylor.paige
Read a blog post about this exact thing. The writer said prompts work best when they create a problem, not just a situation. Instead of 'what if you could fly,' try 'what if you could fly, but only six inches off the ground.' Or 'what if your pet could talk, but only to insult your life choices.' The constraint is what makes a story pop into your head.
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