The SST AlterNet
Explore writing-prompt responses by character, arc, theme or available text.
Browse the collection below.
Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] You wake up one morning to the sound of screams. You gaze into the blizzard happening outside, only to discover to your horror, that instead of snow, millions of white spiders are falling from the sky.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] You, a human, accidentally walk into a LIzard person reunion. Even worse, they already took off their disguises!
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] You are a king. You meet god. You have a conversation with him. After the conversation, you go back to your world and rule differently.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] 40 years after you were given a 500 year prison sentence, the technology to extend human life indefinitely became viable. Yesterday was the last day of your sentence.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [SP] The snow is black this year.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP]A few weeks ago, you started to notice one peculiar person that you see every day that does the exact same things every day, down to the specific place and time. You decided to directly interfere with some of these details, like standing in his way to make him late, to see what would happen.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] In your world, the gift of magic is obtained by trapping a demon in their smoky form and carrying it in a small cage strapped to your back. You get the gift of magic, but the entire time, you have a demon whispering in your ear
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] Hailed as the inventor of AI, pressure is mounting for answers to how you did it. Little do they know...
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] My cousin had their "minor medical procedure" three weeks ago. My parents had theirs last weekend. Most of my friends have already had theirs. Tomorrow it's my turn to have the "minor medical procedure."
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] On a business trip far from home you are shocked to see your husband in the airport. He looks odd: too thin, clothes and luggage unfamiliar. You catch up to him, grab his arm: "Aaron?" He's visible startled: "Norah? How are you here? Is that a wig? Who the hell is Aaron?" Your name isn't Norah.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] Putting together a party for the next dungeon used to be difficult. However, forming adventuring groups was revolutionized by the "Delver" app. Just keep swiping until you find your party's best fit.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] You're a tutorial NPC in a immersed virtual reality game of magic and mayhem. One day, a strange bug occurs that gives you sentience.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] "Skinny Latte for God?" A regular customer at the Starbucks you work at has been calling himself God for as long as you remember. One day, you spot him in the back alley clutching his latte and conjuring a portal.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] The most devoutly religious group in the world are ecstatic to be visited by a higher being at their foremost sacred place of worship, possibly a first in history. The situation becomes awkward when it turns out to be a god of a religion they haven't even heard of.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] 2 half immortal brothers, one can't take any damage and the other doesn't age are on a quest to find their long lost parent.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] An inmate on death row is told that, in order to be more humane, they will be given a lethal injection on a random night while asleep. The inmate's grip on reality slips as they keep a journal of their last days, that final night never seeming to come.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] The Apocalypse has taken living physical form. Only one man can kill it.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] You are the unknown mind behind the world's super group. You have the super power of instant mathematical answers. As much as the other supers may dislike you, you are the one who makes sure everything works out as it should.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] An agency offers a service to swap you with a version of yourself from a parallel universe, but only if both parties are consenting. You like your life and would never consent, but unfortunately, one of the 'other yous' has shady connections to a criminal underworld and managed an illegal switch.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] You couldn't find a hotel room for you, so you make a choice to sleep one night in an abandoned school building. Same night, group of teenagers want to prove they're not easily scared by spending the night there. You have an interesting night trying to explain to them that you are not ghost nor demon.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] You read about the rock planets, Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars. Mercury is hot as hell due to proximity to the Sun; Venus is even hotter due to its thick atmosphere and greenhouse effect; the Earth has exactly the same thing; and in Mars, here we are on the only planet we know life exists.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [SP] You have the ability to see into the future but only 5 minutes ahead.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] The castle is stormed and ruffians run about through the halls. The young prince hides in the kitchen, but is found. Now all that stands between him and his would be assassins is the castle cook. She twirls a steak knife in her hand and squares off against the invaders.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] After hundreds of years of searching the stars, humanity's biggest question has been answered. We are, in fact, alone in the universe.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] Everyone, even the villains they regularly face, know the hero's hilariously ineffective "secret" identity. They don't tell him how bad it is mostly out of respect for the man and because it is funny how he thinks a pair of glasses and a tie change anything.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] "Have you ever loved something so much you would give anything to protect it? Something that you would destroy everything in the universe to save? Something you loved so much you would defy death itself to be with? I did once..."
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] You are a nurse working in a hospital. Things changed when the vending machine-like devices were installed on the operating room floor. They dispense ready to use organs that are never rejected by the host. You are given two rules: Never open them and never ask where they came from.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] The entirety of the human population is in a Groundhog Day time loop.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] You've only felt butterflies three times in your life. When you first saw your college girlfriend of four years. When you first saw your ex-wife of two years. When you first met your current wife eight years ago. But today, you just met the new girl at work and felt them again.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] You're a supervillain, but all your evil plans always backfire and end up doing good.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] A mad scientist unleashes a giant robot in the city every Monday, on Tuesdays an ancient evil wakes up, on Wednesdays an alien invasion happens, on Thursdays a supervillain escapes the prison, on Fridays an ancient conspiracy tries to take over, Saturdays have giant monsters and on Sunday...
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] You wake up to find yourself embraced by family, sobbing tears of joy while talking about how worried they were when you were in a coma and how the doctors said you might never wake up. You almost assured them that you are back now if not for the fact that this isn't your body or family.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] You dream so badly of becoming a gallant knight that it often hurts. The only problem is that you are a dragon in disguise, and the world would never accept you as a knight if they knew.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] Parasitic aliens have successfully invaded the planet by assimilating with society and taking over people's bodies. Recently, Dave from down the hall has been acting very strange and you're getting nervous. You're starting to suspect he's still human.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] A countdown of 60 minutes appears in the screen. When the time reaches 0:00 nothing happens. Describe what people do during this time.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] Years have passed since your father abandoned you, his last words being "I'm just going to get some milk." Now you're at the grocery store, dumbfounded at the sight of your dad in the same age, clothing and all, carrying a carton of milk.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] The coffee tree has mysteriously become extinct and the last of the world's supply of coffee beans is running out.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] It's been the best first date of your life, your date is amazing, funny and you feel a deep connection. As you are walking her home through the park she turns to you and says 'This is where I was killed..'
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] You're a detective with the task of trying to find the most wanted man on the planet. The hunt has been going on for years and you're close to a breaking point. Then one night, there's a knock on your door and the fugitive is stood on your porch in the pouring rain, pointing a gun at your chest.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] Mythological creatures are proven to exist in their respective homelands, Describe a mission by a military to retrieve said creature.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] You're a famous superhero, locked in a friendly rivalry with a chivalrous villain. One night, as you are getting ready for bed, your rival bursts through your apartment door, exhausted and injured. "I didn't know where else to go. I need your help."
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] The king is here to oversee your execution for severe treason. He is unaware that you planned this.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] When she turned around, there were smooth feathers growing between her shoulder blades.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
"Companion; but, not A.I. You see
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] Your mother is one of the best wizardess alive, and you are the most average one. One day you learned that you were born without any magical powers, so your mother performed a ritual to grant you the gift of magic.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] You thought that getting a construction job after high school would be a safe way to make ends meet. No surprises and nothing out of the ordinary. Until a couple months in your boss tells you that you'll be handling, "special jobs for top clientele now." Who knew that fairies, werewolves and other fae folk needed leaky pipes fixed and porches replaced!
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] The latest trend in extreme thrill seeking for rich people is to be injected with nanites that keep you young indefinitely, then sent back in time to survive the Paleolithic era.
Read the moment ↗Before Stellar Tour · unassigned stories
Writing prompt [WP] You are in hell. One day you try to run away from your torment station, but you are immediately captured and put back. Luckily, you are already dead and have an eternity to keep trying it. Now you're ready for your perfect run.
Read the moment ↗