Novel Prompts Template 1
Novel engine: [character] wants [goal], but [specific obstacle] forces [choice with cost].
Start with structure, then replace every placeholder with information that is true, relevant, and natural for your context. These templates are intentionally skeletal so your final writing does not sound mass-produced.
The strongest novel prompts create a problem that cannot be solved in one scene, leave room for multiple turning points, and imply both external stakes and an internal or relationship pressure that can change across the book.
Novel engine: [character] wants [goal], but [specific obstacle] forces [choice with cost].
Constraint engine: Set the scene in [place/time], require [unusual constraint], and make [ordinary object/detail] matter to the outcome.
Reversal engine: Begin with [expected situation]. Reveal [new fact] that changes what the character thinks the problem is.
Relationship engine: Put [character A] and [character B] in conflict over [shared concern], while each is hiding [different fact].