creative writing on time machine

127+ Time Travel Story Ideas & Prompts For Creative Writers

What if you could go back in time and read this introduction before I wrote it? That’s the kind of mind-bending question time travel stories love to explore. It’s no wonder they’ve been popular since H.G. Wells penned “The Time Machine” in 1895.

Time travel isn’t just a sci-fi gimmick. It’s a powerful tool for storytellers. It lets us rewrite history, peek into the future, or create complex character arcs that span centuries. But with so many time travel tales out there, how do you come up with something new?

Don’t worry – I’ve got your back! This article is packed with fresh, inspiring time travel story ideas. Whether you’re writing a novel , screenplay , or short story, you’ll find concepts here to kickstart your creativity. From historical “what-ifs” to futuristic paradoxes, we’ll explore the full potential of temporal tales.

Ready to warp your imagination? Let’s go!

Tons of Time Travel Story Ideas

Historical adventures.

These stories allow characters to journey to significant historical events, interact with famous figures, and explore “what if” scenarios that alter or preserve key moments in history.

The Unwritten Symphony : A time traveler visits Vienna in 1827 to meet Ludwig van Beethoven, who is struggling with his hearing loss while trying to complete a symphony that could redefine classical music. As they help Beethoven find inspiration , they change the course of music history and influence future composers.

The Day Lincoln Lived : Traveling back to April 14, 1865, a historian prevents the assassination of Abraham Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre. As they explore how Lincoln’s survival impacts his plans for Reconstruction and the healing of a divided nation, they witness significant changes in American history.

The Fall of the Aztec Empire : Journeying to 1519, an anthropologist attempts to warn the Aztecs about Hernán Cortés’ arrival. As they face the challenges of convincing the Aztec leaders, they see how the survival of the empire impacts global history.

The Unburned Library : A scholar goes back to ancient Alexandria to save the Great Library from destruction. As they witness how the preservation of knowledge accelerates scientific progress, they see its influence on future generations of thinkers.

The Unseen Armistice : A diplomat prevents the outbreak of World War I by mediating peace between European powers in 1914. As they explore a world where the Great War never happens, they observe how political alliances, technological advancements, and cultural shifts develop differently.

The Unfinished Painting : Traveling to 1503, an art enthusiast assists Leonardo da Vinci in completing the Mona Lisa. As they discover the secrets behind the painting’s enigmatic smile, they see how its completion influences the art world and da Vinci’s legacy.

The Unfought Battle : Altering the outcome of the Battle of Hastings in 1066, a military strategist leads to a different ruler on the English throne. As they examine the cultural shifts and political changes that follow, they witness a transformed history.

The Unbroken Treaty : Preventing the signing of the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494, a navigator changes the geopolitical landscape. As they explore the effects on colonization, trade routes, and relations between European powers, they see a new world order emerge.

The Unwritten Declaration : Visiting Philadelphia in 1776, a political philosopher influences the drafting of the Declaration of Independence, ensuring more inclusive rights from the start. As they consider how these changes impact the founding of the United States, they witness its future development.

The Uncrowned King : Traveling to 1483, a royal advisor prevents the disappearance of the Princes in the Tower. As they witness how their survival changes the course of English history, they alter the Wars of the Roses and the rise of the Tudor dynasty.

The Unstoppable March : Joining Gandhi in 1930 during the Salt March, a peace activist uses foresight to prevent British retaliation. As they explore the impact of a more peaceful transition to independence, they see how India’s future and its role in the world are affected.

The Unseen Revolution : Going back to 1789, a political advisor influences the French Revolution’s leaders to adopt more moderate reforms, preventing the Reign of Terror. As they consider how these changes impact France’s development, they observe its influence on global revolutions.

The Unsunk Armada : Traveling to 1588, a naval strategist aids the Spanish Armada, leading to its victory over England. As they explore how this victory changes the balance of power in Europe, they see the future of the Spanish and British empires transformed.

The Unwritten Gospel : Meeting Jesus of Nazareth, a historian documents his teachings firsthand. As they consider how this firsthand account might alter the course of religious history, they witness the development of Christianity.

The Unfought Duel : Preventing the duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr in 1804, a political ally preserves Hamilton’s life. As they explore how Hamilton’s continued influence shapes early American politics, they observe changes in the nation’s financial system.

Futuristic Explorations

These stories allow characters to go into the future and see new technological advancements and societal changes. They may explore the implications of dystopian or utopian futures and how they came to be.

The AI Overlords : In a future where AI governs society, a human rights activist navigates the ethical dilemmas of coexisting with machine rulers. As they uncover a hidden resistance movement, they must decide whether to join the fight for human autonomy or seek a peaceful coexistence.

The Last Green Oasis : An environmental scientist travels to a future Earth devastated by climate change, discovering a thriving green oasis amidst the desolation. As they investigate the oasis’s secrets, they face moral choices about whether to share its technology with the world or protect it from exploitation.

The Utopian Experiment : A sociologist visits a future society that claims to have achieved utopia. As they delve deeper, they uncover the hidden costs and sacrifices made to maintain this perfect world, challenging their beliefs about happiness and freedom.

The Time Capsule : A historian stumbles upon a time capsule from the future containing advanced technology. As they grapple with the decision to introduce these innovations to their present, they face unforeseen consequences that threaten to unravel the fabric of time.

The Genetic Divide : In a future where genetic engineering has created a divide between enhanced and unenhanced humans, a journalist investigates societal tensions and conflicts. As they uncover a conspiracy that could bridge the genetic gap, they must choose between exposing the truth and protecting their loved ones.

The Virtual Reality Escape : A gamer and programmer enters a future where virtual reality is indistinguishable from real life. As they become entangled in a virtual world, they struggle to maintain their identity and relationships in the face of digital addiction.

The Last Human Colony : An astronaut and engineer travels to a distant future where Earth’s last human colony struggles for survival on a new planet. As they work to ensure the colony’s future, they uncover secrets about the planet’s past inhabitants that could change everything.

The Solar Flare Crisis : In a future where a massive solar flare threatens to wipe out all digital technology, a scientist races against time to preserve knowledge and society. As they lead a team to build a digital ark, they face sabotage and betrayal from those who would see them fail.

The Time Traveler’s Guide to the Galaxy : A time travel enthusiast and guide operates in a future where time travel tourism is booming. As they navigate the risks of altering timelines, they encounter a mysterious traveler with a hidden agenda that could disrupt the entire industry.

The Rewilding Project : An ecologist returns to Earth in the future after humans have left to allow nature to reclaim it. As they lead the first expedition to explore the rewilded planet, they discover unexpected dangers and wonders that challenge their understanding of nature.

The Memory Market : In a future where memories can be bought and sold, a detective uncovers a conspiracy involving stolen identities. As they delve deeper, they must confront their own past and decide whether to risk everything to expose the truth.

The Quantum Leap : A physicist witnesses a future breakthrough in quantum computing that allows for instantaneous travel across the universe. As they explore new worlds, they face ethical dilemmas about the impact of colonization and the responsibility of discovery.

The Dystopian Rebellion : In a future where a totalitarian regime controls every aspect of life, a rebel leader fights for freedom. As they lead the underground movement, they must navigate betrayal and sacrifice to ignite a revolution.

The Utopian Downfall : A historian and writer visits a future utopia on the brink of collapse. As they uncover the events leading to its downfall, they must decide whether to intervene or let history take its course.

The Time Loop Society : In a future where society lives in a perpetual time loop, a scientist works to break the cycle. As they uncover the mysterious event that triggered the loop, they face the ultimate choice between personal happiness and the greater good.

Alternate Realities

These stories allow characters to explore parallel universes and experience the butterfly effect, where minor changes in the past lead to vastly different present realities.

The Unseen War : A soldier discovers a parallel universe where their country lost a major war. Faced with this alternate reality, they must decide whether to return to their own world or fight for a cause they once opposed.

The Divergent Path : A scientist invents a device that allows them to visit parallel universes. As they explore worlds where they made different life choices, they must confront the impact of these decisions on their identity and happiness.

The Altered Timeline : A historian accidentally changes a minor event in the past, creating a new timeline where a different civilization dominates the world. Exploring this altered reality, they must choose whether to restore the original timeline or embrace the new world.

The Parallel Family : A parent stumbles upon a universe where their family dynamics are completely different. Experiencing life with alternate versions of their loved ones, they must decide which reality they truly belong to.

The Forgotten Friendship : A time traveler inadvertently prevents a chance meeting that led to a lifelong friendship. In a world without their closest ally, they must find a way to restore the bond or accept a life without it.

The Alternate Revolution : A political activist discovers a universe where their movement succeeded in creating a new government. Exploring this reality, they must decide whether to bring these revolutionary ideas back to their own world.

The Unwritten Novel : An author finds themselves in a universe where their most famous work was never published. As they explore the consequences of this absence, they must decide whether to recreate the novel or pursue a new path.

The Lost Invention : An inventor discovers a parallel world where their groundbreaking invention was never created. In this reality, they must choose whether to introduce the invention and risk altering the course of history.

The Unmet Love : A romantic soul finds themselves in a universe where they never met their soulmate. Experiencing life without their partner, they must decide whether to seek them out or embrace a new love.

The Alternate Legacy : A descendant discovers a universe where their ancestor made a different choice, leading to a vastly different family legacy. As they explore this reality, they must decide whether to restore the original legacy or accept the new one.

The Unseen Disaster : A scientist prevents a minor environmental change, leading to a world where a major disaster never occurred. Exploring the consequences, they must choose whether to restore the original timeline or embrace the new reality.

The Parallel Career : A professional discovers a universe where they pursue a completely different career path. Experiencing life in this new role, they must decide whether to return to their original career or embrace the change.

The Unchallenged Leader : A political figure finds themselves in a universe where their rival never existed. In this new reality, they must decide whether to maintain their power or seek out new challenges.

The Alternate Childhood : An adult revisits a universe where their childhood was vastly different. As they explore the impact of these changes on their personality, they must decide whether to return to their original life or embrace the new one.

The Unseen Art : An artist discovers a parallel world where their artistic style is completely different. As they explore the impact of this change on their career, they must decide whether to adopt the new style or return to their original work.

Personal Journeys

These stories allow characters to use time travel for self-reflection and personal growth, as well as to explore family ties by meeting ancestors and uncovering family secrets.

The Regretful Reunion : A character travels back to a pivotal moment in their past to mend a broken friendship. As they navigate the emotional complexities of their younger self, they must decide whether to change their actions or accept the past as it is.

The Ancestral Quest : A character journeys back in time to meet their great-grandparents, uncovering hidden family secrets. As they learn about their ancestors’ struggles and triumphs, they gain a deeper understanding of their own identity and values.

The Second Chance : After a failed career, a character travels back to their first job interview, determined to make different choices. As they relive their early career days, they must confront the fears and insecurities that held them back.

The Lost Love : A character revisits a past relationship, hoping to understand why it ended. As they relive moments with their former partner, they must decide whether to change the outcome or find closure in the present.

The Family Heirloom : A character travels back to the origin of a cherished family heirloom, discovering its true significance. As they uncover the story behind the object, they learn valuable lessons about their family’s legacy.

The Unspoken Apology : A character returns to a moment when they hurt a loved one with harsh words. As they navigate the emotional landscape of their past, they must decide whether to apologize or let the experience shape their growth.

The Forgotten Dream : A character revisits their childhood dreams and aspirations, reigniting their passion for an abandoned hobby. As they explore their younger self’s ambitions, they must decide whether to pursue these dreams in the present.

The Family Reunion : A character travels back to a family gathering they never attended, meeting relatives they never knew. As they uncover the dynamics and secrets of their extended family, they gain insights into their own place within it.

The Unfinished Letter : A character finds an unsent letter they wrote in their youth and travels back to deliver it. As they confront their younger self’s emotions, they must decide whether to send the letter or leave it in the past.

The Sibling Bond : A character revisits a childhood rivalry with a sibling, seeking to understand its roots. As they relive their shared experiences, they must decide whether to mend the relationship or accept it as it is.

The Mentor’s Wisdom : A character travels back to meet a mentor who profoundly influenced their life. As they seek guidance from their younger self’s perspective, they must decide whether to follow the mentor’s advice or forge their own path.

The Parental Legacy : A character journeys back to their parents’ youth, witnessing pivotal moments in their lives. As they learn about their parents’ struggles and sacrifices, they gain a new appreciation for their upbringing.

The Unlived Life : A character explores a path they never took, experiencing an alternate version of their life. As they navigate this new reality, they must decide whether to embrace the changes or return to their original timeline.

The Healing Journey : A character revisits a traumatic event from their past, seeking closure and healing. As they confront their pain, they must decide whether to alter the event or accept it as part of their growth.

The Ancestor’s Choice : A character travels back to witness a critical decision made by an ancestor. As they observe the impact of this choice on their family’s history, they gain insights into their own decision-making process.

Time Travel Romance

These stories explore the complexities of love across time. Characters may fall in love with someone from another era or attempt to rekindle lost love by traveling back to important moments.

The Timeless Connection : A modern-day historian falls in love with a portrait from the 18th century. When they are mysteriously transported back in time, they meet the subject of the painting and face the challenges of a love that defies centuries.

The Lost Letter : A character discovers an unsent love letter from the past and travels back to deliver it. As they meet the letter’s intended recipient, they must decide whether to alter the course of history for the sake of love.

The Dance of Eras : A ballroom dancer from the present day finds themselves in a 1920s speakeasy, where they meet a charismatic partner. As they fall in love through dance, they must find a way to bridge the gap between their worlds.

The Revolutionary’s Heart : A character travels back to the American Revolution and falls for a passionate revolutionary. Amid the dangers of war, they must decide whether to stay in the past or return to their own time.

The Victorian Affair : A character from the future finds themselves in Victorian England, where they fall for a charming aristocrat. As they explore the constraints of societal norms, they must decide whether love is worth sacrificing their modern freedoms.

The Medieval Romance : A character is transported to a medieval kingdom, where they fall for a knight with a mysterious past. As they uncover secrets and face battles, they must decide whether to fight for their love or return to their own time.

The Jazz Age Serenade : A musician from the present day travels back to the 1920s and falls for a jazz singer. Immersed in the vibrant world of speakeasies and prohibition, they must find a way to bring their love into the future.

The Time-Traveling Artist : An artist falls in love with a muse from the Renaissance. As they travel back to capture their muse’s likeness, they must decide whether to remain in the past or return to their own time with their art.

The Ancient Love Story : A character travels back to ancient Greece and falls for a philosopher. As they explore the world of classical thought, they must decide whether to stay in the past or bring their newfound wisdom to the present.

The Pirate’s Heart : A character finds themselves on a pirate ship in the 17th century, where they fall for the enigmatic captain. Amid the dangers of the high seas, they must decide whether to stay with their love or return to their own time.

The Regency Romance : A character from the future is transported to Regency England, where they fall for a dashing duke. As they experience the complexities of courtship and society, they must decide whether to remain in the past or return to their own time.

The Lost Love Song : A character discovers a forgotten love song from the past and travels back to meet the composer. As they fall in love through music, they must decide whether to alter the course of history for the sake of their relationship.

The Time-Traveling Detective : A detective from the present day travels back to solve a mystery and falls for a witness from the past. As they work together to uncover the truth, they must decide whether to stay in the past or return to their own time.

The Renaissance Rendezvous : A character is transported to the Italian Renaissance, where they fall for a brilliant inventor. As they explore the world of art and science, they must decide whether to remain in the past or return to their own time.

The Colonial Courtship : A character travels back to colonial America and falls for a charming settler. While adjusting to the challenges of frontier life, they must decide whether to stay in the past or return to their own time.

Time Loop Dilemmas

These stories explore the intriguing concept of time loops, where characters are stuck repeating the same day or experiencing different outcomes based on their choices.

The Endless Monday : A character finds themselves reliving the same Monday over and over. As they navigate the monotony, they must uncover the lesson they need to learn to break free from the loop.

The Wedding Day Repeat : A bride or groom is stuck in a time loop on their wedding day. As they experience the day repeatedly, they must confront their doubts and fears about marriage to move forward.

The Exam Day Dilemma : A student relives the day of an important exam, each time making different choices about how to prepare. As they explore various outcomes, they must discover the true purpose of the loop.

The Reunion Loop : A character attends a high school reunion and finds themselves repeating the night. As they reconnect with old friends and enemies, they must resolve past conflicts to escape the loop.

The First Date Cycle : A character is trapped in a loop on their first date with someone special. As they relive the date, they must learn to be authentic and vulnerable to break the cycle.

The Office Groundhog Day : An employee experiences the same workday repeatedly, facing different challenges and interactions with colleagues. They must discover the key to improving their work-life balance to escape.

The Birthday Paradox : A character relives their birthday, each time making different choices about how to celebrate. As they explore the significance of the day, they must confront their fears of aging and change.

The Concert Loop : A musician is stuck in a loop during a pivotal concert performance. As they relive the show, they must overcome stage fright and embrace their passion for music.

The Family Dinner Repeat : A character finds themselves repeating a tense family dinner. As they navigate the dynamics, they must learn to communicate openly and honestly to break free.

The Election Day Cycle : A politician relives election day, each time experiencing different outcomes based on their campaign choices. To escape the loop, they must confront their motivations and values.

The Vacation Paradox : A character is stuck in a loop during a vacation, each day offering new adventures and challenges. They must learn to appreciate the present moment to break the cycle.

The Job Interview Repeat : A job seeker experiences the same interview repeatedly, each time making different choices about how to present themselves. To escape, they must discover the key to self-confidence.

The Hospital Loop : A doctor relives a day in the hospital, facing different medical emergencies and ethical dilemmas. To break free, they must learn to balance empathy and professionalism.

The Festival Cycle : A character is trapped in a loop during a cultural festival, with each day offering new insights into their heritage. To escape the cycle, they must embrace their identity.

The Market Day Repeat : A vendor relives the same day at a bustling market, each time making different choices about their business. They must discover the importance of community and connection to break the loop.

Time Police and Enforcers

These stories explore the concept of time law enforcement and temporal outlaws, where characters navigate the challenges of maintaining or disrupting the timeline.

The Time Patrol : A dedicated officer in a time-traveling police force is tasked with preventing illegal alterations to history. As they chase a notorious time thief, they must confront their own past decisions and the moral complexities of their role.

The Temporal Fugitive : A former time cop becomes a fugitive after discovering corruption within the force. As they evade capture, they must gather evidence to expose the truth and clear their name.

The Paradox Enforcers : A team of enforcers specializes in fixing paradoxes caused by rogue time travelers. As they tackle a particularly complex case, they must work together to unravel the mystery and restore the timeline.

The Time Heist : A group of skilled thieves plans a heist across different time periods, aiming to steal valuable artifacts. As a time cop tracks their movements, they must outsmart the criminals and protect the timeline.

The Temporal Peacekeepers : In a future where time travel is common, a peacekeeping force mediates conflicts across eras. As they navigate a delicate negotiation, they must prevent a war that could alter history.

The Rogue Agent : A seasoned time cop goes rogue, using their knowledge to alter key events for personal gain. As their former partner pursues them, they must confront their motivations and the consequences of their actions.

The Time War : A rebel group fights against an oppressive regime that controls the timeline. As they launch attacks on key historical events, they must balance their desire for freedom with the potential for chaos.

The Temporal Conspiracy : A young recruit in the time police uncovers a conspiracy to manipulate history for profit. As they investigate, they must decide whom to trust and how far they will go to protect the timeline.

The Time Traveler’s Dilemma : A time cop faces a personal dilemma when they encounter a loved one from the past. As they struggle with their emotions, they must choose between duty and desire.

The Historical Guardians : A secret organization protects the timeline from those who would exploit it. As a new threat emerges, they must rally their forces to defend history from destruction.

The Temporal Double Agent : An undercover agent infiltrates a group of temporal outlaws, gathering intelligence to bring them down. As they gain the rebels’ trust, they must decide where their true loyalties lie.

The Time Enforcers’ Legacy : A retired time cop mentors a new generation of enforcers, passing on their knowledge and wisdom. As they face a new threat, they must confront their past mistakes and guide their protégés.

The Time Traveler’s Code : A group of ethical time travelers adheres to a strict code to protect history. As they encounter a rogue traveler, they must decide whether to uphold their principles or bend the rules.

The Temporal Refugees : A group of refugees from a war-torn future seeks asylum in the past. As time cops pursue them, they must navigate the challenges of survival and assimilation in a new era.

The Timekeeper’s Trial : A time cop stands trial for altering history, facing judgment from their peers. As they defend their actions, they must confront the moral and ethical implications of their choices.

Historical Mysteries

These stories have characters that use time travel to solve enigmas from the past or recover artifacts with hidden secrets.

The Pharaoh’s Secret: A time-traveling detective is sent to ancient Egypt to uncover the truth behind a pharaoh’s mysterious death. Navigating court intrigue, they must solve a mystery that has been lost to history.

The Vanished Manuscript: A scholar travels to the Middle Ages to find a lost manuscript with groundbreaking scientific knowledge. Facing rival factions, they must decipher its secrets before it disappears forever.

The Enigma of the Templars: A character journeys to the time of the Knights Templar to solve the mystery of their sudden disappearance. As they infiltrate the order, they uncover a conspiracy that could alter history.

The Lost City: An archaeologist travels back to the height of the Mayan civilization to discover the fate of a lost city. They must navigate jungle dangers and ancient politics to unravel the city’s secrets.

The Disappearing Duchess: A future detective travels to Victorian England to solve the mystery of a duchess who vanished without a trace. Delving into social circles, they uncover secrets buried for centuries.

The Cursed Crown: A character is tasked with retrieving a cursed crown from a notorious medieval king’s court. They must decide whether the curse is real or a clever ruse amidst treacherous politics.

The Alchemist’s Riddle: A time traveler ventures to the Renaissance to solve the mystery of an alchemist’s disappearance. They must unlock the secrets of the alchemist’s work before it falls into the wrong hands.

The Pirate’s Treasure: A character travels to the Golden Age of Piracy to locate a legendary treasure. Battling rival treasure hunters and treacherous seas, they must decipher clues left by a notorious pirate captain.

The Vanishing Violin: A musician journeys to the Baroque era to find a famous composer’s missing violin. Navigating the world of classical music, they must solve the puzzle before the instrument is lost forever.

The Witch’s Trial: A time-traveling investigator is sent to the Salem witch trials to uncover the truth behind the accusations. They must separate fact from fiction to bring justice to the innocent.

The Emperor’s Puzzle: A character travels to ancient China to solve the mystery of an emperor’s missing artifact. As they navigate the imperial court’s intricacies, they must piece together the puzzle before it leads to war.

The Disappearing Diplomat: A detective ventures to the early 20th century to solve the mystery of a diplomat who vanished during a peace conference. They must unravel political tensions and uncover the truth before history is altered.

The Viking’s Secret: A character travels back to the Viking Age to uncover the mystery of a legendary warrior’s burial site. Exploring Norse mythology, they must decipher the clues left by the warrior’s clan.

The Painter’s Muse: An art historian journeys to the 19th century to solve the mystery of a famous painter’s missing muse. They delve into the artist’s world to uncover the truth behind the muse’s disappearance.

The Timekeeper’s Artifact: A character is tasked with retrieving a mysterious artifact from the ancient world. Navigating the dangers of time travel, they must uncover the artifact’s secrets and its connection to a modern-day mystery.

Time Machine as a Commodity

These stories explore the concept of time travel as a commercial enterprise. Characters can purchase journeys to the past or future, leading to ethical dilemmas and unforeseen consequences.

The Time Travel Agency : A character invests in a time travel agency that offers trips to historical events. While running the business, they must confront ethical questions about altering the past for profit.

The Tourist’s Dilemma : A time tourist visits ancient Rome and accidentally disrupts a key event. Faced with the consequences, they must find a way to restore the timeline without revealing their true identity.

The Time Share : A character purchases a timeshare in the Renaissance, allowing them to experience life as a noble. While enjoying the luxuries of the past, they struggle to maintain their modern values.

The Temporal Cruise : A luxury cruise line offers voyages through time, with each stop at a different historical period. A passenger must adhere to strict rules to prevent altering history, but resisting temptation proves difficult.

The Ethical Traveler : A character works for a company that offers time travel experiences, ensuring clients follow ethical guidelines. When they encounter a client intent on changing history, they must decide whether to intervene.

The Historical Auction : A wealthy collector purchases time travel experiences at an auction, bidding on moments from history. As they explore their acquisitions, they must face the moral implications of their actions.

The Time Tourist’s Guide : A character writes a guidebook for time tourists, offering advice on how to handle different eras. As they gather material for their book, they must balance historical accuracy with the potential for unintended consequences.

The Temporal Resort : A resort offers guests the chance to experience different time periods, with themed accommodations and activities. As a guest, a character must deal with the challenges of living in a different era while adhering to the resort’s rules.

The Time Broker : A character brokers deals for clients seeking time travel experiences, matching them with specific historical events. While dealing with client demands, they must confront the ethical dilemmas of their work.

The Time Travel Lottery : A lottery offers winners the chance to travel to any time period of their choice. As a winner, a character must decide whether to pursue personal desires or use their journey for the greater good.

The Temporal Detective : A detective investigates crimes committed by time travelers, tracking down those who have altered history for personal gain. As they pursue their cases, they must tackle the complexities of time travel law.

The Time Traveler’s Club : A character joins an exclusive club for time travelers, where members share stories of their adventures. After hearing tales of ethical dilemmas and unintended consequences, they must decide whether to embark on their own journey.

The Historical Vacation : A character takes a vacation to a different time period, exploring the culture and customs of the era. While trying to fit in, they must adhere to strict rules to prevent altering history.

The Time Travel Entrepreneur : An entrepreneur develops a new time travel technology, offering affordable experiences to the masses. While running the business, they must confront the potential for exploitation and unintended consequences.

The Temporal Exchange : A character participates in a time exchange program, living in a different era while someone from that time visits the present. As they adjust to their new life, they must adhere to strict rules to prevent altering history.

Future Self Interactions

These stories explore the intriguing concept of characters interacting with their future selves, offering insights into life choices, potential outcomes, and the lasting impact of their actions on future generations.

The Unexpected Encounter : A character unexpectedly meets their future self, who is living a life they never imagined. As they learn about the choices that led to this future, they must decide whether to embrace or change their current path.

The Legacy Conversation : A character is visited by their future self, who reveals the impact of their actions on their descendants. As they grapple with the consequences, they must decide whether to alter their present behavior to create a better legacy.

The Career Crossroads : At a pivotal career decision, a character meets their future self, who has taken a different path. As they explore the outcomes of each choice, they must decide which path aligns with their true aspirations.

The Family Reunion : A character encounters their future self at a family gathering, witnessing the dynamics and relationships that have evolved over time. As they reflect on their role within the family, they must decide how to nurture these connections.

The Health Revelation : A character meets their future self, who reveals the long-term consequences of their current lifestyle choices. As they confront the reality of their future health, they must decide whether to make changes in the present.

The Artistic Journey : An aspiring artist meets their future self, who has achieved great success. As they learn about the struggles and sacrifices required, they must decide whether to pursue their passion or seek a different path.

The Environmental Impact : A character is visited by their future self, who reveals the environmental consequences of their actions. As they witness the state of the future world, they must decide how to contribute to a more sustainable present.

The Romantic Revelation : A character encounters their future self, who reveals the outcome of their current romantic relationship. As they explore the possibilities, they must decide whether to nurture or reconsider their partnership.

The Financial Forecast : A character meets their future self, who shares insights into the financial decisions that shaped their future. As they weigh the risks and rewards, they must decide how to manage their resources wisely.

The Community Leader : A character is visited by their future self, who has become a respected community leader. As they learn about the impact of their civic engagement, they must decide how to contribute to their community’s growth.

The Educational Path : A student meets their future self, who reveals the outcomes of their educational choices. As they explore the possibilities, they must decide which path aligns with their goals and values.

The Technological Innovator : A character encounters their future self, who has developed groundbreaking technology. As they learn about the challenges and successes, they must decide whether to pursue innovation or focus on other interests.

The Personal Growth Journey : A character meets their future self, who has achieved personal growth and fulfillment. As they learn about the steps taken to reach this state, they must decide how to prioritize their own development.

The Social Impact : A character is visited by their future self, who reveals the societal impact of their actions. As they witness the changes they have inspired, they must decide how to continue making a positive difference.

The Spiritual Awakening : A character encounters their future self, who has embarked on a spiritual journey. As they explore the path to enlightenment, they must decide how to integrate spirituality into their present life.

Cosmic Time Travel

These stories explore the vast possibilities of cosmic time travel. Characters journey through time and space, encountering alien civilizations and navigating time as a dimension with its own unique rules and inhabitants.

The Galactic Explorer : A character embarks on an intergalactic journey through time, visiting alien civilizations at different stages of development. As they learn about the diverse cultures and histories, they must decide how to use this knowledge to benefit their own world.

The Cosmic Cartographer : Tasked with mapping time as a dimension, a character discovers hidden pathways and cosmic phenomena. As they navigate this uncharted territory, they must confront the challenges of documenting a constantly shifting landscape.

The Alien Alliance : A character travels through time and space to broker peace between warring alien species. As they navigate the complexities of intergalactic diplomacy, they must find common ground to prevent a cosmic catastrophe.

The Temporal Navigator : A skilled navigator guides a spaceship through time as a dimension, encountering celestial beings that exist outside of time. As they learn the rules of this dimension, they must ensure the safe passage of their crew.

The Time Rift : A character discovers a rift in the fabric of time, leading to a parallel universe where time flows differently. As they explore this new reality, they must decide whether to close the rift or embrace the possibilities it offers.

The Cosmic Library : A character stumbles upon a library that contains the history of the universe, recorded by an ancient alien race. As they delve into the knowledge within, they must decide how to use this information to shape the future.

The Temporal Refuge : A character seeks refuge in a time dimension to escape a dying universe. As they encounter other refugees from across time and space, they must navigate the challenges of building a new society.

The Celestial Guide : An alien being guides a character through the complexities of time as a dimension, revealing its secrets and dangers. As they journey together, they must confront the moral implications of their discoveries.

The Time Wave : A character rides a cosmic wave that transports them through different eras and galaxies. As they experience the wonders and perils of the universe, they must learn to control the wave to return home.

The Intergalactic Historian : A historian travels through time and space to document the rise and fall of alien civilizations. As they uncover the patterns of history, they must decide how to share their findings with the galaxy.

The Cosmic Symphony : A musician travels through time as a dimension, encountering alien species that communicate through music. As they learn the universal language of sound, they must compose a symphony that unites the cosmos.

The Temporal Sanctuary : A character discovers a sanctuary where time stands still, inhabited by beings who have transcended time. As they explore this timeless realm, they must decide whether to stay or return to the flow of time.

The Alien Artifact : A character finds an ancient artifact that allows them to travel through time and space. As they uncover its origins and purpose, they must decide how to wield its power responsibly.

The Time Dimension Explorer : An explorer ventures into the dimension of time, encountering creatures that exist only within its boundaries. As they navigate this strange world, they must learn its rules to survive.

The Cosmic Reunion : A character travels through time and space to reunite with a lost loved one, encountering alien civilizations and cosmic wonders along the way. As they journey across the universe, they must confront the challenges of navigating time as a dimension.

Time Travel in Storytelling

Time travel has fascinated audiences for years, blending science fiction with deep philosophical questions.

It offers a unique way to explore the mysteries of time and existence, and it makes us rethink the very nature of reality.

Definition and Appeal

Time travel is the idea of moving between different points in time, much like traveling from one place to another. Time travel stories allow writers to explore themes like causality, destiny, and the human condition.

What makes time travel so appealing is its endless possibilities—whether it’s changing the past, seeing the future, or experiencing alternate realities.

These stories make audiences think about “what if” scenarios, challenging their views on reality and time.

Historical Context

The idea of time travel has come a long way since it first appeared in literature.

Early examples include Washington Irving’s Rip Van Winkle and Edward Bellamy’s Looking Backward , where characters find themselves in different times through supernatural or futuristic means.

H.G. Wells’ The Time Machine further established time travel in literature and paved the way for countless stories about the impact of altering time.

Common Tropes and Themes

Time travel stories often use certain tropes and themes.

One of the most famous is the grandfather paradox , which deals with the consequences of changing the past—like potentially preventing your own existence.

Another popular trope is the alternate timeline or parallel universe , where changes in the past create different realities, allowing stories to explore themes of destiny and choice.

Then there’s the time loop , like in Groundhog Day , where characters relive the same day repeatedly, often leading to personal growth and self-discovery.

Your Time Travel Toolkit

Time travel stories are an open invitation to adventure—to explore new worlds, uncover hidden truths, and let your imagination soar.

As you dive into these story prompts, remember that this is just the beginning of your creative journey!

To help you along the way, download my free worksheet designed to help you build unforgettable characters.

And if you need a guiding hand, explore my coaching services to take your storytelling to the next level. The adventure of writing your next great story awaits. Are you ready to begin?

Filmmaker, Author, Actor and Story Consultant

Neil Chase is an award-winning, produced screenwriter, independent filmmaker, professional actor, and author of the horror-western novel Iron Dogs. His latest feature film is an apocalyptic thriller called Spin The Wheel.

Neil has been featured on Celtx, No Film School, Script Revolution, Raindance, The Write Practice, Lifewire, and MSN.com, and his work has won awards from Script Summit, ScreamFest, FilmQuest and Cinequest (among others).

Neil believes that all writers have the potential to create great work. His passion is helping writers find their voice and develop their skills so that they can create stories that are entertaining and meaningful. If you’re ready to take your writing to the next level, he's here to help!

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1158 Writing Prompts About Time Machines

March 24, 2021

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Have you ever wondered at least once in your life how it would feel like to have a time machine that would allow you to travel back in time to correct past mistakes or go to the future to see how your present decisions would affect the future? If your answer is ‘yes,’ maybe you should consider writing a story about it to satisfy your curiosity.

Enter writing prompts about time machines.

Below are some storyline suggestions and plot ideas that would allow you to write stories about time machines and time travel that would work for any genre, including sci-fi, adventure, historical fiction, and fantasy. May they inspire you to create short stories and novels.

• You use your time machine to go back in time and kill Hitler.
• You accidentally open a wormhole and find yourself back in the Middle Ages.
• You travel along a relative’s family tree to discover something unpleasant about your past.
• A sudden power surge transports you 400 thousand years in the future.
• A time traveler with the same machine as you asks to see the future, but in order to do that you must both target the exact same place at the exact same time.
• You develop a time machine but can’t find the main power button.
• When your time machine arrives, the city is enveloped in a black mist.
• You use a malfunctioning time machine to try to save someone you don’t like, only to find yourself doomed.
• You’re the first human to govern outer space.
• You discover a small vial of glowing fluid and a note stating that it can deliver anyone from a fixed point in time to another point in time relative to their own current position.
• By the power of God, your time machine crashes in prehistoric times and you are stranded there. After months, you encounter one of the creatures…
• You send your time machine to the future, and it explodes when it reaches its destination.
• You parallel park your time machine in a space that is much too small.
• An astronaut arrives from the future with a time machine. He shows you some things that may or may not happen.
• The past shows you a previously unknown superhero from the future who’ll be the next savior of mankind.
• You can’t stop yourself from using the time machine.
• While seated at breakfast, a time traveler sits down, telling you stories about the future.
• You strangle a loved one to death in the past to prevent a terrible future.
• A woman from the past shows up asking if you know the date and you do. Then she explains that people from the future made her travel back in time to ask you this question.
• Your grandchild hears you have a time machine and asks if you can travel to the moon to see if there is life there back in the ’70s before NASA sent a probe.
• A time traveler appears in front of you, takes you for a ride in his time machine and asks you to go to eight years in the past.
• You enter an uninhabited city with dozens of buildings in ruins. You wonder when it happened and what caused it.
• You travel back in time to meet an ancestor you previously only knew by name or reputation.
• You discover that changing something in the past makes your present and future different.
• In the future, fresh water can be purchased, but it is illegal to drink water from the tap.
• You want to travel in time to visit a specific person or event.
• Your future self tries talking you out of doing something, but you ignore your future self.
• Someone claims they visited you in the future with a time machine and that the events they described are taking place in your present.
• You travel off the end of the world and back again transforming your planet in multiple ways.
• You meet yourself in the past and stop yourself from doing something crazy.
• You accidentally travel back in time and ruin your own birth or your own death.
• You witness your favorite crime take place. You send yourself back in time to stop it.
• A person from the future appears before you in a time travel suit.
• But what writing prompt would be complete without an interactive presentation?
• You travel a million years in the future and return to find the whole planet has been ripped apart by the sun.
• You journey back in time and witness the death of your own mother.
• The time machine gets broken beyond repair. What did you do?
• You see into the past and find out your life is about to take a turn for the worst.
• Your final time travel expedition before retirement.
• It is 2064 and you have invented a time machine capable of going back fifty years in time. What have you been doing for the last fifty years that allowed you to build the time machine?
• You meet yourself in the past using your time machine.
• A small boy from the future steps into a time machine asking for his past life.
• Your time machine erupts in flames.
• A scientist steals your time machine and hides on top of Mount Everest.
• Someone steals your time machine. Possibly to go back in time and give you a nicer model.
• A dying homeless person asks you to take him 50 years in the future with your time machine. The drug addict is so charming you contemplate sparing his life, just to see what will happen. Or maybe you could help him recover. Or would it be better to help him now? If you bring him forward in time would he become cured automatically?
• You build a time machine to learn how grandma will react when you tell her your relationship.
• You are playing cards with Adolf Hitler and accuse him of cheating.
• What is your favorite thing about time travel? Remember that there are no bad answers to this– you just want to write right now!
• You visit yourself growing up through time with your time machine.
• You take your date to the future, but somehow end up back in prehistoric times.
• You accidentally visit and alter the past. A different version of you comes along with you and gives you sound advice that – with your original time machine – prevents the history disaster from happening.
• You’re on an island where everyone has a time machine, and yet refuses to use it on moral grounds.
• Someone you love time travels.
• Your time machine closes and then opens again a minute later, erasing a decade of your life. How do you survive?
• You plant your time machine into the back garden so your distant relative could use it to go back in time and kill Hitler as a baby.
• You find the vision you have just experienced a year ago to be true.
• You decide to fix the future by backtracking to the beginning of time and making sure the Big Bang never happened.
• You’re able to correct a fatal mistake before it happened. But when you return, what is the correction you don’t do that makes the fatal mistake be there anyway?
• You find yourself in the Stone Age and you use your time machine to make yourself his great leader.
• You travel back to a time where you have already been and see yourself doing something you’ve never done before.
• A person is inspecting your time machine and is just about to touch it when you beckon them not to.
• What good is traveling through time to visit prehistoric dinosaurs.
• Your biggest competitor is working on a time machine very similar to yours.
• Your last chance to see your dying grandfather in the hospital is in the past, when he was alive and well.
• You accidentally kill yourself with your own time machine and there’s no way to prevent it.
• All attempts at designing a time machine have failed, until your invention worked. What are your feelings on accomplishing a goal no one else could? A) Excited B) Angry C) Scared D) All of the above So, we designed the time machine correctly and built it. Now we’re going to send a person into the past… Who should be the first? How does he react to seeing yourself without knowing who it is? In the middle of a heist, you realize your temporally-oriented watch is working again. What would you do with your chance to do it over? Another inventor and you begin to have a rivalry. What steps can you take against her/him? Your logical time machine reveals that paradoxes are a basis for your universe. Will you continue to use your time machine or try another one? You travel to the future and see that from 2150 to 21505, humanity began to haven the universe until we encountered a powerful adversary. We lost
• You get the idea to use a time machine to overthrow your boss.
• A time traveller arrives in your time and claims he owns every book in a library you spent your life years building.
• You travel back in time to do something evil to yourself in the past and it all backfires.
• What historical event occurs three hundred years into the future?
• An inventor is working on their latest invention. It looks like a normal box but is much too small to fit any living thing inside. What does the inventor claim will happen when they turn it on?
• You’re been critically injured by a time traveler.
• You’re the only survivor after an atomic holocaust.
• Your time machine’s history shows you an identical machine knocking over the water cooler and spilling it all over your briefcase. What did you do differently?
• You’re being pursued by a killer, and take refuge in the time machine.
• A thick fog descends as you approach the spot where you left your time machine.
• You find a way to travel back into the past.
• You find a new use for your time machine.
• A dwarf appears in your time machine saying he is from a parallel universe. He says that his universe runs on a day length that’s half of your days. You adjust your machine so that you can time travel to his universe. What happens?
• The professor you write reports for is working on time machine technology. If you can’t tell him who you are, what do you do about it?
• Describe a weird thing that happened when you were traveling through time.
• You receive a message from the year 5023. What is it?
• What did you do with your time machine at first?
• You find out time travel is real and set off on an adventure to visit historic events.
• You travel to the beginning of time and observe the Big Bang with your time machine.
• You create a time machine so powerful that you create two of yourself. Two inventors. Where do you meet? What do you do?
• You encounter yourself out of the blue. You remember he’s trying to kill you, so you fight him. Who won your first fist fight with yourself and why?
• The movie Time Cop showed what a bad idea it is to mess with the timeline. Now, what would happen if you REALLY messed with the timeline?
• You are kidnapped by your doubles from the future.
• Earth is populated by colonies of time travellers constantly travelling back in time to change the course of history.
• A scientist tells you that you will never invent the time machine and he will never live to invent the time machine.
• While traveling back in time, you encounter yourself.
• You use your time machine to fix a mistake you made in the past.
• An unmanned time machine crashes into your home.
• You discover chimpanzees are the true but hidden masters of humanity.
• You discover you’re a character in a futuristic video game.
• You don’t know how you managed to survive for this long in the year…
• A time traveler approaches you on how to make time machines.
• You find a time machine but you can’t use it – you have to convince someone to use it for you.
• After you’ve traveled into the future a year, the world you observe seems to be stable. But in future year two, nuclear armageddon occurs. You go to your past year one self and tell them to warn their future selves to evacuate the world. But it wouldn’t work because now you yourself are the problem with the time travel.
• You design the perfect murder using your time machine to dispose of the evidence.
• A man who claims to be your father from the future warns you that you must prevent your family from getting in trouble with the mob.
• Someone tries to mess with the time-space continuum and sends you on a wild ride through time.
• You time travel to ancient Egypt where you help Joseph make the pyramids. You’ve studied Egyptian history all your life – how could you help Joseph?
• You travel back in time and accidentally kill your father when he was a little boy.
• You watch Abraham Lincoln give his famous Gettysburg address. How do you convince him that it is important?
• A magical genie appears and gifts you with a time machine. Upon activation the genie promises to appear each year on your birthday and grant you a single wish. The wish cannot involve the time machine.
• Write a story about yourself being given the power of time travel.
• When the time is right, you decide to go back and kill your own grandfather before he can conceive your mother.
• At the end of mankind, robots from the future come and transport humans to the far future.
• If your Kickstarter project is successfully funded, you have indicated you will send a personal time machine to backers who give a certain amount. Will the time machine be designed like a box? Why or why not? If so, can you share your design with us?
• The inventor of the time machine dies before he can reveal the secret of how to actually make it function. It’s in his head. The thought of a paradox makes your head hurt! Never mind.
• A time traveller from the future tells you how to become filthy rich.
• An alternative time line splits off when you decide whether to make cookies or brownies.
• You are arrested for sabotaging your own time machine, providing a one-way ticket to the past.
• You have the chance to go back in time and make either of your parents famous jazz musicians. Which one do you make famous? Who do you marry? What do you do?
• Your time machine requires one more fix before it’s finished. While days turn into weeks, months and even years, you’re still tinkering with it. What keeps you motivated to build it?
• A time traveller comes to you and predicts the past saying that everything is going to be alright.
• You see an advanced race who have developed a pocket sized time machine!
• Your path to the future is blocked by an increasingly steep hill. You climb it, unaware that it is no hill – it is a descending path and you will meet yourself at the bottom.
• A person arrives from the future and warns you not to return to 2003.
• A group of historians want to take a tour of the ancient savage world with your time machine.
• You invite a friend along on your time machine. Both of you pick dates in the future to return to.
• Try writing one or two paragraphs using the prompts.
• A perfect crime has occurred in another country. Using your time machine, you go back in time and stop the crime before it happens.
• You’re reading a book about time travel and turn to a page randomly and read the last few words.
• Corporal Matthews is driving around in his tank when it suddenly materialises in the middle of a World War One battlefield. How does he react?
• You use your time machine to give King Philip IV of France an unshaven face.
• You spend more time in the past than the present.
• You arrive in the future and find a society clone-based around a genocide you  perpetrated against a minority.
• You travel back in time and prevent yourself.
• You’ve secretly decided to manipulate things that happened in the past.
• The time machine repairs itself and launches you into The International Space Station.
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• You find a way to return to the past and tell yourself to avoid being arrested.
• You have the chance to travel to any point in your past.
• Imagine that you’ve built the first time machine. What mischief do you get up to after that? Write a story inspired by it.
• You find out you were actually allied with an evil dictator, whom you topple.
• You’re a dailiness reporter in Buenos Aires and you witness Hitler taking the bunker. He asks for your name and tells you to go back to tomorrow, when you’ll find a letter to you.
• Go on the moon with Neil Armstrong using your time machine.
• You claim to be an alien from the future.
• You’ve built a time machine but realize that someone has stolen the instruction manual.
• You’re late for work, and nothing can get you there in time.
• You’ve managed to travel back in time. In your quest to change history, you find a family photo of Adolf Hitler.
• A wormhole splits a town in half.
• You’ve only been married for three years but have been separated for another thirty. What was life like?
• The world is ending in a week and you’re kidnapped and told to stop a time traveller.
• You find yourself in the last time a specific event occurred, such as an apocalypse.
• You are tasked by the President of the United States to build the first ever time machine.
• You’ve never heard of “groundhog day” until you meet yourself in the future and learn about it.
• You accidentally step on a butterfly, and sends the earth off course, ultimately creating the apocalypse.
• You visit the time of Jesus, but have a hard time because He sees you as an angel.
• You are taken into the time machine. What would you say to the designer to improve it?
• Somewhere in the pit of your stomach, you feel something stir at the sight of your time machine rusting in the corner, ready to be used again.
• You meet a time traveler from a planet identical to Earth.
• You wake up from a magical coma centuries in the future.
• It’s Star Wars, but instead of the Force you–
• You use your time machine to make tons of money before returning to the present.
• Your time machine has malfunctioned and now your world is stuck in a new permanent dark age. What do you do?
• Using your time machine, you race ahead of important events or people and write eyewitness accounts of very important events.
• You arrive at a crossroads in time, where versions of yourself seem to be playing out opposite versions of your life.
• You travel to the future and discover that the human race has been wiped out.
• Everything is bleak and dark in the future world.
• A girl comes up to you and tells you she’s actually just travelled from the past to talk with you, then adds…
• You use your time machine to set up a sports betting operation in the vein of Dog Day Afternoon.
• You attempt to shove your annoying friend into the past, but accidentally send him to the future.
• How far into the future will you visit yourself? How will you react when you see yourself?
• A stranger drops by with a time machine similar to yours and says they are you from the future.
• You are abducted by aliens. They leave you on present Earth and let you keep your time machine.
• You’ve always dreamed of entering a time machine, and finally you win the lottery and you can buy one.
• A brilliant scientist says he can prove parallel universes exist.
• As you move through time, you notice you look different each day. Yesterday you were blond, today you’re Asian.
• You’re visited by your future self as a child.
• You discover that time travel is not a fluke of your invention but has been around for a while. Your inventor friends bet you a million dollars you don’t go back and kill their baby selves.
• Your future self reveals that time travel is actually removing your soul and popping it into your destination. Your future self also reveals that the only way to use this process is to kill yourself, which right now he is in the process of doing…
• A spooky person in a costume approaches you saying he knows that you created being the first time machine and goes on to make an Oprah-like self-help statement.
• You come back from your time machine to find your sister has become President of the United States. The weather and the rest of the world remains the same.
• You go back in time to take Napoleon’s place and save France.
• A professor wants you to invent a time machine so that she can see her son again.
• On your way to the bank, your time machine is broken by a monkey.
• You blackmail a time traveler that you are planning to publish his past in your blog.
• You create a device to travel forward through time just an hour. When you return, everything is different.
• The time machine you invented leaps into the past. But it’s been stolen by another inventor.
• While being chased by time police, you accidentally run through a time chrono-inversion.
• A baby is born and an old man dies simultaneously. Decide who is lucky and who is cursed.
• You meet your older self. He tells you a secret about the family that you didn’t realize until decades later.
• Wherever you go in time, the most influential person is always Henry Ford.
• Your time machine malfunctions and throws you back in time into an unknown world.
• While traveling through time, you lose all your stuff and have a chance encounter with the only alien ever to live on earth.
• A child who seems familiar to you follows you to your time machine.
• You hear a knock on the door one night and open it to find yourself there.
• Someone steals your time machine and takes it back a decade but doesn’t return.
• There exist time machines in the future but you suspect the alien invasion and so you go to the future and kill Hitler.
• Time travelling is not as easy as you once thought when you found yourself in ancient London where the Great Fire is occuring.
• Someone betrays you and erases your memories and your time machine.
• Using the time machine, you travel to the nearest possible future or the nearest possible past.
• You think your daughter might grow up to be a murderer. You’re going to make sure of it.
• You are monitoring a black hole to prevent its collapse. As you observe, it consumes your time machine. You must now decide what you want to do next.
• You’ve cracked the designs for the first time machine when you meet a stranger who wants to buy it.
• You attempt to travel back in time to kill God but you travel back to the beginning of time instead.
• Your time machine breaks down in the primeval forest of the Middle Ages.
• An agent from the future approaches you. Says the world will never be the same again.
• You help the time machine inventor you are working for with the first time machine. But she might not have your best interests in mind.
• You travel back to Armageddon and stop the apocalypse. You realize however that the universe is borderline rational and the apocalypse is actually a bingo tournament.
• Your time machine starts working and you get messages telling you to change your past.
• You use your time machine to travel back to the Stone Age.
• You travel back in time to your tenth birthday only to find out that you are yet to be born.
• You get trapped in a time loop again and again.
• Your brother invents a time machine. You steal it and ditch him in the past.
• You accidentally kill the wife of your past self while using the time machine.
• Your life is unfulfilled. In your time machine, you visit yourself in the past
• An alien with superior technology offers to send you back in time.
• You visit an alternate universe where everything is upside down and you need to escape.
• You somehow enter the time stream and return back to the moment when you were born.
• While time traveling you pursue a Neanderthal man going the opposite direction, and are mortally wounded.
• Find a frying pan, a banana, a sledge hammer and a spider.
• The person you defeat in a battle travels back in time to kill your ancestors.
• In the unimaginably distant future, humans create a time machine and through it discover that alien life has been visiting Earth for centuries.
• You find a time machine in Ancient Egypt and are the first ever time traveller.
• Clanking into the stables, you see a very old machine. Realising it is your original invention, you start to hear voices from inside the room …
• You visit future America using your time machine.
• You discover a remote cabin that is a tunnel to the stars.
• When you travel back in time you watch yourself living the week you just left
• You travel into the future to confront the villain who wronged you in the present.
• You use your time machine to force your very worst enemy to undergo a horrible transformation.
• You’re allowed to bring a single item of tech from the future or past.
• In ancient New York you meet a time traveler who has come back to warn you of a disaster that not even he can escape.
• You travel to the future and find that humanity has finally died off from a nuclear holocaust. The only being left is a clump of blue self-replicating goo in the middle of Australia.
• You design a time machine that only works in the day or the night and there is a switch over an hour during the transition. If you miss the switch you go to the wrong time period. What happens when you get a late start going home?
• Clinging to the side of a comet centuries away from Earth, you wonder if Earth as you knew it is still there.
• A man sat in the corner of a café is revealing to his friend that he has access to travel through time, but can only go to the future and is suggesting his friend make use of his services.
• The machine is designed with no safeguards. The last one you send away through it never returns.
• Suddenly, you get the opportunity to stop yourself from making the biggest mistake of your life.
• Newly-weds experience marital problems when the husband goes back in time and sleeps with the bride at her own wedding.
• You visit a time before humanity. All that you’ll ever do has already been done.
• A time-travel researcher tells you his project is being shut down by shadowy figures.
• You are arrested for stealing the Declaration of Independence, but you’re able to prove you did it with a time machine, and you’re set free.
• A man without a past murders you with a time machine and continues to murder you repeatedly in the past in random locations until he has a past.
• The Zombie Apocalypse is taking place in your time. You have a time machine and could spend the rest of your life hiding, however the government has control of your time machine and says you must help stop the zombie apocalypse. Do you do it?
• You build an army of time machines and conquer the earth.
• What is your time machine of choice?
• A deep regret starts troubling your mind to the extent where you want to erase it by traveling to the past. You know, however, that your very own self is responsible for the regret. How would you deal with it?
• The age of the dinosaur is peaceful. What does your newly discovered, peaceful existence make you think about.
• Writing prompt for time travel
• You go back to the future and miss your appointment with your own past self.
• You use your time machine to travel back in time and kill Hitler.
• You get a glimpse of how life a thousand years into the future looks.
• By using the time machine you realize that you have won the lottery by traveling back in time and buying your winning ticket.
• You find a time machine in a workshop.  After trying it out for yourself, you decide to tell your ancestors about it.
• A group of time travellers accost you. They want to borrow your time machine.
• You meet someone in the past with a time machine.
• You’re given the option to fix any problem with time. What are you going to do?
• A mysterious time traveler comes to you saying he teases time.
• Your time travels were successful, and human civilization went on well despite all the negative prophecies.
• A Time Traveller walks into your bedroom and scares the living daylights out of you.
• You’re a decorated soldier who has been sent to stay in the future for your company.
• After a night of debauchery, you wake up in the future.
• Your time machine malfunctions and sends you into the Mesozoic era.
• You bump into yourself from the future with your time machine.
• You enter your time machine and emerge again at the same place but just a year ago.
• You find an abandoned time machine in your garage.
• You step into your time machine as it’s nearing a critical singularity.
• What would you like to see in the future?
• After borrowing a time machine, you drop in on yourself on the other side of the world after you’re famous. What do you say to yourself ?
• Your boss requires you to prove the time machine actually works.
• Each day, every hour, someone is killed by a time machine. The authorities catch the culprit and you are needed to testify in court. Who is guilty?
• You visit the time of Jesus Christ and meet a side of him no one’s ever heard about before.
• You accidentally hit the “return home” button in your time machine which leaves you stranded in the past.
• You meet a man from the future who steals your time machine to travel backwards in time to 2023. When he does this, he takes away your access to a cure for your favorite dog of cancer. Worse yet, you steal the time machine to go to 2023 and find he got there first and imprisoned you in a subway to get away with the time machine and his crimes.
• A time traveller from the future tells you that you are doomed and that he can only accelerate the time when you will meet your end.
• A newspaper article is printed declaring you, the inventor of the time machine, the winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics.
• You’re the first person in the history of humanity to travel more than 10 years back in time. What do you do?
• You travel into the past to see the birth of your first pet.
• You are given a time machine by your future self. He tells you that you can raise a kid that will save the world. As a child, you make a terrible mistake, something that ruins your adult life. Using your time machine, you make the change so that the terrible thing never happens. But after making the change, you find that everything changed back.
• A criminal pursued by the police hides in your time machine.
• You get stuck in time with the ability to just pop back to the present when convenient. Time goes by really fast.
• During a time travel experiment you arrive in the middle of the road and accidentally force an oncoming vehicle swerve and rollover on top of a highway divider.
• While flying your time machine to see the dinosaurs, you fall back to the age of the dinosaurs’ reign.
• You find yourself in prehistoric times.
• You appear in a time where time machines are common and they already have mastered quantum physics.
• You take in a wrong turn in the time machine and wake up to realize the future is bleak.
• You see a flying car and kidnap the inventor.
• A woman appears in a flash of light, crying out that you are destined to save the future, and that time travel must never exist after you invent it.
• A love affair with a time traveler sends your life into a downward spiral from which you never recover.
• Butterfly effect. A butterfly causes you to step into the future with your time machine.
• A director is filming a time travel movie and wants you on set to give him some pointers about time travel.
• Travelling through time, you find yourself witnessing your own funeral.
• Your brother has met a good poker player ten years his senior, but then he breaks the heart of the girl living across the street. If he didn’t break her heart, she would have won the lottery.
• You’re stuck in the Dawn of Man era. A member of your tribe who just read “The Singularity is Near” and feels invincible due to the exponential increase in intelligence and strength of humankind comes and trashes your time machine.
• A time traveler visits you and warns you not to build a time machine.
• Your friend tells you that he has a time machine. You visit him from the past just to see for yourself, but there’s no mechanical impossibility that prevents him from referring to his time machine if he explains how it works. Your friend has no reason to lie. Still, you just can’t figure out time machines.
• You take your own tape recorder with you and ask famous people of the future to record their answers.
• You are approached by a man claiming to be a time-traveling Roman.
• You travel to the past and abduct your younger self.
• You add a “past” button to your time machine, but it overshoots and instead it takes you to the future.
• Your wife is dying of cancer in the present but you can save her with a time machine from the future. Meanwhile, you’re forty pounds too heavy, while your wife is a trim model.
• You build a time machine and travel forward a day in your calendar and the world has ended.
• Localized time paradoxes make time travel into specific time periods impossible.
• You go back in time and save yourself from an earlier accident.
• You’re thrown off your time machine by a no-good time bandit, causing you to land at random.
• You accidentally take 10 minutes instead of 7 minutes and find yourself another person.
• You pick up key structural elements from the Roman Empire and recreate them to design your time machine.
• Two versions of you use your time machine to meet each other, and you are in a position to gather some important information, but your younger version doesn’t know that you’re from the future. What do you do?
• Your time machine runs out of juice, forcing you to recharge it somehow.
• You are trapped in a time loop.
• You visit yourself in the past with your time machine.
• Your time machine malfunctions and you find yourself stuck in the Middle Ages. How do you manage to survive?
• Your best friend just graduated. You borrow their time machine to travel back in time to tell them to major in something else.
• Your time machine’s power runs out in the middle of a crucial football game.
• You are torn between going back in time to save a loved one from death and going forward to see how the rest of your life will progress.
• Your time machine wipes your memory and you have to find a “time traveller” savvy enough to help you get back.
• You travel a billion years into the future and meet a god.
• A scientist invents a time machine and appears to disappear. The police question you to see if you are responsible for messing with the time-space continuum.
• A letter falls out of your drawer. It’s addressed to you by yourself from the future and contains advice or information.
• You have to stop a killer who knows your secrets, and who also has a time machine.
• Your time machine lands on top of a very tall building.
• A time traveler from the future confronts you and gives you two tasks.
• You discover writing from a mysterious woman who claims to be from the future.
• Describe a time machine disguised as something not expected.
• Your friend wipes their memory using your time machine.
• The first time machine tour guide is eaten whole by a bookshark.
• You and your kids partake in a major altercation over your time machine usage.
• What is time would be like to a tortoise and infinitely long, containing everything possible.
• Your time machine malfunctions and tosses you into the distant past. You have to fend for yourself.
• You meet yourself in the past with your time machine.
• It is your loved one’s birthday anniversary.
• After building a time machine, you visit yourself on Friday. Friday acts like everything is everyday, even something as drastic as the transportation of matter from the past into the present. Do you tell him?
• A malfunctioning time machine appears to have sent someone from the future into a prehistoric age.
• Two men show up in a time machine, both claiming to have invented it.
• All the components of the first time machine you were developing disappeared in the middle of the night. Only a letter left behind instructs you to give up inventing, and is signed by yourself.
• The writing prompts in this article are just enough to get your creative juices going. But don’t stop there. Take out your journal, grab your pen, and wait for inspiration to strike.
• You win the lottery using a foreseeing device.
• Your uncle, a wealthy businessman, steals the time machine.
• The world ceases to exist. You use your time machine to set into motion events that will alter the past, therefore creating a new future for yourself.
• You build an abusive time machine that traps and tortures anyone stupid enough to use it. Who do you suggest first?
• You discover a time machine on the other side of the universe.
• A scientist in ancient Egypt transfers the soul of the pharaoh into a wooden puppet to save his life.
• You leap through time accidentally and lose the ability to return home.
• Your time machine accidentally creates a time paradox and a second time machine falls out of the sky emitting a loud “BANG”.
• You go back in time and arrive immediately after the Big Bang, allowing you to alter the Universe.
• The government has invented time travel and appointed you commander of a time army.
• You meet your parents when they were in their mid-twenties, and they start asking you questions about who you’re dating in high school, and you accidentally tell them that you’re gay, and the universe changes.
• You are thrown back in time and climb into bed next to your young parents.
• You run into yourself with your time machine. Explain.
• The time machine is used for divorce proceedings.
• You work together with your future-self in a project. You encounter a time paradox, and together, you have to solve it.
• Another time traveler steals a major piece of information from the future and threatens to change the course of history. Now you have to chase him down and retrieve the missing data.
• You set the time machine to return to your Birth Time by mistake and end up there as a baby.
• A pigeon steals your time machine and takes a trip into the past.
• Along your travels you’re confronted by a time-traveler from your future.
• You discover a way to travel back in time to kill Hitler.
• You find yourself in the same place again and again in time.
• You’re trapped in a house where you can see yourself outside through a window.
• A kaiju appears and starts destroying cities in your time after slowing down time.
• When you flee into your time machine, it transports you a few seconds back in time.
• You have a time machine, but decide that going into the future would be no fun with only one head — you could only imagine what would happen if your nose grew — so you went back in time. When you arrive at your house, a young lady tells you that she will marry you in fifty years. Will she still be single?
• You discover your time machine is the last machine on Earth.
• A strange traveller invites you to a feast and entertainment in his time machine.
• You’re flying home over the Pacific, when all of a sudden your jet’s engines cease to function. Panic sets in until you spot a gigantic floor fan a few kilometers away. You float over to it and get blown safely to shore.
• You join a resistance with a time machine and go back in time to stop the powerful.
• A bearded figure approaches you saying he comes from the future and tells a story of a vampire with huge fangs haunting you in the future.
• You achieve enough power to build a time machine. The first thing you do is…
• Your girlfriend is using the time machine to neglect her responsibilities on Earth. You’re angry, confront her about it, and she says you were the same way when you were with her.
• You’re visited by yourself from the past using your own time machine.
• The Scientist can always do one nice thing for the Hero when she has exhausted her Loyalty/Heroism/Sanity tokens.
• Your time machine is stolen and used by a madman. You had your mission to fulfill.
• You send a book back in time for yourself to read when the events in it take place.
• The cargo the government wants you to bring back is the memories of a woman who has committed suicide.
• You just won the lottery but used the money to buy a time machine. How will you use it?
• You accidentally destroy your time machine, only to discover you’ve already built a new one.
• You are given the opportunity to speak to a famous historical figure from centuries ago with the help of your time machine.
• Your time machine malfunctions and puts you into the past instead of the future. Do you try to fix it or simply stay in the past?
• A wizard claims to have sent a message into the time stream to avert some disastrous event in the future. Is he telling the truth?
• You accidentally wind up in the past, right before your 16 th birthday.
• Your happily married, 60-years-young grandparents invite you to their place. They live isolated from the rest of the city in an old dilapidated building overlooking their sprawling garden.
• You end up as chopped liver.
• You try to go back in time to save a friend’s life. But strangely, that friend never existed.
• You discover another time machine and decide to steal it.
• One day you have a philosophical debate with Einstein about time travel.
• You attempt to change the past but discover that doing so is futile.
• You visit a parallel universe.
• You use the time machine to steal pretty things from the time you just arrived in.
• You plan to steal a treasure from a museum in the 1930s but you are distracted and return without the treasure or the time machine.
• You take your time machine out for a joy-ride and end up seriously injuring yourself.
• Your time machine causes you to run over your own self days ago.
• You stumble on a time machine part during your vacation.
• You save someone’s life, but the time ripple effect kicks in, causing your new found friend to become handicapped.
• The ghost of your great-great etc. grandmother visits you with a task to perform.
• In the 19th century, you encountered yourself from earlier that morning in a verdant part of the Amazon River basin. You catch a pig which your younger self is squealing after, for your morning breakfast.
• The clock is devoted to telling the correct time.
• You find a time machine in a pile of junk and take it home.
• You’re trying to get your pet chimp into the past to make him human.
• You visit yourself in the past before the birth of yourself.
• Your family hires a thief who claims that he can engineer a time machine.
• Your time machine breaks and you are stranded outside the present day.
• Your time machine malfunctions and tosses you into the future.
• You bring yourself back to the past as a baby in an attempt to win the lottery with your newfound wealth.
• You find that your girlfriend from the future is now your ex, and you’re crushed.
• An old tramp from the 1800s tells you that he is your grandfather.
• Your time machine can only physically exist at one place at one time. It can only move through time when it is not occupying space. Where do you choose for the machine to be tethered to?
• In ancient Rome, you are captured by the emperor and made to fight against gladiators for survival.
• An old friend tells you this is the first time you two met.
• Your time machine malfunctions and you land in the distant past in ancient Egypt.
• After losing the election and feeling extremely depressed, you visit a future where the revolution has succeeded and there’s a tramp sitting on the throne and…
• After traveling into the distant future you are attacked by a spaceship from a rival time traveler on your way home. How do you find it?
• A time traveller from the future tells you he is invading Earth at present.
• You travel back to the past and give some experience to your younger you for the future.
• You’ve had a good run of it so far since designing your time machine — all gold, all the time. What happens the first time you use it and it gives you an unexpected bounce?
• You live in a society where it is a crime to use time machines.
• Your time travels attract too much attention.
• You build a time machine that only allows you to visit the same location and time twice. For instance, if you were in Paris in 1968 you can return the same time in 1968 to Paris. What do you do with this advanced technology?
• Write a story opening with a character using a time machine to try and correct a mistake. You know they can’t succeed.
• You meet yourself in the future.
• A scientist declares the impossibility of time travel, but he and his colleagues go ahead and build one anyway. What happens?
• Undo your wrongdoings
• Your mother-in-law/uncle-in-law/yourself asks to take your time machine for a spin.
• You vanish for half an hour and when you return, there is a zombie apocalypse.
• Things didn’t just change in the future, they changed more than anyone expected. You had a tendency to speak your mind to everyone, and got thrown into jail.
• We’ve smashed graphene into dust.  Worst is yet to come.  Write about it.
• An intelligence sends you a cryptic message from the future, which you can’t decipher.
• An inconsiderate kid dings your helmet with a toy laser gun and now you can’t see out of your time machine.
• You can never be sure that a piece of technology is truly intelligent. Or maybe you believe that inanimate objects can be sentient.  Write a short story about a  smartphone, or perhaps a  car  that explores its own  consciousness   or experiences an awakening .
• You specifically made a time machine to counter terrible things that were to happen in the future.
• You travel back in time and gather seeds of now extinct plants.
• Your story ends in one hundred words or less.
• Using your time machine, you travel to a place in the past. While there you meet two little angels on your shoulders and two little devils on your hips. How else did things change besides those four and your physical appearance while you were in that time? What if angels looked like tiny devils and vice versa? What if you can’t decide between good and evil? An angel and a devil aren’t exactly helpful as they’re constantly in your mind.
• You find a time machine and steal it, taking it back to your era.
• Your time machine malfunctions and suddenly you take several left turns within warped time and space.
• A friend takes the time machine to go back in time and win the lottery.
• You step inside your time machine and vanish. The only way to get back to where you need to be is to retrace your steps.
• A machine is invented that can reduce wash time from two hours to ten minutes.
• You travel to the future and your machine is destroyed. You must survive in this new world.
• You take an experimental time machine to a job interview and hope for the best.
• A criminal jumps into your time machine and disappears. You just know he’ll appear in the distant past where he’ll destroy evidence against him. He could already be back to his own time. Or, perhaps, he’s traveling around time killing you at intervals.
• There exists a society in the future which consists of the smartest people from throughout history.
• You decide to kill your arch rival when travelling in time.
• Future tells you about life changing technology.
• You pretend to be God with your time machine.
• Your dog, acting as a time machine, takes you on a trip to the Moon.
• The god of life, Yor, hates everyone you know and has sent you back in time to ensure that no one for whom you care is born. You have one year to find their ancestors and change their names to remove them from notice.
• A secret organization appears to be trying to destroy your time machine before you can fix it again.
• You use your time machine to exact revenge on a neighbor.
• You are able to time travel and create a duplicate of yourself.
• A time traveler arrives out of nowhere and shocks you by saying he’s already met you..in the future.
• You suspect the time machine will betray you, but with some modifications you convince it to take you back to the age of mammoths.
• Someone gives you a rare item from a time not yet witnessed. You collect it, what would it be?
• You gave yourself advice in the past. And then regret it.
• You travel back to the time of your parents’ high school prom.
• You stay in the past too long and instead of heading home to the future your matter degrades into a pile of dust.
• The Earth ran out of coffee and you must find a new solar system with this time machine.
• You become lost in time and find yourself in the very distant future.
• You claim to have designed the first ever time machine. A man stands in front of you, asking how you built it.
• You invent a time machine with your friends, and are looking for ideas on where to go.
• You get stuck in the past due to unexpected time machine failure and drop a message as a time capsule for future generations.
• A time traveler visits you and tells you to do everything you do except today.
• A time traveler who’s stuck in the past decides to sire a son and give him the time machine into your hands.
• Zombies are attacking people and only your time machine can get them to safety.
• Your time machine malfunctions while on a field trip with 30 of your students.
• The whole town is quarantined following a sloppy test of a new chemical that grants eternal life because all of the people turn into their Halloween costumes.
• The first time you visit your future home, you find it as a smoldering ruin. People you know are helping with the construction of additional buildings. When you see yourself carrying a large stack of lumber on your shoulder, you realize how you are responsible for the end of the world.
• You can only take one object with you if you are abandoning your home due to nuclear fallout. What is that object?
• Using the time machine, you travel back and prevent your house from being burned down.
• Your favourite goal of travel in the future with your time machine is to see other versions of yourself. Have you tried it? Are you comfortable with that?
• You visit Mars in the 24th century and have a good conversation with a robot from that time.
• Time detectives torture you to find out about your time machine.
• You find a note telling you to never use the time machine and to destroy it.
• A message sent from the future arrives just in front of you.
• You inadvertently landed in the time of King Arthur, but you were unlucky and ended up in a battle between King Arthur and some unruly knight.
• You are put in prison for murder. The judge gives you time travel as your sentence.
• You use your time machine to locate a missing person and save them.
• Do time machines work backwards in time? To answer this question, advance your time machine into the past and see if you can reach its entrance.
• You construct a time machine that allows you to change small details that are part of your life, but not your journey. You must decide whether you will do this or not.
• You get too close to a black hole and end up witnessing the big bang.
• Someone from the future reveals himself to you and announces that he is your greatest fan.
• You don’t die.  You only dream of dying.
• You land in a field you recognize as your own. You return to your time.
• Your family is present in a portrait from centuries before.   You feel a sense of dread at the foreboding.
• Your brother brings home a disturbing book from his school, and he may be thinking of living as an anarchist.
• You use your time machine to exact cruel revenge on a certain authoritarian figure from the past…
• Part 1. Your memory is erased every night when you sleep, and eventually-
• Your wife accepts a dinner invitation from Hitler. You suspect she’s going to sleep with him, and you think it’s your duty to kill Hitler, but you’re unaware of any means of preventing your wife from following through with the plans.
• People in the future are using skins of animals as if they were human clothing. What’s your first reaction?
• You need to travel back in time to eliminate a younger version of yourself before you can be born.
• You’ve been given the honour of piloting the first ever manned mission to the closest star. What do you say to the time machine driver?
• An alternative version of yourself travels in time to warn you about the end of the world.
• Much to your horror, you see your kids acting as vampires and drinking your blood when you go back in time.
• A time machine appears before you. It is tempting but you recognize it as a trap and throw away the key.
• A time traveler from the distant future complains to you about the direction of the present day to help him complete some books he’s been writing.
• You are given the entire future to be filled with whatever you’d like to do.
• Your time machine stops, but you don’t know how to figure out why.
• Your time machine slowly begins vibrating.
• A friend builds their own time machine. Their first thought is to go back in time and kill Hitler.
• A time machine is found on a desert island. What’s inside it?
• You travel to the past but find yourself unable to return as your time machine does not work anymore.
• Your future and past selves meet.
• What if the ancient Mayans didn’t miss the deadline to stop building their dam of suns and asteroids ended up pulverizing their civilization?
• You meet your ancestors from the past with your time machine.
• Visiting the future, you find people attached to giant machines that keep them alive indefinitely.
• You travel to look at dinosaurs in the past.
• You always wanted to work as a shopkeeper in the days before credit cards. But your time machine has malfunctioned and thrown you back into the past. How will you survive?
• You order a ride with a time machine company.
• You send your neighbor Sonic the Hedgehog back in time to be eaten by a Tyrannosaurus rex.
• A pornographic movie is made in the future with the technology from your time machine.
• A disturbing figure demands the time machine and takes it away.
• Your father invents a time machine, which he never finished, and you’ve been working all week to build it. At 11pm on the 11th day, you finally finish it. You turn it on and a blinding white light surrounds you. Before you know it, you feel intense nausea and feel like you’re falling over but you’re still standing. You fall to your knees and everything goes black.
• Your time machine malfunctions again, this time sending you sixteen years into the future. Reflect on this.
• You find yourself lying on a hospitable planet next to a time lodged robot.
• You visit a parallel universe where everyone is living the opposite of your existence.
• You are trapped on a desert island. You have a time machine.
• The universe runs on a finite clock of time.
• You have the chance to interview great political figures like Hitler or Gandhi but you have the added ability to travel back in time to watch them at work. What do you do?
• Your psychic ability gets out of control and you see the future -and it’s not good.
• You accidentally travel through time and witness your own funeral.
• You realize the time machine breaks a fundamental law of physics.
• You go to a costume party dressed as a time traveler. After you have arrived home, you realize that you came dressed as someone who was alive in the 1800’s. Explain how this could have happened.
• You find a mysterious clock marked with golden numbers. It seems to govern the flow of time.
• Access the Dark Future Through Time Travel Plot Line Generator
• You’ve died and been reincarnated through time. You don’t wear the glove in this life though.
• You are working on a time machine and decide to take a break with a cup of coffee. You return to find your friends have become ants.
• You want to prove time travel works, so you take the time machine on a test run…where are you going?
• A strange girl with a curved ear beamed into your living room coming from an alternate time. She gives you a cryptic message.
• The latest trend in technological advances includes transporters that can take you back in time to place you exactly where you were seven seconds ago. A mishap occurs during your seventh trip.
• You can say anything you want to a young you.
• You have the chance to kill Hitler as a baby with the time machine, but minors cannot go back.
• You build a time machine that always fails you.
• You travel back in time and stop yourself from inventing the time machine. So now you never invented it. Uh-oh!
• A farmer who hates machines claims he once saw a time machine.
• Your time machine is malfunctioning. During your visit to the past you discover you have saved Hitler. What do you do?
• What would you do if your time machine gave you a warning that the country will experience a catastrophic event? Hope you enjoy/find this free list of time machine writing prompts useful!
• You find a time machine.
• You meet your future self when you have just acquired the time machine.
• You are absolutely amazed to see your own biography on sale in a futuristic bookstore.
• Your time traveling partner is kidnapped with a time machine that is stolen from you. Go into the past in your own time machine and rescue him/her.
• You approach a black hole and find a time machine that you use to escape before your ship is destroyed.
• Somebody wants to buy the patent for your time machine.
• You travel back in time and see what your life was like before you were born.
• You go back to the past to discover the origin of your favourite game, but realize it didn’t originate with you.
• You mess up the past by accidentally bringing a butterfly into the present…
• You invent a time machine and use it to go back in time dozens of years to tell your father the exact lottery numbers for him to save a bunch of money. But one number he refuses to reveal is the secret code for launching World War III through Bluetooth devices.
• You find a time machine, whose location is unknown to you, but you suspect that it belongs to someone you know.
• Two copies of you are made from different futures with time machines.
• You join a time traveling race and can only move forward in time.
• You discover the secret origin of time travel and attempt to change history to make the world a better place.
• Time-traveling villain tells you the world will be destroyed after he kills your friends.
• You use your own time machine to change history.
• You witness a future war and you’re changed forever by it.
• What is the strangest thing you can imagine is hiding in the UFO that crash- lands on your roof?
• You are told that clones of yourself automatically appear in other lifetimes once you die. How do you react?
• You bring a book about time travel with itself stuffed inside.
• You create a time machine that brings you back to the time of your childhood.
• Your time machine malfunctions and you vanish from the future, you reappear in the past.
• An eccentric gentleman makes an explosive offer to build you a time machine if you’re willing to pay the price.
• You go into the past for revenge. You find the one who wronged you. But instead of killing him, you use your time machine to digitally record and forward the exact moment he wronged you to thousands of other people, causing them all to wrong you equally in the same way. Are you satisfied with how you dealt with it?
• You’re having dinner with your favorite celebrity in their time machine.
• Three men in black suits approach you saying they’ve seen you around town and they want to talk.
• Your great-great-grand-daughter gives you a tip that turns you into a successful person.
• A boy from the past arrives in your present using his time machine. You try to help him find his way home, so you can go to the future.
• Your son is sent years into the future because of nobody’s fault.
• A person appears from a distant era stating they need your help to avert a disaster.
• Your time machine is destroyed and the universe is collapsing so you have to rely on wormhole technology to escape but this accelerates time – the world is now like it was many years in the future.
• The inventor of the time machine is not a quantum physics expert, but an expert in transportation.
• A strange room appears from within your time machine.
• You are revealed to have been the only man on Earth at one time in the future.
• You travel back in time and find yourself on the battlefield of Gettysburg – the American Revolution.
• You arrive in the past and taught primitive man how to talk and perform acts of kindness.
• The one particular day of your life ends up being constantly repeated. You decide to go back in time and stop the one specific incident from happening.
• Your time machine malfunctions and places you in the wrong time and place.
• Paranoid, you only go forward in time and when you see what the world will look like, you decide not to go through with time travel at all.
• You think you’ve seen Hitler’s greatest secret, so you’re about to go back in time to stop him.
• You freeze your dead dog and toss it in a machine that digitizes it, uploading the data to a computer in the future in order to reanimate it.
• An Amazonian tribe recruits you to fight off enemies with your time machine.
• Your time machine malfunctions and sends you to the Middle Ages.
• A future version of yourself uses a time machine to travel to the past to meet his younger self.
• You travel back in time using a computer wormhole. A female version of you shows up and asks you on a date.
• The ability to travel in time inspires a new form of entertainment called the killing-spree industry.
• You witness yourself from the past use your time machine. Describe the moment.
• You’re visited by your future self. Present day you describe something to the future you that once happened today. Future you doesn’t believe you.
• You begin to tell your friends and family what a great writer you are.
• A young woman is being chased by her angry ex. Your time machine is the only place of refuge.
• You create another time machine so you can stay in a romantic relationship with a person from the future.
• The universe is about to explode, and you have a time machine. There’s a way to fix the impending annihilation of the universe, but you require too many pieces of a very rare material which will be completely destroyed in the destruction of the universe. Luckily, you have a time machine.
• The characters travel back in time a few days to stop a gunman from shooting President McKinley.
• You think you’ve made a huge discovery when you find an advanced civilisation in the past.
• Machines from the future started hunting humans and they are almost completely wiped out, except for you and 1 million others. The future reveals that there were 2 evil versions of you, which was the reason behind the machines hunting you down. You have the option to choose which of the 2 versions of you will live. What do you do?
• While traveling with your time machine, you look into the night sky and see a constellation that hasn’t been formed yet.
• Someone steals your time machine.
• Your time machine lands in a purgatory inhabited by creatures that love humans.
• A paranoid inventor of a device that controls the weather starts World War 3.
• Having found a better time machine you visit the future of the time machine maker.
• There’s a man on the street corner yelling at people. He tells you that you must go back to your own time or else risk setting in motion an apocalyptic chain of events.
• A voice from your time machine says to you “Remember that the time machine is your friend!”
• You use your time machine to commit a murder that goes unsolved.
• You invent a time machine and later realize an evil dictator has constructed one as well. And he plans to use yours to travel back in time and change history. What do you do?
• Your time machine malfunctions and you visit an alternate reality instead.
• You challenge your alternate-self to mortal-combat in the arena of time.
• After discovering a time machine, you travel back in time to tell yourself something that isn’t so random.
• You plan to bring someone back from the past as a souvenir as a joke, but they change everything and almost cause disaster.
• A machine on your desk malfunctions and you’re flung back in time with a chance to prevent all the horrible things that’s been happening to you lately. Everything else is the same except for one small detail. Who do you hug the moment before you go back in time and what was about to happen the next moment?
• In a modern country, Neanderthals have survived.
• A lowly future version of you appears out of nowhere and warns you that if you do not change your current course of action that the world will come to a horrible end.
• You’re informed by the government that your time machine is a security threat and decide to hide it in an impregnable location – and you haven’t gotten it back ever since.
• You go back in time to prevent your great, great, great, great grandfather’s murder
• Your time machine transports you to the same place over and over until you stop it.
• The three of you begin arguing about existence and end up destroying yourselves and your time machine forever.
• While visiting the past, you are prevented from returning to the future by some future familiar to you covering the time machine.
• You decide to become a time traveling law enforcement officer.
• You reveal to the public the existence of time travel.
• Your time machine malfunctions and sends you back to a pivotal time in history.
• Your future self is a lot different than what you imagined.
• A time travelling stranger gives you advice that changes your life and allows you to benefit from it in the present.
• While on another planet you come across a giant cave filled with artifacts. A pedestal on the far side is handing a vial containing a dark green liquid.
• You’ve armed your time machine with a newspaper that predicts the outcome of the great war.
• Your time machine malfunctions and throws you directly into your own childhood, before you have a doubt of what the future is like or imagined you would create the time machine.
• You worship an entity known as Time. All your technological advances flow from this belief.
• You discover an enigmatic time wand on the beach. Presumably bought by tourists in ancient times.
• You travel back in time to the day your parents were born.
• There is a contest to see the most interesting person in the universe, and the winner goes to the moon.
• A time-traveler from the 22nd century tells you a disturbing tale.
• You were dead all the time. You just didn’t remember. But remember at the end when you wanted to take a look at yourself so you used a time machine only to look at yourself when you were dead in the present.
• A savant that you’re visiting tells you that you shouldn’t have been born.
• A meteorite devastatingly knocks you and your time machine off course, before landing in prehistoric times.
• Your time machine crashes, and its inner mechanisms are revealed.
• You travel into the future but your time machine malfunctions and sends you to a different century than you a…
• You crash into the west gate of ancient Rome on the day that Titus unites it. What is the result of you introducing yourself to the people?
• The time machine needs to be regularly recharged with a special potion invented by you.
• A lone traveller arrives in your time and says he’s from the much distant future, asking for food and shelter.
• Your dog travels to the far future with your time machine, which is now ineffective.
• In an attempt to go back and change the past something goes wrong and brings you face to face with yourself.
• You visit a future where time travel doesn’t exist, yet you are still alive.
• You design a time machine capable of taking you into the future instead of the past.
• You are living your life again and again.
• Werewolves.
• You’re standing at the end of a platform waiting for a train, when a time machine whisks you off for a quick visit in the past.
• Your time machine malfunctions and tosses you into the past, just after the dinosaurs became extinct.
• After travelling to the future, you stay there for a year and return to your original timeline. How does the world differ?
• Your two best friends discover your time machine and use it to sabotage your projects in life. A rich madman offers to help you in your work. You only find out later that he intends to use you to take over the world. A better looking, richer guy offers to help you deploy your time machine. Turns out what he wants to do is use it for his own social engineering projects.
• An elderly man walks into your time machine office.
• Would the past and the future ever meet?
• You explore the future as an old man.
• You decide to visit your future self. What do you do there?
• This time machine has a few suspicious features which you’ve never noticed before. You walk over to it and . . .
• One of your friends has a time machine. It malfunctions and sends you back in time. What happens?
• A mad man with a torch opens the lid of the time machine where you and your son are. What do you do?
• You find that you cannot see the future as it is happening as easily as you thought.
• The laws of physics completely break down and the flow of time ceases to exist.
• You’re on your way to a job interview and your time machine breaks down in the present.
• The enigmatic figure you collided with comes from the future to ask you a question.
• People have discovered how to travel back in time and undo the events of the Second World War. That means you must disappear from the face of the Earth. How do you do so? Your visit to 2016 prompted you to start a student revolution.
• You kill your past self with your time machine, hoping to shape your destiny.
• Once you return from the past, and you look around where you live. It has changed…if only a little.
• You travel back in time before you were born. You must stop yourself from being conceived.
• What do you say to yourself when you meet yourself in the future?
• With your time machine, you go back in time and do something to prevent a tragedy.
• You travel back in time to witness the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
• You’re engaged in a dicey battle with a mad scientist. Your time machine malfunctions.
• Your time machine malfunctions while on a trip to Paris.
• What would you say to your future self when he sees you?
• A sci-fi “tech noir” game inspired by film noir, smog, and Blade Runner…
• You attempt to modify a time machine, hoping to find a way to return to the past.
• You are sent back to the stone age, your time machine is destroyed and you must find a way to go home.
• The same prompt is posted in four different places scattered about the house, each written in a different hand. Given no knowledge of the others, how do you spot the fifth?
• You find a perfectly working time machine and go back in time to give yourself advice.
• You discover an alien machine that looks like a time machine.
• You ask yourself to lend you a book, but your future self never responds and you never see the book again.
• Returning to the present with a lot of sweat and tired muscles, you’re greeted by your friends. “I’ve spent time in the future”, you say.
• A time traveler approaches you and asks to borrow your time machine.
• Your time machine just landed.
• You ask someone from the past for a light.
• An old woman pleads for you to turn up at her great-granddaughter’s birthday party.
• You attempt to travel back in time to the era of pirates to explore their treasures, but you end up in jail instead when you’re mistaken for a stowaway.
• You’re trekking and you discover a puddle of a gooey substance, you set off a time machine in the past and it arrives with a man who is calling himself a god.
• Your pet has been taught how to use a time machine.
• You become lost from your time machine and can’t find your way back home.
• Buy the entire Time Machine Story Bundle!
• You wish you were smart enough to invent a time machine.
• A tragic accident occurs and you only have 10 minutes to decide how to react.
• Someone is murdered, but you found a time machine to arrive on the crime scene three minutes before the murder occurs. You find yourself immediately confessing to the crime, even though the victim is still alive! Explain why so in the comments section.
• Lightning strikes the time machine momentarily giving you superpowers.
• What did you say to your past self?
• You’re part of a time machine tourism agency and you pick up two groups of famous people.
• You’re plagued by your jealous friend who travels to the past to alter your history.
• You’ve investigated some disturbances in time and need to ask your future self just one question to give you a nudge in the right direction.
• You go back in time and see what would have happened were your parents to elope.
• Time travelers observe your humble offering in the desert.
• You use your time machine to “visit” the afterlife.
• Delaware is hit by a nuclear bomb targeting Foggy Bottom in 1986 but you and your friends survive because your time machine had you surfing on your backyard pool.
• You travel back in time and take over the life of your great grandfather before he met your great grandmother.
• You use a time machine to save a person from committing suicide.
• Your time machine malfunctions, and you are sent back to World War I.
• According to multiverse theory there are an infinite amount of copies of you travelling through time. One day you meet one who is a detective running around with a gun trying to catch the crook.
• Inherited your great-great-grandfather’s time machine.
• The holy book tells you that the most important task of man is to perfect time machines. With the first time machine built, the chronoknights arrive from the 21st century.
• You land a time machine on your wedding day. Your future self tells you that you picked the wrong suit.
• The world is on the brink of total annihilation and only you have a time machine that can save humanity.
• Upon landing, you wake up in bed. It is the next day.
• An impossible time paradox rears its perplexing head and makes you question your own existence.
• Captain Picard and the Enterprise encountered time nexus points in the The Next Generation episode “Remember Me”.
• You decide to introduce the concept of the time machine to society. You do, and then everything changes.
• Someone from the future takes your time machine and sends you far in the past.
• You’ve found another time machine. Describe how you show it off to your friends.
• Adventure game design frequently revolves around avoiding death. The game could feature a serious subject line or a tongue in cheek title. Games recently released or popular with the Quest studio are listed below along with a few of us from the Quest team who could possibly run/lead a game. If you sign up and someone from Quest leads or runs your game, you will also receive a coupon for a $5 discount off any future Quest games.
• Every part of the time machine malfunctions and then breaks after just a single use.
• You’re supposed to go to a party but decide to hit a baseball instead.
• While wearing your time machine, you bump into a friend you went to high school with and have to convince them that it’s still you. Tell us how that went down.
• You find a time machine. How do you feel?
• You’re in a writing slump and pick up a book about time travel. It seems to have the answers you’re looking for, but to write your own ending, you must follow the rules of the book.
• You go back in time and stop a tragic life event that was about to happen.
• One day you wake up to your alarm and find that even when you look at the clock it’s broken.
• You find a time machine belonging to your schoolmate. She never knew it would belong to her.
• You’re in charge of the time machine department of a big corporation and you think you’re about to be replaced by a more junior employee.
• You and your friend take your time machines to the test track. What if everything isn’t quite as you thought?
• You learn that tomorrow will be the last day of your life. Tomorrow. What do you do?
• You meet Shakespeare.
• You’re the only person left in town because everyone else was killed in a time machine experiment gone wrong.
• Your family desperately needs money in order to keep the house, but due to unfortunate circumstances, you cannot make any more money.
• You, and all of your ancestors are seated in your living room after you purchased your first time machine.
• Your time machine traps you in the past.
• Someone’s taken your time machine from you and is playing pranks on your family and friends.
• What if your time machine changed the world as you knew it, and can never be used again? What did you see?
• You’re hurriedly trying to put together the pieces of a time machine when suddenly, a 10-foot-tall cock speaking in backwards sentences appears.
• You travel back in time and meet your one great great grandfather.
• Make one dream or nightmare come true with your time machine.
• King Arthur’s time machine was reportedly recovered from the peat bogs and is on display today.
• Supersonic jets are invented in your 30’s, ushering a new age of travel and intercontinental entertainment.
• You’re trapped in a timeless escapism reality and you must escape.
• Your father accidentally tampers with history, creating havoc.
• Your sister comes over for tea and tells you a story about how the two of you, when younger, would drive your parents crazy by fighting for control of the time machine.
• You accidentally travel back in time and change something, altering your future.
• Until the Whale Comes Inker Productions presents …
• Tomorrow you are going on holiday to the past. How do you convince your boss that this is a wonderful investment, besides of course for the fact that it’s your duty to the company to get the much needed experience.
• You steal one of the time machine parts from your former friend who claimed ownership of the time machine.
• People are chasing you and you run into a time machine and escape.
• Your dog has been run over. You build a time machine to go back in time to save Fido.
• You meet yourself in the future and regret the mistakes you made in the past.
• Time goes backwards while you are using your time machine.
• You get into an argument with yourself from the past future.
• Suddenly, the world’s most benevolent dictator comes to power while you are in your time machine. What’s your next move?
• After that you want to ask some specific questions.
• You want to know the cause of your future world but the future you are scared to tell you.
• You are approached by a maniac suffering from amnesia who insists he comes from the past.
• A strange metal object falls from the sky. When you touch it, it transports you into an unrecognizable land.
• Your time machine, on a non-specific spring night, takes you to the future on your birthday the day before you plan to celebrate.
• You travel back in time to meet your parents as teenagers.
• You’re racing a motorcycle to New York from LA, while your loved one is in labor.
• Someone asks you about time travel and you explain your point of view on the subject.
• You’re given the opportunity to travel back in time to your first big break.
• Your future self gives you advice that betters your life.
• A time machine is stolen from you and you must chase after the culprit.
• A time-traveler from the future appears to you and asks for help in saving the world.
• The future where you come from is a horrible dystopia ruled by mutant abominations.
• When you visit yourself you do so as a mouse living under the stairs.
• You ran over a beautiful antelope. You effortlessly summon forth your time machine to go back in time and replace the antelope with a live one.
• You’ve had a time machine all of your adult life. There’s one glaring evil you could have done to change history as we know it.
• Using this time machine, you can perform altruistic duties, like saving a loved one’s life.
• You come across a photo showing yourself in a familiar but future place.
• Global warming has changed everything.
• You can bring one article of clothing with you into the future. What do you choose?
• You are given a mission by an enigmatic wizard. He says only a sentient time machine will be able to do it.
• Your team raises enough money to develop a time machine and have it manufactured. The first thing you do with it is to time travel to Ancient Greece and conquer the cradle of civilization. When asked why you want to do this you reply that, “All will be answered in time.”
• Someone steals your time machine, dipping into all sorts of mischief while you’re trying to get it back.
• You visit the future expecting a good time. What happens instead?
• You are trapped in a room with no doors or windows with  one person and a time machine. Your best friend/killer/killer. Two of the buttons on the time machine are ‘go back 50 years’ and ‘go forward 10 years’. You can’t go back in time further than around 1949 or go further ahead in time than September 22nd of the year you are born in. Your only hope is to turn your friend/killer/killer into your slave. What do you do?
• You’ve been asked to stop time-travellers from ganging up on your time machine and destroying it.
• Your time machine malfunctions and tosses you into the Viking age. You communicate with the locals by writing.
• You see a modern sewer tunnel morphs into a tunnel from the past.
• Aunt May is visiting and accidentally steps on your time machine which sends her to the beginning of the universe.
• After using your time machine you realise you now know something no one else does.
• A time traveller appears out of nowhere telling you of your secret origin before disappearing again.
• You have the power to either go back in time or forward. You can’t use the same power twice in a row, so pick wisely.
• You meet a mysterious time traveling inventor who offers to tell you their secrets, but it may have consequences for your present day.
• “The Time Machine” still ranks as one of the greatest science fiction novels. What’s your opinion?
• You tricked your grandfather into stepping into your time machine and now regrets it.
• You’ve aged one hundred years and no longer remember what you named your time machine.
• You travel to the Stone Age but you aren’t able to build a fire and end up as a human meal.
• You enlist the help of Albert Einstein to help devise a time machine.
• Your time machine malfunctions and you end up five billion years in the future.
• Someone visits you with their own time machine and convinces you to go back in time in your own life to kill Hitler or to invent something that will change the world.
• You discover an autonomous time machine that you didn’t build.
• Little Miss Naughty of the Year starts taunting your sex life using time travel, and gives you an ultimatum.
• A prophetic dream leads you to build a time machine, but the journey into the future shows you the doom of the world.
• The first time machine malfunctions and destroys the world. You are the only one who knows it existed. Can you and will you tell everyone?
• You’ve been fired and lost all your money. What entry-level job are you considering doing in the future?
• You use the time machine to alter the outcome of the battle of Gettysburg.
• A time machine is an impossible construct–yet someone has demonstrated the concept. Who could it be and where is it being kept?
• You encounter a Weeping Angel when using your time machine.
• You ride a time machine into the past so that your grandparents fall in love.
• You’ve been studying your great-great-grandfather’s family history. They decided to immigrate to the United States in the mid-18 century. You can travel back and bring one of them back with you. Who do you choose?
• This list of five becomes ten then 30…
• Your best friend mysteriously moves away. How do you get them to come back?
• A dog barks at your time machine while you’re setting it up.
• Your time machine breaks down and you get stuck in prehistoric times.
• An ex-girlfriend appears to you with a time machine and asks you to travel with her for a quick trip into the future.
• You time machine malfunctions and you inadvertently destroy the world. What will you do now with your time machine?
• The Earth and the solar system have been destroyed by a past version of yourself. What do you do?
• A science fiction writer from the country of your nationality visits you and says he comes from the future. Is he lying or telling the truth?
• The more years you spend in the future, the younger you get.
• A mad scientist kidnaps you, but you manage to escape with your time machine.
• You and your mentor build a time machine together, but anything you try to bring back is always incinerated by the hot time winds. However, your mentor has no problem.
• A group of people steals your time machine and visits another era with it.
• Your friends discover your time machine and decide to play some pranks on people from the past. Who do you prank?
• You become good friends with Richard Nixon.
• You’ve just got back from the future with an answer to the question that made your career a success, after all it won’t be long until it’s published. When you return you find nothing has changed – why?
• You find a sentient time machine with the ability to make alterations.
• You meet a mysterious man in a bar who says he comes from the past.
• You’re given a time machine to jump from the past to the present. What do you do?
• You take a long awaited fishing trip with a beloved relative and can’t seem to catch anything.
• Different people from different times try to understand the concept and use it.
• Someone sends you a time machine and you decide to play pranks on all your friends.
• Your time machine malfunctions and tosses you into World War II.
• Your boss tells you to choose a vacation spot today or be fired in the near future.
• You’re actually from the future – and have traveled back in time to warn yourself, even though you know you’re going to dismiss what you’re about to say.
• Your time machine has artificial intelligence which is outright malevolent.
• A co-worker discovers your time machine and wonders what he’ll do with it.
• Traveling through time becomes a fad. Do your friends or family members try to go back in time to make different decisions?
• Your time machine breaks and suddenly you’re trapped in an airport. Later, you learn your fiance is soon to marry someone else.
• Which of your ancestors will you visit next using your time machine?
• Your time machine lands you just a few minutes before the start of the Battle of Hastings.
• You wake up in your time machine travelling through time.
• You cross paths with your future self.
• A futuristic robot approaches you. He tells you his time machine has malfunctioned and wiped out humanity in the year 3303. The robot asks for your time machine to jump back in time dimension and fix the situation. You already knew the robot was trying to trick you, so you destroy the robot.
• Your deceased grandma approaches you from the past through your time machine and advises you on your life.
• You decide to clean your time machine to perfection. You are so anal about it that you end up killing the person you were supposed to save. Explain.
• You’ve developed a cure for the common cold. Along with time travel, your amazing invention could eradicate a global health concern. Could you do it?
• The timer malfunctions and you are transported back a second before the machine is activated. The situation is exactly the same, except you remember how devastating the consequences will be.
• You ask people what they were like in the past and they respond.
• You use your time machine to save yourself a long time back.
• You return through your time machine to a year before you were even born, and must decide which of your parents get to have you, and which parent abandons you.
• A tachyon signal has been found from the Age of the Dinosaurs that you accidentally travel to.
• You are trapped in a situation that will only happen in the future.
• Try to explain time travel to a 10 year old.
• You use your time machine to look up the love of your life.
• You reveal a time machine to friends and yourself step inside, never to  be seen again.
• You disobeyed the laws of time and went fifteen years back in time. What are the consequences? Your family is not rent with grief? You returned home fifteen years ago and there was no change?
• You’re given tickets for two to a Broadway show in the past. Two of you arrive, but there’s only supposed to be one.
• Your time machine harnesses dark matter, but will these butterflies unleash a terrible plague into the future?
• A Martian approaches you on a lonely road and says he could use a good time machine, like yours. What happens?
• Your time machine drops you off at a random time in history.
• Three characters meet and discover that each of them has a time machine.
• The future you saw yourself in turns out to be false after your return.
• You’re kidnapped by a mad psychopath who threatens to kill you unless you take him back to the stone age.
• You use the time machine to film a music video.
• A future self arrives in a time machine to give you advice.
• You give your future self very specific instructions.
• Your time-travelling partner retrieves something from the past. However, on returning to the present, you discover that not as long ago, you had done the same thing.
• You are a marine archaeologist. Find me a time machine!
• You land in the future where all machines are now organic.
• Travel back to the time of the Sumerians.
• Your time machine ravages the universe by transporting matter in and out causing the universe to collapse on itself.
• A bunch of marauders are after you. They crash a bunch of ships everywhere and one of those ships gets sent messages back in time to when the Mayans were building Machu Picchu. They run around Machu Picchu and you’re pissed off the brand new structure is going to get destroyed before you can see what happens. Then you get transported to the future. What’s the first thing you do?
• There is a being on Earth that was made using your DNA and they’re behind your disappearance.
• You prepare to go into the past and visit the place you grew up in. The only problem is that you…
• Your first stop on your time travel vacation is the dawn of civilization.
• The world throws a festival inviting people from different time periods to the same party for the first time. Which moment do you visit?
• You find you already settled the argument that has plagued you since high school.
• You travel back in time in order to teach yourself how to design a time machine.
• Time travel is about to completely obsolete the Internet.
• A guy from the future shows up at your door with a time machine and says you will have a child together that will be a great writing talent.
• You are visited by your future self with a time machine and warned to stop what you’re doing.
• You’ve finally figured out how time travel works. But a new paradox makes all your efforts useless.
• You cannot help laughing maniacally all of a sudden for no reason. What had happened?
• You travel all the way back to the prehistoric period and have to fight a leaping T-Rex.
• Returning from another time, you find we’re all gloriously happy.
• You inherit a time machine from your grandfather. He has one condition for you to receive it, that is never use the machine. You can’t resist and ride the machine into the past. You witness a traumatic event in your past which changes your life completely. Where to place your time machine when you live in a one-room apartment.
• You receive the mysterious invitation to visit a rich stranger in the future.
• An old beggar woman approaches you saying she is your grandmother who was flung into the future for loving a beggar man.
• Your favorite celebrity says they can invent a time machine and wants you to be a history consultant. Do you take the job?
• You accidentally witness yourself die in the future.
• You’re robbing the house of someone you hate and time-travels back to kill you before you rob them.
• You find a time machine that was abandoned in a field with a hastily written note on a nearby rock.
• You get yourself lost in a time of your past which was exactly like your present. You’re getting accustomed to living in that age. But despite being in such a vivid age, you feel like something is missing. Your phone does not work, you don’t know what a word processor is, and cars are nowhere in sight. And what’s worse is that you can’t stop thinking about your future and your family. You spend the whole day crying. What has happened? Is this some sort of paradox? Your future has been erased.
• You realize that you’ve traveled back in time and no longer have your music player or cell phone.
• Someone steps into your time machine and begins travelling wildly through time.
• You travel back in time and encounter your favorite historical figure.
• You use your time machine regularly to celebrate your birthday every year. Will you continue to do this even if you turn 1000?
• You’ve just made a hot discovery in your lab. You run out to inform your chief. At this most opportune moment, your time machine malfunctions and you vanish. What are the reflections of your chief on the mystery of your disappearance? Returning to the present to process further on your discovery, you cannot believe the change. How do you return to the past? When you’re done remember to wipe away the five minutes of writing. This kind of writing involves only simple writing in which you have to develop your attention to specific subjects. Your approach differs when you develop a new take on an existing idea and allow your thoughts run like a river. Writing prompts about material interests and desires elicit this kind of writing. By looking at the mind’s deeper, wheeling thoughts leads to rousing writing reveals a lot of your personality. It enables you to bring forth your ideas with breathtaking results for you or someone else depending on your area of interest.
• Technology from your time machine deteriorates as it ages.
• You can leave your body out to die and let it move on when you don’t need it anymore, or at least try to.
• You accidentally take yourself back in time with your time machine.
• A little child finds your time machine and gets stuck in the past.
• A time-travelling visitor tells you to bring him food and water that you somehow do not already have. What do you do?
• You and your arch nemesis are fashion time machines. You race each other into the past.
• You can go to any era, real or fictional, what do you pick and why?
• You receive a text message from your future self with a date and time. You realize this is the time you will die.
• You accidentally travel into the future before developing a time machine and can never get back to your time to recreate getting the time machine.
• We have free time travel. What do we do with it?
• Comment below and let me know how your writing session “went”.
• The only weapon that will destroy the world’s oldest man.
• You’re taking a walk when you find yourself and your time machine inside a giant interdimensional transition wormhole.
• You want to take revenge on your last unrequited love by inviting her to your wedding.
• One day you decide to take a time machine journey, but you end up with the wrong time.
• You’ve been cryogenized in the future and brought back to now for spare body parts.
• You accidentally kill yourself in your time machine.
• You have the opportunity to make a wish in front of the church where 5 black crows are perched. What will it be?
• You use your time machine to prevent your childhood accident and thus erase yourself from existence.
• A crazed traveler from a different dimension destroys a nearby town before you realize he is on a misdirected time tour to the future.
• Your girlfriend is on her way to your house and if she doesn’t find you at home she’s going to dump you. You call yourself in the future and ask your future self to stall her.
• You visit the future.
• Your grandfather offers you a chance to tell him about the future.
• The Titanic sinks and your time machine gets destroyed as a result of the collision. You are now stranded in the past where you see the Titanic crash, as you try to swim away from the sinking wreckage you hear faint coughing.
• Your time machine goes haywire, and you travel back in time, helpless until you return to the present.
• The time machine you designed turns out to be a major disappointment.
• You meet your twenty six year old clone and become jealous.
• Elemental Powers is a new superhero, the first ever to gain their powers from all the elements. What do you think about the first superhero?
• When something morally wrong happens, you use your DIY time machine to erase it.
• Your time machine makes your mom give birth to you when you were born.
• You and a really old guy with wild hair are the only two humans left alive in giant ruins of the Time Machine construction facility.
• By flying through different eras, you have found a time machine blueprint in the Age of Dinosaurs. You return to the present and share this information with the World.
• You have arrived in Pompeii moments before Mt. Vesuvius erupts.
• Mother Nature takes your time machine on an adventure through time and space.
• While you were spying on your enemies with your time machine, you had it malfunction and you were stuck in their house.
• Time travel is so common now that you take it for granted. You get frustrated with tourists who visit the past just to marvel at what’s used to be.
• You invent a charming device that instantly transports the user to any point on the globe. The device is available commercially. What happens?
• You’ve inherited a time machine that was developed by your eccentric uncle.
• You invent a time machine and start fixating on specific time periods and lose track of the present.
• Your family builds a time machine to join you in the future.
• The clock you’ve invented, freeze time.
• You challenge Doc Brown to a race in your time machine.
• You try to use your time machine to send a letter back in time.
• You discover that someone from the future has been stalking you everywhere.
• You discover yet another time machine.
• While traveling through time, you encounter a paradox and manage to screw up the whole world. What stupid thing did you do to cause this?
• You meet up with a famous inventor, have dinner together, and then, the next morning, you tell them the invention they’ll be known for came from you.
• An abused kid asks you for a ride in your time machine to visit his rich self in the future and expose all the lies told to him.
• Wonderful, now the machine’s broken and you can’t go home.
• You get transported into the past and see yourself kill your grandparents.
• You discover a time loop in the time machine you used.
• As a time travel researcher, you receive an alarming report.
• You invent a time machine and use it to steal money from your own bank account yesterday.
• Your dead friend Willis returns from the future to visit you on your birthday… as a zombie.
• Unplug your time machine to find several copies of yourself waiting to use it. The more you witness the same event, the more this world vibrates with events before your eyes and waits to be witnessed. In this world, are you the original? Do you move on from one world to the next? To what end? Time travel continues indefinitely…
• Your time machine gets stolen.
• You get stranded on the moon. You have no supplies and only the moon’s supplies to survive. What do you eat and how do you avoid getting ill?
• What do you decide to do about the people who ruined your life?
• The time patrol says that you have changed time and now they have to destroy you.
• You approach a special cabinet in the basement of a museum and open it. You are not seen, though, and you enter it…
• A friend asks to borrow your time machine to travel to the future to read tomorrow’s newspaper.
• Come up with a famous use of time travel in a novel, a movie, a TV show, or a video game, and describe how it resolves.
• How would you describe your past life to someone else.
• You are stuck in a time capsule for fifty years. What was the best thing about it? You are stuck in a time capsule for fifty years. What was the worst thing about it? Time Machine fashion shows are popular. A time capsule opens. You forgot to include any clothes. What do you do?
• You find yourself stranded in the middle of nowhere with your time machine.
• Someone invents a time machine before you, and when you find out who it was you wish you had invented it.
• You have the opportunity to set people free from the 9 to 5 rut from the past by reviving communism. You do this by walking into the time machine and doing it manually.
• Undesirable elements from the past come back to wreak havoc in the future.
• You visit the year you were born in with your time machine. Perhaps your parents spent their first anniversary with you or perhaps it’s the day you were born.
• The spaceship you were travelling in crashes on a remote planet in the past.
• Your primary mission is now accomplished but you’ve been unconfident in accomplishing your secondary mission.
• You invent a magic wand that lets you transport anywhere in time. So where are your favorite places in time that you would visit?
• Against your better judgment you use your time machine to head back into prehistory. The trip is a complete and total failure and you end up in 1000 A.D.
• You go back in time and watch yourself fall in love with the man or woman of your dreams.
• Your girlfriend tries to get you in on a time travelling threesome with you and another version of you from the future.
• You sell your time machine to the government for a large sum of money only to be told the government has also built a time machine.
• After speaking to the future you realise you’re destined to marry your favourite celebrity.
• You tune into the secret signal for time travellers and are transported as a spy from one war to another.
• Your time machine malfunctions and you end up back in time.
• You witness the Time Traveller.
• You win a Nobel Prize for designing the first time machine.
• The detective tries to reason with the professor to no avail and threatens to have his time machine seized.
• Using time travel, you’ve corrected an old mistake you made.
• You’ve just traveled back from the future, and before you arrive in the past you drop an important item. When returning to the past, you realize that you must give the object away to yourself, in the past.
• A time-traveling serial killer is on the loose.
• You accidentally take your time machine with you and wind up in the future—the far future.
• The last person on Earth is in a deep sleep. Using your time machine, you move him to the present day.
• You have the ability to travel to any time period you choose. You have arrived at a crucial period in history and need to contact friends about something really important.
• Inventors of a time machine grow rich and famous from fortune where they become controlling tyrants.
• You overhear two acquaintances plotting to kill your self in the future.
• Your time machine malfunctions and you double wound yourself. What else goes wrong?
• You find yourself at the moment of conception.
• You are stranded in a G major universe.
• Your time machine is on the fritz and you have a party with your future self.
• You find you can travel into the past and become your ancestors. Why do you immediately think of helping yourself? Does it make you feel ashamed regardless?
• You find out you’re destined to commit murder in six days.
• You discover two unknown time portals in your city, one leads to the past, the other to the future.
• You’ve traveled through time to a future date and discover that people living in that era already have time machines and can travel through time. How do you feel about this?
• A time traveller from the future travels back and asks you for one chance to save his family.
• The future you show you in a time machine is awful in many ways but exactly how you predicted.
• You’re a time traveller. A frightened young woman on the run takes shelter in your home while her pursuers are looking for her in the wrong direction.
• You use your time machine to go back in time and catch a murderer.
• You are trapped in an empty black room with your time machine.
• Your time machine malfunctions and unleashes Skynet into the world.
• Your time machine sends you decades into the future, but when you return your machine remains where it was.
• Unable to return to your own time, you use your time machine to tour the ages.
• A beam of light from a time machine appears overhead. You realize that you are stuck.
• You’re visited by a man and woman in the future, claiming they are your kids.
• A dog tags along with you when you’re testing the time machine. 20 years later, the time machine malfunctions and returns you and the dog to the present. The dog has then aged 200 years.
• Visiting yourself in the future goes wrong, but you get to keep the time machine.
• Someone suggests you save Hitler.
• The army of the future has time machines at their disposal.
• You’re jumped by a gang and wish yourself to be in your own time machine’s storage place to retrieve a weapon so you can defend yourself.
• A time machine is built based on your design, but you’re found dead, slumped against the time machine. You are declared a martyr.
• You find a time machine on your nose.
• While in the distant past, a saber tooth tiger appears out of nowhere.
• Your pet accidentally gets sent to the future. You have to be content with a slightly evolved animal.
• The person you love ends up marrying someone else. You journey all the way back into time to stop this from happening.
• You use your time machine to track someone across alternate universes. What happens next?

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Kimberly Van Ginkel

Author and avid reader. I love sharing interesting research and promoting other authors.

9 Rules for Writing Time Travel

I’m a sucker for time travel stories. I’ll read any book or short story, watch any movie or TV show, if it has a time travel element. I can’t get enough.

As a connoisseur of the art form – and as a novelist myself – I’ve developed these story-building tips for writing time travel

1. Give us the Shock & Awe

Writers are always told to start each story in media res , so it’s tempting to skip over the typical set-up scenes. With a time travel story, however, it’s best to introduce us to the characters before learn that time manipulation is possible. Why? Because if we watch them travel for the first time, we get to experience it with them.

Sure, we’ve seen hundred variations of this already, where the character who knows time travel doesn’t exist gradually comes to accept that it is real. It may be hard to find a fresh take. On the other hand, mastering the 4th dimension is a mind-blowing concept, so it ought to take a while to process.

The original draft of Groundhog’s Day opened with Phil Connors already trapped in his loop of repeating days. Had they filmed that version, we’d have been robbed of all the great build-up scenes where the tiny details of Phil’s day start to build, hinting at him that something is very, very wrong.

We’d have skipped past the catalyst of the story and the audience would be struggling to keep up.

Picture Marty McFly walking through 1955’s Hill Valley for the first time in Back to the Future . He has already been told that Doc invented time travel. The writers might have had him immediately accept that fact and jump straight toward some decisive action to change his predicament. Instead, they allowed him a little time for confusion, a period of denial, which also gave us time to look around with him and spot the changes in the town. With every new person or building he sees, we feel his sense of awe growing, taking in the enormity of where he is and what has happened to him. These few moments immerse us in the world with him.

It’s worth mentioning that in Palm Springs , Nyles has been repeating this day for years, but this works because we, the audience, get to watch the other main character, Sarah, enter the time loop for the first time.

This is the magic of a time travel story. Think of it as your “Dorothy opens the door to Oz” moment. Don’t rush it. This is often the most captivating scene of any time travel story.

2. Pick Your Method

Every time travel story has to have something that functions as the device, portal, or catalyst to time travel.

In H.G. Well’s The Time Machine , it was a literal machine that the hero climbed into, and that set the standard for decades of time travel stories. Poul Anderson’s Time Patrol stories employ hover-motorcycles that can jump through time. Doc Brown used a Delorean. Time Travelling with a Hamster (a very funny middle-grade book) uses a metal washtub wired to an old Mac computer.

Just like the wardrobe leading to Narnia, portals are a specific location that allows you to pass between times. In Stephen King’s 11.22.63 the portal is simply a staircase that they refer to as “the rabbit hole.” Star Trek TNG often utilizes worm holes for its time jumps.

Sometimes there is nothing mechanical involved, nothing that would give our characters any control of their destination. Any number of stories involve a character getting a concussion or struck on the head and waking up in another time. In The Time-Traveller’s Wife , Henry has a chromosome disorder that randomly catapults him through time; before each occurrence, he can feel the sensation of an impending jump.

3. Anything goes, as long as you explain it.

The important thing is to show the audience what your method looks like so that we know what to watch for during the story. Even if the character doesn’t know what caused it, if we witnessed him falling asleep and waking up in a different time, we have a framework for the story. We don’t know how the person will get home, but we realize something similar will have to happen to return them to their own time.

No matter what means you use to allow your characters to time travel, the important thing is to show the audience how it happened – at least, as much as your characters know – then give us the rules that govern it .

Doc Brown explains how to set the target date, load the plutonium, and get the car going 88 mph to trigger the time jump. When we see Marty doing exactly those steps a few minutes later, we know before he does that he’s about to travel to 1955. It also sets up the rules for bringing him back home.

In The Edge of Tomorrow , we learn that it’s the blood of the “Alphas” that allows the hero to loop through time. Therefore, if he gets a blood transfusion he will lose the ability. Until then, every time he dies the day resets. All of this is explained to him in the first act of the story, and is repeated again so the audience knows the rules and the way to end it.

It’s OK to keep the explanation brief, and even to leave out critical information, if that’s what your plot requires. But when you skip the explanation altogether, you’ll leave your audience wondering. You don’t want them to be distracted throughout the story, looking for clues that you haven’t dropped, as they try to understand how the hero is going to get back home.

4. Create Your Own Rules

Can the characters change the past? If so, can they make changes to their own future? How does the cause/effect work? There are a million permutations to this, and the most wondrous thing about his genre is that since time travel doesn’t really exist, your logic can never be wrong . How freeing is that?

The only thing your audience will expect is that you stay consistent with whatever version of time travel you set up initially.

Some of the most common time travel tropes are:

• “I know what I’m doing.” – the time-traveller knows both the original time line and the new version because he is immune to the effects of the change – see Jodi Taylor’s Chonicles of St. Mary’s series.
• “I used to know what was going on.” – as soon as the hero interacts with the time line, he is changing the past, including his own memories – see Looper , Quantum Leap (Sam and Al’s memories of events differ after a major change, as Sam is remembering only the original time line. For example: Watergate.)
• “There is no cause and effect.” – anything the traveller does are events that always existed. The past changes him as he changes the past, so there are no alternate time lines. – See The Time-Traveller’s Wife .
• “Nothing is able to change.” – the time-traveller is forbidden from making changes (not just a rule, but a law of physics) so they are viewing the past only. Alternately, they can make only minor changes that have no lasting effects. – See To Say Nothing of the Dog .
• “I’m only looking” – our heroes cannot move through time, but they can send technology that allows them to see the future or past – See Pastwatch: The Redemption of Christopher Columbus .
• “Time corrects itself.” – attempts at major changes are thwarted as the universe finds its own ways of staying on track. – See Night Watch (Sam’s mentor is killed when he visits the past and he is forced to take the man’s place, thereby making himself a major influence in his own young life.)
• “Everything changes.” – any large-scale disruptions in the time stream will completely disrupt everything “downstream” from that event. See Anderson’s Time Patrol series (These time cops base their operations a million years B.C. so that if anything upsets the time stream, their patrol can still exist to fix it.)

Know which type of story you are writing and stay true to the cause/effect rules you have created.

If your character goes back in time, confident that the past cannot be changed, then kills his own grandfather and blinks himself out of existence, both you and the audience are now in quite a pickle. This character who no longer exists was never there to kill the grandpa. Oops. You’ve introduced a paradox that is going to hurt everyone’s brain unless you have an amazing trick up your sleeve to get us out of it.

Paradoxes suck for everyone. Give your readers an expected structure and then stick to it so that we’re not left arguing with the screen that, “that makes no sense!”

5. Or Give Yourself an “Out” to Break the Rules

Because it’s difficult to write time travel without flirting with paradoxes, some writers give themselves a work-around — a way of breaking their own rules in a way that feels as though it’s still consistent.

You can cheat.

Avengers: Endgame is a brilliant movie. It’s so good, in fact, that it gets a pass on blatantly breaking its own rules about time travel constraints. The Hulk gives a short lecture explaining why they can’t change the past, they then go on to twist time in ways that make no sense against the structure of time travel in this movie (remember the scene where AntMan is turned into a baby, then an old man, then himself again in what appears to be seconds for him?). But all these discrepancies get glossed over by explaining that the Quantum Realm is mysterious. Ah, Quantum Realm, the magical spackle for filling in plot holes.

You can play dumb.

Ever notice how the main character in these stories is rarely ever the brilliant scientist who developed time travel? Not only is it easier to relate to an everyman character, it saves us all from having to understand the science. You can have your extremely smart person introduce it and explain the rules, then let your hero accept it on faith without thoroughly understanding it.

I love this method because it gives you, the author, the freedom to include as much or as little science as you want to. Gloss over as much as you want to and have the scientist say, “Just push this button” and you can forge ahead with your plot. It’s enough for the audience to know that someone in this world understands it all.

You can yell “Hey, look over there!”

One of my favorite “nevermind my rules” moments is from Grand Tour: A Disaster in Time . Our hero, Ben, has jumped through time to break himself out of prison. The viewer immediately has to wonder how the universe will reconcile this, as Ben has now changed his past and there are suddenly two of him living in town. The writer must have felt trapped in a corner as well, because he threw in this beautiful bit of dialogue:

Original Ben: “How can we both be in the same place at the same time?”

Time-Travelling Ben: “(Forget) the physics, Ben! By the time you figure out whether it’s possible or not, we’re gonna be dead. Twice!”

Easy as that! The paradox doesn’t really matter because we’re now diving back into the action.

Which brings me to:

6. Keep the Clock Ticking

When you have time at your command, why panic, right? Why rush anything?

Because stories need tension. And a great way to add tension is to give your hero a ticking clock. As the wise Rufus once said (in Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure ), “No matter what you do, no matter where you go … the clock in San Dimas is always running.” They had only 24 hours to get to their history exam, despite being able to hop through time.

A less silly example is King’s 11.22.63 , where his time portal leads him to the year 1958. In order to prevent the JFK assassination, Jake must spend 5 years in the past. Because of that time commitment, the idea of doing it more than once becomes nearly impossible. Thus, in the countdown to November 22nd, his time is as short as everyone else’s. The time portal can’t help him anymore. And the tension is every bit as high as if he had never discovered time travel.

7. Flip the Script to Make it Difficult

We are rooting for people, not gods of time. It’s cool that they have this wonderful ability, but your story is more gripping if something happens to make them unable to use it. We want them to be able to suffer setbacks, something they can’t easily undo.

Perhaps there is something inherent in your rules of time travel that will constrain the hero. In the Time Patrol stories, one unbreakable rule is that a traveller can never visit the same time twice. So if they make a mistake, they can’t return to that same time to undo it. In About Time , Tim can travel at will to any day within his own lifetime. Just as he’s getting used to this ability, he discovers that changing anything that happened before his children were born will cause them not to exist.

Sudden reversals are even better. In Time Bandits , our heroes have a map of every time portal in world history … so, of course, they lose the map!

8. Choose a Global Background, Then Make it Personal

Give in to the temptation to choose huge moments in world history. Why not? That’s the lure of time travel — the great question of “Where would you visit if you could go anywhere at any time?”

The birth of Christ? The signing of the Declaration of Independence? Woodstock? Pompeii? The assassination of Lincoln? The birth of Rock & Roll?

The history books are open to you. Pick something awesome.

But here’s the thing – as cool as all of those are, the best time travel books are the ones that focus on people . The bigger your background event, the more important it is to show it through the eyes of the people living there.

Connie Willis set The Doomsday Book in the middle of the Black Plague. Instead of showing the cities, she sent her hero to live with a small family out in the safety (uh-oh) of the country. She also created a 2-book series, Blackout and All Clear , set during the blitzkreig of London. Her plucky historians mix with civilians and military personnel, forging relationships that make us care about the fate of those individuals.

King’s 11.22.63 is ostensibly about the JFK assassination, but the characters our hero meets along the way are so wonderful that, to be honest, I wanted the hero to give up on trying to save Kennedy and settle into his fake life in the ’60s.

Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series stretches from the Jacobite Uprising in Scotland through the American Revolution. We see wonderful scenery, experience famous events, and encounter great figures from history. But no one reads those books just for the historical details. The heart of that story is the romance of Claire and Jamie.

Remember that time-travel is a means of telling your story, not the entire story itself. Make your characters matter .

9. Be Unique

Time travel has been the source of some of the most creative sci-fi works ever made. Keep twisting it to create your own rules and your own wonderful stories.

Remember that it does not have to be linear time travel. Though most of the stories I’ve mentioned involve a person being displaced from his own time, there are other permutations to explore.

The Restaurant at the End of the Universe involved a bubble existing outside of space-time so that elite diners could watch the death of the universe while enjoying cocktails.

Groundhog’s Day introduced such a charming notion of 24-hour time loops that it created a whole sub-genre, including the comedic horror film Happy Death Day .

And The Girl, The Gold Watch, and Everything allows its main character to stretch time, living an entire hour in the space between seconds. This gives him the superpower of incredible speed, as viewed by other people. Since we’re living in the time gaps with him, it makes for an intriguing notion of time travel.

One last thought … if you are looking for inspiration for a new type of time travel story, I recommend the book Einstein’s Dreams , a quick read with beautiful vignettes that illustrate different time theories.

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11 thoughts on “ 9 rules for writing time travel ”.

Hi. Releif. Im trying to be Mr. Spock as it pertains to my time travel rules. Doubably difficult for me as the ‘ Brain’ of the bunch needs to spew out some plausabile sounding techno babble. I need to be acurate too as Im postulating relativity theory. I think though I have a device to get arround that. And what doesnt fit, fits a quantum paradigm Im saving ( if I ever get to the writing part) for book three. Im going to definitly not abuse the priveledge of the readers crudility.

When you’re done, make sure to post a link here so we can all read it.

Thanks for a great article. Just starting to write my first time travel novel.

Like Liked by 1 person

Thank you, this was a great article! I’m planning to write a time travel story for NaNoWriMo.

Best of luck! NaNo is a wonderful challenge.

Wow, love the article Kimberly. Really glad that in addition to covering the different models of time travel and making sure the character story is more important than the time travel aspect — you gave great tips on how to get yourself out of a paradox. I tend to paint myself into a corner even when not writing about time travel. But those are some handy examples of how and why to break the rules, very freeing!! I wish I could go back in time and tell all this to my younger self. But then, I wouldn’t need to!!

Amazing article! It has helped me so much. Thank you!

This was a very helpful article. Thanks so much for posting it. I am trying to write a handful of time-travel short stories, keeping them under 5,000 words. I’m finding it difficult to develop the characters properly while operating in such a limited length.

I’m so glad you liked it. Let me know how you do with your stories. I have always had a harder time with short stories than with novels, myself.

Thanks so much! I will try to keep you updated. I learned a few lessons when I wrote my first and only (so far) book, “Nineteen for Lincoln”, which is a time travel novel set in Civil War Missouri, and then Tudor England. I did not market the book at all, even though it’s available on Amazon, B & N, etc. in print and Kindle. Sort of a shameless plug there, but I’m not looking to make money–I just love time travel. 🙂

I changed my name from “Anonymous” to DJoseph, by the way.

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Kimberly Van Ginkel is an internationally-published author living in the Midwest.

Her debut novel, “ In the Sleep of Death ,” has been described as “Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell” meets “The Ten Thousand Doors of January.”

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Journal Buddies Jill | July 8, 2024 December 12, 2022 | List of Prompts

43 Terrific Time Travel Prompts

Oh yeah…. you have just discovered some terrific time travel writing prompts for you and your writers (of all ages). This brand new list of prompts will help writers spin tales about traveling through time in their fiction stories — or journal writing — just for fun. There are time travel prompts here for everyone, from young writers to seasoned ones. Hooray! Take a look now and, above all, enjoy.

A writer’s inspiration can often come from unexpected places. This is especially true when they are trying to think outside of the box. That is precisely why I have created these fantastic lists of time travel writing prompts for you.

Truly, I hope my ideas inspire your writing. You see…

If you’ve ever wondered, “ What should I write about time travel and/or what are good prompt ideas ?” then you are in luck. I answer these questions and more below.

Plus…

You’ll see a wonderful selection of time travel prompts, too. So, get inspired today.

Writing About Time Travel with our Time Travel Prompts

With time travel, the possibilities for plot twists are endless. Different genres can also be explored, from mystery to science fiction.

Once you have decided on the genre, it will be easier for you to select a specific type of prompt for your story. From there, you’ll be able to come up with a plot twist. 

Then you can have much fun crafting the rest of your time-travel adventures that your reader will enjoy reading about.

Yeppers…

When it comes to writing, there are no bounds to the possibilities of what you can create. And when it comes to time travel, the sky’s the limit!

10 Non-Fiction Time Travel Prompts

If you’re looking for some non-fiction or journaling time travel prompts to get your creative juices flowing, here are a few excellent ideas to get you started writing now. 

• Would you like to time travel? Why or why not? 
• Where would go in your time travels?
• Would you travel to the past? The future? 
• Where would you most to go and what would you want to see? 
• Is there a place you would like to go to learn something about the past? Where and why would you choose to go there/ 
• How do you return from your travels and how do you explain your absence to the people in your life? 
• Would you bring anything back with you?
• Do you think time travel would change current events? 
• Should anyone be able to travel through time if/when it becomes possible?
• Write a handwritten note to yourself about the time-travel adventures you hope to have one day.

Ok, let’s explore some fiction time travel ideas…

15 Fiction Time Travel Prompts

• Write about a time travel device and describe it in detail including what it looks like and how it works.
• You can change just one thing the future with time travel. What is it and why?
• The time police have decided that time travelers should…
• A team of scientists has discovered that traveling through time causes…
• You are the only person in the world who know about a teleportation time machine. What do you do?
• My time machine takes me to beautiful places, such as (The Eiffel Tower in Paris, Ancient Greece, the North Pole 1 million years ago..)
• I traveled through time to see the heroes of ___________ because…
• I met my future wife/husband and…
• I met myself when I was a little boy/girl and to my astonishment, I learned…
• I traveled all the way back to just before the big bang and…
• I decided to visit my distant future and…
• Nobody could believe it when I told them about traveling to meet… 
• It defies logic, but I assure you that I traveled back in time. Here’s how I can convince you it’s true.
• I decided to travel through time to meet a sultan.
• I met a magician, a witch, and a knight when I time traveled from the present day to…

Next, check out our time travel story starter ideas to write about.

18 Story Starter/Plot Twist Time Travel Prompts

• Imagine a world where historians are appalled to learn that history has been changed, and you’re one of the only people who knows how things used to be. Write about trying to navigate this new world and keep your knowledge hidden. 
• Write about a character who travels back in time and prevents a disaster from happening. How do they deal with the consequences of their actions? 
• A character travels back in time but ends up stranded in a different era than they intended.
• What if you traveled back in time and met yourself? What would you do? 
• What if your actions in the past caused a chain reaction that changed the future? 
• What if you could travel to any point in history? 
• What if someone else had control of your time travels? 
• What if time travel was possible, but came with a serious price tag?
• A scientist invents a time machine
• Your scientist’s kid accidentally travels to the future
• Your main character becomes a copy of a famous historian
• Your main character falls in love with a famous historical figure
• Your main character is attacked by a famous historical figure
• Your scientist creates an invention that creates portals to the past
• Your main character travels to a random time period
• Your main character’s pet (or relative) travels to the past
• Write about a woman who travels back in time to meet her past self.
• A young man is the only one to know about the newest time travel technology and what he does will be written about in history books for generations. Here’s what happened…

Now, perhaps you won’t write a novel from these ideas or become a published author. Still, you can have loads of fun writing a story, or a few short stories about these creative time travel prompts. Play with the timeline and the tone of the story and you are sure to have a blast with the time travel prompts and ideas.

Ok, I hope you enjoyed my three lists of time travel prompts. 

More Writing Prompts and Resources

• Sci-fi writing prompts
• 42 Fun Science Writing Prompts for Students
• See our 30 short story ideas with a twist
• Check out our fiction prompts collection of prompts
• Plot twist story ideas for inspiration

How to Know Which Time Travel Prompts to Use

In order to write a great story, you need to start with a great prompt. But how do you know which time travel prompts are right for you? Let’s explore a little about time travel writing. 

It all depends on the genre you want to write in. If you’re interested in writing a mystery, for example, then a prompt that asks you to find a missing person would be perfect. 

If you’re more interested in writing science fiction, then prompts that ask you to explore new worlds or solve futuristic problems might be more up your alley. 

If romantic comedy is your thing, then your protagonist should be someone who goes back in order to find their lost love. But… If you want an adventure story, then the protagonist should go back in order to save someone or something important from being destroyed by an enemy. 

Once you have decided on the genre, it will be easier for you to select a specific type of prompt for your story.  Here’s an example:

One summer evening, I was sitting on the porch with my grandfather. We were talking about time travel and all of the paradoxes that came with it. He told me a story about a man who went back in time to meet his younger self. His younger self didn’t believe that he was actually him, so the older version of himself had to prove it to him. 

There is no doubt that the topic of time travel — with the help of time travel prompts — can make for a fascinating story or plot twist. Oh and here is an excellent resource on 9 rules for writing time travel .

Use the time travel prompts listed above to help you get writing today.

Until next time, write on…

If you enjoyed these 43 Terrific  Time Travel Writing Prompts … please share them on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Pinterest. I appreciate it!

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My Trip in a Time Machine – Writing Prompt

About this worksheet:.

Your young writer will take a time trip in this writing prompt worksheet. Where will he go, or more accurately, when will he go? Use it as a Common Core Standards exercise for middle school narrative writing or for other grades as needed.

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The Time Machine

The Time Machine by H.G. Wells

The popular perception of Wells’ first attempt at science fiction – or more properly, speculative fiction – is that it is primarily an adventure story of a Victorian scientist set adrift in a future dystopia. That is, of course, true at one level but it is only one dimension of this novella because Wells is always a more complex writer than popular film adaptations tend to allow for.

Wells allows the time traveller – no other name is given to him – to narrate his story of his journey into the future to a clubbable group of fellow professionals in his London house. He starts by inviting them to an evening event where he tells them his theory of time travel and then shows them a working model of his time machine – which he sends off to the future. Most are sceptical and suspect a magic trick but he also shows them a full-scale machine that he intends to use and most of them are intrigued enough to return a week later when he promises to tell them of his adventures.

When they are gathered again, the time traveller is late and the group start to suspect he’s not turning up. Just at that point he staggers into the dining room in a state of distress and disarray and tells them an incredible story.

It would be a spoiler to tell you that story here but what does interest me is the way in which Wells embeds his political messages in this dystopian fable of the future. He uses the story to explore the idea that divisions based on social class might see the destruction of the human race in the longer term. He tells of the way in which entrenched privilege and exploitation enfeebles an elite class – the Eloi -  who, no longer able to fend for themselves, have become vegans while a brutalised labouring class – the Morlocks - toil underground to keep this elite in a state of ignorant hedonism and cannibalizing them by night.

Neither group is any longer able to act rationally or to communicate effectively and the extinction of humanity is inevitable – it’s just a matter of time. In many ways it’s possible to see how Wells’ dispiriting vision of humanity’s future led him to flirt with the terrible philosophy of eugenics. Matthew Taunton writing for The British Library website also picks up on this link:

“The scientific romances allude to this, in the disillusioned view of a split society in The Time Machine and the international offers of help in The War of the Worlds. One prevalent means of applying science to social policy was eugenics, the pseudoscience which advocated the selective breeding of humans, now heavily associated with Hitler’s death camps. Wells certainly dabbled with eugenic ideas: in Anticipations (1902), he praised 'the nation that most resolutely picks over, educates, sterilizes, exports, or poisons its People of the Abyss'.[5] But he also dissented from the hard-line eugenics advocated by Francis Galton and others, advocating education rather than compulsion. In A Modern Utopia prospective married couples are offered eugenic choices rather than forced to marry a good genetic match. But Wells did advocate the sterilization of genetic ‘failures’: an idea that the modern reader is likely to find somewhat chilling.”

Wells takes his reader from an expectation of utopia to a thoroughly terrible vision of the future – one which contrasts starkly with his later book ‘ Things To Come’ in which humanity is ‘saved’ by a sort of ruthless scientific hegemony.

Matthew Taunton’s excellent British Library contributions also highlight the unremittingly downbeat messages contained in The Time Machine:

“The novel’s depiction of class ends up, then, not as a utopian exploration of future possibilities for the abolition of class in the terms that Fourier and Morris had imagined it. Instead, it is an example of ‘anti-utopian realism’, suggesting that the bitter class conflicts of the Victorian age were bound to deepen and even to take on a biological character as humanity is divided into two species.[5] Worse still – especially given Wells’s own political commitments – the various progressive attempts to overcome class antagonism, advocated by Marx, Fourier and Morris, have failed or been perverted. This profoundly pessimistic vision of the future, then, expresses not only Wells’s horror at the realities of 19th-century class relations, but also his fears about what utopian socialism and communism were offering in their place.”

Barely 80 pages long, this is a novella that confronts and embraces ideas you might expect to find in a much longer piece of work but I really appreciated the brevity and the refusal to make all the messages laboured or explicit. This is the literature of ideas dressed in the attractive clothing of a science fiction adventure. Cunning.

Terry Potter

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Free Creative Writing Prompts #26: Time

In Shakespeare's play "A Winter's Tale" there is a character that comes out at the beginning of one of the acts that drastically changes the nature of the story. That character is Time. Time speeds the action ahead and brings us forward to the magical action of Shakespeare's later "romance" plays. It's a beautiful device and it's the only time this happens in any of Shakespeare's plays, making it extra special. If only we could do something like that in real life. It's hypothetical questions like these that led to the creation of these free  creative writing prompts  about time. It is a concept that we have very little control over, and yet, we are completely obsessed with it. Something to consider as you write the following prompts.  Free Creative Writing Prompts: Time

1. You have been given a time machine and can travel to any point in the history of the Earth. Where will you travel and why? What is your first week like in this new time period?

2. Theories of time and space go (as far as my understanding at least :)) that if you travel at the speed of light, you will not age while the rest of the world goes on at normal time. Imagine that you have gone on a journey and come back to Earth to find that ten years have passed. All of your friends, family, and favorite restaurants have aged ten years. How does this change the way you live your life?

3. If you could fast forward ahead or rewind backwards to any point in your life, what would it be and why? Be very detailed about how you deal with this second chance or sneak peak.

4. What would you do if you had control over space and time (like Hiro Nakamura in the television show "Heroes")? Would you use it to help people or just to get everything that you want? Talk about your first full day with this power and how it changes things.

5. Spend a week making a list of how much time you spend on given activities. Using this, create a story of you crafting your ideal week in which you spend every waking moment doing something productive or exciting. You can skip work, try something new, and spend time with the ones you love. Just be very specific. Then think to yourself, "Is there anyway I can actually do this in my real life?"

6. Create a story with a character that is obsessed with time. His house is full of clocks and his arms are covered in watches. Describe his daily routines to make sure that he is hyper aware of every second that passes.

7. As of the writing of this post, daylight savings is on its way (Fall back!). What is the best way for you to possibly spend one extra hour in your week? Craft a tale in which you (or a character) use that hour to the best of your ability.

8. They say timing is everything. How would your life change if you had perfect timing? You'd always say and do things at exactly the perfect time without fail. How will things improve for you? Be specific.

9. You have been given an unlimited grant by a fancy millionaire to do what it is you do best for 40 hours a week. What do you do with this newfound freedom? How does it change your life?

10. The world begins to move for you in slow-motion. You have the ability to notice things right as they are happening (catching objects that are falling, moving out of the way of danger, etc). How does this change things for you? Where did this ability come from? Craft an origin story and a day in the life.  All this talk of creating ideal days and states of time for yourself, has made me think a lot about if I'm getting the most possible out of my life. While we can't control time we can control ourselves. Use these free creative writing prompts to get a better handle on your time and to get some great writing out of your system. Perhaps this writing can actually save you time later when you need an interesting character or science fiction plotline. Happy writing!  Bonus Prompt  - You have been granted a new position as a sort of Time FBI agent (similarly to many movies). You have to chase villains who are trying to mess with the natural timeline for financial and social gain. Talk about at least one of your missions (if not many of them). 

Related Articles to Free Creative Writing Prompts about Time Free Creative Writing Prompts from the Heart, Part 1 Free Creative Writing Prompts #2: Love Creative Writing Exercises #2: Relaxation

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ADDITIONAL INFO

The Time Machine

One day a boy finds a mysterious note... and a TIME MACHINE!

I woke up went to the bathroom, brushed my teeth, everything was usual until I opened my front door for a delivery.

I thought, I knew who he was, but I couldn’t tell who he was under his helmet, so I closed the door and started sorting through the things.

I was going to make some coffee, but I was out of coffee beans. I shuffled through my order, oh my house was a mess when I found the coffee beans.

I made some coffee but while making it, I noticed a note it read.

Grab the no.26 bus hop off at 5th avenue park ,come out of the street and run towards the hills clime the highest one, you will find a door labelled do not enter open it there be a pizza restaurant go to the washroom jump out from a small window open the door to a small hut and enter.

From – A Friend of Yours

This is very important and secret it must be remembered then torn and thrown.

I thought a while… fine, it was Saturday after all.

I read the note again, learnt it and the adventure begins!!!!!!!!!

I caught the number 26 bus, got off at 5th avenue park and did the rest of the instructions exactly.

I entered cabin then I saw flashes of light like a camera was taking pictures of me, I saw more flashes left and right, then I heard a familiar voice, it was my old friend Professor David, he has a PHD in astrophysics.

It’s what will allow you to travel in the fourth dimension.

Any guesses what it is?

No, ok I’ll tell you.

Its time, yup that is the fourth dimension.

So, I did research on it and found out time travelling is possible.

Oh, that’s incredible, I replied.

Yup it’s good, but I still need someone to test it. But then I thought it’s too unsafe to time travel alone, so I called you. We are going on prehistoric journey to the Jurassic period to see the dinosaurs. We’re going document the whole journey with pictures and videos then we will make a documentary about dinosaurs, then will go to the future to see the amazing inventions humankind will invent in the next few years. But my time machine just can’t go back and forth in time it can also go to different places.

Awesome, I replied.

But before we time travel to the past we must learn how to use the past time travelling survival kit.

There are some snacks, matches a knife and a dinosaur identifying machine.

But how to use the Dino identifying machine?

Point the camera on the Dino and then press the button then it will give all the information you need (if it’s carnivorous you better run fast, or you will be Dino dinner)

When I entered the time machine there was a screen a keyboard and a red button labelled start.

“Jurassic period, 145 million years ago”

While I was going to call professor David I tripped on a bolt and my face landed straight on the red button. The door started closing and a minute later I saw the doors opening. What I saw outside was a sight to behold.

Wow!!!! It was amazing!

A triceratops!!!

It works, the time machine works!

But I was alone in the Jurassic period. What was I going to do? What dangers could be lurking behind me?

Just then I heard something.

Roooaaaaarr!

It was a T-rex oh boy – I ran as fast as I could.

When the T-rex stopped chasing me I stopped to catch my breath.

Then I saw I was in a shadow. When I looked up there was a flying dinosaur, what was it I didn’t know what Dino it was, so I pulled out my Dino identifier.

I snapped a photo of it

It is a Pterodactyl.

But then I felt a pat on my shoulder. I was scared to look back, it could be another T-rex ready to eat me, but when I looked back a huge surprise met me. It was my old friend professor David, then he told me his whole story.

It went like this …

When I saw you and time machine was missing, I used the old prototype of the time machine. It turned out to work, so I came to save you.

We were taking pictures and videos, writing down notes and taking plant samples. At night we were very sleepy and hungry; we ate the snacks we packed then we slept in a cave. When we woke up we decided it was time to go back to the lab, so we walked to the time machine and opened the doors, but then the screen showed 1% battery left. Professor David calculated we were stuck in the Jurassic period until we could find a battery, but then an idea popped in my head.

Why don’t we use the old prototype time machine?

That’s a great idea, Professor David replied.

But when we got there it was severely damaged. But we managed to get the battery out and put it in the working time machine. We opened the doors and set it to 2020

In a minute we were back to Professor David’s lab then he called his friend to help him make the documentary of dinosaurs we were talking about earlier. Once he was done, we watched it; it was amazing.

But we still had a mission to do in the future.

Me and Professor David decided we should go to 2050.

I thought the future would be more peaceful than the past. Yeah, flying cars are more peaceful than a T-rex trying to eat me.

I typed 2050 on the screen.

Then professor David came in pressed the start button but then the screen only showed 1% battery.

Oh no we forgot to recharge the battery!

Once Professor David re-charged the battery, he came in, pressed the start button, and to the future we go.

What we saw was just as amazing as the Triceratops but less dangerous.

We snapped a few pictures and videos of it.

It looked like a race with colourful flying supersonic cars (cars that go faster than the speed of sound). Very colourful and fast.

We hopped back in the time machine and went back to Professor David’s Lab in 2020.

The Time Machine - Creative Writing Lesson

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WOW – ‘If I Had A Time Machine’

Our time in this world is limited, so we try to make the most of it. We’re lucky to live in a time when there is a great balance between the technology and human side of the world. Still, everyone has a certain level of curiosity about our past and the future that lies ahead of us. So if you had a time machine, which time period would you like to visit?

This week’s WOW prompt is – ‘If I Had A Time Machine’

Sure, books and movies are a great way to time travel without actually going anywhere. Novels, history books and sci-fi stories take us into the annals of history and also let us peek into the future. When we hear stories from our elders, we often wonder and even wish if we could relive those timeless moments. The idea of going back in time or into the future itself is enough to get us lost in fantasy land.  This week in our creative writing WOW prompt ‘If I Had A Time Machine’, we are giving you an opportunity to transport yourself into a different time period or an era you constantly dream of living in. Give us a WOW post telling us about it- what would you do, who would you meet and what your adventures would be like.

Remember, you have time only till Sunday midnight to submit your blog posts and have a chance to get the WOW badge!

Include this code:

This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend , an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda.

Good news! There is now an easier way to submit your WOW entries, so just click on the submission link below for your WOW entry to be considered valid.

Every weekend, we give creative writing prompts for you to write blog posts  on ! Hope you enjoy our creative writing inspiration for this week. 🙂

All those who are featured in WOW can now flaunt the WOW badge on your blog. Download your badge now!

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9 replies to “wow – ‘if i had a time machine’”.

My Entry: https://doc2poet.wordpress.com/2016/03/12/raceagainsttime/

https://darshith0000.wordpress.com/2016/03/12/life-changing-event/

My entry : http://booksandcertainotherthings.blogspot.in/2016/03/time-travel.html

Well, I am going to skip the travel destination of different time period or a different era. When you experience being in an wonderland in the present time period, is it really necessary to inch towards a different period!! I guess No. So friends, pardon me for deviating the travel destination. My entry http://breakingoldagetaboo.blogspot.in/2016/03/if-i-had-time-machine-those-six-days-of.html

What is it about time-travel? https://theteacerebration.wordpress.com/2016/03/13/back-to-the-futures-past/

My Entry: http://sreedharb.blogspot.in/2016/03/the-timely-help.html

Here is something that I would do if I had a Time Machine. Let me know how is it

http://www.thesolitarywriter.com/2016/03/if-i-had-time-machine.html

http://varmaila.blogspot.in/2016/03/wow-if-i-had-time-machine.html

Hello Bloggers,

Check the stories and dreams that unfolded last weekened with our WOW prompt ‘If I Had A Time Machine’. We captured them in our WOW Forum here:

http://forum.blogadda.com/discussion/2240/wow-if-i-had-a-time-machine#Item_1

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A groundbreaking creative writing competition for schools

Competition closed - submission period ended on 26 april 2024. find out the winners now, the winners for the time to write competition have been announced, click here to explore the winners, runners up and highly commended stories..

About Time to Write The 'Time to Write' competition for 2024 was open to all schools, and used cutting-edge Adaptive Comparative Judgement technology to shortlist entries, allowing schools to take part in the shortlisting process!

Pupils aged 7-16 entered into our exciting tech-led creative writing competition for the chance to win amazing tech and literary prizes., the top 10 entries in each category were read by a panel of judges, who decided on the winners and runners up., the winning writers will have their stories turned into illustrated books, and win a set of amazing tech and book prizes. plus, each winner's school won a great set of prizes, including a £1000 voucher to spend on school resources.

• Get in touch with ISEB

The Categories

Writers in Years 3 and 4: 500 words Writers in Years 5 and 6: 650 words Writers in Years 7, 8, and 9: 750 words Writers in Years 10 and 11: 1000 words

Word counts are advised lengths and final submissions can be +/- 10%

Register your interest for competition updates:

Judging and criteria.

The 'Time to Write' competition was judged in two rounds. Entries were shortlisted by a group of judges - and schools could take part in this! The top ten entries shortlisted in each category were read by a panel of esteemed judges.

Round 1: Shortlisting

The first round of judging was completed using Adaptive Comparative Judgement technology via RM Compare. Schools that entered pupils into the competition were able to take part in this process as judges. We looked for the most creative entries in the first round of judging.

Who could take part in the shortlisting process?

All schools that entered pupils into the competition were able to take part in the shortlisting process during the first judging window.

Round 2: Final judging

The top ten entries in each category were read and reviewed by a panel of judges in the traditional way.

The judging panel

Judging criteria

The panel of judges reviewed the top ten entries with the following criteria in mind: Idea: is there an original and creative idea that makes the story stand out? Structure: is there a clear plot that develops thematically? Character: are the characters well-developed and convincing? Language: are words chosen and language devices used confidently and creatively?

The Time to Write competition was open to all schools, with four categories for different age groups, and prizes for both the winning writers and their schools . The top ten entries shortlisted in each category were read by a panel of esteemed judges. The winning writers in each category will see themselves in print , as each will have their story turned into an illustrated book ! Prizes were also awarded to the winning writers’ schools , including £1000 to spend on school resources! A range of other exciting prizes were on offer for the winners and runners-up , including Amazon Fire tablets, Altec Lansing Bluetooth speakers and headphones, and vouchers.

About the competition

The Independent Schools Examinations Board is a leading provider of innovative qualifications and assessments to schools in the UK and internationally. Founded in 1903 to create and deliver the Common Entrance exams, ISEB has been at the forefront of assessment at 11+ and 13+ for 120 years.

We partnered with RM Compare to bring schools a unique, interactive creative writing competition for 2024. The time travel theme of the 'Time to Write' competition was chosen to align with ISEB's 120th anniversary. By appreciating the achievements and events of the past, and looking forward to the developments of new innovations and technologies, we can all make sure we are supporting all children to achieve for years to come.

“In celebrating 120 years at the heart of assessment in the independent school sector, we wanted to bring all schools an exciting opportunity to celebrate our core principles of creativity, inclusivity, innovation, and heritage in an interactive and hands-on way. Creative writing is the ultimate creative activity for young people, allowing them to dream big and show us their flair and individuality. We can’t wait to read their stories.” Julia Martin, ISEB

Competition Closed - Submission Period Ended on 26 April 2024. announcements were made on 11 June 2024.

All entries must be submitted by schools. If you are a parent or guardian, please ask your child's school to enter your child into the competition. Schools can submit all entries from pupils together via an online entry form.

Time to Write is open to all residents aged 7-16 years as of 26 April 2024. Stories must be written by an individual and not by a pair, or writing team. Writers may only submit one story each. Entries must be a piece of original fiction and can not depict events that actually took place. Entries can not use details of any living person and must not include personal details about the writer and their family, teachers, or friends.

All entries must be submitted by a school - if you are a parent, please talk to your child's school about submitting your child's entry. Entries must be saved as PDF files, and the file name should be structured as 'Story name, school name'. The writer's name should not be included anywhere on the PDF. Entries can be hand-written or typed, but must not contain any additional embellishments such as drawings or diagrams. All entries must be in English. For full information please see our Terms and Conditions . How to enter 1. Read the competition terms and conditions. 2. Download the ISEB Time to Write - Pupil Entry Submission Upload spreadsheet . 3. Populate the spreadsheet with details for all pupils you are entering and once finished, save as a .CSV (comma delimited) file. 4. Save all entries as PDF files and ensure all files are named correctly ('Story name, school name'). Do not include the pupil’s name anywhere on entries, either in the file name or on the PDF. Entries can be typed or hand-written (as long as they are fully legible). 5. Save all PDF entries to a .ZIP file. 6. Visit the online entry form on the ISEB website . 7. Complete the online entry form, uploading your completed pupil entry submission .CSV file, and your .ZIP file of PDFs. If you have any questions please get in touch with ISEB via our support portal .

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Thank you to our sponsors

The prizes in our 'Time to Write' creative writing competition were proudly sponsored by a range of tech and literary organisations.

Altec Lansing is an American audio brand, formed in 1941. With roots in studio and live music audio products, today Altec Lansing is a leader in consumer audio products designed to be the life of the party, including Bluetooth speakers, ANC headphones, and party speakers.

Oxford University Press (OUP) , founded over 500 years ago as the publishing arm of the University of Oxford, remains an emblem of scholarly excellence. Specialising in the publication of top-tier academic and educational resources, OUP's diverse catalogue spans disciplines, languages, and cultures.

Scanning Pens , founded in 2003, is a leading provider of assistive reading technology for the neurodivergent community. Their award-winning C-Pen series has revolutionised dyslexia reading aids, elevating accessibility to new heights. With a mission to change lives globally, Scanning Pens remains at the forefront of innovation in assistive technology.

Ingram Micro , a global technology leader, facilitates access to cutting-edge solutions for nearly 90% of the world's population. Meanwhile, Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS) , a subsidiary of Amazon, revolutionises cloud computing with on-demand platforms and APIs.

TTS Group stands as the leading UK provider of early years, primary, secondary, and special needs supplies and furniture. Offering exceptional early years supplies, TTS Group presents a brilliant and innovative range designed to inspire and engage educators and learners alike.

The 2024 'Time to Write' creative writing competition was all about celebrating the past and looking forward to the future. The theme was...

A time machine is found hidden in a cave. Inside, there is a clock with two options: the first, to travel in time 120 years into the past, and the second, to travel in time 120 years into the future. Who finds it, and what happens next?

We looked for the most creative story in the first round of judging. Find out more about the judging process and criteria.

Visit the resource hub for support articles and information designed to to spark inspiration and support your pupils to produce their stories. Explore our collection of resources.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Please read our terms and conditions to find out everything you need to know about how the Time to Write competition will work, and how to enter.

1. The Promoter The Promoter is: ISEB Limited of Endeavour House, Crow Arch Lane, Ringwood, BH24 1HP, UK. 2. The competition The title of the competition is ISEB Time to Write. It is a creative writing competition for school pupils aged 7-16. 3. How to enter 3.1 The competition will run from 00:00 on 15 February 2024 (the "Opening Date") to 23:59 on 26 April 2024 (the "Closing Date") inclusive. 3.2 All competition entries must be received by the Promoter by the Closing Date. All competition entries received after the Closing Date will not be entered into the competition. 3.3 To enter the competition: All entries must be submitted using the online entry form on the ISEB website. All entries must be submitted by a school. Visit write.iseb.co.uk and follow the instructions to find the online entry form. 3.4 Schools entering pupils must first complete the ‘Time to Write Pupil Entry spreadsheet supplied as an .Excel file. This can be downloaded from the website and is located above the online entry form. 3.5 Schools will also need to save all writing submissions as PDF files and format the file name as: Title of submission, school name. The pupil’s name should not be included anywhere on the PDF submission. 3.6 These files will need to be uploaded via the online entry form. Entries can be typed as saved as PDF files, or they may be hand-written and saved as PDF files. If entries are submitted in hand-written format, they must be fully legible, and should only contain hand-written words as part of the story. If typed, they should be typed in any font, in 12pt size, and in black. 3.7 No entries may contain additional content such as drawings or diagrams. Entries containing additional content other than the typed or hand-written words of the story will not be accepted. 3.8 Entries must be written in English. Entries must not exceed the word count defined for each category. 3.9 No purchase is necessary. 3.10 The Promoter will not accept responsibility for competition entries that are lost, mislaid, damaged or delayed in transit, regardless of cause, including, for example, as a result of any equipment failure, technical malfunction, systems, satellite, network, server, computer hardware or software failure of any kind. 3.11 By submitting a competition entry, you are agreeing to be bound by these terms and conditions. 3.12 For help with entries, please submit a ticket at support.iseb.co.uk. 4. Eligibility 4.1 The competition is only open to all residents worldwide aged 7-16 years, except: (a) employees of the Promoter or its holding or subsidiary companies; (b) employees of agents or suppliers of the Promoter or its holding or subsidiary companies, who are professionally connected with the competition or its administration; or (c) members of the immediate families or households of (a) and (b) above. 4.2 In entering the competition, you confirm that you are eligible to do so and the Promoter may require you to provide proof that you are eligible to enter the competition. 4.3 The Promoter will not accept competition entries that are: (a) automatically generated by computer or created by artificial intelligence (including but not limited to chatbots such as ChatGPT or similar software applications); (b) completed by third parties or in bulk; (c) illegible, have been altered, reconstructed, forged or tampered with; (d) photocopies and not originals; or (e) incomplete. 4.4 We are sorry but competition entries cannot be returned. 4.5 The story submitted must be written by an individual and not by a writing pair or team. 4.6 Writers may only submit one story. If more than one story is submitted, only the first story received will be accepted. 4.7 The use of generative AI tools to create any part of an entry is not permitted and will lead to disqualification. 4.8 The story must be a piece of original fiction - stories can reference historical figures and eras but can not depict events that actually took place and can not use details of any living person. Stories must not include any personal details about the writer and/or their families/friends/teachers/schools. 4.9 Stories must be unpublished. 5. The prizes 5.1 The prizes for each winner of a category are: (a) The story submitted will be turned into an illustrated and bound book. (b) A Bluetooth speaker and set of Bluetooth headphones from Altec Lansing, models as defined by the Promoter on write.iseb.co.uk (c) An Amazon Fire Tablet, model as defined by the Promoter on write.iseb.co.uk (d) A National Book Tokens voucher to the amount defined by the Promoter on write.iseb.co.uk (e) An Audible voucher to the amount defined by the Promoter on write.iseb.co.uk. 5.2 The prizes for the two runners-up of a category are: (a) A Bluetooth speaker and set of Bluetooth headphones from Altec Lansing, models as defined by the Promoter on write.iseb.co.uk (b) An Audible voucher to the amount defined by the Promoter on write.iseb.co.uk. 5.3 The prizes for the school each winner attends/was entered by are: (a) A selection of fiction and non-fiction books as defined by the Promoter on write.iseb.co.uk (b) A portable pen scanner as defined by the Promoter on write.iseb.co.uk (c) A £1000 voucher (including VAT) to spend with the TTS Group as defined by the Promoter on write.iseb.co.uk. 5.4 All prizes are non-negotiable, no compensation is payable for competition entries or winners and there are no cash alternatives for the prizes. 6. Judging 6.1 The competition entries will be shortlisted to a shortlist of ten entries per category by a pool of judges using the RM Compare platform. Shortlisting will be completed using the following holistic statement: Which entry is the most creative? 6.2 The top ten entries in each category will be judged by a panel of four judges. The decision of the panel of judges (acting reasonably) will be final. 6.3 The top ten entries in each category will be judged on the following criteria: Idea: is there an original and creative idea that makes the story stand out? Structure: is there a clear plot that develops thematically? Character: are the characters well-developed and convincing? Language: are words chosen and language devices used confidently and creatively? 7. Winners 7.1 The decision of the Promoter is final and no correspondence or discussion will be entered into. The Promoter can not offer feedback on entries. 7.2 The Promoter will contact the school each winner and runner-up was entered by personally as soon as practicable after the Announcement Date, using the telephone number or email address provided with the competition entry. The Promoter will not amend any contact information once the competition entry form has been submitted. 7.3 The Promoter must either publish or make available information that indicates that a valid award took place. To comply with this obligation the Promoter will publish the names of the winners and runners-up, the titles of their writing submissions, and the schools of the winning writers on the ISEB website in June 2024. 7.4 If a school or pupil objects to any or all of their name, country and winning entry being published or made available, please contact the Promoter at the address set out at condition three. In such circumstances, the Promoter must still provide the information and winning entry to the Advertising Standards Authority on request. 8. Claiming the prize 8.1 The Promoter will make all reasonable efforts to contact the winner. If the winner cannot be contacted or is not available, or has not responded within 7 of days of the Announcement Date, the Promoter reserves the right to offer the prize to the next eligible entrant selected from the correct entries that were received before the Closing Date. 8.2 The Promoter does not accept any responsibility if you are not able to take up the prize. 9. Limitation of liability Insofar as is permitted by law, the Promoter, its agents or distributors will not in any circumstances be responsible or liable to compensate the winner or accept any liability for any loss, damage, personal injury or death occurring as a result of taking up the prize except where it is caused by the negligence of the Promoter, its agents or distributors or that of their employees. Your statutory rights are not affected. 10. Ownership of competition entries and intellectual property rights 10.1 All competition entries and any accompanying material submitted to the Promoter will become the property of the Promoter on receipt and will not be returned. 10.2 By submitting a competition entry and any accompanying material, pupils are: (a) assigning to the Promoter all ownership rights with full title guarantee; and (b) waiving all moral rights, in and to your competition entry and otherwise arising in connection with your entry to which you may now or at any time in the future be entitled under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 as amended from time to time and under all similar legislation from time to time in force anywhere in the world. 10.3 Without limitation on condition 10.2, the Promoter intends, but is in no way obliged to: (a) publish the competition entry in local, regional, or national press outlets, both print and digital; (b) display the competition entry on the ISEB website or social media platforms; and/or (c) use the competition entry in any promotional materials related to the competition, including posters, flyers, and online advertisements. 10.4 You agree that the Promoter may, but is not required to, make your entry available on its website iseb.co.uk and any other media, whether now known or invented in the future, and in connection with any publicity of the competition. 11. Data protection and publicity 11.1 The Promoter will only process your personal information as set out in the Promoter's Privacy Policy, which is available on the iseb.co.uk website. 11.2 The Promoter will collect the following personal data from the school representative submitting entries. (a) Your first name and surname (b) Your school’s name and location (c) Your email address and phone number (d) Your job title This information will be used by the Promoter to administer the competition, obtain the relevant permissions if required, communicate with the school on matters relating to the competition, and, if an entry submitted by your school is shortlisted or wins a prize, this information may be used as part of promotion on the Promoter’s website and other marketing channels. 11.3 The Promoter will collect the following personal data on pupils aged 7-16 being entered into the competition from the school submitting the entries: (a) Entrant’s first name and surname (b) Entrant’s age and date of birth (c) Entrant’s school name (d) Entrant’s school type (e) Entrant’s school year (f) Entrant’s gender (g) Entrant’s submission title This information will be used by the Promoter to administer the competition, and if an entry is shortlisted or wins a prize, some of this information may be used as part of promotion on the Promoter’s website and other marketing channels. The safety of all pupils is paramount to the Promoter and we will not publish more personal information than necessary. 11.4 Schools are to request permission from your parent/guardian in order to grant The Promoter the rights to become the 'data controller'. RM Compare will be the 'data processor'. 11.5 The Promoter is the ‘data controller’ of your personal data. This means the Promoter will decide what your personal data is used for, however, the Promoter will only collect and process your data in accordance with the purposes in these terms and conditions. The Promoter will comply with data protection law as the data controller. 12. General 12.1 If there is any reason to believe that there has been a breach of these terms and conditions, the Promoter may, at its sole discretion, reserve the right to exclude you from participating in the competition. 12.2 The Promoter reserves the right to hold void, suspend, cancel, or amend the prize competition where it becomes necessary to do so. 12.3 These terms and conditions are governed by English law. If any entrants to this promotion wish to take court proceedings, then they must do this within the courts in the United Kingdom.

Here you'll find a range of support resources for schools, young writers, and parents and guardians. We'll be adding more resources here over the coming weeks so keep checking back to see what's new!

Why should schools enter?

The benefits of creative writing go beyond essential core English skills. Not only does it support creative thinking and the development of imagination (as you might expect!), but other skills too: looking at things from a fresh perspective, expressing feelings and emotions, thinking about structure and choosing your words carefully; all skills that support development in every subject and in the wider world. A benchmark of pupil performance All schools that enter will receive a data report that shows how their pupils have performed alongside other pupils in the competition, as well as information about the types of themes and trends that have emerged. Hands-on experience with Adaptive Comparative Judgement technology The shortlisting process will be done via the RM Compare platform, using cutting-edge Adaptive Comparative Judgement technology. All schools that enter will be given the opportunity to take part as a judge in the shortlisting process and see for themselves how it works. Be a part of wider research on creative writing in schools The information gathered through the competition will help shape the way creative writing skills are developed and assessed in the future.

The St Swithun’s Witch Project: finding new ways to decolonise and diversify our literature teaching

A blog article by naomi anson, competition judge and head of swithun's school.

An introduction to the article from ISEB CEO, Julia Martin : "This inspiring project by Naomi Anson grabbed me when I first heard about it. Decolonising and diversifying our curricula is crucial and it’s fantastic to see St Swithun's School leading the way. This impact of this project went beyond teaching, it was performative, critical and truly interdisciplinary too. At ISEB, our creative writing competition Time to Write is a starting point for thinking about teaching creatively across boundaries and as one of our judges, Naomi Anson will be an inspiring force for championing new ways of being creative in our schools. " Read the article by Naomi Anson on the HMC website:

• The St Swithun’s Witch Project: finding new ways to decolonise and diversify our literature teaching by Naomi Anson

Interview with the author

with Ali Sparkes, competition judge, and children's author of the popular Shapeshifter series

Hi Ali! Did you always aspire to become an author? What first sparked your interest in writing stories? I was a pretty slow reader to begin with; a bit of a struggler. But around about the age of eight I started reading Famous Five books which kicked off my enthusiasm at last. From there I went on to other authors, like Joan Aiken, Anthony Buckeridge, Norman Hunter, Jean Craighead George and many more. I was very much the kid at school who was in the corner of the playground, opening up a book like a trapdoor and disappearing into another world. It didn't hurt that books were part of family life and our parents read to us. But did I aspire to be an author? Nah. I was obsessed with the theatre. For literally as far back as I can remember I wanted to be a singer and an actress. I was in school shows, quite often the lead, and then bigger shows, including a couple of stints as a lead in musicals at The Mayflower (or The Gaumont) as it was back then. Did a little local telly, too. So I was pretty good at the whole acting and singing thing (if not the dancing!) - but always used to write for fun; comedy scripts with my siblings and friends, daft poems, even full on action adventures (a four part series at secondary school!). I never really thought about a career as a writer, but the hallmarks were there throughout my teens; I even wrote a comedy musical for my cohort at college, which we staged as the final part of our Theatre Studies A level. Writing was just a very natural, fun thing to do. I didn't pay it very much attention; I just did it. How do you come up with ideas for your stories? Is there a special place or activity that helps you find inspiration? Ideas arrive at any time, from any direction; something someone says. an interesting location, a what if..?  thought. Dark Summer was inspired by the caves at Wookey Hole, Thunderstruck was inspired by a gravestone in a cemetery just off Southampton Common, 100 Summers was partly inspired by my sons, who both have ADHD. I've never had much problem coming up with ideas; they seem like jets, circling Heathrow, waiting to land. My biggest problem is finding enough time to write them all. But getting out walking (with Willow, the labradoodle) or running definitely helps me to un-knot any plot problems I'm having, or to cook up a new idea when I've been asked to come up with something. The best ideas usually occur nowhere near the keyboard. What does your process of writing a story from start to finish look like? The idea occurs and then, if it's a goer, tends to hang around in my head, getting a bit more evolved. Characters show up. Their problems and their wants and needs slowly get more apparent. Once I have a nice idea beginning to flesh out I will pitch it to my editor or agent and if they like it, I'll work up a synopsis and a few chapters. If it meets with approval I will write the whole thing. Between pitching the idea and getting it published usually takes about 18 months, although it can be much faster for shorter books, such as the titles I write for educational publishers like Oxford Reading Tree and Collin's Big Cat. There's a fair bit of to-ing and fro-ing between me and my editors to get the story as good as it can be, but I rarely write more than three drafts. Working as a journalist in newspapers and then BBC radio has trained me to write and edit quite tightly as I go. Can you tell us about any specific challenges or setbacks in your writing journey? How did you overcome them? I had sooooo many rejections, across a period of about four years. They were maddening because so often I would get a great response from an editor or an agent, full of compliments, but still not quite wanting to take me on. But I think my theatrical experiences helped because, even as a child performer, you get used to rejection and learn to handle it. Sending a manuscript is an audition, except you're not there in front of them when they decide whether or not you're hired. I learned to read the rejection letter, sigh, and then send the manuscript off to the next one on my list that same day. Rejection can come at any point in your writing career - I'm in no way immune to it. I find having lots of different ideas out there really helps, because if one thing falls through there are still others keeping your spirits up. What's the coolest thing about being a children's author? Do you get to do any fun research for your books? I love coming up with an idea and then getting the chance to share it with readers all over the world. I also love the research; the coolest was probably getting to mooch about behind the scenes at the caves in Wookey Hole, where the tourists don't usually get to go - and interviewing a cave diver to find out all about cave rescues. It was also really fun to hang out for a while with Mark King, lead singer and legendary bassist in hit 1980s band Level 42, as part of my research for Destination Earth. If you could give one piece of advice to kids who dream of becoming authors, what would that advice be? Read. Read. And read some more. And then write. Write. And write some more. It's not complicated. If you want to be a writer you have to study the form (reading!) and then practise (writing!) until you get better at it. Entering competitions is also useful because, whether or not you win them, you're training yourself to finish work, polish it, send it, and then deal with the feedback; something every writer has to do throughout their career. You do have to be brave about sharing your work with others and that's not easy for everyone - but it's part and parcel of the whole writer thing.  Write with friends. Have a blast! Play with words. Don't be afraid to put your stories out there.

Understanding the Time to Write competition terms and conditions

A breakdown for parents and guardians.

As the parent or guardian of a young person submitting an entry to the Time to Write competition, you will need to agree to some terms and conditions via your child's school. We recommend that you read these in full, but here is a breakdown of the main things you need to know and agree to. Your child’s school will collect your permission and share this with ISEB , so please liaise with your child’s school about this. If you need any help from ISEB, you can submit an enquiry through our customer support portal . Assigning ownership to ISEB When your child writes a story, they are the owner of their piece of work. When they enter the competition, they will need to assign these ownership rights to ISEB . ISEB will then upload the piece of work into the RM Compare platform so that it can be processed as part of the shortlisting process, which will use RM’s cutting-edge Adaptive Comparative Judgement technology to find the top ten entries in each category. By shortlisting in this way, a large group of judges can take part, ensuring a totally fair, transparent, and reliable process. This is what your child’s school will ask you to agree to. What else will ISEB do with these ownership rights? If your child is a winner or runner up in the Time to Write competition, ISEB may publish your child’s entry on our website and social media platforms and any other ISEB-owned platforms. We may also publish your child’s story in third-party press outlets. We will always let parents and guardians know where these stories have been published. We may also use your child’s story in promotional materials for either the Time to Write competition or future ISEB products. By agreeing to the terms and conditions via your child’s school you are giving your permission for us to do these things. If your child wins their category, their story will be turned into an illustrated and bound book. We’ll provide a limited number of printed copies to you and your child’s school. To be able to turn your child’s story into a book, we also need ownership transferred to us. What about data relating to your child? ISEB will need to collect a set of personal data about your child to administer the competition. This includes your child’s name, date of birth, school name, school type, school year, their gender, and the title of their entry. If your child is a winner or runner up, ISEB may use some of this personal data in promoting the results of the competition. We will put pupil safety first and we will not publish more personal information than necessary. By agreeing to the terms and conditions, you are allowing ISEB to become the ‘data controller’ of your child’s personal information and piece of work submitted. What about RM Compare? Once you have assigned ownership of your child’s piece of work to ISEB, ISEB will grant RM Compare the rights to become the data processor. This gives RM Compare the levels of permission required to run the shortlisting process. As the ‘data controller’ ISEB will decide what your child’s data is used for and will comply with data protection law (in England).

• Read the full terms and conditions

Getting started with writing a story - 10 things to think about

Are you ready to embark on an exciting adventure of imagination and creativity? Writing a story is like painting a picture with words, and the best part is that you get to be the artist of your own tale. Here are some things to think about as you get started on your storytelling journey: 1. Imagine your world: Close your eyes and let your imagination soar! What kind of world do you want your story to be in? Is it a land of talking animals, a futuristic city, or a mysterious enchanted forest? Picture it vividly in your mind – the colours, sounds, and even the smells. This is the beginning of your magical creation. 2. Meet your characters: Who will be the heroes of your story? Create characters with personalities as unique as yours. Think about their strengths, weaknesses, and what makes them special. Are they brave adventurers, mischievous fairies, or curious explorers? Your characters are the heart of your story, so make them unforgettable! 3. What's the big idea? Every great story has a big idea, or what we call a plot. It's like the roadmap that guides your characters through exciting adventures and challenges. What amazing quest will your characters go on? Maybe they're searching for hidden treasure, solving a mystery, or saving their magical world. Your big idea is the magic that keeps readers turning the pages. 4. Start with a bang: Begin your story with a burst of excitement! It could be a funny joke, a mysterious riddle, or your characters finding a magical object (like a time machine!). The beginning is your chance to grab your reader's attention and invite them into your enchanting world. 5. Use your senses: Make your story come alive by using your senses. Describe what your characters see, hear, smell, taste, and touch. If they're in a candy kingdom, how does the air smell? What do the rainbow-colored candies taste like? Engaging the senses helps your readers feel like they're right there in your magical world. 6. Add dialogue magic: Let your characters talk and share their feelings. Dialogue is like the magic spell that brings your characters to life. Use quotation marks around what they say and show how they react to different situations. Maybe they laugh, cry, or even do a happy dance! 7. Build suspense: Keep your readers on the edge of their seats by adding suspense. Will your characters solve the mystery? What's behind the hidden door in the enchanted forest? Building suspense makes your story even more thrilling and exciting. 8. End with a bang, too: Just like the beginning, your story's ending should be spectacular! It could be a surprising twist, a heart-warming reunion, or a celebration. Make your readers feel satisfied and happy after going on this magical journey with your characters. 9. Share your magic: Once your story is complete, share it with others! Whether it's your friends, family, or even your pet, sharing your magical tale is a wonderful way to spread joy. You're the author, and your words have the power to enchant everyone who reads them. 10. Have fun! Most importantly, have fun with your storytelling adventure. Writing a story is your chance to let your imagination run wild and create something truly magical. So grab your pen, pencil, or computer, let the words flow, and enjoy every moment of your enchanting journey into the world of storytelling.

FEELING STUCK? HOW TO OVERCOME WRITER’S BLOCK

BY EMMA DRAGE, COMPETITION JUDGE, AND SENIOR COMMISSIONING EDITOR AT OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS

It can be daunting to be faced with a blank piece of paper, and even the best writers can feel stuck at times. Here are some top tips to help you get writing! Free writing Give yourself the challenge of writing for ten minutes without stopping. This is sometimes called free writing. Set a timer and write whatever comes into your head. Try to keep your hand moving the whole time and don’t cross anything out. You don’t need to share this work with anyone – it’s not going to be your final piece of writing, but you might find that some interesting ideas emerge that you can use as a starting point for your story. Free writing can help to increase the flow of ideas. It can also help to stop you overthinking and ruling out ideas before you’ve given them a chance! Create some writing prompts Write a list of five characters on separate slips of paper or pieces of card and put them face down on a table. Then create a list of five different locations on slips of paper or card and lay them out upside down on the table too. Pick out one character and one location at random. Use whatever combination you pick out as a starting point for a story. It’s a great way to come up with unusual combinations, for examples robots in a castle or dinosaurs in a cinema. Take inspiration from your favourite stories Make a list of some of your favourite stories. Think about what it is that you enjoy most about them. For example, if you love reading books about aliens, perhaps you could try writing your own alien story. If you’re writing something you’d love to read yourself, you are going to feel more motivated to start – and finish – it. Imagine untold stories An interesting starting point can be to retell an existing story from a different character’s point of view – or even from the perspective of an inanimate object. Myths, legends, and fairytales can be great sources of inspiration. For example, what if you retold Cinderella from the point of view of the stepmother, or Jack and the Beanstalk from the point of view of the bean? It’s very important never to simply copy existing texts, but lots of great writers have enjoyed great success reimagining or reinterpreting well-known tales from different perspectives. Carry a notebook with you If you’re still struggling to get started or are feeling like you’ve reached a dead end with your story, a change of scene can help. Try going for a walk or doing another activity, keeping a notebook with you. Jot down any ideas that come to you. You could try carrying a notebook with you throughout the day – you might be surprised when inspiration strikes! Some writers also like to keep a notebook by their bed to jot down their dreams when they wake up in the morning to use as inspiration. Remember, starting is often the hardest part and everyone struggles with it from time to time! Try not to put too much pressure on yourself, pick a topic you enjoy, and have fun!

10 ways to cultivate a love of storytelling in your child

Encouraging children to explore the enchanting world of storytelling can be a delightful journey for both parents and children. Cultivating a love for writing not only enhances language skills but also nurtures creativity and self-expression. Here are some magical ways for parents and guardians to spark their children's interest in writing stories: 1. Create a writing wonderland: Designate a cozy writing corner at home. Make it a special place where your child can escape into the world of imagination. The allure of a dedicated writing space can turn the act of writing into a magical adventure. 2. Be a storytelling role model: Share your own stories or even create tales together. When children see their parents engaging in storytelling, it ignites their curiosity and provides a model for expressing thoughts through words. It can be a collaborative experience, with each family member contributing to the unfolding narrative. 3. Start with short and sweet: Begin with short writing activities that are both manageable and fun. Encourage your child to write a brief description of their day, compose a silly poem, or invent a dialogue between fictional characters. Short and sweet exercises help build confidence and lay the foundation for more elaborate storytelling adventures. 4. Turn everyday events into stories: Transform routine activities into story prompts. You could ask your child to narrate their trip to the supermarket, turning it into a whimsical adventure with talking fruits and mischievous shopping carts. This helps them see storytelling opportunities in everyday life, making writing a natural and enjoyable activity. 5. Embrace diverse writing tools: Explore various writing tools to make the process more engaging. From traditional pencils and papers to colourful markers, or even a kid-friendly writing app on a tablet, the choice of tools can add an extra layer of excitement to the writing experience. 6. Inspire with book adventures: Take regular trips to the library or bookshop and let your child explore different genres and styles of books. Share captivating stories that align with their interests, whether it's adventures, mysteries, or tales of magical lands. A love for reading often blossoms into a desire to create stories of their own. 7. Celebrate storytelling traditions: Share family stories and traditions with your child. Whether it's tales from your own childhood, stories passed down through generations, or even cultural folklore, storytelling traditions connect children to their roots and inspire them to create their own narratives. 8. Organise writing challenges: Turn writing into a playful challenge. Set weekly themes or prompts and encourage your child to create short stories around them. It could be anything from 'space adventures' to 'talking animal tales.' This adds an element of excitement and creativity to their writing routine. 9. Create a story journal: Provide your child with a special journal where they can jot down story ideas, doodle characters, or even draft short paragraphs. A story journal serves as a personal space for their thoughts to flourish and can become a treasure trove of inspiration for future writing endeavours. 10. Foster a positive writing environment: Cultivate a positive attitude towards writing. Offer praise for their efforts, celebrate their unique ideas, and create an environment where mistakes are seen as stepping stones to improvement. A nurturing atmosphere boosts confidence and makes writing a joyful exploration. Remember, the key to getting children interested in writing stories is to make it a delightful and imaginative experience. By weaving storytelling into the fabric of everyday life, parents can nurture the budding authors within their children, fostering a lifelong love for the magic of words and storytelling. Check out our Time to Write competition - if your child would like to write a creative time travel story, talk to your school about entering.

Five time travel writers for children

Time travel is a captivating theme in children's literature, transporting young readers to different eras and adventures. There are several notable authors who have created time-traveling narratives that have engaged and inspired the imaginations of countless children. Here are five time travel writers for children that you can discuss in the classroom: 1. Mary Pope Osborne: Renowned for her 'Magic Tree House' series, Mary Pope Osborne has taken young readers on thrilling time-traveling adventures since 1992. The series follows siblings Jack and Annie as they discover a magical treehouse that allows them to travel through time and space. Each book introduces historical events and figures, making learning an integral part of the enchanting tales. Osborne's storytelling has made history accessible and exciting for generations of young readers. 2. Madeleine L'Engle: Madeleine L'Engle's classic 'A Wrinkle in Time' is a timeless work that blends science fiction and fantasy. While not strictly about time travel in the conventional sense, the novel explores the concept of 'tessering,' a form of space-time travel that takes the protagonist, Meg Murry, and her friends to otherworldly realms. L'Engle's imaginative narrative, rich characters, and exploration of cosmic concepts have made 'A Wrinkle in Time' a beloved and influential work in children's literature. 3. Eoin Colfer: Eoin Colfer, known for his Artemis Fowl series, also delved into time travel with 'W.A.R.P.' (Witness Anonymous Relocation Program). The series combines science fiction, historical elements, and fast-paced adventure as young FBI agent Chevie Savano time-travels to Victorian London. Colfer's witty writing and engaging characters make the W.A.R.P. series an entertaining and thought-provoking experience for young readers interested in time travel. 4. Judy Blume: While Judy Blume is widely recognized for her contemporary and realistic fiction, she ventured into time travel with the book 'Here's to You, Rachel Robinson.' In this novel, the protagonist, Rachel, has an encounter with a mysterious old woman that propels her back in time to experience life in the 1960s. Blume's exploration of time travel adds an intriguing layer to her body of work, allowing readers to consider the impact of different eras on the lives of young people. 5. H.G. Wells (Retold by Stephanie Baudet): H.G. Wells' classic science fiction novel 'The Time Machine' has been retold for children by Stephanie Baudet in a series titled 'Classic Science Fiction for Kids.' Baudet maintains the essence of Wells' original narrative while adapting it for younger readers. 'The Time Machine' introduces children to the concept of time travel through the adventures of the Time Traveller in a captivating and accessible format. Baudet's retelling allows young readers to explore Wells' timeless masterpiece. These five authors have made significant contributions to children's literature by incorporating time travel into their narratives. From magical treehouses to mysterious wrinkle-filled dimensions, their stories not only entertain but also stimulate curiosity and imagination. Time travel continues to be a compelling theme that opens doors to exploration, discovery, and understanding for young readers across generations. Why not explore some of these authors with your pupils, and see if their stories spark creative ideas for the Time to Write competition!

Four children’s books still popular 120 years later

In 1904, the world of children's literature was undergoing a transformation, marked by the publication of several notable books that have since become classics. The turn of the 20th century saw a shift in the way stories were written for young readers, with authors increasingly focusing on themes of imagination, morality, and adventure. One of the prominent releases of this era was ‘The Tale of Benjamin Bunny’ by Beatrix Potter . Published in 1904, Beatrix Potter's charming tale continued the adventures of Peter Rabbit and introduced readers to Benjamin Bunny, Peter's cousin. Potter's stories were revolutionary in their use of anthropomorphic animals and vivid illustrations, captivating the imaginations of young readers and laying the foundation for future generations of children's literature. Another significant work from 1904 is L. Frank Baum's ‘The Marvelous Land of Oz.’ Building upon the success of ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ Baum's sequel continued to transport readers to the magical realm of Oz, introducing new characters such as Tip and Jack Pumpkinhead. Baum's imaginative storytelling and fantastical world-building contributed to the enduring popularity of the Oz series. In the realm of fairy tales, ‘The Tale of Tales’ by Giambattista Basile , originally published in Italy in 1634–36, was translated into English in 1904 by John Edward Taylor . This collection of fairy tales, often referred to as the first comprehensive compilation of European folk tales, provided a rich source of inspiration for later authors and storytellers. While not a traditional children's book, Kenneth Grahame's ‘The Wind in the Willows’ was first published in 1908 but began serialisation in 1904. The charming adventures of Mole, Rat, Toad, and Badger in the idyllic English countryside have since become a staple of children's literature. Grahame's work captured the essence of friendship, adventure, and the natural world, resonating with readers of all ages. As the early 1900s unfolded, children's literature continued to evolve, reflecting the cultural shifts and values of the time. These foundational works from 1904 paved the way for the diverse and expansive landscape of children's books we enjoy today. Why not explore these stories in the classroom as your pupils work on their creative writing entries for the Time to Write competition.

How can Scanning pens reader 2 support creative writing?

Five tips on using your Reader 2 from Time to Write competition sponsor, Scanning Pens Ltd. Start with inspirational reading Use your C-Pen to explore a piece of writing from an author that you admire. By using append mode, you can scan as much text as you wish. You can toggle the blue highlighter around the screen and follow as you play back the scanned words. Hold the centre button down to enlarge new words and listen again. You can play back the word, a sentence or the whole paragraph as many times as you wish. Immerse yourself in the inspirational writing that you chose. Analyse the punctuation Now, let's look at the construction of the sentences that you have scanned. You can explore how punctuation creates clarity or impact. The pen has a punctuation pause to help you to see it and understand its purpose. Decoding new vocabulary Did you find new words that you like the sound of? Use the dictionary function to find a quick definition of a new word. Finding word definitions quickly will give you more thinking time. Why not try using these words in your own creative writing! Listening for devices Through your headphones, tune in to patterns in your inspirational reading piece, listen and look for devices like alliteration, rhythm and rhyme. Did you find a repeating element or motif? Could you use these or other devices that you have found in your writing? Find your word bank All the words that you enlarged and looked up can be found in a word bank called practice mode. You can also find the words you looked up in the dictionary history. You have a ready-made word list to use in your creative writing. Now, it's Time to Write! When you are feeling inspired, you are ready to start writing.

Time to Write is kindly sponsored by

A glossary of creative writing terms for your class

Plot: The sequence of events that make up a story, including the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. Characterisation: The process of creating and developing characters in a story, including their traits, motivations, and behaviours. Setting: The time and place in which a story takes place, including the physical environment and historical context. Theme: The central idea or message of a story, often exploring universal truths or human experiences. Point of View (POV): The perspective from which a story is told, such as first-person, second-person, or third-person. Dialogue: The conversation between characters in a story, used to reveal their personalities, advance the plot, and provide exposition. Conflict: A problem or challenge that drives the plot forward, often involving a struggle between opposing forces. Foreshadowing: Hints or clues about future events in a story, used to create suspense or build anticipation. Symbolism: The use of symbols or objects to represent deeper meanings or themes within a story. Imagery: Vivid descriptions that appeal to the senses, helping to create a mental picture for the reader. Metaphor: A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things, often highlighting similarities in a creative or imaginative way. Simile: A figure of speech that compares two unlike things using 'like' or 'as,' often for descriptive or expressive purposes. Irony: A literary device in which there is a discrepancy between what is expected to happen and what actually occurs, often for humorous or dramatic effect. Tone: The author's attitude or emotional perspective toward the subject matter or audience of a story, conveyed through language and style. Style: The distinctive manner in which a writer uses language, including word choice, sentence structure, and tone, to convey meaning and create an artistic effect. Flashback: A narrative technique that interrupts the chronological sequence of events to depict an earlier scene or event. Fiction: Literary works that are imagined or invented, as opposed to factual or non-fictional writing. Non-Fiction: Literary works that are based on facts, real events, and real people, as opposed to imagined or invented stories. Protagonist: The main character or central figure in a story, often the one who drives the plot forward and undergoes significant development. Antagonist: The character or force that opposes the protagonist, creating conflict and obstacles for them to overcome. We hope these terms are useful as your class dreams up their creative stories for the Time to Write competition.

HOW TO THINK CREATIVELY

By Dr Ellen Spencer, competition judge, and Senior Researcher at the Centre for Real World Learning at the University of Winchester

Taking part in a creative writing competition is an exciting adventure that invites you to stretch your imagination, challenge yourself, and grow your creative thinking habits . Creativity isn't about waiting for inspiration or making things out of thin air. Anyone can be creative , because it involves using thinking habits that are useful whenever you need to think creatively. A story built on the creative habits of being inquisitive , imaginative , persistent , disciplined , and collaborative is like a castle constructed brick by brick with your ideas and effort. While good writing can seem like a magic art, creativity is a process you can use in many situations in life, and it happens like this: first you explore, then you come up with your own ideas, then you produce your work (in this case, a story), then evaluate your efforts and make changes if you need to. Everyone can learn creativity – it’s a skill like any other. Let's look at how can you practise and use your creative habits as you write your story: - Being inquisitive involves wondering and questioning. Imagine your story is a mystery box, and your curiosity is the key. Ask yourself, 'What if?' as you explore different worlds and ideas to find that one spark that lights up your story. Don’t rely on what’s already in your head though. If I wanted to write about wolves, or the ice age, I would look at how other people have written about them. I’d spend time reading all about them. The details you bring to light through being inquisitive will give your story authenticity and authority. - Creative thinking involves being imaginative . But how do you do this? Play with possibilities, let your imagination run wild! Think of the most extraordinary places, characters, and events. What might your story look like if it were science fiction? How would it be different if it involved magic? These imaginative leaps make your story truly unique. - Now to turn these imaginative thoughts into a coherent story. Thinking about what happens next, and how your ideas fit together, isn't always easy. Remember, every author faces these challenges. Being persistent involves sticking with difficulty. If you get stuck, take a deep breath, and try again. Maybe you need to re-think a character, or even change something drastic. Don’t give up though, because your persistence will help your story grow from the seed of an idea, into a towering tree you’re proud of. - How can you polish the story and make it shine? Thinking creatively involves being disciplined . For a writer this means choosing your words carefully, reading through to check all your characters are convincing, and that your story doesn’t have an overly detailed beginning, rushed middle and loose ends! Taking the time to review and improve it will make your story the best it can be. - Lastly, nobody is creative all by themselves. Being a creative thinker involves being collaborative . Share your story ideas with friends, family, or even your pet! Talking about your story can spark new ideas and help you see your story from different perspectives, making it better and more engaging.

Creative Habits of Mind (image: CCE. Framework developed at the Centre for Real-World Learning at the University of Winchester)

Use these five habits to guide you, but run with your ideas. Every writer's 'voice' is unique , just like every zebra's stripe pattern is one-of-a-kind. To be human is to be creative, and your creativity has no limits, so go ahead and write the story that only you can tell!

Winners announcement

Announcing the winners, runners-up and highly commended entries for the 2024 time to write competition.

ISEB’s Time to Write creative writing competition for schools has crowned its first winners across four categories. Launched in the spring, the competition received thousands of entries from pupils all over the world. Pupils aged 7-16 submitted stories based on a time-travelling theme in celebration of the exam board’s 120th anniversary. The winning writers of the four categories came from Cumnor House Girl’s School in Croydon, Solefield School in Sevenoaks, Trinity School in Newbury, and The Cathedral School in Llandaff. The winning entry in the Years 10 & 11 category was ‘The Tale of the Time-Travelling Schoolboy’ , written by a pupil from Trinity School. The judges praised this story for its “gripping start and great use of descriptive language throughout” and thought it was a “very funny and compelling piece” . First place in the Years 7, 8 & 9 category went to ‘1904: The Sole Survivor’ , written by a pupil from The Cathedral School Llandaff. The judging panel was impressed with the “wonderful character development, authentic perspective and great historical setting” . In the Years 5 & 6 category , ‘Seed of Life’ , written by a pupil from Solefield School, was awarded first place. The judges praised this story for its “sophisticated introduction and beautifully built mystery” . And ‘Never Forget the Elephants’ written by a pupil from Cumnor House Girl’s School was the winning entry in the Years 3 & 4 category . The judges thought the writer explored the theme of conservation with “empathy and compassion” and were impressed with the original idea and “neatly shaped narrative which produced a well-structured story with a surprise ending” . Runners up and highly commended stories in each category came from schools in England, Belgium, China, Nigeria, and Thailand and can be explored in full below. The judging panel , made up of representatives from Eton College , St Catherine’s Bramley , St Swithun’s , the University of Winchester and Oxford University Press , as well as a children’s book author , reviewed the top ten entries in each category together in Winchester. The thousands of entries were shortlisted by more than 150 people, including teachers from schools that entered pupils, using adaptive comparative judgement technology on the RM Compare platform . The platform presented pairs of stories to judges and asked them to decide which entry was the most creative. Each entry was shown multiple times to different judges alongside different stories, and over time, the platform’s algorithm created a reliable, fair, and accurate ranking of entries produced by the collective wisdom of the judging pool. The four winners will see themselves in print, as their stories will be turned into illustrated books . The winning authors and their schools in each category have also won a selection of prizes generously donated by the Time to Write competition sponsors . Prizes include Bluetooth speakers and headphones from Altec Lansing , an Amazon Fire tablet and book vouchers sponsored by Amazon Web Services/Ingram Micro , a selection of books from Oxford University Press , a portable pen scanner from Scanning Pens and £1000 to spend on school equipment with the TTS Group . The runners-up in each category have also won a set of prizes.

Julia Martin , ISEB Chief Executive , said: “Reading the creative writing of such a talented pool of pupils from around the world was pure enjoyment. The quality of the work was so high that we found ourselves talking about the shortlisted entries in the same way we might analyse the work of graduates and professionals. For all of us on the panel, it was a privilege to read your work and be inspired by your talent.”

Full list of winners, runners up and highly commended

Years 10 & 11 Category

Years 7, 8 & 9 Category

Years 5 & 6 Category

Years 3 & 4 Category

Congratulations to all the winners, runners up and highly commended entries and to the thousands of pupil's from over 13 countries who submitted stories!

Commended stories

The tale of the time-travelling schoolboy, trinity school, newbury.

Winner of the Years 10 & 11 category

Daniel was upside down. Or rather, he nearly was. He’d found that it was quite tricky to get himself completely upside down, so had settled for a strange headstand against the wall in his bedroom. The loud thuds had brought his mother upstairs, but his stern face had just as quickly banished her. She just managed to get out a weak “But… Why?”, before she decided against this line of enquiry and instead laid down in a darkened room. The fact was, Daniel was bored. Mind-numbingly, teeth-achingly so. It was only the second week of the summer holidays, and all his friends were in places like Barcelona, Belize, Benidorm, and other sunny destinations beginning with the letter ‘b’. He’d hadhad to turn to homework for entertainment. After seventeen minutes of reading about what inspired Beatrix Potter’s The Tale of Benjamin Bunny, (“From my window I could see two beautiful rabbits playing and running on the lawn, they showed me how to live, you see,” et cetera, et cetera…), Daniel turned firmly away from homework, feeling slightly nauseous and more than a little fed up. “I’m going out!”, he yelled, swinging his coat around his head, and sliding down the banister. His mother whimpered in response. Taking this as a sign of assent, he left through the front door, came back in for his shoes, and set off across the fields behind their house. Daniel enjoyed being in the fresh air. It made a pleasant change from being cooped up indoors with a sister who slept until dinner and no Wi-Fi (Daniel swore it wasn’t him who broke the router). He took the forest path, the sun’s rays percolating gently through the living ceiling above him. A hill rose steeply in front of him. Daniel felt this hill must have been around since the beginning of time, it’s solid mass a reassuring presence. And, considering this sentiment, he began his assent. It took Daniel a minute to realise that he was falling. He hardly noticed the ground giving gently beneath him. Before he knew it, he was tumbling into darkness, a tantalising window of light shooting away from his outstretched fingertips. A minute, a full minute later, he introduced himself to the floor. They didn’t get on. The first thing he noticed was that it wasn’t dark down there. Light seemed to be spreading outwards from the corner, not enough to truly illuminate the surroundings, but just enough to inform Daniel that something was there. Wincing, he struggled to his feet and hobbled to investigate. A strange object stared back at him. It was covered in dust but appeared to resemble a horizontal hourglass. Daniel concluded that it was clearly magical, which was perfectly logical considering the circumstances. He picked it up and blew off some of the dust. Immediately, it began to beep and vibrate violently. He saw on the part he had cleared that it said, ‘Blow here to begin transmission process’. Panicking, he went to let go of it, but saw a glow around his right thumb. The words above it read, ‘Place thumb here to encode DNA’. Thrusting the thing away from him in dismay, he accidentally twisted the two ends in opposite directions. He was not one bit surprised to see the words, ‘Twist ends to initiate internal drive’. He finally threw it on the floor, clocking as he did a final message: ‘Place on floor to finalise recall’. Beside it, a digital clock displayed the number ‘-120’. Puzzling over this rather unusual chain of events, Daniel hardly noticed as the machine split in half and shot a beam of bright, bright light at him… Bushes are not comfortable. It’s why tents were invented. As Daniel removed a leaf from his mouth, he attempted to survey his surroundings. Deciding that this was best done from outside the bush, he carefully extricated himself and looked around. He appeared to be in someone’s garden, a low wall holding it back from acres of wild countryside. The strange machine was still in the bush, humming gently. It now displayed a 30-minute timer, slowly ticking away. At the far end of the sloping lawn, a squat house sat. It had two large windows facing the garden. Through one of them, a small room with a desk looked out over the grounds. At the desk sat a woman. Daniel joltingly realised that he recognised her. It was Beatrix Potter. And she was looking right at him. He wasn’t quite sure what to do; on the one hand, he had travelled back in time. On the other, he had travelled back in time. And he was trampling Beatrix Potter’s begonias. He perfectly reasonably dived back into the bush, feeling the corner of his t-shirt tear in the process. He poked the top of his head out of and looked towards the house. Beatrix Potter was blinking in disbelief. Apparently deciding (rather like Daniel’s mother) that the best course of action was to do nothing, she turned back to her notebook, and tried to ignore the tuft of hair peeping out of her rhododendron. Daniel exulted in his victory and congratulated himself on his quick thinking. Then he saw them. In the corner of the bush, cowering in abject terror, sat two rabbits. Beatrix Potter glanced up from her notebook. She was still confused as to why there was a small child in her bush and had actually been writing a speech with which to address him (“improper conduct”, “criminal damage”, “frankly weird”). But something else drew her eye. Two rabbits were bolting across her lawn, looking as though they had just seen Mr McGregor. Although clearly in terror, there was something magical about their movements. The idea for a new story began to form, taking shape and spreading its wings. She barely even noticed the muffled cry of, “FROLICK!!” coming from a rustling hedge. * * * Beatrix Potter picked up a fragment of fabric. Turning it over, she saw a named sticker adhering to the underside. Daniel, she thought. * * * Daniel was home, and, not unusually, confused. The time machine had very obligingly dropped him off above ground, and not in the damp and nearly bottomless hole where he’d found it. He’d been able to locate an ancient-looking keypad and had input a very strongly worded request. He looked at the title of the book he’d been reading for homework: Notes on The Tale of Daniel the Rabbit. Although he mourned the loss of the pleasing alliteration, he thought the new was name very, very good. THE END

• Click to read more of the commended stories

A Fiery Flicker of Hope

Wolsey hall, oxford.

Runner up in the Years 10 & 11 category

Niamph was a rational girl, clumsy at the worst of times, and a genius at the best. She wasn’t known to take risks. At least, not yet, she wasn’t The dingy cave provided little light, making the presence of a strange glowing entity within concerning and rather intriguing to Niamph, considering she’d visited this cave numerous times during her escapades to the ruins just outside. Niamph was a scholar, you see, obsessed with the fairy-tale creatures those before her had written of. And, naturally, this obsession led her to use those tales for her recent essay. Many of the tales had been destroyed with the country’s aging, but she still held them near and dear to her heart, ultimately leading her here. Her country’s Great Library had been burnt down an estimated one hundred and nineteen years prior by a presumed arsonist; burning the dreamy, legendary Book of Legends with it.This cave was just above the ruins. This…thing, that claimed itself as a time machine, also claimed it could take her one hundred and twenty years into the past, according to the grimy instruction manual she’d found on the floor. It also claimed it could bring her back again, simply by returning to the time machine and going forwards. It could easily just be someone’s strange idea of a prank, but there was nobody else inside the cave, and no apparent cameras. Only the drip, drop of the roof’s leaky spots. The ‘time machine’ looked to be a blue colour at the base, with a chipped paint job, and silver steel square parts surrounding, giving it a futuristic feel that certainly checked out in her head. The buttons, however, were reminiscent of a lift’s. Inside, the plate below emitted a faint glow in a precise circle, while the rest was still a solid silver steel. Quite intimidating, actually, Niamph thought. Although, the entire situation was intimidating. And ridiculous. A time machine, here? In the middle of some random cave? When she’d followed the light, she’d expected some cave explorer, or something normal. Something familiar. It goes without saying that a time machine was not something familiar. But it could provide her answers. Answers she has hungered, starved for since she was a small child. It was around nighttime, according to her antique watch, assuming this did work, and transported her to the same time of day and same cave, she could get into the library. It’s not like they had much security back then. But still, what if the book was being borrowed? How ridiculous of a thing to be thinking while simultaneously thinking of time travel. Nonetheless, it was a possibility; one that Niamph steeled herself for. If all went as planned, she would have the book. If not? Well…she’d rather not think about that. A prickle of doubt trickled down her spine. Maybe hunger for knowledge really did make you crazy, huh. She stepped in, and before she could think to stop herself, clicked the button. A strange warm sensation prickled around her body. It felt tingly, but pleasant. At first. Then the warmth became slightly oppressive, so she squeezed her eyes and fingers shut, her knuckles beginning to turn white. Luckily, it didn’t last for too much longer, and cold, crisp air gushed pleasantly through the doors as they opened. She clutched the strap of her messenger bag tighter as she warily tip-toed into the damp cave once again. Not much had changed, really, so she continued to the exit. That was when she saw the difference. That was when her breath hitched in her lungs, and she instinctively clutched her bag’s strap even tighter. The scene before her was beautiful. The ruins really don’t do it enough justice, she realised, as she began her light tread down the slope. She took time to appreciate the beautiful architecture of the perfectly carved, detailed, antique walls, and the old-fashioned tables laid outside underneath ornately decorated floral parasols. She crossed through the courtyard of outdoor tables, sneakily gliding her fingers lightly over the rough tabletops. She noted that one table was just beneath an open window. She knew it would be easy, if she couldn’t simply walk through the front door anyways, but geez. The door was unlike anything she’d seen before, even upon the fanciest churches; beautiful, insanely, enchantingly so. It beckoned her to open it, to try. Diligently, she tried both push and pull. To no avail, sadly, and so she sighed and resigned herself to the window. She was careful not to make too much noise as she crashed-landed her way into the library and inconveniently onto a table of piled books, internally apologising to the librarian. After regaining her bearings, and footing, she noted the moonlight poured into a corner through a large window with a wide windowsill. And there lay a half-melted candle! She stumbled on her way there, the place too dark to see properly, until she finally sat heavily next to the candle. She sighed and threw her head back, smoothing her hair that, somehow, seemed to mirror her stress, then began to root through her messenger bag quickly in the moonlight. She carried a lighter around courtesy of some friends. After a little more hurried rummaging, and nervous glances through the windows behind her, she found her trusty red lighter. She grabbed the candle and lit, watching the flame flicker before finding it’s place comfortably onto the wick. She decided to hurry; her first mistake. Believing that a candle would illuminate her path; her second. Before she knew it, her entire body was face-down strewn across the ground, and the candle, the candle, the fire, caught itself on a wooden shelf. Niamph didn’t know how fast fire spread until now, as it engulfed the entire shelf greedily, already reaching out on either side for the next. She shrieked as it crawled towards her, fast, expectantly, hungrily, like a demon ready to feast. It wasn’t an arsonist at all.

Gelato Sorcery

There is only the present. Merlin contemplated the neat paper card, flipping it over in his hand under the firelight at his fingertip. It appeared to be note, a message rather than a clue as to what he was supposed to do now that he was here, a hundred feet below the earth, deep inside a nameless cave where a strange box awaited him. A sigh. Merlin tentatively reached his hands towards the box, unclipping the latches and opened it. There was no brilliant effulgence of anticipation when the box was opened, nothing that would have prepared him for the fantastic nature of what laid inside. A pocket watch, meticulously nestled on a velvet cushion. He knew what it meant, but just what was he to do with it first? Books, studies, research – everything he knew about chronomancy was only ever theoretical. He would be a fool to dive head first into his past, a child playing around with sand as if he were god. It was wiser to take things a step at a time. A shift in space, a slight drop upon the same dusty ground. Nothing else had changed. He was still in the cave. Perhaps the rocks had moved a little, but that was all. He chuckled, and with the snap of his finger, vanished from the darkness of the cave, appearing once more in the sunny streets of a piazza. It was a piazza from his time, the location at least. It was still a piazza a hundred and twenty years ago, though nothing like he remembered. The buildings were far shorter, the skies much bluer, and all the people were dressed in simple tunics and britches. Then he felt a friendly tap on his shoulder that turned him around. Smiling at him in greeting, a couple gelato cups in hand, was a middle-aged gentleman with a goatee and neatly combed hair, clothed in a presumptuous starry robe and shawl – much like himself. “Gelato?” he asked perkily, offering Merlin either one of the untouched cups. He liked chocolate, though the fruity flavor of strawberry would be nicer than a milkier taste on a hot sunny day, but just as he was about to thank the gentleman and take the strawberry gelato, a whoosh like a swooping pelican warped into being beside him, placing a firm hand on his shoulder to stop him. His sudden appearance startled him, and Merlin jumped back a step, throwing his hand away. His hand. Standing before him, was himself, exactly the same as he was now, though just a little different. Most bizarre, he thought, his lips crinkling as his brows lifted. “You should pick the chocolate one,” he said to himself. “Why?” Merlin asked, curious as to what was going on. “Because I picked the strawberry one and it didn’t taste as good as I imagined.” Before he could answer, another whoosh, this time, before his very eye, a twirl of black cloth from a spot in thin air, and out came himself. Again. “No!” he shouted, his hands raised in protest. “You must take the strawberry! The chocolate gelato is laced and shall cause you a week of stomach pains!” “You should still choose the chocolate one,” the second Merlin said sternly. “It is a matter of determining our fate. I chose the strawberry because that is what we’re destined for. If you want to challenge fate, you must choose the chocolate gelato.” “Fate doesn’t matter, you fool!” the third Merlin shook with frustration. “He’ll only choose the chocolate gelato because you hereby told him to! The fact that you are here now is arguably as an agent of fate! Who’s to say we weren’t destined to eat the chocolate gelato this whole time? Because I’m from the future of your future and that’s what happened. And because of it, I’ve got stomach pains.” “Wait, I really ate the chocolate gelato because of me?” the second Merlin asked, confused. “I ate the chocolate gelato because of…” the third Merlin trailed off. “Gentleman,” he calmed himself, “by the rate this is going, a fourth of one us is going to show up any time now and tell him to choose a third flavor for all we know, but he hasn’t shown up yet. That must mean he’s the wiser one out of us all.” “Aye, because he’s me,” Merlin said, grinning. “I have to thank the two of me for coming all this way, but sadly, you must return to whatever paradox you sprung from now, because I have made up my mind. I am going to eat the strawberry gelato.” “Why?” both of himself asked. “There is only the present,” Merlin preached. “You may be from the future, and to you, I, from the past, but where we all stand now, is the present, and the two of you being here is proof enough of that.” Merlin turned to the purple-robed gentleman. “That is what this whole affair was about, yes, Master Blaise?” “You tell me, apprentice – or should I say apprentices,” he chuckled. “I’ve been blessed with prophecies, glimpses into my own future too, and because of it, I’ve often wondered whether I could change them somehow, hoping I might one day unlock the cosmic fathoms of chronomancy that would provide me with the means. But that isn’t what chronomancy is for. Chronomancy is the freedom to roam spacetime, and when you have that kind of power, it becomes redundant to fixate on past mistakes or to exploit your freedom for a ‘better’ future, one you will only get to live once you get there. “Though I’ve seen what’s to come in a hundred and twenty years, as well as hundred and twenty years after that, the truth is, I’m not there yet. And for that, I raise a toast: To living in the moment, because in the moment, I would like nothing more than to have some strawberry gelato.”

1904: The Sole Survivor

The cathedral school, llandaff.

Winner of the Years 7, 8 & 9 category

A stone silent canary stood on top of the plinth on the memorial, overlooking our town, which listed the names of 44 men killed in the Greenhill Pit explosion, but my great-grandfather’s name was missing. I looked at the list of places my grandfather had written in his delicate handwriting. I crossed off ‘memorial’. Fat rain drops started to fall from the sky, perfect, I thought, this school project was turning out to be a real bore. We all had to research something from our family history, but in my family, there were no war heroes, explorers or footballers. But my grandfather had sent me on a quest, his list had so far sent me to the library, the chapel, and the memorial. Now I looked at the next place on his list, this time instead of a placename he had sketched a small map. I trudged off, pulling up my hood against the rain. After hours of climbing, I finally arrived at the X that was shown on the map. I was surrounded by verdant valleys; the view was breathtaking. Weirdly, the X on the map matched a strange etching on the wall of the rocky hill above a cave behind rotten planks. I took in the scenery once more before cramming my body in between the planks, switching on the torch on my phone before plunging into the darkness. I realised very quickly that this was an old mine and I regretted not charging my phone. In the dimming light of my phone I could make out rusted pickaxes, charred TNT boxes and cobwebs everywhere. Everything went dark. My phone battery had died. I felt my way around, brushing my hands on the slimy walls taking careful steps. Suddenly, I stumbled, and fell onto the cold ground. As I lifted myself off the ground a sudden wave of dizziness and nausea hit me. There was an oxidised lift in the shadows. I stepped into the dilapidated lift As I descended, a cool draught of air whipped up my spine. I heard strange sounds like boots on rocks, creaking, shifting timber and amplified breathing. I thought I was alone. Suddenly, the lights illuminate the dank mineshaft, and someone was already waiting at the foot of the lift, holding a wheelbarrow filled with coal. “Oi, who are ya?” Wheelbarrow person grunted out. “I’m Rhys” “New ‘ere ain't ya? Follow Old Rhys, NOW” The air was thick and tasted of sweat and cold rock. Something strange was happening. Glancing around I saw the men and boys were all dressed very differently, no-one was wearing jeans and definitely no-one was wearing Nikes! The TNT boxes were filled with hundreds of waxy sticks of dynamite. Old Rhys looked like someone I had met before, but I couldn’t place him. It was weird that he had the same name as me. “What's the canary for?” I asked, spotting a cage with a yellow bird inside. “Us miners ‘ere don’t know when the gases get too strong, so we take a canary down with us. If it dies, we know it's time to get out.”, He replied in a gruff tone. “Your job is to stand here and watch that canary. The minute it looks a bit ill you yell.” He walked off, leaving me and the canary in the flickering lamplight. Several hours passed. Suddenly I realised something had changed: the bird’s chirping had stopped. It was struggling to breathe. I had to warn them. I ran through the tunnels grabbing old Rhys by the sleeve. I couldn’t breathe or shout, but I pulled him to the lift as fast as I could. He seemed quite heavy, in shock, before he realised what was happening. As the lift ascended, I heard a man shout ‘FIRING’ and the deadly hiss of the dynamite fuse. The lift was climbing metre by metre. There was an almighty BANG. Below, I saw the tunnel engulfed in a bright fireball. The ceiling started to cave in. The lift kept climbing, just escaping the brunt of the flame. We stumbled out and I'd never felt so glad it was still raining. I turned around to check on old Rhys but all I saw was those rotten planks in the same place and the same X etched into them. I started walking back down the hill trying to figure out what had just happened. Had I just bumped my head and fell out of consciousness? I put one hand in my pocket and the other to my head. I pulled out the list and from the envelope fell a sepia photograph, it was the face of a man, Old Rhys. I turned over the picture and on the back was written in my grandfather’s delicate handwriting: ‘Rhys Davies, your great grandfather, sole survivor of the Greenhill Pit tragedy, 1904’.

Cure from the future

Edgeborough school.

Runner up in the Years 7, 8 & 9 category

It was just another hot, dry, sweaty day on the coast of Cornwall, but for me, today was another day that I might lose one of the most important people in my life: My mum. Everyone keeps telling me that she will recover from the cancer, eventually. Obviously, I don’t believe this anymore. These comments only get my hopes up, so I’ve learned to tune them out. It would be a miracle if she ever recovered. Of course, me and Dad did visit her, occasionally. However, over the years, the trips that we have made to the hospital have got less and less frequent, and one day, I suppose they’ll stop altogether. I don’t remember exactly when my mum first got cancer. All I can recall is ‘that day.’ The day she left home and never came back. I guess I’ll never know what I missed in that phonics lesson on the second day of reception. *** I was welcomed into the hospital with sound of beeping machines and crying children. It smelt horrible, like someone had tried to clean but hadn’t quite managed to get the aroma of vomit, blood and grime out of the atmosphere. I had no idea how anyone managed to live there, especially sick people, who are meant to be in the hospital to get better. I lost dad about ten times among the sea of wheelchairs, bawling babies, and old men frantically waving their walking sticks around. I was extremely overwhelmed with it all. I was only four at the time and didn’t really understand what was going on. The state Dad was in however, was another story. He was sweating like a pitcher full of ice water and he was breathing so deeply that you could probably have heard him on the other side of the hospital. When we finally made it to Mum’s ward, Dad started sobbing like a newborn baby. I stood in the doorway, staring at mum. She looked fine on the outside, but I could tell that something was wrong. I sprinted over to her hospital bed, and she pulled me into an embrace. “What’s going on?” I asked apprehensively. “Darling, I’m going to be staying here for quite a while.” “Why, mummy?” “Mummy’s ill sweetheart. I have to stay here so the doctors can make sure I get better. “You will get better though, right?” “Of course I will. I guarantee it.” *** Tears pricked my eyes and I thought about how different my life would be without her. Although, I suppose knowing that she was gone was better than waiting for her to go. There wasn’t much hope left on my part. I knew that I had to clear my head and there was only one place for that. Walsgate Cave. It wasn’t much of a cave, more like a chink in the side of a cliff, barely the size of my bedroom in our cosy cottage on the coast. It was small, dark and damp but something about it calmed me. I could lay down on the sand for hours listening to the gentle crash of the waves and the screeching seagulls. However, when I entered the cave today, I noticed something unusual. There was a small alarm clock carefully placed on top of one of the piles of rocks. The cave was completely abandoned, and I had never seen anyone in here except myself, so I was extremely taken aback when I saw this clock in such good condition. I immediately noticed that the time on the clock was terribly wrong, so I proceeded to correct it. I glanced at my watch: exactly midday. I slowly turned the knob on the back of the clock until every hand was pointing at twelve. The ground started shaking. Was there an earthquake? Hundreds of tiny rocks were being flung all around the cave. What was happening? All went black. I unwillingly opened my eyes and observed my surroundings. I was on the floor, in a cold sweat, shaking. “What happened?” I groaned. I sluggishly walked out onto the beach and headed back to my house, but when I got there, it was gone! Had I taken the wrong path or something? I thought that maybe Dad was at the hospital, so I headed there instead. Luckily, I knew the way there, and didn’t get lost again. When I walked through the double doors, I noticed that it looked different. Cleaner and nicer. I walked up to the front desk and asked to see my mum, but the lady there said that there hadn’t been a Fiona Solace at the hospital for 120 years. “What year is it?” I asked shakily. “It’s 2144 dear, why do you ask?” “No reason. One more question. Is there a cure for cancer yet?” “Of course there is, invented by the amazing Dr Paislee Solace.” “Me?” I whispered under my breath.

The Demons Of Yesterday

Grange school.

My ears perked up at the sharp buzzing sound echoing through the mountains and over the swaying sakura trees. I knew this was a bad idea. How had Chiyo even managed to convince me to do this? It was past midnight, and the only things I had with me were my nearly-dead phone and a half-eaten box of Pocky. What had I gotten myself into? As we ascended the mountain, the buzzing grew louder, and the temperature dropped. With each step, the air grew colder and more oppressive. We struggled to find proper footing, slipping a few times. Suddenly, something caught my eye. I turned to see a large, dark opening on the side of the mountain. I paused to analyze my surroundings, closing my eyes and listening attentively for any sound. But before I could think, Chiyo grabbed my wrist and dragged us both into the dark cave. I switched on my flashlight and scanned the area, studying the inscriptions on the walls. One inscription stood out; it read, “別のタイムラインへの旅,” which translates to “A journey to another timeline.” I was confused. A journey to another timeline? In Mizukaze City, it could mean anything. I looked around again and noticed another inscription further up the wall, partially obscured by a thick layer of dust, suggesting it had been there for a long time. As I wiped away the dust, the inscription revealed itself: "選ばれし 者のみ," translated to "Only the chosen ones." The message sent a chill down my spine. What did it mean? Who were the chosen ones, and why were we here? As we ventured deeper into the cave, the air grew colder, and the oppressive atmosphere intensified, as if the very rock around us was trying to keep us out. Chiyo seemed unfazed, his determination unwavering as he led the way with a confidence I couldn't muster. The walls of the cave were rough and uneven, with jagged rocks jutting out at odd angles. The floor was littered with loose stones, making each step treacherous. I stumbled several times, grateful for Chiyo's steadying hand. The buzzing sound that had drawn us here was now a deafening roar, echoing off the cave walls and sending shivers through my bones. It was disorienting, making it difficult to focus on anything else. As we pressed on, the cave began to narrow, squeezing us into a tight passage barely wide enough to walk through. The air grew thick with dust, making it hard to breathe. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, the weight of the unknown pressing down on me. Finally, we emerged into a large chamber, the source of the buzzing revealed to be a massive metal hive hanging from the ceiling. Thousands of bats swarmed around us, their flapping wings filling the air with a deafening cacophony. Chiyo seemed unconcerned, his gaze fixed on something at the far end of the chamber. I followed his gaze and saw it: a shimmering portal, hovering in mid-air like a rip in reality itself. The inscription on the wall suddenly made sense. We had stumbled upon a gateway to another timeline, and somehow, we were the ones destined to pass through it. A white light flashed before my eyes, and two sentences appeared, floating in thin air. One sentence bright red, and the other one a deep shade of blue. The first one read; “現 在から未来へ120年,” “From the present to the future, 120 years.” And the other one; “現 在から過去へ120年,” “From the present to the past, 120 years.” Before I could think, Chiyo rushed up from behind me and through the portal. Then it began to glow red. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to go in there, but I couldn’t just abandon Chiyo. He was my best friend. I held my breath, closed my eyes, and ran through the portal as fast as I could. I felt an electric current through my bones, running from my head to my toes. I opened my eyes and gazed around the area, squinting from the bright light. It took me a while to notice, but then I realized; there was something different about this place. The falling leaves on the sakura trees were blood red, and the people were dressed in all-white clothing, a few of them stained in what looked like blood. The people looked frightened. I tried to communicate with several of them, asking them if they had seen Chiyo and why they were so frightened. But they spoke a dialect of Japanese that I couldn’t understand. The only word I could understand was “悪魔,” a word that had followed me around since the beginning of time. “Demon,” I repeated the word in my head over and over again, twisting and turning through the winding pathways, keeping my eyes peeled in hopes of spotting Chiyo. Suddenly, I couldn’t walk anymore. I could barely even stand. The world went black. And the buzzing sound continued

Seed of Life

Solefield school.

Winner of the Years 5 & 6 category

I looked around and debated my chances. Others were already scurrying around frantically, trying to find a good hiding spot, when I saw a small entrance of a cavern hidden between two roots of a nearby tree. I left my hiding spot and cautiously shuffled over to the entrance. I heard a twig snap: Peter was near. I took a deep breath before squeezing myself through the small opening. Thump! My body crashed into the hard, stony floor. Anxious, I stood up to see a small amount of light protruding from the hole in the ceiling of the cavern. I suddenly noticed a jumble of pipes and wires in the corner of the room with two doors. I walked closer to investigate. One door was made of dark oak and outlined by black nails. The handle was made of intricately carved gold. The other door was perfectly white and had LED lights rimmed around the edge. I noticed the two signs above them - 120 years into the past and the other 120 years into the future. My mind raced; I could uncover the mysteries of the past or discover the fate of our world. I slowly and uncertainly walked towards the blinding white door. As it slid back, mist bellowed out of the top of the contraption. I was staring into an endless void, very similar to the sea, but swirling around in a hypnotic way. I took a confident step forward. My body warped through reality and the matter in myself became one with the universe, as I broke through the barrier of time and space, cascading into the future, or now the present. In an instant, I was lying spread eagled on the floor of the cavern. I looked up and mantled through back up the bunny hole. I looked around in horror at the barren wasteland. Huge mountains covered the earth, lava spewing out of them. Ash covered the ground like a thick blanket and the sky was no longer lit up by the sun. As I walked around in this hellish place, I thought of how this could be prevented. If I went back to my time, I could warn people but who would believe an 11-year-old boy like me? The fate of this world could not be prevented. Walking back to the hole, to go back to the present, or maybe past, I realized there was something hard in my shoe. I ripped my shoe off and shook it, and saw a small seed fall onto the ground. Suddenly it sprouted. It was like time was sped up here. I watched in awe as the sprout grew into a sapling, then into a small tree. Within seconds, a majestic willow tree was towering over me. Lush grass was spreading from the roots of the tree, like a ripple effect when you throw a stone into the water. Before I knew it, I was looking at verdant fields and many more trees, growing as far as I could see. Something was still missing. Looking up towards the barren, grey sky, I felt warmth on my neck. I turned around to see the majestic fireball that burns out evil and fills our world with light. I gazed around in wonder as I heard birds chirping again. I wondered why the world had turned barren. At that moment, it came to me. Our race had ruined earth and God had wiped us out, knowing that someday a small seed of time would repopulate the earth. The world would be restored to its vivid self. This was Earth’s second chance, but this time without humans. Suddenly, a loud booming voice echoed through the meadow and body suddenly weaved through time and space. I landed with a crash on the stony cave floor. I could hear footsteps above me and Peter shouting my name in concern. I turned around to take one last look at the time machine, but it was gone. I heaved myself out of the cave once again and walked over to Peter. When he noticed me, he turned around and stated, "Sirius, you won the game!’’ As he said that, I silently muttered to myself, “I did a lot more than win.”

Fatal Mistakes

King's college, bangkok.

Runner up in the Years 5 & 6 category

Date: 16 April 2144 Time: 08:58 AM Location: USA They’re coming. I can’t run These were my thoughts before reaching my hand out for the machine before me. My sweaty hand trembled as I touched the knob. My hand clasped the handle and I felt the urge to pull the lever. I couldn’t resist it. They were advancing. My heart stopped momentarily as a memory came to my head… 120 years ago in the year 2024, my great grandfather, Dr. Robert Sanchez, was the scientist who experimented with a virus that rapidly mutated and got out of control. Those infected by the virus will succumb to an excruciating death. Their skin would turn ashen in 3 hours due to decomposition. We weren't able to help them. The virus swiftly mutated to take control of the soulless bodies. The corpse will then be reborn into a gruesome life. These beings will assault and infect other people. They would only target humans as animals couldn’t be infected. They were called Zombies, the living dead and the fallen servants of the virus. If only I could go back in time and save humankind. It was my great grandfather who was the cause of this, therefore, it is my burden to change the course of history. Coming back to my senses I smelled the rotten, abysmal scent of the progressing zombies. I looked down at the time machine my family had kept secret for so long. This was my family’s heirloom. On the panel was a clock with two options. One, to go back 120 years into the past and another to go 120 years into the future. I clicked the button to go back into the past and pulled the lever, traveling into the endless void of time. BLAM! There was a blast of frosty bone-chilling wind that pierced me as I was knocked back by the jolt of the vehicle. A flash of blinding light startled me and I started to regret my decision. This machine can only be used once, so I know I won’t be returning to the present. Date: 16 April 2024 Time: 08:58 AM Location: USA The vehicle stopped. Darkness surrounded me, I was in the cave. Springing into action, I quickly ran out and saw it. There sat the laboratory. Not wrecked. Not burnt. Not even with a scratch on it. I felt relieved. The time machine worked! Maybe there's still a chance of saving humankind! The thought came to my head as a warm spark of confidence lit up inside me. I was ready to stop the creation of zombies. Full of confidence, I opened the heavy metal door, hoping for coolness since there was none this morning. I received more than I had wished for. It was absolutely freezing! Realizing exactly what it was, I was petrified and uncontrollably shocked. It was a morgue. Looking at all the name tags stuck to the freezers, I realized these were the most dangerous criminals of the time. They were the test subjects of the virus. Triggered by this inhumane act I stormed out of the morgue then found another door, which led to the experiment room. In the middle was a metal bed, luckily, it was still unused. Next to it was a trolly with 5 syringes and a flask containing black liquid. The flask was labeled V-8264. This was it. The original virus. “Who goes there?” shouted a guard. NO! I thought, I couldn't be caught this quickly. I grabbed the flask and was going to burn the virus. I bolted for the door but the guard was already there. He tried to grab the flask but I struck him in the stomach. He collapsed. As I was going to run, he grabbed my ankle, tripping me. The flask flew out of my hand as I watched helplessly. It spun in the air and CRACK! The flask broke as it smashed my chest. I had made a fatal mistake. I became the first zombie

The Dwellers

Blackheath prep.

Ben was fatigued. His weak and frail body ached all over. It had been four days since he had last eaten. He was on the run and was sure he was going to die. Ben was an orphan, and the orphanage is where he called home. He was a sickly child who was bullied often. He knew he needed to escape that dreadful place, start afresh, far, far away. Getting out of the dilapidated orphanage was simple, security wasn’t a priority. Cautiously, after lights out he’d climbed through a broken window and jumped down onto the grass below with a relatively soft landing. A light flickered, and he heard a faint clammer in the distance. Ben ran for his life, suddenly realising he had no food or water. Foolish he thought but an urge for freedom drove him on. At his wits end, no provisions, nowhere to go, Ben wondered why he’d been so reckless, after a few days he felt doomed. Unexpectedly, late one night something flashed and caught his eye. It appeared metallic. Steadily, he crept towards the mysterious object. He thought he was hallucinating. Curiosity got the better of him however, and he entered the machine. It was magnificent! Cogs and wheels spinning around inside a pure white, futuristic mechanical structure. Marvelling at the complexity, a striking voice shocked him: “Ben. You have had a challenging life. You deserve more. You have two options. Travel 120 years into the past or zoom 120 years into the future." It’s a time machine! Ben’s frail body was trembling. He had no place in this world. He always dreamed of going to the future and had imagined what it would be like. The choice was easy for him. “Take me to the future please!” Ben said nervously. Abruptly, a door slammed behind him, and the hefty contraption began to shudder. Crack! Bang! A great flash of bright light, and then everything was ominously still. It was as if the world had ended. Ben began to lose consciousness. Coming to his senses, he saw he was in a muddy plain. He was panicked by a poisonous smoke that was drifting up. Ben cried out in fear like a banshee. “Hey! What’s your name?” Boomed a deep distant voice. “Ben.” He whispered, obviously afraid. “Ben?” The voice exclaimed. “Come with me to the haven, where you can explain what you are doing out here. It’s not safe.” The voice ordered. “What is the Haven?” Ben asked. “Come.” Concluded the voice. Ben saw that there was no point resisting and followed the voice to the ‘Haven.’ They entered a large underground dome with the most advanced technology Ben had ever imagined. This must be the Haven, he thought. Amazingly, and to his total surprise inside the dome there were ordinary people. A society, people walking around, chatting, and laughing. Ben was shocked. From what he’d seen outside he thought humanity had ended, and those that had survived would be struggling to survive! They however appeared to be prospering! “Come to the meeting room!” said the voice, which in the light was shown to come from a man, with a warm smile. “OK.” Ben said, reflecting a smile back. Over the next few hours Ben learned that that a meteor had slammed into the earth in 2032, obliterating almost all life on the surface. Fortunately, there’d been time to prepare; scientists, engineers, doctors, and other important people had been sent to underground vaults where they spent 50 years in stasis waiting for conditions to improve. Now Ben found himself in the society that they had begun to rebuild, the dwellers, as they called themselves. Sadly, they had lost much of the history of the world from before, and Ben realised that this was now his purpose. To teach them about his world, and to learn more about theirs. This was it, he thought. Finally, somewhere I belong

Never Forget the Elephants

Cumnor house girl's school.

Winner of the Years 3 & 4 category

The scorching savannah rocked back and forth, blown by the ruthless wind. The crisp grass danced wildly. From our Jeep, I saw a majestic but seemingly sombre creature stumbling around by itself. Something was wrong. Experts might say it’s impossible, but I swear I saw a tear running down that elephant’s cheek. “Just over 100 years ago there was a tribe called the Waka Pichu that poached the African Forest Elephants for their valuable ivory tusks. Now, only one elephant remains.” explained our guide. As I stepped out to get some fresh air, I caught sight of a gargantuan cave; it had a miniscule entrance that you could easily have missed but it caught my eye and I felt drawn to it. Once inside, I feasted my eyes on towering piles of shimmering gold, illuminating the mysterious cave. I filled my pockets to the brim; I was rich! I rummaged excitedly through the greatest array of treasures to have been discovered since Aladdin’s cave. Suddenly, I chanced upon a peculiar looking, rusty alarm clock. I decided to press ‘Play’… “You have two options,” a booming voice bellowed. “You may either travel 120 years into the past or 120 years into the future. Choose wisely…” Instinctively I wanted to choose the future; I had always thought it would be so cool to travel forward in time. But then the image of the sorrowful elephant flashed across my mind, and I realised by going back 120 years I could save the elephants! As I pressed the rewind button, my heart skipped not one, but two beats. With a hurling puff of smoke and the blink of an eye, I was outside the cave again, but the atmosphere had transformed. I could hear hypnotic chanting and I nervously followed the sounds. “Excuse me, do you know where the Waka Pichu tribe is?” I asked bravely. A man with a surprisingly friendly demeanour (for someone with such a tall and powerful stature) came forward and told me they were the Waka Pichu tribe and asked me how they could help. As I contemplated my next move, I noticed the gaunt and wailing children longing for food and it dawned on me why they needed the ivory; the Waka Pichu were poor. At that moment, an idea hit me like a large hail stone. What if I could give them something more valuable than ivory so they wouldn’t need to poach the elephants? The only thing I had to trade was the gold but that was for me! Once again, my mind replayed the elephant’s lonely face, and I knew what I had to do. My pockets and heart were both feeling lighter as I returned to the time machine and said a quick prayer for the elephants to be saved. When I got back the sun was shining gleefully, and the African Forest Elephants were thudding around freely. Mission accomplished! Suddenly, I felt a playful tickle and an elephant’s trunk was stroking my back. It was almost as if he knew I had saved him! I guess what they say is true: an elephant never forgets! I reached back into my pocket and pulled out a glistening gold necklace…you didn’t think I would give all of it away, did you?

The Only One Left

Runner up in the Years 3 & 4 category

"Backwards" or "Forwards" it said on the glittering dial. "Does it really mean backwards or forwards in time? That can't be true. Anyway, even if it is, I'm getting out of here!" Lettice thought to herself. From the outside, it had looked like an ordinary rocky cave but inside, colours took over the cave like a whole new world of imagination. It looked like paint, but Lettice knew it couldn't be because this was a time machine that she had discovered during her walk along the cold autumn beach. Lettice slowly backed away from the dial, trying to get out of the time machine. But what she didn't see was the slippery rock that her foot landed on. Whoosh! She slid backwards, her foot kicking the lever to "Forwards". Lettice's eyes popped open. She was lying on the ground. She crawled towards the entrance of the cave and peered out. "Where am I?" she said, worried. All she could see were trembling volcanoes, grey treeless mountains, and giant cracks in the ground. And strangest of all - no people. Suddenly, a dinosaur emerged from behind a boulder. It took one look at Lettice and started clomping towards her. She started to run, her muddy trainers squelching in the earth. Lettice realised that she couldn't outrun the dinosaur so she clambered into a ditch and scrunched herself into a ball. She could hear her heart thumping in her chest but no sign of the dinosaur. After about ten minutes, she started to feel relieved but her happiness faded when the dinosaur's humungous head peered at her. "What are you doing?" said the dinosaur in a sassy tone of voice. "I'm hiding from you!" said Lettice, surprised. "No offence", Lettice added. "Offence taken," said the dinosaur. "Anyway, how can you talk? I didn't know dinosaurs could talk." "They can't. But I'm a robot." "A robot? What? Where am I? What year is it?" asked Lettice. "It's 2144, obvs!" said the dinosaur. "That would mean I'm 129 years old!" exclaimed Lettice. "Have you seen my mum?” "No" said the dinosaur. "There are no people here." "Why not?" "The robots took over the world a hundred years ago." Lettice felt devastated. She couldn't believe the words that had just come out of the dinosaur's mouth. Tears dripped down her cheeks. The dinosaur took his hand and stroked her hair gently. "Wait!" she shouted. "I've got to warn everyone." "I can't let you do that," growled the dinosaur, fiercely. Lettice knew that she had to get to the cave and into the time machine. "Hey, isn't that an ice cream van?" said Lettice, pointing behind the dinosaur. The dinosaur turned and Lettice began to run. She could see the cave, a tiny grey dot in the distance. Running as fast as she could, she kept her eyes on the cave and didn't look back at the dinosaur, which had just realised she had escaped. The dinosaur was catching up with every booming step he took. Lettice reached the cave, but when she looked inside, her jaw fell open... The time machine was gone.

The Secret of a National Heritage

Pembridge hall school.

Emma hadn’t meant to wander into the mysterious cave. She’d just been bored waiting for her dad to come back with the Stonehenge tickets, and her mum and brother to return from the gift shop. She squinted at the big black metal clock on the ground in front of her. It had two buttons, one black and one blue. The black one said, ‘Travel 120 years into the past’, and the blue one said, ‘Travel 120 years into the future’. She immediately pressed the black button, and there was a flash of light, and then darkness, and then broad, bright daylight. Emma ambled out of the cave. She could smell fresh grass, and it was strangely quiet. She couldn’t see any tourists, and the barriers had vanished. But without any hesitation, she recognised the place. It was still Stonehenge! She subtracted 120 from 2024 and realised it must be 1904. It must have been a real time machine! She saw a smartly dressed man in a tweed suit with a waistcoat and tie, and a bushy brown moustache. He saw her and held his hand out. ‘Cecil Chubb,’ he said, shaking her hand. ‘I’m Emma Jones,’ she replied. ‘Are you visiting the Antrobus family too?’ he asked. ‘No,’ she said. ‘I’m a tourist. Who are the Antrobus family?’ ‘You’re not allowed here,’ he said. ‘The family doesn’t allow tourists at the moment.’ ‘What do you mean?’ said Emma. ‘Everybody’s allowed to visit Stonehenge. It belongs to the nation, and to English Heritage.’ ‘Ah no, Stonehenge belongs to the Antrobus family, not to the nation, or to English Heritage,’ he said. ‘Who or what is English Heritage, anyway? I have never heard about them, young lady.’ ‘It cares for England’s historic sites and allows us to visit them,’ said Emma. ‘Well, it sounds a good idea to me,’ he replied, ‘because the Antrobus family just lets people chisel and destroy the stones.’ He pointed to the great, noble stones. Emma saw fresh marks on them where they had been chipped away. ‘Look, those ones are almost falling over,’ he added, pointing to some that had been propped up with wooden planks. Emma gasped. Her blood went cold. ‘Someone must do something!’ she exclaimed. ‘I agree,’ he said, ‘but I don’t think the Antrobus family want to give it to the nation.’ ‘Then someone good-hearted like you should buy Stonehenge from them, and give it to the nation yourself,’ she said boldly. ‘You have a point, my dear young lady,’ he said warmly. ‘Thank you for convincing me. Well, goodbye Emma, and please do call me Cecil.’ ‘Goodbye Cecil,’ she said, and ran like the wind to the cave. When she reached the time machine, she looked back once more at the stones, and pressed the blue button. She saw a flash of light, then darkness, then broad, bright daylight once again. As she walked out of the cave to rejoin her family, she passed a big information sign with the history of Stonehenge on it. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a black and white photograph of a familiar face, with a familiar bushy brown moustache. She smiled to herself and walked back towards her family.

5th Grade Writing Worksheet

Creative writing: time machine.

Time to travel to the past! Your budding writer will use their imagination to bend time and space with this creative writing prompt. Where will they go and what will they see?

View aligned standards

Related guided lesson.

Figurative Language

• Writing Activities

105 Creative Writing Exercises To Get You Writing Again

You know that feeling when you just don’t feel like writing? Sometimes you can’t even get a word down on paper. It’s the most frustrating thing ever to a writer, especially when you’re working towards a deadline. The good news is that we have a list of 105 creative writing exercises to help you get motivated and start writing again!

What are creative writing exercises?

Creative writing exercises are short writing activities (normally around 10 minutes) designed to get you writing. The goal of these exercises is to give you the motivation to put words onto a blank paper. These words don’t need to be logical or meaningful, neither do they need to be grammatically correct or spelt correctly. The whole idea is to just get you writing something, anything. The end result of these quick creative writing exercises is normally a series of notes, bullet points or ramblings that you can, later on, use as inspiration for a bigger piece of writing such as a story or a poem. 

Good creative writing exercises are short, quick and easy to complete. You shouldn’t need to think too much about your style of writing or how imaginative your notes are. Just write anything that comes to mind, and you’ll be on the road to improving your creative writing skills and beating writer’s block . 

Use the generator below to get a random creative writing exercise idea:

List of 105+ Creative Writing Exercises

Here are over 105 creative writing exercises to give your brain a workout and help those creative juices flow again:

• Set a timer for 60 seconds. Now write down as many words or phrases that come to mind at that moment.
• Pick any colour you like. Now start your sentence with this colour. For example, Orange, the colour of my favourite top. 
• Open a book or dictionary on a random page. Pick a random word. You can close your eyes and slowly move your finger across the page. Now, write a paragraph with this random word in it. You can even use an online dictionary to get random words:

• Create your own alphabet picture book or list. It can be A to Z of animals, food, monsters or anything else you like!
• Using only the sense of smell, describe where you are right now.
• Take a snack break. While eating your snack write down the exact taste of that food. The goal of this creative writing exercise is to make your readers savour this food as well.
• Pick a random object in your room and write a short paragraph from its point of view. For example, how does your pencil feel? What if your lamp had feelings?
• Describe your dream house. Where would you live one day? Is it huge or tiny? 
• Pick two different TV shows, movies or books that you like. Now swap the main character. What if Supergirl was in Twilight? What if SpongeBob SquarePants was in The Flash? Write a short scene using this character swap as inspiration.
• What’s your favourite video game? Write at least 10 tips for playing this game.
• Pick your favourite hobby or sport. Now pretend an alien has just landed on Earth and you need to teach it this hobby or sport. Write at least ten tips on how you would teach this alien.
• Use a random image generator and write a paragraph about the first picture you see.

• Write a letter to your favourite celebrity or character. What inspires you most about them? Can you think of a memorable moment where this person’s life affected yours? We have this helpful guide on writing a letter to your best friend for extra inspiration.
• Write down at least 10 benefits of writing. This can help motivate you and beat writer’s block.
• Complete this sentence in 10 different ways: Patrick waited for the school bus and…
• Pick up a random book from your bookshelf and go to page 9. Find the ninth sentence on that page. Use this sentence as a story starter.
• Create a character profile based on all the traits that you hate. It might help to list down all the traits first and then work on describing the character.
• What is the scariest or most dangerous situation you have ever been in? Why was this situation scary? How did you cope at that moment?
• Pretend that you’re a chat show host and you’re interviewing your favourite celebrity. Write down the script for this conversation.
• Using extreme detail, write down what you have been doing for the past one hour today. Think about your thoughts, feelings and actions during this time.
• Make a list of potential character names for your next story. You can use a fantasy name generator to help you.
• Describe a futuristic setting. What do you think the world would look like in 100 years time?
• Think about a recent argument you had with someone. Would you change anything about it? How would you resolve an argument in the future?
• Describe a fantasy world. What kind of creatures live in this world? What is the climate like? What everyday challenges would a typical citizen of this world face? You can use this fantasy world name generator for inspiration.
• At the flip of a switch, you turn into a dragon. What kind of dragon would you be? Describe your appearance, special abilities, likes and dislikes. You can use a dragon name generator to give yourself a cool dragon name.
• Pick your favourite book or a famous story. Now change the point of view. For example, you could rewrite the fairytale , Cinderella. This time around, Prince Charming could be the main character. What do you think Prince Charming was doing, while Cinderella was cleaning the floors and getting ready for the ball?
• Pick a random writing prompt and use it to write a short story. Check out this collection of over 300 writing prompts for kids to inspire you. 
• Write a shopping list for a famous character in history. Imagine if you were Albert Einstein’s assistant, what kind of things would he shop for on a weekly basis?
• Create a fake advertisement poster for a random object that is near you right now. Your goal is to convince the reader to buy this object from you.
• What is the worst (or most annoying) sound that you can imagine? Describe this sound in great detail, so your reader can understand the pain you feel when hearing this sound.
• What is your favourite song at the moment? Pick one line from this song and describe a moment in your life that relates to this line.
•  You’re hosting an imaginary dinner party at your house. Create a list of people you would invite, and some party invites. Think about the theme of the dinner party, the food you will serve and entertainment for the evening. 
• You are waiting to see your dentist in the waiting room. Write down every thought you are having at this moment in time. 
• Make a list of your greatest fears. Try to think of at least three fears. Now write a short story about a character who is forced to confront one of these fears. 
• Create a ‘Wanted’ poster for a famous villain of your choice. Think about the crimes they have committed, and the reward you will give for having them caught. 
• Imagine you are a journalist for the ‘Imagine Forest Times’ newspaper. Your task is to get an exclusive interview with the most famous villain of all time. Pick a villain of your choice and interview them for your newspaper article. What questions would you ask them, and what would their responses be?
•  In a school playground, you see the school bully hurting a new kid. Write three short stories, one from each perspective in this scenario (The bully, the witness and the kid getting bullied).
• You just won $10 million dollars. What would you spend this money on?
• Pick a random animal, and research at least five interesting facts about this animal. Write a short story centred around one of these interesting facts. 
• Pick a global issue that you are passionate about. This could be climate change, black lives matters, women’s rights etc. Now create a campaign poster for this global issue. 
• Write an acrostic poem about an object near you right now (or even your own name). You could use a poetry idea generator to inspire you.
• Imagine you are the head chef of a 5-star restaurant. Recently the business has slowed down. Your task is to come up with a brand-new menu to excite customers. Watch this video prompt on YouTube to inspire you.
• What is your favourite food of all time? Imagine if this piece of food was alive, what would it say to you?
• If life was one big musical, what would you be singing about right now? Write the lyrics of your song. 
• Create and describe the most ultimate villain of all time. What would their traits be? What would their past look like? Will they have any positive traits?
• Complete this sentence in at least 10 different ways: Every time I look out of the window, I…
• You have just made it into the local newspaper, but what for? Write down at least five potential newspaper headlines . Here’s an example, Local Boy Survives a Deadly Illness.
• If you were a witch or a wizard, what would your specialist area be and why? You might want to use a Harry Potter name generator or a witch name generator for inspiration.
• What is your favourite thing to do on a Saturday night? Write a short story centred around this activity. 
• Your main character has just received the following items: A highlighter, a red cap, a teddy bear and a fork. What would your character do with these items? Can you write a story using these items? 
• Create a timeline of your own life, from birth to this current moment. Think about the key events in your life, such as birthdays, graduations, weddings and so on. After you have done this, you can pick one key event from your life to write a story about. 
• Think of a famous book or movie you like. Rewrite a scene from this book or movie, where the main character is an outsider. They watch the key events play out, but have no role in the story. What would their actions be? How would they react?
• Three very different characters have just won the lottery. Write a script for each character, as they reveal the big news to their best friend.  
• Write a day in the life story of three different characters. How does each character start their day? What do they do throughout the day? And how does their day end?
•  Write about the worst experience in your life so far. Think about a time when you were most upset or angry and describe it. 
• Imagine you’ve found a time machine in your house. What year would you travel to and why?
• Describe your own superhero. Think about their appearance, special abilities and their superhero name. Will they have a secret identity? Who is their number one enemy?
• What is your favourite country in the world? Research five fun facts about this country and use one to write a short story. 
• Set yourself at least three writing goals. This could be a good way to motivate yourself to write every day. For example, one goal might be to write at least 150 words a day. 
• Create a character description based on the one fact, three fiction rule. Think about one fact or truth about yourself. And then add in three fictional or fantasy elements. For example, your character could be the same age as you in real life, this is your one fact. And the three fictional elements could be they have the ability to fly, talk in over 100 different languages and have green skin. 
• Describe the perfect person. What traits would they have? Think about their appearance, their interests and their dislikes. 
• Keep a daily journal or diary. This is a great way to keep writing every day. There are lots of things you can write about in your journal, such as you can write about the ‘highs’ and ‘lows’ of your day. Think about anything that inspired you or anything that upset you, or just write anything that comes to mind at the moment. 
• Write a book review or a movie review. If you’re lost for inspiration, just watch a random movie or read any book that you can find. Then write a critical review on it. Think about the best parts of the book/movie and the worst parts. How would you improve the book or movie?
• Write down a conversation between yourself. You can imagine talking to your younger self or future self (i.e. in 10 years’ time). What would you tell them? Are there any lessons you learned or warnings you need to give? Maybe you could talk about what your life is like now and compare it to their life?
• Try writing some quick flash fiction stories . Flash fiction is normally around 500 words long, so try to stay within this limit.
• Write a six-word story about something that happened to you today or yesterday. A six-word story is basically an entire story told in just six words. Take for example: “Another football game ruined by me.” or “A dog’s painting sold for millions.” – Six-word stories are similar to writing newspaper headlines. The goal is to summarise your story in just six words. 
• The most common monsters or creatures used in stories include vampires, werewolves , dragons, the bigfoot, sirens and the loch-ness monster. In a battle of intelligence, who do you think will win and why?
• Think about an important event in your life that has happened so far, such as a birthday or the birth of a new sibling. Now using the 5 W’s and 1 H technique describe this event in great detail. The 5 W’s include: What, Who, Where, Why, When and the 1 H is: How. Ask yourself questions about the event, such as what exactly happened on that day? Who was there? Why was this event important? When and where did it happen? And finally, how did it make you feel?
• Pretend to be someone else. Think about someone important in your life. Now put yourself into their shoes, and write a day in the life story about being them. What do you think they do on a daily basis? What situations would they encounter? How would they feel?
• Complete this sentence in at least 10 different ways: I remember…
• Write about your dream holiday. Where would you go? Who would you go with? And what kind of activities would you do?
• Which one item in your house do you use the most? Is it the television, computer, mobile phone, the sofa or the microwave? Now write a story of how this item was invented. You might want to do some research online and use these ideas to build up your story. 
• In exactly 100 words, describe your bedroom. Try not to go over or under this word limit.
• Make a top ten list of your favourite animals. Based on this list create your own animal fact file, where you provide fun facts about each animal in your list.
• What is your favourite scene from a book or a movie? Write down this scene. Now rewrite the scene in a different genre, such as horror, comedy, drama etc.
•  Change the main character of a story you recently read into a villain. For example, you could take a popular fairytale such as Jack and the Beanstalk, but this time re-write the story to make Jack the villain of the tale.
• Complete the following sentence in at least 10 different ways: Do you ever wonder…
• What does your name mean? Research the meaning of your own name, or a name that interests you. Then use this as inspiration for your next story. For example, the name ‘Marty’ means “Servant Of Mars, God Of War”. This could make a good concept for a sci-fi story.
• Make a list of three different types of heroes (or main characters) for potential future stories.
• If someone gave you $10 dollars, what would you spend it on and why?
• Describe the world’s most boring character in at least 100 words. 
• What is the biggest problem in the world today, and how can you help fix this issue?
• Create your own travel brochure for your hometown. Think about why tourists might want to visit your hometown. What is your town’s history? What kind of activities can you do? You could even research some interesting facts. 
• Make a list of all your favourite moments or memories in your life. Now pick one to write a short story about.
• Describe the scariest and ugliest monster you can imagine. You could even draw a picture of this monster with your description.
• Write seven haikus, one for each colour of the rainbow. That’s red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. 
• Imagine you are at the supermarket. Write down at least three funny scenarios that could happen to you at the supermarket. Use one for your next short story. 
• Imagine your main character is at home staring at a photograph. Write the saddest scene possible. Your goal is to make your reader cry when reading this scene. 
• What is happiness? In at least 150 words describe the feeling of happiness. You could use examples from your own life of when you felt happy.
• Think of a recent nightmare you had and write down everything you can remember. Use this nightmare as inspiration for your next story.
• Keep a dream journal. Every time you wake up in the middle of the night or early in the morning you can quickly jot down things that you remember from your dreams. These notes can then be used as inspiration for a short story. 
• Your main character is having a really bad day. Describe this bad day and the series of events they experience. What’s the worst thing that could happen to your character?
• You find a box on your doorstep. You open this box and see the most amazing thing ever. Describe this amazing thing to your readers.
• Make a list of at least five possible settings or locations for future stories. Remember to describe each setting in detail.
• Think of something new you recently learned. Write this down. Now write a short story where your main character also learns the same thing.
• Describe the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen in your whole life. Your goal is to amaze your readers with its beauty. 
• Make a list of things that make you happy or cheer you up. Try to think of at least five ideas. Now imagine living in a world where all these things were banned or against the law. Use this as inspiration for your next story.
• Would you rather be rich and alone or poor and very popular? Write a story based on the lives of these two characters. 
• Imagine your main character is a Librarian. Write down at least three dark secrets they might have. Remember, the best secrets are always unexpected.
• There’s a history behind everything. Describe the history of your house. How and when was your house built? Think about the land it was built on and the people that may have lived here long before you.
• Imagine that you are the king or queen of a beautiful kingdom. Describe your kingdom in great detail. What kind of rules would you have? Would you be a kind ruler or an evil ruler of the kingdom?
• Make a wish list of at least three objects you wish you owned right now. Now use these three items in your next story. At least one of them must be the main prop in the story.
• Using nothing but the sense of taste, describe a nice Sunday afternoon at your house. Remember you can’t use your other senses (i.e see, hear, smell or touch) in this description. 
• What’s the worst pain you felt in your life? Describe this pain in great detail, so your readers can also feel it.
• If you were lost on a deserted island in the middle of nowhere, what three must-have things would you pack and why?
• Particpate in online writing challenges or contests. Here at Imagine Forest, we offer daily writing challenges with a new prompt added every day to inspire you. Check out our challenges section in the menu.

Do you have any more fun creative writing exercises to share? Let us know in the comments below!

Marty the wizard is the master of Imagine Forest. When he's not reading a ton of books or writing some of his own tales, he loves to be surrounded by the magical creatures that live in Imagine Forest. While living in his tree house he has devoted his time to helping children around the world with their writing skills and creativity.

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Lanternfish ESL

Creative Writing Worksheets and Teaching Resources

This is a collection of free, printable creative writing prompts for teaching ESL.

Creative Writing Prompts

These creative writing worksheets can can be used both in class or as weekly homework assignments. We are always looking for more contributions so if you have an idea please send it to us. Eventually all of the story starters will be turned into worksheets and posted here.

The Secret Passage

The students take a field trip to an Egyptian pyramid and find a secret undiscovered passage within.

Brueghel' Painting

Students visit an art gallery and watch a painting by Brueghel come alive.

The students find a mysterious tunnel in the forest and follow it to find what is inside.

The Tricksters in the Tree

The students overhear a group of tricksters plotting to trick them and decide to turn the tables.

Fairies in Danger

A group of forest creatures in danger because of development. The students have to help them out.

Superpowers for a Day

Students imagine what they would do if they had superpowers for a day.

Talking to the Animals

Students imagine if they had the powers of Dr. Doolittle and could talk to animals.

A mysterious portal appears to another world. But where does it lead?

The Villain

A diabolical villain poisons the hero and forces the hero to do the villains bidding.

The Letter from Afar

Students imagine their trip to a far away exotic land and write a letter home.

The Shadow from the Depths

A mysterious shadow from the depths of the ocean swims under the ship.

The Time Machine

Where would you go if you had a time machine?

The Invisibility Potion

What would you do if you had an invisibility potion?

The Water Molecule

You are a molecule of water travelling through the water cycle. Describe your journey.

The Alien School

Ack! You discover your teacher is actually an alien.

A dark cavern in a mountain. What mystery lies within?

Beware of Humans

Changing perspective. Imagine you were a crocodile. What would you tell your children about humans?

Settlers on Mars

Imagine you were a settler on Mars. What challenges would you face?

The Voice from the Box

There is a box on the table and you hear a voice within. Do you open the box?

The Door Guard

You have to get past the door but the guard is in the way. What do you do?

The Old Lamp

You find an old lamp and rub it. ... What do you wish for?

The Strange Machine

There is a strange machine in your uncle's attic. But what does it do?

The Padlocked Chest

Why is the chest locked? Will you open it?

The Shrinking Potion

What would you do if you had a potion that allowed you to shrink?

The Petsitter

It seemed like easy money until you actually saw the pet.

The Wings of Icarus

Students find an old pair of wings on the island of Crete.

The Labors of Heracles

What chores would you make your siblings do if you had some compromising information on them?

The Greek God Election

Every Greek city had their patron gods. Imagine you were a Greek God. How would you get elected to be patron good of a city?

A Letter from Afar

Students write a letter home describing what they are doing on their travels.

What are these gnomes doing in the park? Students follow them and find out.

How to Care for You Dragon 1

How do you care for a dragon? Version 1.

How to Care for You Dragon 2

How do you care for a dragon? Version 2

How to Care for You Dinosaur 1

How do you care for a dinosaur? Version 2

How to Care for You Dinosaur 2

Planet pollutonia.

You are elected governor of Pollutonia. How do you clean it up?

Planet Criminolia

You are elected governor of Criminolia. How do stop the crime?

The Footprints in the Sand

A strange set of footprints are in the sand. Follow them to find out what made them.

Future School

What will school be like in the future?

The Door in the Woods

A mysterious door in a tree in the woods. Open it and find out where it goes.(sent in by Katelyn)

You decide you are going to pull the greatest prank ever.

A mysterious seed with a sign that says: Do not plant. Ever! What do you do?

The Lephrechaun's Gold

How are you going to trap the leprechaun and get its gold.

The Island of Dr. Moreau

You are a mad scientist creating new animals. What do you create?

The Evil Scientist

You follow an evil scientist into a dark room and can't forget what you saw. (sent in by Curt Winstead)

The Last Tree

All the trees are gone but one. . . (Sent in by Katie Seafield)

Sports Creative Writing

In goal for the rockets.

Students are mistakenly put into net for the Rockets.

The Monster Match

When the students get out onto the field, they find out that the other team are behemoths.

Minutes to Go: Socccer

Students write about a close game of soccer.

Minutes to Go: Baseball

Students write about a close game of baseball.

Minutes to Go: Hockey

Students write about a close game of hockey.

Christmas Creative Writing

Saving santa.

Santa is stuck in a chimney. Who will save Christmas?

Candycane Mystery

Who stole all the stripes on the candycanes?

Elves on Strike

The elves are striking for better pay and working conditions.

Fall and Halloween Creatie Writing

Are you a witch.

Students design a test to see if someone is a witch.

Are you a Werewolf?

Students design a test to see if someone is a werewolf.

Are you a Vampire?

Students design a test to see if someone is a vampire.

The Haunted House

Students complete a story about ending up at a haunted house on Halloween.

Those Pesky Crows

How are going to keep those pesky crows out of your crops?

Stack Exchange Network

Stack Exchange network consists of 183 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow , the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers.

Q&A for work

Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search.

Time Machine Short Story in Letter/Essay format

I'm trying to remember the name of a short story that's written in the form of a letter to a doctor/professor (I think). The writer of the letter/essay, who is a scientist, describes an experience with a time machine with himself and another man. They end up getting stranded somewhere and meeting some society. The society is suspicious of them, but I think they interact a little via gifts. Then somehow something terrible happens related to escalating tension with the society (I think the writer and his friends repeatedly do research or use items that are considered forbidden to the society), and the writer's friend ends up dying (I think there was a gun involved). Thanks for the help!

• story-identification
• short-stories
• time-travel

• Sounds interesting, I hope someone identifies it. If you can remember any more detail, please edit them into your question. About how long ago did you read it? Was it in a magazine or an anthology? Did the time travelers go into the past? How does the writer send his letter to the professor? –  user14111 Commented May 2, 2015 at 7:24
• Sounds familiar. The story I remember was published in Analog, and the traveler goes back to the Ireland of the potato famine and helps his ancestors. –  Aaron Gullison Commented Aug 18, 2020 at 16:06
• 1 @Aaron Gullison. Your story is "Slan Libh" by Michael J. Flynn, Analog , November 1984. See ISFDB isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?48792 for the bibligraphic details, and the interview with Flynn at michaelaventrella.com/2011/12/24/… for the plot. As with the story in the question, there's tension with the society (mainly, those members of it in a small and very rural village, I think). I can't remember whether the story is told as a series of letters. –  Phil van Kleur Commented Dec 22, 2020 at 19:22
• @user45133 I have a possible answer for you. Can you remember any more details? –  Phil van Kleur Commented Dec 22, 2020 at 20:06

I am going to propose as an answer "Aristotle and the Gun" by L. Sprague de Camp , Astounding Science Fiction February 1958 . Also published in the British edition of that magazine, May 1958.

I'm including a plot summary from Wikipedia at the end of this answer. There are some points of disagreement with your question, which I discuss shortly.

Points of agreement are:

• written in the form of a letter to a doctor/professor . Wikipedia: "The narrative of the story is set forth by Weaver in a lengthy letter to an acquaintance". As the writer is a scientist, his acquaintance could well be a doctor (PhD, not medical) or a professor.
• the writer is a scientist . Wikipedia: "The lonely and misanthropic scientist Sherman Weaver".
• The society is suspicious of them . Wikipedia: "Weaver pretends to be a conventional traveler from India. Equipped with modern-day marvels, he attempts to demonstrate to his new acquaintance Aristotle the value of experimentation in furtherance of knowledge. His task is complicated by the malicious mischief of Aristotle's students, the coterie of young Prince Alexander (subsequently Alexander the Great), and by coming under suspicion of being a spy for the Great King of Persia, against whom Philip is preparing to go to war." Note the final two clauses.
• they interact a little via gifts . Wikipedia: "Equipped with modern-day marvels, he attempts to demonstrate to his new acquaintance Aristotle the value of experimentation in furtherance of knowledge." I can't remember whether the protagonist donates any of these marvels to Aristotle: if not, agreement is lessened here.
• Then somehow something terrible happens related to escalating tension with the society (I think the writer and his friends repeatedly do research or use items that are considered forbidden to the society) . Wikipedia: "Ultimately forced to defend himself with a handgun he has brought, Weaver is on the point of being executed for espionage and murder". I felt a sense of escalating tension. The writer is not doing research, but he is constantly trying to teach Aristotle in order to advance ancient Greek science.
• I think there was a gun involved . See title! I weighted this part of your question highly when asking myself whether I should propose "Aristotle and the Gun" as an answer. Likewise, your saying that the story was a series of letters.

Points of disagreement are:

• describes an experience with a time machine with himself and another man . There is only one time traveller. He doesn't travel with a friend, although he does later become as friendly with Aristotle as his misanthropic personality would probably allow him to be with anybody.
• the writer's friend ends up dying . Impossible, since there is no friend. So perhaps I am not giving the right answer.

Also, this kind of innocent-traveller-in-the-past scenario is fairly common, so there may be many other candidates. See for example Poul Anderson's "The Man who Came Early" .

Plot summary

The lonely and misanthropic scientist Sherman Weaver has a central role in a secret US Government project to build a time machine. The project succeeds and a prototype device is constructed. But before it can be tested, the government - alarmed at Weaver's report that small changes in history might have profound consequences and completely change the present day world - decides to abort the project. Weaver is ordered to dismantle the machine. Rather than obey, he takes matters into his own hands, using the machine to project himself back to the era of Philip II of Macedon. There he hopes to meet Aristotle. Believing that the influential ancient philosopher's lack of interest in experiment retarded scientific progress through much of subsequent history, Weaver aims to nudge the savant in what he considers the proper direction. His intention is to create a different Twentieth Century dominated by super-science, hundreds of years in advance of ours.

Weaver pretends to be a conventional traveler from India. Equipped with modern-day marvels, he attempts to demonstrate to his new acquaintance Aristotle the value of experimentation in furtherance of knowledge. His task is complicated by the malicious mischief of Aristotle's students, the coterie of young Prince Alexander (subsequently Alexander the Great), and by coming under suspicion of being a spy for the Great King of Persia, against whom Philip is preparing to go to war. Ultimately forced to defend himself with a handgun he has brought, Weaver is on the point of being executed for espionage and murder when he is snapped back into the present day as the effects of his time projection wear off.

Weaver finds himself in a world very different from the one he left, but not in the way he hoped. Aristotle, convinced that the tedious accumulation of experimental knowledge is beneath the dignity of civilized philosophers and that it is a waste of time attempting to catch up to "India" in that regard, turns out to have come down strongly against the notion in his writings. The result is a backward present of petty states, roughly at the level of late Medieval principalities in our own history, considerably behind Weaver's original timeline in technology. His own United States is not even a dream, its physical confines being controlled by various Amerindian nations, influenced by the civilization of the Old World but having long since thrown off any subjection to it. Enslaved in one such state, Weaver is only delivered from endless drudgery after many years, when his scholarly talents are finally recognized.

The narrative of the story is set forth by Weaver in a lengthy letter to an acquaintance curious as to his remarkable background, in which he concludes that he would have done better to leave well enough alone.

• This is a great answer, +1. Unfortunately the original poster hasn't been seen in years. –  Organic Marble Commented Jan 21, 2021 at 21:57
• Thanks for the upvote. I always reckon that it's worth giving a decent answer. Even if the OP is no longer around, it may help someone else. –  Phil van Kleur Commented Jan 24, 2021 at 7:57

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2024 Creative Arts Emmys winners: Shōgun breaks Emmy record, The Bear, SNL win big

See which shows won Emmys across 99 categories this weekend, including Angela Bassett, Néstor Carbonell, Eric André, Sandra Oh, and Awkwafina scoring their first Emmys.

Jillian Sederholm is Entertainment Weekly's news director and co-host of EW's 'BINGE' podcast covering every season of 'RuPaul's Drag Race.' Follow her on Twitter at @JillianSed to geek out over 'SNL,' guess every celeb on 'The Masked Singer,' or discuss Christian Bale's entire filmography in intricate detail (have you noticed all the dancing?)

With still a week to go before the 2024 Primetime Emmy Awards , a majority of the statuettes were already handed out this weekend at the Creative Arts Emmys ceremonies.

Winners in 99 categories were announced over Saturday and Sunday night ceremonies at the Peacock Theater at L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles. An edited presentation of the ceremonies will air Sept. 14 on FXX, and stream on Hulu Sept. 15 through Oct. 9.

The big winner of the weekend was sweeping samurai epic Shōgun , which shored a whopping 14 wins (plus another win for companion movie, The Making Of Shōgun ), setting a new record for most Emmy wins in one year. (The record was previously held by the miniseries John Adams. ) The Bear , Saturday Night Live , and Only Murders in the Building also scored numerous wins.

Chuck Hodes/FX; Frazer Harrison/Getty; Katie Yu/FX

And while many of the awards doled out this weekend honored behind-the-scenes workers in fields like directing, editing, casting, costuming, and production designing, onscreen talent were also recognized, with Jamie Lee Curtis and Jon Bernthal winning Outstanding Guest Actress and Actor in a Comedy Series, respectively, for their work in The Bear 's acclaimed "Fishes" episode, while Néstor Carbonell won Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for Shōgun and Michaela Coel scored Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

Other notable wins were songwriters  Benj Pasek  and  Justin Paul  joining the  EGOT club  with a win for Best Original Music and Lyrics for Only Murders' "Which of the Pickwick Triplets Did It?" , Pat Sajak  winning Best Host for a Game Show for his final run on  Wheel of Fortune , Alan Cumming breaking RuPaul's 8-year winning streak as Best Host for a Reality or Reality Competition Program , and first-time Emmy wins for Angela Bassett (Outstanding Narrator), Eric Andŕe (Best Performer in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series), Sandra Oh , and Awkwafina (both as producers for Best Television Movie winner Quiz Lady ).

See all of the nominees and winners from the 2024 Creative Arts Emmys below.

Ceremony 1 (Saturday)

Outstanding animated program.

WINNER: Blue Eye Samurai Bob’s Burgers Scavengers Reign The Simpsons X-Men ’97

Outstanding Casting for a Reality Program

The Amazing Race The Golden Bachelor WINNER: Love on the Spectrum U.S. RuPaul’s Drag Race Squid Game: The Challenge

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance

Hank Azaria,  The Simpsons , “Cremains of the Day” Alex Borstein,  Family Guy , “Teacher’s Heavy Pet” Sterling K. Brown,  Invincible , “I Thought You Were Stronger” WINNER: Maya Rudolph,  Big Mouth , “The Ambition Gremlin” Hannah Waddingham,  Krapopolis , “Big Man on Hippocampus”

Outstanding Choreography for Variety or Reality Programming

Dancing With the Stars , Routines: “Moon River” and “La Vie En Rose” Dick Van Dyke 98 Years of Magic , Routine: “Step In Time” The Oscars , Routines: “I’m Just Ken” and “In Memoriam” RuPaul’s Drag Race , Routines: “Dance!,” “Queen of Wind” and “Power” WINNER: 76th Annual Tony Awards , Routines: “Opening Number” and “Lifetime Achievement”

Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program

Beckham , “The Kick” WINNER: Girls State Jim Henson Idea Man Our Planet II , “Chapter 1: World on the Move” Planet Earth III , “Extremes”

Outstanding Cinematography for a Reality Program

The Amazing Race , Series Body of Work WINNER: Life Below Zero , “Bulletproof” Survivor , Series Body of Work The Traitors , “The Funeral” Welcome To Wrexham , Series Body of Work

Outstanding Commercial

“Album Cover,” Apple iPhone 15 “Best Friends,” Uber One | Uber Eats WINNER: "Fuzzy Feelings,” Apple - iPhone + Mac “Just Joking,” Sandy Hook Promise “Like a Good Neighbaaa,” State Farm “Michael CeraVe,” CeraVe Moisturizing Cream

Outstanding Costumes for a Variety, Nonfiction, or Reality Programming

WINNER: Taylor Mac's 24-Decade History of Popular Music

Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program

Albert Brooks: Defending My Life Beckham, “What Makes David Run” WINNER: Girls State The Greatest Night in Pop Jim Henson Idea Man Steve! (Martin) A Documentary in 2 Pieces

Outstanding Directing for a Reality Program

WINNER: Love on the Spectrum U.S. , “Episode 7” RuPaul’s Drag Race , “Grand Finale” Squid Game: The Challenge , “Red Light, Green Light” The Traitors , “Betrayers, Fakes And Fraudsters” Welcome to Wrexham , “Shaun’s Vacation”

Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series

The Daily Show , “Jon Stewart Returns to the Daily Show” Jimmy Kimmel Live! , “Trump Still Mad About Oscars Joke and Thinks Jimmy Is Al Pacino” The Late Show With Stephen Colbert , “December 21, 2023: GOP Wants Biden Kicked Off Ballot” WINNER: Saturday Night Live , “Host: Ryan Gosling"

Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special

Dave Chappelle: The Dreamer Dick Van Dyke 98 Years Of Magic WINNER: The Oscars Tig Notaro: Hello Again 76th Annual Tony Awards Trevor Noah: Where Was I

Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special

Albert Brooks: Defending My Life Girls State The Greatest Night in Pop WINNER: Jim Henson Idea Man Steve! (Martin) A Documentary in 2 Pieces

Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series

WINNER: Beckham The Jinx - Part Two Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV STAX: Soulsville U.S.A. Telemarketers

Outstanding Emerging Media Program

Emperor WINNER: Fallout: Vault 33 The Pirate Queen With Lucy Liu Red Rocks Live in VR Wallace & Gromit In the Grand Getaway

Outstanding Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking

Beyond Utopia (Independent Lens) WINNER: Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project Stamped From the Beginning

Outstanding Game Show

Celebrity Family Feud WINNER: Jeopardy! Password The Price Is Right at Night Wheel of Fortune

Outstanding Hairstyling for a Variety, Nonfiction or Reality Program

The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula , “Trash Can Children” Dancing With the Stars , “Finale” WINNER: Saturday Night Live , “Host: Ryan Gosling” So You Think You Can Dance , “Challenge #2: Broadway” We’re Here , “Oklahoma, Part 3”

Outstanding Host for a Game Show

Steve Harvey,  Celebrity Family Feud Ken Jennings,  Jeopardy! Jane Lynch,  Weakest Link Keke Palmer,  Password WINNER: Pat Sajak,  Wheel of Fortune

Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality Competition Program

RuPaul Charles,  RuPaul’s Drag Race Mark Cuban, Lori Greiner, Kevin O’Leary, Barbara Corcoran, Robert Herjavec, and Daymond John,  Shark Tank WINNER: Alan Cumming,  The Traitors Kristen Kish,  Top Chef Jeff Probst,  Survivor

Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special

Conan O’Brien Must Go Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates Jr. How to With John Wilson WINNER: My Next Guest With David Letterman and John Mulaney The Reluctant Traveler With Eugene Levy

Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation

WINNER: Noémie Leroux, Scavengers Reign,  "The Signal" WINNER: Alex Small-Butera, Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake, " The Winter King" WINNER: Jan Maas, In the Know, "Yogurt Week" WINNER: Toby Wilson, Blue Eye Samurai, " The Tale of the Ronin and the Bride" WINNER: Ryan O'Loughlin, Blue Eye Samurai, " The Tale of the Ronin and the Bride" WINNER: Bryan Kessinger, Blue Eye Samurai, " The Tale of the Ronin and the Bride" WINNER: Tara Billinger, Clone High, " Let’s Try This Again"

Outstanding Innovation In Emerging Media Programming

WINNER: Silent Hill: Ascension WINNER: What If…? – An Immersive Story

Outstanding Lighting Design/Lighting Direction for a Variety Series

America’s Got Talent , “Episode 1818” American Idol , “Top 14 Reveal” Dancing With the Stars , “Semi-Finals” The Late Show With Stephen Colbert , “May 21, 2024: Billie Eilish Visits the Late Show for an Engaging Interview With Stephen Colbert” WINNER: Saturday Night Live , “Host: Kristen Wiig” The Voice , “Live Finale, Part 2”

Outstanding Lighting Design/Lighting Direction for a Variety Special 

The Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show Starring Usher WINNER: Billy Joel: The 100th - Live at Madison Square Garden 66th Grammy Awards 2023 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony 76th Annual Tony Awards

Outstanding Makeup for a Variety, Nonfiction or Reality Program

The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula , “Terror in the Woods” Dancing With the Stars , “Monster Night” WINNER: Saturday Night Live , “Host: Ryan Gosling” Taylor Mac’s 24-Decade History of Popular Music the Voice , “Live Finale, Part 1” and “Live Finale, Part 2” We’re Here , “Oklahoma, Part 3”

Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary Series or Special (Original Dramatic Score)

Albert Brooks: Defending My Life Beckham , “Seeing Red” WINNER: Jim Henson Idea Man Planet Earth III , “Extremes” Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed

Outstanding Music Direction

The 46th Kennedy Center Honors Late Night With Seth Meyers , “Episode 1488” WINNER:  The Oscars 2023 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Saturday Night Live , “Host: Ryan Gosling”

Outstanding Narrator

Sir David Attenborough, Planet Earth III , “Human” WINNER: Angela Bassett,  Queens , “African Queens” Morgan Freeman,  Life On Our Planet , “Chapter 1: The Rules of Life” Paul Rudd,  Secrets of the Octopus , “Masterminds” Octavia Spencer,  Lost Women of Highway 20 , “Vanished”

JC Olivera/Variety via Getty 

Outstanding Picture Editing for a Nonfiction Program

Albert Brooks: Defending My Life Beckham , “Golden Balls” Escaping Twin Flames , “Up in Flames” WINNER: Jim Henson Idea Man The Jinx - Part Two , “Chapter 9: Saving My Tears Until It’s Official” Quiet on Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV , “Hidden in Plain Sight” Steve! (Martin) A Documentary in 2 Pieces , “Then”

Outstanding Picture Editing for a Structured Reality or Competition Program

The Amazing Race , Series Body of Work Queer Eye , “Kiss The Sky” RuPaul’s Drag Race , “Werq the World” Top Chef , Series Body of Work WINNER: The Voice , Series Body of Work

Outstanding Picture Editing for an Unstructured Reality Program

Below Deck Down Under , “The Turnover Day” Deadliest Catch , “Nautical Deathtrap” Love on the Spectrum U.S. , “Episode 7” RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked , “Rate-A-Queen” WINNER: Welcome to Wrexham , “Up the Town?”

Outstanding Picture Editing for Variety Programming

Dolly Parton’s Pet Gala WINNER: John Mulaney Presents: Everybody’s in LA , “Paranormal” Nikki Glaser: Someday You’ll Die Ramy Youssef: More Feelings Tig Notaro: Hello Again

Outstanding Picture Editing for Variety Programming (Segment)

WINNER: The Daily Show , “The Dailyshowography of Vivek Ramaswamy: Enter the RamaVerse (segment)” Last Week Tonight With John Oliver , “Boeing (segment)” Last Week Tonight With John Oliver , “The Sad Tale of Henry the Engine (segment)” Saturday Night Live , “I’m Just Pete (segment)” Saturday Night Live , “Bowen’s Straight (segment)”

Outstanding Production Design for a Variety Special

Dick Van Dyke 98 Years of Magic 66th Grammy Awards Hannah Waddingham: Home For Christmas WINNER: The Oscars 76th Annual Tony Awards

Outstanding Production Design for a Variety or Reality Series

Last Week Tonight With John Oliver , “Freight Trains” The Late Show With Stephen Colbert , “February 11, 2024: Super Bowl Episode” and “March 13, 2024: The Biden-Trump Rematch” RuPaul’s Drag Race , “RDR Live!” WINNER: Saturday Night Live , “Host: Josh Brolin” Squid Game: The Challenge , “War”

Outstanding Short Form Comedy, Drama or Variety Series

Carpool Karaoke: The Series The Eric Andre Show Late Night With Seth Meyers Corrections WINNER: Only Murders in the Building: One Killer Question Real Time With Bill Maher: Overtime

Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series

After the Cut - The Daily Show The Crown: Farewell to a Royal Epic Hacks: Bit By Bit Saturday Night Live Presents: Behind the Sketch WINNER: Shōgun – The Making of Shōgun

Outstanding Sound Editing for a Nonfiction or Reality Program

The Greatest Night in Pop WINNER: Jim Henson Idea Man Planet Earth III,  “Freshwater” Steve! (Martin) A Documentary in 2 Pieces Welcome to Wrexham , “Goals”

Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Nonfiction Program

WINNER: The Beach Boys Jim Henson Idea Man Planet Earth III , “Deserts and Grasslands” STAX: Soulsville U.S.A. , “Chapter Two: Soul Man” Steve! (Martin) A Documentary in 2 Pieces

Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Reality Program

The Amazing Race Deadliest Catch , “Nautical Deathtrap” RuPaul’s Drag Race The Voice , “Live Finale” WINNER: Welcome to Wrexham , “Giant Killers”

Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Variety Series or Special

WINNER: Billy Joel: The 100th - Live at Madison Square Garden 66th Grammy Awards The Oscars 2023 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Saturday Night Live , “Host: Kristen Wiig”

Outstanding Structured Reality Program

Antiques Roadshow Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives Love Is Blind Queer Eye WINNER: Shark Tank

Outstanding Technical Direction and Camerawork for a Series

America’s Got Talent , “Finale Performances” Dancing With the Stars , “Finale” Last Week Tonight With John Oliver , “Elon Musk” The Late Show With Stephen Colbert , “April 8, 2024: Strange Eclipse Behavior” WINNER: Saturday Night Live , “Host: Timothée Chalamet”

Outstanding Technical Direction and Camerawork for a Special

The Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show Starring Usher WINNER: Billy Joel: The 100th - Live At Madison Square Garden The Daily Show Presents: Jordan Klepper Fingers the Pulse - Moscow Tools 66th Grammy Awards Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas

Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program

Below Deck Down Under Love on the Spectrum U.S. RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked Vanderpump Rules WINNER: Welcome to Wrexham

Outstanding Variety Special (Live)

The Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show Starring Usher 66th Grammy Awards The Greatest Roast of All Time: Tom Brady WINNER: The Oscars 76th Annual Tony Awards

Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)

Billy Joel: The 100th - Live At Madison Square Garden Dave Chappelle: The Dreamer WINNER: Dick Van Dyke 98 Years of Magic Nikki Glaser: Someday You’ll Die Trevor Noah: Where Was I

Outstanding Writing for a Nonfiction Program

WINNER: Conan O’Brien Must Go , “Ireland” How To With John Wilson , “How to Watch the Game” Jim Henson Idea Man The Jinx - Part Two , “Chapter 7: Why Are You Still Here?” The Reluctant Traveler With Eugene Levy , “Scotland: My Mother’s Country”

VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty

Ceremony 2 (Sunday)

Outstanding casting for a comedy series.

Abbott Elementary WINNER: The Bear Curb Your Enthusiasm Hacks Only Murders in the Building

Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series

The Crown The Morning Show Mr. & Mrs. Smith WINNER: Shōgun Slow Horses

Outstanding Casting for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

WINNER: Baby Reindeer Fargo Feud: Capote vs. the Swans Ripley True Detective: Night Country

Outstanding Choreography for Scripted Programming

WINNER: The Idol , Routines: “Rehearsal,” “Music Video Shoot,” and “Dollhouse” Only Murders In The Building , Routines: “Oliver’s Dream Sequence” and “Creatures of the Night” Palm Royale , Routines: “The Rhumba” and “Maxine’s Entrance” Physical , Routines: “Jean Franc’s Advanced Aerobics Class,” “Figure 8’s Commercial,” and “Xanadu & Dreams”

Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

All The Light We Cannot See , “Episode 4” Fargo , “The Tragedy Of The Commons” Griselda , “Middle Management” Lessons In Chemistry , “Little Miss Hastings” WINNER: Ripley , “V Lucio” True Detective: Night Country , “Part 6”

Outstanding Cinematography for a Multi-Camera Series (Half-Hour) 

Bob Hearts Abishola , “These Giants Are Flexible” The Conners , “Fire and Vice” Frasier , “Reindeer Games” WINNER: How I Met Your Father , “Okay Fine, It’s a Hurricane” Night Court , “A Night Court Before Christmas” The Upshaws , “Forbidden Fruit”

Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series (Half-Hour) 

WINNER: The Bear , “Forks” Hacks , “Just for Laughs” Physical , “Like a Rocket” Reservation Dogs , “Deer Lady” Sugar , “Starry Eyed”

Outstanding Cinematography for a Series (One Hour)

The Crown,  “Ritz” The Crown , “Sleep, Dearie Sleep” Shōgun , “Anjin” WINNER: Shōgun , “Crimson Sky” 3 Body Problem , “Judgment Day” Winning Time: The Rise Of The Lakers Dynasty , “Beat L.A.”

Outstanding Contemporary Costumes for a Series

The Bear , “Fishes” WINNER: The Crown , “Sleep, Dearie Sleep” Hacks , “Just for Laughs” Only Murders in the Building , “Sitzprobe” The Righteous Gemstones , “For I Know the Plans I Have for You”

Outstanding Contemporary Costumes for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

WINNER: American Horror Story: Delicate , “The Auteur” Baby Reindeer , “Episode 4” Fargo , “Insolubilia” The Regime , “The Heroes’ Banquet” True Detective: Night Country , “Part 5”

Outstanding Contemporary Hairstyling

Abbott Elementary , “Mother’s Day” The Bear , “Fishes” Hacks , “Yes, And” WINNER: The Morning Show , “The Kármán Line” Only Murders In The Building , “Opening Night”

Outstanding Contemporary Makeup (Non-Prosthetic)

The Bear , “Fishes” Hacks , “Yes, And” WINNER: The Morning Show , “Strict Scrutiny” Only Murders in the Building , “Opening Night” True Detective: Night Country , “Part 5”

Outstanding Fantasy/Sci-Fi Costumes

WINNER: Ahsoka , “Part Eight: The Jedi, the Witch, and the Warlord” Echo , “Lowak” Fallout , “The End” Loki , “1893” What We Do In The Shadows , “Pride Parade”

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

WINNER: Jon Bernthal,  The Bear , “Fishes” Matthew Broderick,  Only Murders in the Building , “Co Bro” Ryan Gosling,  Saturday Night Live , “Host: Ryan Gosling” Christoper Lloyd,  Hacks , “The Deborah Vance Christmas Spectacular” Bob Odenkirk,  The Bear , “Fishes” Will Poulter,  The Bear , “Fishes”

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series

WINNER: Néstor Carbonell,  Shōgun , “Anjin” Paul Dano,  Mr. & Mrs. Smith , “A Breakup” Tracy Letts,  Winning Time: The Rise Of The Lakers Dynasty , “The New World” Jonathan Pryce,  Slow Horses , “Footprints” John Turturro,  Mr. & Mrs. Smith , “Second Date”

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

Olivia Colman,  The Bear , “Forks” WINNER: Jamie Lee Curtis,  The Bear , “Fishes” Kaitlin Olson,  Hacks , “The Roast of Deborah Vance” Da’Vine Joy Randolph,  Only Murders in the Building , “Sitzprobe” Maya Rudolph,  Saturday Night Live , “Host: Maya Rudolph” Kristen Wiig,  Saturday Night Live , “Host: Kristen Wiig”

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series

WINNER: Michaela Coel,  Mr. & Mrs. Smith , “Infidelity” Claire Foy,  The Crown , “Sleep, Dearie Sleep” Marcia Gay Harden,  The Morning Show , “Update Your Priors” Sarah Paulson,  Mr. & Mrs. Smith , “Couples Therapy (Naked & Afraid)” Parker Posey,  Mr. & Mrs. Smith , “Double Date”

Outstanding Main Title Design

Fallout Lessons In Chemistry Palm Royale WINNER: Shōgun Silo 3 Body Problem

Outstanding Motion Design

WINNER: Jim Henson Idea Man

Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited or Anthology Series, Movie or Special (Original Dramatic Score)

All the Light We Cannot See , “Episode 4” Fargo , “Blanket” Lawmen: Bass Reeves , “Part I” WINNER: Lessons In Chemistry , “Book Of Calvin” The Tattooist of Auschwitz , “Episode 1”

Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score)

The Crown , “Sleep, Dearie Sleep” Mr. & Mrs. Smith , “First Date” WINNER: Only Murders in the Building , “Sitzprobe” Palm Royale , “Maxine Saves a Cat” Shōgun , “Servants of Two Masters” Silo , “Freedom Day” Slow Horses , “Strange Games”

Outstanding Music Supervision

Baby Reindeer , “Episode 4” WINNER: Fallout , “The End” Fargo , “The Tragedy of the Commons” Mr. & Mrs. Smith , “A Breakup” Only Murders in the Building , “Grab Your Hankies” True Detective: Night Country , “Part 4”

Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music

Feud: Capote vs. the Swans Lessons In Chemistry Masters of the Air WINNER: Palm Royale Shōgun

Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics

Girls5eva , “New York,” Song Title: “The Medium Time” WINNER: Only Murders in the Building , “Sitzprobe,” Song Title: “Which of the Pickwick Triplets Did It?” Saturday Night Live , “Host: Maya Rudolph,” Song Title: “Maya Rudolph Mother’s Day Monologue” The Tattooist of Auschwitz , “Episode 6,” Song Title: “Love Will Survive” True Detective: Night Country , “Part 5,” Song Title: “No Use”

Outstanding Performer in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series

WINNER: Eric Andŕe,  The Eric Andre Show Desi Lydic,  Desi Lydic Foxsplains - The Daily Show Mena Suvari,  RZR

Outstanding Period or Fantasy/Sci-Fi Hairstyling

Ahsoka , “Part One: Master and Apprentice” Feud: Capote vs. the Swans , “Hats, Gloves and Effete Homosexuals” The Gilded Age , “You Don’t Even Like Opera” Palm Royale , “Maxine Rolls The Dice” WINNER: Shōgun , “A Stick of Time”

Outstanding Period or Fantasy/Sci-Fi Makeup (Non-Prosthetic)

The Crown , “Ritz” Fallout , “The Head” Feud: Capote vs. the Swans , “Beautiful Babe” Palm Royale , “Pilot” WINNER: Shōgun , “The Abyss of Life”

Outstanding Period Costumes for a Series

The Gilded Age , “You Don’t Even Like Opera” The New Look , “What a Day This Has Been” Palm Royale , “Maxine Throws a Party” WINNER: Shōgun , “Ladies of the Willow World” Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty , “What Is and What Should Never Be”

Outstanding Period Costumes for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

WINNER: Feud: Capote vs. the Swans , “Pilot” Griselda , “Paradise Lost” Lessons In Chemistry , “Little Miss Hastings” Mary & George , “Not So Much By Love As By Awe” Ripley , “IV La Dolce Vita”

Outstanding Picture Editing for a Drama Series

Fallout , “The End” Fallout , “The Ghouls” Mr. & Mrs. Smith , “First Date” WINNER: Shōgun , “A Dream of a Dream” Slow Horses , “Footprints” 3 Body Problem , “Judgment Day”

Outstanding Picture Editing for a Multi-Camera Comedy Series

Frasier , “Blind Date” WINNER: How I Met Your Father , “Okay Fine, It’s a Hurricane” Night Court , “Wheelers of Fortune” The Upshaws , “Ain’t Broke” The Upshaws , “Auto Motives”

Outstanding Picture Editing for a Single-Camera Comedy Series

WINNER: The Bear , “Fishes” Hacks , “The Deborah Vance Christmas Spectacular” Only Murders in the Building , “Sitzprobe” Only Murders in the Building , “The White Room” Reservation Dogs , “Dig” What We Do in the Shadows,  “Pride Parade”

Outstanding Picture Editing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

WINNER: Baby Reindeer , “Episode 4” Black Mirror , “Beyond the Sea” Fargo , “The Tragedy of the Commons” Ripley , “III Sommerso” True Detective: Night Country , “Part 4” True Detective: Night Country , “Part 6”

Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Contemporary Program (One Hour or More)

WINNER: The Crown , “Sleep, Dearie Sleep” Fargo , “Trials and Tribulations” The Gentlemen , “Tackle Tommy Woo Woo” The Morning Show , “The Kármán Line” True Detective: Night Country

Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Period or Fantasy Program (One Hour or More)

Fallout , “The End” The Gilded Age , “Close Enough to Touch” Palm Royale , “Maxine’s Like a Dellacorte” Ripley WINNER: Shōgun , “Anjin”

Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Program (Half-Hour)

The Bear , “Omelette” Frasier , “Moving In” Hacks , “Yes, And” WINNER: Only Murders In The Building , “Opening Night” What We Do In The Shadows , “A Weekend at Morrigan Manor”

Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup

Ahsoka , “Part Eight: The Jedi, the Witch, and the Warlord” Fallout , “The Beginning” WINNER: Shōgun , “A Dream of a Dream” True Detective: Night Country , “Part 3” The Witcher , “The Cost of Chaos”

Outstanding Sound Editing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-Hour) and Animation

Ahsoka , “Part Four: Fallen Jedi” WINNER: The Bear , “Forks” Blue Eye Samurai , “All Evil Dreams and Angry Words” Only Murders in the Building , “Sitzprobe” Star Trek: Lower Decks , “The Inner Fight”

Outstanding Sound Editing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One Hour) 

Avatar: The Last Airbender , “Legends” Fallout , “The Target” WINNER: Shōgun , “Broken to the Fist” Star Trek: Strange New Worlds , “Hegemony” 3 Body Problem , “Judgment Day”

Outstanding Sound Editing for a Limited or Anthology Series, Movie or Special

All The Light We Cannot See , “Episode 4” Fargo , “The Tragedy of the Commons” Masters of the Air , “Part Five” WINNER: Ripley , “III Sommerso” True Detective: Night Country , “Part 6”

Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-Hour) and Animation

WINNER: The Bear , “Forks” Curb Your Enthusiasm , “Ken/Kendra” Hacks , “Just for Laughs” Only Murders in the Building , “Sitzprobe” What We Do in the Shadows , “Local News”

Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One Hour) 

The Crown , “Sleep, Dearie Sleep” Fallout , “The Target” Loki , “Glorious Purpose” WINNER: Shōgun , “Broken to the Fist” 3 Body Problem , “Judgment Day”

Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

Black Mirror , “Beyond Tthe Sea” Fargo , “The Tragedy of the Commons” WINNER: Masters of the Air , “Part Five” Ripley , “Vll Macabre Entertainment” True Detective: Night Country , “Part 6”

Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Season or a Movie

Ahsoka Avatar: The Last Airbender Fallout Loki WINNER: Shōgun

Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Single Episode

All the Light We Cannot See , “Episode 4” The Crown , “Dis-Moi Ou” WINNER: Ripley , “III Sommerso” True Detective: Night Country , “Part 1” Winning Time: The Rise of The Lakers Dynasty , “Beat L.A.”

Outstanding Stunt Coordination for Comedy Programming

The Brothers Sun WINNER: The Gentlemen The Righteous Gemstones Twisted Metal What We Do In The Shadows

Outstanding Stunt Coordination for Drama Programming

Fallout FBI: Most Wanted WINNER: Mr. & Mrs. Smith The Rookie Warrior

Outstanding Stunt Performance

Jay Hawkins, Jerry Quill, and Ivy Haralson,  The Continental: From the World of John Wick Justice Hedenberg, Hannah Scott, Adam Shippey, and Noelle Mulligan,  Fallout Tara Macken,  Mr. & Mrs. Smith Ryan Disharoon, Mike Endoso, Jett Jansen Fernandez, and Rich King,  The Righteous Gemstones WINNER: Hiroo Minami, Nobuyuki Obikane, Martin Cochingco, and Johnson Phan,  Shōgun

Outstanding Television Movie

Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie WINNER: Quiz Lady Red, White & Royal Blue Scoop Unfrosted

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The 2024 Primetime Emmys take place Sunday, Sept. 15, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on ABC.

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Pat Sajak Wins First Emmy in 26 Years for Final Season as ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Host & More 2024 Creative Arts Emmys Winners

The Television Academy bestowed honors on many television programs and individuals — including Pat Sajak ! — on Saturday, September 7, at the first of its two 2024 Creative Arts Emmy Awards ceremonies.

Sajak, who retired from his job at the Wheel of Fortune podium this year, won Outstanding Host for a Game Show, a category he hadn’t won since 1998. And though Sajak wasn’t in attendance at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles, he did post a brief message of thanks on X.

“Thank you all so very much,” he said.

Thank you all so very much. — Pat Sajak (@patsajak) June 7, 2024

Other big winners included Saturday Night Live with six awards; Blue Eye Samurai , Jim Henson Idea Man , and The Oscars with four apiece; and Billy Joel: The 100th – Live At Madison Square Garden and Welcome to Wrexham with three.

The second night of the 2024 Creative Arts Emmys will be held tonight, Sunday, September 8, and an edited presentation of the awards on both nights will air Saturday, September 14, at 8/7c on FXX and will stream on Hulu from Sunday, September 15, to Wednesday, October 9.

The full list of 2024 Creative Arts Emmys Night 1 winners is below:

Outstanding Animated Program

Blue Eye Samurai , “The Tale of the Ronin and the Bride” — WINNER Bob’s Burgers , “The Amazing Rudy” Scavengers Reign , “The Signal” The Simpsons , “Night of the Living Wage” X-Men ‘97 , “Remember It”

Outstanding Casting for a Reality Program

The Amazing Race The Golden Bachelor Love on the Spectrum — WINNER RuPaul’s Drag Race Squid Game: The Challenge

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance

The Simpsons , “Cremains of the Day” Hank Azaria as Moe Szyslak

Family Guy , “Teacher’s Heavy Pet” Alex Borstein as Lois Griffin

Invincible , “I Thought You Were Stronger” Sterling K. Brown as Angstrom Levy / Angstrom #646

Big Mouth , “The Ambition Gremlin” Maya Rudolph as Connie the Hormone Monstress — WINNER

Krapopolis , “Big Man on Hippocampus” Hannah Waddingham as Deliria

Outstanding Choreography for Variety or Reality Programming

Dancing With the Stars , Routines: Moon River / La Vie En Rose Valentin Chmerkovskiy, Choreographer Jenna Johnson, Choreographer

Dick Van Dyke 98 Years of Magic , Routine: Step in Time Alison Faulk, Choreographer Kiki Nyemchek, Choreographer

The Oscars , Routines: I’m Just Ken / in Memoriam Mandy Moore, Choreographer

RuPaul’s Drag Race , Routines: Dance! / Queen of Wind / Power Jamal Sims, Choreographer

76th Annual Tony Awards , Routines: Opening Number / Lifetime Achievement Karla Puno Garcia, Choreographer — WINNER

Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program

Beckham , “The Kick” Girls State — WINNER Jim Henson Idea Man Our Planet II , “Chapter 1: World on the Move” Planet Earth III , “Extremes”

Outstanding Cinematography for a Reality Program

The Amazing Race (series body of work) Life Below Zero , “Bulletproof” — WINNER Survivor (series body of work) The Traitors , “The Funeral” Welcome to Wrexham (series body of work)

Outstanding Commercial

2024 Emmy Nominations: See the Complete List

Album Cover – Apple iPhone 15 Best Friends – Uber One | Uber Eats Fuzzy Feelings – Apple – iPhone + Mac — WINNER Just Joking – Sandy Hook Promise Like a Good Neighbaaa – State Farm Michael CeraVe – CeraVe Moisturizing Cream

Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program

Albert Brooks: Defending My Life Rob Reiner, Directed by

Beckham • What Makes David Run Fisher Stevens, Directed by

Girls State — WINNER Amanda McBaine, Directed by Jesse Moss, Directed by

The Greatest Night in Pop Bao Nguyen, Directed by

Jim Henson Idea Man Ron Howard, Directed by

Steve! (Martin) A Documentary in 2 Pieces Morgan Neville, Directed by

Outstanding Directing for a Reality Program

Love on the Spectrum , “Episode 7” Cian O’Clery, Directed by — WINNER

RuPaul’s Drag Race , “Grand Finale” Nick Murray, Directed by

Squid Game : The Challenge, “Red Light, Green Light” Diccon Ramsay, Directed by

The Traitors , “Betrayers, Fakes and Fraudsters” Ben Archard, Directed by

Welcome to Wrexham , “Shaun’s Vacation” Bryan Rowland, Directed by

Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series

The Daily Show , “Jon Stewart Returns to the Daily Show” David Paul Meyer, Directed by

Jimmy Kimmel Live! , “Trump Still Mad About Oscars Joke…” Andy Fisher, Directed by

The Late Show With Stephen Colbert , “December 21, 2023” Jim Hoskinson, Directed by

Saturday Night Live , “Host: Ryan Gosling” Liz Patrick, Directed by — WINNER

Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special

Dave Chappelle: The Dreamer Stan Lathan, Directed by

Dick Van Dyke 98 Years of Magic Russell Norman, Directed by

The Oscars Hamish Hamilton, Directed by — WINNER

Tig Notaro: Hello Again Stephanie Allynne, Directed by

76th Annual Tony Awards Glenn Weiss, Directed by

Trevor Noah: Where Was I David Paul Meyer, Directed by

Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series

Beckham — WINNER The Jinx – Part Two Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV STAX: Soulsville U.S.A. Telemarketers

Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special

Albert Brooks: Defending My Life Girls State The Greatest Night in Pop Jim Henson Idea Man — WINNER Steve! (Martin) A Documentary in 2 Pieces

Outstanding Emerging Media Program

Emperor Fallout: Vault 33 — WINNER The Pirate Queen With Lucy Liu Red Rocks Live in VR Wallace & Gromit in the Grand Getaway

Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking

Beyond Utopia (Independent Lens) Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project — WINNER Stamped From the Beginning

Outstanding Game Show

Celebrity Family Feud Jeopardy! — WINNER Password The Price Is Right At Night Wheel of Fortune

Outstanding Hairstyling for a Variety, Nonfiction or Reality Program

The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula , “Trash Can Children” Dancing With the Stars , “Finale” Saturday Night Live , “Host: Ryan Gosling” — WINNER So You Think You Can Dance , “Challenge #2: Broadway” We’re Here , “Oklahoma, Part 3”

Outstanding Host for a Game Show

Celebrity Family Feud Steve Harvey, Host

Jeopardy! Ken Jennings, Host

Weakest Link Jane Lynch, Host

Password Keke Palmer, Host

Wheel of Fortune Pat Sajak, Host — WINNER

Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality Competition Program

RuPaul’s Drag Race RuPaul Charles, Host

Shark Tank Mark Cuban, Host Lori Greiner, Host Kevin O’Leary, Host Barbara Corcoran, Host Robert Herjavec, Host Daymond John, Host

The Traitors Alan Cumming, Host — WINNER

Top Chef Kristen Kish, Host

Survivor Jeff Probst, Host

Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special

What Pat Sajak Told Ryan Seacrest About 'Wheel of Fortune' During Final Days on Set

Conan O’Brien Must Go Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates Jr. How To With John Wilson My Next Guest With David Letterman and John Mulaney — WINNER The Reluctant Traveler With Eugene Levy

Outstanding Lighting Design/Lighting Direction for a Variety Series

America’s Got Talent , “Episode 1818” American Idol , “Top 14 Reveal” Dancing With the Stars , “Semi-Finals” The Late Show With Stephen Colbert , “May 21, 2024” Saturday Night Live , “Host: Kristen Wiig” — WINNER The Voice , “Live Finale, Part 2”

Outstanding Lighting Design/Lighting Direction for a Variety Special

The Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show Starring Usher Billy Joel: The 100th – Live At Madison Square Garden — WINNER 66th Grammy Awards 2023 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony 76th Annual Tony Awards

Outstanding Makeup for a Variety, Nonfiction or Reality Program

The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula , “Terror in the Woods” Dancing With the Stars , “Monster Night” Saturday Night Live , “Host: Ryan Gosling” — WINNER Taylor Mac’s 24-Decade History of Popular Music The Voice , “Live Finale, Part 1” and “Live Finale, Part 2” We’re Here , “Oklahoma, Part 3”

Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary Series or Special (Original Dramatic Score)

Albert Brooks: Defending My Life Beckham , “Seeing Red” Jim Henson Idea Man — WINNER Planet Earth III , “Extremes” Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed

Outstanding Music Direction

The 46th Kennedy Center Honors Late Night With Seth Meyers , “Episode 1488” The Oscars — WINNER 2023 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Saturday Night Live , “Host: Ryan Gosling”

Outstanding Narrator

Planet Earth III , “Human” Sir David Attenborough, Narrator

Queens , “African Queens” Angela Bassett, Narrator — WINNER

Life on Our Planet , “Chapter 1: The Rules of Life” Morgan Freeman, Narrator

Secrets of the Octopus , “Masterminds” Paul Rudd, Narrator

Lost Women of Highway 20 , “Vanished” Octavia Spencer, Narrator

Outstanding Picture Editing for a Nonfiction Program

Albert Brooks: Defending My Life Beckham , “Golden Balls” Escaping Twin Flames , “Up in Flames” Jim Henson Idea Man — WINNER The Jinx – Part Two , “Chapter 9: Saving My Tears Until It’s Official” Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV , “Hidden in Plain Sight” Steve! (Martin) A Documentary in 2 Pieces , “Then”

Outstanding Picture Editing for a Structured Reality or Competition Program

The Amazing Race (series body of work) Queer Eye , “Kiss the Sky” RuPaul’s Drag Race , “Werq the World” Top Chef (series body of work) The Voice (series body of work) — WINNER

Outstanding Picture Editing for An Unstructured Reality Program

Below Deck Down Under , “The Turnover Day” Deadliest Catch , “Nautical Deathtrap” Love on the Spectrum , “Episode 7” RuPaul’s Drag Race : Untucked, “Rate-A-Queen” Welcome to Wrexham , “Up the Town?” — WINNER

Outstanding Picture Editing for Variety Programming

Dolly Parton’s Pet Gala John Mulaney Presents: Everybody’s in LA — WINNER Nikki Glaser: Someday You’ll Die Ramy Youssef: More Feelings

Outstanding Picture Editing for Variety Programming (Segment)

The Daily Show, “The Dailyshowography of Vivek Ramaswamy: Enter the RamaVerse” — WINNER Last Week Tonight With John Oliver , “Boeing” Last Week Tonight With John Oliver , “The Sad Tale of Henry the Engine” Saturday Night Live , “I’m Just Pete” Saturday Night Live , “Bowen’s Straight”

Outstanding Production Design for a Variety Special

Dick Van Dyke 98 Years of Magic 66th Grammy Awards Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas The Oscars — WINNER 76th Annual Tony Awards

Outstanding Production Design for a Variety or Reality Series

Last Week Tonight With John Oliver , “Freight Trains” The Late Show With Stephen Colbert , “February 11, 2024” RuPaul’s Drag Race , “RDR Live!” Saturday Night Live , “Host: Josh Brolin” — WINNER Squid Game: The Challenge , “War”

Outstanding Short Form Comedy, Drama or Variety Series

Carpool Karaoke: The Series The Eric Andre Show Late Night With Seth Meyers Corrections Only Murders in the Building: One Killer Question — WINNER Real Time With Bill Maher: Overtime

Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series

After the Cut – the Daily Show The Crown: Farewell to a Royal Epic Hacks: Bit By Bit Saturday Night Live Presents: Behind the Sketch Shogun – the Making of Shōgun — WINNER

Outstanding Sound Editing for a Nonfiction or Reality Program

The Greatest Night in Pop Jim Henson Idea Man — WINNER Planet Earth III , “Freshwater” Steve! (Martin) A Documentary in 2 Pieces Welcome to Wrexham , “Goals”

Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Nonfiction Program

The Beach Boys — WINNER Jim Henson Idea Man Planet Earth III , “Deserts and Grasslands” STAX: Soulsville U.S.A. , “Chapter Two: Soul Man” Steve! (Martin) A Documentary in 2 Pieces

Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Reality Program

The Amazing Race (series body of work) Deadliest Catch , “Nautical Deathtrap” RuPaul’s Drag Race (series body of work) The Voice , “Live Finale” Welcome to Wrexham , “Giant Killers” — WINNER

Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Variety Series or Special

Billy Joel: The 100th – Live At Madison Square Garden — WINNER 66th Grammy Awards The Oscars 2023 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Saturday Night Live , “Host: Kristen Wiig”

Outstanding Structured Reality Program

Antiques Roadshow Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives Love Is Blind Queer Eye Shark Tank — WINNER

Outstanding Technical Direction and Camerawork for a Series

America’s Got Talent , “Finale Performances” Dancing With the Stars , “Finale” Last Week Tonight With John Oliver , “Elon Musk” The Late Show With Stephen Colbert , “April 8, 2024” Saturday Night Live, “Host: Timothée Chalamet” — WINNER

Outstanding Technical Direction and Camerawork for a Special

The Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show Starring Usher Billy Joel: The 100th – Live At Madison Square Garden — WINNER The Daily Show Presents: Jordan Klepper Fingers the Pulse – Moscow Tools 66th Grammy Awards Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas

Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program

Below Deck Down Under Love on the Spectrum RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked Vanderpump Rules Welcome to Wrexham — WINNER

Outstanding Variety Special (Live)

The Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show Starring Usher 66th Grammy Awards The Greatest Roast of All Time: Tom Brady The Oscars — WINNER 76th Annual Tony Awards

Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)

Billy Joel: The 100th – Live At Madison Square Garden Dave Chappelle: The Dreamer Dick Van Dyke 98 Years of Magic — WINNER Nikki Glaser: Someday You’ll Die Trevor Noah: Where Was I

Outstanding Writing for a Nonfiction Program

Conan O’Brien Must Go, “Ireland” — WINNER Jessie Gaskell, Written by Conan O’Brien, Written by Matt O’Brien, Written by Mike Sweeney, Written by

How To With John Wilson , “How to Watch the Game” John Wilson, Written by Michael Koman, Written by Allie Viti, Written by

Jim Henson Idea Man Mark Monroe, Written by

The Jinx – Part Two , “Chapter 7: Why Are You Still Here?” Andrew Jarecki, Written by Sam Neave, Written by Zac Stuart-Pontier, Written by

The Reluctant Traveler With Eugene Levy, “Scotland: My Mother’s Country” Alan Connor, Written by David Reilly, Written by Christine Rose, Written by

Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series

The Daily Show Last Week Tonight With John Oliver — WINNER Saturday Night Live

Creative Arts Emmy Awards

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The Challenge Is to Write 50,000 Words in a Month. Should ChatGPT Be Able to Help?

An online writing community was set aflame this week after National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo, said it wouldn’t take a stance on the use of A.I.

By Madison Malone Kircher

For over 20 years, writers around the world have participated in National Novel Writing Month , or #NaNoWriMo, as it’s known online. The challenge is simple: Write 50,000 words in the month of November. Well, as simple as writing 50,000 words can be. (That’s 1,667 words per day, for those of you doing the math at home.)

Of course, using a generative artificial intelligence platform, like ChatGPT, could make those words go by much quicker. But is that really ethical? In the spirit of the event? Good for the craft of creative writing in general?

These are some of the questions that fueled a heated debate this week among writers, editors and others in publishing who fear the creep of A.I. in their industry. It started with a statement from NaNoWriMo, the nonprofit organization that coordinates the writing marathon every year. It ended — though perhaps there is more to come — with resignations, a lost sponsor and plenty of prickly feelings in what is meant to be an uplifting community.

“NaNoWriMo does not explicitly support any specific approach to writing, nor does it explicitly condemn any approach, including the use of A.I.,” the organization wrote on its website at the end of August. To fully condemn the technology, it said, would be “to ignore classist and ableist issues.”

“For some writers, the decision to use A.I. is a practical, not an ideological, one,” the statement continued, noting the “upfront cost burdens” in the publishing industry as well as the challenges that writers with different mental and linguistic abilities may face. “The notion that all writers ‘should’ be able to perform certain functions independently is a position that we disagree with wholeheartedly.”

Kilby Blades, the executive director of NaNoWriMo, did not make herself available for an interview for this article.

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The Time Machine - One Off Creative Writing Lesson

Subject: Explorers and adventurers

Age range: 7-11

Resource type: Lesson (complete)

Last updated

22 February 2018

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