100 Scene-Writing Prompts

 

100 Scene-Writing Prompts

 

At a fundamental level, screenwriting is scene-writing. Use these prompts to improve your scene-writing chops.

Add an original scene to a favorite film

A chase scene without cars

A murder scene

A scene featuring two characters sitting on the edge of a bridge

A scene in which someone says goodbye in an airport

A scene in which you introduce a character in a memorable way

A scene involving a medicine cabinet

A scene that begins with this line of scene description: “Smoke stings his/her eyes.”

A scene that ends with a cliffhanger

A scene with a reversal in it

A scene with a one-sided telephone conversation

A scene with a two-sided telephone conversation

A visual-to-visual transition between two scenes

A wedding proposal scene

An action scene with no dialogue

An establishing scene

An exposition scene… that is entertaining

An interrogation scene

An opening scene

An ordinary scene in an extraordinary location

A character disobeys an order

A character has to say goodbye to a good friend without actually saying s/he is leaving and won’t be back

A character says “I love you”… without using the words “I love you”

A fight scene involving actual physical violence

A lovers quarrel where something gets broken

A scene between a senior citizen and a child

A scene inspired by this photograph

A scene in which a character uses a computer

A scene in which a gesture plays a key part

A scene in which an animal plays a key role

A scene using voice-over narration

A scene that features a monologue

A scene where no words are spoken… but something important gets communicated

A scene where something gets stolen

A scene with a cliffhanger

A scene with a flashback

An apology

An interrogation scene

Someone talking to a gravestone

The first line of dialogue: “That’s the guy, right there”

A conversation between a white-collar and blue-collar worker

A post-sex scene

A scene at a sporting event

A scene in a confessional where the priest makes a confession

A scene inspired by this photograph

A scene in which characters whisper

A scene starting or ending with a hand holding a knife

A scene that involves texting

A scene using flashback and voice-over narration

A scene using something you hear in conversation today

A scene with just one word of dialogue

Adult answering a child’s questions

An accusation

An adulterer out for a meal with his/her spouse sees his/her lover enter the restaurant

En route to the hospital to have a baby

Someone has had too much to drink at a wedding reception when THIS happens

Someone is brought to tears

A character has a ‘conversation’ with him/herself in the mirror

A character reviews a series of voice mails, each with worse news

A man holding a gun

A pet uses voice-over narration to comment on a family fight

A scene inspired by this photograph

A scene involving a dead body

A scene involving a secret

A scene set in an inhospitable environment, e.g., outer space, underwater, desert

A scene where the entire conversation takes place off-screen

An intervention

Interruption

Introduce a character with a memorable impression

Leaving a voice mail

Miscommunication

One character has to break bad news to the other

Settling an argument by playing Rock, Paper, Scissors

Smack talk at a sporting event

Strangers biding time in a hospital emergency waiting room

The audience knows something the characters don’t

Two people talk while dancing

Under a deadline

A 9–1–1 emergency call

A bar. A bartender. A patron… getting drunk

A coach gives a motivational speech to their team

A good, entertaining montage or series of shots

A parent-teacher conference

A ride-sharing driver and their customer

A scene in which a hammer plays a key role

A scene that ends with a cliffhanger

A scene with a twist

A scene with no dialogue

An adult just happens to run into their middle school bully

Asking someone to dance

Confessing to a priest

“I want a divorce”

Rehearsing an apology

Sales pitch

Saying grace at a big family event

Someone discovers their mate is having an affair

Someone gives a driving lesson to an amateur driver

Strangers stuck together in an elevator

Trying to appear knowledgeable about wine

Trying to talk one’s way out of a traffic ticket

 

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