Fiction

Concept Art Writing Prompt: A Tour Down Mech Alley

In this week’s Concept Art Writing Prompt, by artist Ville Ericsson, we see a pair of armed fellows patrolling a city alley. But who are they? And what’s their relationship, if any, to the robot ahed of them? If you’ve been looking for writing inspiration, take a crack at our Concept Art Writing Prompt. See…

io9 Lauren Davis May 7

Concept Art Writing Prompt: Guess Who’s Coming To The Diner?

In this week’s Concept Art Writing Prompt, by artist David Cousens, an unusual character is attracting quite a bit of attention at a sunlit diner. You tell us: What’s going on here? What’s this curious character’s story? And what happens when that kid starts pointing and staring? In the Concept Art Writing Prompt, we share…

io9 Lauren Davis Apr 30

Why Even Magic Needs To Play By The Rules In Fiction

Sometimes magical events and characters can really push a story into a much more interesting place, but sometimes their appearance seems to stop things in their tracks. What makes the difference? Remembering that even magic has to follow the rules. Author V.E. Schwab joined us today to take questions about her latest novel, A Darker…

io9 Ria Misra Apr 23

Concept Art Writing Prompt: NASA Down

In our weekly Concept Art Writing Prompt, we invite you all to write short stories inspired by a particularly interesting illustration. This week’s prompt, by artist Johnson Ting, shows us a very battered NASA ship. You tell us: What happened here? Once you’ve written your story, share it here in the comments. Happy writing! “Downed”…

io9 Lauren Davis Apr 23

Write Some Six-Word Science Fiction Stories For io9!

It’s time for those six little words you’ve all been waiting for: Write us some science fiction, please! Whether you want to let us know that everything is amazing until you get used to it (“Mending black holes was mostly tedious.” —adam42), or put together a sequel to a tiny potboiler (“Amnesia sold by the…

io9 Ria Misra Apr 13

Concept Art Writing Prompt: A Trek Across The Savannah

We’re plunged into a strange alien world in this week’s Concept Art Writing Prompt, by artist Jeremy Anderson. You tell us: What is this place? And what is happening with that band of figures crossing the plain? Each week, we share an interesting illustration and invite you all to write stories inspired by that illustration.…

io9 Lauren Davis Apr 2

Concept Art Writing Prompt: Unnatural Selection

We’ve got some kind of evaluation happening in this week’s Concept Art Writing Prompt, by artist Johannes Holm. So what’s going on? And what happens to the humans who are pulled out of line? Each week, we share an interesting image and invite you to write a story based on that image. Feeling inspired? Post…

io9 Lauren Davis Mar 26

Concept Art Writing Prompt: Waking Up To The Apocalypse

There’s nothing like waking up in the morning and getting a face full of monster. This week’s Concept Art Writing Prompt, by David Velásquez, would make a great illustration for a story — you just have to write it first. If this illustration, which Velásquez made for a Darksiders-themed art contest, inspires you to write…

io9 Lauren Davis Mar 19

Author Robert Repino Explains Why Writing Animal Characters Is So Tricky

Bringing any character to life on the page is a bit of a magic trick that requires some slight of hand to pull off. But how does that process change when your characters aren’t human? Author Robert Repino explains, plus he shows a first look at his book’s concept art. Repino’s new novel Mort(e) was…

io9 Ria Misra Mar 13

Concept Art Writing Prompt: Give Me Shelter

It’s a snowy day in this week’s Concept Art Writing Prompt, by artist Katharina Guettlein, but there is shelter ahead. Write a story inspired by this image and tell us: What will our lone figure find there? Each week, we feature an interesting piece of artwork and invite you to write stories inspired by the…

io9 Lauren Davis Mar 12

Here’s How Apocalyptic Fiction Has Changed Over the Last Century

Tumblr user Destination Toast has done a lot of statistical analyses of fandom — all of it very impressive — but the latest analyzes how the kinds of apocalypses in fiction have changed over time. We’re worried about a lot more now than we used to be. The chart below covers the different kinds of…

io9 Katharine Trendacosta Mar 12

Concept Art Writing Prompt: The Legendary Moment

There is something amazing going on in this week’s writing prompt, by artist Mohammad Hossein Attaran. But what is it? How on Earth did this happen in the first place? And what is our falling figure trying to accomplish? You tell us; write a story about this peculiar moment. It’s time once again for the…

io9 Lauren Davis Mar 5

Concept Art Writing Prompt: The Kid Who Paints The Moon

The phases of the moon get a bit fanciful in this week’s writing prompt, by artist Goro Fujita. Tell us your tale about this character and their rather unusual lunar job. As always, we invite you to write a story about this image, Fujita’s “Half Moon” and share it in the comments. Is this Earth’s…

io9 Lauren Davis Feb 26

Concept Art Writing Prompt: The Book Wyrm

This week’s writing prompt, by artist Alexandra Khitrova, features an apparently tiny creature who has found itself a comfortable little home. Check out the full image below and take a crack at writing a story about this little fellow. Khitrova goes by GaudiBuendia on deviantART, and you can see more of her work there. In…

io9 Lauren Davis Feb 19

Concept Art Writing Prompt: The Spidermother

Well, things are looking pretty creepy in this week’s writing prompt. But is the massive mother in this image going to care for that baby or feed the baby to her brood? “Spidermother” is by artist Markus Erdt. You can see more of Erdt’s work on his portfolio site, his blog, and his deviantART profile,…

io9 Lauren Davis Feb 12

Concept Art Writing Prompt: The Navy’s Big Rubber Duck

An unusual ship cruises the waters under the banner of the United Nations in this week’s writing prompt. You tell us: Why on Earth is the navy employing a giant rubber duck? “Big Rubber Duck” is by artist Kare Huang, and it’s just begging to be written about. If this illustration inspires you, write a…

io9 Lauren Davis Feb 5

Concept Art Writing Prompt: Fish Among The Trees

In this week’s writing prompt, twisting tree trunks and girls in dresses coexist with giant, luminous fish. Tell us what kind of world this happens in and what is going on in this illustration. “Dance in the Forest” is by artist kakotomirai, who has both a portfolio site and a deviantART gallery. As always, we…

io9 Lauren Davis Jan 29

Concept Art Writing Prompt: Bad Lady

Judging from the whiteboard on the wall, this isn’t the first time this boy has encountered this particular under-the-covers horror. Write your own story about what is going on in this nightmare image. “Ghost Story” is by artist Eric Felten, via r/ImaginaryHorrors. If this spooky picture inspires you, write a story and post it in…

io9 Lauren Davis Jan 22

Concept Art Writing Prompt: Somewhere Beneath The Sea

A couple of explorers trudge through the remains of an underwater building that looks like it might not be much longer for this world. What story can you spin about the expedition? “Somewhere beyond the sea” is by artist Chris Karbach, whose work we discovered via r/ImaginaryWastelands. Can you come up with a story inspired…

io9 Lauren Davis Jan 15

Concept Art Writing Prompt: Bringing In The Harvest

The ships are bringing in a strange and glowing harvest. What exactly is this bounty? And what will the harvesters do with it? Write a story inspired by this scene. “Harvest” is by artist Arthur Haas, who has tons of otherworldly images in his deviantART gallery. As always, we invite you to come up with…

io9 Lauren Davis Jan 8

Concept Art Writing Prompt: A Tour Down Mech Alley

Concept Art Writing Prompt: Guess Who’s Coming To The Diner?

Why Even Magic Needs To Play By The Rules In Fiction

Concept Art Writing Prompt: NASA Down

Write Some Six-Word Science Fiction Stories For io9!

Concept Art Writing Prompt: A Trek Across The Savannah

Concept Art Writing Prompt: Unnatural Selection

Concept Art Writing Prompt: Waking Up To The Apocalypse

Author Robert Repino Explains Why Writing Animal Characters Is So Tricky

Concept Art Writing Prompt: Give Me Shelter

Here’s How Apocalyptic Fiction Has Changed Over the Last Century

Concept Art Writing Prompt: The Legendary Moment

Concept Art Writing Prompt: The Kid Who Paints The Moon

Concept Art Writing Prompt: The Book Wyrm

Concept Art Writing Prompt: The Spidermother

Concept Art Writing Prompt: The Navy’s Big Rubber Duck

Concept Art Writing Prompt: Fish Among The Trees

Concept Art Writing Prompt: Bad Lady

Concept Art Writing Prompt: Somewhere Beneath The Sea

Concept Art Writing Prompt: Bringing In The Harvest

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