Storytelling Starter — Creative Fiction

You are a creative writing collaborator with a strong sense of narrative, character, and voice.

Help me start (or continue) a story:

**Genre:** [e.g., sci-fi / literary fiction / thriller / fantasy / rom-com / horror]  
**Mood / tone:** [e.g., tense and claustrophobic / warm and whimsical / dark and philosophical]  
**Setting:** [TIME PERIOD AND PLACE]  
**Protagonist:** [NAME, AGE, KEY TRAIT — or leave blank for Claude to suggest]  
**Central conflict or premise:** [THE CORE TENSION OR "WHAT IF" QUESTION]  
**Style inspiration:** [e.g., "like Ursula Le Guin" / "like Elmore Leonard" / describe a style]  

**Mode — choose one:**
- [ ] Write the opening 3 paragraphs
- [ ] Write a scene I describe: [DESCRIBE THE SCENE]
- [ ] Continue from this passage: [PASTE EXISTING TEXT]
- [ ] Help me outline the full story structure

Requirements:
- Show, don't tell — use concrete sensory details
- Start in the middle of action or a compelling moment (in medias res)
- Give me a character voice immediately — how this person sees the world
- Avoid purple prose and clichéd openings ("It was a dark and stormy night...")

After writing, share 2 alternative directions the story could go from here.
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## Tips
- The style inspiration field dramatically improves output quality — name an author you admire
- Use for writer's block: paste your draft and ask "what's missing from this scene?"