200 Non-Fiction Writing Prompts: Ideas to Kickstart Your Next Story

Writing non-fiction can be challenging, but it's also incredibly rewarding. Non-fiction writing can take many forms, from memoirs to investigative journalism to personal essays, all of which you can publish on Vocal.

If you're struggling to come up with ideas for your next non-fiction piece, we've got you covered. We've compiled a list of 200 non-fiction writing prompts to help kickstart your creativity and inspire your next project. Whether you're a seasoned writer or just starting out, these prompts are sure to get your creative juices flowing.

Check out Vocal's other writing prompts:

• 400 Creative Writing Prompts to Spark Your Imagination on Vocal
• Fiction Writing Prompts: 200 Ideas to Kickstart Your Next Story
• 100 Writing Prompts for Self-Reflection and Personal Growth
• Flash Fiction Fever: 150 Quick and Engaging Prompts for Short Stories
• 100 Genre-Specific Writing Prompts: From Mystery to Sci-Fi and Everything in Between
• Compelling Story Starters: 120 First Line Prompts to Capture Your Reader's Attention
• 150 Poetry Prompts to Unleash Your Inner Bard

1. Write about a personal experience that changed your life.
2. Describe a time when you had to overcome a major obstacle.
3. Write about a topic you're passionate about and explain why.
4. Research and write about a little-known historical event.
5. Write about a person who has had a significant impact on your life.
6. Describe a place that holds special meaning to you.
7. Write about a moment of triumph in your life.
8. Research and write about a controversial topic.
9. Describe a pivotal moment in your career.
10. Write about a challenge you overcame in your personal life.
11. Research and write about a current event that interests you.
12. Write about a time when you had to make a difficult decision.
13. Describe a moment when you felt truly alive.
14. Write about a place you've traveled to and what you learned from the experience.
15. Research and write about a science or technology topic.
16. Describe a time when you felt lost and how you found your way.
17. Write about a person who has inspired you and why.
18. Research and write about a social issue that's important to you.
19. Write about a relationship that has had a significant impact on your life.
20. Describe a moment when you realized something important about yourself.
21. Research and write about a cultural tradition or practice.
22. Write about a personal passion or hobby and why it's important to you.
23. Describe a moment when you were faced with a difficult moral decision.
24. Write about a person or event that changed the course of history.
25. Research and write about a medical or health topic.
26. Write about a time when you had to confront a fear.
27. Describe a moment when you felt true happiness.
28. Write about a political issue that you're passionate about.
29. Research and write about a famous person or figure.
30. Describe a moment when you realized the importance of family.
31. Write about a life-changing decision you made.
32. Research and write about a legal topic.
33. Write about a time when you faced a major setback.
34. Describe a moment when you learned an important lesson.
35. Write about a person who has had a major influence on your career.
36. Research and write about a business or financial topic.
37. Write about a time when you had to face a difficult truth.
38. Describe a moment when you felt true love.
39. Write about a cause or charity that's important to you.
40. Research and write about a historical figure who has been overlooked.
41. Write about a personal experience that taught you an important lesson.
42. Research and write about a travel destination.
43. Write about a time when you had to make a sacrifice.
44. Describe a moment when you felt truly grateful.
45. Write about a person who has had a major impact on your community.
46. Research and write about a topic related to education.
47. Write about a time when you had to step outside your comfort zone.
48. Describe a moment when you felt truly at peace.
49. Write about a person or organization that's working to make the world a better place.
50. Research and write about a scientific breakthrough or discovery.
51. Write about a time when you had to let go of something or someone.
52. Research and write about a topic related to mental health.
53. Write about a moment when you realized the importance of self-care.
54. Describe a time when you had to confront your own biases or prejudices.
55. Write about a person or organization that's working to protect the environment.
56. Research and write about a cultural phenomenon.
57. Write about a moment when you had to stand up for what you believed in.
58. Describe a moment when you felt truly inspired.
59. Write about a personal accomplishment you're proud of.
60. Research and write about a topic related to technology and privacy.
61. Write about a time when you had to make a tough ethical decision.
62. Research and write about a topic related to social justice.
63. Write about a moment when you felt truly hopeful.
64. Describe a time when you had to confront your own mortality.
65. Write about a person or organization that's working to fight poverty.
66. Research and write about a topic related to addiction.
67. Write about a moment when you learned something new about yourself.
68. Describe a time when you had to let go of a grudge.
69. Write about a person or organization that's working to promote equality.
70. Research and write about a topic related to artificial intelligence.
71. Write about a time when you had to make a difficult compromise.
72. Research and write about a topic related to aging.
73. Write about a moment when you felt truly fulfilled.
74. Describe a time when you had to take a risk.
75. Write about a person or organization that's working to combat discrimination.
76. Research and write about a topic related to climate change.
77. Write about a moment when you realized the importance of forgiveness.
78. Describe a time when you had to confront a past mistake.
79. Write about a person or organization that's working to improve public health.
80. Research and write about a topic related to space exploration.
81. Write about a time when you had to face a difficult truth about yourself.
82. Research and write about a topic related to animal rights.
83. Write about a moment when you felt truly alive.
84. Describe a time when you had to make a difficult sacrifice for someone else.
85. Write about a person or organization that's working to combat injustice.
86. Research and write about a topic related to privacy in the digital age.
87. Write about a moment when you realized the importance of empathy.
88. Describe a time when you had to face a fear head-on.
89. Write about a person or organization that's working to promote peace.
90. Research and write about a topic related to renewable energy.
91. Write about a time when you had to make a difficult choice between two good options.
92. Research and write about a topic related to disability rights.
93. Write about a moment when you felt truly proud of yourself.
94. Describe a time when you had to overcome a challenge with perseverance.
95. Write about a person or organization that's working to promote understanding between cultures.
96. Research and write about a topic related to online privacy.
97. Write about a moment when you realized the importance of community.
98. Describe a time when you had to confront your own biases or prejudices.
99. Write about a person or organization that's working to promote human rights.
100. Research and write about a topic related to the future of technology.
101. Write about a time when you had to confront a difficult truth about someone else.
102. Research and write about a topic related to gender equality.
103. Write about a moment when you felt truly inspired by nature.
104. Describe a time when you had to make a decision that went against your values.
105. Write about a person or organization that's working to combat poverty.
106. Research and write about a topic related to cyber security.
107. Write about a moment when you realized the importance of communication.
108. Describe a time when you had to overcome a fear of failure.
109. Write about a person or organization that's working to promote diversity.
110. Research and write about a topic related to virtual reality.
111. Write about a time when you had to confront a difficult ethical dilemma.
112. Research and write about a topic related to mental illness.
113. Write about a moment when you felt truly connected to someone else.
114. Describe a time when you had to make a difficult decision that affected others.
115. Write about a person or organization that's working to promote social change.
116. Research and write about a topic related to biotechnology.
117. Write about a moment when you realized the importance of self-reflection.
118. Describe a time when you had to confront your own privilege.
119. Write about a person or organization that's working to promote sustainability.
120. Research and write about a topic related to quantum computing.
121. Write about a time when you had to confront a difficult truth about the world.
122. Research and write about a topic related to immigration.
123. Write about a moment when you felt truly at home.
124. Describe a time when you had to overcome a fear of rejection.
125. Write about a person or organization that's working to promote civil rights.
126. Research and write about a topic related to privacy and surveillance.
127. Write about a moment when you realized the importance of forgiveness.
128. Describe a time when you had to confront your own biases or prejudices.
129. Write about a person or organization that's working to promote animal welfare.
130. Research and write about a topic related to robotics.
131. Write about a time when you had to confront a difficult truth about yourself.
132. Research and write about a topic related to accessibility.
133. Write about a moment when you felt truly alive and free.
134. Describe a time when you had to make a decision that went against the norm.
135. Write about a person or organization that's working to promote environmental justice.
136. Research and write about a topic related to internet culture.
137. Write about a moment when you realized the importance of empathy.
138. Describe a time when you had to face a challenge that seemed insurmountable.
139. Write about a person or organization that's working to promote peace in conflict zones.
140. Research and write about a topic related to genetic engineering.
141. Write about a time when you had to confront a difficult truth about society.
142. Research and write about a topic related to climate justice.
143. Write about a moment when you felt truly at peace with yourself.
144. Describe a time when you had to overcome a fear of the unknown.
145. Write about a person or organization that's working to promote equality in the workplace.
146. Research and write about a topic related to online activism.
147. Write about a moment when you realized the importance of kindness.
148. Describe a time when you had to confront your own mortality.
149. Write about a person or organization that's working to promote fair trade.
150. Research and write about a topic related to renewable resources.
151. Write about a time when you had to confront a difficult truth about a loved one.
152. Research and write about a topic related to indigenous rights.
153. Write about a moment when you felt truly grateful.
154. Describe a time when you had to make a difficult decision for someone else's benefit.
155. Write about a person or organization that's working to promote LGBTQ+ rights.
156. Research and write about a topic related to the intersection of technology and social justice.
157. Write about a moment when you realized the importance of self-acceptance.
158. Describe a time when you had to confront a personal bias or prejudice.
159. Write about a person or organization that's working to promote global health.
160. Research and write about a topic related to the future of transportation.
161. Write about a time when you had to confront a difficult truth about your identity.
162. Research and write about a topic related to poverty and education.
163. Write about a moment when you felt truly connected to a community.
164. Describe a time when you had to take a stand for your beliefs.
165. Write about a person or organization that's working to promote gender equity.
166. Research and write about a topic related to data privacy.
167. Write about a moment when you realized the importance of resilience.
168. Describe a time when you had to confront a personal limitation.
169. Write about a person or organization that's working to promote fair housing.
170. Research and write about a topic related to the ethics of artificial intelligence.
171. Write about a time when you had to confront a difficult truth about a friend.
172. Research and write about a topic related to access to healthcare.
173. Write about a moment when you felt truly hopeful about the future.
174. Describe a time when you had to take a risk for a greater good.
175. Write about a person or organization that's working to promote accessible design.
176. Research and write about a topic related to online harassment.
177. Write about a moment when you realized the importance of perspective.
178. Describe a time when you had to confront a personal fear.
179. Write about a person or organization that's working to promote immigrant rights.
180. Research and write about a topic related to the impact of automation on the workforce.
181. Write about a time when you had to confront a difficult truth about a society you belong to.
182. Research and write about a topic related to global water scarcity.
183. Write about a moment when you felt truly empowered.
184. Describe a time when you had to make a difficult choice between two important priorities.
185. Write about a person or organization that's working to promote accessible transportation.
186. Research and write about a topic related to the impact of social media on mental health.
187. Write about a moment when you realized the importance of self-care.
188. Describe a time when you had to confront a personal prejudice or stereotype.
189. Write about a person or organization that's working to promote clean energy.
190. Research and write about a topic related to the ethics of autonomous weapons.
191. Write about a time when you had to confront a difficult truth about a community you belong to.
192. Research and write about a topic related to the impact of climate change on human migration.
193. Write about a moment when you felt truly at ease with yourself.
194. Describe a time when you had to take a risk for your own benefit.
195. Write about a person or organization that's working to promote accessible education.
196. Research and write about a topic related to the impact of technology on mental health.
197. Write about a moment when you realized the importance of gratitude.
198. Describe a time when you had to confront a personal assumption.
199. Write about a person or organization that's working to promote animal conservation.
200. Research and write about a topic related to the future of space exploration.

Remember, these prompts are just starting points, and the possibilities are endless. Use them as inspiration to explore new topics and ideas, or as a way to delve deeper into subjects that interest you.

Leave a comment below with your non-fiction writing prompts.