Inklings: 300 Starts, Plots, and Challenges to Inspire your Horror, Science Fiction, and Fantasy Stories

by Jarod K. Anderson, Leslie J. Anderson

Practical, easy-to-use strategies to combat writer’s block and breathe new life into your science fiction, fantasy, and horror stories. Featuring 300 first sentences, plot overviews, and writing challenges, Inklings provides countless ways to keep your prose fresh.

Genres: Writing

75 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 26, 2013

About the author

Jarod K. Anderson is a strange mix of fantasy nerd, nature writer, podcaster, poet, and erstwhile academic. He once accidentally picked up a rattlesnake and has slept in the branches of a maple tree more than most writers. He created and voices The CryptoNaturalist podcast, a show about real love for imaginary nature, and he regularly shares his poems and prose on social media. He has published three books of poetry as well as the memoir Something in the Woods Loves You, about his lifelong struggle with depression and the healing power of the natural world. His new contemporary fantasy novel Strange Animals will be published in February 2026 by Ballantine Books. He has an MA in early modern English literature and insists he’s more fun than that makes him sound. He lives with his wife and son in a little white house tucked between a park and a cemetery.

Reviews

[B. · Rating 2 out of 5]

If both of these two authors have MAs, I'll eat a hat... or ketchup - hate that stuff. An MA program does cover the basics. Seriously though, if you're going to put out a prompt book, at least have the decency to run a spell check and a grammar check. There are words missing, such as "they arm you a meta-goal" instead of they arm you *with* a meta-goal (p. 1). The wrong word is used, such as in "conflict arch" instead of conflict *arc* (p. 1). And it's like these two forget what a space bar is - words are run together constantly, as in "An unlikely side character becomes your main protagonist/hero over thecourse of the story" instead of *the course* (p. 54).

As to the prompts? Just go to Writing Prompts on Tumblr, seems like most of the prompts in this book have been cribbed from that account, albiet dumbed down.

[James E Spradbery · Rating 2 out of 5]

Of you're going to name your book after a famous literary movement...

...then the words and ideas you've expressed had better be of an excellent standard.

There are some interesting ideas in this book but, in my opinion, they're held back by poor formatting which makes it difficult to tell where one prompt ends and the next one starts.

[T D Lopez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Has some good prompts in it.

[Santino Maulucci · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very interesting book. It gave a bunch of short sentences that prompt you to write stories. I have never seen this type of book before. I thought it was very original. I would recommend it, if only to see all these ideas.

[Trisha Slay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of fun ideas here

Short, but packed with good ideas. I was mainly interested in horror prompts ... But the title & cover (+low price point) really appealed to me. And now I'm rather excited to try a non-horror invasion story. Will check out other books by these authors.

[Tiffany Vaughn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it will give a full review later on. Maybe. Off to writing I go.

[Leticia · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are some interesting ideas, but due to the frequent five star reviews on amazon I expected a bit more.

[Nicholas Maulucci · Rating 1 out of 5]

hmmmm. unique book but don't waste your time unless you are in a reading contest.