Story generator that writes a full story from your idea
Maybe you have a premise and no time, a gift idea for someone who loves a genre, or a writing class that needs a model story. This prompt has your todo.is agent write a complete short story with a clear beginning, a turning point and an ending that pays off, in the genre, length and voice you choose.
The prompt
- Write a complete short story. Idea: [STORY IDEA]. Genre: [GENRE]. Main character: [MAIN CHARACTER]. Length: about [LENGTH]. Point of view: [POINT OF VIEW]. Give it a clear structure: an opening that shows the character wanting something, a problem that gets worse, a turning point where they make a choice, and an ending that resolves it in a way that fits the genre. Show feelings through actions and dialogue rather than explaining them. Avoid clichés like "it was all a dream". Give it a title. Deliver it as a Word file and a PDF, and add a 3-line note on the theme and how I could make it longer.
What to change
- [STORY IDEA]: One or two sentences, e.g. "a lighthouse keeper finds a letter addressed to her, dated 50 years in the future".
- [GENRE]: e.g. "mystery", "sci-fi", "cozy fantasy", "literary", "horror", "romance".
- [MAIN CHARACTER]: Name, age and one trait, e.g. "Ines, 67, stubborn retired engineer".
- [LENGTH]: e.g. "1,500 words", "2,000 words", "a 5-minute read".
- [POINT OF VIEW]: e.g. "first person", "third person close", or "you decide".
Example result
- The Letter at Carrow Point
- The supply boat came on Thursdays, and on Thursdays Ines Duarte allowed herself one cup of real coffee. She was halfway through it when she found the envelope tucked inside the crate of batteries.
- It was addressed to her, in neat blue ink. The postmark said 14 March 2076.
- She turned it over twice. Then she put it in the drawer with the tide tables and did not open it for nine days.
- Story plan
- • Want: Ines wants to be left alone with the lighthouse she has kept for 30 years
- • Problem: the letter claims the lighthouse will be automated next spring, and that she agreed to it
- • Worse: a young surveyor arrives with a contract that has her signature on it, dated tomorrow
- • Turning point: Ines realizes the letter is from her own future self, asking her to sign
- • Ending: she signs, then rows to the mainland for the first time in a decade
- Excerpt from the turning point
- "You wrote this," the surveyor said, and it wasn't a question.
- Ines looked at the handwriting. It was hers, but steadier, as if the woman who wrote it had stopped being afraid of something.
- *Let them have the light,* the letter said. *You kept it long enough. Go and see who you are without it.*
- She read it four times. Outside, the beam swept the water the way it had every night for thirty years, and for the first time it looked like something that could keep going without her.
- Note
- • Theme: letting go of the thing that defines you
- • To make it longer: add a scene from her past on the mainland, and a second visit from the surveyor before the contract
- • Word count: 1,540
How to do it with todo.is
- Copy the prompt and fill in your idea, genre, character, length and point of view.
- Paste it into todo.is on the Today screen, or text it to your agent on WhatsApp or Telegram.
- Read the story and the plan. Ask for changes like "darker ending" or "more dialogue in the middle".
- Download the Word file to edit, or the PDF to print or share.
Tips for a better result
- A specific premise makes a better story than a big one. "A letter from the future" beats "a story about time".
- Give your main character one flaw. Stories come alive when the flaw causes the problem or solves it.
- Ask for the plan first if you want control. Approve the turning point, then ask your agent to write the full story.
- Want it read aloud? Ask for an MP3 voice version of the finished story.
story generator: FAQ
- How long is a short story? Most short stories run from 1,000 to 7,500 words. Flash fiction is usually under 1,000 words.
- Who owns a story written with AI? Rules on AI-written text and copyright differ by country and are still changing. If you plan to publish, check the rules where you live and edit the story into your own work.
- Can it continue the story or write a sequel? Yes. Ask in the same chat, e.g. "write part 2 from the surveyor’s point of view", and your agent keeps the characters and details consistent.
- Can it write a story for kids? Yes. Say the age, and ask for simple words and short paragraphs. For a picture book, see the children’s book writer prompt.
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