Fall is in full swing here in the United States. If you are looking for some inspiration to take you through the month, check out our new list of October writing prompts!

One of the best ways to improve your writing skills is through daily sustained practice. You don't have to write for hours a day to improve your craft.

Sometimes just improving your habits with daily prompts or other writing exercises can help you build a writing process that works for you and helps you overcome any writing blocks.

Here's a list of prompts to help you through 31 days of writing. Give them a try!

Daily writing prompts

Some prompts can be done weekly. Try one of these and then repeat it on the same day next week. It's an interesting way to mark progress.

1. If today had a theme or title, what would it be and why?
2. What's one thing you'd like to remember about today?
3. Describe a conversation you had today (or one you wish you'd had).
4. What's something you learned today?
5. What do you need today and why?

Story starter prompts

If you have trouble with first lines, borrow one of these and see where it leads!

6. The fall always brings change, but this year…
7. The barn was supposed to be empty, but…
8. The bonfire burned bright as they told stories when suddenly…
9. The leaves piled high in the yard, when suddenly the rake unearthed…
10. The wind was shifting, drawing shadows from the night sky, they turned and…

Letter writing ideas

When you write a letter, you are thinking about audience in addition to what you want to say. It's great practice!

11. Write a letter to someone you haven't seen in awhile.
12. Write a letter to your younger self.
13. Write a letter to a place that is important or holds meaning for you.
14. Write a letter to someone you disagree with.
15. Write a letter to a mentor, teacher, or other role model.

October holiday prompts

For some people, October is full of apple orchards, pumpkin patches, corn mazes, haunted houses, and Halloween fun. Try one of these seasonal prompts.

16. If you were to design a new kind of pumpkin patch, how would you build it?

17. Candy corn often sparks fierce disagreement between those who love it and hate it. Write about your experience with candy corn (or other candy that reminds you of October).

18. New scary movies tend to come out this month. Write about the scariest movie you've ever seen. (Tip: it doesn't have to be horror!)

19. If you created a haunted house, what would you include in each room and why?

20. Write about the best Halloween costume you've ever seen or worn yourself. What made it great?

Sentence starter mini-prompts

Ever tried microfiction? Try one of these mini-prompts and see how short a story you can tell in a few sentences.

21. The postcard had no return address, but that wasn't what worried them…
22. The single shoe had been left on the doorstep…
23. At first they thought it was the wind, but then the whisper came again…
24. The writing journal looked like it had been intentionally left open, and…
25. It was Tuesday, 9 o'clock, and the parking lot was empty, completely empty…

Fun ideas for descriptive writing

You need sensory description to make a story come alive. Try these prompts to get some practice exploring something new.

26. Describe the scents of a fire in the dark. Then change the setting from indoor to outdoor (or vice versa)
27. Capture the sensory experience of a walk through a fall farmer's market.
28. Describe the first sip or taste of a favorite food or drink.
29. Write about the way a favorite fall outfit feels.
30. Write about encountering a dog.
31. Describe five minutes of a favorite fall activity.

There you have it! An entire month of prompts to hone your writing skills and help you practice. Want more prompts? Check out a few more Fall Writing Prompts here or our best 150 Short Story Ideas here!

Which one is your favorite? Share in the comments.