Novelcrafter
The Monthly Muse - Your monthly writing inspiration with fresh and seasonal themes

Your Monthly Writing Inspiration

The Monthly Muse is our series for inspiring writing prompts that offers a fun and engaging way to get your creative juices flowing.

Use one of our fresh, new mini-games to generate a writing prompt and write an exciting piece!

An ancient museum icon

Past Issues

The Muse-eum

Explore past issues and discover a treasure trove of ideas and inspiration.

Tale Trekkers - The Monthly Muse Issue #13 - August 2025

Issue #13 - August 2025

Tale Trekkers

Send a postcard home from your holiday adventures and discover inspiration for unusual story locations.

Sea Saga - The Monthly Muse Issue #12 - July 2025

Issue #12 - July 2025

Sea Saga

Spin the compass to chart your course through mysterious islands and notorious harbors.

Plotchi Gumball - The Monthly Muse Issue #11 - June 2025

Issue #11 - June 2025

Plotchi Gumball

Insert your coins into the Plotchi Gumball Machine and find your next writing prompt.

Cosmic Call - The Monthly Muse Issue #10 - May 2025

Issue #10 - May 2025

Cosmic Call

Decode the transmission to find out your next mission… or rather, writing prompts in May's Monthly Muse.

Dragon's Tale - The Monthly Muse Issue #9 - April 2025

Issue #9 - April 2025

Dragon's Tale

Can you help save the Kingdom, and find the prompt for your next epic fantasy?

Gran's Greenhouse - The Monthly Muse Issue #8 - March 2025

Issue #8 - March 2025

Gran's Greenhouse

Help Grandma tidy up her greenhouse, decipher her instructions and get cozy mystery inspiration.

Sage Advice - The Monthly Muse Issue #7 - February 2025

Issue #7 - February 2025

Sage Advice

Get some advise for your next LitRPG story by answering questions from our world building Sage.

New Year's Bangers - The Monthly Muse Issue #6 - January 2025

Issue #6 - January 2025

New Year's Bangers

Celebrate the new year with a bang! Design a firework show and let it inspire your writing prompt.

Secret Santa - The Monthly Muse Issue #5 - December 2024

Issue #5 - December 2024

Secret Santa

Pick and wrap up a special gift to unveil your Secret Santa writing prompt for the end of the year!

Tarot Tales - The Monthly Muse Issue #4 - November 2024

Issue #4 - November 2024

Tarot Tales

Pick a spread and draw some cards! Your writing prompt is hidden in the details.

Ouija Detective - The Monthly Muse Issue #3 - October 2024

Issue #3 - October 2024

Ouija Detective

Interrogate your haunted crime scene evidence to unveil your writing prompt!

Teapot Party - The Monthly Muse Issue #2 - September 2024

Issue #2 - September 2024

Teapot Party

Pick your leaves, add some flavor and create your own writing blend!

August Bingo - The Monthly Muse Issue #1 - August 2024

Issue #1 - August 2024

August Bingo

Play a game of bingo and write a story based on the prompts you get!

FAQ

Do I have to write a story?

Nope! Any literary work (fiction or non-fiction) works, provided it includes the prompts on your challenge! Depending on your available time you don’t need to work on a large project every month.

Can I only do one challenge?

Do you think we’d limit you to just one? Knock yourself out! If you want to write two, four, even ten… We don’t know when you’ll sleep, but go for it.

Do I have to use AI?

Not at all! Novelcrafter is a pure writing application at its heart (although we’re fond of the AI features we’ve added.) You can use as much or as little AI as you feel comfortable with. This is an exercise in creativity, so do whatever sparks that joy in you.

Is there anywhere that I can talk about/ask questions about the challenges? What if I want to share my story?

We’ve created a new Discord channel (#monthly-muse) for you to share your work and ask questions. We don’t ask to see your stories in order to participate, but please feel free to talk about your projects as much as you’d like.

What if I’m still not sure what to do?

Not to fret! We will be frequently going live during the month to work on this challenge in different formats, both using AI and without. We’ll answer your questions and help you out where we can. And don’t forget to check Discord!