100 Norse Mythology Writing Prompts

100 Norse Mythology writing prompts stood ready, each one bursting with storytelling potential. As one scanned the list, minds would race with ideas. Imaginations could envision rewritten beloved myths from the perspective of side characters, chronicling the daily lives of gods and creatures, and building new worlds that merged Norse legends with modern life.

The prompts dug into facets of Norse lore like the symbolic power of runes, the devastation of epic battles, and the hijinks of mischief-loving deities. They offered springboards to weave tales of mystery, comedy, tragedy, and more. Even prompts centered in reality – like imagining a portal between ancient and modern Norway – held amusement at the clashing of cultures.

What adventures might be conjured up? Could humor be spun from Thor losing his prized hammer or a lyrical duel staged between quick-witted gods? Would one dare send the war-like Valkyries to military boot camp or have online deities gossip over the exploits of human warriors? The ideas could flow steadily, sparking creativity.

As one contemplated these gateways to realms of fantasy, hands might rub together in delight. Any one of these 100 writing prompts could unfold into a saga for the ages. The ancient Norse bards had regaled listeners with stories of gods and heroes for centuries – and now so too could the legacy be carried on. Minds’ eyes might envision proud Odin and stalwart Thor gathered around a burning fire, eagerly waiting to hear the timeless tales crafted from these prompts.

Pens would click, ready to let imaginations take flight. The first circled prompt would pulse with possibility: “Rewrite a popular Norse myth from the point of view of a side character…” A writer’s journey was about to begin

Here are 100 100 Norse Mythology writing prompts

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1. Rewrite a popular Norse myth from the point of view of a side character that experiences those events.
2. Describe how one of the Norse gods or creatures spends a typical day.
3. Where do souls go in the afterlife in Norse myths versus your religious or cultural beliefs? Compare and contrast.
4. Choose two Norse gods and write about what happens when they get into a divine argument or fight.
5. Pick a Norse creature and write a short horror story featuring it.
6. Imagine you wake up after the famous Ragnarök battle – what is the world like now?
7. Research a Norse artifact and then fictionalize a story of its creation.
8. How does a Viking ship sail into conflict or discovery? Describe a voyage.
9. Write a romance story featuring one of the Norse gods.
10. Describe what happens when a human accidentally stumbles into a realm of Norse mythology.
11. Research runes and shape a poem or story using their symbolic meanings.
12. Rewrite the story of how Odin discovered the runes from his point of view.
13. Pick two or more Norse gods and imagine them commenting on events of the modern world.
14. Imagine and describe an ancient ceremony devoted to one of the Norse gods.
15. Research Norse duels and their rules – then fictionalize your own duel scene and outcome.
16. Describe what happens when Thor loses Mjölnir one day and goes searching for it.
17. Pick a Norse creature, research it, an then plan a fictional nature documentary episode about it.
18. Describe an average Valhalla feast from a fallen warrior’s perspective.
19. Rewrite a Norse myth in modern language set in the current day.
20. A Minnesota Viking travels back in time to old Scandinavia. What happens?
21. Odin and Thor get into a heated argument about something. What is it? Who wins?
22. Write a fictional breaking news alert for an event tied to Ragnarök (ex: Fenrir escapes)
23. You’re about to battle an angry troll. How do you prepare and conduct yourself?
24. Rewrite a popular fictional battle scene with Norse gods involved.
25. Fictionalize an origin story for Loki’s notorious tricks and love of chaos.
26. Pick two opposing Norse gods and depict them in family therapy working through grievances.
27. Imagine you can ask the Norns (weavers of fate) one question about your future. What do you ask?
28. Insert a Norse god or creature secretly living among humans into a real historical event.
29. Rewrite a Bible story from a unique Norse perspective.
30. Write a fictionalized eye-witness account of a Viking raid.
31. Odin visits you to reclaim one of your senses in a Godfather-esque “offer you can’t refuse.” What happens?
32. Throw a disastrous mythical party and describe the events.
33. Compose a fictional travel brochure enticing modern tourists to visit ancient Scandinavia.
34. Design an ancient Norse board or video game using mythological characters and quests.
35. You’re about to go on the run after accidentally offending a powerful Norse being. Where do you go?
36. Create a fictional Norse myth explaining a natural phenomenon like seasons, storms, etc.
37. Craft a tragic Norse romance between star-crossed lovers from opposing worlds.
38. Design a plot playing out modern Norse pagans still devoted to and interacting with the Aesir gods.
39. Pick two mythological weapons or artifacts and imagine their ultimate showdown.
40. Rewrite a key moment from a god or hero’s formative years from their childhood perspective.
41. Odin appears asking for your first born child. How do you respond?
42. Life lessons often come from myths. What wisdom does a Norse story provide for your own life?
43. Insert a mythical Norse creature into a modern setting at odds with local authorities.
44. A prophet of Raganarök emerges trying to prevent or incite the final battle. Responses?
45. A legendary hero or weapon surfaces after centuries lost. Write their next adventure.
46. A modern soldier suffers an accident and awakens to find himself a Viking born in the wrong era.
47. Write a “day in the life” style slice of life depicting average Vikings going about daily tasks long ago.
48. Craft an origin story for a Norse creature explaining how their powers and weaknesses came to be.
49. Odin hosts a gathering of global deities of thunder, strength, knowledge etc – who attends and what unfolds?
50. Pick any god and re-imagine their story with a surprise modern career and lifestyle.
51. You awaken after the famous Ragnarok battle to find yourself the only surviving Norse god in a changed world. What happens next?
52. Rewrite a scene from the Poetic Edda or Prose Edda from the perspective of an ordinary background character living through those mythical events.
53. Thor gets injured and needs tech help from a mortal with his hammer or belt. How does that play out?
54. Two rival gods make a major bet over the outcome of a hero’s quest. Describe the wager and how they manipulate events.
55. Write a Facebook argument between two Norse gods conflicting over something in the modern world.
56. A pair of mythological weapons get anthropomorphized. Describe their inner lives and rivalry through the centuries.
57. Rewrite a scene with someone deliberately changing their fate against the designs of the Norns. What are the consequences?
58. A slice of life depicting an ordinary Viking crew spotting and reacting to something fantastical from myth on their voyage.
59. Style a Norse myth as a medieval Icelandic crime story with Odin as a detective following clues.
60. A mistaken identity comedy featuring Thor being confused for Santa Claus by a mortal.
61. Style a myth in the form of an ancient Norse newspaper article describing fantastical events.
62. A portal opens between Åsgard and present day Norway leading to hilarious culture shock and antics.
63. Rewrite the 12 labors of Heracles with a Norse god standing in while Heracles is on vacation on Mount Olympus.
64. Odin seeks a new method of gaining wisdom and enrolls as a student at a modern university.
65. Freyja seeks to enhance her beauty regimen through modern cosmetics with unexpected consequences.
66. Thor gets tricked by Loki into appearing as the star guest on a Jerry Springer-esque talk show.
67. Odin decides the Valkyries need modern combat training and sends them to military boot camp.
68. Thor tries an weird modern superfood which unexpectedly alters Mjölnir’s powers for a day.
69. A wanderer happens upon Valhalla from the world below. Write their observations as a witness.
70. Rewrite a battle scene with a syllabus limiting use of old Norse kennings to improve clarity.
71. Freya hosts a baby shower for a Volva’s expected offspring while gossiping about their warriors’ exploits.
72. ”LinkedIn Valhalla” – fallen warriors try connecting to find jobs in the world(s) of the living via the Internet.
73. Thor takes an anger management class, ordered by Odin, taught by creatures of empathy like Huginn and Muninn.
74. Rewrite the death of Baldur from the perspective of the mistletoe arrow itself.
75. Protagonist finds they can converse with dragons. Persuade one to peacefully move from destroying a village.
76. A dwarf craftsman takes on Loki as an unwilling intern for sorcerer’s deception-laden promise of payment.
77. Stage a rap battle between mythic creatures or gods to settle disputes without bloodshed.
78. Rewrite wandering Odin sheltered by common folk with Odin as a traveling hobo & them as kind homeowners.
79. The day Mjolnir was too sick and nasally congested to aid Thor and had to stay home with chicken noodle soup.
80. A prophecy states the Giants will defeat the Aesir Gods at next Ragnarok so they call a mythical ceasefire and truce.
81. Loki tries speed dating but his reputation precedes him.
82. Rewrite a scene from the Poetic Edda as a Shakespearean-style stage play.
83. A meet-cute between a mortal Viking and valkyrie.
84. Journal of a youngShield Maiden’s first battle told to her weapon afterward.
85. The Vikings discover America and find it already inhabited by native gods.
86. An aging god has grown cynical dealing with mortal’s follies and goes rogue.
87. Stage an episode of Mythic Cribs featuring a deity’s lavish otherworldly home.
88. Rewrite a myth explaining natural phenomenon using scientific method rather than supernatural causation.
89. Reimagine Ragnarok applying modern ecological sustainability solutions to avoid needless destruction.
90. Alliterations Anonymous meeting between Gods trying to curb use of excessive Norse literary devices during speech.
91. spin a tragic romance between star-crossed mythic lovers from warring pantheons (Norse & Greek).
92. Reimagine the Golden Age of myths looking forward with optimism rather than backward with longing.
93. Style a stirring poem recounting a legendary Viking raid eyewitness account.
94. Rewrite wandering Odin sheltered by common folk as a Hallmark movie.
95. Reimagine the poetry contest between the gods and jotnar retold in the style of Afro-Latin American magical realism.
96. Rewrite wandering Odin sheltered by common folk as a Hallmark movie.
97. Spin a humorous fish-out-of-water tale about a displaced Norse god trying to adapt to modern life after Ragnarok.
98. Rewrite the myth of “the Mead of Poetry” as a heist caper tale.
99. Reimagine tales featuring the wily and shapeshifting Loki as an encrypted manual on the art of deception.
100. An imprisoned Loki passes the time mentally narrating an epic satire mocking the hypocrisy of the Gods.

 

And so the journey begins. With 100 Norse mythology writing prompts ripe for picking, minds race with the exhilarating potential oozing from each one. One can envision crossover tales merging yesterday’s legends with today’s world, humorous fish-out-of-water exploits with larger-than-life figures bungling modern life, imaginative origin stories chronicling the dawn of renowned weapons and creatures, and subversive satires poking fun at the hypocrisies of gods wielding the power of unquestioned authority.

The storytelling possibilities prove boundless. Will prose pay homage to famed poetic conventions employing excessive alliterations? Might formats range from Shakespearean dramas to social media feuds? Could natural phenomena receive fresh mythical explanations or beloved battles face modern makeovers powered by empathy over violence? However derived, these prompts prime pens to carry forward the time-honored tradition of spinning fantastic yarns featuring the most storied gods and warriors history has ever known.

The call of adventure summons. With unbridled creativity lying in wait behind each circled prompt, washed ashore looked onward expectantly. What emerged from the misty horizon? It was the Norn Skuld clad in a familiar raincoat. Wordlessly she beckoned. Grasped with childlike awe, the way forward revealed itself in her outstretched hand…100 additional Norse mythology writing prompts.