100 Western Writing Prompts

Wrangled 100 western writing prompts

Looking for story ideas with plenty of cowboy action, high noon showdowns, and wild frontier adventure? Saddle up partners – We’ve wrangled 100 western writing prompts just for you.

Whether you’re an aspiring Louise L’Amour or Annie Oakley, these prompts deliver scenarios brimming with drama, danger, and the rich mythology of the Old West. They’re perfect for sparking your next short story, vignette scene, or full-blown novel filled with cattle drives, trailblazers, outlaws, lawmen, gunfights and more. I aim to give you a good spread of key frontier themes and characters to ignite your creativity – from intrepid homesteaders and embattled wagon trains to shady poker players, prospectors chasing riches, and gritty tales from mining camps, shady saloons, and boomtowns.

There’s story ideas with traditional cowboy flavors like showdowns at high noon, posse ambushes, and life on the lonesome cattle trail. But I’ve also included some unique angles I haven’t seen before across collections of western prompts – a lost child rescued, settlers and natives uneasy allies, defending moving trains from attack, surviving natural disasters in the rugged land, teacher’s frontier schoolhouses, gunfighters caught in range wars, brothers turned outlaws and more.

So if you’re hankering for rollicking yarns filled with sagebrush, stirrups and the spirit of Manifest Destiny – I’ve got you covered. Just mosey on down and take your pick of storylines. Happy writing trails to you!

wrangled 100 western writing prompts

1. The train you’re on gets robbed by a gang of outlaws. Describe the tense standoff and your efforts to get away safely.
2. You’re a cowboy riding the range alone when you come across a lost child. Write about guiding them home safely.
3. Describe a high noon showdown between two cowboys in the dusty streets of a small town.
4. You establish a homestead on the untamed frontier. Write about the challenges and rewards of your new life.
5. A group of Native Americans and settlers must learn to cooperate to survive a harsh winter. Write this story.
6. Write a day-in-the-life of a cattle rancher during a long cattle drive. Describe the work, sights, and camaraderie.
7. A mysterious stranger comes to town claiming he can outshoot the fastest gun around. Set the scene for the epic duel that follows.
8. You discover a secret hideout where outlaws are plotting their next heist. Describe sneaking off to warn the sheriff.
9. Write about two wagon trains camping together overnight on the dangerous Oregon Trail. People band together to fend off threats.
10. Describe the exhilaration of galloping on horseback through wide open plains and desert landscapes.
11. The train you are on gets ambushed by robbers in black masks. Write an intense story about outsmarting them to protect your valuables.
12. Write about a sheriff keeping the peace in a rough frontier boomtown filled with fortune seekers.
13. A family’s buffalo hunt goes awry when they encounter bears and other dangers. Write this adventure tale.
14. Describe a small frontier town preparing for the annual county fair and rodeo competition.
15. Write about a greenhorn who arrives out west and has a lot to learn about cowboy life. His more experienced partner tries to teach him.
16. You’re playing poker on a riverboat when a dishonest player accuses you of cheating. The confrontation quickly turns violent.
17. Write a story focused on the friendship between a cowboy and his trusty horse.
18. Describe an intense stakeout as a sheriff and posse wait in ambush to catch a notorious outlaw gang.
19. You’re a rancher who discovers oil on your land. Write the story of your journey from rags to riches.
20. Write about a saloon showdown between a card sharp and a hot-tempered cowboy.
21. You’re the sheriff of a small mining town tasked with stopping a ruthless gang from robbing the assay office. Set the scene.
22. Write about a prospector who strikes gold after years of failed attempts and setbacks.
23. Describe the excitement of a crowd gathered for the opening of a new frontier railroad line.
24. The cattle drive you’re on faces thirst and other dangers while crossing harsh desert country. Write this intense story.
25. You’re a hired gun who must use your skills to resolve a land dispute between farmers and ranchers. Set the scene.
26. Write about two outlaw brothers on the run from the law across the western plains, and how it strains their relationship.
27. Describe the lively, bustling scene inside a saloon during a poker tournament with high stakes.
28. You’re a teacher in a one-room schoolhouse trying to give frontier kids an education. Write a day-in-the-life story.
29. The wagon train you’re travelling west on comes under attack. You help defend it through a brutal battle.
30. Write a story about pioneers holed up in their covered wagon fighting to survive a raging prairie wildfire.
31. You’re a weary cowboy arriving in town after months on the trail. Write about your first night relaxing at the saloon.
32. Describe a tense scene where the town sheriff confronts a violent posse that wants to lynch someone without a trial.
33. Write about the excitement of panning for gold during the rush to stake a claim on new mining territory.
34. You’re a wealthy rancher negotiating a marriage with the daughter of a rival landowner. Write this scene.
35. The stagecoach you are travelling on gets stranded during a blizzard. You have to survive the elements until help arrives.
36. Write about a group of settlers surviving a dangerous river crossing to reach their new homesteads.
37. Describe the action as wagon trains gather before setting off West on the daring Oregon Trail journey.
38. Write a story focused on the friendship between a cowboy and his trusty horse.
39. You’re a hired gunslinger who gets caught up in a bloody range war between ranchers and incoming settlers.
40. Write about two outlaw brothers on the run from the law across the western plains, and how it strains their relationship.
41. Describe the excitement of panning for gold during the rush to stake a claim on new mining territory.
42. Write from the perspective of a Native American watching wagon trains full of settlers arriving on your tribe’s ancestral lands.
43. You’re the sheriff of a small mining town tasked with stopping a ruthless gang from robbing the assay office. Set the scene.
44. The cattle drive you’re on faces thirst and other dangers while crossing harsh desert country. Write this intense story.
45. Write about pioneers holed up in their covered wagon fighting to survive a raging prairie wildfire.
46. Describe a high noon showdown between two cowboys in the dusty streets of a small town.
47. You discover a secret hideout where outlaws are plotting their next heist. Describe sneaking off to warn the sheriff.
48. Write a day-in-the-life of a cattle rancher during a long cattle drive. Describe the work, sights, and camaraderie.
49. The train you’re on gets ambushed by robbers in black masks. Write an intense story about outsmarting them to protect your valuables.
50. You establish a homestead on the untamed frontier. Write about the challenges and rewards of your new life.
51. Write about a saloon showdown between a card sharp and a hot-tempered cowboy.
52. Describe the action as wagon trains gather before setting off West on the daring Oregon Trail journey.
53. You’re a weary cowboy arriving in town after months on the trail. Write about your first night relaxing at the saloon.
54. Write about a prospector who strikes gold after years of failed attempts and setbacks.
55. You’re playing poker on a riverboat when a dishonest player accuses you of cheating. The confrontation quickly turns violent.
56. Write from the perspective of a Native American watching wagon trains full of settlers arriving on your tribe’s ancestral lands.
57. Describe the excitement of a crowd gathered for the opening of a new frontier railroad line.
58. You discover a secret hideout where outlaws are plotting their next heist. Describe sneaking off to warn the sheriff.
59. Write about two wagon trains camping together overnight on the dangerous Oregon Trail. People band together to fend off threats.
60. The cattle drive you’re on faces thirst and other dangers while crossing harsh desert country. Write this intense story.
61. You’re a teacher in a one-room schoolhouse trying to give frontier kids an education. Write a day-in-the-life story.
62. Write about a sheriff keeping the peace in a rough frontier boomtown filled with fortune seekers.
63. Describe the lively, bustling scene inside a saloon during a poker tournament with high stakes.
64. You’re a hired gun who must use your skills to resolve a land dispute between farmers and ranchers. Set the scene.
65. A family’s buffalo hunt goes awry when they encounter bears and other dangers. Write this adventure tale.
66. Write about pioneers holed up in their covered wagon fighting to survive a raging prairie wildfire.
67. You’re a hired gunslinger who gets caught up in a bloody range war between ranchers and incoming settlers.
68. Describe an intense stakeout as a sheriff and posse wait in ambush to catch a notorious outlaw gang.
69. Write a story focused on the friendship between a cowboy and his trusty horse.
70. You’re playing poker on a riverboat when a dishonest player accuses you of cheating. The confrontation quickly turns violent.
71. A mysterious stranger comes to town claiming he can outshoot the fastest gun around. Set the scene for the epic duel that follows.
72. Write from the perspective of a Native American watching wagon trains full of settlers arriving on your tribe’s ancestral lands.
73. Describe the excitement of galloping on horseback through wide open plains and desert landscapes.
74. Write about two wagon trains camping together overnight on the dangerous Oregon Trail. People band together to fend off threats.
75. You establish a homestead on the untamed frontier. Write about the challenges and rewards of your new life.
76. The cattle drive you’re on faces thirst and other dangers while crossing harsh desert country. Write this intense story.
77. Write about a prospector who strikes gold after years of failed attempts and setbacks.
78. Describe a high noon showdown between two cowboys in the dusty streets of a small town.
79. You’re a wealthy rancher negotiating a marriage with the daughter of a rival landowner. Write this scene.
80. The train you are travelling on gets stranded during a blizzard. You have to survive the elements until help arrives.
81. A family’s buffalo hunt goes awry when they encounter bears and other dangers. Write this adventure tale.
82. Write about a greenhorn who arrives out west and has a lot to learn about cowboy life. His more experienced partner tries to teach him.
83. Describe the excitement of panning for gold during the rush to stake a claim on new mining territory.
84. You discover a secret hideout where outlaws are plotting their next heist. Describe sneaking off to warn the sheriff.
85. Write about pioneers holed up in their covered wagon fighting to survive a raging prairie wildfire.
86. The wagon train you’re travelling west on comes under attack. You help defend it through a brutal battle.
87. Describe the lively, bustling scene inside a saloon during a poker tournament with high stakes.
88. You’re a weary cowboy arriving in town after months on the trail. Write about your first night relaxing at the saloon.
89. Write about a sheriff keeping the peace in a rough frontier boomtown filled with fortune seekers.
90. Describe the excitement of galloping on horseback through wide open plains and desert landscapes.
91. Write about a teacher in a one-room schoolhouse trying to give frontier kids an education.
92. You’re playing poker on a riverboat when a dishonest player accuses you of cheating. The confrontation quickly turns violent.
93. Write about two outlaw brothers on the run from the law across the western plains, and how it strains their relationship.
94. Describe the action as wagon trains gather before setting off West on the daring Oregon Trail journey.
95. You establish a homestead on the untamed frontier. Write about the challenges and rewards of your new life.
96. The train you are on gets ambushed by robbers in black masks. Write an intense story about outsmarting them to protect your valuables.
97. A mysterious stranger comes to town claiming he can outshoot the fastest gun around. Set the scene for the epic duel that follows.
98. You’re a hired gun who must use your skills to resolve a land dispute between farmers and ranchers. Set the scene.
99. Write about a saloon showdown between a card sharp and a hot-tempered cowboy.
100. Describe an intense stakeout as a sheriff and posse wait in ambush to catch a notorious outlaw gang.

We hope you enjoyed these western writing prompts, and we hope they inspired you to write something great. We have many other writing prompts on our site. If you have any questions, comments or concerns please leave them in the comments below.