56+ April Fools’ Day Writing Prompts

April Fools’ Day is the one time of year when pranks, jokes, and playful mischief take center stage. But why should the fun be limited to real-life antics? From lighthearted tales of epic prank wars to thought-provoking stories about truth, trust, and humour, we’ve rounded up over 56 writing prompts to help you celebrate April Fools’ Day in style. 

56+ April Fools’ Day Writing Prompts

Whether you’re a seasoned writer or just looking for some creative inspiration, this day offers the perfect opportunity to let your imagination run wild—and maybe even pull a few literary tricks of your own!

April Fools’ Day Story Ideas

From hilarious prank wars to sinister jokes gone wrong, these April Fools’ Day story ideas will inspire tales of mischief, mayhem, and unexpected consequences.

1. Your main character is known for pulling the best April Fools’ pranks, but this year, someone epically outdoes them. Who is this mysterious prankster, and how do they top your character’s tricks?
2. A small-town newspaper publishes an outrageous April Fools’ article (e.g., “Local Park Taken Over by Giant Squirrels”), but to everyone’s shock, people start believing it—and chaos ensues.
3. Someone plays a harmless joke on their friend, but it accidentally triggers a series of unbelievable events (e.g., mistaken identity, a wild police chase, or an unexpected romance).
4. A town discovers that every prank pulled on April 1st mysteriously becomes reality for 24 hours.
5. Two best friends wake up to find they’ve switched lives for a day… and no one believes them.
6. Two master pranksters escalate their April Fools’ battle until the entire city gets involved.
7. A mischievous pet (dog, cat, parrot, etc.) suddenly starts talking on April 1st—but only to prank their owner. Is it real, or is there a clever trick behind it?
8. A TV station hired a comedian to report fake news on April 1st, but their stories started coming true.
9. A prankster turns their workplace into a labyrinth, but they can’t find the exit when they try to undo it.
10. A group of friends decide to fake a ghost sighting in an old abandoned house for April Fools’ Day… until they realize something supernatural is happening.
11. A radio station runs a fake “aliens have landed” broadcast… but then actual UFOs appear.
12. In a town where pranks are banned, one kid decides to pull the most epic joke ever—but ends up uncovering a long-buried secret.
13. Someone wakes up to find it’s April 1st over and over again—but is it a prank, a glitch in reality, or something more sinister?
14. Your character receives a dream job offer on April 1st—but they can’t tell if it’s real or an elaborate prank. How far will they go to find out the truth?
15. Your protagonist receives an invitation to an exclusive, secret event on April 1st. When they arrive, they realize it’s an elaborate fake—or is it?
16. Your main character is known for falling for every April Fools’ joke—but this year, they’ve secretly planned a prank so clever that they fool everyone else.
17. A programmer creates an AI chatbot designed to prank their friends with absurd responses—but the AI becomes self-aware and starts pranking them in increasingly bizarre ways.
18. As an April Fools’ joke, someone prints a fake lottery ticket for their friend… but when the friend checks the numbers, they actually match the real jackpot.
19. A struggling actor dresses up as a famous celebrity and fools an entire town on April 1st—until the real celebrity shows up.
20. A mischievous spirit (or a very clever thief) makes one random object vanish from people’s homes every hour on April Fools’ Day. Why? And where do the items go?
21. A group of friends uses drones and props to stage a UFO sighting as a prank—until real, unexplained lights appear in the sky.
22. A notorious thief decides to pull an April Fools’ prank by sneaking valuable items back into museums and banks instead of stealing them. Chaos ensues when no one believes it’s real.
23. Someone keeps receiving bizarre, anachronistic messages (e.g., a carrier pigeon with a meme, a fax from the future). Is it a prank, or has a time traveler chosen them as their April Fools’ target?
24. A developer releases a joke app that claims to “detect ghosts” using your phone’s camera. But when users start reporting real paranormal activity, the developer panics—did they accidentally invent something?
25. A bored genie decides to grant wishes literally on April Fools’ Day (e.g., “I wish I were rich” turns you into a pile of gold coins). Your protagonist must outwit the genie to undo the chaos.
26. A small-town mayor declares April 1st “Opposite Day” as a joke—but when citizens take it too seriously (wearing pajamas to work, paying in Monopoly money), the town descends into madness.
27. A scammer psychic pretends to predict absurd events for April Fools’ Day—but when her predictions start coming true, she panics. Is she actually gifted, or is someone making them happen to mess with her?
28. An internet meme—”Drop everything, the [local landmark] is on fire!”—spirals out of control when people actually evacuate the city on April 1st. But then… the landmark does catch fire. Who’s laughing now?
29. An internet meme—”Drop everything, the [local landmark] is on fire!”—spirals out of control when people actually evacuate the city on April 1st. But then… the landmark does catch fire. Who’s laughing now?
30. Every April 1st, a struggling stand-up comic wakes up unable to lie—all his words become brutally honest. At first, it ruins his act, until he realizes his “punchlines” are solving audience members’ personal problems.
31. A woman inherits a mansion from an uncle she barely knew—only to discover every room is an elaborate April Fools’ trap. The will states she must “survive the house’s humour” to claim the fortune.
32. A tired mom tells her kids she’s “returning them to the stork” as an April Fools’ joke—then wakes up to find the kids have redecorated the house as a “stork return center”. All other parents in town are being “pranked” the same way by their children. An actual stork appears at the window.
33. A YouTuber known for elaborate April Fools’ pranks stages his own disappearance—only to discover someone has actually kidnapped him mid-prank. His abductor forces him to plan increasingly dangerous “jokes” on unsuspecting victims.
34. A journalist infiltrates a secret society that believes laughter is sacred. Their initiation? Surviving April Fools’ Day in a house where all food is swapped (toothpaste cupcakes, soap sandwiches). Furniture is booby-trapped, and one member isn’t laughing—because they’re not a willing participant
35. A failing comedy club’s April Fools’ gimmick—an AI comedian—goes rogue when the bot starts roasting audience members with their deepest secrets.
36. Your characters work at a failing business that’s about to shut down. Desperate, they stage an elaborate fake scandal involving a celebrity endorsement to drum up attention. To their surprise, the prank works—but now they have to keep up the charade without getting caught.

Reflective Journal Prompts About April Fools’ Day

Take a moment to reflect on the playful—and sometimes profound—impact of April Fools’ Day with thought-provoking prompts that explore humour, relationships, and personal growth.

37. Write about a time someone played an April Fools’ joke on you that hurt more than it amused. Why did it affect you? Did it reveal an insecurity you hadn’t acknowledged?
38. Write about a friendship that was either strengthened or broken by an April Fools’ prank. What made it so meaningful (or devastating)?
39. Have you ever crossed a line with a prank or joke? What would you do differently now? How do you define “harmless” humour?
40. Describe a time you wanted to play an April Fools’ prank but held back. Was it out of fear, kindness, or something else? What does that say about you?
41. What’s the biggest lie you’ve told yourself (e.g., “I’m fine,” “I don’t care,” “I’ll do it later”)? How is it like an April Fools’ joke you keep falling for?
42. Do you ever use jokes to deflect serious emotions? Write about a time humour hid your true feelings—or helped you express them.
43. Recall a moment when you desperately hoped bad news was just an April Fools’ prank. How did you cope when reality set in?
44. Have you ever deliberately ignored April Fools’ Day? Why? Did it feel liberating, lonely, or something else?
45. Write about a silly, affectionate joke someone played on you (or vice versa) that actually made you feel seen or loved.
46. In tarot, the Fool represents new beginnings and leaps of faith. If April Fools’ Day symbolized a fresh start for you, what “leap of faith” have you been avoiding? What old belief or habit would you gladly toss off a cliff?
47. Write about a time you pretended to laugh at a joke that bothered you. What were you afraid would happen if you didn’t play along?
48. Has a prank, nickname, or playful label ever stuck to you in a way that shaped your self-image? How do you feel about it now?
49. Recall someone who always seems to be joking. What might they be hiding behind humour? Have you ever done the same?
50. Write a letter to someone you pranked in the past—not to excuse the behavior, but to acknowledge its impact. What do you see now that you didn’t then?
51. Describe a time you were fooled (on April Fools’ or otherwise) that taught you a lesson about trust, discernment, or self-worth.
52. If you’ve ever used humour to fit in or deflect attention, what did it protect you from? What parts of you did it silence?
53. Write about a time you took an emotional risk that others might call “foolish” (e.g., love, vulnerability, a creative pursuit). Was it worth it?
54. Write about a time you took an emotional risk that others might call “foolish” (e.g., love, vulnerability, a creative pursuit). Was it worth it?
55. Imagine a day when you fully embraced being “silly” without fear of judgment. What would you do? How does the idea make you feel?
56. What would your inner child want you to laugh about again?
57. April Fools’ Day often involves surprise and vulnerability. Reflect on how humour can bring people closer together—or push them apart. How do you balance lightheartedness with sensitivity in your relationships?
58. How was (or wasn’t) April Fools’ Day celebrated in your family or culture growing up? If you’ve experienced different traditions around the world, compare them. What values or messages do these celebrations communicate?

See our post on April Writing Prompts (+ free calendar) for more ideas.

Summary

April Fools’ Day is more than just a day of pranks—it’s a goldmine for storytelling, self-reflection, and exploring the fine line between humour and heart. Whether you’re crafting a wild, prank-filled adventure, journaling about the role of laughter in your life, or spinning a tale where jokes take a sinister turn, these 56+ prompts are your ticket to creativity. So grab your pen, embrace the mischief, and start writing—who knows what surprising truths or hilarious chaos you’ll uncover? 

Share your favourite prompt (or your own April Fools’ story ideas) in the comments below!