You know that feeling when you sit down to write a monologue and your mind goes completely blank? The cursor blinks at you mockingly while you rack your brain for something—anything—that feels worth putting on paper. Maybe you’re staring at an audition notice that asks for a “contemporary dramatic piece” or your drama teacher just assigned everyone to write an original monologue for next week’s class.
The truth is, great monologue material surrounds you every single day. Your weird neighbor who talks to her plants. That awkward conversation you had with your mom last Tuesday. The way your heart races when you think about your biggest fear. These moments, these feelings, these tiny human experiences—they’re all golden material waiting to be shaped into something powerful.
The best monologues don’t come from trying to sound profound or literary. They come from honest, specific moments that make people lean forward and think, “Yes, I know exactly what that feels like.”
Things to Write Monologues About
Here are twenty rich topics that can spark your creativity and help you craft monologues that truly connect with audiences. Each one offers different emotional depths and performance opportunities to explore.
1. The Last Time You Felt Truly Safe
Safety means different things to different people. For some, it’s curled up in a childhood bedroom while rain patters against the window. For others, it might be the moment right after a big test when you know you did your best. This topic lets you explore what security feels like in your bones.
Think about the physical sensations that came with that safety. Were your shoulders finally relaxed? Did you breathe differently? What sounds, smells, or textures were part of that moment? The beauty of this monologue lies in how specific you can get about something we all crave but rarely stop to examine.
Your character might be remembering this feeling because they’ve lost it, or maybe they’re trying to recreate it. Either way, you’re working with universal emotions wrapped in personal details that only your character would notice.
2. A Secret You’ve Never Told Anyone
Secrets have weight. They change how we move through the world, create little pockets of loneliness, and sometimes feel like they might burst out of us at the worst possible moment. Writing about a secret gives you instant dramatic tension.
The secret doesn’t have to be earth-shattering. Maybe your character never told anyone they were the one who broke the neighbor’s garden gnome in third grade. Or perhaps they’ve never admitted they actually liked their ex-boyfriend’s annoying laugh. Small secrets often carry surprising emotional punch because they reveal character in unexpected ways.
Consider whether your character is finally ready to share this secret, or if they’re talking themselves out of it. Are they speaking to someone specific, or just trying to hear how it sounds out loud? The urgency of keeping or telling a secret creates natural forward momentum in your writing.
3. The Worst Advice Someone Ever Gave You
Bad advice is everywhere, and we’ve all received our share of it. “Just be yourself” when you have no idea who that is. “Follow your dreams” when your dreams involve becoming a professional video game tester. “Everything happens for a reason” when your cat just died.
This topic works because it lets your character be frustrated, sarcastic, or even angry while still being vulnerable. They can rant about how unhelpful the advice was while revealing what they actually needed to hear instead. Maybe they’re addressing the advice-giver directly, or telling a friend about how spectacularly wrong someone was.
The key is connecting the bad advice to a specific moment when your character really needed guidance. What was happening in their life? Why did they trust this person? How did following (or ignoring) the advice change things? Bad advice often comes from good intentions, which adds layers to explore.
4. A Conversation You Had With Someone Who’s No Longer in Your Life
People leave our lives in all sorts of ways. Some drift away slowly, others disappear overnight. Some die, some move across the country, some just stop calling back. This monologue topic lets you explore loss, regret, gratitude, or unfinished business.
Your character might be recreating an actual conversation or imagining one they never got to have. They could be talking to their grandmother who died last year, a best friend who moved away, or an ex who left without explanation. The beauty is in the specificity of their relationship and what was left unsaid.
Focus on dialogue that feels real to how these two people actually talked to each other. Did they have inside jokes? Did one always interrupt the other? Were there topics they never discussed? The way people communicate with each other is like a fingerprint—completely unique to that relationship.
5. The Moment You Realized Your Parents Were Just People
There’s a specific moment when everyone realizes their parents don’t have all the answers. Maybe you caught your dad crying during a commercial, or your mom admitted she has no idea how to cook a turkey even though she’s been making Thanksgiving dinner for fifteen years.
This realization can be terrifying, comforting, or both at the same time. Your character might be talking to a friend about this moment, or they might be addressing their parent directly. Perhaps they’re trying to explain to their own child what it feels like to be a grown-up who still feels like they’re making it all up.
The emotional range here is huge. Your character could be angry about being lied to, grateful for their parents’ efforts, or suddenly understanding why certain things were so hard for their family. This topic works especially well when you include small, specific details about how your parents’ humanity showed itself.
6. A Lie You Tell Yourself Every Day
Self-deception is a survival skill we all master to some degree. “I’ll start my diet tomorrow.” “I’m fine with being single.” “I don’t care what they think about me.” These daily lies protect us from truths we’re not ready to face.
Your character might finally be ready to acknowledge one of these lies, or they might still be defending it even as they’re speaking. The tension between what they’re saying and what they actually believe creates compelling subtext. Maybe they’re talking to their reflection, a therapist, or a friend who’s called them out.
The power in this monologue comes from watching someone wrestle with their own honesty. Are they angry at themselves for the lie? Scared of what happens if they stop believing it? Sometimes these lies serve a purpose, and your character might be trying to figure out if they’re ready to live without that protection.
7. The Person You Pretend to Be Online
Social media has given us all the chance to curate our lives, and most of us present some version of ourselves that’s shinier than reality. Your character might be exploring the gap between their online presence and their actual daily experience.
This monologue could be funny, sad, or both. Maybe your character is tired of pretending their life is more exciting than it actually is. Or perhaps they’ve created an online persona that’s braver, funnier, or more confident than they feel in real life, and now they’re wondering if they could actually become that person.
Consider what platform your character uses and how that shapes their performance. Instagram encourages visual perfection, Twitter rewards quick wit, LinkedIn demands professional success. Each platform asks us to emphasize different parts of ourselves, and your character might be questioning which version is most true.
8. A Phobia That Makes No Logical Sense
Phobias are fascinatingly irrational, which makes them perfect monologue material. Your character might be terrified of butterflies, cotton balls, or the sound of paper being torn. The disconnect between knowing something is harmless and being genuinely afraid of it creates built-in tension.
This topic works because it’s both deeply personal and slightly absurd. Your character could be trying to explain their fear to someone who doesn’t understand, or they might be facing their phobia head-on. Maybe they’re in therapy, or stuck in an elevator with the exact thing that scares them most.
The key is treating the fear with respect even if it seems silly to others. Your character’s terror is completely real to them, and that genuine emotion will make the monologue compelling even if the audience finds parts of it funny. Sometimes humor and fear live right next to each other.
9. The Job You Almost Took
Life is full of paths not taken, and jobs are some of the most concrete examples. Your character might be thinking about the teaching position they turned down, the startup opportunity they passed up, or the chance to move across the country for work.
This monologue can explore regret, relief, or curiosity about alternate versions of our lives. Maybe your character is happy with their choice but wondering “what if” during a particularly hard day at their current job. Or perhaps they’re realizing they made the wrong decision and trying to figure out if it’s too late to change course.
The specific details of the job matter less than how your character feels about the choice they made. Were they scared of taking a risk? Did someone talk them out of it? Are they imagining how different their life might be now? This topic naturally connects to larger questions about courage, regret, and the stories we tell ourselves about our decisions.
10. Something You Believed as a Child That Turned Out to Be Wrong
Children understand the world through a mix of partial information, wild imagination, and complete confidence in their conclusions. Your character might be reflecting on a childhood belief that seems hilarious or heartbreaking in hindsight.
Maybe they thought teachers lived at school, or that their parents’ arguments were their fault, or that everyone else had life figured out. These childhood misunderstandings often reveal deeper truths about what we needed to believe at the time.
This monologue can be nostalgic, funny, or painful depending on the belief and how it affected your character. Were they disappointed when they learned the truth? Did the wrong belief actually protect them from something harder to understand? Sometimes our childhood misconceptions were more comforting than reality.
11. The First Time You Felt Like an Adult
Adulthood doesn’t arrive with a ceremony or clear announcement. Instead, it creeps up through small moments when you suddenly realize you’re responsible for your own life. Your character might be reflecting on when this shift happened for them.
Maybe it was signing their first lease, calling to make their own doctor’s appointment, or realizing their parents were asking for their advice. Or perhaps it was something more serious—dealing with a family crisis, making a major financial decision, or taking care of someone else for the first time.
The contrast between feeling like a kid and suddenly being treated like an adult creates rich emotional territory. Your character might have felt proud, terrified, or completely unprepared. They could be celebrating this milestone or mourning the end of their childhood innocence.
12. A Compliment That Changed How You See Yourself
Most of us remember criticism more clearly than praise, which makes the compliments that actually stick even more powerful. Your character might be thinking about words someone said that shifted their entire self-perception.
The compliment doesn’t have to be dramatic. Maybe someone said they had a nice laugh, or that they explained things clearly, or that they made people feel comfortable. Sometimes the most meaningful compliments point out qualities we didn’t know we had.
This monologue works because it explores how other people’s words can reshape our identity. Your character might be grateful to the person who said it, or they might be questioning whether they deserve such praise. The compliment could have come at exactly the right moment, or maybe your character is just now understanding its significance years later.
13. The Worst Thing You’ve Ever Done to Someone You Loved
Love makes us capable of causing the deepest hurt. Your character might be wrestling with guilt over something they did to a family member, friend, or romantic partner. The worse part might be that they can’t take it back or that the person they hurt forgave them too easily.
This topic requires your character to be genuinely vulnerable and take responsibility for their actions. They might be talking to the person they hurt, practicing an apology they’re not sure they deserve to give, or trying to understand why they acted the way they did.
The power in this monologue comes from honest self-examination. Your character shouldn’t be making excuses, but they can explore what led to their behavior. Were they scared, angry, or protecting themselves? How has carrying this guilt changed them? Sometimes the people we hurt most are the ones we love because we trust them to forgive us.
14. A Dream That Felt More Real Than Your Actual Life
Dreams can feel incredibly vivid and meaningful, sometimes more compelling than our waking hours. Your character might be describing a recurring dream, a nightmare that won’t let go, or a beautiful dream they’re desperate to return to.
The dream itself matters less than how it’s affecting your character’s real life. Are they trying to interpret its meaning? Has it changed how they see their current situation? Maybe the dream showed them something they want but don’t have, or warned them about something they’re afraid might happen.
This monologue can blur the line between reality and imagination in interesting ways. Your character might be unsure what was dream and what was memory, or they might be trying to convince someone else that their dream means something important. Dreams reveal our subconscious fears and desires, giving you rich psychological material to explore.
15. The Last Time You Felt Completely Understood
Being truly understood by another person is rare and precious. Your character might be reflecting on a moment when someone saw exactly who they were and accepted them completely. This could have happened with a friend, family member, romantic partner, or even a stranger.
The understanding might have come through words, but it could also have been a look, a gesture, or simply someone knowing what to do without being asked. Your character might be grateful for this connection or sad that it’s over. Maybe they’re trying to recreate that feeling with someone new.
This topic works because everyone longs to be seen and understood. Your character’s description of this moment can reveal what makes them feel most like themselves. What did the other person see that others miss? How did it feel to not have to explain themselves or pretend to be someone different?
16. A Decision You Made That Your Past Self Would Never Understand
We all change in ways that would surprise our younger selves. Your character might be reflecting on how they’ve grown, compromised, or completely shifted their values. Maybe they swore they’d never work in an office, never get married, or never speak to their father again.
This monologue can explore how life shapes us in unexpected ways. Your character might be defensive about their choice, proud of their growth, or struggling with feeling like they’ve betrayed their younger self’s ideals. The decision could be small and practical or life-changing.
The key is helping your character examine not just what they decided, but why their perspective changed. What experiences taught them that their earlier views were too simple? Are they wiser now, or did they just get worn down? Sometimes the decisions that would most shock our past selves are the ones that make us happiest.
17. Something You’re Pretending Not to Notice
Denial is a powerful force, and we all have things we’re choosing not to see clearly. Your character might be ignoring warning signs in a relationship, pretending not to notice their parent’s declining health, or refusing to acknowledge that their career isn’t making them happy.
This monologue creates tension because your character is simultaneously aware and unaware. They might be talking around the issue, making excuses, or finally admitting what they’ve been avoiding. The audience can often see what’s happening even when your character can’t or won’t.
The power comes from watching someone wrestle with truth they’re not ready to face. Why are they avoiding this knowledge? What would change if they admitted what they know? Sometimes we pretend not to notice things because we’re not ready to deal with the consequences of seeing them clearly.
18. The Person You Used to Be That You Miss
Change isn’t always improvement, and sometimes we lose parts of ourselves that we wish we could get back. Your character might be mourning a version of themselves that was braver, more trusting, or simply happier than they are now.
Maybe they used to be the person who talked to strangers, who believed people were basically good, or who wasn’t afraid to take creative risks. Life has taught them to be more careful, but now they’re wondering if they’ve become too cautious or cynical.
This topic lets your character explore what it costs to grow up and adapt. They might be talking to an old friend who knew them before, looking at old photos, or trying to explain to someone why they feel like they’ve lost themselves. The challenge is figuring out which changes were necessary growth and which were unnecessary losses.
19. A Small Betrayal That Felt Enormous
Not all betrayals involve dramatic secrets or life-changing lies. Sometimes the betrayals that hurt most are smaller—a friend who didn’t defend you, a partner who shared something you told them in confidence, or someone who broke a promise that seemed tiny to them but meant everything to you.
Your character might be trying to understand why this small thing affected them so deeply. Maybe it represented a larger pattern they hadn’t wanted to see, or it happened at a moment when they particularly needed loyalty. Small betrayals often hurt because they reveal how differently we value the relationship.
This monologue can explore how trust works and why some broken promises cut deeper than others. Your character might be questioning whether they’re overreacting, or finally understanding that their feelings are valid even if others don’t understand them. Sometimes small betrayals matter most because we don’t think we have the right to be hurt by them.
20. The Thing You Would Do If You Knew No One Would Judge You
Judgment—real or imagined—stops us from pursuing countless desires, dreams, and curiosities. Your character might be fantasizing about what they would do if they could act without fear of other people’s opinions.
The answer might be simple: sing karaoke, wear bright colors, or dance in public. Or it could be bigger: change careers, move to another country, or finally write that novel. The key is connecting this fantasy to what your character actually wants from their life.
This topic works because it reveals the gap between who your character is and who they want to be. Are they held back by other people’s actual judgments or their own assumptions about what others think? Maybe they’re realizing that the judgment they fear most is their own. Sometimes the first step toward doing what we want is admitting that we want it.
Wrapping Up
Your next great monologue is probably hiding in your own life experiences, waiting for you to recognize its potential. These twenty topics offer starting points, but the real magic happens when you make them specific to your character’s voice, situation, and emotional truth.
The best monologues feel like conversations you’re overhearing—intimate, honest, and impossible to ignore. They take universal human experiences and make them personal through specific details, genuine emotion, and authentic voice. Whether you’re writing for an audition, a class assignment, or just to challenge yourself creatively, trust that your own observations and experiences contain all the drama you need.
Your job as a writer is to pay attention to the moments that make you feel something and trust that those feelings are worth exploring on the page. Start with what you know, get specific about what you’ve felt, and let your characters speak their truth without worrying about whether it sounds important enough. Sometimes the most ordinary moments make the most extraordinary monologues.