Step right up, one and all! Whether you’re looking for inspiration, ideas, or just something to laugh at, these websites will spark your creativity and set you on a path toward fortune and glory (disclaimer: fortune and glory not guaranteed).
General Kiosk
Image: Mulad
Visuwords. An online graphical dictionary that allows you to visually explore word meanings, associations, and concepts.
Proverbia. Proverbs, quotes, and sayings.
Project Syndicate. Newspapers from around the world.
Regret The Error. As they say, “mistakes happen.”
Here’s a brochure: read something
Image: moriza
The Literature Network. A database of short stories, plays, poems, novels, and essays by many classic authors.
Booksie. Read the work of fellow writers, or share your own.
Espresso Stories. Short stories, 25 words or less.
Wikihistory. A time-travel story for the Internet age.
Fifty Words. Fifty-word short stories, Monday Through Friday.
Join the circus
Image: Lampeduza
Fail Blog. There’s nothing more entertaining (and tragic) than utter failure.
Point2.de. Funny pictures.
The Darwin Awards.”Honoring those who improve the species…by accidentally removing themselves from it!”
Try your luck at the midway
Image: greg westfall
Seventh Sanctum. “Inspiration by Randomization.” I’ve been using this website for years (mostly just for fun, but their generators are really something).
The Random Concept Generator. If you’re desperate for a story concept, or just looking for a prompt, you’d might as well hit the black button.
Thinking Machine 4. Best the artificial intelligence at a simple game of chess (and watch its thought process the entire time).
Music Catch. Catch the shapes and listen.
Gender Guesser. Think you can fool the carnies? Insert some text and be astonished!
Free Rice. Learn vocabulary, feed the hungry.
20 Questions. It knows what you’re thinking.
Enjoy the rides
Image: Stu Seeger
Vectorpark. Fun with animated vectors.
fl0w. Relax, and go with the flow as a creature of the deep blue.
Underneath it all. A journey to the center of the earth and back again.
Danteworlds. Explore the horrors and wonders of the Inferno, Purgatory, and Paradise.
Listen to their stories
Image: Hryckowian
PostSecret. Anonymously posted secrets for all the world to see.
Unphotographable. Stories of pictures never taken.
One Sentence. “True stories, told in one sentence.”
i am neurotic. Are you?
FutureMe. Sending letters to the future. Write one for your future self!
Be mystified at the sideshows
Image: Baltimike
Oddee. Strange things for strange people.
Anomalies Unlimited. Aliens, ghosts, death, and Disney. The horror.
Exit Mundi. Doomsday scenarios. We’re all going to die.
John Titor. Time-traveler or just really bored?
The Amazing Poodle Spider. Part poodle, mostly spider. Be amazed!
