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Dark Writing Prompts That Will Haunt Your Mind

Dark and mysterious stories that push our understanding of the world are some of the most famous books, especially throughout the last decade. Books like The Hunger Games, Divergent, The Giver, and The Handmaid’s Tale grab hold of our curiosity in how deep society can fall.

Sometimes these stories are so staggering that you wonder how the ideas were thought of. And, for the writer, these dark plots can be just as exciting to write as they are to read.

If you’ve wanted to write a similar story but weren’t sure what to write about, you can use the following prompts to gain some inspiration. And, perhaps, one will lead to a full novel.

I’ve split these dark writing prompts into categories: titles, first sentences, and story ideas.

50 Dark Writing Prompts Pinterest Graphic

Dark and Mysterious Writing Prompts

The Secret Underground
The Tears That Divide Us
Everything Fell
Pieces of Our Hearts
The Last of Life
Our Faulty Souls
Broken Club
The New Flame
The Unexplained Bones
These Strings Hold Me Together
Fire In Our Hands
Branded in Coal
Murders of Our Time
The Four Tomes
The Cryptic Footsteps
Hooded Ghosts
The Veiled Shadows
Haunted Blood
Nightmares in Our Attic
The Siren’s Sound
It Blankets My Soul
Compass to the Underworld
Gates of Blooming Lies
A Little Grim
The Swamp of Lost Souls

First Lines:

It wasn’t supposed to end like this…
I apologized and pulled the trigger…
I opened my eyes and everything was dark…
Her heart stopped beating, but her eyes blinked open…
The smell of blood overwhelmed me…
The screams came from all around me…
I tried to run, but it pulled me in…
The fear in my gut grew as the laughing got louder…
The abandoned mansion called to me…
After an hour of waiting, I could no longer hear him…
The truck wouldn’t stop following me…
Something about their faces sent shivers down my spine…
The boat came closer, but no one was on it…
The soft voice came from somewhere inside…
If it wasn’t us, then who was it…
We needed more time, but time was up…
The temperature was rising and there was nowhere to go…
The hole opened under me, and I fell in…
Once the gate opened, there was no going back…
There was no one left when the game was done…
Everyone had left and I had no one to help now…
It was the end of everything, and that was only the beginning…
Monsters were only in stories, but this was real…
I turned the light on, and what I saw haunted me…
It was time to sleep, but I knew it’d be back…

Story Ideas

Write a story that takes place over the last 24 hours of life on earth.
A flower grants eternal life at the cost of someone else’s life.
A poet finds that his writing begins to predict the future.
A cursed map shows a person exactly where they’ll die.
All mythological creatures begin to be show around the world.
Desperation sets in as the earth begins to change–making survival impossible–and society begins to collapse.
A family begins a trip sailing around the world, but runs into an uncharted island.
Suddenly every lie a person tells ages them five years.

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Dystopian Writing Prompts: 45 Dark and Edgy Ideas to Get You Started

By: Author Paul Jenkins

Posted on September 21, 2022

Categories Writing , Inspiration

Do you love writing dark and edgy stories? Are you looking for something to get you started? Then look no further! In this blog post, we will provide 45 dystopian creative writing prompts to help get your creative juices flowing. These prompts are perfect for writers who want to explore a darker side of storytelling. So what are you waiting for? Start writing your short story or novel!

32 Dystopian Writing Prompts

1. What would people be like in a world where the sun never shines, and the moon is always full?

2. In a world where everyone is required to take a monthly government-mandated happiness pill, what would happen if someone decided not to take it?

3. In a world where technology has taken over, and humans are nothing more than slaves to machines, how would the resistance fight back?

4. In a world where the wealthy live in opulent mansions while the poor live in squalor, what would happen if the two classes decided to switch places?

5. In a world with an ongoing war between two factions, what would happen if a neutral third party tried to broker peace?

6. In a world where the government is constant surveillance of its citizens, what would happen if someone found a way to turn off the cameras?

7. In a world where climate change has made it so that there is only one livable city left, how would the citizens react to being told they must build a wall to keep everyone else out?

8. In a world without laws, what would happen if someone proposed that the old laws should be reinstated?

9. In a world where the government uses brainwashing to ensure the loyalty of its citizens, what would happen if a group of rebels tried to break the hold of the brainwashing?

10. In a world with strict guidelines on what can be eaten and what can’t, what would happen if someone decided to break the rules and eat something forbidden?

11. In a world where people are given a choice of being executed or having their memories erased, what would happen if someone chose to die?

12. In a world where the government controls all forms of entertainment, how would people act if someone managed to smuggle in illegal documents?

13. In a world where compulsory beauty is enforced, how would the free thinkers react when they met the people responsible for enforcing the rules?

14. In a world where there is a natural law that states only the strong can rule, what would happen if an old man tried to fight his way to the top?

15. In a world where the government has banned all forms of technology, including electricity and computers, how would people cope?

16. In a world where people are pressured to be perfect, how would the misfits cope?

17. In a world where there is a law decreeing that a certain group of people must be killed, what would happen if someone refused to kill their friends?

18. In a world where people are encouraged to report their neighbors for breaking the law, what would happen if somebody disobeyed?

19. In a world where the few people who can read and write are considered more valuable than everyone else, what would happen if someone tried to teach others to read?

20. In a world where everyone is required to live in containment shelters, how would the citizens react to a group of people who chose to live outside them?

21. In a world where the government controls all food sources, how would people react if someone started a black market for food?

22. In a world where everybody is forced to take a drug that controls their behavior, how would the free willers react?

23. In a world with a law stating that all people over 50 must be killed, what would happen if someone tried to break the law?

24. In a world where a nuclear war has destroyed the world, what would happen if people found a way to survive?

25. In a world where scientific research is always under government supervision, what would happen if someone tried to break the rules?

26. In a world where all communication is carried out in pictures, what would happen if someone figured out a way to communicate in words?

27. In a world where everything is controlled by a government monopoly, what would happen if someone tried to start their own business?

28. In a world where there is a computer program that can tell your future by analyzing your DNA, what would happen if someone asked it a very personal question?

29. In a world with a drug that can make people invisible, what would happen if someone started selling the drug?

30. In a world where everyone is assigned a number based on their skills, how would the unnumbered people react?

31. In a world where people are chosen to participate in a game where they must hunt the other players, how would the players react if they found out their fellow humans were the prey?

32. In a world where the government is under constant attack by terrorists and saboteurs, what would happen if someone tried to break the cycle of violence?

And there you have it, 32 great ideas for your next dystopian story! These ideas can be combined or individually as inspiration for your next writing project.

13 Dystopian Character Ideas

1. A teenage hacker rebels against the government by breaking into their systems and spreading anti-authority propaganda.

2. A group of revolutionaries who fight to overthrow the current regime, even though they know that they may not survive in the end.

3. An evil dictator who rules over the people with an iron fist, crushing any resistance with ruthless brutality.

4. A disillusioned soldier who has seen too much violence and bloodshed, struggling to hold onto his humanity as he fights in a never-ending war.

5. A downtrodden factory worker who is sick of being exploited by greedy corporations and strives for a better life for herself and her fellow workers.

6. A young girl trapped in an oppressive society where women are treated like second-class citizens, fighting to claim her own space and freedom in a male-dominated world.

7. An enigmatic leader who has risen to power through cunning manipulation and political intrigue, using brute force to maintain control over a society.

8. A woman is forced to turn her back on her beloved brother after he killed their abusive father and was sentenced to death.

9. A doctor is forced to work for the government after they kill her husband, helping them to diagnose and destroy the subversive elements in the population.

10. An idealistic revolutionary fighting to overthrow and replace the government with a more humane regime.

11. An amnesic woman who doesn’t know who she is, her backstory, or the world she came from but is determined to find out.

12. A teenager discovers that the government is lying to its people about the state of the world and leads a secret resistance movement to overthrow the corrupt regime.

13. A female bounty hunter who uses her deadly fighting skills to capture fugitives and bring them back to the authorities.

What Makes a World Dystopian?

In a dystopian world, everything is wrong. The government is corrupt. Society is collapsing. The environment is ruined. People are unhappy. But what makes a world truly dystopian? Is it the presence of these things, or is something else required for a world to be truly dystopian? Let’s take a closer look.

The first thing that comes to mind when thinking about dystopian worlds is usually government control and fear in the population. Often accompanied by conformity. In George Orwell’s 1984, the government controls everything from the food people eat to their thoughts. Similarly, in Suzanne Collins’s The Hunger Games, the government dictates every aspect of citizens’ lives, from what they wear to whether they live or die. In both of these examples, and in many others, the government’s stranglehold on power makes the world dystopian.

But government control is not the only factor that can make a world dystopian. In Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, society has collapsed due to an unspecified cataclysmic event. There is no government, no law, and no order. People are reduced to eating each other to survive. In this example, it is not the government that makes the world dystopian but rather the complete breakdown of society itself.

A truly dystopian future is one where everything has gone wrong. The government is corrupt, and society is collapsing. The environment is ruined, and people are unhappy. But what makes a world truly dystopian? Is it the presence of these things, or is something else required for a world to be truly dystopian? It seems that the answer may be both.

Is Dystopia a Genre or Theme?

Genres are categories of literature that are defined by specific conventions, such as plot structure, style, and characterization. There are many different genres, such as mystery, romance, science fiction, etc. A genre is like a template you can use to write your story.

Themes are ideas or topics that are explored in a work of literature . A theme can be something as simple as love or loss or more complicated as betrayal or redemption. Unlike genres, themes are not constrained by specific conventions. You can use any literary device to explore a theme in your stories, such as symbolism, foreshadowing, or flashbacks.

So, is dystopia a genre or a theme? The answer is both! Dystopia is a genre that explores the idea of a society gone wrong. If you’re interested in writing a dystopian story, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the conventions of the genre. But don’t let those constraints limit your creativity-remember that you can always explore additional themes in your story.

How to Start a Good Dystopian Story

Dystopian stories are all the rage these days. With so many popular books and movies being set in dark, post-apocalyptic worlds, it’s no wonder that writers are looking to get in on the action. But what makes a good dystopian story? And how do you start one?

The first thing you need to do when writing a dystopian story is to come up with a compelling premise. What has caused the world to become a dark, dangerous place? This can be anything from a natural disaster to a totalitarian government.

Once you have your premise, you need to decide what kind of story you want to tell. Are you going to focus on the struggles of a single character as they try to survive in this new world? Or will you paint a more sweeping picture, showing how different people are affected by the new world order?

Once you have your premise and focus, it’s time to start writing! The important thing to remember when writing a dystopian story is that while the world may be dark and grim, there should still be hope. After all, what is a story without hope? So don’t forget to inject optimism into your tale, even amid all the darkness.

How to Describe a Dystopian City in Your Writing

A dystopian city can be a great setting for your story. It can be a place of extremes where the rich live in opulence, and the poor are left to fend for themselves. It can be a place of indoctrination, where an oppressive government regime controls people. A dystopian society can be dangerous, where law and order have broken down, and crime is rampant. Whatever form your dystopian city takes, here are some tips on how to describe it in your writing.

1. Establish the mood. Is your dystopian city dark and foreboding? Is it a bright and shining example of what could go wrong? The mood you establish will set the tone for the rest of your descriptions.

2. Get specific with your details. The more specific you are with your descriptions, the easier it will be for your readers to picture the scene in their minds. When you’re painting a picture of your dystopian city, don’t forget the small details that will make it come alive.

3. Use sensory language. Be sure to use all five senses when describing your city. What does it look like? What does it smell like? What does it sound like? By engaging all of the senses, you’ll give your readers a fuller understanding of the world you’ve created.

4. Compare and contrast. A great way to add depth to your description is to compare and contrast different city elements. For example, you might describe the divide between the rich and the poor or the effect of living in an oppressive regime.

5. Show, don’t tell. One mistake many writers make is telling their readers what they should be feeling instead of showing them through their words. If you want your readers to feel scared, don’t tell them, “this city is scary.” Show them why it’s scary by describing everything that makes it so.

The Importance of a Strong Main Character in Dystopian Fiction

In any good story, the protagonist is the engine that drives the plot forward. But a strong protagonist is even more essential in dystopian fiction, where the stakes are often high, and the world is often dark and oppressive. After all, it’s up to the protagonist to lead the charge against the forces of evil and bring about a better future.

But what makes a strong protagonist? In dystopian fiction, there are a few key qualities that a strong protagonist must possess to be successful.

Strength of character. The protagonist must be willing to stand up against overwhelming odds and fight for what’s right, even when it seems like all hope is lost. They must be brave and determined, with an unshakeable belief in their cause.
Intelligence. The protagonist must be able to outthink their opponents, whether they’re governmental forces or other rebel groups. They must be able to see through deception and manipulation and be quick on their feet to take advantage of opportunities as they arise.
The protagonist must withstand whatever obstacles are thrown in their path, whether torture, imprisonment, or death. They must be able to pick themselves up after defeats and setbacks and never give up on their quest for justice.

Dystopian Fiction to Study

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

40 Dark Writing Prompts

Sometimes, a writer needs to dive into the shadows, to explore the unsettling corners of the human psyche (or, you know, the creepy crawlies lurking in those corners).

That’s where we come in!

This blog is your one -stop shop for all things dark and delicious, a buffet of bone-chilling prompts to jumpstart your next horror masterpiece, psychological thriller , or just a good old-fashioned story that goes bump in the night .

Let’s check them out.

Dark Writing Prompts

Imagine a world where people can send a single message to a loved one after they pass away. The story revolves around a character who receives a cryptic, unsettling message from someone they believed was still alive. The character must unravel the mystery behind the message and the truth about the sender’s fate. Write the journey of discovering the unsettling truth behind the last message.
In a quiet town, shadows start to act independently of their owners. One night, a person discovers their shadow is replaying a traumatic event from their past , one they have no memory of. The story delves into the exploration of suppressed memories and the dark secrets that lie in the shadows of our minds. Write the exploration of the hidden, darker aspects of human consciousness.
A character purchases an antique mirror, only to find out that their reflection does not appear in it. Instead, the mirror reflects a somber, alternate version of their life , revealing paths and choices they never made. The character becomes obsessed with this parallel universe, leading to a chilling discovery about their own reality. Write the character’s journey into obsession and the chilling revelations they uncover.
Set in an abandoned asylum, a group of explorers hears mysterious whispers and cries echoing through the halls. As they delve deeper , they realize the asylum is replaying the final moments of its former patients. The explorers must confront the tormented echoes of the past to find a way out. Write the chilling encounter with the echoes of the asylum’s dark history .
A family inherits an old portrait that seems to age while the family members start to look increasingly younger. As they unravel the history of the portrait, they uncover a sinister pact made by an ancestor. The family must face the consequences of a deal made long ago. Write the family’s struggle against a dark legacy that threatens their existence.
In a coastal town perpetually shrouded in fog, residents start hearing whispers guiding them to do unspeakable acts. The protagonist, a newcomer to the town, investigates these mysterious whispers and uncovers a horrifying secret that binds the fate of the town to the fog. Write the protagonist’s fight against an unseen, malevolent force controlling the town.
A skilled clockmaker creates a clock that can manipulate time, but at a grave cost. Each use of the clock brings misfortune and tragedy to those around him. The story follows his moral dilemma and the repercussions of tampering with time. Write the clockmaker’s descent into despair as he grapples with the consequences of his creation.
In a small village, people start losing their ability to speak, one by one, with only a silent scream marking the moment of loss. A young linguist visiting the village attempts to unravel the curse, only to find that the cause is far more terrifying than imagined. Write the linguist’s race against time to uncover the truth before silence consumes the village.
In a bustling city, a renowned street artist known for their vivid murals mysteriously disappears. A journalist , fascinated by the artist’s enigmatic persona, delves into the investigation. The search leads to a series of hidden messages within the murals, each revealing a piece of a much darker truth. Write the journalist’s journey as they piece together a story that goes beyond art and into the heart of darkness.
On a remote island, a new lighthouse keeper discovers the diaries of his predecessors, revealing a sinister pattern. Each keeper wrote about mysterious lights seen at sea, followed by disturbing events on the island. The story delves into the keeper’s growing obsession with the phenomenon and its ominous implications. Write the lighthouse keeper’s descent into madness as he confronts the island’s haunting secret.
In a world where memories can be extracted and traded, a detective with a fragmented past investigates a series of memory thefts. The detective soon realizes that their own lost memories are connected to the crimes. The journey uncovers a web of deceit, manipulation, and the true cost of forgotten memories. Write the detective’s quest to reclaim their past and unravel the mystery of the memory thief.
A prodigious violinist acquires a legendary violin said to be cursed. With each performance, the violinist experiences visions of tragedies past and future . The music becomes an obsession, leading to the revelation that the violin predicts catastrophes through its melodies. Write the violinist’s struggle to understand the curse and prevent impending disasters .
In a futuristic society, a scientist develops a technology that allows people to build and live in their own dream worlds. However, users start getting trapped in their dreams , unable to wake up. The story follows the scientist’s journey into the dream realms to rescue the victims, confronting the dark side of human desires. Write the scientist’s perilous journey through the surreal landscapes of human dreams.
Every night at midnight, a mysterious train appears at an abandoned station. The protagonist, a curious train enthusiast, decides to board it one night, only to find that the train travels through time to unresolved moments in the passengers’ pasts. The journey becomes a series of moral dilemmas as the protagonist encounters their own past. Write the protagonist’s confrontation with their personal history and the choices that shape their future.
Once a year , a small town holds a festival where everyone must face their own shadow, which takes on a life of its own. A young woman discovers that her shadow harbors a secret about her family’s past, leading her to a forbidden truth about the town’s tradition . Write the young woman’s confrontation with the darkness within herself and her community .
A team of explorers finds a long-lost colony that disappeared without a trace centuries ago. The colony appears untouched, as if the inhabitants vanished in an instant. As the team investigates, they start experiencing the same phenomena that led to the colony’s demise. Write the team’s race against time to solve the mystery before history repeats itself.
In an ancient library, a librarian finds a mysterious book that contains names of people who seem to vanish from reality once their names are read aloud. The story follows the librarian’s journey to understand the power of the book and the moral dilemma of controlling such a formidable force. Write the librarian’s struggle with the ethical implications of erasing individuals from existence.
In a small town, a series of inexplicable events leads to the discovery of a hidden marionette theater. The puppeteer, a figure shrouded in mystery, seems to control more than just puppets . The protagonist begins to uncover a sinister connection between the puppeteer’s performances and the fate of the town’s residents. Write the unraveling of the puppeteer’s influence and the fight to cut the strings of control.
A village is cursed to live the same day repeatedly, but the inhabitants are unaware of the loop. A visitor, unaffected by the curse, notices the repetition and starts investigating. The story explores the visitor’s attempts to break the cycle and the dark truth behind the village’s eternal day. Write the visitor’s quest to unravel the mystery of the time loop and its hidden cost.
In a secluded garden , people come to share their deepest secrets with the plants , believing them to be silent keepers of confessions. However, a young gardener begins to hear the plants whispering these secrets back, revealing disturbing truths about the visitors. Write the gardener’s confrontation with the moral dilemma of knowing what should have remained hidden.
A renowned painter becomes obsessed with creating the perfect portrait. Each portrait seems to capture the soul of the subject, who then mysteriously disappears. An art critic, intrigued by the disappearances, starts investigating the artist’s work , uncovering a chilling connection between art and life. Write the art critic’s journey into the depths of artistic obsession and its terrifying consequences.
An abandoned mansion on the outskirts of town is known for its echoing halls. A group of teenagers dares to spend a night there, only to find that the echoes are not just sounds but memories of the mansion’s tragic past. The night turns into a haunting experience as the mansion relives its history. Write the teenagers’ terrifying night trapped in the echoing memories of sorrow and despair.
A night watchman at a historical museum starts experiencing events from the exhibits’ pasts during his shifts. The more he delves into the history, the more the line between past and present blurs, leading to a revelation about his own connection to the museum’s artifacts. Write the watchman’s journey through time and his realization of a personal link to the museum’s history.
An isolated island is home to a community where no one can speak above a whisper. A linguist visits to study this unique phenomenon, only to discover that the island holds a terrifying secret related to the residents’ quiet voices. Write the linguist’s discovery of the chilling reason behind the island’s silent curse.

Dark Writing Prompts With Mind-Bending Twists

A character wakes up each day with a different set of memories, living a completely different life each time. They start documenting each day’s experiences, only to realize that they are not different lives but the lives of people around them, including strangers. The twist reveals that the character is actually a psychic, absorbing others’ memories while losing their own identity .
In a small antique shop, a person buys a seemingly ordinary mirror. However, upon looking into it, they see not their reflection but the deepest secrets and desires of whoever they think about. As they use it to their advantage, they begin to lose their own sense of self, becoming an amalgamation of others’ thoughts and desires. The twist is that the mirror was cursed to erode the user’s identity, feeding on their curiosity about others.
A character finds themselves in a time loop, reliving the same day. They try different actions to break the cycle but soon realize that the day they are reliving is the anniversary of a tragic event they caused. The twist is that the time loop is a psychological manifestation of their guilt, and the only escape is to come to terms with their past actions.
A person inherits an old house from a relative and hears constant whispering. Initially dismissed as wind or settling noises, they soon realize the whispers are the house narrating its past, revealing dark secrets about their family. The twist: the house is sentient, harboring the collective consciousness of the family’s ancestors, each with their own dark past.
A struggling artist starts painting incredibly vivid scenes from their dreams, gaining fame. However, the subjects of the paintings begin to recognize themselves in the dreamscapes, revealing the artist’s ability to dream of future events. The twist is that the artist is unknowingly painting premonitions of tragic events, and each painting becomes a race against time to prevent them.
A character lives in a world where every major decision is made through a sophisticated system that predicts the best outcome for everyone. They start noticing anomalies and glitches in their daily life, suggesting that their “choices” might not be their own. The twist is that they’re part of an elaborate simulation designed to study human behavior, where free will is an illusion.
A detective with the ability to see people’s memories takes on a case to find a missing person. As they delve deeper, they start finding their own memories within the suspects’ minds, revealing a connection to the missing person they never knew they had. The twist: the detective is unknowingly the perpetrator, with a split personality that erases the crime from their main consciousness.
In a dystopian world where all forms of creativity are banned , the last known writer is on the run, carrying a manuscript believed to be the key to revolution. As they evade capture, it’s revealed that the manuscript is blank, and the true power lies in the writer’s ability to inspire imagination in a world devoid of it. The twist is that the writer is a symbol, a collective hallucination by a suppressed society yearning for change .
A brilliant scientist develops a technology allowing individuals to create and inhabit their own virtual reality. As people flock to escape the hardships of the real world, the scientist discovers that exiting the virtual reality erases the person’s memories in the real world. The twist: the scientist is trapped in their own creation, and each attempt to fix it further blurs the line between reality and illusion.
A character finds an ancient box that grants a single wish but sends the user back in time to the moment before they found the box, creating a paradox. They use the box to try to fix a regret in their past, only to realize each wish alters their present in unforeseen, often tragic ways. The twist is that the box was created by a future version of the character as a test to accept the past and move on.
A taxi driver in a bustling city begins to hear an invisible passenger giving directions and life advice. Following the guidance leads to success and happiness , but the driver starts to suspect the presence might have a sinister motive. The twist reveals that the invisible passenger is the driver’s split personality, a manifestation of their deepest fears and desires.
The world experiences an unexplained phenomenon where the sun doesn’t rise, plunging the Earth into darkness. Amidst the chaos, a group of survivors discovers that the darkness isn’t just the absence of light, but a living entity that feeds on fear and despair. The twist is that the entity is a manifestation of humanity’s collective negative emotions , and only by overcoming them can the sun rise again.
A character starts seeing people without faces – just blank skin where their features should be. Initially horrifying, the character gradually realizes they can sculpt and mold the faceless people’s features, inadvertently controlling their lives and destinies. The twist: the faceless people represent everyone the character has emotionally neglected or overlooked, reflecting their inner lack of empathy .
A composer writes a symphony that evokes deep sorrow in anyone who hears it. As its fame grows, listeners start reporting visions of another world, a place of eternal sadness. The twist is that the symphony is a bridge to a realm of collective human grief , and the composer is a warden tasked with keeping its inhabitants from crossing over.
An author finds an old, unfinished novel and becomes obsessed with completing it. However, the novel seems to never end, constantly adding new chapters and characters. As the author’s life becomes entwined with the story, they realize the novel is writing itself based on their life experiences. The twist: the novel is a sentient entity, feeding off the author’s creativity and life force.
A journalist develops the ability to detect lies, making them a formidable investigator. But they soon start hearing a constant, unbearable echo whenever they hear a lie. As they uncover a massive conspiracy, the echoes become overwhelming, threatening their sanity. The twist is that the ability was artificially implanted by those behind the conspiracy, intending to drive the journalist to madness before they could expose the truth.

Founder and Chief Content Curator @ Digital Phrases

I'm a writer, words are my superpower, and storytelling is my kryptonite.

Dark Fantasy Writing Prompts 25+ Ideas To Boost Your Imagination

August 3, 2022

Are you looking for inspiration for your next fantasy story? We’ve got you covered.

Below you’ll find a selection of prompts and story ideas for dark fantasy, a popular fantasy subgenre . Before we get to the prompts, let’s develop a clearer understanding of this popular fantasy subgenre.

What is dark fantasy?

Dark fantasy refers to fantasy novels and short stories that incorporate elements of horror .

Dark fantasy is not a definitive subgenre but rather a mood or aesthetic that generally surrounds a fantasy story. The stories typically feature violence, gore, and vengeance.

Plot ideas for dark fantasy stories are thrilling, suspenseful, and sometimes gory.

They show a darker side to a character and often follow an anti-hero – a protagonist in a story who does not embody the typical hero and may embody the villain from another perspective.

Dark fantasy writing prompts

Below you’ll find some plot ideas and new writing prompts to spark inspiration for your next dark fantasy story.

A character loses control of their supernatural powers.
A murdered man returns from the dead to exact personal vengeance.
An evil King and Queen abuse their power.
A mercenary angel exits retirement to save a kingdom from evil spirits.
A woman enters a dark forest and meets a bounty hunter and starts an unlikely love story.
An occult ritual gone wrong awakes a supernatural force.
A group of teens playing Dungeons and Dragons sense an evil threat.
Three dark wizards fight over the possession of a magical stone until a more powerful evil wizard interferes.
An ancient evil lives beyond a kingdom’s borders.
A young autistic boy holds immense magical powers and is nominated to be killed in a cruel human sacrifice.

Dark fantasy setting ideas

Here are some story setting ideas for your dark fantasy work:

The protagonist’s home is a tomb in a graveyard.
An eerie forest.
An abandoned castle.
A dystopian wasteland.
A hospital.
A spaceship.
Outer space.
A parallel dimension.
A basement.
An undiscovered jungle.
Earth before modern humans.
A house in the woods.
An underground bunker.

Dark fantasy story ideas

Below we’ve included some dark fantasy story ideas to give you even more inspiration for your fantasy novel.

A King asks a powerful witch to cast a spell. He wants his entire kingdom to become invisible to outsiders to prevent attacks. The witch grants his request but falls victim to an evil royal family from which the King was trying to protect his people. The witch, dead, cannot lift the spell using all the magic she knows, and now the kingdom is completely isolated from the outside world for centuries making life horrible.
An angel cast out of heaven spends centuries on a hedonistic Earth. Having lived through his hedonistic urges, he comes to see the light once again. Our anti-hero embarks on a redemption story to regain access to heaven.
A young girl finds an old, dusty book of fairy tales in her recently deceased grandmother’s attic. As her family clears from grandma’s house, the girl decides to keep the book a secret. She slides it into her bag and takes it home. Later that week, when she has time alone, the girl takes the book to the garden and starts to read it aloud. As she speaks the text, she doesn’t notice the sky around her turning a chilling gray, a stark contrast to the open blue sky above just minutes earlier.
A former witch hunter falls in love. The object of his affection is the daughter of a family who has recently moved to town. The girl falls for him too, or so he believes. Believing it may be time to settle down and be happy with his beautiful new lover, the witch hunter lets his guard down. The paranormal romance unfolds with the girl revealed to be the spirit of witches he had burned and tortured in his earlier life. His punishment will not be quick.
A spoiled young prince is the only rightful heir in a kingdom where paranormal beings live in harmony with humans. Power gained at such an early age is corruptive, and the prince is no exception. The story follows the dark coming-of-age of a spoiled child who acts out his twisted fantasies of darkest evil on those beneath him. The ancient gods bless a young boy who will turn out to be the hero in the once forsaken land.

A spirit from another dimension embodies a young girl. Born into a family and raised as normal, the girl lived a normal life until her adolescence. On her sixteenth birthday, the dormant spirit awakens and seeks to exact revenge on the descendants of those who harmed the spirit in a past life.
An evil spirit possesses residents of a small town every year. Each year, the townspeople lose loved ones to the intruding spirit. A satanic cult, formerly ostracized by the community, is now the only hope for the town.
A soldier discovers a crying baby in the woods. Filled with compassion, he carries the baby to a nearby village to seek support and care for the innocent young one. When he reaches the village, the villagers look on in terror. When the soldier looks down, his own eyes fill with terror as the baby begins to decompose. Piercing screams come from the woods behind; a force has been disturbed.
A woman discovers scientific truths that question the common understanding of how the world works. Threatened, the authorities call for her death, and the town begins a witch hunt. Only one person can save her, but she needs to take a long journey to find them.
An evil force begins to control the flock of demons to attack a small town. The dark power takes control, burning houses and eating children. Angelic defense forces intervene and manage to save one child from a burning house. Both parents have been killed. The child is a twin but was alone when found. His brother was not saved by angels but taken by demons.

Tips for writing fantasy

Fantasy is one of the most beloved literary genres.

Consider the impact of JRR Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings or the immense popularity of George RR Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series. Look at The Way of Kings author Brandon Sanderson’s world-building skills or Neil Gaiman’s character-driven writing style.

The vast fantasy genre is a testament to the wonders of human imagination.

So, if you want to write compelling stories, where do you begin? It helps to understand the elements that go into a great fantasy story.

Even though your characters are otherworldly, your setting unique, and your plot fantastical, that doesn’t mean that readers can’t or should not relate to your characters.

Even the most outlandish and evil characters must have some echo of humanity in them.

Avoid clichéd, two-dimensional, vague characters or countless deranged creatures that do not contribute anything to your fantasy novel. If you’re going to include a character in your book that gives a rich life, readers may love or hate them but what’s important is that they resonate on some level.

No matter which fantasy subgenre you choose, understand that most fantasy stories feature an underdog vs. authority theme. Even in dark fantasy, where your character is an anti-hero, they usually have a more significant force working against them.

A magic system

Magic is crucial in any fantasy story, whether dark, epic, urban, or medieval . The magical elements of a particular story set it apart from the rest.

Even though a general magic system exists and features many books, the particular style, and means of use vary. When writing your own dark fantasy story, you have full creative control over how our magic system works.

Just remember that your story ideas still have to make sense!

A magic system is a system of laws or rules that don’t apply to the world as we know it. Supernatural forces, ancient stones, and sorcery are common magical devices that help fantasy writers immerse readers in a unique world of mythical creatures.

Spend time crafting a seamless magic system. It frustrates readers to follow a story but see through significant holes in the narrative. Don’t let a flawed system ruin your reader’s experience.

Gods, mythical beings, ancient dragons, the supernatural, angels, demons, sorcery, and advanced technology are all exciting and loved magic systems, so feel free to dip into any and play with the rules.

Best dark fantasy books

Here are some of popular dark fantasy works you can read to get an idea of the genre:

The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger – Stephen King
Coraline – Neil Gaiman
The Blade Itself – Joe Abercrombie
Dracula – Bram Stoker
Something Wicked This Way Comes – Ray Bradbury
House of Leaves – Mark Z. Danielewski
The Hunger – Alma Katsu
The Haunting of Hill House – Shirley Jackson

“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.” – Michael Scott

Writing fantasy is a powerful exercise of the imagination. World-building, character creation, magic systems, and forces of good and evil are common elements in the fantasy genre that make it an enjoyable read and an adventurous writing experience.

The dark fantasy prompts will hopefully help get your creative juices flowing, whether you want to write a short story or a full-length fantasy novel.

Remember that each writing prompt above is just that – a prompt – you’re free to chop and change the prompts as you wish to suit your story idea better.

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101 Horror Writing Prompts That Are Freaky As Hell

Looking for some scary story ideas for your next writing project?

Sometimes, a good scary prompt idea is all you need to get started on a dark story your readers won’t be able to put down.

And that is the goal. What’s a horror story without white-knuckle suspense?

You want your readers at the edge of their seats, unable to stop though they know something bad is about to happen.

You also want to reward them for reading to the end and leave them wanting more.

So, how can this collection of horror writing prompts help with that?

What Are the Main Elements of Horror Writing?

List of most common horror themes and tropes to write on .

66 Horror Writing Prompts

Halloween Writing Prompts

Mystery writing prompts, psychological horror story ideas, “the monster you know” story ideas, ghost story writing prompts, funny horror story ideas, horror story ideas.

Every good story needs an idea that takes root in your imagination and doesn’t let go. Horror stories in particular need to affect you a certain way. If they don’t sound an alarm in your head, they won’t sound one in the heads of your readers, either.

They need to reach into your psyche, take a scrap of memory, and turn it into something that would keep you up at night.

And as you’ve no doubt read already, “No surprise in the writer, no surprise in the reader.”

Look through the prompts that follow, and choose one that calls out to you and lingers in your imagination.

Paint a picture in your mind of the characters involved. Give yourself a reason to invest in them by giving each one some interesting backstory.

Then set a timer and write.

Since Earl Horace Walpole’s gothic horror The Castle of Otranto hit shelves in 1764, English readers have clamored for dark plots that excite primitive instincts and tickle our fear bones.

Many horror authors leverage shadowy impulses by sprinkling stories with uncomfortable happenings and gruesome fatalities.

But that’s not all it takes to write within the genre, begging the question: What are the main elements of horror? Traditionally, there are five: suspense, fear, violence, gore, and the supernatural.

Suspense : Creating anxious tension is a critical component of horror as it keeps the audience glued to the story. They need to find out what happens! Traditionally, suspense is valued as a sophisticated form of horror, and building it well is a skill.
Fear : Confronting fearful things is a powerful emotion with chemical reactionary consequences, making it a hallmark of horror writing.
Violence : Savagery is scary because it’s inextricably linked to death and pain — two of the four great human fears.
Gore : Brains and guts are a cornerstone of classic horror. For better or worse, our neural pathways light up when confronted with intestines, brain matter, and gushing fluids. Successful horror writers keep readers and watchers engaged by deploying gore effectively.
Supernatural: The main difference between “true crime” and “horror” is a supernatural element. While horror stories draw people in with realism, they usually feature an emotional detachment valve in the form of an explicit or implicit otherworldly presence.

Vampires, ghosts, zombies, and murderers are big-picture mainstays of the horror genre. But what are some other, more detailed tropes associated with scary storytelling?

Babysitter Alone in Big House: The naive babysitter trope is oft-repeated because it works. The sitter acts as a stand-in for the reader or audience in that, like you, they’re vulnerable. Horror-sitters are the character conduit through which readers and viewers can experience the impending fear.
Manipulative Vampires: Maybe it’s their piercing eyes, snappy attire, or mysterious penchant for the “nightlife.” Whatever the case, people stan vampires, and sensual and manipulative ones are an incredibly effective horror character trope.
Ghost-Haunted House: Ghost-haunted houses are a recurring horror motif. Whether you approach it from a traditional or modern angle is up to you. Both can work.
Creepy Kid: In real life, it’s kind to see all kids as precious and special, no matter their quirks. But when it comes to Horror World, creepy kids are a dime a dozen! Sometimes they’re the main attractions or “red herrings” (which we’ll get to more below); other times, they’re supernatural catalysts that serve as a story’s MacGuffin. Whichever the case, unnerving kids go a long way when devising a disturbing scene and fomenting suspense.
The Nonbeliever: Most horror stories have at least one character whose lack of fear or faith (in the story’s “supernatural” element) lands them six feet under.
The Red Herring: A “red herring” is a false clue. The term dates back to the 1400s to describe a culinary preparation for fish, but the first known use as a euphemism for “distraction” appeared in 1884.
Isolation: Few things frighten people more than being all alone while danger looms. As such, isolation can be a helpful trope when crafting horror stories.
Graveyard Chase: A well-conceived chase around a graveyard is another horror mainstay that continues to deliver. Try adding a twist to modernize the trope.
Distorting Mirrors: Whether a single reflecting glass or a full-on maze, using mirrors as a motif is a tangible and effective way to signal distortion.
Aliens and Cultists: The human psyche can’t resist rubbernecking when confronted with the possibility of aliens and the sociopathic underbelly of cults. Resultantly, they work well as engaging frameworks for horror stories.

101 Horror Writing Prompts

Whether you’re writing for a special occasion or just to experiment with the horror genre, any of the scary story prompts in the following groups should get you started.

Go with your gut on this one, and choose an idea that feels both familiar and provocative. Then give it a go!

1. A mysterious gift from an estranged aunt arrives on Halloween with a crystal ball and a note addressed only to you, her godchild.

2. One of the trick-or-treaters bears an uncanny resemblance to your departed sibling and repeats that sibling’s last words before picking your sibling’s favorite candy bar.

3. On Halloween night, you find a box at your door that contains a strange note and a little something from each of the people who have hurt you in the past year.

4. On this Halloween night, your guinea pig won’t stop running in circles, and your dog keeps staring at the door, emitting a low growl.

5. You run out for candy on Halloween afternoon to find the streets empty and the store abandoned. A single car cruises into the lot and pulls into the spot next to yours.

6. Every time you went to answer the doorbell, no one was there. The next day, you heard about the missing children. The worst part? Your kids spent Halloween with your ex and were supposed to come trick-or-treating last night.

7. You arrive home on Halloween to a large package from your new boss, who’d bought every piece of your favorite candy from local stores. The note reads, “Save some for me.”

8. You’re watching TV on Halloween night when your show is interrupted by a faintly familiar someone declaring their love for you and saying they’ve watched you all your life.

9. You come home to find a stranger walking through your home, sipping your wine and admiring your collected antiquities. They startle at your approach and act as though you’re the intruder.

10. The night before Halloween, you have a dream in which you wake up to see a dark shape standing outside your closet. You wake up screaming with your hands around your spouse’s throat.

11. Election day looms, and Halloween feels more ominous than ever. You’ve kept the lights off, but that doesn’t stop one visitor from leaving a note: “Knew you lived here.”

12. Your best friend has gone missing, and someone keeps leaving small reminders of them in your mailbox. You see someone approach to deliver something else, and your heart nearly stops when you recognize them.

13. You’ve always wanted a dog, so when a rain-soaked mutt shows up on your front step, you let him in. Unfortunately, something else hitched a ride.

14. Someone moves into the apartment next door and starts playing loud music at night. You call the police, who find the guy dead holding a note with your name and address.

15. Someone keeps replacing items in your home with different objects that look vaguely familiar. No one else has a key to your home, and there are no signs of forced entry.

16. You bake some cookies to share with the new neighbor, but the terrified woman backs away from the plate, shaking her head. Someone from inside calls out, “I’ll have those.”

17. Someone at work has offered to do a tarot card spread for you, and you politely decline. You find a single tarot card in your mailbox when you return home.

18. You don’t remember wandering alone on a country road as a small child, but someone does. And he wants to make sure you’re not around to testify against him.

19. Someone has gotten to your laundry before you and left it neatly folded in piles on top of the dryer. A note reads, “For more TLC, knock on #303.”

20. The window of your apartment leads to a fire escape, but twice you’ve come home to find it open. Nothing is missing. But someone keeps leaving a ring on your kitchen table.

21. You order a Christmas wreath for your door and the company sends you a package with money instead. The note reads, “Keep half. I’ll pick up the rest in 72 hours.”

22. A child knocks on your door and tells you you’ll be visited by three people that night. One of them will show you your future. The child’s face reminds you of someone.

23. Your best friend is dating a woman who seems familiar to you — and not in a good way. Turns out, she’s got a bad feeling about you, too, and she warns your friend.

24. You receive a surprise delivery of a holiday flower arrangement with a note from someone who went to jail for assault. The message reads, “I’ll be home for Christmas.”

25. An abuser from your past has written you a long letter of apology, and you agree to meet them for coffee. You find your favorite coffee place deserted — on Black Friday.

26. You broke up with your sweetheart when he lied about taking you to the prom and begged you to run away with him so he could escape an abusive home. He’s back.

27. An old friend, who had tried to warn you about an ex-boyfriend years ago, has come back to town to run a diner. Within a week, known bullies start disappearing.

28. For the past three dates, the guy you met ended up dead and posed as if proposing. A note on each one’s empty chest cavity reads, “My heart belongs to [your name].”

29. You’re with a friend at the home of the guy she’s dating. In the bathroom, you find a box with jewelry for almost every birthstone. Yours is the only one missing. You hear a scream.

30. Everyone keeps telling you your memories can’t be trusted. You’re safe with them. They’ll protect you. But you haven’t left the house in years.

31. You thought it was cute when your little sister wanted to wear your aunt’s high heels and pose with a hand on her hip. But your sister had an uncanny way with accidents.

32. You never expected to win the ‘57 Chevy from the church raffle. Neither did the car’s owner, who immediately tried to buy it back. He didn’t respond well to “No, thanks.”

33. Every time you saw anything like “Tornado Warning” or “Flash Flood” in the news, you knew someone would end up dead. And your ex would blame the weather.

34. You come home to a dozen roses from a guy who’s been telling his friends you’re dating, and you get angry. For some reason, though, everyone you know is on his side.

35. Your “Secret Santa” leaves an expensive bottle of wine with a note, “Drink me.” You call a familiar number and hear the phone ring on the other side of your door.

36. Your dad has a secret known only to his twin brother, who mysteriously disappeared but left a note with a box of his belongings in the attic. You take it with you when you leave.

37. You just broke up with the person who’s catering your best friend’s wedding. They also made the cake.

38. Some of your in-laws have decided to deliver their sibling from you. When they cross the line, you make a promise to them and to your spouse. One by one, they disappear.

39. Your health is steadily declining, and you don’t know why. Neither do your doctors, who test for the usual health issues and find nothing. Then someone calls to warn you.

40. Your estranged father sends you a porcelain doll — the one he swears you told him you wanted. It has the face and hair of your missing mother. And her eyes are glued open.

41. You’ve just told your family you’re asexual, and they seem to accept it. Out of the blue, the handsome guy next door shows up to ask you out, and your parents quietly nod.

42. A cop pulls you over for driving a few miles over the speed limit, tells you to get out of your car, slams you against the hood and whispers in your ear, “This is from your ex.”

43. You emailed your fiancé for months before meeting him for the first date. Now, you’re getting strange phone calls from someone claiming to be his wife and telling you to run.

44. You stood numb at the coffin of a close friend and flinched when your father rested a hand on your shoulder. “Had to be done,” he whispered. “Remember the bigger picture.”

45. A small package bears the name of your sister, who died five years ago. It contains a pendant that matches her own and a note asking you to activate it by chanting, “Sisters Forever.”

46. Your elderly neighbors died on the same day of an apparent suicide pact. In their will, they left their pug to you, along with a small box of what they called “magical items.”

47. You receive a note penned by your best friend, who died in a car accident the month before, His parents had found it in his room and hand-delivered it, barely looking at you.

48. You pounce on a new opening in the apartment building close to your favorite coffee place. The first night there, you wake up to ghostly shapes surrounding your bed.

49. At your first slumber party, your friend’s older brother surprised you during a late-night run to the bathroom. He died a decade later in prison. Now you see him in your dreams.

50. Your home is the high-tech brainchild of your best friend, who bequeathed it to you (rather than to his wife). It anticipates your every need and desire.

51. You’ve been having dreams about a door that shows up in your room. In one, you walk through it and see someone you love being murdered . You warn them the next day.

52. You’re the lone survivor of a horrific train crash, and everywhere you go, you see the ghosts of some of the passengers. Some have told you the crash was no accident.

53. You’re looking through your mother’s possessions when a note slips out of the book she’d been reading, warning you about “the ghost who runs this house.”

54. Your new boyfriend is obsessed with ancient artifacts, but when something hitches a ride on his latest find, you witness disturbing changes in his behavior.

55. Your life is already complicated when your boss asks you to stay at his home to care for his dog while he’s away. You soon learn the house is as mischievous as the dog.

56. You’re an editor for the college literary journal, and you’ve been getting poetic hate mail from a student who’s angry you didn’t choose their poems for the latest issue.

57. Your favorite neighbor is a trans woman named Lani who looks out for you. She warns you about a guy down the hall, who keeps trying cheesy pick-up lines to get you to smile.

58. Your co-workers tease you about your weight gain. One is found dead in the bathroom, her mouth stuffed with candy. Everyone but the custodian suspects you.

59. An anonymous admirer sends you a singing telegram with a chilling question. Now you have less than 24 hours to sing your answer in a public square, with a flash mob.

60. You sign up for wine deliveries but are disappointed by the first bottle you open and taste. On the label, you find a crass, insulting note from an old enemy.

61. Your date finds out your BFF is asexual and starts asking intrusive and insensitive questions. When your friend shuts him down, he insults and warns you both.

62. You’re working the dinner rush, and a customer loudly insists on changing her order the moment you deliver it. Someone quietly follows her as she storms out the door.

63. You’re having an open house for your new shop, and you catch a customer shoplifting. She says, “I was told to come in here and take these. You’re being watched.”

64. You arrive at your new house, and the keys from the realtor don’t work. Someone answers the door with a disarming smile. “So, you’re here about the room? Come in!”

65. Your date is going well until you reveal that you have a dog. “I’m not really a dog person,” you hear. When you get a bad feeling and end the date, things get messy.

66. Your journal goes missing, and within a week, a goofy, adorable guy starts showing up at your usual stops. He seems surprised to see you, but something isn’t quite right.

Creepy Writing Prompts

67. The old tunnel had been blocked off for as long as anyone could remember, but late at night, you could still hear the faint screams echoing from deep within.

68. As you walk past the abandoned house on your way home from school, you notice one of the curtains move slightly in an upstairs window, but the house has been empty for years.

69. You wake up suddenly in the middle of the night and see two small handprints on the foggy bathroom mirror that are far too small to belong to anyone in your family.

70. Every night when you go to sleep, you feel an uncomfortable pricking sensation on your skin, yet every morning, you find strange symbols carved into your arms that you don’t remember making.

71. While exploring the attic, you find an old doll that looks eerily like you did as a child, and when you pick it up, its eyes suddenly open.

72. The scraping sound from the closet stops whenever you turn on the light, but it always returns as soon as the room goes dark again.

73. Every time you glance in the mirror, your reflection behaves slightly differently than you do – blinking at the wrong time or moving too late.

74. You wake up covered in mud and scratches with no memory of where you’ve been all night, and the soles of your shoes are worn through as if you had walked for miles.

75. Lately, your pets have refused to go into certain rooms of your house, but you have no idea what frightens them so badly about those areas.

76. You discover a trap door hidden under an old Persian rug in your basement and shining a light into it reveals a set of footsteps descending into the darkness below.

77. You wake up one morning to find all the mirrors in your home have been turned around to face the wall, even though you live alone.

78. Your television is switched on in the dead of night, the static slowly resolving into shapes, and what looks back at you from the screen makes your blood run cold.

79. You keep finding sticky notes around your house with messages written on them in unfamiliar handwriting, like “GET OUT” or “I’M WATCHING YOU SLEEP.”

80. Every time you look at a clock, the time is exactly 3 minutes slow, though all the clocks in your home are set correctly and keep perfect time when others view them.

81. On your way home, you notice a figure standing motionless at the end of the street, staring directly at your house with its face hidden in the shadows of its hooded robe.

82. Your dog comes running inside with its leash still attached but hanging limply, yet when you call the number on the leash’s tag, your own cell phone starts ringing from within your house.

83. Your computer camera activates unexpectedly while you’re working, and you see your own bedroom behind you from an impossible angle near the ceiling, suggesting someone is watching through the camera right now.

84. You hear your name called out softly in an empty room, and even though the voice sounds familiar, you live alone, and you know no one else is inside.

Spooky Writing Prompts

85. Every night when you lie in bed, you hear the floorboards outside your room creaking as if someone is pacing back and forth, but every time you quickly open the door to check, the hallway is empty.

86. While exploring the woods behind your new house, you discover a crumbling old stone well, and when you peer down into the darkness, you think you see pale faces staring back up at you.

87. Your reflection in mirrors and windows often moves independently, quickly looking away whenever you try to catch it, watching you from impossible angles that don’t align with where you’re standing.

88. An unfamiliar chat window opens on your computer screen with only the message “I can see you through your webcam” written inside it by an unseen sender.

89. Plants within your home have been dying overnight no matter where you place them, the leaves and stems drained of all color as if the life has been completely sucked out.

90. You wake up to find a pile of dead birds on your lawn, their wings broken and necks bent at odd angles as if they crashed directly into the ground from high altitudes.

91. The old paintings hanging on the walls of your recently inherited mansion seem to follow you with their eyes, and occasionally, you notice mysterious new figures added in the backgrounds that disappear by morning.

92. Turning on all the faucets causes blood to drip out instead of water, yet when others in your home check them, the liquid running from the pipes is perfectly clear.

93. You wake from a nightmare convinced someone was standing silently at the foot of your bed, only to find the imprint of two bare feet seared into your bedroom carpet right where the figure was standing.

94. Whenever you look in the bathroom mirror late at night, you see dead relatives standing silently behind you who disappear when you turn around to check if anyone is there.

95. The baby monitor in the nursery suddenly emits a strange crackling sound followed by a singsong voice you don’t recognize whispering your baby’s name over and over.

96. Your shadow appears to have a mind of its own, often following you more slowly or quickly than it should and reaching areas you know your body has not moved to.

97. Photos taken with phones or cameras in and around your home show blurry figures lurking in the background that do not match any of the people in the images.

98. Any writing you leave out overnight – from sticky notes to notebooks – has mysterious reoccurring symbols added in unfamiliar handwriting scattered among the existing text.

99. You wake in the middle of the night to the sound of your locked window being forced open from the outside, but when you jump out of bed to check, it’s closed securely as if nothing happened.

100. From your garden, you can see directly into your neighbor’s bathroom mirror, but instead of the neighbor’s reflection, you swear you sometimes see your own face staring back with an expression you don’t recognize.

101. While searching through the attic in your recently purchased Victorian home, you find an old portrait of a severe-looking woman whose eyes seem to follow you around the room; later that night, you wake to find the same woman standing at the foot of your bed, silently watching you sleep.

How Do You Come Up with Horror Ideas?

Coming up with fresh, frightening ideas is key to crafting an effective horror story. While horror inspirations can spring from ordinary events and observations, it helps to have strategies to unleash your most sinister creativity. Here are some tips for conjuring bone-chilling tales:

Mine your nightmares. Dreams often access our deepest fears. Pay attention to recurring nightmares or startling images from your subconscious, as these can inspire terrifying new monsters or situations.
Twist tropes. Take common horror archetypes like haunted houses, demonic possession, or slashers and put a new spin on them. Surprise readers by changing elements they assume to be familiar.
Extrapolate fears. Think about phobias you or others have, like darkness, insects, or tight spaces. Imagine those fears exponentially intensified to petrifying extremes.
Research real horror. Study disturbing historical events, murders, superstitions, or unexplained phenomena and fictionalize them in a new horror setting.
Observe people. Carefully watch those around you and look for small creepy details in their appearances or behaviors that could be expanded into something sinister.

With an observant eye and inventive mind, creators can find endless inspiration from both mundane moments and their most nightmarish dreams. Putting ordinary things in an ominous light or letting one’s imagination run wild with “what if” scenarios generate the kinds of situations and figures that fuel truly frightening tales.

Pay attention to the world around and inside you, and plumb the depths of your creativity, and you’ll never run short on horror ideas.

E.V. Everest

Feb 2, 2021

5 Dark Fantasy Writing Prompts

Updated: Jun 28, 2021

Dark fantasy is a rapidly growing subgenre that has captured the imagination of many writers, new and old. It combines the escapist appeal of traditional fantasy and pairs it with darker themes and horror elements. If that sounds like your sort of thing, get started with the dark fantasy writing prompts below!

There is no wrong way to use writing prompts! However, I suggest selecting your favorite and sitting down to free write for fifteen minutes.

What ideas do these visual creative writing prompts spark? Share your ideas and short fiction with our friendly, welcoming community in the comments below.

Dark Fantasy Writing Prompt #1

Dark Fantasy Story Ideas - Dark Hooded Figure Perfect for Grimdark

Photo By: Harrison Haines

Design Your Own:

What ideas does this photo prompt?

It takes a black heart and a steady hand to slay the things that go bump in the night. The challenge is not becoming worse than the monsters you destroy.

Dark Fantasy Writing Prompt #2

Will you follow me on this dark path.

Dark Fantasy Prompt - Creepy Lantern in Dark Forest

Photo by: Emre Kuzu

Design Your Own Prompt:

What ideas does this visual creative writing prompt spark?

A hand with blackened nails and cracking skin reached out from the shadows. "Follow me," the apparition hissed.

Dark Fantasy Writing Prompt #3

Grimdark Fantasy Writing Prompts - Cloaked Figure

"When black rain falls from a dark night sky, the curse will be awakened. Its devastation will reign for a thousand years. Are you ready, sister?"

Dark Fantasy Writing Prompt #4

Black heart.

Photo by: Danielle Reese

Despite all I have been through, all I have done, I still fear his name.

Dark Fantasy Writing Prompt #5

Dark Fantasy Writing Prompts - Silent Fae

Photo by: Isabella Mariana

When the Faerie Queen demands silence, it falls. No matter the cost.

Looking for more plot ideas?

Check out my book, 365 Awesome Story Prompts . You'll find even more fantasy prompts there, plus b onus setting and character inspiration lists. If you prefer a print version with a little space to jot notes and brainstorm, try 365 Awesome Story Prompts: Journal Edition .

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BRYN DONOVAN

tell your stories, love your life

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50 Spooky Writing Prompts and Horror Story Ideas

If you’re looking for scary story prompts or horror writing ideas, you’ve come to the right place! These are great Halloween writing prompts, and some of these could also be used as suspense story prompts or dark fantasy story ideas.

These are all from my book 5 ,000 Writing Prompts: A Master List of Plot Ideas, Creative Exercises, and More . The book has 100 additional spooky writing prompts and horror story ideas, as well as master plots and idea starters for all kinds of writing.

If you are easily scared and have an over-active imagination, just skip this one. And anyway, just remember it’s all nonsense that I made up while I was exercising on the treadmill or sitting in bed.

Some of these are skeletal (ha) plot ideas, while others are images or suggestions. And if you’d like a spooky soundtrack to inspire you, be sure to check out my scary music playlist for writers ! Be sure to pin or bookmark the post for future reference. After all, when autumn rolls around, you might find yourself looking for Halloween writing prompts!

A musician practices. When she finishes a piece, she hears someone clapping for her, although she lives alone.
Frightening events in a small town lead its citizens to dig up the grave of a deceased inhabitant.
Someone gets on the elevator by himself and is never seen by his friends or family again.
The Furies—the vengeance deities of classic mythology—are back in business again.
A collector buys an unpublished manuscript by an obscure writer that describes a terrible historical event a year before it occurred. The collector learns the writer wrote many unpublished stories…
Creating a hybrid of a human and this particular animal turns out to be a bad idea.
A person has the ability to make other people very ill.
The dead walk out of the sea.
An individual begins seeing and hearing from someone who looks just like her – and learns she had a twin who died at birth.
A killer places an advertisement for a willing victim and finds one.
A basement contains jars filled with unusual specimens.
A person finds new photos of herself on her cell phone that she didn’t take.
The spirit of a brutalized slave or prisoner of war wants revenge on his tormentor’s descendants.
A couple vacationing in a remote area begins having the same nightmares.
All of the circus performers were killed in the train wreck.
The television switches to another station of its own accord and plays footage of something horrible that happened long before the technology existed to record it.
A spouse or sibling dies. He or she begins to take over the body of the surviving spouse or sibling.
Weekend adventurers explore a cave and can’t find their way out again. Then they encounter something terrible…
Authorities go through the cluttered apartment of a deceased man who lived alone with no known friends or relatives for decades and find something disturbing.
A group of teenagers trolls everyone else in an online group by telling made-up stories about terrible things they’ve done. Things then get out of hand.
It’s bad luck in the theatre to call the Shakespeare play Macbeth by name, but someone in the company keeps doing it anyway… and the superstition proves true.
Every exhibit in this carnival sideshow is fake. Except this one thing.
An individual develops a terror of water – drinking it, touching it, or even being near it. There’s actually a good reason why.
The grandfather clock starts running backwards.
People in this neighborhood begin having freak accidents that involve normal appliances and machinery, such as blenders, weed whackers, and garage doors.
The cure for a new deadly epidemic is almost scarier than the disease.
He locked the doors and shuttered the windows; it came in through the roof.
A woman is happy when her dead loved one comes back to life… but he’s changed.
This centuries-old beauty secret is effective but horrifying.
A killer toys with his victims by orchestrating a series of false hopes for them.
She wakes up in the middle of the night and runs out to a certain tree.
Tourists on a ghost tour, along with their guide, fall into the hands of an evil presence.
A young woman is impregnated by her handsome new boyfriend, who turns out to be something other than human.
The empty swing is swinging.
A bride on her honeymoon discovers she’s not her new husband’s first wife… not even close.
Long ago, when he was a baby, a man’s parents made an unwise deal in order to bring him back from the dead.
Members of a family or people in a town begin sleepwalking and doing strange things in their sleep.
A young man confesses to a killing that hasn’t happened. The murder he describes takes place while he’s in custody.
Grisly events happen after the arrival of a hypnotist in Victorian London.
An author’s fictional villain stalks him.
Fraternity hazing goes way too far.
It always happens when he’s alone in the car.
A patient in a mental hospital encounters a malevolent ghost, but nobody believes her.
A mother’s young child may or may not be a changeling.
Swarms of insects appear in various places in a town, always followed by an untimely death.
The ghost at the movie theater wants everyone to watch one particular snippet of film.
A child’s imaginary friend starts to cause real trouble.
When putting together a slide show for a wedding or funeral, someone notices that for decades, the same man, dressed in the same fashion, has been appearing in the background of photographs taken in public places.
A politician, religious leader, or celebrity exerts mind control over the will of his or her followers.
The fairy godmother isn’t the good kind of fairy.

Okay, I creeped myself out a little with these spooky writing prompts! If you’re writing a novel and want a step-by-step guide to planning, writing, and editing, be sure to check out my book 5,000 Writing Prompts .

5,000 WRITING PROMPTS: A Master List of Plot Ideas, Creative Exercises, and More | BRYN DONOVAN |

Do you have questions or suggestions about horror story ideas? We’d love to hear them in the comments section! And don’t miss future posts about writing. Follow my blog, if you aren’t already — there’s a place you can sign up below. Thanks so much for reading, and happy writing!

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132 Best Horror Writing Prompts and Scary Story Ideas

Horror stories send shivers down our spines. They are gruesome, shocking, and chilling. Scary stories are meant to horrify us, and there are many ways to make a powerful impact on the reader. The element of surprise is crucial to make the readers’ blood freeze.

There are different types of horror stories. They often deal with terrible murders, supernatural powers, psychopaths, the frightening human psychology and much more.

Although many horror writing prompts and scary ideas have been written, the following 132 horror writing prompts can spark great creativity in aspiring writers of the horror genre.

A family is on a camping trip. The parents are walking with their two children, a daughter and a son. The little boy trips and falls into a dark river. His father jumps to rescue him. Somehow the boy manages to swim to the surface. The father is nowhere to be found. When the mother gets a hold of the boy, she can’t recognize him. She tries holding him, but the moment she touches his wet body, her hands start burning.
A young girl goes missing in a nearby forest. The whole town is searching for her. Her parents find her sitting and smiling in a cave. Her eyes are completely white.
A woman starts watching a movie late at night. The movie seems all too familiar. Finally, she realizes that it is a movie about her own life and that she might be already dead.
A house finds a way to kill every visitor on its premises.
A child makes her own Halloween mask. She glues a lock of her own hair on her mask. The mask comes to life and threatens to take over the girl’s body.
While digging in her backyard, an old lady discovers an iron chest. She opens it and finds a pile of old photographs of her ancestors. All of them are missing their left eye.
A priest is trying to punish God for the death of his sister. He is getting ready to burn down the church, when supernatural forces start to torture him.
Every year a woman goes to the cemetery where her husband is buried, and when she looks at his tombstone, she notices her own name carved in it.
A woman puts a lipstick on in the bathroom when she hears a demonic voice saying to her: “Can’t you see?”
A mysterious child psychiatrist promises parents to cure their children if they give him a vile of their blood.
A group of 10 friends decide to rent an old English castle for the weekend. The ghosts are disturbed and seek their pound of flesh.
A photographer travels to an Indian reservation for his next project. He starts taking photos, but there are only shadows in the places where people should have been.
A young married couple decide to renovate an abandoned psychiatric hospital and turn it into a hotel. Everything is going well until their first guest arrives.
Three sisters are reunited for the reading of their grandmother’s will. She has left them a diamond necklace, but they have to fight psychologically and physically for it.
An old woman pretends to be lost and asks young women to help her get home. She offers them a cup of tea and drugs them. When the women wake up, they are chained in the basement. The old woman gives them tools and boards, so that they can build their own coffin. If they refuse, she inflicts pain on them.
A mysterious stranger with a glass eye and a cane commissions a portrait. When the portrait is finished, the painter turns into stone.
A little girl’s sister lives with a monster in the closet. She exits the closet on her sister’s birthday.
The demons under the nuclear plant get released after an explosion and start terrorizing the families of people who work at the plant.
A woman gets trapped in a parallel universe where every day she dies horribly in different ways.
A cannibal hunts for pure children’s hearts hoping they will bring him eternal youth.
A politician hides his weird sister in the attic. She’s had her supernatural powers after their family home burned to the ground.
A 16-year-old girl wakes up on a stone-cold table surrounded with people in black and white masks. They are chant and start leaning forward. All of them carry carved knives.
A boy hears screaming from his parents’ bedroom. He jumps and hides under his bed. Suddenly, everything becomes quiet. A man wearing army boots enters his room. He drags the boy from under the bed and says: “We’ve been searching for you for 200 years.”
A husband and his wife regain consciousness only to see each other tied to chairs, facing each other. A voice on the radio tells them to kill the other, otherwise, they would kill their children.
A mysterious altruist gives a kidney to a young man, who has potential to become a leading neuroscientist. After a year, the altruist kills the young man because he proves to be an unworthy organ recipient. The following year, the mysterious altruist is a bone marrow donor.
A group of friends play truth or dare. Suddenly, all the lights go out and in those ten seconds of darkness, one of the group is killed.
A young man becomes obsessed with an old man living opposite his building. The young man is convinced that the old man is the embodiment of the devil, and starts planning the murder.
Concerned and grieving parents bring their 8-year-old son to a psychiatrist after their daughter’s accident, believing that the boy had something to do with her death.
A woman is admitted to a hospital after a car crash. She wakes up after three months in a coma, but when she tries to speak, she can’t utter a sound. When the nurse sees that she is awake, she calls a doctor. The last thing the woman remembers is hearing the doctor say: “Today is your lucky day,” right before four men in black robes take her out.
A small-town cop becomes obsessed with a cold case from 1978. Three girls went missing after school, and nobody has seen them since. Then one day, in 2008, three girls with the same names as those in 1978 go missing. The case is reopened.
After his parents’ death a cardiologist returns to his small town where everyone seems to lead a perfect life. This causes a disturbance in the idyllic life of the people since none of them has a heart.
A man is kidnapped from his apartment on midnight and brought on a large private estate. He is told that he will be a human pray and that ten hunters with guns will go after him. He is given a 5-minute head start.
A strange woman in labor is admitted in the local hospital. Nobody seems to recognize her. She screams in agony. A black smoke fills in the entire hospital. After that, nobody is the same. A dark lord is born.
A young girl finds her grandmother’s gold in a chest in the attic, although she isn’t allowed to go there by herself. She touches the gold and she starts seeing horrible visions involving her grandmother when she was younger.
An anthropologist studies rituals involving human sacrifice. She slowly begins to accept them as necessary.
A family of four moves in an old Victorian home. As they restore it, more and more people die suddenly and violently.
An old nurse has lived next door to a family that doesn’t get older. Their son has remained to be a seven-year-old boy.
A girl wakes up in her dorm and sees that everybody sleepwalks in the same direction. She acts as if she has the same condition and follows them to an underground black pool where everybody jumps.
A bride returns to the same bridge for 50 years waiting for her husband-to-be to get out of the water.
An old woman locks girls’ personalities in a forever growing collection of porcelain dolls. Parents of the missing girls are in agony and they finally suspect something. When they tell the police, their claims are instantly dismissed.
A chemistry teacher disfigures teenagers who remind him of his childhood bullies. One day, he learns that the new student in his school is the son of his childhood’s archenemy.
A girl starts digging tiny holes in her backyard. When her mother asks her what she is doing, the girl answers: “Mr. Phantom told me to bury my dolls tonight. Tomorrow night I am going to bury our dog. And then, you, mother.”
Twin brothers were kidnapped and returned the next day. They claim that they can’t remember anything. The following night, twin sisters disappear.
A boy has a very realistic dream about an impending doom, but nobody believes him until during a storm all the birds fall dead on the ground.
Room 206 is believed to be haunted, so hotel guests never stay in it. One day, an old woman arrives at the hotel and asks for the key to room 206. She says that she was born there.
A genius scientist tries to extract his wife’s consciousness from her lifeless body and insert it into an imprisoned woman who looks just like his wife.
Two distinguished scientists develop a new type of virus that attacks their brains and turns them into killing machines.
A woman steps out of her house only to find four of her neighbors dead at her doorstep. Little does she know that she isn’t supposed to call the police.
A bachelor’s party ends with two dead people in the pool. Both of them are missing their eyes.
A young woman wearing a black dress is holding a knife in her hand and threatening to kill a frightened man. She is terrified because she does not want to kill anybody, but her body refuses to obey her mind.
A strange religious group starts performing a ritual on a playground. The children’s hearts stop beating.
A woman discovers that her niece has done some horrible crimes, so she decides to poison her. Both of them take the poison, but only the aunt dies.
A man encounters death on his way to work. He can ask three questions before he dies. He makes a quick decision.
An older brother kills his baby sister because he wants to be an only child. When he learns that his mother is pregnant again, he decides to punish her.
A husband and his wife move to a new apartment. After a week, both of them kill themselves. They leave a note saying: “Never again.”
A man is trying to open a time portal so that he could kill his parents before he is ever conceived.
A famous conductor imprisons a pianist from the orchestra and makes him play the piano while he tortures other victims, also musicians. Every time the pianist makes a mistake, the conductor cuts of a finger from his victims.
A popular French chef is invited by a mysterious Japanese sushi master for dinner. A powerful potion makes the French chef fall asleep. He wakes up horrified to learn that he is kept on a human farm, in a cage.
A nuclear blast turns animals into blood-thirsty monsters.
A mysterious bug creeps under people’s skins and turns them into the worst version of themselves.
A kidnapper makes his victims torture each other for his sheer pleasure.
Four friends are invited to spend the afternoon in an escape room. A man’s voice tells them that they have won a prize. They happily accept and enter the escape room. They soon realize that the room was designed to reflect their worst nightmares.
Two sisters have been given names from the Book of the Dead. Their fates have been sealed, so when they turn 21, dark forces are sent to bring them to the underground.
A mother-to-be starts feeling severe pain in her stomach every time she touches a Bible. Despite the fear for her own life, she starts reading the New Testament out loud.
A literature professor discovers an old manuscript in the college library. He opens it in his study and suddenly a black raven flies through the window.
You are the Ruler of a dystopian society. You kill every time your control is threatened.
You are an intelligent robot who shows no mercy to humanity.
You are a promising researcher who discovers that all the notorious dictators have been cloned.
A nomad meets a fakir who tells him that he would bring agony to dozens of people unless he kills himself before he transforms into a monster.
A most prominent member of a sect goes to animal shelters to find food for the dark forces.
A man hires unethical doctors to help him experience clinical death and then bring him back to life after a minute. Little does he know that one minute of death feels like an eternity full of horrors.
You travel home to visit your parents for the holidays. Everything seems normal until you realize that demons have taken over their consciousness.
A mysterious woman moves into your apartment building. One by one, all of the tenants start hallucinating that monsters chase them and jump into their own deaths.
Divorced parents are kidnapped together with their son. Both of the parents have been given poison, but there is only one antidote. The boy needs to decide which parent gets to be saved. He has 30 seconds to make that decision.
A patient with a multiple-personality disorder tells you that you are one of six characters.
You wake up in bed that is a blood-bath.
The Government abducts children with genius IQ and trains them to fight the horrors in Area 51.
A woman who has just given birth at her home is told that the baby is predestined to become the leader of the greatest demonic order in the country.
A man signs a document with his blood to relinquish his body to a sect.
A woman enters a sacred cave in India and disappears for good.
A man opens his eyes in the middle of his autopsy while the coroner is holding his heart.
You look outside the windows in your house only to see that the view has changed and there is black fog surrounding you.
The gargoyles from the Notre Dame have come to life and they start terrorizing Paris.
Somebody rings your doorbell. You open the door and a frightened girl with bloody hands is standing at your doorstep. “You’re late,” you reprimand her.
You wake up in the middle of the night after a frightful nightmare, so you go to the kitchen to get a glass of water. You turn on the light and a person looking like your identical twin is grinning and pointing a knife at you.
A renowned book editor receives a manuscript elegantly written by hand. The title grabs her attention and she continues reading page after page. When she finishes, the manuscript spontaneously starts burning, and the editor is cursed forever.
The last thing you remember before losing consciousness is fighting a shady Uber driver.
You find yourself in a cage in the middle of a forest and black mythological harpies hovering above the cage.
A woman wants to quit smoking, so she visits a therapist who is supposed to help her with the use of hypnosis. She goes under and when she wakes up, she feels like a born killer.
Five hikers get stranded during a horrible storm. One of them kills the weakest and starts burning his body.
A mother goes in the nursery to check up on the baby and discovers that the baby is missing and, in her place, there is a baby doll.
A killer is willing to pay a large sum of money to the family of a volunteering victim. A cancer patient contacts the killer. The killer ends up dead.
The sacred river in a remote Asian village fills up with blood. The last time that happened, all the children in the village died.
A tall, dark, and handsome stranger invites a blind woman for a romantic date in his botanical garden. The garden is full of black roses in which women’s souls have been trapped. He tells her that she will stay forever with him in his garden.
A frightened man is trying to lead a werewolf into a trap and kill him with the last silver bullet.
An architect designs houses for the rich and famous. What he doesn’t show them is that he always leaves room for a secret passageway to their bedrooms, where they are the most vulnerable.
A man’s DNA was found on a horrible crime scene and he has been charged with murder in the first degree. He adamantly negates any involvement in the crime that has been committed. What he doesn’t know is that he had a twin brother who died at birth.
Every passenger on the Orient Express dies in a different, and equally mysterious way.
A magician needs a volunteer from the audience in order to demonstrate a trick involving sawing a person in half. A beautiful woman steps on the stage. The magician makes her fall asleep, and then he performs the trick. In the end, he disappears. People in the audience start panicking when they notice the blood dripping from the table. The magician is nowhere to be found. The woman is dead.
A mother discovers that her bright son is not human.
Specters keep terrorizing patients in a psychiatric hospital, but nobody believes them.
A man’s mind is locked into an immovable body. This person is being tortured by a psychopath who kills his family members in front of him, knowing that he is in agony and can’t do anything to save them.
A bride-to-be receives a DVD via mail from an unknown sender. She plays the video and disgusted watches a pagan ritual. The people are wearing masks, but she recognizes the voice of her husband-to-be.
A man turns himself to the police although he hasn’t broken the law. He begs them to put him in prison because he had a premonition that he would become a serial killer.
Jack the Ripper is actually a woman who brutally kills prostitutes because her own mother was a prostitute.
A ticking noise wakes her up. It’s a bomb, and she has only four minutes to do something about it.
After a horrible car crash, a walking skeleton emerges from the explosion.
A world-famous violinist virtuoso uses music to summon dark forces.
A philosopher is trying to outwit Death in order to be granted immortality. He doesn’t know that Death already knows the outcome of this conversation.
A beautiful, but superficial woman promises a demon to give him her virginity in exchange for immortality. Once the demon granted her wish, she refused to fulfill her end of the deal. The demon retaliated by making her immortal, but not eternally youthful.
A voice starts chanting spells every time somebody wears the gold necklace from Damask.
Three teenagers beat up a homeless man. The next day all of them go missing.
Thirteen tourists from Poland visit Trakai Island Castle in Vilnius. Their bodies are found washed up the next morning. They are wearing medieval clothes.
A group of extremists ambush the vehicle in which a head of a terrorist cell is transported and rescue him. They go after anybody who was involved in his incarceration.
A hitman is hired to kill a potential heart donor.
A man is attacked by the neighbor’s dog while trying to bury his wife alive.
A woman disappears from her home without a trace. He husband reports her missing. The police start to suspect the husband when they retrieve some deleted messages.
After moving to a new house all the family members have the same nightmares. Slowly they realize that they might be more than nightmares.
A psychopath is drugging his wife, pushing her to commit a suicide so that he could collect the life insurance.
A woman loses her eyesight overnight. Instead, she starts having premonitions.
A vampire prefers albino children.
A man commits murders at night and relives the agony of his victims during the day.
A black horse carriage stops in front of your house. A hand wearing a black glove make an inviting gesture. Mesmerized, you decide to enter the carriage.
Demons rejuvenate by eating kind people’s hearts.
People are horrified to find all of the graves dug out the morning after Halloween.
Men start jumping off building and bridges after hearing a mysterious song.
A voice in your head tells you to stop listening to the other voices. They were not real.
A severed head is hanging from a bridge with a message written in the victim’s blood.
A delusional man brings his screaming children to a chasm.
A 30-year-old woman learns that a baby with the same name as her died at the local hospital 30 years ago.
A vampire donates his blood so that a child with special brain powers can receive it.
A teenager is determined to escape his kidnapper by manipulating him into drinking poison. He doesn’t stop there.

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100 gothic fiction writing prompts

November 28, 2023 by Richard Leave a Comment

Here are 100 gothic fiction writing prompts that go bump in the night. Shadowy figures are lurking in crumbling mansions. Ominous family curses and disturbing secrets. Welcome to the macabre world of gothic fiction. With its atmospheric tales of horror and suspense, this haunting genre never seems to die.

And now, you can let your dark imagination run wild thanks to these 100 spine-tingling gothic fiction writing prompts. Inside, you’ll find story ideas involving haunted sanitariums, possessed dolls, vengeful spirits, bizarre experiments gone wrong, unsettling wax museums, and so much more.

Creative inspiration awaits on every chilling line, from creepy portraits and abandoned opera houses to agents of the occult and sinister doppelgangers. Not for the faint of heart, these prompts pull back the veil into spaces where the darkest dreams and nightmares dwell just out of sight.

Venture forth, if you dare. Let the ghosts and shadows guide your pen to weave deliciously dramatic tales to make readers shiver. Just be warned—once you immerse yourself in these macabre realms, you might never wish to return to the comforting glow of the light again. The spirits will eagerly await your next visit to their darkened domains.

An old mansion hides disturbing secrets and supernatural forces in the attic that slowly take control of a new homeowner.
A family curse causes a daughter to transform into a ghostly spirit every night, haunting the ancestral castle.
Gargoyles and stone figures seem to move when no one is watching in an ancient monastery turned hotel.
Mysterious scratching and cries can be heard within the walls of a creaky old plantation house at night.
An innocent mother is accused of witchcraft in 1600s Salem and condemned to death for her occult “crimes.”
A widow uncovers her dead husband’s strange double life after finding his hidden portrait stashed away in a forgotten attic.
A mental patient believes a possessed doll talks to her at night, urging her to commit violent acts.
Strange marks and blood keep appearing on a daughter after she becomes obsessed with communicating with spirits using an antique Ouija board.
A decaying sanitarium still bears unsettling traces of its horrific and bizarre medical practices on abandoned patients.
Villagers suffer violent sleepwalking fits that coincide with rumors of a vampire stalking the night.
A daughter tries to figure out if she’s going insane or truly haunted by the vengeful ghost of her dead mother.
A perilous staircase within an abbey spirals into unknown realms below.
A pallid masked ball conjures macabre visions of the past that hint at an unsolved murder.
A family becomes increasingly corrupted and haunted after moving into an ancestral home their new baby inherited.
Dogs around a village go mad after a meteor crash, savaging their masters at night.
Mysterious medicinal tinctures at an asylum seem to only make patients exhibit worsening fits of insanity.
A gravedigger realizes the corpse he just buried seems oddly still sentient and desperate to escape.
Villagers are plagued by a daemonic specter leaving behind inexplicable nocturnal phenomena like imprints of cloven hooves.
An innocent girl is abducted into a convent as punishment for her mother’s sins but discovers the nuns secretly practice witchcraft at night.
An accursed cask of Amontillado wine drives its victims murderously insane.
A troubled widow uncovers her home’s accursed foundations are strangely shifting every night.
A shadowy cabal seeks occult texts and artifacts for mysterious rituals from the catacombs below a corrupted monastery.
In the candlelit rooms of an abandoned Gothic manse, ghosts endlessly recreate a tragedy.
A prisoner is spirited away every night from his cell to a ghostly masked ball even as he awaits execution.
Sinister medieval torture devices are revived to torment victims of an obsessive cryptic society within a dungeon.
Glimpses of fatal visions in ornate mirrors drives the viewer slowly mad.
An eccentric gentleman scientist conducts deranged experiments bringing corpses to life with disastrous consequences.
A remote island filled with exotic flowers breeds an opiate-like scent that draws visitors only to never let them leave again.
A silver bell that rings unexpectedly in the night signals another soon-to-be victim marked for death by a vengeful spirit.
Eerie doppelgangers take the place of loved ones, deceiving everyone except one person who knows the truth.
A crumbling gothic tower imprisoned artists driven mad trying to capture visions of a beautiful muse who tragically perished.
An asylum patient speaks a dead language to mysterious entities living within the walls.
Sinister satanic rituals take place in the catacombs below a remote monastery.
An eccentric widow performs bizarre elaborate funerals for her dead pets left to wander restless on the grounds of her decaying estate.
Terrible secrets fester behind the boarded up windows of a foreboding Gothic manse sinking into a swamp.
A cursed ancient artifact causes a strange wasting plague to rapidly age victims until they become desiccated ghoulish remnants.
Phantasmagoric illusions plague a masked ball, showing omens of tragedy within the mirrors.
Witch hunters accuse women in a village of secret satanic pacts causing children to dance madly to macabre magical flutes only they seem to hear.
A miserable masked carnival performer transforms into a real grotesque creature when offstage after being born malformed.
An old wooden marionette begins subtly manipulating its puppeteer.
Mysterious locked rooms once used for occult rituals drive the curious to obsessively seek ways to see inside.
Winged vicious creatures stalk the elaborate stone halls of crumbling ancestral castle.
Unmarked graves in family cemeteries disturbingly sink every year even after exhumation.
A vampiric contagion spreads from rats boldly biting citizens in a shadowy slum.
A wretched foundling child suffers violent fits and harbors a cruel second soul those in the workhouse strangely indulge.
A portrait’s eyes seem to hauntingly follow you as if the spirit remains trapped within.
An intricate puzzle box found in the ashes of an old burned down asylum proves maddeningly impossible yet sinister to solve.
A masked stranger seems to mysteriously die multiple violent deaths before your eyes at the same masquerade ball over centuries.
A sleep experiment induces ghastly nightmares that continue to haunt waking victims.
A wax museum’s strikingly lifelike figures seem prone to subtly shifting when unobserved.
Mourning paintings morph the dead’s faces into cadaverous skulls if stared at too long.
Disturbing eerie echoes of macabre theater scenes continue to repeat within an abandoned Opera house attic even without players.
A widower’s pained artistic attempts at revival seem to succeeding at resurrecting his deceased wife into an uncanny creature.
A sentient schizophrenic house’s architecture keeps fantastically warping.
A broken antique kaleidoscope filled with tainted bone fragments shows macabre visions of death to owners.
An inhabitant of opiate dens seems to project their delirious dreams of a haunted palace.
Gargoyles mysteriously take the place of landlords thought to be away on extended trips.
Elaborate startling illusionist tricks at a theater inexplicably shift into real supernatural manifestations.
An ornate hand mirror shows the viewer’s face aging rapidly or glimpses their own gruesome death behind their shoulder.
Ghostly debutante dancers endlessly waltz together unable to stop until dawn breaks the spell binding them to the ballroom.
A widow uncovers her husband’s secret obsession with building uncannily perfect wind up automata replacements of recently deceased townspeople.
A physician teaches his unusual nervously sensitive ward to enter a trance to retreat from reality’s disturbing stimuli into the meticulously crafted rooms of a haunted mind palace.
Corpses of the recently deceased are stolen from cemeteries before materializing days later woven into elaborately posed configurations on church pews.
A troubled writer frequents the sprawling haunted ruins of an alchemist’s strange estate, inspiring her wildly imaginative yet disturbing stories seeming to manifest elements into reality the more she writes them.
A masked stranger haunts the private theater box night after night to bizarrely mentor an actress until she embodies her dead lover reborn onstage.
Ghostly echoes of macabre deaths plague a murderer forcing them toward the scene of their crimes for a reenactment on every anniversary.
Eerie music box melodies woven from metal pins and blood guide the imaginative inside a labyrinthine mechanical puzzle house.
A widow trapped in perpetual mourning painstakingly applies her dead daughter’s preserved face to lifelike doll effigies.
Disturbing unseen presences seem to forcibly puppeteer vulnerable drug addicts into recreating bizarre depraved theater shows.
An intricately decorated artifact using human bones and teeth seems to promise supernatural visions yet also extract sanity as payment.
A troubled detective frequents the bizarrely maze-like halls of his inherited family estate which seems to ominously shift and transform to mirror his fractured mind.
A strange idol causes bizarre uncanny doppelgangers to manifest when studying your mirrored reflection too closely by candlelight.
An ominous ancient grandfather clock always seems to countdown toward the hour of a person’s eventual mysterious death.
Eerie echoes from a deceased twin haunt a surviving sister while her parents seem obliviously content to pretend the deceased child never existed.
A troubled magician able to manifest realistic illusions finds the appearances slowly becoming autonomous entities no longer under their control.
A melancholy doll somehow houses the soul of a drowned child submerged from a past tragedy mysteriously able to animate itself.
A comatose woman’s nightmares seem to cross over into waking reality the longer she remains unable to wake up.
A grieving eccentric covertly captures apparitions on antique photographic plates by stealing close keepsakes from dead loved ones to haunt the images.
A drug addict watches a doppelganger slowly take over their life leaving them behind like a forgotten hollow shell.
An heiress who haunts a decaying mansion seems to enchant guests into staying longer each visit until they waste away becoming dusty relics imprisoned by her loneliness.
Death masks crafted from wax conceal a bizarre way for the wealthy secretly achieve eternal life by encasing souls.
An intricate puzzle box found in an asylum’s ashes proves disturbingly irresistible yet maddeningly impossible to solve.
Faded unnerving portraits hide being them twisted decaying corpse faces revealed by candlelight.
An artist’s miraculously revived daughter rapidly becomes a bizarre inhuman creature.
A grieving mother uses bodies of the recently deceased as bizarre life size macabre doll replacements for her dead daughter.
Unmarked patient graves in an asylum’s cemetery subtly sink deeper when no one watches.
A haunted portrait’s subject seems to possess those who gaze upon their beauty for too long.
An intricate anatomical theater hides disturbing occult ceremonies deep below.
A twisted sculptures garden filled with contorted stone bodies seems to come alive at night.
Ghostly debutante dancers haunt an abandoned dilapidated ballroom unable stop waltzing even as the room crumbles.
A magician’s transformative stage illusions become an addiction yet irreversibly distorts their appearance when not on stage.
A troubling ornate music box plays seemingly random eerie melodies that prove to sadly match the tune of imminent real life tragedies.
A grief stricken eccentric attempts increasingly deranged experiments to revive dead loved ones.
An intricate mechanical puzzle house ensnares victims inside its constantly shifting labyrinthine rooms and halls.
A haunted asylum’s disturbing experimental therapies leave victims in an eternally childlike regressed state even after death.
Unearthly cries emerge from the boarded up ruins of a decaying estate no one dares gets near at night.
An intricate mosaic floor patterns itself from the powdered cremation ashes of deceased institute residents.
Mourning paintings hauntingly transform to show the dead’s faces become cadaverous skulls if stared at too long.
An intricate clockwork automatons that perfectly resemble the newly dead seem to creepily enact aspects of their former living behaviors.
An intricate artful anatomy theater hides disturbing occult ceremonies deep below its secret trapdoors.

We hope you enjoyed this list of Gothic writing prompts. There are many other writing prompts on our site you may enjoy. If you have any questions or concerns please leave them in the comments below. Feel free to leave us any work you want to share that was inspired by these prompts.

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About Richard

Richard Everywriter (pen name) has worked for literary magazines and literary websites for the last 25 years. He holds degrees in Writing, Journalism, Technology and Education. Richard has headed many writing workshops and courses, and he has taught writing and literature for the last 20 years.

In writing and publishing he has worked with independent, small, medium and large publishers for years connecting publishers to authors. He has also worked as a journalist and editor in both magazine, newspaper and trade publications as well as in the medical publishing industry. Follow him on Twitter, and check out our Submissions page .

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Dark Romance Story Ideas and Writing Prompts (Updated in 2024)

Looking for mind-bending dark romance story ideas and writing prompts or dark writing prompts to spark the imagination? You’ve come to the right place!

Read on for ideas like the last fertile man on Earth who’s being passed around from one woman to another, to a tattoo artist who keeps his muse captive!

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Dark Romance Genre

Kidnapping and captivity.

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Related posts: Vampire Romance Writing Prompts 22 Spellbinding Witch Story Ideas Deep Dark Fantasy Ideas Werewolf Story Ideas and Prompts

Dark romance is a subgenre of romance with a dark undertone, featuring controversial themes and characters with dubious morals and backgrounds and focusing on a romantic relationship that may seem twisted to the conventional people.

Considered by some as a way to explore taboo fantasies , dark romance generally involves themes of kidnapping, psychological and/or physical abuse, rape, and dubious consent, among others, allowing the readers to explore the darker sides of their psyches vicariously through the lives of the characters in the story.

In order to fit into the “romance” genre, dark romance must end in either a happy-for-now ending , or a happily-ever-after ending. However, considering the dark undertone of the subgenre. the latter tends to be a rare occurrence.

Dark romance is not to be confused with erotica. While the latter focuses mostly on the character’s (or characters’) sexual discovery (or discoveries), the former focuses more on the romantic relationship, however twisted it is, between the characters.

Dark Romance Writing Prompts

Without further ado, below are some enticing writing prompts!

Please note that the genders in these starters are just placeholders and do not mean to enforce any hurtful stereotypes nor offend anyone.

Here are some prompts exploring the themes of dub-con or dubious consent (referring to the gray area between rape and consent, especially when the balance of power makes it difficult for someone to meaningfully consent to sex.)

1. In a post-apocalyptical world where all the men have been stricken by infertilities , the last fertile man is being passed around from one woman to another for solely breeding purposes.

2. When a baker runs into a significant problems with the bank that might threaten the proclivity of her bakery, she had no choice but to turn to a mafia leader for help. The only problem? She’s been rejecting his advances for years. (Originally appeared in my post 14 Intriguing Mafia Romance Story Ideas .)

3. Mutual dub-con or non-con, where an underground taboo club drugs two non-consenting people with aphrodisiacs and charges people who watch the love consummation. How would you turn this into a romance story, despite its dark nature?

4. When a prima ballerina rejects a mob boss’ advances, it inspires him to buy the ballet company she works at, allowing him a more hands-on approach on the company. (Originally appeared in my post 14 Intriguing Mafia Romance Story Ideas .)

5. As a revenge for ruining his business, a man orchestrates his brother’s bankruptcy before swooping in to manipulate his wife and bedding her.

Here are some prompts exploring the themes of kidnapping and captivity. If you wonder how romance is able to bloom during such dire circumstances, do a light reading on Stockholm Syndrome and you’ll see!

1. Following a threat, a politician’s daughter is hidden in a safe house with a bodyguard alongside her to protect her. The twist? There was never really any real threat . It’s all a ruse by the bodyguard to whisk the politician’s daughter away because he’s smitten with her.

2. An assassin couldn’t kill his latest target because she reminds him of his long-lost love. He couldn’t let her go just like that because then the person who orders the hit would know that he doesn’t do his job. So he ends up dragging the unwilling woman with him cross-country as he finishes various hit orders.

3. In order to stay under the government’s radar, a gang leader kidnaps a physician to treat his injured lackeys instead of getting treatments at the hospital. However, he ends up so smitten that he refuses to let the doctor go after she’d done her job. (Originally appeared in my post Intriguing Mafia Romance Story Ideas .)

4. Fueled by revenge, an underground fighter befriends the daughter of the fight club owner who fired him before luring her into his house and keeping her captive in his basement.

5. A ski instructor is so smitten with one of his student that he plans a lesson just before a vicious snowstorm strikes, in order to trap the woman with him up in his mountain lodge. (Originally appeared in my post Engrossing Serial Killer Story Ideas .)

6. A picture prompt based on the picture below. A gang leader kidnaps a politician whose oncoming political agenda might threaten the future of his business. But neither of them expects that romance will bloom amidst the hatred and political intrigues.

(Please click on the image for more information about it.)

Here are some prompts exploring various other themes such as serial killer, gaslighting, violent non-consensual fantasy, manipulation, degradation, and light body modification.

1. Serial killer and gender-flipped One Thousand and One Arabian Nights. The heirs of two neighboring kingdoms are betrothed to marry one another for peace. But all the princess’ past husbands, somehow, turned up dead a day after the wedding ceremony. This time, will history repeat itself for the fourth time?

2. A plastic surgeon gaslights and manipulates a young socialite.

3. When a group of friends go to a Halloween corn maze in all sorts of costumes and masks, a woman is separated from the group only to be found by another friend in the group. As the pair goes to explore the maze further, the woman realizes that the friend might not be who she thinks he is, since his voice is distorted by the mask. But will it be too late to realize it?

4. Afraid of losing his girlfriend, a man pokes holes at his condoms and replaces her birth control pills with placebo .

5. A medieval/period writing prompt: When the ruthless queen/king is finally dethroned by her/his trusted advisor, the latter plans to make the ex-queen/king his slave in more ways than one out of revenge for all the things she/he did to him.

6. A picture prompt based on the picture below. A tattoo artist is so smitten with his newest client that he keeps her captive and tattoos her entire body against her will. The twist is, she grows to enjoy it.

7. For his birthday, a gang leader receives a gift from one of his rivals to curry a favor with him. The gift? A rising star singer. The rival knows that he has an obsession with the singer and decides to kidnap her to surprise him.

One last word of reminder is to keep the ending happy-for-now or happily-ever-after. Or else, some readers who expect “romance” out of dark romance might feel betrayed.

That’s all I have for now!

If you need more story ideas and prompts, please browse our Story Ideas & Writing Prompts category!

Have any question or feedback? Feel free to contact me here . Until next time!

Crime Thriller Story Ideas That Captivate Us (Updated in 2024)

Tragic Love Story Ideas We’re Rooting For (Updated in 2024)

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Dark Romance Writing Prompts Guide

Writing dark romance stories can be a thrilling and captivating experience for authors. Dive into the world of forbidden love, twisted relationships, and supernatural elements with these dark romance writing prompts . Let your imagination run wild and create stories that will ignite passion and mystery in your readers.

Key Takeaways:
Explore the depths of dark romance with these writing prompts.
Create captivating stories filled with forbidden love and intense relationships.
Immerse yourself in the gothic world of romance with atmospheric settings and mysterious characters.
Weave fantastical elements into your dark romance stories with supernatural creatures and mythical worlds.
Challenge your readers’ perceptions with mind-bending twists and psychological tension in your stories.

Explore Unique Relationships: Romantic Prompts for Dark Stories

When it comes to dark romance stories, the focus often lies on the unique and unconventional relationships that are at the center of these narratives. From forbidden love to complicated dynamics, these stories push the boundaries of traditional romance. If you’re looking for inspiration to craft your own dark romance tale, these romantic prompts will help you create compelling and distinct relationships that will captivate your readers.

1. Star-crossed Lovers

Explore the depths of forbidden love with a star-crossed romance. Your characters could come from rival families, warring factions, or even different worlds. Delve into the challenges they face as they navigate their intense feelings for each other while surrounded by conflict and obstacles.

2. Enemies Turned Lovers

Take your dark romance to the next level by pairing characters who start off as enemies but eventually discover a deep and passionate connection. Dive into the complexities of their relationship as they navigate the thin line between love and hate, challenging their beliefs and redefining their understanding of each other.

3. The Power Dynamic

Unleash the tension by exploring a relationship with a power imbalance. Whether it’s a dominating protagonist or a submissive love interest, delve into the intricate dynamics of control, trust, and vulnerability. Examine the consequences and complexities that arise from a relationship where power is unequally distributed.

With these romantic prompts for dark stories , you’ll have the tools to create unique and captivating relationships that will leave your readers wanting more. From star-crossed lovers to enemies turned lovers and power dynamics, these prompts will help you dive into the depths of dark romance and craft unforgettable tales of love, passion, and intrigue.

Step into the Gothic World: Prompts for Writing Dark Romance

When it comes to dark romance, the gothic genre offers a rich tapestry of atmospheric settings, mysterious characters, and elements of horror and suspense. If you’re looking to immerse yourself in a world of brooding passion and forbidden love, these prompts for writing gothic romance are sure to ignite your imagination.

The Haunted Castle: Mystery and Intrigue

Transport your readers to a crumbling castle shrouded in secrets. Set amidst dimly lit corridors and hidden chambers, your characters can navigate a maze of intrigue and danger. Tell a tale of a forbidden love affair between a ghostly inhabitant and a living wanderer, or explore the tragic fate of a cursed noble family entangled in a web of ancient curses and dark desires.

Forbidden Love Across Social Boundaries

Unleash the power of love that transcends societal norms and expectations. Delve into the forbidden passions between characters from different social classes, caught in a fierce battle against societal conventions. Explore the tormented romance between a noblewoman and a servant, the secret affair between a priest and a hedonistic temptress, or the love between two rival families torn apart by a bitter feud.

Dark and Supernatural Temptations

Unleash the allure of the supernatural in your gothic romance stories. Introduce mystical creatures like vampires, werewolves, or witches, and explore their entanglements with mortal lovers. Craft a tale of a vampire seducing a human with promises of eternal love and forbidden pleasure, or reveal the inner struggle of a witch torn between the pursuit of power and a forbidden romance with a mortal.

Explore the depths of gothic romance with these writing prompts, and let the dark allure of the genre captivate both you and your readers. From haunted castles to forbidden love affairs, these prompts will guide you in crafting mesmerizing stories filled with passion, mystery, and the timeless appeal of gothic romance.

Embrace the Supernatural: Dark Fantasy Writing Prompts

Dark fantasy writing allows you to delve into a world that blends elements of fantasy and horror, where supernatural creatures, magic, and mythical realms exist. With these dark fantasy writing prompts , you can create stories that enchant and thrill your readers.

Create captivating love stories between vampires and humans

Explore the forbidden love between vampires and humans with these prompts. Delve into the complexities of a romance that defies societal norms and challenges the characters’ own identities. Will they be able to overcome the dangers and prejudices that come with their supernatural connection?

Unleash the power struggle between witches and warlocks

With these prompts, you can craft stories that revolve around the intense power struggle between witches and warlocks. Explore their deep-rooted rivalries, forbidden love affairs, and the consequences of their actions bound by dark magic. Will love conquer all, or will the battle for power tear them apart?

Immerse yourself in the seductive charm of fae and merfolk

Let your imagination soar with these prompts that delve into the enchanting world of fae and merfolk. Explore the forbidden romance between these supernatural beings, and the complexities that arise when their worlds collide. Will their love be strong enough to bridge the gap between their two realms?

Discover the dark secrets of mythical worlds

Delve into the depths of mythical worlds with these prompts, where ancient creatures and hidden realms exist. Uncover the mysteries of these fantastical lands, and the unlikely romances that bloom amidst the darkness. Will love triumph over evil, or will the characters’ own secrets be their downfall?

With these dark fantasy writing prompts , you have the power to create gripping stories that transport your readers to supernatural realms filled with romance, danger, and intrigue. Embrace the supernatural and let your imagination roam free as you craft tales that will captivate and enchant your audience.

Engage Your Mind: Psychological Thriller Prompts

When it comes to dark romance, psychological thrillers offer a gripping and suspenseful experience for both the writer and the reader. These prompts will take you on a thrilling journey into the depths of the human mind, where obsession, manipulation, and betrayal reign supreme.

1. Uncover the Hidden Truths

Challenge your readers’ perceptions by crafting a psychological thriller that revolves around uncovering hidden truths. Create a protagonist who becomes entangled in a web of lies, deceit, and manipulation. As the story unravels, tension builds, and the reader is left questioning what is real and what is a delusion.

2. Explore the Dark Side of Love

Psychological thrillers often delve into the darker aspects of love and relationships. Create a story that explores the depths of obsession, jealousy, and possessiveness. Introduce complex characters with twisted motivations, and let their actions and desires drive the plot towards a chilling climax.

3. Twist the Perception of Reality

In a psychological thriller, reality can be a fragile concept. Use this prompt to blur the lines between what is real and what is imagined. Craft a story where the protagonist’s perception of reality is constantly challenged, leading to a suspenseful journey that keeps the reader guessing until the very end.

With these psychological thriller prompts , you can create dark romance stories that keep your readers on the edge of their seats. Delve into the depths of the human psyche, challenge perceptions, and explore the complexities of love and obsession. Prepare to embark on a mind-bending journey that will leave your readers craving for more.

Tragic Love Stories: Explore Twisted Relationships

Tragic love stories have long captivated readers with their intense emotions, heart-wrenching decisions, and complex relationships. These twisted love story prompts will inspire you to delve into the depths of forbidden passions, exploring the consequences and sacrifices characters make in the name of love.

1. Star-Crossed Lovers

Unleash your creativity and craft a tale of two souls destined for each other but torn apart by circumstances beyond their control. Explore the bittersweet romance between two individuals from feuding families, warring factions, or even different time periods. From Shakespearean tragedies to modern-day epics, the story of star-crossed lovers has stood the test of time.

2. Obsession and Betrayal

Dive into the depths of obsession, where love turns into a twisted and destructive force. Create characters whose desires consume them, leading them down a path of manipulation, betrayal, and tragedy. Unveil the dark secrets and hidden motives behind their actions, blurring the lines between love and obsession.

3. Forbidden Passions

Explore the forbidden love between unlikely pairs, breaking societal norms and challenging expectations. Delve into the complexities of relationships that society tries to suppress or condemn, be it due to age differences, social status, or cultural barriers. Highlight the power of love to defy boundaries and the sacrifices characters are willing to make for their forbidden passions.

Embark on a journey into the realm of tragic love stories, where emotions run high, and hearts are destined to break. With these twisted love story prompts , you can create narratives filled with passion, heartbreak, and the eternal allure of forbidden love.

Forbidden Passions: Writing Prompts for Dark Romance

In the world of dark romance, forbidden passions ignite the pages and captivate readers with their intensity. If you’re looking to explore the depths of forbidden love in your writing, these writing prompts will give you the inspiration you need to create captivating stories. Step into a realm where societal norms are shattered, and love knows no boundaries.

Delve into the story of two individuals from rival factions, destined to be enemies. Explore the complexities of their forbidden love as they navigate through the challenges of their worlds colliding. Will they choose loyalty or choose each other, defying the expectations placed upon them? The tension and sacrifice in this type of relationship make for a compelling dark romance story.

2. Secret Affairs

Unveil the hidden world of secret affairs, where two individuals must keep their love hidden from prying eyes. Set your story in a time or place where relationships are forbidden, such as a strict boarding school, a hierarchical society, or a dystopian world. Explore the risks and consequences the characters face as they strive to keep their love alive in the face of danger and potential discovery.

3. Supernatural Entanglements

Enter the realm of supernatural beings and their forbidden relationships with humans. Dive into a world where vampires, werewolves, witches, and other magical creatures exist and explore the alluring, dangerous attraction between them and mortal individuals. Will they be able to find acceptance, or will the differences between their worlds tear them apart? The juxtaposition of the supernatural and forbidden love adds an intriguing element to your dark romance story.

With these writing prompts, you can unleash your creativity and craft stories that delve into the complexities of forbidden love. Explore the emotions, sacrifices, and consequences that come with crossing societal boundaries. Engage your readers with captivating relationships that defy the norms and ignite passion in the darkest corners of their hearts.

In conclusion, dark romance writing prompts offer a plethora of inspiration for authors seeking to delve into the depths of forbidden love and twisted relationships. With these prompts, you can embark on a creative journey into the dark and captivating world of dark romance.

Whether you’re writing gothic romance, supernatural love stories, or exploring the complexities of psychological thrillers, these prompts will spark your imagination and help you craft compelling narratives that keep readers on the edge of their seats.

Unleash your passion and explore the forbidden, the supernatural, and the tragic with these writing prompts. Engage your readers’ minds with unexpected plot twists, immerse them in atmospheric settings, and create complex characters that will ignite their emotions.

With dark romance writing prompts , you have the power to transport your readers to a world where love is entangled with darkness and desire knows no bounds. So grab your pen, let your creativity flow, and craft unforgettable stories filled with passion, mystery, and the allure of forbidden love.

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Creative Writing Prompts

When the idea to start a weekly newsletter with writing inspiration first came to us, we decided that we wanted to do more than provide people with topics to write about. We wanted to try and help authors form a regular writing habit and also give them a place to proudly display their work. So we started the weekly Creative Writing Prompts newsletter. Since then, Prompts has grown to a community of more than 450,000 authors, complete with its own literary magazine, Prompted .

Here's how our contest works: every Friday, we send out a newsletter containing five creative writing prompts. Each week, the story ideas center around a different theme. Authors then have one week — until the following Friday — to submit a short story based on one of our prompts. A winner is picked each week to win $250 and is highlighted on our Reedsy Prompts page.

Interested in participating in our short story contest? Sign up here for more information! Or you can check out our full Terms of Use and our FAQ page .

Why we love creative writing prompts

If you've ever sat in front of a computer or notebook and felt the urge to start creating worlds, characters, and storylines — all the while finding yourself unable to do so — then you've met the author's age-old foe: writer's block. There's nothing more frustrating than finding the time but not the words to be creative. Enter our directory! If you're ready to kick writer's block to the curb and finally get started on your short story or novel, these unique story ideas might just be your ticket.

This list of 1800+ creative writing prompts has been created by the Reedsy team to help you develop a rock-solid writing routine. As all aspiring authors know, this is the #1 challenge — and solution! — for reaching your literary goals. Feel free to filter through different genres, which include...

Dramatic — If you want to make people laugh and cry within the same story, this might be your genre.

Funny — Whether satire or slapstick, this is an opportunity to write with your funny bone.

Romance — One of the most popular commercial genres out there. Check out these story ideas out if you love writing about love.

Fantasy — The beauty of this genre is that the possibilities are as endless as your imagination.

Dystopian – Explore the shadowy side of human nature and contemporary technology in dark speculative fiction.

Mystery — From whodunnits to cozy mysteries, it's time to bring out your inner detective.

Thriller and Suspense — There's nothing like a page-turner that elicits a gasp of surprise at the end.

High School — Encourage teens to let their imaginations run free.

Want to submit your own story ideas to help inspire fellow writers? Send them to us here.

After you find the perfect story idea

Finding inspiration is just one piece of the puzzle. Next, you need to refine your craft skills — and then display them to the world. We've worked hard to create resources that help you do just that! Check them out:

How to Write a Short Story That Gets Published — a free, ten-day course by Laura Mae Isaacman, a full-time editor who runs a book editing company in Brooklyn.
Best Literary Magazines of 2023 — a directory of 100+ reputable magazines that accept unsolicited submissions.
Writing Contests in 2023 — the finest contests of 2021 for fiction and non-fiction authors of short stories, poetry, essays, and more.

Beyond creative writing prompts: how to build a writing routine

While writing prompts are a great tactic to spark your creative sessions, a writer generally needs a couple more tools in their toolbelt when it comes to developing a rock-solid writing routine . To that end, here are a few more additional tips for incorporating your craft into your everyday life.

NNWT. Or, as book coach Kevin Johns calls it , “Non-Negotiable Writing Time.” This time should be scheduled into your routine, whether that’s once a day or once a week. Treat it as a serious commitment, and don’t schedule anything else during your NNWT unless it’s absolutely necessary.
Set word count goals. And make them realistic! Don’t start out with lofty goals you’re unlikely to achieve. Give some thought to how many words you think you can write a week, and start there. If you find you’re hitting your weekly or daily goals easily, keep upping the stakes as your craft time becomes more ingrained in your routine.
Talk to friends and family about the project you’re working on. Doing so means that those close to you are likely to check in about the status of your piece — which in turn keeps you more accountable.

Arm yourself against writer’s block. Writer’s block will inevitably come, no matter how much story ideas initially inspire you. So it’s best to be prepared with tips and tricks you can use to keep yourself on track before the block hits. You can find 20 solid tips here — including how to establish a relationship with your inner critic and apps that can help you defeat procrastination or lack of motivation.

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Dark Romance Writing Prompts: Explore Passionate and Dark Love Stories

My name is Debbie, and I am passionate about developing a love for the written word and planting a seed that will grow into a powerful voice that can inspire many.

Dark Romance Writing Prompts: Explore Passionate and Dark Love Stories

Exploring the Depths of Dark Romance Writing Prompts: A Genre Fueled by Passionate and Dark Love Stories

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Dark romance writing prompts delve into the enigmatic and twisted world of love. This provocative genre offers writers a chance to explore unconventional relationships and delve into the depths of human emotions. With a combination of passion, intrigue, and sometimes even danger, dark romance captures readers’ attention by pushing the boundaries of what is considered acceptable in traditional romance narratives.

When it comes to writing dark romance, the possibilities are endless. Here are a few key elements that make this genre so captivating:

Complex Characters: Dark romance prompts often feature anti-heroes or morally ambiguous protagonists, making readers ponder their motives and choices.
Forbidden Love: These writing prompts explore the forbidden, whether it’s an illicit affair, a secret relationship, or a love that defies societal norms.
Emotional Intensity: Dark romance thrives on raw emotions. Writers can dive deep into the characters’ psyche, painting a vivid picture of their desires, fears, and vulnerabilities.

Dark romance writing prompts challenge writers to explore the boundaries of love and passion, taking readers on an unforgettable journey through the shadows. Whether you want to delve into the psyche of complex characters, unravel a thrilling and forbidden love story, or simply explore the depths of human emotions, this genre offers a playground for creativity and self-expression. So, grab your pen and let the darkness ignite your imagination!

Unleash Your Creativity with Challenging Dark Romance Writing Prompts

Are you ready to dive into the world of dark romance writing? Look no further! Our collection of challenging writing prompts will take you on a thrilling journey, allowing you to unleash your creativity like never before. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or just starting out, these prompts will push the boundaries of your imagination and take your storytelling skills to new heights.

With our carefully crafted selection of dark romance prompts, you’ll explore the depths of forbidden love, complex relationships, and the intricacies of human emotions. These prompts are designed to challenge you, inspiring unique and captivating stories that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. From twisted tales of star-crossed lovers to intricate power dynamics, the possibilities are endless.

Escape to a world where love blooms in the darkest corners.
Delve into the complexities of forbidden desire and dangerous passion.
Challenge societal norms with unconventional love stories.
Unravel the mysteries of complex characters and their intricate relationships.

Unleash your imagination and let your creativity flow with our challenging dark romance writing prompts. Transform your writing and explore the darker side of love while captivating your readers with your unique storytelling. Get ready to embark on an unforgettable journey filled with passion, darkness, and limitless possibilities.

Delving into the Intriguing World of Forbidden Love: Dark Romance Writing Prompts to Ignite Your Imagination

Exploring the depths of forbidden love can add a captivating twist to your romance stories. Whether you are an aspiring writer or a seasoned novelist, these dark romance writing prompts will surely unleash your creativity and take your imagination on a wild ride. From star-crossed lovers to unconventional relationships, these prompts immerse you in a world where passion dances with darkness, allowing you to delve into the complexities of desire, sacrifice, and the forbidden.

1. Write a story about a vampire hunter who falls in love with a vampire. Explore the moral dilemmas and conflicting emotions they encounter as they navigate the thin line between love and duty.

2. Create a tale set in a dystopian society where love is strictly forbidden. Describe the clandestine romance between two rebels who risk everything for a chance at love, defying the oppressive regime that seeks to crush their feelings.

Discover the Art of Balancing Darkness and Passion in Dark Romance Writing Prompts

When it comes to dark romance writing, finding the perfect balance between darkness and passion is an art form that can captivate readers and ignite their imagination. The genre thrives on intense emotions, forbidden desires, and complex relationships. As a writer exploring the depths of dark romance, it’s crucial to strike the right balance to create a compelling narrative that keeps readers hooked till the very end.

Here are a few key pointers to help you master this delicate balance:

Create complex characters: In dark romance, characters with deep flaws and conflicting personalities add depth to the story. Highlight their vulnerabilities, explore their traumas, and allow their passionate emotions to come alive on the page.
Establish a palpable atmosphere: Set the scene with vivid descriptions that transport readers into a dark and seductive world. Whether it’s a gloomy Victorian mansion or a forbidden rendezvous in a bustling city, immerse readers in an environment that enhances the tension and allure.
Weave an intricate plot: Dark romance thrives on its ability to keep readers guessing. Craft a plot full of unexpected twists and turns, exploring the blurred lines between love and obsession. Build anticipation and suspense, leaving readers on the edge of their seats with each new revelation.
Embrace moral ambiguity: Dark romance often challenges traditional notions of right and wrong. Consider incorporating morally ambiguous choices and dilemmas, forcing readers to question their own convictions and society’s norms.

Remember, mastering the art of balancing darkness and passion in your dark romance writing prompts requires practice and finesse. Dive into the depths of your imagination, trust your instincts, and let your characters guide you through the shadows towards a story that will leave readers craving more.

Crafting Intense Relationships: Dark Romance Writing Prompts for Authentic and Convincing Love Stories

Looking to add some depth and drama to your love stories? Explore the captivating genre of dark romance with our curated writing prompts that will help you create intense and authentic relationships. Push the boundaries of conventional love narratives and delve into the complexities of passionate, yet unconventional pairings.

Inspire your creativity and unleash your writing prowess with these thought-provoking prompts, designed to challenge your characters and take their love on an exhilarating roller coaster ride. From brooding anti-heroes and enigmatic heroines to forbidden affairs and mysterious connections, these prompts are sure to inspire you to craft gripping love stories that will leave your readers begging for more.

Unconventional Pairings: Explore the dynamics of unexpected relationships, where opposites attract and societal norms are defied.
Mysterious Connections: Intrigue your readers by developing mysterious links between your characters, leaving them guessing until the thrilling reveals.
Forbidden Love: Dive into the forbidden, where societal barriers, secrets, and hidden desires intensify the passion between your characters.
Complex Characters: Craft multi-dimensional protagonists and anti-heroes who struggle with their own inner demons, making their love journey all the more compelling.
Write a story about a brilliant detective who falls in love with a notorious criminal, blurring the lines between justice and forbidden desire.
Explore a passionate and secretive romance between an angel and a demon, battling not only their opposing nature but also the consequences that come with their forbidden relationship.
Set your story in a dystopian society where two star-crossed lovers belonging to rival factions find themselves drawn to each other, defying the world’s expectations.
Create a tale of obsession and psychological turmoil when an introverted writer becomes infatuated with a mysterious stranger who holds a dark and dangerous secret.

Let the Flames of Desire Ignite: Writing Prompts to Infuse Heat into Your Dark Romance Stories

Do you want to add a touch of passion and intrigue to your dark romance stories? Look no further! We have curated a collection of sizzling writing prompts that will set your creative fires ablaze. Get ready to explore forbidden love, embrace the allure of danger, and unleash your darkest desires onto the page. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or just starting out, these prompts will help you ignite the flames of passion in your dark romance narratives.

Explore the complexity of a love triangle between a brooding vampire, a fearless human, and a powerful werewolf.
Dive deep into the internal struggle as your protagonist is torn between the vampire’s seductive charm and the werewolf’s protective nature.
Unveil the consequences of their passionate choices and the price they must pay for breaking the rules of their supernatural society.
Transport your readers to a clandestine world where love blossoms between a cunning thief and a mysterious detective.
Weave an intricate web of mystery and desire as they navigate a dangerous cat-and-mouse game, constantly testing the boundaries of trust.
Examine how their love is both their greatest strength and their ultimate weakness in a world where betrayal lurks behind every shadow.

So, grab your pen and let these writing prompts fuel your imagination. Explore the depths of passion, delve into the forbidden, and uncover the secrets of desire. Unleash the heat in your dark romance stories and captivate your readers with the intensity that only flames of desire can provide.

Indulge your literary cravings with our collection of electrifying dark romance writing prompts that will transport your readers to a world of intense emotions and captivating narratives. Explore the depths of forbidden love, where desire and danger intertwine to create an irresistible allure.

Unleash your creativity as you delve into the shadows of passion, with stories that push boundaries and challenge conventions. With our carefully curated collection of prompts, you’ll have the tools to craft thought-provoking narratives that captivate readers from the very first sentence. Whether you’re working on a novel, short story, or even a screenplay, these dark romance writing prompts will ignite your imagination and ensure your characters and their relationships come alive on the page.

Forbidden Desires: Explore the forbidden realms of romance, where two souls from opposite worlds find themselves drawn to each other against all odds. Delve into the complexities of their relationship as they navigate societal expectations and the overwhelming power of their love.
Twisted Obsessions: Dive into the depths of obsession as you explore the darker side of love. Craft a story where passion turns into possessiveness and leads to a thrilling and dangerous journey for your characters.
Macabre Surrender: Step into a world where love and death collide, where the boundaries between life and the afterlife blur. Create a tale of star-crossed lovers intertwined in a haunting romance, exploring themes of mortality and eternity.
Dangerous Alliances: Craft a narrative filled with secrets and betrayals, where alliances are forged in the shadows and trust becomes a fragile commodity. Explore the intricate dance between love and deception, as your characters navigate treacherous paths towards their heart’s desires.

Embarking on a dark romance writing journey means delving into the complexities of the human heart and pushing the boundaries of conventional love stories. With these writing prompts, your narratives will grip your readers, keeping them on the edge of their seats, craving for more with every turn of the page.

Q: What are dark romance writing prompts? A: Dark romance writing prompts are creative ideas or starting points that can inspire writers to delve into the realm of passionate and dark love stories. These prompts provide a framework for exploring unconventional relationships, intense emotions, and complex character dynamics within the context of love.

Q: Why should I consider writing dark romance stories? A: Dark romance stories allow writers to tap into the depths of human emotions, exploring themes of desire, obsession, and sacrifice. It provides a unique opportunity to challenge the boundaries of traditional romance and engage readers with thought-provoking narratives that stray from the ordinary.

Q: What are some examples of dark romance writing prompts? A: Here are a few examples: 1. Write a story about two vampires from rival clans who fall deeply in love, defying their traditions and putting their lives at risk. 2. Explore the twisted relationship between a well-respected psychologist and an enigmatic patient with a dangerous obsession. 3. Create a story about a star-crossed love affair between a human and a supernatural being, revealing the hardships and sacrifices they must endure to be together.

Q: Can dark romance writing prompts be adapted to different genres? A: Absolutely! Dark romance writing prompts can be adapted to various genres such as paranormal, fantasy, thriller, or even historical fiction. The beauty of these prompts lies in the flexibility they offer, allowing writers to blend elements of darkness and passion into their chosen genre while maintaining the core theme of love.

Q: How can I develop compelling characters in dark romance stories? A: Developing compelling characters is crucial in dark romance stories. Start by brainstorming their backgrounds, motivations, and personal demons. Explore their flaws and vulnerabilities, as well as the sources of attraction that bind them together. Be sure to give them unique voices, inner conflicts, and evolving arcs that will captivate readers and keep them emotionally invested.

Q: Are there any potential challenges in writing dark romance stories? A: Writing dark romance stories requires balancing the fine line between passion and toxicity. It is important to create complex relationships without romanticizing abusive behavior or promoting unhealthy dynamics. Strive to present multidimensional characters and provide realistic consequences for their actions within the context of the story.

Q: How can I make my dark romance story stand out? A: To make your dark romance story stand out, find a fresh angle or unexpected twist to the plot. Incorporate unique settings, explore diverse identities, or introduce unconventional challenges for your characters to overcome. Additionally, allowing your characters to experience personal growth or redemption can add depth and complexity to the narrative, making it even more memorable.

Q: Are there any ethical considerations when writing dark romance stories? A: Yes, when writing dark romance stories, it is important to be mindful of the ethical implications. While exploring dark themes is part of the genre, it is crucial to avoid glorifying abusive or problematic behavior. Sensitivity towards sensitive topics such as consent and mental health is vital. Do thorough research, handle these subjects responsibly, and consider including trigger warnings if necessary.

Q: How can I overcome writer’s block when working on dark romance stories? A: Overcoming writer’s block is a common struggle for writers. When facing a creative standstill, consider seeking inspiration from various sources such as music, art, or even taking a break and engaging in self-care activities. Reading books within the dark romance genre or participating in writing communities can also provide new ideas and ignite your creativity.

Q: Any final tips for writing successful dark romance stories? A: Remember that writing dark romance stories is an opportunity to explore the complexities of love and human nature. Allow yourself to take risks, push boundaries, and create emotionally charged narratives. Keep your readers guessing and invested in the outcome. Ultimately, staying true to your unique voice and vision will help create compelling dark romance stories that resonate with your audience.

In conclusion, dark romance writing prompts provide a captivating avenue to explore intense and passionate love stories, appealing to readers seeking a blend of darkness and romance in their reading experience.

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Best Dark Writing Prompts of 2023
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1800+ Creative Writing Prompts To Inspire You Right Now
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Dark Romance Writing Prompts: Explore Passionate and Dark Love Stories
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