Introduction
In the world of writing, the blank page is both an exciting canvas and a daunting abyss. It’s a place where ideas can bloom into stories, characters can come to life, and worlds can be built from scratch. But sometimes, finding the spark to ignite that creative flame can be challenging.
Lucky for you, my brain is a vault jam-packed with story ideas and little time to write it myself. So, whether you are completely stuck or just need a little something extra, these story ideas and prompts are sure to get your imagination flowing.
And don’t stick to just one, be adventurous! Try to mix and match these ideas or bend a character or genre to fit your vision. When it comes to writing, there are endless possibilities for where your mind can take you. Run with it, and have fun!
Adventure, Fantasy, Science Fiction
Story Ideas
- A team of explorers travels to Antarctica in search of a long-lost city, but instead, their arrival releases something ancient.
- A group of teens find themselves in a battle for their lives when they are forced to compete in a deadly reality television show.
- An archaeologist discovers an ancient map that leads them to the hidden tomb of an Egyptian pharaoh, but they’re not the only one with their eyes on the prize.
- A band of thieves must take on a powerful empire in order to restore freedom to their land.
- Your protagonist discovers their true identity, and the ramifications can bring down the world as we know it.
- A group of misfits are forced to fight for survival when the world is attacked by angels.
- Your protagonist must fight for their life after they’re taken prisoner by a ruthless monarch.
- A group of soldiers are sent on a top-secret mission to infiltrate an enemy base, but they soon find themselves in over their heads when they realize the entire operation is a trap.
- As the world teeters on the brink of war, a group of scientists and researchers race to uncover the secrets of a mysterious new technology that could change the course of history forever.
- A group of kids find an old treehouse that is a portal to another world.
- Your young protagonist has the ability to talk to animals and must use their power to save their home deep in the forest from a group of hunters.
- Your protagonist must venture to an alternate world in order to save their family.
- A group of kids find themselves caught up in a perilous treasure hunt that leads them to a lost but cursed pirate ship.
- Your protagonist discovers they have the ability to time travel and must use their power to save the future from a disastrous event.
- A group of convicted criminals find themselves trapped in a strange place where time moves differently than it does in the outside world.
- A group of friends must work together to survive when their plane crashes and they are stranded on a deserted island.
- A young couple find an old video game that has the power to transport them to another time.
- A team of scientists must work together to repair their damaged spaceship and return home before they run out of air.
- A thief teams up with a group of companions to take on a powerful wizard who has conquered the kingdom and enslaved its people.
- When an asteroid is on a collision course with Earth, a team of astronauts journey to a distant planet in search of new life.
- A group of travelers find themselves caught up in a race against time to stop an evil sorcerer from taking over the world.
- A team of scientists are sent to investigate a strange energy field that is blocking all electronic signals near the Amazon.
- Your protagonist discovers they have the power to turn invisible and decides to use their secret abilities to commit daring heists and get revenge on those who have wronged them.
- A group of mercenaries are hired to retrieve a mysterious object from a remote asteroid, but they quickly find themselves in over their heads when things take an unexpected turn.
- A group of friends must use their wits and courage to escape from a secret government facility.
Story Starters
- The portal opened, revealing a swirling mass of energy within. She waited for the figure–clad in his familiar armor and gripping his sword–to step through into her world. It had been so long since she had last seen him. Would he remember her? She had been a child after all.
- The job seemed simple enough, but the moment that asteroid came into view, Clara Heinz, captain of the White Star, knew they were in for more than they bargained for. Twice the size of her ship and moving fast, she had to act quick if they were going to land on it as planned. There was no doubt in her mind that the ship would be damaged, but with any luck, they would live to fix it.
- It stirred beneath the earth, a slumbering behemoth roused by the cries of its kin. For eons it had slept, undisturbed by the comings and goings of surface-dwellers. Their time was over.
- The door to the tower creaked open, revealing a dusty staircase leading up into a never-ending darkness. With his last bit of magic, he lit a torch and started to climb, feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders.
- They came without warning, swooping down with their magnificent golden swords and pretty faces, promising death and destruction to all who dared cross their path. The world had no time to prepare, no time to run. They could only stand and watch as their homes were burned to the ground and their loved ones brutally slain before their eyes. It was a massacre, a bloody and vicious attack that left only few alive in a broken and devastated Earth.
- He’d always been a thief, but never had he stolen from anyone as powerful as the wizard of Brackenbell. Getting into the castle would be as easy as catching a red-rimmed fairy, it was making it out again with his limbs intact that worried him. He smiled, eager and confident in his skills. After all, he was the best in the business.
- A faint light flickered in the distance, growing ever closer as the sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the hall. A cloaked figure entered the room, its face hidden in the shadows of the cowl. It approached the table where the others were gathered, its steps slow and measured.
- She surveyed the barren wasteland, devoid of life or hope. It had been a long time since anything living had graced this place. She was bone-tired and desperate for respite, but she knew she couldn’t stop. Not until she found her.
- Enough light shone down from the broken moon that he could see the small path that led through the woods. Something had called to him, some force beyond his understanding. How long had he been walking? Minutes? Hours? It felt like years.
- He stared out the window of his space cruiser at the vast expanse of stars before him and sighed. Three years and still no inhabitable planets. Not even a sign of intelligent life. He was beginning to think that this mission was a fool’s errand.
Crime, Mystery, Thriller
Story Ideas
- When their parent is killed in a bloody shootout, your protagonist must take over their parent’s criminal empire and continue their legacy against their will.
- The president’s child is kidnapped and held for ransom, and the only clue to their where abouts is a cryptic message written in an ancient language.
- A detective must solve a string of murders that have been committed by a serial killer with a taste for the macabre.
- Your protagonist’s life is ripped apart when they find out that they are adopted and that their biological parents were infamous serial killers.
- A small-town sheriff must unravel a web of lies and deceit in order to catch an elusive criminal who is terrorizing the town.
- A group of friends investigate a series of strange disappearances in their town and uncover a dark and sinister secret.
- A brilliant detective must race against the clock to find a missing heir who seems to have vanished into thin air.
- A wrongly convicted murderer breaks out of prison in an attempt to clear their name.
- A group of amateur sleuths set out to solve a series of mysterious disappearances that have plagued their town for years.
- A young lawyer must defend a client in court against accusations of murder, but as they dig deeper into the case, they discover that nothing is as it seems.
- Your protagonist discovers that their partner is having an affair and plots to kill them both.
- When your protagonist inherits an old house from their estranged parent, they decide to renovate it and sell it for a profit. But soon they realize that the house holds a dark and deadly secret.
- Your protagonist wakes up in a hospital with no memory of how they got there, and soon realize they are being stalked by a deranged killer.
- An ambitious detective must stop a serial killer who is terrorizing the city and targeting specific victims for their sins.
- Your protagonist is accused of killing their partner but claims they cannot remember anything about the night their partner died.
- Your protagonist’s idyllic life is shattered when their partner is killed in a car accident, an accident they soon discover, was intended for them.
- Your protagonist is released from prison after serving a twenty-year sentence for killing their abusive partner in self-defense. When they return home, however, they realize that the nightmare is far from over.
- Your protagonist’s world is turned upside down when they learn that their sibling, who they thought was dead, is very much alive and is a notorious serial killer.
- Your protagonist discovers that their long-lost twin sibling is actually a famous serial killer who has been targeting victims that resemble them.
- A couple’s worst nightmare comes true when their child is kidnapped by a person who believes the child is biological theirs.
- Your protagonist becomes the target of a killer when they start investigating the disappearance of their best friend.
- Your protagonist is caught up in a web of lies and deceit when they discover that their partner is not who they say they are.
- Your protagonist is released from a mental institution after ten years and must now try to pick up the pieces of their life and solve the murders of their family that they were accused of.
- Your protagonist discovers that their fiancé is actually a con artist who is using them to get to their wealthy family.
- Your protagonist is devastated when their partner leaves them for another, and when their partner is found dead, they become the prime suspect.
Story Starters
- Fire scorches her skin and she slams her hand frantically against the windowpane. The heat sears through her flesh and she yelps in pain, quickly withdrawing it. Her vision blurs as she looks around the room for a way out, for something–anything–that can save her.
- He noticed the smell first. A rank, putrid stench that made his eyes water and his stomach churn. It was the kind that made him want to take a shower immediately, the kind he would never get used to. He turned his head away, trying not to breathe through his nose. Even after five years, it still made him want to puke.
- She looked over the gun one last time, making sure the safety was off. She had to do this, there was no other choice. Taking a deep breath, she steadied the gun with both hands and aimed for the center of his forehead. She couldn’t afford to miss.
- She zipped up her jacket and pulled the hood over her head, bracing herself for the long walk ahead. She’d left later than intended, and if Mrs. Saunders caught her out this late again, she’d be in for something far worse than one of her famous lectures. In all fairness, she deserved it. It wasn’t safe for a young woman to be out alone anymore, not after what happened to poor Jenny Malone.
- When Amanda first laid eyes on him, she knew he was the one. It was instant chemistry, the kind that couldn’t be denied. She wanted to know everything about him, wanted to spend every moment with him. He was perfect for her. Soon he would meet her, and she was sure he’d feel the same. And if he didn’t? Well, if she couldn’t have him, then no one would.
- I run up the stairs as fast as I can, my mouth so dry my tongue feels like paper. I can hear his heavy footsteps pounding the stairs behind me, each one bringing him closer and closer. I reach the top of the stairs and burst through the door into the attic. I slam it shut and lean against it, panting for breath.
- The darkness was all-encompassing, a heavy blanket that weighed down on her senses and made it difficult to breathe. She could feel the cold seeping into her bones, numbing her until she could barely move. She tried to speak, but the only sound that escaped her lips was a pitiful whimper. She didn’t know how long she had been lying there, but it felt like an eternity.
- When the telephone shrilled late that afternoon, Catherine nearly leapt out of her skin. She reached for the receiver, her heart pounding in her chest. “H-hello?” she said. There was a pause, and then a deep, unfamiliar voice told her it was done.
- Detective Mallery had been working on this case for weeks with no leads. To say she was frustrated was an understatement. All she knew was that Emily Riggs had been found dead in her home with no signs of forced entry or struggle, as if she had just gone to bed and never woke up. The coroner had ruled it natural causes, but something about the case just didn’t sit right with her.
- I can feel the sweat on my forehead, even though the air conditioning is blasting. I’m trying to focus on anything other than the fear that’s welling up inside me, but it’s impossible. I know I have to keep it together, at least long enough to figure out a way out of this mess. I can hear their footsteps in the distance, getting closer and closer. I know it’s only a matter of time before they find me.
Comedy, Drama, Romance
Story Ideas
- Your protagonist must navigate the turbulent waters of love and relationships as they search for their perfect match.
- A couple must deal with the challenges and obstacles that come with being in a long-distance relationship.
- Your protagonist must come to terms with their feelings for the person they love, but who is married to another.
- After a bitter divorce, your protagonist swears off love. But then they meet a person who just might change their mind.
- Your protagonist must choose between the person they love and the life they want.
- Your protagonist must face their insecurities and fear of commitment in order to find true love.
- A young couple must deal with all the highs and lows of the dating game as they search for their happily ever after.
- Your protagonist must deal with the complications that arise when they fall in love with their best friend’s fiancé.
- Your protagonist must find the courage to stand up to the bullying and abuse that has become a way of life at their high school.
- Your protagonist must choose between the person who has always been there for them and the exciting new love that has swept them off their feet.
- A couple’s relationship is put to the test when one of them is diagnosed with a terminal illness.
- Your protagonist must struggle to find love while dealing with the pressures of work and family.
- Your protagonist is left heartbroken when the love of their life dies unexpectedly.
- Your protagonist must choose between two very different people and decide which one is right for them.
- Your protagonist must confront their past in order to move on with their future and find happiness in the most unexpected place.
- Your protagonist must come to terms with their feelings for a person who is not of this world.
- Your protagonist is torn between the life they have always known and the temptation of something new and exciting.
- Your protagonist falls in love with a ghost and must find a way to make things work between them.
- A couple’s relationship is put to the test when they win the lottery and have to deal with all the changes that come with it.
- Your protagonist n must come to terms with the fact that their soulmate is from another time or place.
- Your protagonist is left at the altar and must deal with the humiliation and heartbreak that comes with it.
- Your protagonist must come to terms with the fact that they will never be able to have children of their own.
- Your protagonist must find a way to balance their love life and their career as they try to make it in the cutthroat world of show business.
- Your protagonist is in for a surprise when they find out that the person they have been dating is actually already married.
- Your protagonist must find a way to break the cycle of bad relationships they have been stuck in for years.
Story Starters
- Being in love was said to be the most wonderful feeling in the world. But for Rose, it just made her life a living nightmare. Two’s a company, and in this case, three’s definitely a crowd. Especially when the third person is your own boyfriend’s psycho ex-girlfriend who’s hell-bent on making your life a living hell.
- The first time I saw her, I knew she was trouble. She had that look in her eye, like she was up to no good. I should have known better than to get involved with her, but what can I say? I’m drawn to danger like a lemming to a cliff.
- The only thing they knew for sure was that it had been a hit and run. A terrible accident. One that had left her fighting for her life for several months, and no memory of anything at all. A Jane Doe. The doctors said it was a miracle she had survived at all, but it didn’t feel anything like a miracle to her. It was a nightmare.
- Faraway places with strange-sounding names had always captured Olivia’s imagination. As a child, she would often lie in bed at night, wide-eyed and awake long after her bedtime, dreaming of the adventures she would have in those distant lands. She would be a brave explorer, climbing towering mountains and discovering lost civilizations. Or, she would be an intrepid journalist, uncovering stories that would change the world. Whatever her fantasy du jour happened to be, one thing was always constant–in her dreams, she was never the same boring person she was in real life.
- I’m a stand-up comedian by trade, so I know a thing or two about making people laugh. I’ve been honing my craft for years, and I’ve gotten pretty good at it. These days, I’m headlining shows all over the country. I’ve even got a few television credits to my name. Everything was going great until she showed up. Audrey is a tough act to follow. She’s got impeccable timing, a sharp wit, and a killer delivery. She’s also incredibly beautiful. But what she doesn’t know is that none of that matters because I’m not going to let her steal my thunder.
- How far would you go for love? For Rachel Black, the answer is pretty far. She had always been a hopeless romantic, believing in fairytale endings and ‘the one.’ So, when she met Nathan Rowel and felt that all-consuming, butterflies in her stomach kind of love, she was sure she had hit the jackpot. That was until she met his mother.
- The storm raged outside, lashing the house with howling winds and driving rain. Inside, a woman sat at the kitchen table, her hands clenched around the red scarf that did not belong to her. She stared at the door, waiting for his return.
- I’m at my wit’s end. I just hate it. I’m sick of the monotony, the drama, the politics. I’ve tried everything, but nothing seems to work. My boss is constantly on my case, my co-workers are driving me insane, and I’m pretty sure the only reason I haven’t been fired yet is because they can’t find anyone else willing to do my job. Yip, being a portable toilet cleaner for a small-town fairground is my life’s ambition. And I’m not even getting paid minimum wage.
- Actions speak louder than words, and no one knows that better than Brittney Fox. As the captain of her high school’s varsity cheerleading squad, she learned early on that sometimes in order to get what you want, you have to be aggressive. That’s why she’s not just going to break up with that cheating no good scumbag of a boyfriend, she’s going to make him sorry he ever laid eyes on her.
- After Brian receives a football scholarship to college, he is in top of the world. What’s more is that he has Judy, the most beautiful girl in town, on his arm. His life couldn’t be more perfect. But when a fight breaks out between him and his stepfather, leaving his knee shattered and his love life in tatters, Brian is left feeling like he has nothing left.
Horror, Paranormal, Supernatural
Story Ideas
- A group of friends go on a school camping trip and find themselves in Wendigo territory.
- A small-town sheriff investigates a series of gruesome murders, only to discover the culprit is something not of this world.
- A research team descends into the depths of a remote mountain to investigate a series of strange and terrifying phenomena, but they quickly discover that they were sent there as bait.
- A kindergarten teacher must face their fears and confront a terrifying monster that is haunting the dreams of the children in their town.
- When your protagonist’s scientist twin mysteriously disappears on a remote island, they set out to find them, only to discover that the island is home to a race of deadly vampires.
- A group of friends become lost in a haunted forest and must find their way out before they’re trapped there forever.
- An innocent game of ‘Bloody Mary’ goes wrong when a group of teenagers accidentally unleash a demonic force.
- Your protagonist must protect their parent from a vengeful ghost that is haunting their home.
- A journalist travels to a remote island in search of a missing research team, only to discover that the island is cursed and filled with deadly creatures.
- A group of teens sneak into an abandoned house on Halloween in search of a ghost, but they soon discover that the ghost is all too real and has a dangerous agenda.
- While on a road trip, a group of friends discover an old, abandoned house in the middle of nowhere, but little do they know that the house is home to a malevolent spirit that will stop at nothing to claim their souls.
- A young priest must uncover the truth behind a series of strange events that seem to be linked to a mysterious cult.
- Your protagonist is institutionalized after they claim to see ghosts, but the staff there soon discover that the ghosts are very real when they’re picked off one by one.
- A group of friends take a wrong turn while driving through the woods and end up in a town that is home to a coven of witches.
- While attending a wedding, the guests come under attack by a pack of bloodthirsty werewolves.
- A mangled body arrives in the morgue, but the pathologist realizes it’s not human and is somehow still alive.
- Your protagonist discovers that their partner is possessed by a demonic spirit and must find a way to save them.
- A cruise ship bound for Hawaii is surrounded by sirens in the middle of the night.
- Your protagonist, on the run from the law, finds themself in a remote town that is being terrorized by a genie.
- Your protagonist is haunted by their deceased sibling but discovers that their spirit is trying to warn them about something.
- A group of friends go hiking in the woods and stumble upon a hidden cabin that is home to a family of cannibals.
- Your protagonist discovers a diary that belonged to their deceased parent and learns that they were a necromancer.
- A group of friends perform a séance and accidentally summon a vengeful spirit that was murdered by one of the group members.
- A heartbroken couple who lost their child in a pool accident moves into a new house to start over, only to discover that it is haunted by the ghost of another child.
- Your protagonist is haunted by nightmares of a person being murdered, but they soon realize that the dreams are actually memories from a previous life.
Story Starters
- The first time I died, I was seven years old. Fell out of a tree, hit my head on a rock, and heard my neck crack like a twig. Of course, that wasn’t the end of my adventures, I have died eleven more times since. Death is merely a doorway to new and exciting places, as I would come to find out. My name is William, and this is my story.
- He wasn’t sure what had led him to the idea of buying that particular house. Perhaps it was the feeling that he needed a change, a project, so to speak. Or maybe it was because he had always harbored a desire to live in an old farmhouse with a fireplace. Whatever the reason, he found himself putting in an offer on that fixer-upper that was built in the 1800s.
- The shadows moved and slithered across the hardwood floor, as if they had a will of their own. A single window, high up on one wall and covered with a thick, heavy curtain, blocked out any sliver of moonlight that might have managed to find its way into the small room. The only light came from a single candle, which flickered and danced in the darkness, as if it, too, was afraid of the thing that lurked in the corner.
- The darkness was my ally. It crept around me like a lover, wrapping its arms around my body and holding me tight. I welcomed it, needed it. I was a creature of the night, and the night was my kingdom.
- Timmy stood motionless, frozen by fear. His heart beat like a drum in his chest as the demon slowly materialized before him. It leered at him with hungry eyes, its mouth a gaping maw filled with tiny sharp teeth. The stench of sulfur and death filled the boy’s nostrils as the demon took a step closer.
- I can’t see anything, but I know they’re out there watching me. They’re always watching. I don’t pray anymore, but if I did, I would pray to take at least one of those bastards down before I died.
- They shuffled around, taking their seats around the table one by one. She lit the candles and positioned them in the center, their flames flickering in anticipation. She placed her hands on the smooth wood surface, palms up, and waited for the others to do the same.
- The darkness engulfs me like an old friend. I am safe here. Protected from the bright, cruel world. I can breathe. I am free. But I am not alone. I can feel them watching me, lurking in the shadows. Their eyes boring into me, filled with hunger and thirst. I am their prey. I am not safe. They are coming for me. I can hear their footsteps, slow and steady, drawing closer and closer. I am paralyzed with fear. I am going to die.
- They walked single file down the narrow path, their footsteps muffled by the thick layer of leaves and twigs that covered the ground. The air was heavy and humid, the scent of decay hanging over them like a blanket. A bird cawed in the distance, the sound echoing through the trees and sending a shiver down her spine.
- In the small town of Rocksville there is a house that sits on the edge of a cliff overlooking the ocean. Legend has it that the house is haunted by the ghost of a woman who jumped to her death, and that her spirit still wanders the halls at night looking for her true love left behind. But that is only partly true. How do I know this? Well, for one, I didn’t jump. I was pushed.
Conclusion
The blank page is your canvas, and these story ideas and prompts are your palette. Use them to paint vivid pictures, create compelling characters, and weave intricate plots. Don’t be afraid to experiment and step out of your comfort zone, after all, creativity thrives on exploration.
So go ahead, dive into the world of writing with these ideas as your guide, and let your imagination run wild.
Happy writing!
