121 Short Story Prompts to help You Write Unforgettable Stories
Are you staring blankly at your computer screen, struggling to develop a new short story idea for your next project? Or are you simply in the mood to flex your creative muscles with a new writing project but need help figuring out where to start? Look no further!
I have compiled a whopping 121 short story prompts and story ideas in this blog post to inspire you to write engaging and imaginative stories across various genres and themes. From romance to horror, science fiction to thriller, these short story prompts are designed to inspire you to explore new characters, settings, and plots.
So whether you're a seasoned writer or a beginner, read on and let your imagination run wild!
Fantasy short story prompts
1. A thief attempts to steal a magical object from a powerful wizard's tower but is caught and forced to make a deal to avoid imprisonment.
2. A young woman inherits a cursed ring from her grandmother and must decide whether to keep it and its power or destroy it and break the curse.
3. A brave knight and a cunning rogue team up to rescue a princess from a dragon, but their personalities clash and threaten to derail the mission.
4. A witch and a sorcerer have been hired to assassinate the same target and must outsmart each other to succeed.
5. Two siblings with opposing magical abilities must unite to stop an evil sorcerer who seeks to destroy the world.
6. A dwarf and an elf are hired to transport a valuable artifact, but obstacles and betrayal plague their journey.
7. A shape-shifter and a vampire are trapped in a magical prison and must work together to escape and clear their names of false accusations.
8. A powerful enchantress and a cursed prince embark on a quest to break the curse, but their journey is filled with danger and unexpected challenges.
9. Two sworn enemies, a goblin and a dwarf are forced to work together to survive in a hostile environment after being shipwrecked on a mysterious island.
10. A cursed adventurer and a skilled archer are trapped in a magical maze and must work together to solve its puzzles and escape before time runs out.
adventure short story prompts
11. A group of adventurers stumble upon a cursed temple and must navigate its deadly traps and puzzles to reach the treasure at the heart of the temple.
12. A group of divers must explore a sunken ship and retrieve a valuable artifact before their oxygen runs out.
13. A detective must solve a case that hits too close to home, dealing with their own past mistakes and failures while racing against the clock to catch the culprit.
14. A pirate seeks revenge against an old enemy but must confront the anger and bitterness consuming them while trying to outmaneuver their foe in a high-stakes sea battle.
15. An adventurer discovers their trusted partner has betrayed them and must navigate a dangerous jungle to retrieve stolen treasure before their former ally does.
16. A thrill-seeking mountaineer rushes to summit a dangerous peak before a deadly storm hits, recklessly risking their own safety and the safety of their team.
17. A natural disaster survivor must stay optimistic and hopeful while racing against time to find food, water, and shelter before it's too late.
18. A team of spies must infiltrate a secret lab and retrieve valuable information before it falls into the wrong hands.
19. A mountaineer with an insatiable hunger for fame and glory must overcome their own ego and hubris while attempting to climb a treacherous peak.
20. A shipwreck survivor must stay hopeful and optimistic while stranded on a deserted island, struggling to find a way to escape before running out of supplies.
21. A group of miners must find a way out of a collapsing mine before they are buried alive.
Halloween short story prompts
22. A group of trick-or-treaters accidentally stumble upon a haunted house, but things turn sinister when they realize they can't leave.
23. Two friends sneak into a local cemetery to play a game of "ghost hunting," but they realize they may have awoken something that should have been left undisturbed.
24. A man is tormented by his deceased wife's ghost on Halloween night, leading to a confrontation that could change everything.
25. A young couple's Halloween party turns dark when they realize one of their guests is not who they seem.
26. Two siblings get lost in a corn maze on Halloween night and must fight for their lives against a murderous scarecrow.
27. A group of college students gets more than they bargained for when they spend the night in a supposedly haunted asylum.
28. A young girl discovers that her neighbor, whom she thought was a witch, may be something much more dangerous.
29. Two teenagers are trapped in a department store overnight, only to realize they're not alone.
30. A family's Halloween decorations come to life and start attacking them.
31. A group of friends goes on a ghost tour of a supposedly haunted town, but they soon discover that the stories may be more than just legends.
Horror short story prompts
32. A woman wakes up in a hospital room, only to realize she's the only person in the building.
33. Two friends get lost in a pitch-black underground cave system, where they encounter something that's not of this world.
34. A babysitter discovers that the child she's watching is not what they seem, and their true identity is far more sinister.
35. A family road trip takes a dark turn when they encounter a mysterious figure on the side of the road.
36. A man is forced to confront his deepest fears when he's trapped in a room with something that wants to kill him.
37. A couple's romantic city trip weekend getaway turns into a nightmare when they encounter a strange creature in the subway.
38. Two campers discover that their campsite may be the site of a horrific crime.
39. A woman discovers a dark secret about her family's history when she inherits an old piece of art from her deceased relative.
40. A group of strangers is trapped in an airport terminal during a storm, but they soon realize they're not alone.
41. A man discovers that his new job at a remote research facility may be more dangerous than he ever imagined.
Romance short story prompts
42. Two coworkers who hate each other are forced to work together on a project and discover a hidden attraction.
43. A woman runs into her high school crush at a grocery store and realizes they still have chemistry.
44. Two neighbors who have never spoken before are suddenly forced to spend time together during a blackout.
45. A woman goes on a blind date with a man she met online and discovers he's not who he seems to be.
46. A woman meets a man at a wedding and is torn between her feelings for him and her loyalty to the bride.
47. A woman is forced to choose between her boyfriend and her family's expectations for her future.
48. Two coworkers are secretly in love and forced to keep their relationship secret from their boss.
49. A woman meets a man on a train and is drawn to his mysterious past but struggles to trust him.
50. A woman's ex-boyfriend shows up unexpectedly at her workplace and forces her to confront their past.
51. Two people in a long-distance relationship meet for the first time but struggle to bridge the gap.
Sad short story prompts
52. Two estranged siblings meet to scatter their mother's ashes and are forced to confront their unresolved feelings.
53. A woman visits her husband in prison and has to come to terms with the fact that their marriage is over.
54. Two exes meet up to return each other's belongings and are forced to confront the pain of their breakup.
55. A man meets with his estranged father to discuss the inheritance left by his late mother but discovers that their relationship is irreparable.
56. A man visits his dying father and is forced to confront the pain of their troubled relationship.
57. A woman goes to a support group for the first time and finds it difficult to connect with the other members.
58. A woman attends a funeral for a close friend and struggles to come to terms with her grief.
59. Two siblings meet up to confront their abusive parents and realize that they are stronger together than apart.
60. Two former friends meet up to apologize for past hurts and try to reconcile but recognize that the damage is irreversible.
61. Two siblings meet up to go through their late parents' belongings and are forced to confront the painful memories of their childhood.
Funny short story prompts
62. A woman accidentally sends a text message to the wrong person and has to fix the situation before it gets out of hand.
63. A man accidentally locks himself out of his apartment and has to find a way back in.
64. Two passengers accidentally switch suitcases at the airport and have to track down the other before their flight leaves.
65. A woman accidentally sends a love letter to her boss and has to figure out how to undo it.
66. Two friends decide to play a game of Truth or Dare, but things quickly get out of hand.
67. A man tries to impress a woman by cooking a fancy meal, but everything that can go wrong does.
68. Two roommates compete to see who can pull off the best prank on their other roommate, but things quickly escalate.
69. A woman tries to keep her adult entertainment job a secret from her nosy neighbor but has to show her everything.
70. A man accidentally sends a text message meant for his ex to his current girlfriend, and things quickly spiral out of control.
71. Two friends decide to start a business together, but their conflicting creative ideas lead to hilarious results.
Scary short story prompts
72. A woman takes a shortcut through a dark alley and realizes she's being followed.
73. A man wakes up in a coffin and realizes he's been buried alive.
74. A woman discovers a strange door in her basement that leads to a dark and creepy tunnel.
75. A man starts hearing strange noises from his attic and realizes he's not alone in the house.
76. A woman wakes up to find her reflection in the mirror is not her own.
77. Two coworkers stay late at the office and hear strange noises from the ventilation system.
78. A woman hears a voice whispering her name in her ear while she's home alone.
79. Two neighbors are forced to confront the dark secrets they've been hiding from each other.
80. A man finds an old journal that describes a ritual for summoning a demon.
81. A woman wakes up handcuffed in a hospital bed without remembering how she got there.
Valentine's Day short story prompts
82. Two friends attend a Valentine's Day party and do everything it takes to compete for the same person's affection.
83. Two high school sweethearts reunite on Valentine's Day, but they quickly discover that the past is not always what it seems.
84. A man tries to propose to his girlfriend on Valentine's Day, but everything seems to go wrong.
85. A couple decides to try a new, experimental drug to enhance their Valentine's Day experience, but things take a dangerous turn.
86. A woman goes on a blind date with a man who seems too good to be true, but she soon discovers his dark and dangerous secrets.
87. Two best friends decide to spend Valentine's Day together, but their feelings for each other become more complicated.
88. A woman receives a series of cryptic messages from an unknown sender, leading her on a scavenger hunt through the city.
89. Two coworkers have secret crushes on each other, but neither knows how to make the first move.
90. Two people meet on a dating app and decide to meet in person on Valentine's Day, but things quickly spiral out of control.
91. Two coworkers receive the same Valentine's Day gift, leading to a competition for the affection of their mutual crush.
Christmas short story prompts
92. Two people get into a heated argument over who gets to keep the last Christmas tree at the local tree lot.
93. A couple on a tight budget gets into a heated debate over how much they can afford to spend on gifts for their family.
94. A person accidentally ruins the Christmas dinner and must find a way to fix it before the guests arrive.
95. Two coworkers who don't get along are forced to work together on the Christmas project.
96. Two family members get into a heated argument over the best Christmas movies to watch.
97. A fighting couple must navigate a snowstorm to get to their Christmas dinner on time.
98. A person gets stuck in an elevator with a stranger on Christmas Eve.
99. A person discovers their significant other has been lying about their Christmas plans.
100. A person accidentally breaks a vital family heirloom on Christmas morning.
101. A person discovers their partner has been cheating on them with Santa Claus.
Sci-Fi short story prompts
102. A time traveler accidentally ends up in the wrong era and must convince their skeptical partner that they're telling the truth.
103. Two scientists argue over the ethical implications of a new technology that can alter memories.
104. A character discovers they can communicate with an alien race through their dreams.
105. A person wakes up to find that their entire reality is a simulation.
106. Two survivors of a deadly virus must navigate a post-apocalyptic world and find a way to rebuild society.
107. Two friends discover a portal to another dimension and must decide whether to explore it.
108. A person is sent on a mission to colonize a new planet but discovers that their ship has a dangerous malfunction.
109. Two people with different genetic enhancements clash over their beliefs and must find common ground to save their community.
110. Two detectives investigate a series of strange disappearances that lead them to an otherworldly source.
111. A person discovers a time loop that allows them to relive the same day repeatedly.
Thriller short story prompts
112. A person discovers that their new roommate is a serial killer.
113. Two people on a first date realize that a stalker is watching them.
114. A person finds a hidden room in their house and realizes someone has been living there.
115. Two coworkers discover a hidden camera in their office and must figure out who is spying on them.
116. A person wakes up in a dark, abandoned building and realizes they've been kidnapped.
117. A person discovers that their new therapist is a psychopath.
118. A person is blackmailed into committing a crime by someone who has incriminating evidence against them.
119. A person receives a mysterious package in the mail that threatens their life.
120. A person realizes their online stalker has found their physical address and is coming for them.
121. Two survivors of a plane crash must navigate a dangerous wilderness to find help.
Conclusion
In conclusion, short story prompts can be a great source of inspiration for writers looking for inspiration and flexing their creative muscles.
By limiting the scope of your story to a single location and a few characters, you can focus on developing conflict, drama, and tension, creating a powerful and engaging story that will captivate your audience.
Whether you're a seasoned writer or just starting out, I hope these writing prompts can help you break through writer's block and explore new genres and styles.
Frequently Asked Questions About Short Story Prompts (FAQs)
What are Short Story Prompts?
Short story prompts are creative ideas, scenarios, or questions designed to ignite your imagination and help you write a story. They can range from fantasy short story prompts to science fiction to everyday life situations.
How Can I Use Writing Prompts?
Idea Generation: If a blank page stares at you, prompts help you break the ice. Use them to create short stories, a character's life arc, or even a world!
Writing Exercises: These are great ideas for honing your skills. Set aside writing time and pick a prompt like "A character notices a mysterious package at their front door."
Character Development: Watch as your character develops from an only child to a hero facing a natural disaster.
Where Can I Find More Creative Writing Prompts?
From a fortune cookie to online forums, you can find prompts everywhere. Search for specific genres like sci-fi or fantasy, or ask old friends and fellow writers to share their favorite genres or ideas. Sometimes life itself is the best writing prompt ever!
Can You Share Some Short Story Ideas?
Short Story Ideas:
An old friend from a century ago appears at your front door.
A character finds a deceased uncle's letter revealing family secrets.
A teenage son's rebellion leads to unexpected friends and lessons.
Fantasy Short Story Prompts:
A character meets a dragon who is surprisingly fond of coffee shops.
Science Fiction Prompts:
A main character's latest project opens a portal to a world never seen before.
I'm Stuck with Writer's Block. What Should I Do?
Stop writing? Never! Try these:
Read Short Stories: Sometimes, reading stories from your favorite genres brings back the flow.
Create New Characters: Craft a character's life story, maybe an only child who discovers they have a twin, or a best friend who unveils a family fortune.
How Can I Build a Character in My Story?
Think of your character like an everyday person:
Life and Background: Where are they from? What's their family like?
Character Traits: How does the character talk, sense the world, and handle money?
Goals and Conflict: What does the character want? What stands in their way?
Any Additional Tips for Writing A Short Story?
Sure, here's a creative twist:
Surprise Prompt: Have a friend send you a prompt daily.
Character Challenge: Give all the characters in your story unique traits.
Natural Inspiration: Write outside, let the world be your prompt!
Now, grab your pen, and may your heart racing with excitement lead you to worlds only you can create! Feel free to share your stories with friends and ignite the writer within. Happy writing!
