Let’s face it – writers get stuck. Some get stuck a lot. Others not so much. Still, it happens, and when it does, we deal with the situation in our own ways. I dare say, though, that writing prompts are one of the best tools to get unstuck.
Today, how about some horror writing prompts? After all, the spooky season is right around the corner (a quick visit to Walmart attests to that).
One thing I guarantee: they will bring out your dark side.
Whether you are a horror writer or you just want to flex your creative juices, these horror writing prompts ought to send chills down your spine – which may or may not be a good thing.
Horror writing prompts for 2022
1. The ice cream truck
2. Hollywood screams
Pick 5 of your favorite actors and cast them as characters in a horror film.
For each write the following:
- Their backstory. Where do they come from? What do they do for work or study? Are they rich or poor?
- What is their reaction to the situation they find themselves in? Do they get angry and fearful or do they remain calm?
- Their death or near-death scene. How do they die? If they escape, how do they do that?
3. Inside a bag
4. The bird
Write a story about a creepy bird. Start your story with “It is perched on a branch, not far from my window, watching, staring with an unfathomable black eye.”
5. Bitten
6. The nightmare
You used to have this recurring nightmare that would wake you up screaming in the middle of the night. You haven’t had it for several years, but one night, you wake up screaming again. A few minutes later, you realize it isn’t just a nightmare. You are living the nightmare.
What is that nightmare? What happens, and how do you get back to reality?
7. The gargoyles
8. The fake monster
9. An audience
You’re alone in the house, and you want to relax. Playing the piano has always done wonders, so you play your favorite piece. When you finish, you hear a slow clap…but no one’s there when you turn around.
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10. The infection
11. The elevator
You get into your building’s elevator and press 33 as you do every day after work. This time, however, more buttons suddenly keep appearing and the 40-floor building keeps getting higher and higher. The elevator won’t stop. What happens next?
12. The willing victim
13. Water into blood
You suddenly start seeing water as blood – or at least something that looks like blood. No one else sees it, but you’re not crazy. You ARE seeing blood, and there’s a reason for it. Tell your story.
14. The doll
15. The grandfather clock
The grandfather clock has been in your family for generations and has never stopped working. On October 31, at the stroke of midnight, it suddenly starts running backward.
16. Twins
17. The fountain of youth
The woman had been searching for the fountain of youth for as long as she can remember. She finally found it – in the most mundane form possible. Yet she didn’t expect the terrors that came with it. No one could have foreseen how something so harmless could have such horrific aspects.
18. The phone call
19. The hobo clown
You come to with a raging hangover. As you slowly open your eyes, you realize you’re beside a dumpster in a dim alley with a hobo clown’s face right in front of you.
20. Your nightmare
21. Not costumes
You go to work and everyone is in a scary costume. You forgot it was Halloween costume day. Except that a closer look tells you that those are not costumes. People have become their costumes.
22. Stranger in your own home
You wake up and go downstairs for your morning coffee. You are surprised by a bunch of strangers sitting around the breakfast table. They are surprised by you. Apparently, you are the stranger walking around in their home. What happened?
23. Route 66
You visit a museum along the iconic Route 66. You have the time of your life, but when it is time to go, you can’t get out of town. The road keeps taking you back to the museum. What are you going to do?
24. Missing household items
25. The prodigal dog
Your dog goes missing. Three months later, she comes home — to everyone’s delight. But there is something not quite right about her. She’s different. Her aura feels…demonic.
26. A special audience
You are a talented amateur bassoon player, and you hone your craft every day after dinner. You live alone and enjoy your wind-down routine. One night, right before you play the last note, you hear a slow clap behind you. When you turn around to look…
27. A walk in the woods
The young boy takes a walk in the woods every Saturday morning. There is no place where he feels more alive, more secure than the woods behind their house. This time, however, he runs across the body of a boy who looks exactly like him.
28. White eyes
29. The scalpel
You take the bus home as you do every day after work. This time, however, instead of getting home safely, you awake in a makeshift hospital bed with no memory whatsoever — except getting on the bus. Then you see the shining scalpel on a table to your left, just out of your reach.
30. The house
You just moved to a new town. It’s straight out of a postcard, but you immediately hear rumors about your new house…every family that has lived in that house has died mysteriously.
That’s it for now. Keep your eyes peeled for more in the future.
Horror writers, do you have your own tried and tested horror writing prompts? Can you come up with new ones that will awaken the deepest, darkest parts of our minds? Care to share them with us?
If you’re looking for romance: 15 Creative Writing Prompts for Romance Novels
If you need more work (who doesn’t?): Websites That Pay You to Write
Sources for some of the prompts: 1, 2, 3
I have good writer of horror story
I’d love to submit a piece! Are there any guidelines and where or who do I submit the story too?
Hi, I would like to submit a piece too. How?
I also would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your helpful articles.
I am new in the writing profession and I have been reading a lot of your articles because I find them very useful.
Hi Erlie,
These are writing prompts to help our readers. You can submit pitches for guest contributions here: https://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/contact-us/.
I have a prompt for you: You find a photo of yourself sleeping. The problem is you live alone
Hi I am a young kid that likes to write but I just had writer’s block and need to think of some ideas like I said I am young and not the best writer
Write about something that interests you, take inspiration from shows, movies or books to help you
Hey, I’m an aspiring writer who has had the desire of writing something terrifying but horror isn’t my forte, romance is, can you help me? What do you suggest? I really would love to create my own creepy stories, but can’t
A hitman who was assigned to someone to kill them starts to feel remorse after their days of research/stalking, and is conflicted on what to do. While, the person is pursuit, is faintly aware of the hitman following them and is incredibly paranoid and worried.
maybe try mixing what your familiar with into the horror book a girl finds out her lover is a mass murderer or maybe she’s kidnapped and ends up falling for the man and ends up trying to save him when the guy is being chased down by his enemy
Thanks For Sharing informative article,Keep It Up
Good article!! Thank you so much. This was super helpful! 🙂
Used to write hoffifying articles on my college days! Thanks for reminding me of those days!
Are these supposed to be Ideas? I have a school project and I can’t think 🤔 of my story I am stressed someone help me plzzzzzzzzzzz!!!!!,