creative writing fantasy writing prompts

150 Best Fantasy Writing Prompts to Spark Your Creativity

Fantasy has always been my gateway to the impossible, a realm where my creativity knows no bounds.

From my earliest scribbles to the novels I’ve published, the lure of fantastical worlds has been a constant companion.

With that in mind, let’s go through 150 fantasy writing prompts. I invite you to step into the unknown, to challenge your imagination, and to craft stories that resonate with the magic and wonder of what lies beyond our reality.

Epic Quests

Table of Contents

• The Last Ember of Hope: In a world where darkness has swallowed the lands, your protagonist discovers the last ember of hope, capable of reviving the ancient light. What quest must they embark on to use it?
• The Broken Crown: A royal heir finds the pieces of a legendary crown that promises ultimate power. Each piece is guarded by a mythical beast. How do they go about reclaiming their kingdom?
• The Forbidden Manuscript: A map hidden within an ancient, forbidden manuscript reveals the path to a city of gold. But what perils guard the way?
• The Elemental Swords: Four swords imbued with elemental powers are scattered across the realms. Who seeks them, and why?
• The Mirror of Futures: A mirror that shows possible futures has been shattered into seven pieces. Can your characters prevent the darkest of futures from becoming reality?
• The Last Dragon Egg: Your protagonist finds the last dragon egg. What forces of darkness covet it, and for what purpose?
• The Library of Lost Voices: A library containing the knowledge of civilizations long gone beckons. But entering is a pact with eternity. Who dares to enter, and what do they seek?
• The Weaver’s Loom: A loom that can weave fate itself has been discovered. Who controls it, and to what end?
• The Celestial Tournament: A tournament where the prize is a wish granted by the gods themselves. Who are the contenders?
• The Gatekeeper’s Riddle: A gate that leads to paradise itself, but only those who can solve the Gatekeeper’s riddle may enter. What is the riddle, and who wishes to solve it?

Magical Realms

• Whispering Woods: In a forest where trees communicate and guard ancient secrets, a lost traveler hears their whispers. What do they learn?
• The City Beneath the Waves: A city submerged beneath the ocean, hidden from the modern world, is discovered by a daring marine biologist. What mysteries lie within?
• The Mountain That Eats Memories: A mountain rumored to consume the memories of those who climb it. Who ventures there, and what are they hoping to forget?
• The Crystal Caverns: Vast caverns filled with crystals that can store thoughts and dreams. A thief seeks the crystal containing the secret to eternal life.
• The Valley of Eternal Autumn: A hidden valley where it’s always autumn, and the inhabitants never age. A newcomer stumbles upon it by chance.
• The Sky Cities: Cities that float in the sky, accessible only by those who can tame the winds. What brings a ground-dweller to their lofty domains?
• The Frozen Garden: A garden where every plant is encased in ice, preserving its beauty forever. What is its keeper’s sorrow?
• The Library of Echoes: A library where every book contains the life story of a person, still alive or long dead. A young scholar finds their own story among the shelves.
• The Night Market: A market that appears only at night, selling wares that can’t be found in the light of day. Who runs it, and what is the price of its goods?
• The Bridge of Mist: A bridge that connects the world of the living with the world of the dead. A grieving person seeks to cross it.

Dark Fantasy

• The Feast of Shadows: A kingdom where once a year, the dead return to feast with the living. What happens when one guest refuses to leave?
• The Cursed Knight: A knight cursed to live in the shadows, unseen by the world. What quest could lift their curse?
• The Ashen Plague: A plague that turns its victims to ash, spreading across the land. Who discovers its origin, and can they stop it?
• The Pit of Despair: A pit that appears in the center of a city, from which horrifying creatures emerge. What ancient evil has been awakened?
• The Blood Moon Cult: A cult that believes the blood moon grants them unspeakable powers. What ceremony are they planning?
• The Witch’s Forest: A forest ruled by a powerful witch, feared by all. A band of rebels seeks to challenge her reign.
• The Demon’s Pact: A desperate soul makes a pact with a demon, trading their humanity for power. What is the price of such a deal?
• The Haunted Armor: Armor that possesses those who wear it, making them invincible in battle but at a great cost. Who dares to don it?
• The Necromancer’s Tower: A tower that appears overnight, home to a necromancer who seeks to conquer the dead and the living. Who can stop them?
• The Shadows’ Whisper: A town where shadows whisper secrets to those who walk at night. What truth is too dangerous to be known?

Myth & Legend Retellings

• The Sword in the Stone: A young peasant discovers a sword lodged in a stone, said to be the key to uniting the kingdom. Who is worthy to wield it?
• The Phoenix Reborn: A phoenix, thought to be extinct, is reborn from its ashes. What role does it play in the fate of the world?
• The Labyrinth of the Minotaur: A labyrinth that traps those who enter, guarded by a monstrous minotaur. Who dares to navigate its twists and turns?
• The Sirens’ Song: A sailor hears the haunting song of sirens, drawing them toward treacherous waters. What do they seek beyond the waves?
• The Curse of Medusa: A curse that turns those who gaze upon Medusa to stone. Who seeks to break it, and at what cost?
• The Quest for Excalibur: A quest to find King Arthur’s legendary sword, said to grant its wielder unrivaled power. Who is worthy of such a weapon?
• The Tale of Prometheus: The story of Prometheus, who stole fire from the gods to give to humanity. What consequences follow his act of rebellion?
• The Call of the Valkyries: The Valkyries descend from the heavens to claim the souls of fallen warriors. What do they see in the heart of a hero?
• The Trickster’s Gamble: A trickster god challenges mortals to a game with high stakes. What do they stand to win or lose?
• The Song of Orpheus: Orpheus descends into the underworld to retrieve his beloved Eurydice. Can he resist the temptation to look back?

Fairy Tales Reimagined

• The Tower of Rapunzel: A tower hidden deep in the forest, where a princess with hair of gold is held captive. Who seeks to rescue her?
• The Three Wishes: A genie grants three wishes to whoever releases them from their lamp. What are the unintended consequences of each wish?
• The Pied Piper’s Promise: The Pied Piper returns to a town that once betrayed him, seeking retribution. What price will they pay for their betrayal?
• The Mirror of Snow White: A mirror that tells the truth, no matter how painful. What does the fairest of them all see when she gazes into it?
• The Goose That Laid the Golden Egg: A farmer discovers a goose that lays golden eggs. What greed consumes those who covet its treasures?
• The Frog Prince’s Curse: A prince cursed to live as a frog until he receives true love’s kiss. Who is brave enough to see past his appearance?
• The Magic Beans: A farmer trades his cow for magic beans that grow into a beanstalk reaching the clouds. What awaits at the top?
• The Seven Dwarfs’ Secret: Seven dwarfs protect a mine filled with precious gems. What do they fear more than thieves?
• The Sleeping Kingdom: A kingdom cursed to sleep for a hundred years. Who will awaken them from their slumber?
• The Red Riding Hood’s Revenge: Little Red Riding Hood returns to the forest, armed with knowledge and vengeance. Who is the true wolf in this tale?

Dystopian & Utopian Societies

• The Last City on Earth: In a world ravaged by environmental catastrophe, the last remaining city struggles to survive. What hope remains for humanity?
• The Perfect Society: A utopian society where every need is met, but at what cost? What flaws lie beneath the surface of perfection?
• The Rebellion’s Revolt: A rebellion rises against a tyrannical government that promises safety in exchange for freedom. What sacrifices must be made for true liberation?
• The Lost Colony: A colony on a distant planet loses contact with Earth and must fend for themselves. What secrets do they uncover about their new home?
• The Class Divide: A society divided between the privileged elite and the oppressed masses. What sparks the flames of revolution?
• The Cult of Technology: A society where technology reigns supreme, blurring the lines between humanity and machines. What happens when the machines rebel?
• The Garden of Eden: A secluded paradise where nature thrives in harmony with humanity. What dangers lurk beyond its borders?
• The Experiment: A social experiment gone awry, where citizens are pawns in a game of power and control. Who will defy the rules and break free?
• The New World Order: A world where a single entity rules over all, enforcing peace through absolute control. What resistance movements emerge in the shadows?
• The Hope of Tomorrow: A glimmer of hope shines through the darkness, promising a better future for those who dare to fight for it.

Supernatural Encounters

• The Haunted Mansion: A mansion rumored to be haunted by the ghosts of its past inhabitants. What secrets do its walls hold?
• The Ghost Ship: A ship lost at sea reappears, crewed by the restless spirits of those who perished aboard. What drove them to return?
• The Curse of the Werewolf: A curse that transforms its bearer into a savage beast under the light of the full moon. Who seeks to break the curse, and at what cost?
• The Vampire’s Masquerade: A masquerade ball attended by vampires, where mortals are unwitting guests. What dark secrets are concealed behind their elegant facades?
• The Witching Hour: A town where magic is real, and witches practice their craft in secret. What happens when their existence is threatened by outsiders?
• The Guardian Spirit: A spirit bound to protect a sacred place from harm. What lengths will it go to defend its charge?
• The Faerie Court: A hidden realm where the fae hold court, striking bargains with mortals. What do they demand in return for their favors?
• The Demon’s Bargain: A demon offers to grant a mortal’s deepest desire in exchange for their soul. What temptation proves too great to resist?
• The Cursed Forest: A forest cursed by an ancient evil, where the trees whisper dark secrets to those who dare to listen.
• The Seance: A seance to communicate with the spirits of the dead goes horribly wrong, unleashing forces beyond human comprehension.

Time Travel & Alternate Realities

• The Time Traveler’s Dilemma: A time traveler discovers they can change the course of history, but at what cost? What paradoxes do they face?
• The Parallel Universe: A rift opens, allowing travelers to visit alternate realities. What dangers lurk in worlds where history took a different path?
• The Time Loop: A person finds themselves trapped in a time loop, reliving the same day over and over again. What choices can break the cycle?
• The Butterfly Effect: A small change in the past leads to catastrophic consequences in the present. How do characters navigate the repercussions of their actions?
• The Future Imperfect: Travelers journey to the future to prevent a cataclysmic event. What sacrifices must they make to alter destiny?
• The Time Heist: A group of thieves uses time travel to steal priceless artifacts from the past. What consequences follow their actions?
• The Time Keeper: A guardian of the time stream seeks to maintain the balance of past, present, and future. What threats endanger the fabric of reality?
• The Timeless War: A war that spans centuries, fought across different eras by factions with access to time travel technology. What drives them to fight across time?
• The Alternate History: A world where pivotal moments in history unfolded differently, leading to a vastly altered present. What events shaped this alternate reality?
• The Time Capsule: A message from the future warns of impending doom. What steps can be taken to avert disaster?

Space Fantasy & Cosmic Adventures

• The Starship Voyager: A starship embarks on a journey to explore the far reaches of the galaxy. What wonders and dangers await its crew?
• The Alien Diplomat: A diplomat negotiates peace between warring alien factions. What hidden agendas threaten to derail their efforts?
• The Cosmic Entity: A being of immense power awakens from eons of slumber, reshaping galaxies with its whims. What challenges arise when mortals encounter such a force?
• The Galactic Empire: A vast empire spans the cosmos, ruled by an immortal emperor. What rebellions stir in the outer reaches of the galaxy?
• The Space Pirates: Pirates roam the stars, plundering ships and colonies with impunity. What drives them to seek riches among the stars?
• The Interstellar Colony: Colonists establish a settlement on a distant planet, facing unknown dangers and alien wildlife. What trials test their resilience?
• The Cosmic Phenomenon: An anomaly in space defies all scientific explanation, drawing explorers and scholars to unlock its secrets.
• The Celestial Guardians: Guardians protect the universe from cosmic threats, wielding ancient artifacts of unimaginable power. What challenges do they face in their quest to maintain order?
• The Intergalactic Tournament: A tournament brings warriors from across the galaxy to compete for honor and glory. What conflicts arise when rival factions clash?
• The Stellar Explorer: An explorer ventures into the depths of space, seeking knowledge and adventure among the stars.

High Fantasy & Political Intrigue

• The Throne of Eldoria: A kingdom divided by warring factions vies for control of the throne. What alliances are forged and betrayals committed in the pursuit of power?
• The Council of Magi: A council of mages governs the realm, but whispers of corruption threaten to tear it apart. What secrets do they hide behind their spells?
• The Exiled Prince: A prince returns from exile to reclaim his birthright, facing enemies both within and without. What price is he willing to pay for redemption?
• The War of the Five Kingdoms: Five kingdoms clash in a struggle for dominance, each with its own ambitions and alliances. What strategies are employed in the game of thrones?
• The Court of Shadows: A secret society pulls the strings of power from the shadows, manipulating kings and queens like pawns on a chessboard. Who dares to challenge their influence?
• The Prophecy’s Prodigy: A prophecy foretells the coming of a chosen one destined to change the course of history. How do they fulfill their destiny while navigating the machinations of fate?
• The Mage Rebellion: Mages revolt against their oppressive rulers, seeking freedom from persecution. What sacrifices are made in the name of liberation?
• The Sword of Kings: A legendary sword said to choose the rightful ruler of the realm. Who is worthy to wield its power, and what tests must they pass?
• The Noble Betrayal: A noble family plots against the crown, driven by ambition and revenge. What consequences follow their treachery?
• The Court Jester’s Jest: A court jester uses humor and wit to navigate the treacherous waters of political intrigue. What secrets lie behind their laughter?

Urban Fantasy

• The Hidden Enclave: A hidden enclave of mythical creatures exists within the heart of a modern city. What happens when their existence is threatened by urban development?
• The Detective’s Dilemma: A detective investigates supernatural crimes in a city where magic and technology collide. What mysteries lie beyond the veil of reality?
• The Vampire Masquerade: Vampires, werewolves, and witches live among humans, hiding their true nature in plain sight. What conflicts arise when their worlds collide?
• The Fey Market: A market where faeries and other mythical beings barter with mortals for rare and magical goods. What bargains are struck in the shadows of the city?
• The Witch’s Brew: A witch brews potions and spells in a modern-day apothecary, catering to the supernatural clientele of the city.
• The Werewolf Pack: A pack of werewolves navigates the complexities of pack dynamics and territorial disputes in an urban jungle.
• The Secret Society: A secret society of mages meets in the hidden corners of the city, wielding magic to influence the course of events.
• The Ghostly Guardian: A ghost haunts the streets of the city, seeking justice for past wrongs. What unfinished business binds them to the mortal realm?
• The Urban Shaman: A shaman walks the line between the spirit world and the modern world, protecting the city from supernatural threats.
• The Demon’s Deal: A demon offers power and riches to those willing to make a deal. What price do they demand in return?

Fantasy Creatures & Beasts

• The Dragon’s Hoard: A dragon guards a hoard of treasure, daring adventurers to brave its lair. What drives them to seek the dragon’s riches?
• The Griffin Riders: Warriors ride griffins into battle, their bond forged through years of training and trust. What challenges do they face in defending their kingdom?
• The Unicorn’s Blessing: A unicorn grants its blessing to those pure of heart, but what trials must they overcome to prove themselves worthy?
• The Phoenix’s Rebirth: A phoenix rises from the ashes, its flames a symbol of renewal and hope. What prophecy foretells its return?
• The Leviathan’s Wake: A massive sea creature awakens from its slumber, threatening to capsize ships and swallow sailors whole. What legends surround its origins?
• The Centaur Tribes: Centaur tribes roam the plains, their loyalty divided among ancient rivalries and alliances. What sparks the flames of war among them?
• The Mermaid’s Song: Mermaids lure sailors to their doom with their enchanting songs. What secrets lie beneath the waves, waiting to be discovered?
• The Basilisk’s Gaze: A basilisk turns its victims to stone with a single glance. Who seeks to slay the beast and claim its treasure?
• The Kraken’s Fury: A kraken rises from the depths, its tentacles threatening to drag ships to the ocean floor. What sacrifices are made to appease its wrath?
• The Chimera’s Challenge: A chimera stalks the countryside, its monstrous form a terror to all who encounter it. What hero dares to face the beast?

Enchanted Objects & Curses

• The Mirror of Truth: A mirror that reflects the truth of whoever gazes into it, revealing their deepest desires and darkest secrets.
• The Sword of Destiny: A sword forged by ancient gods, said to grant its wielder the power to shape the future. Who is worthy to wield it, and for what purpose?
• The Ring of Invisibility: A ring that grants its wearer the power of invisibility, but at what cost? What temptations lead to its misuse?
• The Amulet of Protection: An amulet that wards off evil and grants its wearer protection from harm. What dangers test its power?
• The Wand of Wishes: A wand that grants three wishes to whoever holds it. What unintended consequences follow each wish?
• The Curse of Silence: A curse that prevents its victim from speaking, condemning them to a life of solitude and isolation.
• The Book of Shadows: A book filled with spells and incantations, its pages whispering secrets to those who dare to read them.
• The Fountain of Youth: A fountain that grants eternal youth to those who drink from its waters. What lengths will people go to obtain its elusive power?
• The Locket of Memories: A locket that holds memories of a lost love, offering solace to those who grieve.
• The Key to the Unknown: A key that unlocks doors to other realms and dimensions, but what dangers lurk beyond each threshold?

Cross-Genre Fusion

• Steampunk Sorcery: A world where magic and steam-powered technology coexist, blending the elegance of the Victorian era with the wonders of the arcane.
• Cybernetic Samurai: Samurai warriors enhanced with cybernetic implants, blending ancient martial arts with futuristic technology.
• Gothic Noir: A noir detective navigates the shadowy streets of a gothic city, where vampires and werewolves lurk in the darkness.
• Mythic Space Opera: Epic space battles unfold against the backdrop of ancient myths and legends, as heroes clash with cosmic deities.
• Fairy Tale Steampunk: Classic fairy tales reimagined in a steampunk world, where clockwork automatons and airships roam the skies.
• Post-Apocalyptic Fantasy: Magic emerges in a world ravaged by nuclear war, offering both hope and peril to the survivors.
• Historical Fantasy: Historical events infused with elements of fantasy, where legendary figures and mythical creatures shape the course of history.
• Contemporary Mythology: Modern-day gods and goddesses walk among mortals, their powers hidden in plain sight in the modern world.
• Cosmic Horror Fantasy: Eldritch horrors from beyond the stars threaten to consume the universe, driving mortals to the brink of madness.
• Magical Realism: Everyday life infused with subtle magic and wonder, blurring the line between the mundane and the fantastical.

Ancient Civilizations & Lost Worlds

• Atlantis Rediscovered: Explorers discover the lost city of Atlantis hidden beneath the waves, its secrets waiting to be uncovered.
• The Tomb of the Pharaoh: Archaeologists unearth the tomb of an ancient pharaoh, awakening a curse that threatens to unleash chaos upon the world.
• The Forgotten Temple: A hidden temple deep in the jungle holds the key to unlocking ancient mysteries and forgotten powers.
• The Ruins of El Dorado: Explorers search for the legendary city of gold, facing treacherous jungles and rival treasure hunters along the way.
• The Lost Library of Alexandria: Scholars seek to uncover the lost knowledge of the Library of Alexandria, rumored to contain secrets beyond imagination.
• The Labyrinth of Crete: Adventurers brave the labyrinth of Crete, facing deadly traps and mythical beasts in their quest for glory.
• The Sword of Excalibur: King Arthur’s legendary sword, Excalibur, lies hidden in a forgotten tomb, waiting for a new hero to claim it.
• The Oracle’s Prophecy: An oracle foretells the rise and fall of empires, guiding heroes and kings through the twists and turns of fate.
• The City of Shangri-La: A mythical city hidden in the Himalayas, where immortals dwell in eternal peace and harmony.
• The Gates of Babylon: The gates of Babylon open once more, revealing a gateway to other worlds and dimensions beyond imagination.

If you’d like a video version of 30 of my fantasy writing prompts, I made this recording for you:

Final Thoughts: Best Fantasy Writing Prompts

Explore the limitless possibilities of fantasy writing with these enchanting prompts, igniting your imagination and guiding you through realms of wonder and darkness.

For more inspiration, check out the other blog posts below.

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105 Fantasy Writing Prompts To Stoke Your Creativity

You’ve just finished reading a fantasy novel, and while you hate that there’s no more to read, you’re so in love with the story and its characters, you marvel at the author’s power and imagination.

What must it be like to make readers feel the way you’re feeling right now?

With the generous supply of fantasy writing prompts in this post, maybe this is the year to find out.

Crafting Great Fantasy Story Ideas

• Fantasy Story Ideas

Dark Fantasy Writing Prompts

Urban fantasy writing prompts, epic fantasy writing prompts, ya fantasy writing prompts, medieval story prompts, bonus: list of fantasy plot generators.

Fantasy writing gives you the opportunity to create new worlds and realities.

Your cast of characters can be regular humans, mythical beings, magical beings , or a group that includes all three.

The most compelling stories in this genre make use of the hero’s journey in some form. Think of Tolkien’s Frodo and the Ring.

Or the teenage protagonist in Rick Riordan’s Greek mythology-inspired Percy Jackson series.

Pick up any well-written and well-loved fantasy novel, and chances are, the author adapted the hero’s journey to their main character’s fears, desires, and personal tests.

Related: 16 Best Self-Publishing Companies For Your Writing Business

Learn from your favorite authors how to do the same, but in a way that fits your unique voice.

• Create something that will inspire as well as entertain your readers.
• Draw them into a world where anything is possible.
• Help readers believe their own power to change things when they’ve finished reading your book.

For these outcomes, you need a story idea that grabs hold of you and makes you feel the way you want your reader to feel.

Maybe you’ve dabbled in writing fantasy, but you’re having a hard time thinking up a story idea that really excites you. Here are some ways to develop your story:

• Twist, combine, or modernize classic fantasy tropes – Put a fresh spin on familiar elements like magic schools, dark lords, mystical objects, etc.
• Borrow from mythology and folklore – Mine creatures and stories from ancient myths for inspiration.
• Build unique magic systems – Develop interesting rules, costs, and limits around magical abilities.
• Create detailed worlds – Flesh out geography, history, cultures, religions, and more to set your stage.
• Explore “what if” scenarios – How would society react if dragons appeared today or portals opened to demon realms?
• Start with interesting characters – Let their motivations, backstories, and character arcs drive the plot.
• Establish engaging quests – center your ideas around meaningful, challenging journeys and goals.
• Outline primal conflicts – Pit opposing forces like good vs. evil, nature vs. industry, spirit vs technology, etc.

You want a story that will stand out in a way that still meets genre expectations.

You’re not looking to change the fantasy genre, after all. But you do want to create something that will have millions waiting impatiently for your next book.

What Are Some Common Fantasy Tropes?

Fantasy stories often utilize familiar elements and conventions referred to as tropes. These tropes help set the tone and audience expectations for the fantasy world. When used skillfully, tropes can provide satisfying dramatic arcs and scenarios. Overused without innovation, however, they can make a story feel derivative. Some of the most common fantasy tropes include:

• The hero’s journey – An ordinary individual receives a call to adventure and gains powers through trials leading to a confrontation with evil. 
• Dark lord – A malevolent being intent on domination, destruction, and power. Often incredibly powerful with minions and armies.
• Magic mentor – A wizened magician or sage who guides the hero in developing their talents. 
• Magical assistant – A helpful creature or object with magical powers that aid the hero.
• Rising evil – An ancient being or army that was banished long ago now returns to threaten the world.
• Hidden heir – A prophecy about a chosen one who will inherit special powers and a kingdom. 
• Mystical worlds – Portals connect the main world to magical realms filled with unusual creatures.
• Magical objects – Items imbued with magical powers like wands, swords, and amulets.
• Chosen one – A child of destiny who is the subject of a prophecy to save the world. 
• Corrupt rulers – Kings, lords, and rulers who abuse their power over their lands and people.
• Secret royal bloodline – A character who discovers they have royal ancestors and is the rightful heir. 
• Mystical races – Elves, dwarves, fairies, and other humanoid races with magical talents. 
• Mythical beasts – Dragons, griffins, unicorns, and other creatures of myth and legend.
• Spell books – Tomes of arcane knowledge unlocking magical powers.
• Magic schools – Academies and mentors training characters in magical arts.
• Dark forests – Sinister woodlands filled with monsters and mystical forces.

105 Fantasy Writing Prompts

Writing a fantasy novel (or short story) is much easier when you have a story in mind that makes you itch to sit down and write.

The more you work on it and flesh out your characters, the more excited you become — and the less likely you are to ditch your work in progress when the going gets tough.

And it will. Quests are like that. Here’s to finishing yours, anyway.

Dark fantasy incorporates darker and sometimes frightening themes in its storytelling. It often combines fantasy with horror , drawing the reader in by invoking their fears. Use the following fantasy plot prompts to explore darker story ideas in the fantasy genre.

1. Top Secret Opportunity. You find an ad describing the job you’ve always wanted, and the employer agrees to interview you in the basement of the abandoned library.

2. The Rune Pendant. Your best friend at college is a highly intuitive rune-caster, and people seek her out. One querent pays her with a magical pendant that changes both your lives.

3. The Dream Key. You receive notice that an estranged aunt has passed and left you the key to her hiding place, which she says she’ll reveal to you in a dream.

4. A Single Touch. You always wondered why your grandfather had so much influence over others. You were immune. And now, you’re his successor.

5. Queen of the Garden. Your mother is obsessed with her garden. When sickness keeps her in bed, you step up to help and find it well tended by elves.

6. The Goddess Ring. Your partner breaks up with you, and while sitting dejected on the beach, you find a ring. When you slip it on your finger, it transforms your appearance.

7. One Minute of Memory. You trade one minute of memory every day for the power to transform any room in your home to match any image. Your family begins to fall apart.

8. Lost Time. You were told you wandered off as a child for a few minutes but later discover you were gone far longer than that. One person knows why, and he’s in prison. 

9. The Crystal Finder. A new crystal shop opens near your home, and you’re one of its first customers. You even accept their offer of a part-time job, working in the back for the “finder.”

10. The Rift in the Bookshop. Your favorite reading room at a local bookshop is off-limits, ever since a mysterious disappearance and strange energy readings. Your favorite books also go missing.

11. Will Work for a Cure. You’re scrambling to find a lucrative work-from-home job before you start kidney dialysis, and you reply to an ad that sounds too good to be true. One of the benefits is a cure.

12. The Memory Glass. You’re looking through the property of a departed aunt and find a mirror. You uncover it and see an altered reflection that revives a memory. Suddenly your dreams make sense.

13. Becoming Justice. Your country has been taken over by a narcissistic tyrant, and a powerful relative has offered you a role in his downfall — but not as a human. 

14. The Manor’s Keeper. Your new job has an unexpected and life-changing benefit: fully-paid lodgings in an opulent manor. Everything you want appears as if by magic. After a week, your body starts changing.

15. The Spy Diary . You accidentally leave your diary behind at a coffee shop, and after searching in vain, you find it on your doorstep with a note: “You’re exactly the person I need.”

16. The Lost Heiress. A new friend invites you over for a cup of the most delicious tea you’ve ever had. You wake up in a palatial room, attended by someone who says, “After centuries of searching, we finally found you.”

17. The Recluse and the Ghost. You get a job as a ghostwriter for a well-known author who has some unusual expectations — one of which involves you living in absolute isolation as well as luxury. Given your background and personality, it seems doable.

Urban fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy that takes place in an urban setting. While it doesn’t have to be dark, it often uses themes that correspond to the darker side of city life. The following fantasy story plot ideas can help you get into your characters’ heads. 

18. Alien Town. The lights go out in your neighborhood one night, and you wake up to see yourself and all your neighbors changed. And your new abilities terrify you.

19. Stopping Time. You’re a barista with a gift that could cost you your life, but could also help the people of your community to fight back against those in control.

20. The Ghost Clause. You move into your dream apartment and soon discover you’re not the only sentient being living there. Ghosts don’t pay rent, but this one leaves gifts.

21. Hiding in New York. The coworker who irritates you the most just asked you for a big favor. He’s not who or what he appears to be. And he knows what you are, too.

22. Prodigal Witch. You’ve moved back to the city of your birth, and your family is nervous around you after a surprise revelation from your parents. Your new boss knows all about it.

23. Night and Day Trading. A sudden illness in the family costs you your job, and you accept a job offer from a relative who knows about your hidden abilities and wants to use them.

24. Herbal Vision. You wander into a tea shop, in search of the perfect evening tea, and the owner recommends a blend that enables you to see mythical creatures in disguise.

25. Doppelganger. You walk into an antique shop looking for a gift for your antique-loving bestie and are immediately noticed by the shopkeeper’s mother, who leads you to the back for a peek at something.

26. Cottage Industry.  You move into a tiny but well-kept old house closer to downtown and you start receiving mysterious gifts on your doorstep. One note reads, “Check the attic.”

27. The Graveyard Connection. The trees surrounding your new home remind you of something — or rather someone. One touch of your hand on a trunk, and you’re face to face with him.

28. Witch for Hire. You’ve lost your job, food is running out, and bills are coming due. You make the call you never thought you’d make. Seconds later, she arrives with your assignment.

29. Tarot to the Stars. You’ve become a well-respected tarot reader, and even people in high places are taking notice. One of them makes you a tempting offer. Your next querent urges you to decline it and leave.

30. Poisonous Planet. Your doctor gives you terrible news, and you talk to your only remaining relative, who tells you of a stargate that can return you to a planet with an atmosphere better suited to your physiology.

Epic fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy set in an invented or parallel world. It’s similar to high fantasy but the stakes are higher. A greater evil threatens the world of the protagonist, and the hero’s journey is often a critical part of the story. 

31. Spirit Animal. During your stay in a residential treatment center for your eating disorder, you go to an animal shelter and meet a black cat, “Loki,” who is friendly only to you.

32. A Dog’s World. You adopt an older dog who had been abused by his former human, and in repayment, he leads you to a door — to his real home. Soon, it’ll be yours, too.

33. Forest of Souls. You go on a camping trip with your best friend’s family and wake up alone, surrounded by whispering trees. Everything beyond those trees is gone.

34. In a Different Life. After attending your grandmother’s funeral, you learn from a new acquaintance (with a young but familiar face) that the remains you buried were synthetic.

35. The Refuge Theater. You feed homeless visitors at your cafe, and one of them pays you with a movie ticket for an old theater — which is more than it seems.

36. Tree Spirit. On the eve of your birthday, you change into something that terrifies you. Your parents explain, telling you of a prophecy that involves you and every tree on earth.

37. Borrowed Past. You’re on your first airplane flight when one of the engines fails, and for some reason, you know exactly what to do to ensure the plane lands safely. Only one other person on the plane knows why.

38. Secret Guardian. An ominous letter arrives — along with one offering magical guardianship for you and the shop you inherited. More worlds than one are at stake.

39. Hybrid Alley. You run to the store and witness a crime involving what looks like a human with the face and ears of a cat. You intervene, saving her life, and she later invites you to join her on her mission.

40. Tarot Vision. A new shop owner comes to town and you win an open house drawing for a free tarot reading. You’re skeptical at first but that reading resets your life — and sets you on a dangerous path.

YA fantasy is fantasy written for a young adult audience (12 to 18 years of age). Themes are often on the lighter side, but not always. The main difference is the age of the protagonist. With powerful storytelling, YA fantasy appeals to readers of all ages.

41. Breaking Time. Only when you meet someone you’re not supposed to fall in love with — and who knows how to time-travel — do you begin to really test your limits.

42. The Bucket List. You take your favorite uncle’s advice and create a bucket list. One by one, you cross each action item off, sometimes with hilarious results. The list changes you.

43. Political Unrest. Your home town is changing (not for the better) since the election of its new mayor, who sees you lead a protest at his office door. Something growls outside your bedroom window that night.

44. One Percent Problems. For your 16th birthday, you get the genetic upgrade of your choice, and your experimental choice gives you superpowers — and get the attention of some unusual new friends.

45. Change in the Air. Your family is chosen for a year-long stay at an outpost on a new Earth-like planet, but the people in charge don’t tell you how the atmosphere there will change you.

46. Nervous Memory. You’re at a mirror, and a sudden thought sends a chill into the back of your head. That’s when you notice your eyes change color — and you remember things, either from your life or someone else’s.

47. The Family Business.   Before dying, your mother tells you something about yourself she’d hoped you’d never need to know. Now only one person can help you prepare for the coming threat.

48. Designer Baby. You find out while researching for a term paper that you’re the result of a lab experiment. Now, you’re determined to find your creator, who has gone missing.

49. Visions in Bloom . Someone leaves flowers in your locker, and when they stay fresh for over a month, you get curious — especially when one sniff of the central bloom triggers a vision.

50. Accidental Superhero. A stupid dare leads you to a back of the local store wearing a superhero costume, which oddly enough helps prevent a crime and brands you with a new identity.

51. Alien Tech. You get your laptop fixed by a reclusive genius in town, and suddenly you’re able to connect to an “internet” that goes far beyond that of Earth’s.

Medieval fantasy is fantasy based in the medieval era. Fantasy writing ideas include elements not typical of recorded history — including mythical beings, magic, etc. The following prompts act as medieval fantasy story starters. 

52 . A Royal Pain. Thanks to your quick thinking during a crisis at the village market, you’ve been appointed as the bodyguard for the princess. The job proves more difficult than any mission you’ve ever had — but also more rewarding.

53. Twins at Odds. You and your twin princess find each other on opposite sides of the law. You don’t always get along, but when the king tells you to help set a trap for her — leading to her execution — you’re determined to find a way to help her instead.

54. Secret Fire. Being the love child of a favorite palace servant and a dragon shifter, your gifts don’t reveal themselves until the evening of a long-awaited ball, when a man twice your age tries to get you into a compromising situation. 

55. Ring of the Scribe. Your half-sibling has abilities that make you invisible around them. On your birthday, a favorite aunt gives you a ring that’s tied to a destiny kept secret from you. You put it on and strange things happen. But you can’t take it off. 

56. Motion Potion. As a witch in a magic-hating kingdom, being crippled is more than inconvenient. Your aunt teaches you a potion that lets you not only walk but dance better than anyone in the kingdom — just in time for the ball.

57. Forbidden Friendship. You’re a young royal in disguise who befriends a villager with a scarred face. The next day, he’s arrested for stealing something you gave to him. Saving his life will mean risking everything.

58. Vendetta Undercover.   Your ailing father has a serious grievance against the heir apparent and even named you accordingly. You set out to investigate on his behalf, securing a position in the castle. What you learn changes everything. 

59. Hidden World. You find a tree near home with a natural ladder leading up the giant trunk. You climb and find a hidden world of magical beings. You’re discovered and your survival depends on agreeing to a dangerous mission. 

60. Pickpocket Apprentice. You’re a poor villager who’s adept at pickpocketing, evading capture until a wizard catches you in the act and offers to teach you. The catch? His daughter suspects you and resents magic for what it cost her. 

61. Cave of Discoveries. You investigate a cave, finding a furnished area in the center open to the sky. A veiled woman reveals the secret community taking refuge there — and why the kingdom wants them dead. His “missing” daughter is among them. 

Mystical Worlds Fantasy Writing Prompts

62. Portal in the Attic: You discover a portal to a magical realm in your attic that only you can enter. What mysteries and creatures await you there?

63. Treehouse Village: You awake one morning to find a large village of treehouses that appeared overnight in your backyard forest. Who are these new neighbors?

64. The Cloud King: You befriend a lonely young cloud elemental who longs to return to his kingdom in the sky. Will you help him get back home?

65. Reverse Merfolk: You meet a mermaid who wishes to become human after saving you from drowning. To thank her, you must find a reversal spell.  

66. Sprite Messenger: An anxious sprite appears, pleading for help delivering an urgent message to the fairy queen before her realm closes in two days. 

67. The Diamond Cave: You discover a glittering cave full of massive uncut diamonds and the angry rock creatures that protect them. 

68. Wishing Well Wishes: A wishing well in the old forest grants your wish to be a fantasy creature. What will you be, and what adventures await you?

69. Gnome Homes: Your backyard is suddenly full of colorful tiny homes. You befriend the family of garden gnomes who moved in overnight.

70. The Ghost Ship: An abandoned pirate ship full of undead sailors and treasure appears on the beach after a storm. Do you dare to explore its secrets?

71. Pet Dragon Egg: You rescue a hot, abandoned egg from a roadside stand and are shocked when it hatches an infant dragon. 

72. Fairy Ring: You wake up tiny after sleeping in a fairy ring. The fairy queen tells you the only way back to normal size is to help them first.

73. The Willow’s Whispers : A wise old willow tree in your yard starts whispering to you. It tells you it holds ancient secrets but will only share them with a true friend.

74. Frozen in Crystal: You awaken to find yourself frozen inside a giant crystal deep underground, with a mysterious robed figure studying you.

75. The Forgotten Garden: You discover a forgotten garden where all the plants and trees are made of crystals that heal sickness. But its guardian wants something in return for the healing fruits you picked.

76. Door in the Forest: You discover a strange door standing alone in the middle of the forest. What fantastical sights await behind its entrance? 

77. Living Paintings: The figures in paintings around your strange new house blink at you and whisper pleas for help when you walk past them. 

78. Cloud City: You discover an empty, floating city of clouds and magical energy. As you explore, ghostly figures start to appear. 

79. Music of the Night: A haunting melody leads you to a glowing cave where a faerie kingdom appears only at night. But if you stay past sunrise, you can never leave.

80. The Shadow Market: You chance upon a magical black market in a dark alley where magical creatures and wizards trade mystical objects and secrets.

Hero’s Journey Fantasy Writing Prompts 

81. The Cursed Crown: You awaken telepathic powers after finding a lost king’s crown. The kingdom’s evil regent wants it back to maintain power. 

82. Atlantis Trident: You discover you can control water with a magical trident while swimming near ancient underwater ruins. Atlantis needs a new guardian to keep it safe from those who destroyed it.

83. Dragon Egg Rescue: You must journey to a fiery mountain to rescue the last dragon egg from a cult before they can harness the baby’s powers for evil. The parent dragons help you escape.

84. Seer Scroll: A dying mage gives you a scroll imbuing you with her visionary powers before a secret order of assassins catches up to you both. They want the power for themselves.

85. The Lost Child: A dying forest creature charges you to journey to the evil witch’s gingerbread cottage and rescue a stolen child with the power to heal the cursed land.

86. Grail of Immortality: Your quest for the secret to eternal life leads you to search for pieces of the long-lost Holy Grail before invading conquerors find it instead. 

87. Awakened Automatons: You must enlist the aid of self-aware ancient clockwork robots to fight off an alien invasion threatening humanity with extinction.

88. Curse of the Lycan: Bitten by a werewolf, you leave your village to learn from elder lycans how to use your new powers before the next full moon.

89. The Ghost Pirates’ Gold: You assemble a ragtag crew of mercenaries, mages, and fighters to journey to a dead undead pirate king’s island and plunder his vast cursed treasure before invaders find it first.     

90. Portal Jumpers: Born with the latent power to create teleportation portals, a shadowy interdimensional guild forces you to enhance your powers in their protection or face bounty hunters.

91. Celestial Unicorn: You bond with a wounded magical unicorn whose horn has celestial powers. Keeping it safe from poachers helps you unlock your dormant magical gifts on your journey back home together.     

92. Destiny’s Knights: You reluctantly take command of a disgraced order of peacekeeper knights during a civil war after raiders slay the elder knights, including your master. 

93. Sanctum of the Sages: Invasion looms unless you sneak into the tower sanctum of the secret circle of sages to convince them to finally use their arcane powers to defend your people.  

94. Feywild Troubles: A misguided wish trapped your village in the chaotic Feywild. The playful fey ruler gives you one year to undertake three impossible challenges in exchange for your freedom.

95. Kitchen Hero: A magical talking cookbook drags you from your mundane life into a fantastical cooking contest between kingdoms. Winning may prevent war, but losing seals your world’s fate.  

96. Destiny Calling: Nightmares plague you about a coming “foretold darkness” until a mysterious group of mages arrives at your monastery, claiming you are the fated hero and they are your prophesied protectors.

97. Ghost Tiger: The spirit of the last hunter from your isolated village visits to bestow you with the power to transform into a mystical ghost tiger. Master your new gifts before poachers find and slay the sacred beasts.  

98. Genie Wish Gone Wrong: A genie whose lamp you find grants your wish for adventure by transporting you to a strange new land and promptly vanishes. Can you find the trickster genie and convince him to send you home?

99. Giant Kingdom: Your archaeologist mother is trapped under a collapsed ruin in a strange, once-hidden kingdom of giants with technology powered by magical crystals. Their uneasy king agrees to help you rescue her if you secretly help them tap into the crystals’ power once more.

100. The Lost Temple: You are tasked with finding a lost ancient temple holding an artifact prophesied to bring your war-torn land ten years of peace if its mysterious powers can be awakened once more. You reluctantly recruit a talented but headstrong thief to help guide you past traps and tricks guarding it.

101. Tree of Life: You discover your family lineage, which gives you access to the powerful artifacts of your wood elf ancestors. Your search leads you to the mythical Divine Tree holding ancient secrets that an invading undead army also seeks.

102. Rebel Rising: You organize and train a peasant rebellion to siege your dictator king’s castle after raiders slay your family, and he refuses aid. A spy among your rebels offers guidance from within using secret passages she discovered as a servant.  

103. The Lost Caverns: Your mentor, the last dragon rider, entrusts his final dragon egg to you before dying in your arms. Raise the hatchling in the lost dragon caverns hidden below your village that only you know how to access while training to ride against an impending demon invasion.

104. Angel’s Gift: An angel appears in a dream to give you a magical feather as a sign you are chosen to end the blood curse plaguing your family’s magical lineage. You set off on your 18th birthday, meeting allies and enemies drawn to your awakened guardian angel.  

105. Legacy of the Lich: Your beloved mentor, one of the last good-hearted mages, reveals on her deathbed that she has slowly been transforming into a lich. She passes on her staff along with her dire quest to find a cure before her new dark powers consume her.

If you have specific plot elements in mind, or if you just want more fantasy plot ideas thrown at you to get your creative mind humming, try one of the following links. Even the random ones can get you thinking of plot twists you hadn’t considered before.

• PlotGenerator.org.uk — Generates plot ideas based on your inputs.
• Reedsy Plot Generator — Generates random plot ideas with zero input.
• Fantasy Plot Generator — Generates random plot ideas for a male or female protagonist.
• Seventh Sanctum story generators — Provides links to multiple plot generators.
• Plot Generator at Rangen.com — Asks for a genre and detail level and generates random plot ideas.

More Related Articles:

66 Horror Writing Prompts That Are Freaky As Hell

41 Of The Best Romance Writing Prompts

5 Of The Best Writing Prompts Books

25 Of The Best Fanfiction Writing Prompts

To New Beginnings

Now that you’ve had some time to look through these fantasy prompts, which ones stand out in your memory? Even if you change some of the details, I hope you find something that becomes the beginning of a story you’ll love writing.

Picture yourself within a year sharing the news about your finished fiction novel.

You’ll share snippets of it on social media, and fantasy lovers the world over will want to know when your book will go live.

And don’t think you’re in this alone, either. We’re here to help you every step of the way.

May you write the beginning of something that will linger in your readers’ imaginations for years to come.

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ThinkWritten

42 Fantasy Writing Prompts & Plot Ideas

These 42 fantasy writing prompts and plot ideas are waiting for you to write them into your next big novel, screenplay, short story.

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Need a good story idea quick? These fantasy writing prompts and plot ideas can be used as inspiration to write your next epic tale. You can use these story ideas and prompts for all types of creative works, whether it be a novel, screen play or other fictional short stories.

The Magic World of Writing Fantastical, Epic Tales

I’ve always loved writing fantasy, simply because in fantasy you can leave all your worries about the real world behind. Fantasy writing is your chance to explore your imagination and discover all sorts of magical and mysterious things.

One of the biggest perks of fantasy writing is unlike realistic fiction, there needs to be no logical sequence for how things happen. You can finally use magic as a reasonable and acceptable explanation for everything.

Like all of our  writing prompts , these fantasy fiction prompts and plot ideas are varied on a number of different subjects that can fit into the fantasy genre. Many of these fiction writing prompts can be used for sub-genres of fantasy, such as paranormal romance, urban fantasy, magic realism and more.

Not a fan of the subject? Prefer to stick to medieval times? Any of these epic story ideas can be adapted easily simply by substituting the suggested character with your mythological creature of choice.

Don’t forget, if you like some aspects of a prompt you can always change it for your own needs and what interests you most. The possibilities are endless, and I know there is a book idea here waiting for you to write and publish it .

Even if you don’t have any intentions of writing a fantasy novel, there are many benefits of practicing creative writing with these fantasy writing prompts. Set a timer for 5 minutes and let your imagination run wild with one of these prompts – you never know where it may take you.

Fantasy Writing Prompts for Creative Fiction, Novels, Short Stories, Screenplays and More

These writing prompts are open to your own interpretation and imagination. Many are purposely open-ended to give you a lot of flexibility for the way they are used. Ready? Let the writing begin!

1. The Snow Dragon: You are in the mountain forest when you come face to face with the snow dragon: an adorable, furry, and surprisingly tiny creature who breathes fire.

2. Street Signs: After a young man is killed as an innocent bystander in the cross-fires of gang violence, you notice a mysterious symbol appear on the side of a building.

3. Lilies of the Valley: As the new housekeeper for a prominent wealthy family, one of your tasks is to water all of the house plants. You are watering the lilies in the entry way when one of the plants starts talking to warn you of a dark family secret.

4. The Coin Dealer:  You are at a Coin Show when you meet a coin dealer who specializes in collecting mythical currencies.

5. The Fairies Next Door: Being new in town, you decided to introduce yourself to the neighbors. When you knock on the door, you are greeted by a small army of fairies who take you captive.

6. Water Vs. Dirt: There are two major groups of people who live on the planet. The water people, who use water for everything, and the dirt people, who use dirt for everything. Can they learn to co-exist peacefully, or will their entire world become mud?

7. Potions, Inc. : After centuries of a small occult family developing successful potions for love, fortune, and health, the oldest son decides to launch the family business of magic into the corporate world.

8. If Walls Could Talk:  After moving to a new town, the Smith Family thinks they found the perfect home. That is, until the walls begin to talk and they learn the house is cursed.

9. Empire of Misfits:  A secret society of misfits decides to take over the world, learning to use their greatest flaws as super powers to succeed.

10. The Invisible Castle: A group of friends decide to climb a tower near their home when they discover it leads to an invisible castle in the air that no one else knows exists.

11. Ghost  Pirates:  Legends claim a notorious pirate buried his treasure along the rocky shores of the cove. James and his girlfriend are at the beach one night when the ghost ship sails in.

12. Photographic Travel: You stare at the man in the photo and wonder what his life might have been like. Next thing you know, you and the person in the photograph have swapped places.

13. The Benevolent Beast: On the edge of town is a giant and fierce looking beast but is actually quite friendly. When strange occurrences start happening in the town, the beast is a prime suspect. Can you protect the beast and clear its name?

14. Gilbert The Giant Goldfish: Life in the koi pond only appears to be peaceful…

15. The Magic Key: After failing in his career and marriage, Will discovers a magic key that unlocks doors that open into a new world.

16. Island in the Clouds:  The Great War left the people of her kingdom stranded on a tethered island in the clouds…

17. Dancing Fever : As the townspeople are overcome with a feverish desire to dance, it’s up to you to find the cause and cure.

18. Paranormal Detective : He has a knack for solving mysteries with the help of a ghost who gives him clues.

19. Darkness Made Daily: The factory you work at is frequently rated “Top 10 Places to Work” across the country. Workers have wonderful health benefits, generous salaries, and plenty of paid vacation time. When your co-worker at the assembly line mysteriously vanishes, it’s up to you to uncover the evil truth of what the factory is manufacturing and put a stop to it.

20. The Arctic Mermaid:  Living deep in the icy waters of the Northern Atlantic Ocean are the arctic mermaids, who rescue a child being held captive on a ship.

21. Ring of Storms : “It’s just one those silly mood rings…” or is it?

22. No Words: Mike makes a promise to a mysterious vagrant on the street that leaves his wife speechless.

23. The Psychic Hospital : After being involuntarily committed into the psych ward for being delusional, a patient must somehow convince the doctors all she experiences is real. She is not crazy – and neither are the other patients.

24. Forever Beautiful : You are a cosmetologist at a local gossip-filled beauty salon when you accidentally stumble across a map that outlines the path to the legendary fountain of youth.

25.  Out of Paradise: You just got kicked out of heaven. Now what?

26. The Crossing Guards:  The crossing guards at a busy intersection of the city do more than just help the living humans walk across the street.

27. Second Chance at Life: At a hospital on one stormy night, the souls of two patients agree to swap places when it becomes obvious neither one will ever be able to return to the life they once knew.

28. The Cowboy and The Witch : He is an outlaw from the wild, wild west and she’s a witch from the Old Country.

29. The False Light Gods: A group of evil entities attempt to trick people into believing they are the good guys by disguising themselves as saints, angels, gods, and goddesses.

30. Utopian Anarchist Society : Tired of the kingdom’s latest . It’s time to do something about it and so you begin your plans for creating the perfect utopian anarchist society.

31. Spirit Radio: After a few too many songs come on the radio at random coincidence, you realize you have a gift to communicate with spirits through music.

32.  Flying Cupcakes: A little girl is visiting a busy bakery with her nanny when she  enters the enchanted kitchen and is whisked away into the land of cupcakes.

33. Cosmic Address: You discover there’s a reason the address of your childhood home is 382 Orion Way.

34. The Perfect People: On the outside, they appear to be perfect. Of course, things are never as they actually appear…

35. Soul Fragments: When something tragic happens, it’s often said we lose a piece of ourselves. Your task is to travel through different lifetimes to find these lost parts of self to be whole again.

36. The VooDoo Queen:  The fraudulent fortune teller makes her living by conning the local superstitious government officials. When they start to become suspicious, she decides to make a run for it through the bayou where she encounters the ghost of the real VooDoo Queen.

37. Ghost Train : Every night, you are awakened by the sound of a train, but the railroad closed down years ago.

38. Trash to Treasure: While exploring an abandoned trash dump location off the coast, a young boy discovers an ancient sword.

39. Planet of Sorrows : It is a place of suffering, brokenness and despair.

40. Reading the Heavens : Each person has a designated star in the sky above. When the stars align, they will be lifted to go home to their true planet.

41. Miners Cove: After a mining village is swallowed by a sinkhole, all traces on the surface disappear, but the civilization continues on in secret for centuries. When modern day explorers come to claim and develop the land, the underground colony must do what they can to protect themselves and their secret world.

42. The Mirror, Cup, and Candle : Legend has it, if you stand in front of a mirror holding a cup and a candle you can jump between dimensions.

Need Some Help Writing? You May Also Like:

• How to Write a Novel in 4 Steps
• How to Outline a Novel
• How to Write Over 2,500+ Words a Day
• List Character Development Questions

Looking for even more writing prompts? Don’t forget to check these out:

• 365 Creative Writing Prompts ,
• 101 Poetry Prompts
• 300 Kids Writing Prompts

I hope these fantasy writing prompts helped spark your imagination. Whether you are looking for a different and unique style of creative writing exercises or are looking for the elusive perfect novel idea, this list will hopefully get your creativity flowing. And don’t forget – National Novel Writing Month is November!

Do you have any other ideas for fantasy writing prompts not included here? Share your fantasy story writing prompts or plot ideas in the comments section below – you never know who you might inspire to get writing.

And as always if you do write anything using these prompts, we would love to know about it! Tell us where we can find your stories in the comments below, link to this list from your own blog, or use the hashtag #thinkwritten on social media.

Chelle Stein wrote her first embarrassingly bad novel at the age of 14 and hasn't stopped writing since. As the founder of ThinkWritten, she enjoys encouraging writers and creatives of all types.

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80 comments.

I plan on writing about one of these ideas for one week every night, thank you for sharing these ideas!

You’re welcome! I’m glad it inspires you to write!

Keep writing! My life depends on it!

I’m not really what you would call a writer. But I plan on becoming an author one day, and I believe these ideas will help me along that path. Thank you so much.

That`s actually a good idea.

Thank you for these awesome ideas. They make me feel so enthusiastic.

Glad you enjoyed them!

Wow thanks now I can begin my own series and add more to the story

I have an Idea for a prompt… A girl named Summer is born on The Summer Solstice of 2003, the date that a hero from a prophecy is supposed to be born. When Summer turns 16, Mordred, King Arthur’s supposedly dead nephew, rises, and attempts to take over the world, Summer must team up with Iclyn, A girl born on the winter solstice, with winter powers (summer had summery powers) Lily, a girl with powers born on the spring equinox, and Autumn, a girl with powers born on the fall equinox. The girls train to be knights to defeat the mighty Mordred, before the alignment of the planets, when he will become too powerful to fight.

This one is really good for a fantasy novel

That’s sounds like an awesome story and i would love to read it when its finished😊

I would love to use this prompt of yours! It’s really inspiring.

Wow that’s so awesome ur idea is so cool, keep on writing ur gonna be really great author at this rate👏🔥💯👍

I really like that story and if you just finished it and published it,i think that story would go viral!

That sound awesome!

This idea is amazing! You’re a great author and this will make a super cool fantasy book! (like you said, Shreya)

These Ideas are gold! I plan to use a few of them! You are awesome.

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed them!

“Cliche” medieval settings? Ouch. 😔

I’ve been using these for my weekly 200’s at school and they’re really awesome!

I have written 7 books so far but, and yes, it’s a big BUT, none have managed to catch a big publishers eyes or be the word out there for it to reach the masses. Looking for a big publisher for my 8th manuscript. Shaida mehrban

Hi Shaida, have you considered working with an agent? Sometimes they can help you find a publisher and may be able to give you some feedback on what might make your books marketable. Hope that helps and hopefully you will be able to publish one of your books soon!

I think that some of these are very good, such as the patients that are thought of as crazy story, and the candle in front of the mirror, but others are a bit childish.

I’m glad you were able to find a couple that intrigued you!

“You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children.” – Madeleine L’Engle

HI, I have a question? Can I get permission to use the ideas in my stories!

Hi Monica, you are welcome to use any of these ideas in your stories. If you publish anything online, we would love it if you could cite our website as inspiration and share this page so it can help inspire others! Thank you for asking and let us know if you write something, we’d love to check it out. 🙂

Hi just to double-check!!! I can have permission to use your story ideas If I later decide to publish books! And become an Author and get pay, IF I could get permission!!!

Ten years after being abandoned to the care of her alcoholic father, the eldest of a pair of identical twin sisters tries to track down her estranged mom. The problem is: the only person who has a clue to her whereabouts is a young boy she hasn’t seen in nearly twelve years. But, he’s not really a boy. He’s a centuries-old fairy who appears mostly human. Except for the fifteen feet raven wings sprouting from his back. What really happened on the night the girl’s mother disappeared, and why does it feel like she isn’t being told the entire truth about her.

Thanks for sharing your plot idea H.R.!

Novel ideas to rejuvenate our creativity

I have so many story ideas and I did wrote some out but threw them away (oops) I did write a story but lost interest in it cause so much stuff was happening and now, I’m trying to focus on 1 but don’t know where to begin or how to write it :< I really like fantasy and your ideas are cool ^^

Glad they inspired you!

Story Idea you meet Jesus Christ in person no one believes that’s him !! what would you do?

I need help writing a plot for my stories about mermaids and fairy in a school setting???/

Story Idea a beautiful women uses her charm and beauty to get out of poverty and uses people to get what she wants because she thinks she deserves the best, in the end everything comes back to her. Story Idea Two sisters exasperated a birth one rich one poor meet again and switched lives one goes to replaces the others life and lives a lavish lifestyles the bad sister while the other takes care of the other family the good sister!

this is a nice idea and i would really like to see what u have got.

I was thinking about an idea for a novel and I was wondering if you had any thoughts on it.

Eren Hawkings wakes up from a coma after a dangerous car crash. During his Coma, he has strange visions that show to him the future of the world. And Eren’s entire life layed out before his eyes. During these he finds out that he will find true love. However, his love will die at a very early age to a rare virus. He will not pass through college, becoming a victim of a school shooting. His friends leave him to survive on his own in the world. How will he handle these visions, and will he be able to stop these visions from becoming reality.

(I’m only 13 and still learning the steps to becoming an author)

There’s really no such thing as a bad idea for a book – it’s all in how the story is told and how it develops. I was 14 when I wrote my first novel – it’s simultaneously the worst and best thing I’ve ever written. The worst because I was a beginner and its badly written. The plot is a disaster, the characters are cliche, the grammar is painful.

And yet, it’s still one of the best things I’ve ever written. Writing something badly is what helped me become a good writer. {And writing things badly is actually the entire premise of the book I’m currently publishing!}

The best way to learn is by doing. Start writing! You can always edit/revise/write a different story later.

Story idea: There are four ancient tribes in a feud. Little do they know, a darker force than them all intends to get rid of them. Four girls from each tribe, intend to find out why the feud started in the first for the sake of saving there tribes.

It is somewhat like Hunger Games

Good ideas, guys!!!!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

Great Ideas, thinkwritten! They’re really inspiring!

i am doing a fantasy book for kids for school and i need ideas

Hi I just want to repost my idea. A girl wakes up and she has no idea where she is. Soon, she realizes that she is trapped in a laboratory/maze inhabited by a crazy alchemist or somewhat. The reason she’s captured is because in her past life, she had a terrible secret that he needs to know. But she refuses to tell him the secret after she communicates with the ghost of her past life. eventually, she escapes and defeats him and saves her past life and her present one. Except, she is unaware that since she doesn’t tell him the secret, there is a terrible cost about to destroy her utterly.

I kinda changed it.

I love that idea. Thank you!!

I’m planning a DnD campaign with a general, really loose idea, using these to fill in some gaps and make it more interesting.

Heyo! This was very useful, thanks yours so much 🙂

I’ve been trying to write a really good story for a while but I’m stuck. Can you give me any ideas including the following? Thanks in advance. (I will be checking my email every day for your reply 🙂

Fantasy Elements Jars Mystical Creatures

Hi. I have an ideas but I get writer’s block. I can’t write properly. My idea to develop is the Ghost Train or The Snow Dragon 🙂 can you please help me write a story and help get rid of my writer’s block 🙂

thanks a lot i’m behind lots of essays and you saved my life thanks a lot I will come here if i need any more ideas. – See you later

Story Idea: Nora Redford has grown up without a mother. When one magical Christmas Eve she is given a wish, she asks to see her mother. Nora is given a map to the Island of The Dead and she goes on an adventure through different worlds to find her mother.

This would be a good book

if anyone publish stories on these concepts will u remove that particular concept???

Possibly, maybe. Depends if you follow my original open source licencing model.

Oooh I really like it!Is it okay if I use it?

Every time i go over to our grandmas my cousins and i all play these games based on fantasy and Mid evil. Lately we have run out of ideas, so i am for sure book marking this also my parents tell me to write so this will make it a lot more fun!

Here’s my idea:

In Northern England, a gang of teenage girls discover a magical jewel that belonged to the Romans. The Romans used that Jewel to put a curse on their newly conquered land, a curse that would turn all teenage girls there into boys. When the Romans left Britain, the curse was revoked and they destroyed any evidence: expect for that one jewel. They buried it and made a sign reading “Non tangere” (do not touch) next to it. the teenage girls ,manged to get it and horribly pronounced the magic Latin spell next to it, awaking the curse.

This has been really helpful. Thank you so much.

Thank you very much!!! My english teacher assigned me a homework of writing a novel in a month.. These plot ideas are so cool and helpful!! By the way, isn’t the ‘soul fragment ” plot similar to Voldemort’s in the Harry Potter series? And, I have another problem..I just can’t think of a really rare female character name. Could someone please suggest me some names?

Perhaps, Rivera, Eve, or even Coral?

Well, one more thing that people could write at the end of the story is that it was all a dream!

Hi, there! I want to write a story of the Nutcracker but I am stuck tight! I’ve written several attempts on the story but every time, I bump into a wall. Something’s just not coming out the right way. Need some help here!

Hi Mary Ann, did you create an outline? That can help you identify a roadmap for the story so that when you hit a wall you know which direction to go. Keep trying, I know you can do it!

Very well-written! Thanks for sharing this great article Chelle.. Writing Fantasy Fiction doesn’t have to be daunting and difficult. Thank you!

Dren kind of works; I’ve used it for a character who’s transfluid, but I don’t know what you’re swinging for :P.

There’s also Feven, which looks weird but it’s pronouned like Raven but with an F, so it’s pronouned Fay-ven, or Fae-ven. The spelling is also changeable, since it’s your character! Do what fits.

Farah, which I just think is pretty. :>

Nimah, which I also find pretty. (I find a lot of things pretty XD)

Leyra, which is also changeable, Laerah, Leira, do what you feel is right.

Kioni, (pronounced key-o’-knee; funny spelling huh?) I had a friend named Kioni, and I just thought the name was pretty unique.

Soriah; (pronounced as it is, so-rye-ah, and the spelling can be changed!) my older sister was going to be named this, but at the last minute she was called Christa instead. (Christa is just a variation of Krista, as my name, Jayda, is a variation of Jada.)

If you’re feeling fancy, you can even use my middle name, Zaharra. Or Zara if you want it shorter.

That’s all from me! Hope I could help!

So uhh this is my short story that I made for the first one. The Snow Dragon. It’s kind of long so if you don’t want to read it then it’s fine but I saw other people doing this so I thought why not? I trek up the mountain, putting one foot in front of the other, determined to finally get to the top this time, while the sky falls in tiny crystal balls around me. Soon the snow starts plummeting down in sheets, blocking my path and covering everything, the trees, the grass, and the ground in a sheet of white. Trying to escape the gloomy weather, I look for a cave. I remember finding it the last time I was exploring the woods and mountains near my house. The truth is, I live in the middle of nowhere and it gets quite lonely when you are the only person your age around. It’s just my mother and father, who are faithful farmers. My father goes to the village nearest here every other week in our only carriage to trade food for clothes and other necessities. If I remember correctly, the cave is somewhere around the clearing a few meters ahead. After searching more thoroughly, I find it carved inside the edge of a hill covered by the shade of trees and bushes. The gentle snow seems to have turned into a storm in the last few minutes. I step inside and take off my scarf that was covering my face and finally breathe freely. I rub my hands together to create some heat. After I have made myself comfortable, I finally take in my surroundings. The cave is dark and covered with jagged rocks everywhere I look. Every nook and cranny is sharp and the shadows dance in the changing weather, taunting me to come to them. There are a few insects scuttling around on the floors. I see a spider web on the rocks. A flea is stuck on it. I walk in deeper, ready to investigate the strange cave further. As I trudge along, I see something that makes me freeze. Something big and alive. There is some sort of creature in the furthest corners of the cave. And it seems to be sleeping. As I walk closer to it, I make sure to keep my footsteps light. Now I am standing right on top of it. I think that it is an animal. It’s skin is white, it’s head is tucked into itself and it is curled into a ball. Definitely sleeping. The creature’s white tail is flipping back and forth as if it is having a pleasant dream. No, wait, that’s not skin. That’s scales. The entire animal is covered in scales. Strange. I have never seen something like this before. Only small animals like snakes and reptiles have scales. I reach my hand down to touch it, now only centimeters away. The tip of my finger brushes what I’m assuming is the head. The tiny creature whips it’s head around and a growl arouses from its throat. I stumble back in surprise and fall back on my behind. The animal stands up on all fours and shakes its head, letting out a small blast of fire in the process. You see, the white scaled creature isn’t an animal at all. It’s a dragon.

These are the best writing prompts I have ever seen! I love this site and your writing! Thank You! #Never Stop Writing!

Hi, I am having trouble with writing a book. I have writer’s block and I need ideas for a story about people from a different planet looking for people with the same birthstone to tell their secrets but I have no clue where to start. I been wanting to write stories but I am 14 and have no clue where to start.

I meant people from a different planet going to Earth in a disguise looking for a person that believes in fantasy place. Then the people from the different planets will reveal their true identity only to them if they tell any one the people from the different planet fade in color and turn gray. I need names for these creatures and a way how to do it. I don’t know if I want to do a comic book, chapter book,or picture book.

I need help writing this story. I would be happy if help me with a story starter for this story.

I need title ideas. Something fantasy-wise. Thanks -Book Worm

I´m writing something with the four basic elements and how these four teenagers have powers. So far, I have Flare, Aura, Wade, and Sten. Flare has fire, Wade has water, Aura has air, and Sten has earth abilities. They live in different realms. I would like to hear your ideas.(If you guys have any)

These are amazing ideas can i use one

Of course, that is why they are here!

They are great.

what a good idea i love the second one

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120 Fantasy Writing Prompts: High Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, Romance And More

Sometimes when we sit down to write a fantasy story, the creative gears can’t get going. We might try as hard as we can, but nothing works. In these desperate times, there’s one solution that many writers turn to, and that is using fantasy writing prompts.

Over the years, prompts have played a huge role in the lives of many fantasy writers. As someone who’s been writing fantasy for nearly 10 years, I’ve used prompts both written and visual to inspire lots of stories. I love them and appreciate their value.

So I put together this guide to share with you some of my favorite prompts for fantasy stories. I’ve broken them down by sub genre of fantasy , so you can find inspiration for your epic and heroic tales as well as your classic high fantasy ones too.

Keep scrolling for the lists of prompts. Next, we take a look at the basics behind them.

What Is A Fantasy Writing Prompt?

A fantasy writing prompt is snippet of a story, a theme or an idea that’s desiged to spark the beginning of a story.

In other words, it’s a tool used by writers to spark their creativity to life. Just like a hunter would use a piece of flink to spark their campfire to life.

Why Use Prompts To Write Fantasy?

Sometimes you have the desire to write, but it’s difficult to think of an idea to get you started. Other times we may just be tired from a long day at the 9 to 5 job.

When you’re feeling a little low on the creative energy front, a fantasy writing prompt can serve as the spark that ignites the flame.

Sometimes you don’t even need to write a full story with the prompt. It could be a scene or chapter, maybe even just a monologue. Or it could develop into a short story, novella or novel.

You can use them to find your flow, and once the words are pouring forth, you can move onto your other writing project.

Are There Any Issues With Using A Prompt?

Some people worry about things like plagiarism when it comes to using a writing prompt. Other writers feel like it’s cheating if they didn’t come up with the idea on their own.

For clarity’s sake, there’s no issue at all with using a prompt.

All stories come from a prompt of some kind. Authors talk all the time about reading a story and developing an idea from it. George RR Martin famously based Game of Thrones on the War of the Roses.

As for plagiarism, this is a very unlikely outcome, and the reason we know this is by looking at short story competitions. Anthologies, magazines and publishers regularly run competitions based around a theme . As someone who has judged competitions like this, it’s amazing how different the stories can be with one narrow prompt.

A List Of Fantasy Writing Prompts By Genre

Below, you can find lists of fantasy writing prompts broken down by different sub genres.

High Fantasy

High fantasy is a sub genre rich in adventure, fantasy creatures like dragons, and magic . Here are some prompts:

• In a world where magic is feared and outlawed, a young orphan discovers they possess mysterious powers.
• A legendary dragon rider, long thought to be extinct, emerges from hiding, seeking to unite the fractured kingdoms against a common enemy.
• Deep within a cursed forest lies a hidden artifact of immense power. A group of adventurers must band together to retrieve it.
• An ancient prophecy speaks of a chosen one who will bring balance to the realm. But what if the chosen one is not who everyone expects?
• As an ancient evil rises, a reluctant hero must delve into the forbidden arts of magic to save their world, risking everything in the process.
• In a realm torn apart by war, an unlikely alliance forms between humans and magical creatures. Together, they must confront the darkness threatening to consume them all.
• Gifted with the ability to manipulate time, a young witch must navigate a web of destiny to prevent a catastrophic event from tearing the world asunder.
• Legends speak of a city of gold hidden deep within the uncharted wilderness. As treasure hunters converge on the area, alliances will be forged and betrayals will unfold.
• Cursed by an enchantress, a prince must find true love before time runs out. But what if breaking the curse means sacrificing his own happiness?
• Entrusted with protecting a powerful artifact, a young mage must navigate a world of deception and intrigue, where allies may be enemies in disguise.
• Abandoned by the gods, the world teeters on the brink of destruction. A band of heroes must journey into the heart of darkness to confront the gods and restore balance.
• A treasure map leads a group of adventurers to the lair of a fearsome dragon. But as they draw closer to the treasure, they realize there’s more at stake than gold and jewels.
• In a world where music holds magical power, a young bard must use her talents to stop an ancient evil from plunging the realm into darkness.
• Trapped within a deadly labyrinth, a group of adventurers must rely on each other’s strengths and wits to survive and claim the treasure that lies at its heart.
• Banished from his kingdom, a young prince must prove himself worthy of the throne by undertaking a perilous quest that will test his courage and resolve.
• A young dreamwalker discovers a realm where dreams are reality. But when nightmares threaten to consume the dream realm, she must confront her deepest fears to save her sister and her world.
• Tasked with retrieving the lost sword of their king, a group of knights must journey into enemy territory, facing impossible odds and dark secrets along the way.
• Discovering a hidden school of magic, a young wizard must navigate the dangerous world of sorcery while unraveling the mysteries of his own past.
• With dragons hunted to near extinction, a young dragon rider must protect her companion from those who seek to exploit its power for their own gain.
• To rescue a lost soul from the underworld, a group of heroes must journey into the realm of the dead, confronting their own inner demons in the process.

Dark Fantasy

• In a world where darkness reigns, a young sorcerer discovers a forbidden spell that could bring about the end of days.
• A cursed blade, said to contain the soul of a vengeful spirit, falls into the hands of a reluctant hero who must wield its power to save their kingdom.
• Trapped in a city shrouded in eternal night, a group of survivors must navigate its twisted streets and deadly inhabitants to uncover the truth behind the darkness.
• A powerful necromancer raises an army of the dead to conquer the world, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.
• In a realm ruled by fear, a rebellion rises against the tyrannical sorcerer-king, sparking a brutal war where alliances are fleeting and betrayal is common.
• Haunted by visions of a dark future, a young seer must navigate a web of treachery and deceit to prevent the apocalypse.
• A deadly disease sweeps across the land, turning its victims into bloodthirsty monsters. As civilization crumbles, survivors must do whatever it takes to stay alive.
• A powerful artifact, said to hold the key to immortality, falls into the wrong hands, unleashing a wave of chaos and destruction upon the world.
• In a world where the dead refuse to stay buried, a group of grave robbers uncovers a sinister conspiracy that threatens to unleash hell on earth.
• Banished to a realm of eternal darkness, a fallen angel seeks revenge against those who betrayed him, unleashing a reign of terror upon the mortal world.
• A cursed forest, shrouded in shadow, holds the key to unlocking ancient magic long thought to be lost. But those who enter never return the same.
• A powerful demon escapes from its prison, wreaking havoc upon the world as it searches for the one who bound it centuries ago.
• In a city ruled by a cabal of dark sorcerers, a young thief discovers a hidden power within himself that could change the course of history.
• A group of adventurers delves into the depths of a long-forgotten tomb, unaware of the horrors that lie in wait for them.
• As darkness spreads across the land, a lone warrior sets out on a quest to find the source of the evil and destroy it before it’s too late.
• Haunted by a tragic past, a vampire hunter prowls the streets at night, seeking vengeance against the creatures that took everything from him.
• In a world where nightmares come to life, a young girl discovers she has the power to enter the dreams of others, but at what cost?
• A dark cult, dedicated to summoning an ancient god of chaos, sets its sights on a small village, threatening to unleash hell on earth.
• Trapped in a realm of eternal torment, a group of lost souls must band together to escape the clutches of the demon lord who rules over them.
• As the world descends into chaos, a lone hero must make a pact with a powerful demon to save the ones they love, risking their own soul in the process.

Fantasy Romance

• In a world where magic and romance intertwine, a forbidden love blossoms between a princess and a commoner, threatening to tear the kingdom apart.
• A powerful sorcerer and a fierce warrior are forced to work together to defeat a common enemy, but as they journey together, they discover a love that transcends boundaries.
• A young witch, cursed never to love again, meets a charming rogue who makes her question everything she thought she knew about love and magic.
• Trapped in an arranged marriage, a prince and princess must navigate court intrigue and dark magic to find true love in each other’s arms.
• In a world where humans and elves are sworn enemies, a forbidden love blooms between a human knight and an elven princess, threatening to ignite a war.
• A cursed prince seeks the help of a powerful enchantress to break the curse, but as they spend more time together, they discover a love that could save them both.
• A mysterious traveler arrives in a small village, capturing the heart of a lonely innkeeper who harbors a secret of her own.
• A pirate captain and a mermaid princess form an unlikely alliance to recover a lost treasure, but as they journey together, they discover a love that could change the fate of their worlds.
• Trapped in a tower by an evil sorcerer, a princess dreams of freedom until a brave knight comes to rescue her, and she discovers that true love knows no bounds.
• In a world where shape-shifters are hunted for their abilities, a young woman falls in love with a man who can transform into a fearsome dragon, risking everything to be with him.

Epic Fantasy

• In a world torn apart by war, a group of unlikely heroes must band together to defeat an ancient evil that threatens to consume the land.
• A legendary artifact, said to hold the power of the gods, resurfaces after centuries of being lost. Now, rival factions race to claim it and change the fate of the world.
• The chosen one, prophesied to save the world from destruction, is not the hero everyone expects. With the fate of the realm hanging in the balance, they must embrace their destiny or risk losing everything.
• An immortal sorcerer, driven mad by centuries of loneliness, seeks to unleash a dark power that will consume the world. Only a group of heroes can stop him, but first, they must confront their own inner demons.
• In a world where dragons are revered as gods, a young dragon rider must unite the warring dragon clans to defeat a common enemy that threatens them all.
• A forgotten prophecy speaks of a lost city hidden deep within the wilderness, said to hold the key to unlocking ultimate power. Now, a group of adventurers must brave treacherous lands to uncover its secrets.
• As an ancient darkness awakens, a young hero must journey to the ends of the earth to find the legendary weapon capable of defeating it. But first, they must overcome trials of courage, strength, and sacrifice.
• In a realm where magic is outlawed, a young mage discovers they are the key to unlocking a power that could change the fate of the world. Now, they must embark on a perilous journey to master their abilities before it’s too late.
• The world is on the brink of collapse, and only a long-forgotten alliance between humans, elves, and dwarves can save it. But first, old wounds must be healed, and ancient enemies must learn to trust each other once again.
• A powerful artifact, forged by the gods themselves, falls into the hands of a humble farmer. Now, they must journey across the land, facing enemies both old and new, to return it to its rightful place before darkness consumes the world.
• In a world where darkness reigns supreme, a group of mercenaries must navigate a treacherous landscape of betrayal and brutality to survive.
• A once noble knight, betrayed by his king and left for dead, seeks revenge against those who wronged him, no matter the cost.
• As a deadly plague sweeps across the land, a group of survivors must do whatever it takes to stay alive, even if it means sacrificing their humanity.
• Trapped in a city ruled by a tyrannical sorcerer, a young thief discovers a power within herself that could change the course of history.
• Banished to the edge of the known world, a group of outcasts must band together to survive against the horrors that lurk in the darkness.
• In a world where survival is the only law, a group of strangers must come together to fend off the monsters that lurk in the shadows, or risk becoming prey themselves.

Low Fantasy

• In a world where magic is a rare and dangerous art, a young street urchin discovers they possess forbidden powers and must learn to control them before they are discovered.
• A small village, nestled in the shadow of a dark forest, is plagued by strange occurrences and unexplained disappearances. A group of unlikely heroes must uncover the truth behind the mysterious happenings before it’s too late.
• In a city ruled by crime and corruption, a disgraced knight seeks redemption by becoming a reluctant protector of the downtrodden.
• As war ravages the land, a group of refugees must navigate treacherous terrain and hostile enemies to find sanctuary in a distant kingdom.
• A powerful artifact, long thought to be lost, resurfaces in the hands of a humble blacksmith . Now, they must protect it from falling into the wrong hands, no matter the cost.
• In a world where magic is feared and persecuted, a young healer must conceal her abilities while navigating the dangerous streets of a bustling city.
• A deadly plague sweeps across the land, turning its victims into mindless husks. A group of survivors must band together to find a cure before it’s too late.
• In a kingdom torn apart by civil war, a group of rebels seeks to overthrow the tyrannical king and restore peace to the realm.
• A mysterious stranger arrives in a small village, bringing with them tales of adventure and danger. But as they become embroiled in the town’s affairs, they realize that not everything is as it seems.
• In a world where monsters roam the wilderness, a group of monster hunters must track down a dangerous beast that threatens the safety of their village.

Fairy Tales

• In a kingdom cursed by eternal winter, a young girl sets out on a journey to find the mythical Ice Queen and put an end to the curse.
• Trapped in a tower by an evil sorceress, a princess dreams of freedom until a brave prince comes to rescue her, but not everything is as it seems.
• A humble peasant girl discovers she is the long-lost daughter of a powerful sorcerer and sets out on a quest to reclaim her birthright.
• In a world where magic is forbidden, a young witch must conceal her powers while navigating the dangerous streets of a bustling city.
• A group of fairy tale characters, banished from their own stories, must find a way to return home before they are lost in the real world forever.
• In a kingdom ruled by an evil queen, a young girl discovers she is the rightful heir to the throne and must reclaim her kingdom from the queen’s tyranny.
• A magical portal opens in the middle of a forest, leading a group of children into a world of adventure and danger, where they must rely on each other to find their way home.
• In a world where dragons and princesses are a dime a dozen, a group of unlikely heroes must embark on a quest to rescue a kidnapped prince and restore peace to the realm.

Urban Fantasy

• In a city where magic is real but hidden from plain sight, a young detective with a dark secret must solve a series of supernatural murders before they strike again.
• Trapped in a world of shadows and darkness, a group of unlikely heroes must navigate the dangerous streets of a bustling city to uncover the truth behind a string of mysterious disappearances.
• A powerful artifact, said to hold the key to unlocking ultimate power, falls into the hands of a young woman living in the heart of the city. Now, she must protect it from falling into the wrong hands, no matter the cost.
• In a world where humans and supernatural beings coexist, a young witch discovers she is the key to preventing an all-out war between the two factions.
• As darkness spreads across the city, a lone vigilante sets out on a quest to find the source of the evil and destroy it before it’s too late.
• A group of paranormal investigators must confront their own inner demons as they delve into the hidden world of ghosts, ghouls, and things that go bump in the night.
• A powerful vampire lord rises to power in the heart of the city, threatening to plunge it into eternal darkness. Only a group of unlikely allies can stop him, but first, they must confront their own fears and prejudices.
• In a city overrun by supernatural creatures, a young werewolf must navigate a world of danger and intrigue while uncovering the truth behind his own mysterious past.
• Trapped in a never-ending cycle of night, a group of survivors must band together to escape the clutches of the vampire queen who rules over them.
• A powerful sorcerer arrives in the city, seeking revenge against those who wronged him centuries ago. Now, he must confront his own inner demons while battling the forces of darkness that threaten to consume the city.

Heroic Fantasy

Young adult fantasy.

• In a world where magic is forbidden, a group of young rebels discovers they possess powerful abilities and must band together to overthrow the corrupt regime that seeks to suppress them.
• Trapped in a boarding school for young witches and wizards, a group of misfit students must navigate friendships, rivalries, and dark secrets while uncovering the truth behind a series of mysterious disappearances.
• As war looms on the horizon, a young prince must choose between duty and love when he falls for a commoner with a secret of her own.
• In a world divided between humans and mythical creatures, a young girl discovers she is the key to ending centuries of conflict and must embark on a dangerous journey to unite the warring factions.
• A powerful artifact, said to hold the key to unlocking ultimate power, falls into the hands of a group of young adventurers. Now, they must protect it from falling into the wrong hands, no matter the cost.
• Trapped in a realm of eternal night, a group of young heroes must navigate treacherous terrain and deadly monsters to find a way home before they are lost in the darkness forever.
• In a city ruled by crime and corruption, a group of young vigilantes takes justice into their own hands, fighting against the forces of evil that threaten to consume their home.
• As darkness spreads across the land, a lone hero sets out on a quest to find the source of the evil and destroy it before it’s too late, with only their loyal friends by their side.
• A group of young sorcerers-in-training must master their powers and uncover the truth behind a series of magical attacks that threaten to tear their world apart.
• In a kingdom where only the strongest survive, a group of young warriors must prove themselves in a series of deadly trials to earn their place among the elite guard.

Visual Fantasy Writing Prompts

A lot of my stories have been prompted by pictures or powerful pieces of artwork. When you stop and allow yourself to become absorbed by what’s before you, to think about its meanings and the stories that could surround them, it can help give you a golden nugget of a story idea.

Here’s a gallery of visual fantasy writing prompts:

Audio Fantasy Writing Prompts

Sometimes music can inspire our writing, and other times the people we listen to on podcasts can give us ideas from their discussions.

Below, you can find a playlist I’ve curated that evokes the feeling of fantasy and may inspire some emotional prompts. And I’ve also included some episodes from The Fantasy Writers’ Toolshed podcast which explore more specific topics, like life in medieval times, which could help prompt some story ideas.

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Fantasy writing prompts: 200+ ideas to create magic

• Post author By Jordan
• 4 Comments on Fantasy writing prompts: 200+ ideas to create magic

Looking for ideas to write epic or dark fantasy, academic (school-set) fantasy or the comic variety? Find 200-plus fantasy-writing prompts below for writing flash fiction, short stories or something longer

Fantasy writing prompt categories

Looking for ideas to write epic or dark fantasy, academic (school-set) fantasy or the comic variety? Here are 200 fantasy story ideas to help your readers escape from everyday life. A creative writing prompt can be fun to do and can spark a new novel into being, or help you overcome any common storytelling challenges you may be faced with. 

So, let’s get those creative juices flowing! Find the 200-plus fantasy writing plot ideas and prompts below for writing flash fiction, short stories or something longer:

Use the table of contents below to jump to one of twenty fantasy writing prompt categories:

• Magical discovery
• Magical laws and rules

Magical objects and talismans

• Spells, rituals and potions
• Magic in the real (primary) world

Magical alternative worlds

Fantastical or mythical creatures, curses and forbidden magic, prophecies and legends, witches and wizards, magic schools and teachings, enchanted and other magical places, time travel and other magical transport, swords and sorcery, riddles and trials, alchemy and transformation, unique cultures and societies, morally grey magic, magic’s constraints, heroic vs destructive fantasy characters.

Explore the fantasy writing prompts below and get more insights into writing fantasy in our complete fantasy guide and hub .

Fantasy writing prompts on magical discovery

Magic takes many forms in fantasy literature, from spells, sorcery and enchantment to teleportation, telekinesis, and more.

Use these fantasy writing prompts to come up with scenes , story ideas, flash fiction exercises – whatever you want.

• Write a story where a person discovers they have magic powers only for a specific day each year (or once-off). What is the significance of this day? Why does it unlock their ability?
• The most famous witch, wizard or mage in the world discovers a new power that spells disaster. Write a comic fantasy (or dramatic/tragic take) on this scenario.
• A fledgling novice in spell craft discovers a place that amplifies the potency of their powers. Write a story exploring this place – how they use it, its origins, the significance of the discovery.
• Write a story in which a student accidentally turns their class into [insert objects/animals/transformation] and explore the ensuing chaos and restoration of order.
• Write a story in which a librarian discovers a book with magical properties in the stacks. What is the book and what does it empower them to change or do?
• During a camping trip, a group of friends discovers magical powers that change their lives forever. Write their story.
• Write a story about an overworked [insert profession here] who discovers they can become invisible at will (and the help and hindrance this brings].
• A baker/chef/jeweler/florist/funeral home operator discovers their wares/services have magical properties or powers. Explore the consequences.
• Write a story in which a lawyer discovers magical abilities that aid them in court unbeknownst to tough judges and juries.
• A child discovers they can breathe underwater and so they explore sunken ships around their coastal town as they get older, until they make a troubling discovery. Write their story.

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Prompts on magical laws and rules

In many fantasy stories and novels, magic has costs, rules, laws like our physics.

Explore these fantasy writing prompts on magical laws and rules for ideas and story starters:

• Write a story where a child discovers they have healing powers, yet they come with a terrible price. This means they must choose treatment recipients carefully. What are their criteria?
• Write a story where a character is ostracized from their magical community for using forbidden magic and joins a band of misfits.
• Write a story about a rule-keeper in a magical world who harbors a secret about their own potentially ruinous rule-breaking.
• Write a story where a new bill has been passed outlawing magic, and the unlikely group of magic-doers who band together to see it overturned.
• Write a story set in a world where there are five laws shapeshifters have to abide by, and the protagonist breaks all five with dire consequences.
• Tell a story about a world in which magic is allowed under three, non-negotiable conditions. What are they?
• Write about a magical world where a law forbids magicians from using their craft for personal gain, and a loophole the protagonist exploits.
• There is a cut-off age after which people in a magical world cannot awaken/unlock their magical powers. Write a story about a character rapidly approaching this cut-off, and something they urgently need magic to achieve.
• Using magic to alter someone’s appearance is a high-risk, illegal procedure. Write a story where someone is disfigured by magic gone wrong, and the ways this affects their life. How do they struggle or triumph?
• Write a story about a rebel who creates a new spell that has never been used before, and the unforeseen consequences that result.

Fantasy literature is a warehouse of talismans, rings, and other magical objects.

Explore 10 fun fantasy writing prompts incorporating enchanted or otherwise magical objects:

• Write a story about a magical pendant and three generations of women who hand it down (with the same caution).
• An antiques dealer unknowingly sells a young couple a cursed object. Write a story about how the item leads to precarious situations.
• Write a story in which a protagonist hangs a protective ward above their front door, and the hell that breaks loose when it is stolen (try a dark fantasy tone/mood).
• Write a story about a magical compass-like device that instead of showing north shows where to find [blank].
• Write a story about a key, the origins of which the protagonist doesn’t know until several pieces of a magical puzzle fall into place.
• Write a story about a jeweler who makes magical talismans, the essential component they run out of, and an intrepid quest to obtain more.
• A candle burns indefinitely and cannot be extinguished, until [insert event], which will signal [insert prophecy fulfilled]. Write the full story.
• A hat gives its wearer the magical ability to summon tulpas (clones) of others do their bidding. What happens when the hat falls into the possession of destructive figure?
• A ring that casts a protective shield around its wearer falters at a pivotal moment with serious consequences. Write the full story.
• Children spying on a visiting relative find a curious geometric object on their nightstand. It creates a portal to a terrifying other world. Write the story.

Spells, rituals and potion

Fantastical stories are full of rites and tinctures, magic spoken and decanted.

Use the following ten prompts to explore weaving magic in stories and resulting mysteries:

• Write a story where the protagonist gets the ingredients for an important spell wrong (and the havoc that ensues).
• A graduating class of mages must perform a ritual according to exact instructions to seal and fully realize their magic. Write a story about a class whose ceremony is disrupted, and the consequences in each of their lives due to not completing the necessary rites.
• An age-reversal spell as an unforeseen side effect. Write the full story.
• A forbidden spell lands a young magician in hot water (but attracts the attention of a group of magic rule-breakers who see a use for the protagonist in fulfilling their aims).
• A potion testing causes dramatic changes in a magician’s apprentice’s personality with troubling or hilarious consequences. Write the full story.
• A spell that is meant to bring a positive change to a town has the opposite effect. Explore the turning point and fallout.
• A magical system uses spells requiring [insert ability]. Write a story about a differently abled magician and the trials they face as they excel and overcome despite their peers’ advantages.
• Write a story about a powerful sleeping spell and the criminal who uses it.
• A truth spell backfires making the recipient reveal an uncomfortable truth that cannot be ignored. Write this story.
• A group of friends discovers a ritual that lets them swap bodies. Explore the hilarity or disaster that ensues.

Magic in the real/primary world

‘Primary’ world fantasy stories situate magic in protagonists’ home settings (such as Earth). For example, in urban fantasy, magic unfolds in modern, regular cityscapes. Tweet This

Explore ten fantasy writing prompts for stories set in primary worlds:

• A young adult stumbles across a park in their city that they never knew existed where they have a mysterious conversation. It’s an abandoned lot when they next return. Write the story.
• A deep-sea diving expedition finds a magical world in the lowest sea trenches which changes everything they thought they knew (and inhabitants alert them to a pressing danger). Write the story.
• A barista in a small town’s favorite coffee shop discovers they can grant wishes like a genie. Write their story.
• A supercell storm has something mysterious at the root of the updraft its creating. Write about the magical phenomena behind the event.
• Tourists visiting a desert landmark uncover an ancient magic far more dangerous than the tropes of mummies’ curses they’ve heard. Write the story.
• An evasive stray [insert domesticated animal] in [insert city] may have magical powers (or it could just be freaky happenstance). Write the story.
• A mysterious graffiti artist becomes active in a bustling city, and wherever they strike, strange beings start appearing. Write the story.
• An urban planner comes up against an opposing magical force in a city that makes executing their plans a nightmare. Tell the story.
• A mysterious train with an unfamiliar number appears in a city’s underground system, somehow avoiding causing collisions. Write a story about the inter-dimensional beings who use this line.
• A writer discovers a typewriter in garage sale in their hood that brings to life whatever they write about with tragic/funny consequences.

Secondary or alternative worlds in fantasy fiction transport characters (and readers) to mythical lands.

Try 10 fantasy story prompts to explore portals and other magical passages:

• Catching the wrong bus by accident leads a middle-schooler to a school that resembles their own but is located in a secondary magical world, perhaps with magical creatures. Write the story.
• A protagonist has recurring dreams where they hear a haunting piece of music. They hear the music in the real world right before stumbling into another magical one. Explore the music’s origins.
• Write a story in which a protagonist must choose between passing through a one-way portal to another world to right a wrong and seeing their friends and family again.
• Explore an invented fantasy world where there is no land and people have adapted to entirely aquatic life (and the myths they have about when there was land).
• Write a story where a secondary world has become inhabitable, and people live in settlements in the sky in the hope of returning to land one day.
• Write a story where planets are connected via a similar type of portal. Only a select few know of the portals and may pass through them. Some do good while others are more destructive.
• A character stumbles across a world where books and writing are taboo and have all (or almost all) been destroyed. What are the results?
• Write a fantasy story where the protagonist finds a secondary world where people can manipulate the weather, light, or other physical processes using magic.
• Write about a secondary world in which climate catastrophe has led to magical solutions for acquiring scarce resources or living in inhospitable terrain.
• Explore a city built on giant, roaming beast in another world, and what characters find when they venture beyond this known world.

Fantastical, mythical creatures abound in fantasy and its subgenres .

Explore fantasy writing prompts for venturing into the wild:

• Write a fantasy story about a phoenix-like creature that is reborn when it dies and the rare abilities being present during this process bestows.
• The inhabitants of a world where magic is dying out have heard of a mythical creature which they think will be the solution or salve. Tell this story.
• Write a story about a mythical creature that is rumored to exist, a character determined to find it, and the magic (or is it happenstance?) that surrounds their hunt.
• Write a story in which three mythical beasts appoint humans who live in three regions as their guardians, bestowing magic, and the conflict this scenario leads to.
• A small village is terrorized by a mythical creature that is rumored to dwell in the peaks of a tall mountain. There is a famed magician who is rumored to have tamed one. Write the story.
• A character is transformed into a mythical creature and must survive hostility from their community who mistakenly believe they are the creature behind their own disappearance. Write the story
• Write a story where a character develops the ability to communicate with animals who issue a grave warning.
• A family adopts a pet not realizing it is a mythical creature with magical powers. Write their story.
• A dragon slumbering beneath a populous city awakes after centuries of sleep. What happens next?
• A hunter befriends a magical, mythical creature while out on the hunt. They confront a shared foe. Write their story.

Curses and forbidden magic in fantasy literature often create renegade shadows and other troubles.

Try your hand at ten fantasy writing prompts on illicit and underground magic:

• Write a story about an apothecary who brews potions promising transformation and prosperity (but doesn’t warn patrons of their true price).
• A character is cursed to be unable to venture beyond a restricted area. Write about the unlikely ally who stumbles across them and how they help lift the curse.
• A forbidden spell can grant a wish yet requires an enormous sacrifice. Write a story about its user.
• A child is cursed to be aged during the day and their true age at night. Write this story.
• A townsperson’s unkindness to a stranger brings a tide of unceasing misfortune to a town. Explore how and why the curse resolves.
• A curse on a leader means they experience the suffering of every individual in their kingdom as if it were their own. Write their story.
• A forbidden book of spells falls into the wrong hands. Write a story in which three spells cause increasingly worse consequences.
• A character uses forbidden magic to impress someone. Write about the evil they unleash unwittingly on the world.
• A forbidden magic that enables a young girl to enter others’ dreams leaves her with a moral dilemma when it means she could stop bad events. Write the story.
• A community exiles a magician right before realizing they are the only one with the power to overcome a major threat. Write the story.

Fantasy and fairy tales alike are full of prophecies and legends, tales of deeds past and future.

Play with ten fantasy writing prompts on the clairvoyant and long-rumored:

• A prophecy foretells a true leader will be ascendant when [insert trial] is fulfilled. Write the story of a child who fulfils the prophecy and what happens next.
• A prophet is treated by their community as crazy and ostracized, but they are dumbfounded when magical events give veracity to their claims. Write the story.
• A prophecy predicts a leader will fall in a battle where the odds are vastly in their favor. Write the story of their defeat and the fantastical circumstances surrounding it.
• Legend tells of a strange house deep in the woods. Write about the character who sets off to find it and the magical events that transpire.
• A protagonist is prophesied to reunite three warring kingdoms. Tell their story and how they achieve this unlikely feat.
• A mistranslated prophecy leads to the formation of a dangerous magical cult. Write about the individual who unmasks the true, original meaning.
• A legend about the past or origin of a people turns out to have been a prediction of their future. Tell this story.
• A legend tells of a secret city, protected by magic, which holds a valuable solution to a major crisis in the main character’s homeland. Write about their quest to the mythical place.
• A direct descendent of a legendary magical hero struggles to live up to their name with their non-magical life (until something happens which changes everything).
• Write a story about a legend, the repetition of which feeds a powerful magic (or magical being), unbeknown to the tellers. What happens when they stop sharing the legend? Write that story.

From the beloved ‘Worst Witch’ series to modern tales of broomsticks and black cats, witches and wizards are fantasy favorites.

Try these ten fantasy writing prompts for a cackle:

• A society of diabolical wizards/witches disguises themselves as social media influencers and encourage a dangerous new trend that feeds their powers.
• A witch invents a new type of magical broomstick that solves a huge issue for witches and wizards everywhere, then her business associate steals her prototype to pass off as their own. Tell the story.
• A witch or wizard’s familiar (e.g. a cat) has a secret they don’t know about to start. The revelation of said secret impacts their future. Write the story.
• Write a story where a home-schooled witch and wizard must overcome initial awkwardness and antipathy to overcome a common enemy.
• A witch wants to train the next generation of magical leaders but faces many kinds of opposition along the way. Write their story.
• A wizard left unable to speak in an accident must find a novel way to cast spells. Write their story.
• A renowned wizard or witch starts a magic school but everything goes wrong in an endless farce. Write this fantasy comedy of errors.
• A wizard is hopeless at the exact kind of magic their reputation rides on, secretly outsourcing. Write about what happens when their illusion crumbles.
• Write a story where a disgraced witch or wizard must restore their reputation by completing a nigh-impossible trial.
• A witch or wizard develops a potion granting immortality. They must take a chance on dying to test if it works, though. Write their story.

Magic schools are a big part of so-called ‘academic fantasies’.

Here are ten prompts to make school rule with wish and wonder (or find the frustrations in fantastical education):

• Write a story in which a magical school closes for business due to a scandal (and the tricky path to its reopening).
• A magical college runs out of funding. Tell the story of the magical ways it fundraises and is saved so that it may stay open.
• A magic school is run by a college of mages and witches instead of a lone principal. Write a story of the tricky politics and dynamics that result.
• A school for magic has its license taken away by a governing body’s pencil pushers on a technicality. Write about the magic teacher who fights to be able to teach their students and their student relationships.
• Write a story about a magic school for seniors who discover abilities late in life.
• Write a story about the ‘in’ group and the outsider misfits in a magic school and their conflicts and eventual truce.
• A magical academy hides a dark secret nobody wants to acknowledge. Write about the intrepid student who exposes it and the consequences.
• A magic school makes students swear by seven (surprising) tenets. what are they? Write this story.
• A magic school that abides by tradition competes with a disruptive new school that upends the old order. Write about a group of students from each school who compete in inter-school events.
• A magic school runs a foreign exchange program that makes students aware of the very different ways magic is practiced around the world. Write about two students who swap and their experiences.

Enchanted forests, castles and other magical settings in fantasy are full of secrets and wonder.

Explore ten fantasy story starters below that integrate setting into the magic:

• Write a story about an enchanted bookshop that helps patrons find the exact book they need for powerful transformation.
• An enchanted lake grants those who swim in it the ability to pause time. Write the story about three swimmers who use their power to very different ends.
• Write about a café where every order is served with a secret side of magical good luck, until the barista loses their mojo, and each order brings misfortune.
• Write about a graveyard enchanted to resurrect the departed buried in its bounds on a future date – the story starts at ten to midnight as the date approaches.
• An enchanted post office sends people not mail but individual magical abilities when they turn thirteen. Write this story.
• An enchanted hotel makes patrons dream their greatest regrets (and find peace in the process). Tell this story.
• Write about an enchanted place a character remembers from childhood and revisits to find it in the grip of a curse instead.
• Write about a river that flows in reverse and a magical ferry on it that takes passengers back in time.
• A group of travelers stumble upon an island where dreams and nightmares come true that is under the spell of a powerful sorcerer. Write this story.
• Write about an enchanted club where dancers get lost in the music, literally.

How will characters get around in your next fantasy story? Magic school buses, hippogriffs, something else?

Explore ten fantasy writing prompts and get aboard the inspiration train:

• Write a story about a magical ship and the equally magical sea it traverses.
• Write a story where a travel back (or forward) in time yields unintended, troublesome consequences.
• Write about the magical transport system in an underwater city and the anecdotes of its oldest driver.
• Write about a character whose magic weakens fractionally with every step, and the choices they must make between freedom and movement.
• Write a story about a magical submarine that can travel through sea and land and its ragtag crew.
• Write a story about a commercial flight that never landed and the magical destination its passengers reached instead.
• Write a fantasy story in which horses are not transportation but serve another, unexpected purpose.
• Write a story about a magician who can only travel through dreams and is trapped within a single block unless they find a dreamer.
• Write about a person who discovers a magic library where every book is a portal to a different world.
• A character is cursed to be a message in a bottle, until someone finds it and reads the note inside. Write about their travels and transformation back (and who they meet in the process).

Swords and sorcery are staples of fantasy fiction, particularly the epic fantasy subgenre.

Try your hand at ten fantasy prompts for swordplay and conjuring epic worlds:

• Write a story in which a knight must face off against a dangerous magic with only their physical skills and wits.
• Write a story about a magical sword, the secret property of which is the incapability to cause mortal injury.
• Write a story about a sword that possesses its wielder, making them do its bidding.
• A magical assassin crafts a blade from her own shadow that is faster than any other, at a terrible price. Write her story.
• Write a story about a sorcerer who wishes they were a knight and resents having to use magic but slowly gains appreciation of it.
• Siblings are destined to become a mage and a warrior, but swap roles and identities to stop a dangerous threat. Tell their story.
• Write about a sword which heals instead of harms, and three rival factions desperate to attain it.
• A swordsperson is gifted a magical blade that can transform into almost any object. Write the story of its loss and recovery.
• Write a story about a duel between sword-wielders whose swords have powerful sorceries amplifying their power, and the path to their final confrontation.
• Write about a blacksmith who makes magical swords, and the one weapon they wish they’d never made.

Riddles and trials go back to many myths and legends. Think Oedipus and the sphinx, or the twelve tasks of Hercules.

Try fantasy writing prompts to tell stories where riddles and trials play a prominent part:

• Write a story in which the main character must solve a riddle that requires them to go to three different regions for each of the three-part answers.
• A magic initiate must undergo five trials of increasing complexity before they are permitted to use their powers. Write their story.
• A leader sets a riddle for their successor, believing nobody will crack it, yet a challenger solves it via magical means. Tell this story.
• Write about a secondary fantasy world where disputes are settled by solving riddles or trials instead of other means.
• A legendary healing item or weapon may only be retrieved upon solving a riddle that requires great learning. Write about a character who spends their life training for its retrieval.
• Write about a band of adventurers and the shared and individual trials they face, only to learn that magic was not what they thought it was.
• A book of riddles turns out to be a book of spells where saying the riddle aloud conjures things, unbeknown to the reader. Write the story of the one who finds it.
• A group of powerful magicians seeks someone to recruit to their order, but first they must solve a series of confounding riddles. Tell the story.
• Write a story about a thief who must solve a riddle to remove the magical protections where an important but dangerous artifact lies.
• Write about a physical puzzle, the solving of which unleashes a dark magic into the world.

Transmuting one material into another or physical transformation are ancient traditions of myth- and legend-making.

Here are ten prompts to explore on magical metamorphoses:

• Write a story about a transfiguration spell that goes wrong, and the hybrid form the caster must now live with.
• An alchemist can make their own gold, but their greed leads to a serious conflict. Write the story.
• A sorcerer curses their nemesis to transform into something undesirable, but a mistake gives the other a totally unfair new advantage.
• Write a story where a character turns into an object by day and is only free at night, and the consequences of this recurring magical transformation.
• Write a story about a character who can meld forms with their pet and the adventures they have.
• At transfiguration school, a novice accidentally turns their best friend into an annoying animal. Write about their journey to transform back.
• A character finds a pair of glasses that shows things’ true form, and makes some startling discoveries. Write their story.
• Write a story about a jealous sibling who uses magic to swap bodies with their talented, popular sibling.
• Write about a mirror that turns anyone who looks in it into their worst fear.
• Write about a magic garden whose plans have transformative properties (but that can only be found under certain conditions).

One part of fantasy world-building (especially if you are creating secondary worlds or writing epic fantasy) is coming up with unique cultures and societies.

Try these ten fantasy writing prompts to explore differences and similarities between peoples:

• Write about a character who travels to another land on an important quest (and the surprising discoveries they make about how magic practice differs from home).
• Write about a fantasy society in which magic is intrinsically linked to music-making.
• In a magical kingdom, magical ability determines rank and status. Write about a character who travels from this setting to a place where all magic is taboo.
• In a secondary world’s social system, magic has made gender divisions (though not anatomical sex) obsolete. Write about an Earth’s resident’s learning from their travels there.
• Write about a magical society that values silence above all things, and the chatterbox main character who must make their way there.
• Write about a society where magic has a demerit system and a person’s powers are taken away through a communal ritual after three strikes.
• Write about a civilization of elementals who work together to maintain balance, and the interloping main character who upsets said balance.
• Write about a magical society where spoken words manifest into physical form, and the dangers (real or perceived) of an ignorant outsider’s speech.
• A society living on a secondary world has no nouns. Write about a main character who travels there and how they learn to communicate.
• Write about a subterranean society in a fantasy world and the myths that it holds and shares about the land above.

Dark spells, curses and other morally grey uses of magic remind us that power has very different effect according to intention and ethics.

Explore ten prompts for writing stories where magic creates moral quandaries and conundrums:

• A magician finds an elixir capable of solving a global health crisis. The only problem? Several ingredients are profane or taboo. Write their story.
• A mage attempts to use time travel to correct magical mistakes, but only compounds the problem. Tell their story.
• Write a story where a character uses magic to clone themselves, but issues of responsibility arise when the clones start creating clones.
• A witch has the power to control dreams, but little power to control the realities altered dreams bring about. Explore their story.
• A wizard creates a magical apprentice, only for the apprentice to grow worryingly beyond their power and capacity for control.
• Write a story in which a character who is able to switch bodies with others at will leaves a trail of complications and misunderstandings.
• Write a story about a use of magic for business success that exploits and ends up harming the inhabitants of a small town.
• A character who discovers the ability to grant wishes notices how their associates come to rely on them so much they lose their individual power and capability. Explore what they decide to do.
• A mage discovers the ability to resurrect extinct animals, yet their experiments threaten a delicate ecosystem. Explore this story idea.
• Write a story where a magic-doer uses their powers to punish wrongdoers, but their vision of right and wrong becomes increasingly distorted.

In any fantasy story, magic isn’t a cure-all to everything. Mortality and other risks and conflicts still exist.

Explore ten fantasy writing prompts that factor in the idea of a limit:

• Write a story in which a character can only use magic under certain special conditions (such as a preparatory spell or in a certain biome).
• Write a story where a character can heal others but acquires a reduced version of their wounds or sickness through magical transfer.
• A character’s magic has a small, accumulative, irreversible cost every time they use it. Explore the implications of this.
• Write a story where the protagonist can become invisible, but with each use the effect becomes more permanent and they grow translucent.
• Write a story where a character can conjure fire but cannot put out any flame without it causing self-injury.
• A character is only able to attend magic school if they deceive those closest to them. Write their story.
• Write about a world where every time a person uses magic, deadly creatures from another dimension are summoned irrevocably.
• Write a story where using magic drains color from the world.
• A novice magician can only use spells within a curfew-related period, yet major trouble strikes outside active magical hours.
• Write a story where any spell may only be used once before it becomes ineffective.

The fantasy genre is full of heroes and villains – white witches, rapscallion ring-bearers.

Try these ten fantasy writing prompts to explore opposite poles of good and evil:

• Write a story where the heroic fantasy protagonist evolves to become a sequel’s villain due to the suffering they undergo.
• Write a story from the perspective of the villain who uses dark magic, and explore the good they wrongfully believe they’re doing.
• An antagonist steals a magician’s abilities and they strive to get them back, only to learn they now function more dangerously than ever.
• Write a fantasy story about a hero and villain who started out as childhood friends and how their choices led them down different paths.
• Write a fantasy story where magic gone wrong causes the hero and villain to swap bodies or other features.
• A hero discovers their mentor has secretly been in cahoots with the villain. Write the story of betrayal and the resulting conflict.
• Write a fantasy story about a hero who discovers they were cursed or otherwise manipulated to do wrong, and the conflict they can’t avoid to get their true self back.
• Write a story about a retired fantasy hero who must get back into action due to a new or reawakened foe.
• Write a comic fantasy about a hero who goes on a grand adventure, but like Don Quixote, the magic is mostly in their mind.
• Write a story where a villain is more popular than the hero due to charisma or powers of persuasion, and the hero must stand alone.

🗣️ Which is your favorite fantasy writing prompt of all the above? Have your own to contribute? Share it in the comments!

Explore daily writing prompts on literary devices to improve your general craft.

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Jordan is a writer, editor, community manager and product developer. He received his BA Honours in English Literature and his undergraduate in English Literature and Music from the University of Cape Town.

4 replies on “Fantasy writing prompts: 200+ ideas to create magic”

200 ideas and 7 ideas about how to use the ideas?! This is delicious. Now I have a Craft Challenge reference (with my personal twist, of course). As for my novel, I usually need more help with filters than ideas 😁 But these are like tiny idea-island getaways. Thanks!

Thank you for sharing your feedback, Margriet (I like the idea of ‘idea-island getaways’) 🙂

Got an idea:

A young knight is considered a champion among his/her people, but the sacrifices he/ she made to achieve the title have stained his/ her good name and he/ she feels like anything but a champion.

Great ideas on here and these will make for some interesting stories.

Hi FreeFly, I love this idea. Thank you for sharing it and for your feedback!

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50 Compelling Fantasy Writing Prompts and Plot Ideas for an Epic Story

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For the creative writer with a strong imagination, writing fantasy stories is a great joy. It allows us to stretch the realm of what is possible and create worlds completely unlike our own, for better or for worse. If you or your writing students need help getting started with your fantasy story, here are 50 exciting fantasy writing prompts and plot ideas to get you started.

If you’re looking for a fantasy plot idea for your fantasy novel or short story, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve pulled together 50 of our best fantasy story ideas for you in this post so you can get started right away writing your new story.

The fantasy genre is an exciting one for both readers and writers, as it opens new doors that we may be unable to open with other genres of fiction. From superheroes to wizards, witches to dragons, fairies to queens, fantasy worlds are filled with memorable characters who take amazing–and often devastating–actions.

But it’s not just the characters who make these stories come alive. The settings are just as vivid, often taking on a role just as important as those of the characters. Whether the story is set in an entirely fictional world or the writer has written magical elements into life on earth, readers love getting lost in a place that is different from anything they’ve ever known.

Once you’ve looked through the following list of fiction writing prompts for fantasy stories, you may also want to check out these other resources we offer:

• Plan out your story using our Story Planner
• Check out this Writing Prompt Generator for both fiction and non-fiction writing prompts
• Find more Creative Writing Prompts here
• Get inspired to write better sentences with our narrative sentence examples

Types of Fantasy

If you’re a long-time fantasy fan, you are probably familiar with the various sub-genres that exist, but for those who are new to the worlds of mythical creatures and magical beings, here is a quick rundown of a few of the more common fantasy styles. The number of subgenres varies widely depending on who you ask, and this is not intended to be an exhaustive list, merely an overview.

The nice thing about fantasy prompts is that you can take them in any direction you want.

For example, you could combine elements of a fairy tale with dark fantasy writing prompts to produce a dark twist on a formerly cheery tale. (Pro tip: try combining one of these fantasy writing prompts with one of our sad romance writing prompts for a truly unique story).

Or you can take an epic fantasy writing prompt and cross it with a medieval story prompt and create a magical world filled with castles, nights, and battles. The only thing limiting you is your imagination.

Dark or Grimdark Fantasy

• Written in a foreboding tone
• Frightening and disturbing themes
• Elements of horror that evoke a feeling of dread
• Usually set in supernatural worlds with a gloomy atmosphere

Epic or High Fantasy

• Settings are vast (or epic)
• Tons of characters
• Set in new worlds
• Massive event or quest (the fate of the entire world is usually at stake)
• Typically centers on one main character
• Often written as a series

Fables, Fairy Tales, and Folklore

• Relies heavily on motifs and plots from folklore
• New spins on timeless tales
• Often feature morals and lessons, which may be a reversal of those taught in the original tales

Historical Fantasy

• Set in a real historical time period, usually before the 20th century
• Factual events blended with supernatural elements
• May be set in the real world or in a fictional world

Low Fantasy, Contemporary Fantasy, and Urban Fantasy

• Set in the real world or something like it
• Magical elements occur in an otherwise-normal world
• Supernatural characters dealing with everyday life
• Urban fantasy takes place in a predominantly urban—not rural—setting
• Contemporary fantasy is set in the present day (or the time in which it was written)

Magical Realism

• Touches of magic are incorporated into the real world
• Blurs the lines between fantasy and reality

Medieval Fantasy

• A subgenre of historical fantasy
• Set in the Middle Ages
• Includes elements of medieval European culture such as castles and knights
• Also includes fantasy elements such as dragons, sorcerers with superpowers, and mythical beings
• Includes the subset, Arthurian fantasy, which brings in references to the knights of the round table

Paranormal Fantasy

• Set in the modern world
• Mythical creatures such as vampires, werewolves
• Can overlap with urban fantasy
• Includes the paranormal romance sub-genre, which usually has a love story between a human and a mythical being

Science Fantasy

• Presents fantasy elements as hard science, even though the science is not real

Superhero Fantasy

• Follows heroes with supernatural powers and the villains they oppose
• There’s often a scientific explanation for the superpowers

Sword and Sorcery

• Heroes with swords on big adventures
• Character-driven, focuses on personal matters
• Usually in a secondary world

Now that you probably have a clear idea of the type of fantasy story you’d like to write, let’s jump into the writing prompts.

50 Fantasy Writing Prompts and Plot Ideas

• One day in the marketplace, you meet a scatterbrained magician who can’t seem to keep his thoughts straight, but then out of nowhere, he solves a marketplace crime. You try to distance yourself from him, but he convinces you to become his partner.
• What if you had x-ray vision?
• Write a story about a dryad (a tree nymph) who adopts a human child she finds in the woods and with whom she must work together to save her forest from deforestation.
• Write a story about a wizard who finds a potion that brings his best friend back to life.
• Write a story where someone has invented shoes that enable people to fly, but the shoes are extraordinarily expensive.
• Write a story about a yeti whose village is melting.
• Write a story about two kingdoms in a fantasy world who are at war with each other over a scarce resource (like water or fuel, or something completely unknown in our world).
• You’re visiting some relatives when your three-year-old cousin floods the bathroom. You try to dry it up but the water level keeps rising. You and the kids jump into the bathtub just as it begins its transformation into a beautiful boat.
• Imagine that a child discovered they could time travel using old coins–whatever year and country the coin was minted in, that’s where they can travel to. Write about their adventures.
• Your great-great-aunt, whom you met only once when you were still too young to form memories, has died and left you her ancient typewriter. You’re planning to use it as a doorstop, but after having it for one night, you realize it types out beautiful masterpieces while you are sleeping.
• Write about a regular child who realizes they have magical powers, which they must immediately put into use to protect a community of people who are in imminent danger.
• What if you received a special watch as a gift and it kept talking to you?
• Write a story about King Arthur who time travels to the present day and tries to take on the British royal family.
• What if unicorns existed and lived on an isolated island but were now considering an attempt at world domination?
• You open the mailbox one day and find a strange letter addressed to you. The time has come to fulfill your destiny, it reads. The world is counting on you. Come quickly, and bring your secret sketchbook.
• Write about a priest who takes in a child abandoned on his doorstep, only to learn sometime later that the baby was not fully human.
• Sleep and pray. Get me out of here. The door creaks open and a withered hand tosses in a gray wool blanket. “Wouldn’t want you to catch a cold.” The soft voice filters into the cell and wraps itself around me like a warm hug. And just like that, I know what I have to do.
• You discover a book in your parents’ bedroom that describes everything you’ve ever said and done. But the book is a hundred years old, and you’re just twelve. Or so you thought.
• What if you suddenly realized that your life story mirrored the plot of a Shakespearean play?
• Write a story where there are two earths, 100 miles apart only one is inhabited by people and the other is inhabited by dragons.
• You wake up to find your room mysteriously clean and a paper bag sitting on your desk. You open it up and an angry-looking brownie jumps out. “It’s about time!” he yells. “My brother locked me in there hours ago. We’ve got to find him!”
• You find an ancient text etched into a wall in your basement. Translating it, you realize it’s an escape plan. Just as you’re muttering to yourself about how much time you’ve wasted, the door to the basement slams shut and the stairs melt away.
• It’s all over the news. Random events are taking place. What if someone discovers that they’re my dreams coming true, literally? What will they do to me? I have to find…
• What if your mother told you you had to go to Peru and fight a monster you’d thought was a legend?
• What if you created a magical potion that caused everything it touched to grow exponentially?
• Write about a girl who lives in pre-industrial times who finds a twenty-first-century smartphone that has all its modern capabilities, including those provided by WiFi, which of course, nobody in her time knows anything about.
• Write a story about a man-eating dragon who falls in love with a human and goes on a quest to become human too.
• Write about a team of young wizards who communicate with each other through telekinesis, and who must find a way to stop the evil villain–one of their professors–from infiltrating their thoughts and stealing secret spells for his/her own purposes.
• What if your best friend got trapped inside a book?
• What if you were canoeing in an inlet when a pod of whales came up underneath your boat and lifted you out of the water, at which point your boat took to the air?
• Write about a group of people who find flying carpets and decide to race them.
• What if you traveled back in time to ancient Egypt and discovered that their world was even more modernized than ours and included more advanced technology but that they’d destroyed all evidence of these advances in an effort to protect future generations from making the same devastating decisions that they had?
• Jack glanced around furtively, making sure no one could see him. Then he ducked down the alley. He had taken no more than two steps when he was pulled into a nearly invisible hole in the wall. He was met with rancid breath and a hairy hand around his throat. “Where is it?” said the young man. “Where is my…?”
• Write a story about someone who discovers a secret castle from the Middle Ages and learns that a whole other world exists inside it.
• Write about a guitar that plays itself and accidentally makes an accountant into a popular musician.
• What if you were babysitting a kid who went to the kitchen to get a snack and came back as a gnome?
• What if you were a jester in a medieval castle and you had to keep the king entertained all the time?
• You’re sitting on a bench outside the library when a dog approaches you with no leash on. He climbs up on the bench, looks you right in the eyes, and says, “I heard you have the spell for turning dogs into people. Help me, please!”
• An enchantress creeps into a room unseen, her cloak of invisibility her only protection. She just needs to get the book and get out of there. She shutters as she hears a loud rip. Her cloak is caught on the door!
• I walked through the market timidly, unsure of what I was looking for, but certain I would find it here. A flash of light flickered almost imperceptibly to my right, and instinctively I turned toward the stall that I’d just passed, but it was gone. In its place…
• What if every character you wrote automatically came to life and a foreign government was after you to create spies for them?
• You’re sitting by a pond. You lean over to touch the water and realize you have no reflection. It’s disappeared. It turns out you’ve accidentally become invisible.
• You and your friend happen upon a mysterious underground society that is trying to bring dragons back to the world. But dragons never existed. Did they?
• What if you discovered that certain garments could be unraveled and the threads woven into gold?
• Your aunt shows up at your house unannounced and declares she is taking you on yet another quest. “Grab your bike, your bearded dragon, and your book of incantations. The rest of the club members are waiting.”
• After your grandmother passes away, you learn that the baby blanket she knitted for you when you were born has secrets from the past woven into it. When it begins whispering stories to you at night, you realize there’s a family mystery you need to solve.
• Write a story about a centuries-long war that’s stopped by a couple of rebels riding on highland cows.
• Write a story about a teacher who can read the thoughts of their students, but can’t tell anybody their secret.
• The pirate bound my hands and stuffed a gag into my mouth. I kicked him in the shins. “Ow!” he said, glaring at me as he pulled the rope tighter. “Now, tell us where the gold is, or I’ll…”
• A disease is spreading through your town, but it’s not passed on in the usual ways. It is only transferred from one person to another when an infected person teaches someone something.

I hope you’ve enjoyed these fantasy writing prompts and plot ideas. I can’t wait to hear about the short stories and novels you come up with. Leave a comment below to tell us what fantasy fiction writing prompts you’re using and what you’re working on.

Sunday 24th of March 2024

Hello, Canon here.

I'm really interested in these prompts. But if I use these for say, a fan work, do I have to credit you?

Monday 20th of May 2024

No you don't.

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Home / Book Writing / Fantasy Writing Prompts: 150+ Ideas to Get Started

Fantasy Writing Prompts: 150+ Ideas to Get Started

Fantasy is one of the biggest genres out there, with a huge variety of sub genres and sub-sub genres.

Fantasy is also great because it can be combined with almost any other genre, whether it be romance, thriller, science fiction, and even literary books.

But because fantasy is so imaginative, it can sometimes be difficult to come up with all of the ideas you need to create a compelling fantasy story. With that in mind, here are a variety of fantasy writing prompts that you can use get your creative juices flowing.

Bear in mind that these prompts will help you come up interesting ideas, but if you want to become a bestseller, you need to test them out on the marketplace. One quick way to determine if a story born from a prompt will be successful is if you can find popular keywords about its subject. Tools like Publisher Rocket can also be a huge help in the brainstorming process, showing you the keywords that readers are actively searching for on Amazon, which may spark your next great idea. In addition, draw inspiration from the huge list of Amazon categories , which will tell you what subgenres that Fantasy readers frequently visit to find their next great book.

• Recipes for a great fantasy story
• Overarching fantasy tropes
• A list of fantasy story ideas

Table of contents

• What Makes a Good Fantasy?
• Common Fantasy Genre Tropes
• Genre Matchup Prompts
• Portal Fantasy Prompts
• Urban Fantasy Prompts
• Epic Fantasy Prompts
• Supernatural Prompts
• Setting Prompts
• World Building Prompts
• Fantasy Character Prompts
• Fantasy Romance Prompts
• Test Your Fantasy Novel for Viability

Get it for FREE here: Get the PDF Here

Before we dive into the fantasy story prompts, let's talk about what makes a good fantasy book. This is difficult, because there is such variety to the type of fantasy story you could have, but most fantasy stories do tend to have certain elements:

• Some type of magic, often a detailed magic system
• A fantastical world
• Huge stakes and conflicts
• Extensive world building

Additionally, a good fantasy book is determined by elements that make up any good book, period. These can include:

• Well-developed characters
• A clear theme
• A personal connection with the reader
• Clever dialogue
• Epic pacing and a satisfying conclusion

Get these down, and you are likely to have a very successful fantasy book, regardless of your magic or world building.

As I already mentioned, fantasy can be combined with almost any other genre, but there are specific tropes that are unique to fantasy, and if any of these show up in your book, it is likely a fantasy book.

Note that not all of these tropes are used in fantasy books, but they can be common, and when used well, they can be a huge help:

• The chosen one
• A Dark Lord
• Good vs. evil
• Some type of magic
• The mentor figure
• Different fantasy races
• An ancient (often medieval) setting
• Magical items
• A heroic quest
• Magical schools
• Portals that open to a fantasy world
• “The myths are real”
• A secret magical world coexisting with ours (urban fantasy)

These are just a sample of the different tropes out there, and you should look at your specific sub genre for a better understanding of what tropes you should use. For example, an urban fantasy will have very different tropes from an epic fantasy. One of the best ways to research genre specific tropes is to go straight to the source- head over to winning Amazon categories , and see what books perform well within them.

With all that in mind, let's get into the prompts.

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Fantasy Writing Prompts

I've tried to categorize these ideas as best I can, though there will obviously be some overlap.

• Take a fantasy trope and subvert it.
• Write Robinson Crusoe but with fantasy elements.
• Robots team up with wizards.
• Someone learns how to harness magic in technology, leading to huge innovations.
• What would a legal drama look like in an epic fantasy world?
• Write a romance between a regular human and some kind of fantastical race/creature.
• Write a heist in a fantasy setting.
• Write an underdog sports story in a fantasy setting.
• Write a revenge narrative in a fantasy setting.
• What if aliens invaded a fantasy world?
• What if Cthulhu awoke on a fantasy world?
• Imagine a political thriller with a fantasy government.
• Write a psychological thriller, where the character doesn't know if they are hallucinating the fantasy world or not.
• Write a mystery set in an epic fantasy world, incorporating the magic system.
• Pick a public domain story and turn it into a fantasy.
• A character from another world escapes into ours.
• Your character finds a magic portal in the basement.
• Dreaming is actually the real world.
• Your dreams start to come true.
• A painting comes to life.
• You discover a library where the books can come to life.
• The character mutters gibberish to themselves, only to discover they were speaking a magical language.
• Memory Lane is real.
• A reality TV show featuring magical creatures.
• You arrive in the underworld sooner than expected.
• You discover a world that is the mirror opposite of hours.
• You discover a door in your attic that wasn't there before.
• A gamer discovers that the character he controls is actually a real person in a fantasy world.
• Your world is actually the fantasy world, and electricity is magic.
• Open world RPG
• First-person shooter
• A Mario-world-type game
• A dark fantasy
• A side scroller
• A top-down strategy game
• A fantasy MMO
• A melee fighting game
• A survival game
• An astronaut discovers another world that is eerily similar to ours.
• While out hiking, you discover a cave that leads to another world.
• There is a world where our world is the stuff of myths and legends.
• A huge fan of [insert fandom here], discovers that it's not fiction.
• A rich uncle dies and leaves you his magical castle.
• You go to a theme park, only for characters to come to life.
• You enter a theme park ride, and it transports you to another world.
• You discover that you are the dream of someone else.
• You meet someone in real life who has the same dreams as you, and you can enter this dreamworld together.
• Our reality is actually an advanced version of the Sims.
• A young child and their parents get sucked into a children's book .
• A Dungeons & Dragons game eventually becomes real.
• An artist is able to escape into their paintings.
• Write about someone with an average job, but in a world of magic or with magical elements.
• You look up into the sky and see the two moons.
• Your food starts to speak to you.
• Two members of a classic fantasy the race (elf, dwarf, etc.) move in next door.
• Your garden gnomes are actually real gnomes.
• You somehow magically created a friend, and are constantly scared you'll make them disappear.
• As a joke, you put on a tinfoil hat, but then something happens.
• You wake up in a busy city, only to find that there is complete silence.
• You discover a pet that is not of this earth in the pet store.
• A photographer who specializes in photographing the supernatural.
• A child is discovered to be immune to vampirism.
• The gods from a [insert mythological pantheon here] return to earth.
• You move into a supper inhabited entirely by ghosts.
• Turns out, if you curse someone, that curse comes true.
• There is a wizard in every town protecting us.
• Turns out, you are Santa's grandchild.
• Turns out, your nanny is actually a witch.
• While on vacation, you discover a magical artifact out of mythology (i.e. Excalibur, Pandora's box, Thor's hammer, etc.).
• An ancient Viking suddenly appears in modern-day London.
• Deceased soldiers from an old war, suddenly come back to life.
• Dragons return to earth after many years gone.
• Turns out unicorns are real.
• Scientists uncovers the science behind magic.
• King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table are magically transferred into modern-day teenage bodies.
• The Greek pantheon is magically transferred into modern-day teenage bodies.
• The Norse pantheon is magically transferred into modern-day teenage bodies.
• The Egyptian pantheon is magically transferred into modern-day teenage bodies.
• A DNA archaeologist discovers that mythical creatures did exist.
• Your character owns a magical shop in some important niche.
• A tattoo artist is able to imbue their subject with magical abilities.
• Write a story about Gods over a specific element like water, fire, etc.
• A world where dragons are forced to fight each other, fight club style.
• A child wishes that a family member will return from the dead, and it works.
• A long-lost shipwreck is found, completely intact.
• Society is built around epic, arena-like games.
• Anything can become true if enough people believe it, and the villain exploits this fact.
• A bounty hunter and an epic fantasy world, hunting warlocks, witches, and monsters.
• Sherlock Holmes, but in an epic fantasy world.
• Pick an ancient Earth culture that is not medieval England, and develop an epic fantasy around that.
• Develop a culture over a huge timeline, from primitive beginnings, to the space-age.
• What if the humans on a fantasy world had no idea that any other fantasy race existed, until they appeared for the first time.
• Indiana Jones, but in an epic fantasy setting.
• Your characters develop spiritual connections with a specific animal.
• The trees have spirits, and only you can hear them.
• The character is appointed as a bodyguard for a royal prince/princess.
• A prince/princess discovers that they have a long lost twin, who was not raised in privilege.
• Take an ordinary piece of modern-day technology, and postulate how a medieval society would react to it. 
• Write about someone who has a relationship (platonic or romantic) with a ghost.
• Ghosts/werewolves/vampires are actually super nice, and it's the fairies/elves/dwarves that are mean.
• You sit down to read your favorite book, only to find it has changed.
• You write a book, only to discover that it comes true.
• Here character decides to have a conversation with the author of the book.
• An angel walks on earth for a month.
• An angel and a demon switch places for a week.
• I monster is terrified of the child that sleeps above his bed.
• Humans are actually giants, and there are micro-human races beneath us.
• The giant emerges from the ocean.
• A child is transported into the past, into the teenage body of their mother or father.
• You go to a new high school, only to discover that everyone is a vampire.
• The Titanic mysteriously arrives in New York as if nothing had happened, with all passengers accounted for.
• A boating accident leads to the character being saved by mermaids.
• A deck of tarot cards accurately predicts the future for a group of friends.
• All of the figures in a wax museum become real.
• A ghost is having difficulty finding a place to haunt.
• A writer discovers that God is also a writer, and our reality is his book.
• It is discovered the zombies are actually very intelligent.
• Set your story in a fortuneteller's parlor.
• What if the sun suddenly didn't rise.
• What if the sun suddenly rose in the West instead of the east.
• Write a fantasy story in the wild West setting.
• A new continent is discovered.
• You discover the fountain of youth, but it turns out it only sends you forward in time.
• A retirement home for superheroes.
• A history teacher can take their students to any time or place in history.
• Area 51 protects a gateway to another dimension.
• Area 51 protects a gateway to hell.
• Use a currency that isn't money, and build your world from there.
• Luck is not random, but is an inherited genetic trait, or a skill that can be learned.
• I day in the life of a magical creature.
• Someone with the power of alchemy, but can only change a material into something useless.
• Snow falls one morning, but it isn't white.
• A character can only live three times in their lifetime.
• There is a river that will wipe your memory if you drink from it.
• You can buy bottled emotions.
• Develop a magic system based on self-help principles
• Develop a magic system based on biology
• Develop a magic system based on computer programming
• Develop a magic system based on commonplace social customs like shaking hands
• The story is set within a character's mind.
• A character wakes up in a past life.
• A character wakes up in a future reincarnation of themself.
• A character spends their whole life faking that they have magic, then suddenly discover they do.
• Your character is destined to do something they don't want.
• Your character becomes aware that they are a work of fiction.
• Write a story from the perspective of an orc.
• One of your parents is a werewolf, the other a vampire.
• People thought you were the chosen one, but turns out they were mistaken. Now what?
• A doctor claims to know how you can get someone to fall in love with you.
• You are immortal, married to a mortal, and you decide to tell them.
• Your character can suddenly read minds.
• A social outcast finds that they are actually the prince/princess of a distant world.
• Your character gains the ability to make any wish come true.
• A character can turn into any animal by wishing it.
• Your character receives a new superpower every day, losing the previous one.
• The ghost of a parent helps a young child through difficult times.
• A character is mute, but can talk to animals.
• Someone is hunted by their alternate universe twin.
• A monster, generally feared by all, is actually a gentle giant.
• Write a romance between one superpowered individual and one who doesn't have powers.
• Write a romance between an elf and an orc, or two other diametrically opposed races.
• A romance between an angel and a demon.
• Sirens usually kill humans, until one falls in love.

Hopefully, the creative juices are flowing now. But before you start writing your book, it's a good idea to see if there's a market for the type of fantasy you're looking to write . Since Fantasy is such a competitive genre, a little research goes a long way. And the easiest way to get this research done is with Publisher Rocket.

You can think of the information you get from Publisher Rocket as the foundation for your fantasy writing career. You get insights directly from Amazon on:

• Keywords – Metadata to position your book on Amazon.
• Competition – Allowing you to see what's selling and how stiff the competition is.
• Categories – So you know where people who are looking for books like yours go to find them.
• Amazon Ads – Helps you quickly configure a list of profitable keywords for running ads.

Check out Publisher Rocket here to get started.

Jason Hamilton

When I’m not sipping tea with princesses or lightsaber dueling with little Jedi, I’m a book marketing nut. Having consulted multiple publishing companies and NYT best-selling authors, I created Kindlepreneur to help authors sell more books. I’ve even been called “The Kindlepreneur” by Amazon publicly, and I’m here to help you with your author journey.

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Home » Blog » 30+ Best Fantasy Writing Prompts in 2024

30+ Best Fantasy Writing Prompts in 2024

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Fantasy writing prompts can be a very special kind of exciting. Writing fantasy requires a deep level of imagination and creativity as you are literally creating your own world. All the physical laws and restrictions of earth no longer apply when you write fantasy.

Anything is possible – any place, any action, any species. These things can make the dreaded arrival of writer’s block even more frustrating. Regardless of genre, every writer goes through it sometimes. The days or even weeks where you just can’t seem to nail down a single creative word. It is times like these when some great fantasy writing prompts can come in handy. Whether you are trying to come up with a whole new novel idea, or want something interesting to add to your existing story, these fantasy writing prompts will help you move forward. You don’t have to be J.K. Rowling to get started.

The great thing about fantasy is that it can apply to many genres. You can have a supernatural romance, a horror tale of fantastical proportions, or even a crime drama featuring some made-up monsters. There are fantasy writing prompts for many genre crossovers. My favorite tool for writing fantasy is Squibler as it includes many features to help you tell your story visually.

Writing prompts can come in many forms:

• A vague and general idea
• A random thought
• A line of dialogue
• A new type of world
• A new form of government (usually oppressive in some way)
• And many more

If you’re looking for some simpler creative writing prompts beyond what you see here, try the writing prompt generator . This offers you some quick and simple ideas that are meant to spark some ideas without limiting you.

Basic Fantasy Writing Prompts

These prompts are designed to give your brain a jump start on a whole new story idea. These prompts could be the base of a novel or short story.

Each year, all the wizards, sorcerers, and other magical beings come together for a tournament. They gamble their powers and magical tools.

Bottle Them Up

Your protagonist lives in a world where you can buy and sell bottled emotions. It is a government regulated industry, but illegal dealers and black markets run rampant. Some emotions are worth more than others.

The Communicator

Write about a character who was mute until he discovers that he can talk to animals, and they talk back. He discovers the animal kingdom has a master plan, and he must decide whether to join them or stop them.

Tell the Truth

Anything can become true if enough people believe it strongly and deeply enough. The antagonist becomes aware of this and begins to manipulate the population to create the world he wants.

There is a mysterious creature living deep in the forest of a small country somewhere in the world. It has terrorized locals for years. A bite from this creature may kill you, or it may give you powers. The city closest to the creature’s residence is full of people with magical abilities, but the population is small as many are killed.

Word begins to spread, and the rest of the world starts to become aware of the creature. Some travel from far away and gamble their lives in hopes of obtaining magic.

The Evil Twin

Your main character finds out they are being hunted by who they think is their alternate universe evil twin. They soon discover that they themselves are actually the evil one.

Trusting the Humans

Magical beings are the ruling class on earth. Governments are run by them. Those without powers are considered useless, second class citizens and generally live in poverty. There is a single source of power for the entire realm (perhaps an object, or a place). One day, the power source is taken over by dark forces. They cast a spell on the source that uses the power of anyone who tries to touch it against them.

The magical beings must now rely on the “non-magic” folk they have ridiculed for generations. They are the only ones who can save the world from this darkness.

Mystical Bounty Hunter

A bounty hunter from an alternate universe appears in the yard of a maximum-security prison. He has come to break out one of the most dangerous, lethal prisoners in the world, and bring them back to his universe.  

The Gentle Giant

Choose a mythical creature that is generally thought to be large, terrifying, and evil. Make them into a kind, loving, and sympathetic character. They have to prove the myths, legends, and stereotypes wrong to avoid being hunted and killed by humans.

Unlikely Partners

Your main character is left in the forest to die, as the annual sacrifice to the god of the forest. The god shows up, but this year he is not interested in the death of his sacrifice. He is looking for a new servant and/or sidekick.

Supernatural Dealings

A new shop opens that allows humans to rent mystical and magical things: superpowers, magical abilities/items, etc. Monetary payment is not accepted. You must pay much more abstract prices – memories, emotions, or even years of your life for the most expensive items.

Romantic Fantasy Writing Prompts

These prompts are ideas where fantasy and romance have been intertwined. Love is universal, no matter what species you are! These are also good for a novel with the right ideas, or a short fantasy story if you prefer. 

Star-Crossed

Humans are forbidden to fraternize and mingle with the enchanted, and vice versa. They are groomed from birth to hate each other. An unlikely love story develops as two people from each faction begin an illegal relationship.

This is not a brand new concept – but there are a lot of ways you can spin this typical trope of forbidden love. Don’t be afraid to make your own version of a classic!

The group of sirens have been doing their jobs diligently for centuries. They have honed their craft, and kill quickly, viciously, and without mercy. They leave no fisherman or sailor stupid enough to cross their waters alive.

For the first time in 600 years, one of the sirens doesn’t want to kill a particular young sailor. Thinking quickly, she convinces the group they need a slave, and so she keeps him alive but captive, all while falling more and more in love with him every day.

Sci-Fi/Fantasy Writing Prompts

Science fiction and fantasy work well together as they share a lot of basic elements. A fantasy novel can utilize mermaids for example, but so can science fiction. Mermaids are futuristic, fairy-tale material that works in many areas of the fantasy genre. 

Take these fantasy fiction plot ideas, add some future technology and you have yourself a crossover. 

Robots and Wizards

Artificial intelligence is at an all-time high. Robots are running rampant and becoming more powerful all the time. Humans begin to think they have made a mistake, and then the robots start to team up with the wizards and sorcerers. Is there any hope for the human race at all?

Magic Machines

The magical beings of the world begin to invent their own machinery. They design robots with magical powers of their own.

Zombie Intelligence

Humans have been fighting the zombie epidemic for many decades, with no success and no progress. One day, a telepathic agent comes onto the scene and makes a horrifying discovery. The zombies have begun to think. They are developing intelligence, communicating, and becoming their own species.

Day of the Undead

A giant alien spaceship has discovered earth. They have stopped their ship right in front of the sun, casting parts of the world into total and perpetual darkness. The vampires that have been in hiding take advantage of their newfound freedom.

Alien Vampires

NASA has spent years creating the perfect plan to inhabit Mars. They have every detail worked out and it is time to put the plan into action. They have recruited hundreds of brave astronauts who have dedicated their lives to creating livable colonies on Mars.

Two vampires have been doing their own planning for just as many years. They have infiltrated the team. They have successfully made their way onto the spaceship bound for Mars.

Fire Fighters

Firefighters are the only ones who know the real truth about house fires. They are started by evil fire elementals. In order to put out the fire, the elementals responsible must be killed. The firefighters are sworn to secrecy, the public can never know.

Horror/Fantasy Writing Prompts

Horror and fantasy can often go quite well together. Horror itself can be almost anything – as long as it is sufficiently terrifying! Mixing this genre of dread, terror, doom, gloom, and darkness with magic and fantasy can make for a wonderfully unique and enriching story.

Horror can work well with urban fantasy as it’s a good setting for horrific things to happen. Paranormal elements will also mix well with these fantasy fiction writing prompts. Perhaps a ghost is the only person with the answers your protagonist needs!  Use these fantasy writing prompts to kick-start your next horror project.

Heads Will Roll

Be-heading is a common form of execution. Leaders have become corrupt and are using their power to simply get rid of people they don’t like or are threatened by. A wizard has caught wind of this and puts a spell on the head executioner’s ax.

An innocent man is executed, and the executioner smiles to himself as he wipes the blood off his ax. Suddenly, the newly detached head begins to speak. It is angry.

A Big Mistake

A quiet old man lives in a run-down cottage at the edge of town. He is known for keeping to himself and hating children. Strange things start happening in the city, and the townspeople blame the old man, accusing him of being an evil sorcerer.

A brave young warrior finally kills the man, and the town celebrates. Their cheers turn into screams as a demon exits the old man’s body, calls forward hundreds more, and they start inhabiting each and every person there.

A mysterious box appears in town one day. No one knows what is in the box – they can’t get it open. All they know is that it’s only been around for two days, and since it’s arrival half the town has died.

Predictions

In the moment before a person dies, they utter a sentence that predicts a piece of the future. Sometimes they are small and insignificant, sometimes they are very important. Wars have been prevented, natural disasters have been minimized, and lives have been saved by these predictions.

Suddenly, every single person who dies around the world starts saying the exact same thing.

Fantasy Writing Prompts for Encouragement

These prompts are designed to help you put the fire back into a novel that may have gone stale. Don’t know where to go next? Start writing and work these ideas or things into your story.

Magical Items

Matching gems : Two pieces of jewelry with matching gemstones. When worn by two different people, they can communicate telepathically no matter how far apart they are.

Sword of Innocence : When wielded by someone with a pure heart and good intentions, it turns into an invincible weapon against those who are truly evil.

Enchanted Chalk : A piece of chalk that can create working doors. Draw two doors at point A and B, and travel between them instantly no matter their actual, physical distance. Draw a single door on a flat, solid surface, and pass through to the other side. You can have as many active doors as you want, but make sure you protect them. Once the door is smeared or washed away, it becomes useless. All doors disappear when the chalk runs out.

Magical Abilities

Blood Magic : If you posses blood magic, your magic resides within your blood. To use it, you must draw blood. The amount of blood drawn will determine the strength and duration of the spell or ability.

Magic Tattoos : Magical abilities are gained through tattoos. This gives a lot of control, power, and reverence to tattoo artists. They are among the wealthiest on the earth. Size, location, and design are all relevant to the ability being gained. Tattoos around the eyes will grant magical sight, tattoos on the head can grant telepathy, tattoos on the arms can grant strength, etc.

• Keep your powers a secret by getting tattoos that are hidden.
• Curses can be laid by tattooing someone against their will
• Tattoos gradually fade as power is used

Finders : A finder has the ability to locate lost items. They can simply touch a person, and they will be able to mentally locate the lost item in question. A seemingly simple thing, but extremely sought after. Finders are valuable, and therefore quite rich and powerful.

Dive Into Your Own Fantasy World

Hopefully, this list of fantasy writing prompts has given you some ideas that will either get you started or keep you going. Even the most simple and basic ideas can be turned into something incredible with the use of a creative imagination. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and put your own personal twist on some of these ideas. Change them as much as you want and make them your own!

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50 Fiction Writing Prompts and Ideas to Inspire You to Write

Hannah Yang

Table of Contents

How fiction writing prompts can help writers, top 50 fiction writing prompts, how prowritingaid can help with fiction writing, conclusion on fiction writing prompts and ideas.

Have you ever wanted to write a story but had no idea what to write about?

If you’re familiar with that feeling, you’re not alone. At some point in their lives, every writer has sat down in front of a blank page with no idea what to write next.

When you’re in that situation, it might be helpful to look at a list of potential story ideas. A great prompt can help kick-start your creativity and get you in the mood for writing again.

In this article, we’ll give you all our favorite fiction writing prompts to inspire you to write.

There are countless ways fiction writing prompts can benefit you. Here are a few reasons you might want to use a writing prompt:

To start a new short story or novel

To practice writing in a new genre or writing style so you can expand your skill set and try something new

To warm up at the beginning of each writing session

To make sure you’re in a creative state of mind when you tackle your existing writing projects

So, pick up a pen and a notebook, and let’s get started!

Here are 50 fantastic fiction writing prompts that will help you start your next story. To help you choose a prompt that excites you, we’ve split them into several categories: fantasy, sci-fi, mystery, romance, and contemporary.

Fantasy Prompts

You’ve inherited your grandfather’s antique shop, and you’re surprised to find strange objects with magical powers inside.

You set out to break the curse that’s followed your family for generations.

You can see visions of the future, but you learned long ago to keep them to yourself. Now, you have to speak up or risk losing everything you love.

You work for a zoo filled with magical creatures.

You’re a lawyer in a fantasy world, and your job is to negotiate contracts between the humans and the gods.

A company harvests dragon scales, unicorn hair, and other magical items to sell for profit.

You find a portal to a fantasy world in your backyard.

You find a magical item that will make all your wishes come true—but it’s extremely literal in its interpretations.

A supernatural monster kidnaps your best friend. You set out to rescue her.

Your parents gave different aspects of their magical powers to each of their children. Compared to your siblings, you definitely got the short end of the stick.

Sci-fi Prompts

Write an adaptation of your favorite classic tale—in space.

Aliens come to Earth, but they’re here for reasons no one expected.

Scientists have found ways to transfer memories between different people. You're the first person to sell all of yours.

Write about an entire world where people can buy and sell years of their lives.

What would happen if you woke up in someone else’s body and they woke up in yours?

You live in a moon colony surrounded by high walls. One day, someone breaches the walls.

Your parents send you to a summer camp filled with time travelers.

You accidentally stumble through a portal to a parallel universe where everything is the same as our universe, except for one key difference.

In a world where everyone’s DNA is genetically engineered to best suit their roles in the community, you have to hide that your DNA doesn’t match your chosen career.

You land on a new planet and realize the plants there are more intelligent than humans.

Write like a bestselling author

Love writing? ProWritingAid will help you improve the style, strength, and clarity of your stories.

Mystery Prompts

You wake up with no memory of who you are, except for a single name.

Every day, a strange drawing appears in your mailbox, and they get more and more disturbing.

You receive a letter inviting you to a free weekend getaway, and you have no idea who the host is.

Your father is keeping something strange in the attic.

A man throws an elaborate party in an attempt to conceal a crime.

You realize you’ve been sleepwalking every night, and you have no idea what your sleeping self has been up to.

You thought your husband was dead. So why is he still writing you letters?

Your brother was murdered years ago. The police have stopped investigating, but you’re still looking for the killer.

Two friends discover a serial killer's secret hideout.

A young woman discovers a frightening secret while she's on her first hunting trip with her husband's family.

Romance Prompts

Two soldiers on different sides of a war develop feelings for each other.

A member of the royal family falls in love with her bodyguard.

You’ve resigned yourself to a loveless arranged marriage, but fate has other plans.

You’ve had a crush on your best friend your entire life. Now, he’s about to get married to someone else.

You go on a first date and find yourself stuck in a time loop, so you have to keep going on that date over and over.

Two rivals have to pretend to be in a relationship—and end up accidentally falling for each other.

After a bad breakup, you move to a new town—and find yourself attracted to your next-door neighbor.

When two exes are forced to work together, they rekindle old feelings.

You fall in love with someone from a different dimension, so you can only see each other once a year when the portal opens.

After your plane crash-lands on a deserted island, you develop a bond with one of the other survivors.

Contemporary Prompts

Write an adaptation of your favorite classic tale set in the town you grew up in.

Two best friends go on a road trip and encounter a problem they never expected.

An adopted orphan goes on a journey to reconnect with her birth family.

You’re told a family secret that changes everything you think you know about your life.

A group of friends takes a practical joke too far, leading to disaster.

A college student creates an invention for a technology class and accidentally goes viral.

A painter in her early eighties struggles with her slow descent into blindness.

A couple breaks up, but the ramifications of their breakup follow them for decades.

A carefree playboy is forced to adopt a child, which changes his whole life.

You’re framed for a crime you didn’t commit, and nobody believes you’re innocent—except for your estranged sister.

No matter what type of story you’re writing, ProWritingAid is a great tool to help you make your writing shine.

ProWritingAid will suggest ways to improve various weaknesses in your writing, such as grammar mistakes, repetitive words, passive voice, unnecessary dialogue tags, and more.

You can even tell ProWritingAid what type of fiction you’re writing, such as fantasy or historical fiction, to get customized suggestions that match your genre.

There you have it—our complete list of the best fiction writing prompts to inspire you to write.

Try out your favorite one, and see if you can turn it into a unique story. 

Good luck, and happy writing!

Hannah is a speculative fiction writer who loves all things strange and surreal. She holds a BA from Yale University and lives in Colorado. When she’s not busy writing, you can find her painting watercolors, playing her ukulele, or hiking in the Rockies. Follow her work on hannahyang.com or on Twitter at @hannahxyang.

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50 fantasy writing prompts to inspire

November 10, 2023 by Richard Leave a Comment

Step into a realm of magic and wonder with this collection of 50 fantasy writing prompts. From tales of powerful wizards to adventures with dragons, angels, and mystical lands, let these story ideas spark your imagination. Whether you want to write about an apprentice caught up in magical mishaps, an epic quest against a dark lord, or supernatural mysteries in a secret world, you’ll find inspiration here. With ideas spanning common fantasy tropes to fresh new twists, these prompts aim to ignite that creative spark and help you craft your own original fantasy stories. Each prompt provides a starting point – a single scene or concept to launch your tale. Where you take it from there is up to you. Will you create sprawling epics or flash fiction? Lighthearted adventures or chilling dark fantasy? Let your inner world-builder run wild. So gather your figurative sword and shield, ready your spells, and embark on a vision quest into the realm of fantasy writing. Exciting quests and magical tales await.

• Write about a magician’s apprentice who accidentally summons a monster during a spell gone wrong.
• A knight goes on a quest to slay a dragon, only to find the dragon is good. Now they must prevent the corrupt king from finding and killing it.
• The orphan stable boy discovers he can communicate with horses, then finds out he’s actually the heir to a horse lord.
• A witch’s spellbook of potions is accidentally swapped with a cookbook at the local library. Write about the magical chaos that ensues.
• An elf sets out on a mission to find their missing sibling, believed to be held captive by a band of trolls.
• The blacksmith’s apprentice turns out to be the prophesied one with the power to wield a legendary magical hammer.
• Two children wander into a dark forest only to realize it is the gateway to the fairy realm.
• A half-elf teen tries to find out whether their mother or father was the magical one so they can learn more about their talents.
• Twins are separated at birth – one is raised as a prince, the other by wolves in the forest. They eventually meet and switch places.
• A farmboy discovers a glowing stone in a field, which speaks to him and gives him magical powers.
• A wizard detective works to solve mysteries in a realm where magic is common and spells cause chaos.
• The youngest prince sets out to save his brothers from the fairy who cursed them to live as swans.
• Write about an alternate 1840s where magic rules, following a mage who solves magical crimes.
• A half-angel, half-demon character is rejected by both communities. On their journey they discover a third way.
• A seemingly average goblin works to gain respect and improve conditions for goblin workers in a world of elves.
• An explorer discovers a lost civilization of advanced magic users and accidentally unleashes an ancient evil.
• A mermaid saved the life of a drowning human. Now she longs to meet them again despite the divide of their worlds.
• The Grim Reaper’s scythe is stolen. Now they must retrieve it before the natural order spirals into chaos.
• A witch with healing magic feels called to help during a devastating outbreak after regular medicine fails.
• A hero discovers a hidden land where mythical creatures live – mermaids, centaurs, griffins, etc. But an evil presence looms.
• The human king tries to default on a deal with the fairy queen. She sends a fairy to claim the firstborn child as payment.
• A bard fulfills legends by slaying mythical beasts. But they discover the mythical beasts were good all along.
• A seemingly crazy old wizard helps a magic apprentice recover knowledge and skills lost to a curse.
• A mage who can absorb others’ magic seeks out the source of all magic to gain ultimate power.
• Two immortal lovers continually find each other over centuries but destiny and magic keeps tearing them apart.
• A thief steals magical artifacts from guarded places. On the run, they discover one item’s dark purpose.
• A cursed amulet that transforms the wearer into a ravenous monster has been lost. Someone must find and contain it before it’s worn again.
• In the ultimate showdown between good and evil, an average person’s choice unexpectedly tips the scales.
• A wizarding duel goes wrong, and two mages’ consciousnesses accidentally end up switched into each other’s bodies.
• A magic user is outlawed and hunted for powers beyond their control. They search for sanctuary with others like them.
• An evil necromancer raises an undead army. One soldier regains sentience and seeks to stop them from within.
• A seafaring nation invades an island kingdom rumored to be protected by a powerful sea monster.
• On a planet with high and low magic realms, a traveler discovers their true magical identity during a perilous journey.
• The orphan stable boy can actually talk to animals. When the prince goes missing, only he can gather clues from the wildlife.
• The gods walk among humans through avatars that incarnate in each new generation. You’re one – but which god is within you?
• The prince is put under an enchanted sleep, and the princess must uncover how to break the spell.
• A shifter who can transform into a dragon discovers a hidden community of other shifters and an underground resistance.
• You’re trapped in a magical video game world. The only way back home? Defeat the dark sorcerer boss.
• A camping trip goes awry when the forest comes alive with mythical creatures bent on driving away humans.
• A wizard school dropout is the underdog against a rival bent on controlling dangerous forbidden magic to dominate the kingdom.
• A grief-stricken inventor creates a homunculus in his loved one’s image, but magic cannot recreate their soul.
• A cursed mushroom circle transports people through the fairy realm, but they can never return to the human world.
• A prophecy says only a child born during an eclipse can wield the Chosen One’s sword and defeat the spreading darkness.
• A thief picking pockets on crowded market day accidentally lifts an amulet imprisoning an ancient djinni bent on revenge.
• A sibling seeks a magic cure for supernatural creature blood so their werewolf sister can lead a normal life.
• A grieving dryad binds her life force to the towering ancient oak, cursing loggers from cutting it down again.
• Villagers sacrifice maidens to the monster in the old temple until one day his latest victim breaks free. She wants vengeance.
• You’re accepted into a secret magical order, but your mentor is suspicious of your immense gifts. Are you the prophesied one…or spy?
• A wish gone wrong – now you keep involuntarily shifting into your Halloween costume form! How do you lift the magic?
• A half-elf searches their missing human mother’s childhood home for clues about why she abandoned her people. The mystery reveals a dark royal secret.

Let these 50 fantasy prompts open portals to mythical lands, incredible magic, and epic adventures. Whether you’re a seasoned fantasy author or just starting out, use these ideas as a launchpad to take your writing to fantastical new heights. Each prompt is a story seed bursting with potential. Where they bloom is up to you. Craft tales of heroism and villainy, mythical quests, supernatural occurrences, or mystical worlds. Give life to colorful characters on extraordinary journeys. With this collection of prompts as your guide, you’re sure to craft sensational stories that capture the imagination. Now ready your pen, pick a prompt that inspires you, and begin – your own magical tale awaits. Please remember to check out our other writing 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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93 Fantasy Writing Prompts: From Dragons to Dwarves, These Scenarios Will Spark Your Imagination

By: Author Paul Jenkins

Posted on September 20, 2022

Categories Writing , Creativity , Inspiration , Storytelling

Do you love writing fantasy stories? Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced writer aiming at a short story or novel, these fantasy creative writing prompts will get your imagination flowing and help you create some amazing new stories. From dragons to dwarves, these scenarios will spark your creativity and help you develop some awesome plotlines. So what are you waiting for? Take a story idea from the extensive list below, and start writing!

31 Fantasy Writing Prompts to Unleash Your Imagination

If you’re looking for some inspiration for your next fantasy story, look no further! Here are writing prompts to get your creative juices flowing.

1. Write a story about a dragon discovered in a cave beneath a small village.

2. What if dwarves were the dominant species on Earth? Write a story about two humans who stumble into their world.

3. Write a story about an elf on a quest to save the human race from an evil sorcerer.

4. What if there was a portal that led to another world? Write a story about the first group of people who travel through it.

5. Write a story set in a world where magic is commonplace.

6. What if there was a war between the witches and wizards? Write a story about two kids caught in the middle of it all.

7. What if everyone had to choose between being human or animal? Write a story about those who choose to be animals and what life is like for them.

8. In a world where mermaids are real, write a story about a mermaid who falls in love with a human.

9. Write a story about the first person to be granted magic abilities after a long time without them.

10. Write a story about a dragon who can’t speak.

11. What would have happened if the evil sorcerer won the fight against the elves and their allies? Write a story about the time after he rules the world.

12. Write a story about a dragon taken in by a wizard as a pet.

13. Write a story about a young woman with magical powers who uses them to fight against the evil sorcerer.

14. Write a story about a quest to find magic in a world where it is feared.

15. Write a story about a human boy who is sent to a world of magical beings.

16. Write a story about the offspring of an angel and a human.

17. Write a story about a woman who is set on killing the evil sorcerer.

18. What if a group of people was devoted to punishing sinners? Write a story about the first time they find someone who seems to have no sin.

19. What if the evil sorcerer was trapped in a world with only children? Write a story about his time there.

20. Write a story about the first war between the angels and the demons.

21. Write a story about the first person to be able to time travel.

22. Write a story about a boy who falls in love with an angel.

23. Write a story about a woman who enters another world to fight in their war.

24. What would a world be like where only women were allowed to wield magic? Write a story about them.

25. What if there was a place where the dead could be brought back to life? Write a story about the first person to discover it.

26. What if a human was sent to a world where only animals and magical creatures were real? Write a story about the human who lives there.

27. What would happen if the evil sorcerer had no limit to the magic he could wield? Write a story about the world he rules.

28. What if demons and angels were real? Write a story about a young man who falls in love with a demon.

29. What would have happened if there was a portal to a world where magic was commonplace? Write a story about the people who travel through it.

30. What if there was a portal to another world where magic did not exist? Write a story about the first person to travel through it.

31. Write a story about a princess who is forced to marry an evil sorcerer to save her people.

6 Epic Fantasy Prompts Based on a Character

1. As an elf on a quest to save the human race from the evil sorcerer, Alice must brave dangerous and fantastical lands, fighting fearsome monsters and powerful wizards.

2. Determined to stop the sorcerer and his army of minions, Alice must gather a band of allies who will help her in her quest: brave warriors, cunning thieves, wise mages, and more.

3. As she journeys across stunning magical landscapes filled with all manner of creatures, both magical and monstrous, Alice begins to discover dark secrets about herself and those who would stand against the evil sorcerer.

4. Against seemingly insurmountable odds, can Alice save the human race from destruction at the hands of the evil sorcerer? Only time will tell…

5. Under the tutelage of the wise wizard, Alice learns powerful spells and incantations, the likes of which have not been seen since the war between the angels and demons.

6. With the help of her newfound magical powers, Alice defeats the evil sorcerer and restores peace to the world.

6 Epic Fantasy Prompts Based on a Setting

1. Set in a world filled with mythological creatures, Elves, Dwarves, and magical beings, this story follows a young woman and her band of adventurers as they journey across the land battling creatures and saving people trapped in danger.

2. A world filled with magic, Gods and Goddesses, and a powerful evil sorcerer who has captured the Goddess of Light to rule the land. The Fairy Godmother has sent the young Princess away to protect her, but when the Godmother herself is captured, the Princess must embark on a quest to rescue the Godmother and defeat the sorcerer.

3. Deep in the forests, a battle rages between a powerful sorcerer and the fearsome King of the Elves. The Elf King seeks a powerful magical artifact to aid him in his quest to defeat the sorcerer, but he must find the artifact before the sorcerer does.

4. In a land ruled by a powerful sorcerer where magic is forbidden and all magical creatures are forced to wear a collar to prevent them from using their powers, a young woman is discovered to have magical powers. She is forced to fight against the sorcerer.

5. A land where dragons are hunted and forced to live in hiding while the evil sorcerer ruthlessly rules the land with an iron fist and his army of green-skinned soldiers.

6. On a quest to defeat the evil sorcerer and save the magical creatures of the land, an elf named Alice finds herself fighting for her life against creatures and humans who want to see her dead.

10 Fantasy Characters Based on a Theme

1. Write a story about a group of people who must sacrifice a loved one to harness the power of a curse.

2. Write a story about a man who is cursed with immortality.

3. Write a story about a kingdom that is cursed to live in a permanent winter.

4. Write a story about an evil sorcerer who casts a curse to make all the world’s children disappear.

5. Write a story about an elf who is cursed to change into a monster every night.

6. Write a story about an evil sorcerer who has cursed an entire land.

7. Write a story about a war caused by a curse.

8. Write a story about a witch who is cursed to leave her homeland.

9. Write a story about a man who is cursed to fall in love with a woman.

10. Write a story about a mage who is cursed with immortality.

10 Dark Fantasy Writing Prompts

1. Amidst the snowy mountains and murky swamps of a land haunted by dark magic, a young woman with untapped magical powers must embark on a dangerous journey to defeat an evil sorcerer and save the realm from utter destruction.

2. Trapped in the shadowy depths of a cursed forest filled with monstrous creatures, a group of warriors must band together and overcome their fears if they hope to survive and finally escape the grips of darkness.

3. Struggling against his inner demons and those beyond this world, an ambitious sorcerer sets out on a quest for ultimate power, one that will pit him against not only other sorcerers but also ancient gods and powerful monsters.

4. As kingdoms rise and fall amid violent wars fought with bloodthirsty armies, nefarious dark wizards seek to harness ever more destructive forms of magic in their bid for total control over all creation.

5. In a world where good and evil are merely illusions created by the powerful to manipulate the masses, a young woman finds herself trapped in a city filled with the walking dead, a city under the rule of a powerful sorcerer.

6. In a world where magic is coveted and feared, one young mage must end the violent rebellion of a manipulative and powerful sorcerer if he hopes to win the affection of the woman he loves.

7. In a land ruled by an evil sorcerer and his army of monsters, a young woman must team up with a band of would-be heroes- mercenaries, thieves, and misfits- to overthrow the sorcerer and set the land free.

8. In a world where the dead are reborn, a small group of scientists finds themselves under attack from the dead when an evil sorcerer unleashes an army of zombies and vampires upon the world.

9. In a land ruled by an ancient and powerful evil sorcerer, a young woman who has managed to escape his grasp must find a way to destroy him or see the whole world turned into a living hell.

10. In a land ruled by a brutal and violent king, a young woman and a young man must fight for their lives as they attempt to restore peace to the land.

10 Noir Fantasy Prompts

1. In a dark and smog-filled city ruled by a powerful king, a young woman and her band of rebels must end the cruel king and his equally cruel queen, who slaughter their subjects and sacrifice them on the palace’s steps.

2. In the shadowy underside of a temple filled with all manner of creatures – human and otherwise – a young man must team up with a group of ruthless criminals to rescue his love interest from the dark god who rules over the temple all of its inhabitants.

3. On the run from the police, a young man finds himself drawn into the shadowy underworld of an unfamiliar city-a place where no one can be trusted, especially those with a badge.

4. Locked away in a high-security prison, a mysterious man with no memory of his past finds himself forced to fight for his life against a group of prisoners who can change into mythological beasts.

5. On the run from an evil ritualistic cult and the police, a small group of magicians and psychics must piece together clues about a murder to clear their names.

6. Having escaped from a psychiatric hospital, a young man with a dark and terrible secret goes on a quest to find out more about his past and the people who tried to destroy him.

7. In a city ruled by an evil shadow ruler and his sister, a young man must take on an army of hitmen, assassins, and dragon-riding villains to rescue his missing sister and leave the city with his life.

8. Trapped in a high-security prison, a small group of inmates fight for survival against an army of monsters, mutants, and maniacs imprisoned alongside them.

9. In search of the man who kidnapped his sister, a bounty hunter finds himself thrown into a world of deadly magical creatures and terrifying abominations.

10. In a world where magic is outlawed and all magical creatures are ruthlessly hunted and forced to live in hiding, a young mage must end the violence and bloodshed caused by the evil witch who rules the land.

10 Fantasy Romance Writing Prompts Based on a Fantasy World

1. On a quest to save their kingdom, a young man and young woman find themselves face to face with an evil sorcerer who has stolen the soul of the young woman’s sister.

2. In the aftermath of a war between angels and demons, a young man and a young woman must fight the powerful Lord of the Shadows to save the world from eternal darkness.

3. In a land full of magical creatures forced to wear collars that prevent them from using their powers, a young woman and young man must work together to stop a conspiracy between the elvish king and the evil sorcerer.

4. In a land ruled by a brutal and violent king, a young woman and her band of rebels must end the cruel king and his equally cruel queen, who slaughter their subjects and sacrifice them on the palace’s steps.

5. In a world where magic is coveted and feared, one young mage must end the violent rebellion of a manipulative and powerful sorcerer if he hopes to win the affection of the woman he loves.

6. In a land filled with dragons, unicorns, and other magical creatures, an elvish prince sets out on a dangerous journey to rescue a young woman from a castle filled with dangerous beasts and deadly knights.

7. In a country full of gruesome monsters, a young woman must race against time to save her best friend’s life, a young man whom a venomous snake has poisoned.

8. In a land ravaged by war, an elvish princess must fight against the odds if she hopes to find love amidst the chaos and treachery.

9. In a dark and smog-filled city ruled by a powerful king, a young woman and her band of rebels must end the cruel king and his equally cruel queen, who slaughter their subjects and sacrifice them on the palace’s steps.

10. After being on the run from an evil sorcerer, a young woman must race against time to put an end to her tormentor once and for all.

10 Urban Fantasy Plot Ideas

1. In a shadowy city filled with monsters and mutants, a young woman who is a gifted psychic must team up with a group of young criminals-human, and otherwise-if she hopes to survive and save the city from a powerful telepathic villain.

2. In a world where magic is feared and reviled by the masses, a young man must find a way to restore peace to the land by challenging the powerful sorcerer who is using his magic to manipulate the people.

3. In a futuristic world where scientists regularly reanimate the dead, a young woman and a young man with a dark and terrible secret must work together to fight an evil dictator and his army of mutants.

4. On the run from a group of dangerous hitmen, a young woman finds herself drawn into the dark underworld of an unfamiliar city-a place where no one can be trusted, especially those with a badge.

5. In the aftermath of a deadly plague that swept the world, a young woman and the small group of survivors she finds must fight for their lives in a world overrun by the living dead.

6. In a world where magic and genetic engineering co-exist, a band of genetically-altered humans must end the evil experiments of a scientist out to create an army of mutants.

7. In a world where death is no longer feared, a young girl and a young man must work together to destroy the evil drug creating a new breed of zombie.

8. On the run from a dangerous conspiracy, a young woman finds herself drawn into the dark underworld of an unfamiliar city-a place where no one can be trusted, especially those with a badge.

9. In a city where magic is outlawed and all magical creatures are ruthlessly hunted and forced to live in hiding, a young mage must end the violence and bloodshed caused by the evil witch who rules the land.

10. On the run from a group of dangerous hitmen, a young woman finds herself drawn into the dark underworld of an unfamiliar city-a place where no one can be trusted, especially those with a badge.

What Is a Fantasy Story Example?

A fantasy story is a story that takes place in a world that is not our own. This world usually has magical or supernatural elements to it. A good fantasy story will transport the reader to a different and exciting world.

One of the most famous examples of a fantasy story is J. R. R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings.” In this story, the world of Middle-earth is under threat from the Dark Lord Sauron. A fellowship of heroes must embark on a quest to destroy the One Ring before Sauron can get his hands on it. Along the way, they face many challenges and make new friends (and enemies).

Another great fantasy story example is C. S. Lewis’s “The Chronicles of Narnia.” In this series, four children are transported to the magical world of Narnia, where they help Aslan, the lion, defeat the White Witch. These stories are examples of classic high fantasy, one of the most popular subgenres of fantasy fiction.

Some other popular subgenres of fantasy include urban fantasy, dark fantasy, and gaslamp fantasy. Urban fantasy stories take place in modern-day cities but with a supernatural twist. Examples of urban fantasy include Jim Butcher’s “Dresden Files” series and Charlaine Harris’s “Sookie Stackhouse” series (better known as the basis for HBO’s “True Blood”).

Dark fantasy stories are often quite gruesome and may even border on horror. They tend to deal with themes of death and decay. Some examples of dark fantasy include George R. R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” series (better known as “Game of Thrones”) and Anne Rice’s “The Vampire Chronicles.”

Gaslamp fantasy is a subgenre that often features Victorian or Edwardian settings and may even include steampunk elements. One well-known example of gaslamp fantasy is Alan Moore’s graphic novel series “The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.”

There are many different types of fantasy stories out there for writers to explore. What kind of world will you create? The possibilities are limitless!

How to Write a Hook in Fantasy

You use a hook to snag your reader’s attention and draw them into your story. It’s the first sentence (or sometimes the first paragraph) of your story, and it’s important because it sets the tone for the rest of the story. In fantasy, hooks are often used to world build – that is, to give the reader a taste of the setting and the rules of the world without information dumping.

There are a few things to keep in mind when writing a hook for a fantasy novel.

• You want to make sure that your hook is interesting and reflective of the type of story you’re telling. Your hook should reflect that tone if your story is a light-hearted romp. Your hook should reflect that if you’re going for a more serious, dark story.
• Make sure your hook introduces some element of mystery or leaves the reader with questions. This will encourage them to keep reading to learn more about this new world they’ve been introduced to.
• Your hook should be reflective of your main character’s voice. This is important because it helps ground the reader in the story from the beginning. Having your main character’s voice present from the start gives the impression that this is their story, and we are just along for the ride.
• Ensure that your hook provides just enough information without giving too much away. You don’t want to overload the reader with information in the beginning, as it can be overwhelming and cause them to put down your book before they’ve even started.

A good hook will make or break your book. It’s important to take time to craft a strong hook that accurately reflects both your story and your main character. Following these tips, you can write a fantasy novel that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end!

5 Mistakes to Avoid As a Fantasy Writer

1. Worldbuilding Info-Dump Instead of Showing

Fantasy worlds are rich and detailed, and it can be tempting to want to share all of your hard work with your readers. However, information dumps are one of the quickest ways to bore your readers and lose their interest. Instead of dumping huge amounts of exposition on your readers all at once, try to weave the worldbuilding into the story itself. For example, if you’re describing a new city, have your characters explore it and react to its sights, smells, and sounds. This will not only help your readers to understand the world better, but it will also make them feel more invested in the story.

2. Using Tired Tropes Instead of Being Original

One of the challenges of writing speculative fiction and fantasy is coming up with ideas that feel fresh and original. However, rehashing tired old tropes is a guaranteed way to turn off your readers. If you want your work to stand out from the rest, take some time to brainstorm some original ideas. Not sure where to start? Try looking at other fantasy stories and asking yourself how you could do things differently.

3. Flat Characters Instead of Fully-Developed Ones

Your characters are what make your story come alive. It’s important to take the time to develop them fully. Unfortunately, many writers fall into the trap of creating flat characters just as one-dimensional archetypes. If you want your readers to care about your characters, you need to give them the flaws, complexities, and goals they’re striving for (even if they’re not always successful). In short: make them feel like real people!

4. Predictable Plots Instead of Twisty Ones

Nothing is more frustrating for a reader than feeling like they can see where the story is going from a mile away. It’s one of the drawbacks of the popularity of the fantasy genre; If you want to keep your readers guessing, you need to come up with a plot full of twists and turns-preferably ones that they won’t see coming. One way to do this is by subverting expectations; for example, if everyone in your story expects the heroes to triumph, in the end, try having them lose instead (or vice versa). No matter what you do, just make sure that your plot is anything but predictable!

5. Excessive Violence/Gore Instead of Strategic Action

Violence and gore can certainly be used effectively in fantasy stories-but only if it’s done in moderation and with a purpose. Oftentimes, writers go overboard with the violence in their stories, resulting in gratuitous scenes that add nothing to the plot or character development. If you choose to include violence in your story, be sure that it furthers the plot or sheds light on the characters involved – anything less will just feel like filler material.

How to Write Fantasy For Kids

Did you know the Harry Potter series was rejected 12 times before it was published? J.K. Rowling persevered because she believed in her story and knew that there was an audience for it. Now, the Harry Potter series is one of the most popular book series of all time. If you’re a writer with an idea for a fantasy story for kids, don’t give up! You can make your dream a reality with a little bit of elbow grease.

Here’s how to write fantasy for kids.

Step One: Do Your Research

Before you sit down to write your story, it’s important to do your research. Read books in the genre, watch movies, and talk to kids to see what they’re interested in. What elements do they like? What would make them keep reading? Once you have a good understanding of the market, you can start brainstorming ideas for your story.

Step Two: Create A Believable World

To hook your readers, you need to create a believable world for them when writing fantastical realms. This world should have its history, legends, and customs. Spend some time fleshing out the details of your world so that it feels real to your readers.

Step Three: Write An Engaging Story

Once the background information is sorted out, it’s time to start writing your story! Keep your readers engaged by raising the stakes and including plenty of action. Take the time to come up with interesting fantasy elements. Does your main character have a magical ability or magical power? Make it as unique as possible. Does a mythical creature play an important role in your story? Give it a personality! Don’t forget to leave room for a sequel; if your readers love your book, they’ll be begging for more.

Writing fantasy for kids can be daunting, but it’s doable with a little effort. If you follow these steps, you’ll be well on your way!

Creative Writing Prompts for Sci-Fi & Fantasy Lovers

by Melissa Donovan | Nov 28, 2023 | Creative Writing Prompts | 45 comments

Fantastical creative writing prompts.

Today’s post includes a selection of prompts from my book, 1200 Creative Writing Prompts . Enjoy!

In the world of creative writing, we’ve only begun tapping the possibilities in speculative fiction, a genre that includes science fiction, fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, horror, and superhero stories, as well as anything that ventures beyond known reality.

Speculative fiction is an under-recognized genre: academia and literary elitists traditionally haven’t given it much credence, although it has been gaining acclaim in recent years.

But the genre’s fans are rabid. In fact, you won’t find a more dedicated group of readers anywhere else, which makes reading and writing speculative fiction a delight.

Plus, it’s a lot of fun to step outside of reality and see just what your imagination can do.

You can write about knights and dragons, spaceships and far-off planets, the apocalypse, ghosts, or strange islands with magical properties. In the world of speculative fiction, anything goes.

Creative Writing Prompts

• As passengers disembark from a transatlantic flight, they start to experience amnesia—all of the passengers except one. The farther they go from the plane, the more severe their amnesia becomes. Will they risk forgetting everything?
• Four friends on a nature hike discover a deep cave, complete with running water. As they go deeper and deeper into the cave, they find strange objects–human skeletons, an old computer from the early 80s, a gas mask, and strange mango-sized orbs that emit a glowing blue light.
• The earth has been ravaged by war, famine, disease, and devastating natural disasters. In less than a decade, the population has dwindled from seven billion to less than 42,000. There is no law or order. The grid is gone. Everyone is struggling to survive.
• The year is 1623. A visitor comes to a small, tribal village. The visitor is wearing blue jeans, an old rock-band tee shirt, and a fedora and is carrying a pack that contains a solar-powered laptop computer.
• Two children, a boy and a girl, decide to make a time capsule and bury it at the edge of a farm, under a big oak tree. While digging, they unearth a metallic object the size of a shoe box. It’s shaped like a bullet and has the number 8 engraved on it. It appears to be a container, since it rattles when they shake it. But there is no obvious way to open it.
• A man who sees ghosts checks himself into a mental institution, oblivious to the fact that the facility has been closed for almost thirty years.
• A surgeon who does not believe in miracles is diagnosed with an aggressive terminal illness and is given six months to live. Three years later, the surgeon is alive and perfectly healthy.
• A con man who convinces people they’ve been abducted by aliens and takes their money… is abducted by aliens.
• A deadly virus hits a highly populated metropolitan area, killing thousands of people. After it passes, those who survived start realizing they have acquired bizarre talents and abilities.
• A traveler picks up a souvenir, a strange and colorful rock with one side that is completely flat. As she goes about her travels, she realizes that when she has the rock with her, she can understand any language that people are speaking but can only speak her own native language.
• While on vacation on a tropical island, a young couple spots a strange bird that speaks their names. When the bird takes off, they decide to follow it.
• A sixteen-year-old growing up on a ranch is out in a storm, gets hit by lightning, and survives. After that, the kid can hear other people’s (or animals’) thoughts.
• A young girl starts having recurring dreams about a dragon. In one of the dreams, the dragon says, “You made me.” The girl becomes obsessed with dragons and decides her life purpose is to become a genetic biologist so she can, indeed, make a real dragon.
• A team of researchers in a submarine is caught in a deadly sea storm. The instruments on board go haywire. The submarine submerges deep into the ocean in search of calm waters until the storm passes. Afterward, the submarine surfaces, but the instruments are still not functioning properly. They can’t get a fix on their location or find land, which should be nearby. When night falls, the researchers realize there are two moons in the sky and the constellations are completely unfamiliar.

Remember, these creative writing prompts are meant to be inspiring. If one of them gives you an idea, run with it. You don’t have to stick with what the prompt says. Change the characters, the situation, or the setting. Just go with the flow, and keep writing. And if you have any creative writing prompts of your own, feel free to share them in the comments.

45 Comments

Love these prompts!! I’m pretty good with prompts so I can’t wait to run with these. 😀

Awesome! Be sure to come back and tell us what you came up with.

i have won a writing competion in the past and now i have writers block. I am really hoping that these will give me something to write about 🙂

I hope these prompts inspire you. Sometimes the only way to get past writer’s block is to force yourself to write, even if you’re not feeling particularly inspired or passionate. Aim for 250-500 words per day, give yourself writing assignments (writing exercises are great for this purpose), and the block will subside.

Writers block can die, or can it? Because without writers block we wouldn’t have some of these amazing prompts:]

This looks great to a aspiring writer like me….. this makes me to get more ideas on sci fi stories and other stuffs…. Nice and useful work …….

Thanks! I had a blast coming up with these prompts.

I love reading speculative fiction and I agree, it is an under-recognized genre. These prompts are amazing, really a wonderful gift to the writing community.

Thanks, Charlotte. I’m a huge fan of speculative fiction in everything from books to movies and TV shows.

Wow, these prompts are great and really spark some interesting ideas. Thank you for sharing these 🙂

Awesome! Comments like yours inspire me to keep creating these prompts.

wow i read through most of these and a smile cam out everytime. I write these ideas down and of course ill run with them. These are awesome. Thank you!

Thanks, Amanda. I’m glad you had fun with these. I definitely had fun writing them!

I reallylike these prompts – they give enough detail to spark an idea but are not too restricting – awesome job. I set prompts for my writers circle web site every Saturday so if you would be kind enough to give me permission I may use one or two of the above. The site is – http://wfscsherwoodpark.com so please feel free to visit before making a decision. My first novel was speculative fiction – set in an alternative world with woman ruling the men. Thank you for the prompts and I hope to hear from you in due course. MandyB

Thanks, Mandy. Yes, please feel free to share the prompts with your writing group. However, the article containing the prompts cannot be republished in full anywhere except here at Writing Forward due to copyright. You can always use a link!

My only desire is that these prompts would be more expandable and less kiddy, i’m not trying to over critize but my writer’s block has made me a little cranky :p

Well, nobody’s forcing you to use them. I’m sorry you’re cranky. I re-read these prompts and I just don’t see them as childish. But everyone’s entitled to their own opinions.

These prompts are amazing!! My imagination is already running wild on several of your ideas… Love, love, love them!!

Thanks, Bradly! I’m glad you found these writing prompts helpful. Best of luck to you!

Wow, I’m so impressed by these prompts! I love them. All the writing prompts I’ve encountered before have, for the most part, been SO dull; these are far from.

Thanks, Lauren! I am so glad you found these useful. And thanks for letting me know; comments like yours keep these prompts coming!

Loved these! I wrote about #10, the deadly virus, as a short story and if you want to read it you can here:

http://www.booksie.com/science_fiction/short_story/avery01/morf:-virus-gone-wild

Thank you so much!

That’s great, Avery! Thanks for sharing it.

I just used the idea though. Someone gave it to me as a prompt for a contest. Then, I was browsing through google and came across it here! Just thougt you’d want to now.

Thanks! These are amazing! I’m sure to use a few!

You’re welcome! Good luck!

Gave me some awesome Ideas for my blog Thanks. I’ll let you know if I use anything

Sounds good!

I am a 6th grader. my friends and I are all fans of different genres so we are having a contest to decide which one we like the most as a whole. I obviously like speculative fiction! thank you for the promts!!!

Speculative and literary fiction are my favorites!

along with being sick for the past five days I’ve been on writers block and been looking up prompts like crazy. Finally I realized that if a prompt got me interested the thing to do was let my mind run with it and here’s what I came up with: It’s 2058 and archaeologists have started uncovering some unusual skeletons in the remains of mountain ranges and the arctic. Multiple of the skeletons resemble what we would think to be dragons. Others are equine with a single straight bone from the forehead. They’ve discovered the bones of creatures said to only exist in fairy tales. On the day a high school sophomore class takes a field trip to a museum with these skeletons, a new person transfers in- seeming to know a little too much about the creatures after the recent discovery. The guy showing her around wanders off to a dragon skeleton and the new girl follows. A portal appears and takes them into the world where the dragons ran away to after they started getting pushed to the edges of the Earth. It turns out that the museum is enchanted so that whenever someone who had been exposed to that creature when they got near it’s skeleton they would be transferred to that animal’s hidden world. Bit confusing and cliche but…just came up with it.

Wow, Alex. You’ve developed quite a premise for your story! It sounds like a YA fantasy novel, and I think it’s interesting (not confusing or cliche). Keep it up!

These are fabulous! Bravo on making incredibly interesting prompts, they’re surprisingly difficult to find.

Thanks, Rachel!

Wow! Old post, but a good one 🙂 I was just browsing through your site, looking for some inspiration. Your prompts are all excellent! I’m definitely bookmarking this post, in particular, because I’m a sci-fi/fantasy fan and writer. #5 is my favorite because it reminds me of one of the greatest short stories ever written (“Mimsy Were the Borogroves” by Lewis Padgett).

Thanks, Jimmy, for your kind words. I’m glad you found these prompts helpful. I’m a huge sci-fi fan myself. I haven’t heard of the short story you mentioned (that I can recall), but I’ll be sure to check it out.

This is pretty amazing! I love the Man who see’s ghosts idea, I would love to do something with that! It’s been so long since I have written anything, but now my bf wants me to pick up the hobby once again, and I am looking for fresh ideas, I loved them all! fantastic! Thank You for the ideas, and should any of them be published, Proceeds will be coming your way 🙂

Hi Jennifer. I’m so glad these prompts inspired you. Good luck with your story, and keep writing!

THANK YOU SO MUCH! These prompts were just what I needed! I’m already 2000 words into one of the most gripping tales I’ve ever written! Do you happen to have more ideas for prompts?

Yes, I have dozens of prompts right here: writing prompts . Have fun!

Thanks for this. I have an idea but have a fear of starting as i dont have the middle or the ending of the story as yet. Is this the case for many people?

You don’t need a middle or end to start writing, and it’s definitely common for people to experience fear or anxiety when facing the blank page. A lot of people find that if they just start writing, the middle and ending will eventually come to them. Ask yourself this: what’s the worst thing that can happen? You write a few pages and nothing comes of it. Maybe you don’t like it or it just doesn’t go anywhere. So what? It’s just a few pages. The next few pages will be better. So just go for it!

I love writing and I haven’t been able to find something to writ about for quite a while now. I’m gonna try a couple of these. I have a very good feeling about this. Thanks so much!

You’re welcome! Good luck 🙂

Wonderful prompts. I’m keeping them!

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Start the story with the absence of a sensory detail (eg. silence when there should be noise)., begin a scene with a non-visual sense. describe a specific sound, smell, taste, etc to capture your setting, then expand the story out from there., set your story in a post office., set or begin your story in a room lit by the flickering flames of the fireplace., subscribe to our prompts newsletter.

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Begin your story with a librarian searching for something.

Write a story starring an octogenarian who’s more than meets the eye., set your story in the kitchen of a bustling restaurant., write a western-inspired story in a new genre or setting (e.g. a space western, fantasy western, etc.), write about someone rediscovering something old they thought they’d lost., write about someone stuck in an endless cycle who finally manages to break free., write a story about someone trying to reinvent themselves after spending a long time in a rut., write a modern version of "the tiger, the brahmin, and the jackal," in which someone suffers from their own good deeds and must turn to an unlikely source for help., write a story about a fox spirit (a gumiho, jiǔwěihú, kitsune, or hồ ly tinh), inspired by, e.g. korean, chinese, japanese and vietnamese folklore., write a story inspired by this quote from dante alighieri’s the divine comedy: “in the middle of the journey of our life i came to myself within a dark wood where the straight way was lost.”, win $250 in our short story competition 🏆.

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The best fiction writing prompts

For many people, a blank page is a just a piece of paper. But for writers who dream about writing a short story or novel, it's something much worse: it's a chilling omen of writer's block.

That's how creative writing prompts can help—especially for a fiction writer. Writing prompts give you the story ideas so that you're left with the time and energy to bring those stories and characters from your own imagination to vivid life. Best of all, they come in all shapes, sizes, and genres, from mystery prompts about a death in a haunted house to romance prompts about a meet-cute in the city. Feel free to scour this directory for the fiction writing prompts you need to write your book!

If you're looking to cut to the chase, here's a top ten list of fiction writing prompts:

• At some point in the story, have a character casually say something that hints at the ending.
• Start your story with someone trying to read a map.
• Write a story about miscommunication.
• Write a story based on the song title: "My Generation"
• Write a story in which societal rituals and expectations play a key role.
• Write a story in which the same line recurs three times.
• Write a story about a character exploring their religious or spiritual identity.
• Write a story where your protagonist predicts danger.
• Write about a character who was considered a prodigy when they were young.
• Write the 'origin story' of a person who goes on to achieve great things.

If you're interested in learning how to write fiction, check out our free resources on the topic:

Develop a Writing Routine (free course) — Ask any published author, and they’ll tell you that only 20% of getting a book published is talent. The other 80% is commitment is simply sitting down every day and committing yourself to putting words on paper. This ten-day course will show you how to create a writing routine that helps you accomplish just that.

Begin your novel today (blog post)— Once you’ve got a writing routine now, all that’s left is the hard part: actually writing the book! That's where this blog post comes in handy.

How to Write a Short Story That Gets Published (free course) — Thinking about trying your hand at short stories? Laura Mae Isaacman, a full-time editor who’s worked with authors like Joyce Carol Oates, teaches this course that’s all about short stories. She’ll cover the entire process, from writing the story to actually getting it published.

Ready to start writing? Check out Reedsy’s weekly short story contest , for the chance of winning $250! You can also check out our list of writing contests or our directory of literary magazines for more opportunities to submit your story.

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Journal Buddies Jill | June 23, 2023 June 23, 2023 | Creative Writing

35 Fantasy Writing Prompts for Middle School

Fantasy Writing Prompts— Welcome! With creativity and good fantasy plot ideas, your writers will be off and spinning their very own fantasy tales in no time. Read on to discover more.

Do you need some fabulous fantasy writing ideas for kids? Maybe you want to teach a fantasy writing unit to your students or are wondering how to teach fantasy writing to young writers?

Yes! You have come to the right place and our prompts are guaranteed to get the creative juices flowing in your young writers.

You see…

Fantasy Fiction Writing

Most kids enjoy fantasy stories and if your kids enjoy reading this genre, there’s a very good chance they will enjoy writing a bit of fantasy for themselves.

If they simply sit and wait for inspiration to strike to begin writing, they might never get started so they may need some help in the form of writing prompts. 

For those writers, teachers, and homeschools looking for a little fantasy writing inspiration help, we are here for you!

From magic to the supernatural, we offer you this wonderful list of fabulous writing prompts to get the creative fantasy writing juices flowing for your budding writers.

Ok, get to it and scroll down the page to check out our fun fantasy writing prompts and fantasy story ideas. I know you’ll be glad you did.

35 Fantasy Writing Prompts

I hope your students will have fun exploring plot ideas, creating magical beings, and penning the most epic fantasy story with these fantasy prompts.

• You find a strange-looking egg while walking through the forest, but once you took it home and it hatched, you could have never imagined what was actually inside.
• You’ve discovered a wand along with an instruction manual. Write about the first few days with your new magic wand.
• Write about a wedding when the bride’s family is magical and the groom’s family hates magic.
• A dragon shows up for a holiday parade, but no one knew they were real. Describe what happens.
• A genie gets tired of his job and throws a tantrum, sending spells everywhere. What happens?
• On Easter, somehow all domestic pets began to talk.
• You have a small garden and one day as you’re watering the plants, one of them speaks up and warns you that you’re in danger.
• Two boys climbed a nearby water tower, only to find that it leads to an invisible castle. What happens?
• Staring at an old black and white photo of a young woman, suddenly you’re pulled into the photo. Where are you?
• Create a fantasy world of your own using three of the following elements: elves, a captured prince, a wand, magic, a dungeon, a bag of gold that replenishes, or a castle.
• Somehow, you’re able to see what other people are thinking and you know what the town mayor is planning.
• The queen’s son finds out there are ghosts in the castle and they give him a message.
• You’re out catching fireflies and putting them into a jar. Later that night you realize you accidentally captured a fairy and she’s not impressed.
• A virus is accidentally created that makes you age backward and you’re looking for the cure.
• A beautiful yacht shows up in the harbor, but there’s no one on it.
• The railroad has been closed for years, but one night you wake up to the sound of a train.

• Every day you walk by the oak tree at the end of your drive. But today, it whispered your name.
• You find out your uncle is an evil sorcerer. You have to figure out how to stop his evil plan.
• Even though you went to the best magic school in the land, you can’t perform magic. Why?
• An evil witch put a curse on you and you can never speak again unless you can undo the curse.
• Someone stole your magical powers. How do you get them back?
• You nurse an injured cat back to health. And then the cat speaks to you.
• You’re a storyteller, but you notice that all your stories are coming true.
• You’re a veterinarian and one night an old man barges into your clinic with an animal you never thought was real.
• You find an old mirror in the attic and when you uncover it, you’re pulled into a magical, secret world.
• First, you noticed a discoloration on your stomach, but it’s spreading. You’re growing scales and changing into a dragon. How do you tell your loved ones?
• A new family moved in next door. When you go to welcome them, you find out they’re all fairies.
• You go scuba diving in the Caribbean, but you  didn ’t expect to encounter a village of mermaids on your dive. Unfortunately, they don’t want to let you go back above water.
• A fairy hates seeing so much violence in the city she lives in, so she decides to make everyone fall in love with each other. She wanted peace, but what really happens after her spell?
• You were thrown into a volcano as a sacrifice by the nearby village, but nobody thought you’d walk back out of it.
• Even though the old mine had been closed for decades, every time there was a new moon, you could hear the laughter echo from the mine for miles.
• The teenage boy had been mute since birth. But one day he discovered he could talk with animals.
• You found an old jewelry box at your grandmother’s house. She said you could have it, but when you put on the beautiful pearl necklace, you suddenly find that you are in the middle of a castle ball.
• The scientist ran out of the laboratory. He was scared. He had been trying to clone a human for years, but this morning he accidentally created a vampire. What happens next?

With characters and creatures ranging from gnomes and unicorns to knights and the fairest princess in the land, there’s no limit to the legends they’ll craft! Who knows, maybe one of your students will go on to pen their very own fantasy novel. Regardless, I hope you enjoy their story ideas as much as they do!

Now, check out this list of…

100+ More Free Writing Prompts

• Story Writing Tips and 32 World-Building Prompts
• 32 Character Development: Writing Prompts
• 16 Writing Romance Story Ideas 
• 30 Science Fiction (Sci-Fi) Prompts
• Explore our collection of —> Story Prompts and Short Story Ideas
• Explore our collection of —> Story Starters

If, however, your kids aren’t quite ready to write fantasy, a lesson or unit of study may be needed. 

In that case, check out…

A Few Final Thoughts

A fantasy writing lesson could focus on a series of pre-writing activities or an entire unit of study could be dedicated to this exciting and fun genre.

There are some fantastic resources online that outline how to teach fantasy pre-writing or how to teach an entire unit on how to write a fantasy story. With a quick Google search, you’ll be on your way to guiding your writers on their very own fantasy story creations.

For your convenience, you’ll find a short list of fantasy writing resources below.

Teaching Fantasy Writing Resources & Related Prompts

• Fantasy Writing Unit of Study — This unit of study is currently offered free of charge from the curriculum corner website.
• Lessons to Teach Students How to Write Fantasy — Discover 6 free “no-fail” lessons on teaching fantasy writing to kids.
• Fantasy Lesson for Kids — Explore a lesson that “explores the characteristics of the fantasy genre and discusses examples of children’s fantasy books.”
• Fiction Writing Prompts for Elementary Students

Of course, a primary key to writing in the fantasy genre is to exercise one’s imagination in order to spark engaging and creative writing inspirations.

As a writer practices, they will find it gets easier and easier to jump into a fantasy world of their very own creation. Until then, use these creative writing prompts to assist your young writers on their fantasy writing quest!

Until next time, keep on fantasy writing…

If you enjoyed these Fantasy Writing Prompts for Middle School, please share them on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Pinterest. I appreciate it!

Sincerely, Jill journalbuddies.com creator and curator

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• Writing Prompts

56 Dystopian Writing Prompts

Escape to a dark, disheartened world with these 56 dystopian writing prompts .

Mass poverty, cruelty and fear cover a dystopian world. From the shelter-like homes to the dark, broken streets. Life is hard. When writing a story set in a dystopian world you need to describe the harsh reality of this world in great detail. Make the reader fear this world. Think about the leaders who have control. This control might be significant, where harsh rules are made to keep the peace. Alternatively, there could be a rebellion, where leaders have no control and civilians are running havoc. See our master list of world-building questions to help develop a believable dystopian world.

A dystopian world is a world in shatters and ruins. How did it become this way? What rules and regimes do civilians follow, if any? What type of crime is most prominent in this world? These questions will help you create a realistic and powerful dystopian world for your readers.

Looking for some name ideas for your new world? Check out this world name generator . You might also find this list of Earth day writing prompts and this list of over 110 sci-fi writing prompts .

Dystopian writing prompts

To help you create a powerful story about a society in crisis, here are our 56 dystopian writing prompts:

• In the year 2,121, sea levels have risen at an extreme rate. 98% of the Earth is now underwater. The remaining 2% is made of small islands scattered across the Earth. With resources at a scarcity, the islands must work together if they are to survive.
• A virus has wiped out 95% of humanity in the future. The only survivors are machines and a group of secret underground warriors who rebelled against technology for centuries.
• In the future, a virus has caused some humans to mutate into ravenous troll-like beasts. While the remaining humans have to learn to survive in the world with these beasts.
• The life expectancy of people has dropped drastically in the future. At the age of 18, humans start to deteriorate and slowly pass away. The ruler is an arrogant 14-year-old kid.
• Scientists have combined robotics with human tissue to increase the life expectancy of humans. Apart from the vital organs, such as lungs and heart, as well as parts of the brain, humans are mostly robotic. Eventually, humans start losing control of their bodies to machines. 
• From the moment a human is born to the day they die, humans are connected to the internet. Everything they need to know about life is on a screen to which they are connected. One day, a technology outbreak completely wipes the internet. Humans are switched off. What happens next?
• Scientists have found the secret to endless happiness. They create a new pill that needs to be taken once a day to remain happy. But is this new pill all as it seems?
• To promote equality in the future, humans have to dress the same and talk the same. Any inappropriate English and slang words are banned. All around the world, everyone must speak English. If these rules are broken, the rule breaker will be sentenced to prison or even death.
• With the brand new Cloner 3000, cloning is just a button press away. Clone your cat, your dog and even yourself if you dare. What are the potential dangers of cloning yourself too many times? 
• Law and order is destroyed in the future. People are free to do whatever they want without any consequences. Until a group of vigilante heroes decide to recreate the law.
• There are two types of people, the rich and the poor. The rich have an extreme amount of money and power. And the poor are living on the streets and undergrounds, struggling to get by. A poor orphan girl is adopted by a rich family and discovers a deadly secret about how the rich become rich. 
• The excessive use of technology and social media has meant that 95% of the world suffers from extreme social phobia. The slightest human interaction results in mass panic attacks. One brave human decides to create a group where people can meet face to face regularly to help them overcome this fear.
• Crime has become such a huge issue in the future, that every home in the world has become a prison cell. Prison guards patrol the streets and provide prisoners with the essentials. One guard feeling guilty that his family is locked behind bars, tries freeing them, and soon things get out of control. 
• Oxygen is the new currency in the future. Instead of money people buy, earn and sell little canisters of oxygen. Continue this dystopian story…
• Desperate to create the perfect world, the government provides every person with a free virtual reality headset. Once worn, the person is transported to a tranquil utopia. Meanwhile, the government secretly has other plans in the real world. 
• A virus has turned every tree, plant and flower on earth into flesh-eating monsters. The only way to survive is to kill all plant life on Earth, but how will the planet survive?
• A new mobile app in the future tells people when to eat, sleep, drink and essentially live. Without the app, humans would be lost, confused and clueless. A group of cyber hackers, hack this app to gain control of all humans. 
• Being the main cause of social disorders and suicides, the internet is banned in the year 2,098. With the ban of the internet, people slowly resort to the old ways of living before the internet ever existed. Until a group of individuals find a way to bring back the net. 
• Bored of old-style video gaming, humans resort to sticking chips inside prisoners. Once a prisoner is chipped, they can be controlled like a video game character. 
• Desperate to be beautiful and young, rich people resort to stealing the actual skin and facial features of ordinary people. These extreme surgeries soon start to have a weird effect on humans.
• The Earth has been destroyed by a huge asteroid. A few humans that survived by living underground finally emerge to start a new life on Earth. 
• With the Earth’s population at an all-time high, it’s time for every human to prove their worth. After the age of 16, humans must take a test every year. If they fail the test, they are killed immediately. One young adult scores incredibly high on the test making them the ‘chosen one’. 
• Due to the lack of resources on Earth, all luxury items have been banned. People survive on basic rations of bread, rice and beans each month. No vanity items, such as jewellery or make-up are allowed. One day a group of civilians discover that luxury items do exist, but only the leaders can use them. 
• For the sake of human evolution, scientists have turned the small town of Whitefish into a huge science experiment. No one is allowed to enter or leave the city unless they are told so. Every now and then, a new stimulus is introduced, so that scientists can record the human reactions for a research paper. 
• Write a story about the aftermath of World War 5. Who was at war and who lost it? What devastation did the war create on Earth?
• In the far future, robots are responsible for creating human life. They carefully program each human when they are born to do certain tasks in life. One human realizes that they don’t need to follow the orders programmed in them and fights for freedom.
• After a huge asteroid hits Earth, the last two survivors have to find a way to recreate life. It’s a modern, dystopian Adam and Eve story.
• World leaders ban religion and talk of God in the future. A man discovers a secret church up in the mountains where people secretly believe in God. 
• Due to animal cruelty, people are no longer allowed to have animals as pets in the future. All pets live out in the wild without any human masters. One homeless teenager finds a hurt dog in the wild and takes care of it. Eventually, authorities find out about this forbidden friendship.
• A bored scientist dedicates his whole life to recreating popular monsters like vampires, werewolves and Frankenstein’s monster in real life. He finally masters the procedure and offers it to rich people at a price.
• Tired of the rat race and busy city-living, people move to the country to live a peaceful and calm life. Eventually, cities like New York City become a playground for criminals and runaways.
• When the human population on land reaches an all-time high. One man goes on a quest to create the ultimate underwater city for humans. Continue this story.
• In the year 2,121, 100% of the population becomes vegan. Eating any sort of animal product is considered cannibalism. Farm animals realize that humans will no longer eat them, so decide to plan their revenge.
• Cyber-pets become a huge thing in the future. Technology advances so much that people would rather buy robotic pets inside of real ones. This results in more stray animals on the streets. With no human love, the pets turn into savages attacking both humans and the cyber-pets.
• Humans have left Earth for a better life on Mars. One day, thousands of years later, a space astronaut from Mars lands on Earth to find…
• In the future, the majority of jobs have been taken over by robots. The only way to earn money is to take part in a series of games and challenges created by the rich for their entertainment.
• Everyone on Earth has experienced some sort of mutation in the future. This mutation has made humans powerful and troll-like. As the only pure human (with no mutations), your character’s daughter is kidnapped by a group of mutants who want to use her blood to make humans human-like again. 
• Imagine you are the last human survivor on Earth. What would you do alone on Earth?
• Describe a future where all humans are either deaf or blind.
• You and your family live underground away from all the technology. Write a series of diary entries about life underground.
• Sugar is banned completely in the future. Even fruits that taste sugary are no longer available. You are the leader of a secret underground group that creates your own homemade sugar. However since humans haven’t tasted sugar in a long time, the results become very dangerous.
• Since Earth has been destroyed, every family lives in their own spaceship homes floating around the galaxy. Every now and then you need to protect your home from space invaders, pirates and of course black holes.
• Write a story about one boy, his dog and a group of robots living on Earth as the only survivors. 
• Lying dormant deep at the core of the Earth, dragons finally awake. After a series of powerful earthquakes, they burst through the ground one by one. 
• With surveillance cameras watching everyone. A new TV show called, ‘Did They Really Do That’ airs across the nation showing the most embarrassing moments of civilians living in your area. You then go on a mission to destroy all surveillance and destroy the TV show.
• One man’s dream to swim with the dolphins is taken to extremes, as he genetically modifies a group of humans, so that they can swim underwater. Unknowingly these humans turn into monstrous mermaid-like creatures.
• Huge floating islands are created all over Earth to cope with the increase in the human population. These floating islands become new countries on the map with their own rules and way of life. 
• In the year 3,021 world peace is finally achieved. Everyone lives in perfect harmony. But how was this world peace achieved? One curious civilian makes a shocking discovery.
• Write a news article about the latest riot happening in your town in the year 2,899. Why did this riot happen? Who was involved? Where did it happen? What exactly happened before and during the riot?
• You are a lab assistant for a company that creates genetic make-up for humans. The make-up keeps humans looking young for their entire lifespan of 180 years. One day you discover something shocking…
• Cats and dogs have evolved into human-shaped beings. They now rule Earth and treat humans like pets. 
• Due to natural extinction and the threat of disease, all animals are gone in the future. You and your family have created a secret underground zoo, which holds the last remaining animals on Earth.
• Write a story from the perspective of a servant robot who wants to be the mayor of the city. 
• Scientists have learned to extract emotions from humans and contain them in jars. At a price, you can remove negative emotions like anger, sadness and fear. You can also sell and buy positive emotions like happiness. To obtain a new emotion, you simply inhale the emotion directly from the jar. In a special clinic, over 10,000 jars of emotions are contained, until one day…
• The Earth is a massive video game for advanced aliens living on a distant planet. They randomly spawn monsters whenever they feel like, and can control any human they like. One day the aliens are so bored that they create a big scary boss monster for a town of people to fight.
• In an effort to create a better world, all humans must take a personality test. If your personality does not meet the criteria set by the government, then you are sent to work camps. People at the work camps live a horrible life of abuse, torture and endless hard work for 18 hours a day. Imagine that your main character fails the personality test, and is sent to one of these camps.

For more gritty ideas, check out our guide on what is dieselpunk plus story ideas .

What do you think of these dystopian writing prompts? Which one is your favourite? Let us know in the comments below.

Marty the wizard is the master of Imagine Forest. When he's not reading a ton of books or writing some of his own tales, he loves to be surrounded by the magical creatures that live in Imagine Forest. While living in his tree house he has devoted his time to helping children around the world with their writing skills and creativity.

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Writing Prompts & Exercises

The time is now.

The Time Is Now offers three new and original writing prompts each week to help you stay committed to your writing practice throughout the year. We also curate a list of essential books on writing —both the newly published and the classics—that we recommend for guidance and inspiration. Whether you’re struggling with writer’s block, looking for a fresh topic, or just starting to write, our archive of writing prompts has what you need. Need a starter pack? Check out our Writing Prompts for Beginners.

Tuesdays: Poetry prompts Wednesdays: Fiction prompts Thursdays: Creative nonfiction prompts

Get immediate access to more than 2,000 writing prompts with the tool below:

The Longest Day

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This year’s summer solstice arrives in the Northern Hemisphere on June 20, marking it the longest day, and shortest night, of the year. And yet, no matter the exact number of daylight or nighttime hours measured out, any day can feel like a very long day, just as any night can end in the blink of an eye. Write a two-part lyric essay in which the first part details one long summer day you’ve experienced, and the second part focuses on one short summer night. For the day that seemed to last forever, did it drag on and on, producing exasperation, or did the hours ooze dreamily and pleasurably? For the night that whizzed by, was there nonstop action that was over before you knew it?

Domestication

In an interview published in Salon, Rosemary Mosco, author of A Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching: Getting to Know the World’s Most Misunderstood Bird (Workman Publishing, 2021), reflects on the historical connections between pigeons and people, and recounts a process of domestication, obsolescence, and abandonment. “The city pigeons around us…were domesticated by humans a really long time ago,” says Mosco. “They were really bred to be good at living near us. And then, we forgot, and now they keep hanging around us. And we’re like, ‘why are they here?’” Write a short story that involves an encounter or situation with a domesticated animal, whether a pet, livestock, or one wandering the streets. Think about the wild ancestors of this animal, and how they’ve become entwined with humans and civilization. How might you connect philosophical ideas around domestication with other larger themes of your story?

“We tend to treat odor in general as a sort of taboo,” writes Scott Sayare in a New York Times Magazine article about a woman who discovered she could smell Parkinson’s disease, in some cases over a dozen years before medical diagnosis. “Modern doctors are trained to diagnose by inspection, palpation, percussion and auscultation; ‘inhalation’ is not on the list, and social norms would discourage it if it were.” This week, focus your attention on your sense of smell as you go about your days, perhaps even ignoring social norms as you inhale all the odors around you. Then, write a poem that focuses solely, or primarily, on smell—perhaps juxtaposing scents that are in your everyday life now and those from a more distant past.

A Question of Belonging: Crónicas (Archipelago Books, 2024) by the Argentine writer Hebe Uhart, who died in 2018, translated from the Spanish by Anna Vilner, contains over two dozen crónicas—a form of narrative journalism popularized in Latin America that is characterized by short, informal musings about everyday topics and observations. In her introduction to the book, Mariana Enríquez notes Uhart’s lack of pretension in her chosen subjects, from what she observed around her to the locals with whom she conversed. “Her fascination with language is not limited to the spoken: She roams around cities and towns taking note of shop names, ads, and graffiti.…” Jot down intriguing or amusing fragments of language you see and hear as you go about your day, perhaps during your commute or while watching your favorite TV show. Write a series of short musings based on your observations, noting any humor or insights gleaned from contemporary language and what it reveals about our current times.

Head This Way

Ayşegül Savaş’s third novel, The Anthropologists , forthcoming in July from Bloomsbury, is narrated by Asya, one half of a young couple setting out to build a new life together in a foreign city. While they solidify friendships, search for an apartment, and accommodate visiting relatives, Asya begins a documentary project. Each of the novel’s vignette titles reference anthropological concepts: Notions of Loyalty, Child-Rearing, Native Tongue, Courtship, Gift Exchange, Division of Labor, Principles of Kinship, and Forms of Enchantment. As Asya reflects on anthropological distance and lenses, these headings raise questions about the conventions, expectations, and routines that constitute a life. What makes a life legible—and to whom? Write a short story with subheadings providing insight or an alternative perspective on scenes. How might they produce additional layers of complexity and ambiguity?

Coming Down Hard

“The sun had just gone out / and I was walking three miles to get home. / I wanted to die. / I couldn’t think of words and I had no future / and I was coming down hard on everything.” In Linda Gregg’s poem “New York Address,” which appears in her retrospective collection, All of It Singing: New and Selected Poems (Graywolf Press, 2008), the speaker recounts bleak existential angst. Despite the pain and darkness, there are glimmers of light. In the second half of the poem, questions are stubbornly answered with snappy, tidy pacing: “Yes I hate dark. No I love light. Yes I won’t speak. / No I will write.” Write a poem that goes all in on angst, channeling a time that felt overwhelmingly uncertain and full of trepidation. How can you experiment with sound and diction to gently steer the dramatic toward the life-affirming?

Attentiveness

Nearly fifty years ago, the writer George Perec spent three days sitting behind a café window in Place Saint-Sulpice in Paris recording everything he saw. In his short book, An Attempt at Exhausting a Place in Paris , his observations of mundane occurrences and objects often considered unnoteworthy—passersby, cars, buses, pigeons, signs, and slogans—are documented. This week situate yourself in one spot, perhaps in your home or workplace, or in a public space like a park, busy crossroad, commercial area, library, or café. Then, jot down the objects and behavior you see, and the snippets of conversation you hear. Write a lyric essay composed of these notes, trying to avoid interpretations or analysis. Taken together, how do your observations create a portrayal of a specific time or place? Pay particular attention to how one observation might lead to another, and to potential rhythms and repetitions.

Power Couple

The 2023 thriller film Fair Play , written and directed by Chloe Domont, follows the lives of a young, newly engaged couple, Luke and Emily, who are colleagues working as analysts in the cutthroat world of high finance in New York. The film focuses on the progression of their relationship, which has been kept hidden from their hedge fund office, and the bitter disintegration of their happiness after a promotion that was initially rumored to go to Luke is unexpectedly bestowed upon Emily, which situates him as a subordinate to his wife within a misogynistic workplace. Write a short story that revolves around an occurrence that catalyzes a shift in the power dynamic between two main characters who have a close relationship. What are the initial responses, and does the transformation happen suddenly or gradually? Are there gender, generational, or other cultural issues that play a role?

Organic Insinuations

“All too often, on a ‘poetry scene,’ people prioritise ‘subject matter,’” says John Burnside in a 2023 interview about his writing process by Jesse Nathan published on McSweeney’s Internet Tendency. “I am sure that, as I am working, environmental concerns insinuate their way into the content of a poem organically, as other concerns will—but I would never start from there.” Inspired by the late Scottish poet, who died at the age of sixty-nine on May 29, write a poem that springs not from a predetermined topic or subject matter, but instead allows you to “trust in the sounds, the rhythms that come out of the day-to-day, the sheer immediacy and truth of the quotidian…and the images that lead, sometimes via fairly roundabout paths, to metaphor.” Later, as you reread and revise, what do you discover is the subject of your poem? What might have organically insinuated itself into your poem?

The maintenance or restoration of native plant and animal species has long been at the heart of many ecological and conservation projects, and has historically been a focus of land and environmental stewardship principles held by native and first peoples all over the world. But what if a beloved plant or animal is considered invasive, like the palm trees of Los Angeles or the cattle of Texas? What are the effects or consequences of centuries of existence with this invasive species in a particular locale? This week reflect on the notion of belonging—what are various places and times when you have felt a strong sense of belonging, and situations when you did not feel you belonged? Consider your own perspectives and responses when you encounter someone or something else that seems invasive or does not belong.

In Stephen King’s 1983 novel, Pet Sematary , a doctor moves into a remote house in Maine with his wife, two young children, and their pet cat, and learns from a neighbor about an ancient burial ground nearby cursed by a malevolent spirit which gave it power to reanimate those buried there. This is put to the test first by the family cat, and then by members of the family who die throughout the course of King’s horror story. While each formerly dead being is returned to the land of the living, they don’t come back quite the same. Write a story in which a creature or person returns from the dead, either in actuality or under circumstances in which their reappearance feels as if they are “back from the dead.” What familiar traits remain the same and what is disconcertingly different? Is their return ultimately for the better or the worse?

“I told a friend about a spill at the grocery store, which—the words ‘conveyor belt’ vanishing midsentence—took place on a ‘supermarket treadmill,’” writes Madeleine Schwartz in a recent essay published by New York Times Magazine about her experience of negotiating with and toggling between the French and English languages after moving from New York to Paris. In the piece, Schwartz notes that as she became more comfortable with living and thinking in French, she noticed a blurring of her linguistic capabilities, including a muddling of her articulative abilities in English. Think about a time or situation when words have failed you, or you’ve drawn a blank as to the mot juste. Write a poem that traces or enacts a loss of language, perhaps using invented words, phrases, and spellings or experimenting with font sizes, line breaks, and spacing.

Edible Memories

Many foods, flavors, and dishes hold a wellspring of emotional associations because they remind us of loved ones, habits and traditions, specific locales, and a different time of our lives when we were different people. Write a series of flash nonfiction pieces this week with each segment focusing on an edible item that evokes particularly resonant memories for you. You might begin by jotting down lists of foods you ate regularly growing up—breakfasts, school lunches, vending machine go-tos, favorite fast-food joints, diners, late night spots, home-cooked specialties—as well as a few momentous meals. Who are the people you associate with each one? Aside from taste and smell, consider the surrounding environment, atmospheric sounds, time of year, and who you were at that point in your life.

Wheels and Nails

While the American proverb “the squeaky wheel gets the grease” may be one you’ve heard time and again, often in reference to the idea that whoever raises or vocalizes a criticism the loudest will be appeased, there is a Japanese saying that translates to “the nail that sticks out gets hammered down,” which points to the positives of conformity in order to maintain a productive and humble society. It can also refer to putting someone who has become too successful back down in their place. Write a story in which your main character diverges from a group of people, and sticks their neck out, so to speak. Perhaps they vocalize a contrary perspective, protest something they feel is unjust, or simply present themselves in an unconventional manner. What are the consequences? Does your story lean toward one proverbial lesson or the other, or does the conclusion demonstrate more ambiguity?

Night at the Museum

If you could spend a night at any museum, which would you choose, and why? The French publisher Editions Stock has a series of books that begins with this premise—each author selects a museum, arrangements are made for an overnight stay, and a book is written about the experience. In Jakuta Alikavazovic’s Like a Sky Inside , translated from the French by Daniel Levin Becker, she spends a night at the Louvre in Paris, where childhood memories of visits with her father are vividly recalled. “From March 7 to 8, 2020, I spent the night in the Louvre, alone. Alone and at the same time anything but,” writes Alikavazovic. Write a poem that imagines a night at a museum of your choosing, anywhere in the world. What memories will you excavate from this imagined, solitary experience?

Chosen Family

Although the origin of the term is unknown and can be defined in many ways, a chosen family is made up of a group of people who choose to embrace, nurture, and support each other despite conventional understandings of biological or marital relationships. Oftentimes a chosen family is formed to take the place of a biological family, however, in some cases, these relationships are formed to expand a family. Write a personal essay about a relationship you have with a chosen family member. How did you first meet? Was there a particular incident that catalyzed what would become an inextricable bond? Has your commitment to each other been tested in ways big or small? Reflect on past memories and experiences you have had with this special person and how your relationship has evolved over the years.

Kingdom of the Planet

In the 1968 science fiction film Planet of the Apes , which is based on French author Pierre Boulle’s 1963 novel and has spawned several sequels and a recent reboot, a crew of astronauts crash-lands on a planet ruled by apes who have developed an advanced and hierarchical civilization, complete with systems of governance, labor, scientific research, and a military force. In this far-off place, humans have been reduced to mute primitive beings who are subjugated and kept captive as workers for the primates. Write a speculative story that takes place in another universe with a premise revolving around a role reversal. What are the rules and governing structures of the society that you invent? You might decide to approach your narrative with a tone of horror, satire, or comedy to emphasize your perspective on stereotypical assumptions and social expectations.

Another Country

“I love these raw moist dawns with / a thousand birds you hear but can’t / quite see in the mist. / My old alien body is a foreigner / struggling to get into another country. / The loon call makes me shiver. / Back at the cabin I see a book / and am not quite sure what that is.” In these eight lines that comprise Jim Harrison’s poem “Another Country,” which appears in his final collection, Dead Man’s Float (Copper Canyon Press, 2016), the late poet moves between observations about a natural outdoor setting and the speaker’s own bodily presence, arriving in the final two lines at a sentiment that expresses a feeling of defamiliarization at the seemingly mundane sight of a book. This week write a poem that explores the concept of being so absorbed in one environment or circumstance that to behold a different scene is like traveling to a strange and unknown realm.

Self-Healing

A recent study in Scientific Reports journal revealed that, for possibly the first time, a nonhuman wild animal was seen using plant medicine to heal an active wound. In a rainforest in Indonesia, a Sumatran orangutan was observed ripping off leaves from a climbing vine plant, chewing them, and applying the plant sap to treat a wound on his face, which then healed after a few days. Write a personal essay on the theme of self-healing. Think about experiences when you’ve witnessed another person perform this task, or particularly resonant memories that pertain to your own past behavior. What are the primary emotions present throughout this process? What instances of self-treatment or self-medication in film, art, or literature created an impression on you?

Campus Story

Take inspiration from the concept of a campus novel—which takes place in and around the campus of a university and often involves the intertwined dynamics of students, professors, and conventions about learning and power—and write a story that engages with a school setting, whether prominently situated in the context of the plot or used for a particular scene. Some recent additions to the campus novel canon include Elif Batuman’s The Idiot (Penguin Press, 2017), Xochitl Gonzalez’s Anita de Monte Laughs Last (Flatiron Books, 2024), Kiley Reid’s Come and Get It (G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 2024), and Brandon Taylor’s Real Life (Riverhead Books, 2020). Will you include a character who is a student, teacher, administrative staff member, custodial worker or caretaker, or possibly an alumni revisiting the past? Consider the multitude of ways the incorporation of an educational environment might permeate the atmosphere of the narrative.

The Last Friend

“The day the last friend / dies / we sit alone. / A visitor / from outer space / tries hard / to summon us. / Someone says / EAT DEATH. / I fish around for answers / but the questions / still won’t come,” writes Jerome Rothenberg, who passed away in April, in his poem “The Last Friend.” Included in his collection of one hundred poems, A Book of Witness: Spells & Gris-Gris (New Directions, 2022), the poem presents a list of statements and observations, many of which refer to death or dying in some personal way, though the connections are enigmatic and the logical progression is oblique. Try your hand at writing a poem that mentions its subject directly, but which also deliberately obfuscates or remains ambiguous in its intentions. How might using the “I” as a witness include the reader into your point of view?

Mind Your Manners

The New York City culture and news website Gothamist recently asked New Yorkers about their thoughts on sidewalk etiquette in the crowded, bustling streets of their beloved city. What are the rules, who has the right-of-way, and who should yield? Respondents focused on always walking to the right of the sidewalk and to “move quickly and never stop.” One thoughtful respondent considered the cultural differences of sidewalks used for recreational strolls versus commuting. But the overall consensus was that among nine-to-fivers, tourists, parents with kids, dogwalkers, bicyclists, and groups, seniors deserve the right-of-way. Write an essay about the unwritten rules or etiquette you have observed in your daily surroundings. How have these common practices adapted to fit the needs of different people? Do they evolve over time as social norms change? Consider some of your own experiences with how public etiquette has helped or hindered harmonious community life.

The term sub rosa means “under the rose” in Latin and refers to something said or done in private. The rose has been associated with secrecy since ancient times, a decorative symbol often carved and painted in places like meeting rooms, banquet halls, and confessionals as reminders of confidentiality. This week write a short story that revolves around a conversation or discussion that occurs sub rosa in an enclosed space. Does a certain detail get leaked out or overheard? How might the secretive nature place a burden on your characters? Consider the ways in which the atmosphere and tone of your story feel distinctive in the time and space of your sub-rosa conversation versus the scenes that take place before or after the talk.

Wisdom in Translation

In the anthology Another Room to Live In: 15 Contemporary Arab Poets (Litmus Press, 2024) edited by Omar Berrada and Sarah Riggs, multinational and multilingual poet-translators challenge foundational narratives and rework mythologies through poetic expression. Yasmine Seale’s poem “Conventional Wisdom (Arabic Saying Translated Twenty Ways)” is composed of translations of an ancient aphorism expressing the inextricable place of poetry within Arab cultural heritage. Each line presents a variation on the truism: “Poetry is the record of the Arabs / The art of poetry is Arabs, collected / Good poetry is a list of Arabs / To speak in verse is to remain in Arab memory / To surpass another poet is the Arab odyssey.” Write a poem inspired by this idea of translating a proverb or maxim—either from another language or from English into English. How might you creatively interpolate different “translations” of the saying by incorporating connotations and riffing on free associations and personal experiences?

In Response

In a recent interview with Aria Aber for the Yale Review , when asked his thoughts on the responsibility of the poet, Jackson Prize–winning poet Fady Joudah says, “I often think that the responsibility of the poet is to strive to become the memory that people may possess in the future about what it means to be human: an ever-changing constant. In poetry, the range of metaphors and topics is limited, predictable, but the styles are innumerable. Think how we read poetry from centuries ago and are no longer bothered by its outdated diction. All that remains of old poetry is the music of what it means to be human.” Write a creative nonfiction piece that presents your personal theory of the responsibility of a writer or an artist. To construct an expansive approach, you might use observations about how different creative disciplines overlap in their goals, or consider what has remained resonant as the arts make their mark throughout various eras.

About Our Writing Prompts

What is a writing prompt and how do you use one? Whether you find yourself in front of a blank page or stuck in a work-in-progress, writing prompts can offer a spark that ignites your creative thinking and can lead to new writing. Prompts offer guidance, fresh ideas, and direction for writers of all levels of experience. First, choose a prompt for the genre in which you’d like to write, then carefully read it and consider what it is asking you to think about. It could be a specific setting, a writing technique, or an element of an imagined character; a specific poem, story, essay, song, book, or film from which you might take inspiration; or a current event or a topical theme. A writing prompt is filled with endless possibilities—and there is no wrong way to use one to generate new writing!

What makes our writing prompts unique? We have an archive of over 2,000 prompts, all original and offered here and in our weekly newsletter . You’ll find a variety of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction prompts—some inspired by recent and classic literature and other forms of art, current events, and writing practices, and others that offer guidance for a particular form, including sonnets, erasure poetry, flash fiction, lyric essays, and more. For more than fifty years, Poets & Writers has supported creative writers with trustworthy information and inspiration, and our weekly prompts provide a regular dose of encouragement and motivation.

What are the benefits of using writing prompts? Writing prompts can help you get unstuck if you’re in a rut and the ideas aren’t flowing. But even if you’re not experiencing writer’s block, writing prompts can offer a fresh take or a new approach to a work-in-progress. Writing prompts can also provide the motivation to experiment with a new form, try out a new genre, or learn about other writing techniques. And writing prompts are an invaluable tool for teachers who want to encourage and inspire their writing students.

What is this list of Best Books? Best Books for Writers is a list of essential books for creative writers that we curate to support your writing practice. Every week, we add a book (whether new or a classic) with a synopsis and highlights. Included are books on the writing life, anthologies of craft essays, collections of lectures, practical guides with writing exercises, and more.

Poetry writing prompts Every Tuesday we post a new poetry prompt to guide you in your practice. Get to know the work of contemporary and classic poets, as well as a variety of poetic forms.

Fiction writing prompts Every Wednesday we post a new fiction prompt to spark your imagination. Take inspiration from recently published short stories and novels, and of course, the classics.

Creative nonfiction writing prompts Every Thursday we post a new creative nonfiction prompt to help your exploration of this ever-changing genre. These prompts include information and inspiration for a variety of essays as well as memoirs. Discover new writers and their craft, and fresh ways to generate writing inspired by your life.

Need a starter pack? Check out our Writing Prompts for Beginners .

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Geeky Gadgets

The Latest Technology News

How to create inspirational writing prompts using AI

1:03 pm June 22, 2024 By Julian Horsey

As a writer, you have already built a robust foundation in the principles of storytelling and writing techniques. Now, it’s time to elevate your craft by exploring the innovative world of artificial intelligence (AI) to create compelling and imaginative writing prompts . Leveraging AI for generating writing prompts can open new vistas of creativity, providing you with fresh and unexpected ideas that challenge your imagination and enhance your storytelling skills. This article will guide you on how to create amazing creative writing prompts using AI, ensuring that each writing session is an adventure in creativity.

AI Creative Writing Prompts

Artificial intelligence has made significant strides in the field of natural language processing (NLP), enabling it to generate text that mimics human writing. By analyzing vast amounts of data, AI can understand language patterns, structures, and themes, making it an excellent tool for generating writing prompts. AI can provide a broad spectrum of ideas, ranging from simple scenarios to complex storylines, helping you push the boundaries of your creativity.

The Benefits of AI-Generated Prompts

• Infinite Ideas : AI can generate a virtually unlimited number of writing prompts across various genres and themes, ensuring that you always have new and exciting ideas to explore.
• Overcoming Writer’s Block : AI-generated prompts can serve as a catalyst for creativity, helping you overcome the daunting challenge of a blank page.
• Exploring New Genres : AI can introduce you to genres and styles you might not have considered, broadening your writing horizons.
• Personalized Prompts : Many AI tools allow you to customize prompts based on specific criteria, ensuring that the prompts are tailored to your interests and writing goals.
• Consistent Practice : Regularly using AI to generate prompts keeps your writing practice consistent, honing your skills and keeping your creative juices flowing.

Several AI tools are available that can help you generate writing prompts. Here are a few notable ones:

• Claude 3 by Anthropic :  a powerful writing tool that beats ChatGPT a number of areas check out the latest Claude 3.5 Sonnet
• ChatGPT by OpenAI : A versatile AI model capable of generating coherent and creative text based on given prompts.
• Sudowrite : Specifically designed for writers, Sudowrite helps generate creative ideas, plot twists, and writing prompts.

These tools leverage advanced algorithms to provide diverse and imaginative prompts that can inspire your writing.

• Define Your Parameters : Start by defining the parameters for your writing prompts. Consider the genre, setting, characters, and themes you want to explore. For instance, you might want a prompt for a fantasy story set in a medieval kingdom with a focus on a young hero’s journey.
• Input Specific Criteria : Most AI tools allow you to input specific criteria to generate tailored prompts. For example, you could input “fantasy”, “medieval kingdom”, and “hero’s journey” as your criteria. This ensures that the generated prompts align with your interests.
• Experiment with Variations : Don’t be afraid to experiment with different variations of prompts. Try combining different genres, settings, and character types to create unique and intriguing scenarios. For example, mix elements of science fiction with historical fiction to create a time-travel adventure.
• Analyze Generated Prompts : Once the AI generates prompts, take time to analyze them. Consider the potential storylines, character arcs, and conflicts that the prompts suggest. This analysis will help you decide how to develop the story further.
• Expand and Adapt : Use the AI-generated prompt as a starting point. Expand on it by adding your own details, plot twists, and character development. Adapt the prompt to fit your creative vision, making it uniquely yours.
• Combine Prompts for Complexity : To add depth and complexity to your writing, try combining multiple AI-generated prompts. This can lead to richer and more intricate storylines. For example, combine a mystery prompt with a romance prompt to create a compelling romantic thriller.

Example Prompts and How to Use Them

Exploring different genres and styles can help you expand your writing repertoire and discover new creative pathways. Here are some AI-generated writing prompts to help you get started creating amazing AI prompts for inspiration, grouped by genre, with suggestions on how to use them to spark your creativity in a wide variety of different ways.

• Expansion : Develop the sorcerer’s backstory, detailing their struggle with the forbidden magic. Introduce supporting characters, such as a mentor or a rival, and create a series of challenges that the sorcerer must overcome.
• Expansion : Explore the knight’s journey, adding mythical creatures and magical elements. Create intricate subplots involving allies and adversaries.
• Expansion : Build a rich setting where human-animal communication is central. Develop the relationship between the girl and the dragon, highlighting their adventures and challenges.
• Expansion : Detail the timeless realm’s unique rules and inhabitants. Create a plot where the child must solve puzzles or complete tasks to return home.
• Expansion : Focus on the moral and ethical dilemmas faced by the protagonist. Develop secondary characters who influence or challenge the protagonist’s decisions.
• Expansion : Create a detailed map of the small town, including key locations where the detective conducts investigations. Develop the detective’s character, focusing on their methods and personal stakes in solving the case. Introduce red herrings and plot twists to keep the readers guessing.
• Expansion : Develop a dual timeline story, alternating between the archaeologist’s present-day investigations and historical flashbacks.
• Expansion : Build a suspenseful narrative with escalating stakes. Introduce complex characters with hidden motives and connections to the detective.
• Expansion : Highlight the detective’s ingenuity and resourcefulness. Create a tense atmosphere with time-sensitive clues and high stakes.
• Expansion : Focus on the journalist’s investigation, incorporating themes of danger, betrayal, and moral dilemmas. Develop secondary characters who either aid or hinder the investigation.
• Expansion : Flesh out the backstory of the childhood friendship, including significant memories and events that shaped their bond. Explore the emotional journey of reconnecting, highlighting both the joy and the challenges they face. Introduce secondary characters who influence their relationship dynamics.
• Expansion : Explore the themes of distance and longing. Develop detailed settings for their respective homes and the unique challenges of a long-distance relationship.
• Expansion : Develop the characters’ backstories and the reasons they attended the ball. Create obstacles and near-misses as they search for each other.
• Expansion : Highlight the changes they have undergone and the new challenges they face. Develop secondary characters who represent their past and present lives.
• Expansion : Contrast their lifestyles and values. Develop a subplot involving their personal growth and how they influence each other positively.

Science Fiction

• Expansion : Build a futuristic world with detailed technology and societal norms. Develop the technician’s character, focusing on their curiosity and ethical dilemmas. Create a suspenseful plot as the technician uncovers the truth behind the android’s memories, revealing hidden conspiracies and unexpected allies.
• Expansion : Explore the political and social ramifications of the discovery. Develop the scientist’s character and their interactions with both humans and the alien life form.
• Expansion : Focus on the ethical and personal implications of memory manipulation. Develop a protagonist who must uncover the hacker’s motives and stop them.
• Expansion : Create a dystopian world where privacy is compromised. Develop the protagonist’s journey to regain control over their mind and uncover the truth.
• Expansion : Develop the parallel universe’s unique rules and the challenges of understanding a reversed timeline. Focus on the scientists’ interactions and the consequences of their discoveries.
• Expansion : Build a rich backstory for the curse, including its origins and previous occurrences. Develop the teenager’s character and their personal connection to the curse.
• Expansion : Create an eerie atmosphere with hidden secrets and supernatural elements. Develop the writer’s descent into the mystery and their own potential fate.
• Expansion : Focus on the group’s dynamics and how the haunting affects them. Develop a backstory for the ghost and the circumstances of their death.
• Expansion : Create a detailed setting and history for the town. Develop characters who are skeptical and others who believe in the legend, building tension as the truth is revealed.
• Expansion : Develop the family’s background and their initial reactions to the phenomena. Create a plot where they uncover the history of the battle and find a way to resolve the haunting.

Best Practices for Using AI-Generated Prompts

• Set Clear Goals : Define what you aim to achieve with each writing session. Whether it’s experimenting with a new genre, developing complex characters, or practicing dialogue, having clear goals will guide your writing.
• Reflect on Your Work : After completing a piece, reflect on what worked well and what could be improved. This reflection helps you grow as a writer and make the most of AI-generated prompts.
• Seek Feedback : Share your stories with peers or writing groups. Constructive feedback can provide new perspectives and insights, further enhancing your writing skills.
• Iterate and Improve : Use feedback to iterate and improve your writing. AI-generated prompts are a tool to spark creativity, but the real magic happens when you refine and polish your work.
• Balance AI with Originality : While AI can provide inspiration, it’s important to infuse your unique voice and perspective into the writing. Use the prompts as a springboard for your creativity, but ensure that the final piece reflects your originality.

AI-generated writing prompts are a powerful resource for writers, offering endless possibilities to fuel your creativity and enhance your storytelling skills. By leveraging AI tools, you can explore new ideas, overcome writer’s block, and consistently challenge yourself to create compelling stories. Remember to define clear parameters, experiment with variations, and expand on the prompts to make them uniquely yours. Embrace the power of AI and watch your writing flourish, turning each writing session into an exciting journey of discovery and creativity.

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