Do you love writing adventure stories? If so, you’re in luck! This blog post will discuss fifteen amazing adventure story ideas to keep your readers on the edge of their seats. These ideas are perfect for anyone who loves writing suspenseful and exciting tales. So, if you’re looking for a little inspiration, read on!
15 Adventure Story Ideas
- A group of friends embarks on a treasure hunt, only to find themselves pitted against a rival group of treasure hunters.
- A young woman sets out to find her missing father in a remote, dangerous jungle.
- After their plane crashes in the middle of a vast ocean, a group of survivors must band together to make it back to shore.
- A detective is hot on the trail of a ruthless serial killer targeting Los Angeles victims.
- A group of friends decides to explore a haunted house that is said to be cursed.
- While on vacation in the Alps, a family becomes caught in an avalanche and must fight for their lives.
- A group of friends go camping in the woods and stumble upon a mysterious cabin in the middle of nowhere.
- After being stranded on a deserted island, a group of survivors must figure out how to get back home.
- While hiking through the mountains, a group of friends stumbles upon an abandoned town taken over by strange creatures.
- A young woman sets out to sea to find her long-lost mother but gets shipwrecked on a mysterious island instead.
- A family goes on a safari in Africa and finds themselves stalked by lions.
- While vacationing in the Caribbean, a family becomes stranded on a deserted island and must fend for themselves against pirates.
- While exploring an ancient tomb, a group of adventurers becomes trapped inside and must find their way out before it’s too late.
- After being kidnapped by terrorists, a group of tourists must break free to save the lives of millions of people back home.
- After being kicked out of their home, a group of siblings must go on the run to avoid being sent to a foster home.
How to Write an Adventure Story
Choose an Exciting Setting
One of the first things you need to do when writing an adventure story is to choose an exciting setting. After all, a good story is only as good as its setting. Will your story take place in the wild west? On a distant planet? In a haunted house? The possibilities are endless! Just make sure that you choose a setting that is both unique and interesting.
Create Compelling Characters
Next, you need to create compelling characters. Readers need to be able to connect with your protagonists for them to root for them during their adventures. They also need to empathize with your characters’ emotions and experiences. Make sure to give your characters deep backstories and flaws that make them feel real and relatable.
Plot Out an Exciting Adventure
Now it’s time to plot out an exciting adventure for your characters to embark on. This is where you get to be creative! Will they be going on a treasure hunt? Trying to save the world from destruction? Battling supernatural forces? The sky’s the limit! Ensure your adventure is thrilling and suspenseful enough to keep your readers hooked from beginning to end.
Write Your Story
Once you’ve all of your elements, it’s time to start writing your story! Remember, an adventure story should be fast-paced and action-packed, so don’t be afraid to go wild with your imagination. And above all else, have fun!
Finding Adventure and Survival in Your Writing
No matter what genre you write in, chances are there’s an element of adventure and survival. After all, what is a story without conflict? The need to overcome obstacles is a fundamental part of any good story, be it man vs. nature, man vs. society, or even man vs. himself. Here are a few examples of how adventure and survival can play out in your writing.
Man vs. Nature
One of the most classic examples of adventure and survival is man against nature. This can take many forms, from a journey into the unknown to being stranded in a hostile environment. In either case, the stakes are high, and the challenges are great. To succeed, the protagonist must use all of his wits and resourcefulness. Classic examples of this type of story include Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe.
Man vs. Society
Another common adventure and survival story pits the individual against society. This can be a lone rebel fighting against an oppressive regime or a group of outcasts trying to survive in a hostile world. In either case, the protagonists must use their cunning and strength to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds. Notable examples include George Orwell’s 1984 and Suzanne Collins’s The Hunger Games trilogy.
Man vs. Himself
Finally, perhaps the most interesting adventure and survival story are one in which the protagonist is pitted against himself. This can take the form of an internal struggle against addiction or mental illness or an external struggle against physical adversity. In either case, the protagonist must find the courage to confront his demons head-on. Some great examples include Stephen King’s The Shining and Haruki Murakami’s Norwegian Wood.
On the Nature of Adventure
One key thing that all adventures have in common is that they take us out of our comfort zones. They force us to confront challenges and push ourselves in ways we wouldn’t normally do. That could be physical challenges like scaling a rock wall or mental ones like trying to solve a complicated puzzle. But whatever the challenge may be, it’s something that we have to step outside our comfort zone to overcome.
Another common element of an adventure is that it’s usually something we undertake deliberately. We don’t just suddenly find ourselves on an adventure; we choose to embark on one. This could be because we’re seeking thrills, new experiences, or trying to achieve personal goals. Whatever the reason, we choose to go on an adventure of free will.
And finally, adventures usually involve some degree of risk. This could be physical risks like getting hurt while scaling a rock wall or emotional risks like putting ourselves in new and unfamiliar situations. But if there’s no risk involved, it’s not an adventure.
The Adventure Genre
The adventure genre is one of the oldest genres in storytelling. It can be traced back to Homer’s Odyssey and even further. One of the reasons it has remained popular for so long is that it is such a versatile genre. It can be used to tell stories of derring-do, romance, comedy, mystery, and more.
The one thing that all adventure stories have in common is a sense of excitement and suspense. The reader should be kept on the edge of their seat, eager to see what happens next. If you can achieve this, you are well on writing a great adventure story.
Here are some other elements that are commonly found in adventure stories:
- A quest or journey: The hero (or heroes) set out on a quest or journey to achieve some goal. This could be as simple as finding a lost treasure or rescuing a damsel in distress.
- Exotic locations: Adventure stories often occur in far-flung places that most readers will never experience firsthand. Doing this helps to heighten the sense of adventure and make the story more exciting.
- Challenges and obstacles: For the hero to complete their quest, they must overcome various challenges and obstacles. These could be physical (like battling bad guys or braving treacherous conditions) or mental/emotional (like overcoming fears or facing personal demons).
- A ticking clock: There is often some time limit for the hero to complete their quest. This could be an actual deadline (like stopping a villain from carrying out their evil plan) or more metaphorical (like getting back home before they are turned into animals).
- Allies and enemies: The hero usually meets allies and enemies during their adventure. Allies may help them in a tight spot, while enemies will try to stop them from achieving their goals.
The Elements of a Good Adventure Story
Adventure
A good adventure story, first and foremost, is about adventure. The protagonists should embark on a journey full of excitement and danger, taking them out of their comfort zones and into unknown territory. The best adventure stories are those in which the characters are pushed to their limits and must find new reserves of strength and courage they never knew they had.
Suspense and mystery
A sense of suspense and mystery is essential to keeping readers engaged. Will the heroes succeed in their quest? What obstacles will they encounter along the way? What dark secrets does the antagonist hold? A good adventure story will keep readers guessing at every turn.
Pacing
An adventure story shouldn’t drag; it should move quickly and keep the reader’s heart racing. Action scenes should be tense and exciting, with a rapid back-and-forth between the protagonists and antagonists. At the end of each chapter, cliffhangers will leave readers eager to discover what happens next.
Visuals
Since an adventure story is about excitement and emotions, its visuals should reflect this. Action scenes should be kinetic and full of movement and color. Settings should be vividly described, evoking a strong sense of place. Characters should be larger than life, with physical and emotional quirks that make them memorable.