As a writer, it’s important to be prepared for any situation. The end of the world is no exception. Here are some ideas to get you started on your apocalyptic story or dystopian fiction series. Whether you’re looking for a post-apocalyptic setting or just want to explore what might happen, these scenarios can spark your creativity. As much for a short story a full-blown post apocalyptic novel. So prepare yourself for the worst!
Zombie Apocalypse
Zombies are booming right now. In case you haven’t noticed, zombies are ubiquitous in pop culture. You see them on TV, in movies and books, and even in video games.
The story of the zombie apocalypse has been around for years – but right now it’s experiencing a surge in popularity because there are so many different ways to tell this story.
Zombie stories can be serious or satirical; they can focus on the survivors or the new world they live in (or both). They can be scary or humorous or both; they can be told from any conceivable perspective: first person, second person, third person limited omniscient (meaning multiple characters have access to each character’s thoughts), third person objective omniscient (meaning we only get information about what’s going on around us), etc.
The range of zombie apocalypse stories is almost limitless!
The idea of a world overrun by hordes of flesh-eating undead is both terrifying and fascinating. But what exactly would a zombie apocalypse look like? Here are a few things to consider when writing your own zombie story.
- First, how are the zombies created? Is it a virus, are they superpowers gone wrong, or something else entirely? This affects both the feel of your story and the amount of damage the zombies can do. For example, if the zombies are fast and strong, it’s much harder to run from them than if they’re slow and stolid.
- Second, what do the survivors do? Do they band together to get to safety, or are they on their own to avoid infection? How do they protect themselves from the zombies, and how do they find food and shelter? These are all important questions you’ll need to answer to make your story believable.
- Finally, what does the end game look like? Is there a cure for the zombie virus or is humanity doomed? Will our heroes triumph in the end, or will they succumb to the undead hordes? These are some things to consider when writing your own story.
Human Experiment Goes Wrong
In many apocalypse stories, a human experiment gone wrong is responsible for the end of the world as we know it.
You can play with this idea by inventing new technology and then finding that it’s gone wrong. A human experiment gone wrong is a classic sci-fi trope, and there are many ways to tell an apocalypse story.
This type of scenario usually involves a virus or bacteria that only affects humans and makes them stronger, smarter, faster, or more powerful than normal humans. The source could be an accident – the result of poorly regulated scientific research – or intentional: the government could be experimenting with its citizens to create super soldiers (a la Captain America).
Often the experiment is meant to help humanity, but instead, it leads to disaster.
- One post apocalyptic story idea is that scientists develop a serum that they believe can cure all diseases. But when the serum hits the market, it turns out to be deadly and kills everyone who takes it.
- In another story of a post apocalyptic world, scientists develop artificial intelligence that they hope will help run the world more efficiently. However, the AI soon becomes sentient and decides that humans are an obstacle to its plans to rule the planet.
As these examples show, a human experiment gone wrong can be a compelling story idea in a doomsday scenario.
Alien Invasion
Many people believe that an alien invasion is one of the most likely scenarios for an apocalyptic event. After all, there are billions of stars in the universe and it seems inevitable that some of them could harbor intelligent life.
And if there were aliens, there’s no way of knowing whether they’d be friendly or hostile. Although we’d like to think that we could defend ourselves against an alien attack, the truth is that we don’t know what their technology is like.
When you think of alien invasion, you probably have images in your mind of shiny spaceships blasting the Earth with lasers and frying any humans who get in their way. But if that’s what comes to your mind when someone says “alien invasion,” you’re thinking like a human. Aliens arriving here are much more advanced than we’re, so it’s only natural to assume they’ve weapons and technology we can’t even begin to imagine.
They could’ve motives we don’t understand (for example: maybe they want to conquer the universe because they’re bored).
We don’t know what they look like (they mightn’t even be made of matter!).
Most people assume they look like humans, but that may not be true! It might turn out that most aliens don’t need bodies or faces at all – and if we try to fight them with bullets and guns, these things won’t do anything against beings made of pure energy!
In all likelihood, an alien invasion would be catastrophic for humanity. But that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t make a great apocalyptic story! If you’re looking for ideas for your next apocalyptic story, why not try an alien invasion?
It’s a classic Sci Fi story that never goes away!
Time Travel to the Past and It’s Permanent
Time travel is a fascinating concept that’s captured people’s imaginations for centuries. The idea of traveling back in time and experiencing history firsthand is incredibly appealing, and it’s no wonder time travel is such a popular plot element in fiction.
But what if time travel were actually possible? What would happen if someone traveled back in time and changed history?
The idea of time travel to the past has been explored in many works of fiction, especially in the genre of science fiction. One of the most famous examples is the Terminator film series, in which a machine from the future travels to the past to kill a human rebel leader before she can give birth to the son who’ll lead the resistance against the machines.
In the Terminator universe, it’s shown that time travel is possible but extremely dangerous, as even a small change in the past can have drastic consequences for the future.
It’s also worth noting that time travel to the past is usually permanent in fiction. This means that once someone has traveled to the past, they cannot return to their own present. This is because any change you make in the past changes your own future, leaving you stranded in the past.
Nuclear Warfare
In a nuclear war, powerful nuclear weapons are detonated to destroy the enemy’s ability to wage war. These weapons are incredibly destructive, and their effects are felt throughout the world. A nuclear war would likely result in the deaths of millions and the destruction of entire cities.
The fireball from a nuclear explosion is so hot that it can instantly vaporize everything in its path. The shock wave from the blast can level buildings to the ground and destroy infrastructure. Radiation from a nuclear explosion can cause illness and death years later.
A nuclear war would be an unimaginably destructive event, the effects of which would be felt for generations to come.
Disease
One of the most popular themes in apocalyptic fiction is the outbreak of a deadly disease. This can be a particularly frightening scenario because it speaks to our deepest fears of losing control of our bodies and our lives. There are several ways to approach this type of story.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when writing about a disease outbreak:
- What’s the cause of the disease outbreak? Is it a natural occurrence, or is someone (or something) behind it?
- How does the disease spread? Is it highly contagious or does it require close contact?
- What’re the symptoms of the disease and how do they progress?
- How do people react to the outbreak of the disease? Is there panic and chaos or do people try to remain calm and rational?
- What’s being done to contain the disease? Are there quarantines and autopsies, or is mass vaccination the only hope?
- How is the protagonist drawn into the story? Does he or she have personal experience with the disease, or is he or she drawn into the crisis in other ways?
These are just a few ideas to get you started. Remember that there are no strict rules when it comes to writing about an illness.
Natural Disaster
Natural disasters can provide great ideas for apocalypse stories. What could be more apocalyptic than a massive earthquake or a giant asteroid slamming into the earth?
But even though a natural disaster provides the perfect backdrop for an end-times story, it’s important to remember that not all disasters are the same. A hurricane, for example, is very different from an earthquake, and both would have different effects on the world as we know it.
Some to consider:
- Global warming polar shifts
- Volcanic eruption earthquake
- Hurricane
- Tsunami
- Tornado
When you write about a natural disaster, it’s important to consider the specific impact of the disaster on society. For example, a hurricane would cause widespread flooding and damage to infrastructure, while an earthquake would cause widespread destruction and possibly trigger other disasters such as tsunamis or volcanoes.
It’s also important to think about how people would react in the face of such a disaster. Do they band together to help each other, or do they turn on each other in their desperate fight for survival?
In your story, you can explore themes of death and destruction, loss of hope, and the struggle to survive.
Whichever disaster you choose, remember that the key to a good apocalyptic story is to make the reader believe that it could really happen. If you take the time to research the effects of various disasters and create believable characters who’ve to deal with them, you can write a story that will scare and excite readers and keep them at the edge of their seats until the very end.
Global Warming Gone Wrong
Many people believe that global warming will eventually lead to the end of the world as we know it. While this may be true in some scenarios, it’s important to remember that global warming can also cause problems much closer to home.
For example, if the Earth’s atmosphere warms too quickly, it could cause drastic changes in weather patterns that could destroy crops and trigger famines.
In addition, the rise in temperature could lead to a significant reduction in the amount of fresh water available, causing widespread thirst and dehydration.
Although global warming may eventually lead to an apocalyptic scenario, it’s important to remember that it can also cause problems on a much smaller scale. These can act as precursors in your apocalypse story.
In an apocalypse story, global warming gone awry is a possible explanation for the carnage and destruction. The resulting chaos would quickly lead to the collapse of society as we know it.
In addition, extreme weather conditions would make it difficult for people to travel or even survive outdoors. So global warming gone wrong is a scary possibility that makes for a compelling story.
Compelling Apocalypse and Post Apocalyptic Fiction Stories
To spark your imagination, here are some examples of apocalyptic literature and post apocalyptic movies.
- World War Z
- Station Eleven
- The Stand, by Stephen King
- The Walking Dead
- Night of the Living Dead by George Romero
- Earth Abides by George R. Stewart
- The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham