Do you enjoy writing dark, horror-inspired stories? If so, then you will love our latest list of prompts! These horrifying ideas spark your creativity and get those creative juices flowing. Whether you are a seasoned writer or just starting, these prompts will help you create chilling tales that will send shivers down your readers’ spines. So what are you waiting for? Start writing today!
24 Dark Writing Prompts
- A family moves into a new house, realizing that demonic entities haunt it.
- A young woman is kidnapped and taken to a remote location by a madman.
- A group of friends goes camping in the woods, only to be stalked and killed by a serial killer.
- A woman finds herself pregnant with a demon’s child.
- A man discovers that he can time travel, but every time he travels to the future, it is darker and more nightmarish than the last.
- The ghost of her deceased child haunts a woman.
- A man wakes up one day to find that everyone in the world has disappeared, leaving him completely alone.
- A woman is possessed by a demon and starts committing heinous crimes.
- A group of friends investigate a haunted house and are never seen again.
- An evil witch cursed a town, turning all residents into monsters.
- The devil strikes a deal with a man, and the man must spend his life as a woman.
- A woman commits suicide, only to find that death is not what she thought it would be.
- The ghost of his dead wife haunts a man, and she tells him he must kill her little sister to set her free.
- A man tries to marry the woman he loves, but on their wedding night, she turns into a monster and tries to kill him.
- An army invades a small town, and the army consists of werewolves.
- A teenage girl uses witchcraft to bring her boyfriend back from the dead, but she soon realizes she has made a horrible mistake.
- A woman steals the legendary ruby slippers, and she soon discovers that the shoes are not only magical, but they are also alive.
- A man finds a strange camera in the woods, and every time he takes a picture with the camera, the image comes to life.
- A serial killer kills a woman, but her brain continues to function after she dies due to a rare medical condition.
- A group of young children is kidnapped and taken to a nightmarish circus, where they are forced to perform for the crowd.
- A family moves into a new home, and the house comes alive at night, killing everyone inside in the most gruesome ways possible.
Writing Dark Atmospheres: Tips and Tricks
A dark atmosphere can be integral to a story, but it’s not always easy to achieve.
One of the most important elements of a dark atmosphere is the setting. Is your story set in a dreary, fog-shrouded city? A remote, foreboding forest? Or perhaps a creaking, abandoned house? The setting should be integral to the story’s mood, and it should be clear from the outset that something is not quite right.
Another vital element of a dark atmosphere is suspense. One way to create suspense is to withhold information from the reader. This could be done by keeping certain key details about the story or characters hidden or withholding information about what will happen next. Another way to create suspense is through foreshadowing—hints or suggestions about what might happen later in the story. Foreshadowing can be subtle or overt, but it should leave the reader feeling unease.
Of course, no dark atmosphere would be complete without a few creepy details. These could include eerie sounds, unexpected appearances, or sudden disappearances. Anything that would serve to unsettle the reader can work well here. Remember not to go overboard—a few well-placed creepy details will do the job nicely.
How to Create a Dark and Dying World
To create an effective dark setting, you must first understand world-building elements. Once you have a firm grasp on the basics, you can begin to infuse your unique vision, bringing your dark world to life. Here are some key points to keep in mind as you set out to write a dark and dying world.
The End of the World As We Know It
One of the most important aspects of creating a dark setting is ensuring that your readers believe that the world is ending. To do this, you must first establish what the world is like currently. This will be your baseline; everything that follows should work to create a sense of decline from this point. When writing about the current state of affairs, be sure to include internal and external factors contributing to the decline. For example, in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by war, you might include dwindling resources, widespread disease, and mass economic collapse. Establishing a strong sense of foreboding from the outset will set the stage for the darkness to come.
Including Apocalyptic Elements
When most people think about writing a dark setting, their minds immediately jump to images of fire and brimstone, end-of-days type stuff. And while there’s a place for that kind of thing in certain stories, it’s not necessary in all cases. What is necessary, however, is a sense that things are rapidly deteriorating and there’s no turning back. So whether you’re writing about a zombie apocalypse or simply a city crumbling under its weight, be sure to include plenty of details that convey just how hopeless the situation has become.
Focusing on The Human Element
While it’s important to establish the scope and scale of the impending doom, it’s even more important to focus on how this affected individual people. After all, at the end of the day, stories are about people—not worlds—and so it’s vital that your readers feel emotionally invested in your characters and their struggles. To do this, try to put yourself in their shoes and think about how you would react if you were facing certain death. Would you give up? Would you go down fighting? Would you try to make peace with those who have wronged you? These are just some questions you should consider as you write about your characters’ trials and tribulations.
Dark characters are the best characters
We all love a good dark character. You know the type – they’re brooding, injured, damaged. They don’t play by the rules and are always just a little dangerous. But what is it that makes these characters so darn compelling? Let’s examine why dark characters make for the best stories.
Dark characters are intriguing because they’re not like everyone else. They march to the beat of their drum, and they don’t apologize for it. Something about their darkness is strangely appealing – it makes them different and unique. And in a world where we’re all trying to stand out from the crowd, who doesn’t love a little difference?
Dark characters are also usually complex and multi-dimensional. They’re not one-note beings; there’s always more to them than meets the eye. This depth makes them interesting to read about and fun to write about. It’s always a challenge to try and figure out what motivates a dark character – what drives them to do what they do? – and this can be half the fun.
Lastly, let’s not forget that dark characters are often the most passionate ones. They feel deeply and passionately, which can make for some truly intense scenes. There’s nothing quite like reading (or writing) about a dark character losing themselves in an emotion – anger, sorrow, or desire. If you’re looking for high drama, look no further than the dark character!
Deconstructing the Gothic Mystery
In literature, there is nothing quite so satisfying as a good mystery. A well-crafted mystery tantalizes readers with clues and red herrings, slowly but surely drawing them into the story until they reach the climax when all is finally revealed. And of all the different mystery subgenres, few are as atmospheric and suspenseful as the gothic mystery.
But what exactly is a gothic mystery?
The Origins of the Gothic Mystery Genre
The gothic genre has its roots in 18th-century literature when writers began experimenting with incorporating horror and suspense elements into their work. The first real gothic novel is thought to be Horace Walpole’s The Castle of Otranto (1765), which tells the story of a cursed prince and features many hallmarks of the genre that would come to be defined in subsequent years.
Over time, authors began to play around with the formula, resulting in works like Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1818) and Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1897). It was around this time that the term “gothic” began to be used to describe this type of literature.
What Makes a Gothic Mystery?
So what sets a gothic mystery apart from other types of mysteries? Several key elements are common to most gothic mysteries:
- A dark, atmospheric setting: Gothic mysteries often occur in haunted castles, mansions, dark forests, or other eerie locations. This provides a backdrop for suspenseful scenes and a source of fear for the characters.
- A sense of foreboding or dread: Gothic mysteries are characterized by an underlying feeling of unease or terror. This might manifest as actual supernatural events or simply as a sense that something dangerous is about to happen.
- Secretive or mysterious characters: Many gothic mysteries revolve around characters hiding something or seeming to have ulterior motives. This air of secrecy only serves to heighten the sense of suspense.
- A slow build to an explosive climax: Gothic mysteries tend to be slower-paced than other types of mysteries, gradually raising the stakes until everything comes to a head in a heart-pounding finale.
- Supernatural elements: Ghosts, witches, vampires, and other supernatural creatures are often found in gothic mysteries. These elements add an extra layer of suspense and can help create an atmosphere of terror.