Science fiction is one of the most popular genres in the world, and for good reason! It allows us to explore new worlds, imagine different futures, and experience adventures. If you’re looking to get into the sci-fi writing zone, these 50 prompts are perfect! They will help you develop new story ideas and keep your creative juices flowing. So what are you waiting for? Get started today!
50 Sci-Fi Writing Prompts
1. What if aliens invaded the Earth? How would humanity react, and how would we fight back?
2. What if we discovered a new, habitable planet? What would be the implications for our species?
3. What if time travel was possible? What kind of havoc could be wreaked, and what would be the consequences?
4. What if we made contact with intelligent life forms from another world? How would they view us, and vice versa?
5. What if our world was plunged into a new ice age? How would we survive, and what would happen to civilization as we know it?
6. What if global warming became an irreversible reality? What kind of effect would it have on the planet and human society?
7. What if artificial intelligence became self-aware and decided to take over the world? How would we stop them?
8. What if animals started evolving into sentient beings and demanded equal rights? How would humanity react, and how would society change as a result?
9. What if death could be cured and people stopped dying? How would that affect our views on life, and what would be the consequences of overpopulation?
10. What if we started colonizing other planets? Could we survive in outer space?
11. What if the government allowed corporations to control the planet’s resources? What would happen if the corporations took over?
12. What if we discovered a new form of energy that could fuel technology for thousands of years? What would be the implications for our planet and our existence?
13. What if we discovered a new, potent form of medicine? What would be the implications for our health, and how would it affect our views on aging or illness?
14. What if there was a new ice age? What would be the implications for the planet and humanity?
15. What if our entire solar system was destroyed? How would this affect our planet, and how would we survive?
16. What if humans became immortal? What would be the implications for society and our civilization?
17. What if an alien race built a new space station near our planet? How would we react, and what would be the consequences?
18. What if aliens discovered a new planet with potentially habitable conditions? How would the two species establish contact, and what would the consequences be?
19. What if we invented a powerful new technology that could change our world? What would we use it for, and how would it impact our society?
20. What if we developed technology that could read our thoughts? What would be the implications for society and our civil liberties?
21. What if a new disease was discovered? How would we respond, and how would it change our world?
22. What if a human discovered a new, highly potent energy source? What would be the implications for society and the environment?
23. What if a scientific discovery threatened to destroy our planet? What lengths would we go to stop it?
24. What if our DNA became mutilated beyond repair, and we could not breed? How would humankind react, and what would be the consequences?
25. What if a new virus was discovered? What would be the implications for humanity, and how would we stop it?
26. What if a human discovered a new planet we could colonize? What would be the implications for our species, and how would we establish colonies there?
27. What if humanity found a way to travel beyond the galaxy? What kinds of adventures could we have in deep space, and what would we discover?
28. What if a new meteor struck Earth and devastated our planet? How would humanity respond, and what would be the aftermath?
29. What if a new kind of energy was discovered? How would humanity use it, and what would be the consequences for our world?
30. What if a new kind of weaponry was discovered? What would be the implications for humanity and for war?
31. What if humans stopped having children? How would this affect our species, and what would be the consequences?
32. What if we discovered a new planet with a breathable atmosphere? What would be the implications for humankind, and how would we colonize it?
33. What if a new dinosaur species was discovered? What would be the implications for our world, and how would we react to their existence?
34. What if a new plague could not be cured? How would humanity respond, and how would we stop the epidemic?
35. What if we discovered a new planet with plant, animal, and human life? What would be the implications for our world, and how would we colonize it?
36. What if a group of people from our planet were stranded on an alien planet? What would be the implications for them and humankind?
37. What if we started colonizing space? What would be the implications for our species?
38. What if a powerful alien species came to our planet? What would be the consequences for humankind?
39. What if humans began traveling the stars and colonizing other planets? What would be the implications for our species, and how would we arm ourselves?
40. What if a new virus spread around the world? How would we stop it, and what would be the repercussions?
41. What if we discovered a new planet that had highly advanced technology? How would we respond, and what would be the consequences?
42. What if an alien race who disliked humans discovered a new planet? How would they treat the planet’s inhabitants, and what would the implications be for humankind?
43. What if a new kind of energy was discovered but had negative impacts on the environment? What would be the implications for our planet and the future of humanity?
44. What if we discovered a powerful new technology that could positively alter our planet? What would be the implications for humankind, and how would we utilize it?
45. What if a new kind of animal was discovered? How would it affect our world, and how would we react?
46. What if we discovered a new form of life? What would be the implications for our world, and how would we respond?
47. What if we discovered a new planet with highly advanced technology? What would be the implications for our world and humanity?
48. What if we discovered a new planet with a suitable environment for human life? What would be the implications for humanity, and how would we colonize it?
49. What if we discovered a new planet inhabited by a new alien life form? What would be the implications for our world, and how would we respond?
50. What if humans landed on a new planet, and our astronauts were stranded there? What would the implications be for our species, and how would we respond?
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are Some Sci-Fi Topics?
Fancy more than the above? Here goes!…
1. In a future world where artificial intelligence has surpassed human intelligence, humans are now relegated to second-class citizens. Write a story from the perspective of an AI as it observes the humans it once knew struggling to adapt to their new way of life.
2. In a post-apocalyptic world, humanity has been forced to move underground to escape the surface world’s toxic air and endless radiation. Write a story about a group of people who venture back up to the surface, only to find that some things are better left buried.
3. Time travel has been perfected, but there’s a catch: every time you travel back in time, your mind is wiped of all memories of your previous timeline. Write a story about a woman who travels back in time, again and again, desperately trying to hold on to her memories long enough to change her future.
4. In a future where cloning has become commonplace, people can now choose to have copies of themselves made. But what happens when one woman discovers that her clones are inexplicably going missing?
5. On a newly colonized planet, the settlers encountered difficulty growing crops due to the planet’s unusual atmosphere. When they finally manage to grow some crops, they realize too late that the plants are carnivorous…
6. After an alien invasion, humanity has been divided into two groups: those taken by the aliens and those left behind. Write a story about the resistance movement fighting against the invaders and the collaborators who have sided with them.
7. A woman wakes up one day with no memory of who she is or how she got there. The only clues she has are the tattoos on her body which seem to be coordinated in space…
8. In a future society where emotions have been eradicated, two people fall in love and must keep their relationship a secret or face severe consequences.
9. After an experiment gone wrong, a scientist finds herself stuck in an alternate dimension where she discovers that her deceased loved ones are still alive… but they don’t remember her.
10. A woman discovers that she is an android after experiencing glitches in her system… and that she was created for a specific purpose…
How Do You Start a Sci-Fi Narrative?
Great stories need a strong opening that will pull readers in and make them want to keep reading. This is doubly true for science fiction, which often has a lot of world-building and exposition right from the start. So how do you write a strong opening for your sci-fi narrative?
1. Establish the Setting
The first step is to establish the setting for your story. Where does it take place? What kind of world is it? Is it future earth or a different planet? Whatever the case may be, you need to give your readers enough information so they can visualize the scene in their minds.
2. Introduce the Characters
Once you’ve established the setting, it’s time to introduce the characters. Who are the main players in your story? What motivates them? Again, you don’t want to bog down your opening with too much detail, but you should give readers enough to understand who these people are and what they want.
3. Hook Your Readers
Last but not least, you need to hook your readers with some element of suspense or mystery. Why should they care about these characters and this story? What’s at stake? If you can answer those questions in your opening, you’ll have succeeded in pulling readers in and getting them invested in your story.
What’s the Difference Between Sci-Fi and Fantasy?
To understand the genesis of both sci-fi and fantasy, it’s important to know that they both stem from the same source: folklore. Folklore, by definition, is a genre of traditional tales or legends associated with a particular people, culture, or geographical region.
Sci-Fi and fantasy are two genres that are often lumped together, but they have very different conventions. Sci-Fi is focused on science in its stories— usually presenting what-if scenarios exploring science and technology’s consequences. On the other hand, fantasy stories are set in imaginary worlds and often feature magical elements.
Technology vs. Magic
One of the key differences between sci-fi and fantasy is their treatment of technology and magic. In SciFi stories, technology is often used as a way to solve problems or achieve objectives that would otherwise be impossible. On the other hand, magic is a central component of most fantasy stories. Magic is often used as a stand-in for technology—for example, flying carpets might take the place of spaceships in a fantasy story set on another planet.
Rational vs. Supernatural explanations
Another difference between sci-fi and fantasy is how rational or supernatural explanations are used to explain events in the story. In SciFi, everything typically has a rational explanation— even if that explanation isn’t fully fleshed out or understood by the characters in the story. In contrast, magic often provides a supernatural explanation for events in fantasy stories.
Humans vs. Non-humans
A final difference between these two genres is their treatment of human versus non-human characters. In SciFi stories, humans are typically the main focus— even if non-human characters are present (think aliens). On the other hand, non-human characters often take center stage in fantasy stories— with humans playing more of a supporting role (think hobbits).
What Are Three Major Themes in Science Fiction?
As a writer, it’s important to know the major themes that run through your genre. This way, you can stay true to the spirit of the genre while still putting your spin on things. In this post, we’ll look at the three major themes in science fiction.
Exploration. This is the idea of venturing out into the unknown, whether traveling to different worlds or discovering new technologies. It’s about pushing the boundaries of what is possible and expanding our horizons. This theme often leads to stories about first contact and tales of adventure and discovery.
Identity. This is the idea of questioning who we are and what makes us human. It’s about exploring what it means to be an individual in a constantly changing and evolving society. This theme often leads to stories about artificial intelligence, cybernetics, and other forms of transhumanism.
Social commentary. This is the idea of using speculative fiction to comment on contemporary issues. It’s about asking “what if?” and using fictional scenarios to explore the potential consequences of real-world problems. This theme often leads to stories about dystopian societies, climate change, and other forms of social commentary.