Writing prompts for horror writers

Writing prompts for horror and how to

make your own...

 

Write a short horror story or poem inspired by the above
picture prompt



Horror writing prompts are not only fun to create but are a great way to kick start your horror writing.  Creating your own horror prompts for your own use is very simple. In fact writing my own horror prompts is what prompted this blog. The three easiest ones are the ones I have focussed on, story starters, themes and picture prompts.

To write your own story starters simply get a blank piece of paper or word document, and starting at the top, write the beginning of a sentence, do your best to have either action, mystery or some type of hook in it that will get not only  your attention but your reader’s attention as well.

Example…Her hands shook as picked up the gun…

                                  Or

                The screaming behind her didn’t stop…

Now fill the left hand side of your page with as many as these that you can, be varied and remember to come back to it again as this can be a wonderful way to beat writers block

To write your own theme is very similar, again starting with a blank piece of paper write down anything from emotion, to items to clichés

Example… Never say never

                                Or

                   Broken mirror

Fill the page with as many of these as you can come up with, returning at later dates to both use the prompts and update them.

Picture prompts are by far my favourite out of these three creative writing prompts, easy to use and even easier to come up with. Simply choose an assortment of artwork that appeals to you, then out of those pieces choose ten to 15 to put aside for prompts. It is a great idea to decide straight away what sort of genre the picture fits best, style of writing, length etc. can all come later.

For example





If you don’t have the time, or prefer the challenge of writing for a random writing prompt then please check out the horror writing prompts below…

Writing prompts for horror writers

Story starters

Write a short horror story of least 750 words using one of the opening lines from below



Write a short horror story set in the above scene



1. Hounded by hell… 

2. The lights flickered once…

3. Staring at the teddy bear…

4. The scream cut off…

5. Peering through the window…

6. The glass was stained with blood…

7. The air was like ice…

8. The streets were never this empty…

9. Only the emergency station was on…

10. giggling they ran…

11. She knew he was hiding something…

12. The graveyard loomed out of the mist…

13. The caravan looked empty…



Write a Poem inspired by the above picture prompt



14. It always happens… 

15. The water rippled…

16. Time seemed to move slower…

17. Kill me first…

18. Pain can be the only thing to let you know you’re still alive…

19. The ship drifted…

20. It only looks perfect in the postcards…

Writing themes

Choose one of the themes below to write a short horror story of no less than 750 words or a poem of any length…

1. Grandma

2. Job interview

3. Murdering heart

4. Secrets

5. Confusion

6. Blood tears 



Write a dark themed horror poem or ballad
inspired by the above picture prompt



7. Liar    

8. Reunion

9. Road kill

10. Blindness

11. Burning cross

12. Book

13. The wind

14. Poisoned flower

15. Wild

16. Mob

17. Innocent touch

18. Madness

19. Ancient

20. Beware

Picture Prompts

Of course my favourite, simply choose one of the following pictures below and write a poem or a short story of at least 750 words



write a short horror story inspired by the above
picture prompt







write a short horror story under 1000 words inspired by the above
picture promp



Write a short horror story inspired by the above picture prompt

Write a short horror story of at least 750 words inspred by the
above picture prompt



Write a short story of at least 750 words inspired by the above
picture prompt







write a poem or ballad inspired by the above
picture prompt



Write a short horror story inspired by the above picture prompt

Write a short horror story or a poem inspired by the above
picture prompt

Write a short horror story of a least 750
words inspired by the above
picture prompt

Writing horror can be fun for the fictional writer, pushing through boundaries and testing the limits of the darker side of our imagination....so as you write your horror be it your first time or 1000th, remember to try and fun with it....

Check out my other page of horror writing prompts here
horror-writing-prompts