Horror Writing Prompts for Creepy Tales

Looking for some exciting horror writing prompts?  For decades, readers have been captivated by the genre of horror. The spine-tingling suspense, the gloomy mood, and the scary images are all characteristics that contribute to horror’s allure. However, for those who want to write their own horror stories, it can be difficult to come up with ideas that are unique, engaging, and truly terrifying. In this article, we’ll provide you a list of horror writing prompts to get you started.

Haunted Places Writing Prompts

Abandoned Buildings

• A group of people who decide to explore an abandoned building, only to find that it’s not as abandoned as they thought. Describe the abandoned building and what the group discovers.
• Write a story about a haunted hotel where every room has a tragic history.
• Write a story about a group of friends who decide to spend the night in an abandoned mansion, only to realize they are not alone.
• Write a story about a woman who inherits an abandoned factory from her grandfather, only to discover that the factory holds a sinister history.
• Write a story about a man who buys an old, rundown church to renovate it, only to find that the church is haunted by the ghosts of its former occupants.
• A group of teenagers who break into an abandoned school for a night of fun, only to awaken an ancient evil that lurks within its walls. Write a newspaper report about what happens to the group of teenagers that fateful night.

Cursed Locations

• A cursed house has been passed down through generations of a family, bringing tragedy and misfortune to all who live there. Describe the house in detail.
• Write a story about a cursed forest where people go missing and strange things happen.
• Write a story about a town that was cursed by a vengeful witch, causing strange and terrifying events to occur every year on the anniversary of her death.
• Write a story about a family who moves into a new home only to realise that it was built on cursed soil that has seen horrible happenings for generations.
• Write a narrative about a group of friends who go camping in a cursed forest and must confront their greatest fears as well as the terrible spirits who live there.
• Consider a cursed island where every visitor meets a horrible end and the only way to escape the curse is to confront the furious spirits who haunt the island. 

Creatures and Monsters – Horror Writing Prompts

Classic Monsters

• Write a story about a vampire who falls in love with a mortal, but their love is doomed from the start.
• Write a story about a werewolf who struggles to control his transformations, and the havoc he wreaks on the town.
• Write a narrative about a mad scientist who produces a monster that turns against him and destroys the town.
• Write a narrative about a group of visitors visiting a secluded village in Eastern Europe and discovering that the people are harbouring a dark secret involving a vampire.
• Write a narrative about a young woman who falls in love with a charming stranger, only to find out he’s a werewolf and must choose between her love and his primitive inclinations.
• Write a story about a party of explorers who stumble onto a hidden underground laboratory where a genius scientist has been conducting research on several classic monsters.
• Write a story about a little community terrorised by an unknown entity.

Supernatural Creatures

• Write a story about a demon possession that takes hold of a young girl and the terrifying consequences that follow.
• Write a story about a witch who seeks revenge on those who wronged her, using dark magic to achieve her goals.
• Write a narrative about a woman who discovers that she is a witch and must learn to control her powers before they destroy her.
• Write a story about a man who is cursed to become a ghost every night, haunting the places he used to frequent in life.
• Write a story about a family who moves into a new house, only to discover that it is haunted by a malevolent spirit that seeks to harm them.
• Write a story about a group of travellers who stumble upon a hidden community of shapeshifters, where they must decide whether to join them or escape before they are trapped forever.

Psychological Horror Writing Prompts

Mind Games

• Write a story about a woman who becomes convinced that her husband is trying to kill her, but no one believes her.
• Write a story about a man who wakes up in a strange place with no memory of how he got there, and slowly realises that he’s the subject of a twisted psychological experiment.
• Write a story about a woman who wakes up with no memory of her past, and must piece together the clues left behind by her former self to uncover a conspiracy against her.
• Write a story about a man who begins to suspect that his entire life is a simulation, and sets out to find a way to break free and discover the truth.
• Write a story about a group of strangers who are brought together for a psychological experiment, where they must navigate a series of challenges designed to test their limits.
• Write a story about a woman who starts to receive mysterious messages from a stranger who seems to know everything about her, and must uncover their identity before they can harm her.
• Write a story about a detective who is tasked with solving a murder that seems to be an elaborate mind game, where the killer leaves behind clues that are designed to lead the detective down the wrong path.

Paranormal Activity

• Write a story about a woman who starts seeing ghosts everywhere she goes, and no one believes her until it’s too late.
• Write a story about a man who is haunted by the ghost of his deceased wife, and he must confront his own guilt and grief to find peace.
• Write a story about a team of paranormal investigators who are hired to investigate a haunted house, only to discover that the spirits within are more malevolent than they initially thought.
• Write a story about a woman who moves into a new apartment and begins to experience strange occurrences that lead her to uncover a dark past involving the building.
• Write a story about a man who inherits an old estate from a distant relative, only to discover that it is haunted by the ghost of his ancestor who seeks revenge.
• Write a story about a group of friends who decide to play with a ouija board, only to unleash a malevolent entity that begins to torment them and possess their bodies.
• Write a story about a journalist who investigates a series of bizarre occurrences in a small town, where he discovers a cult that worships a supernatural entity and seeks to bring it back to the world.

Conclusion

Horror is a genre that provides endless possibilities for creativity and storytelling. These horror writing prompts are just the tip of the iceberg, and there are countless other ideas to explore. Whether you’re an experienced writer or just starting out, these prompts are sure to help you create something that will give your readers goosebumps. So, turn off the lights, grab a pen, and get ready to explore the dark side of your imagination.