Castle story ideas

Whether it’s the ruins of a castle or a sprawling, vibrant castle filled with people, you can find all kinds of inspiration from these castle story ideas. You’ll find a prompt followed by three questions to help you expand on the idea in your own unique way.

Castles make interesting settings for all kinds of genres, whether you’re writing romance, fantasy, horror, or something else.

For even more writing prompts, check out my writing prompts for short stories and other fiction.

How castles can feature in your story

While castles are usually associated with historical and fantasy novels, they can take place in almost every genre – even sci-fi.

In romance stories, even contemporary romance, castles can be a backdrop to momentous events like proposals, engagement parties, weddings, and more. Wedding fayres are often hosted in the halls of castles, hotels, and more.

In fantasy, castles might be the home of your royal or noble families, or are owned by terrifying villains. They can be the setting of a grand ball, a feast, a battle, or even a combination of the three.

In horror novels, castles are a spooky setting often associated with hauntings and diabolical plots. They house vampires, werewolves, witches, warlocks, sorcerers, and more.

Get inspired with these castle story ideas

• The ruins of a castle hide something your characters need.
  • Is what they need a person, an object, or something else altogether? What defences do the ruins have? What obstacles do your characters face? What’s the history of this castle? What caused it to become ruins?
• The event of the century is being held at a castle, and your character has been invited.
  • What is the event? What makes it such a big occasion? Who sent the invitation? Why were they invited? What’s the worse thing that could happen to your character at this event?
• When the last heir of the castle dies, the castle mourns.
  • How does a castle mourn? What changes about its appearance? What was the connection between the castle and its residents? What happens when someone enters the castle for the first time?
• After people vacate the area, a castle is left standing, and years later someone rediscovers the castle.
  • What caused everyone to leave? What happened to people who stayed? How has the castle changed over time? What has been frozen in time? What were the residents doing before they had to leave?
• A castle serves as the background for a proposal or wedding.
  • Why did the characters choose the castle for this occasion? What other characters can be seen in the background? What can be found around the castle? What are the castle grounds like?

Castle-dwelling character ideas

For more inspiration, here are some castle-dwelling character ideas to explore in your stories.

• A groundskeeper who has worked at the castle for what seems like many lives.
• An enigmatic celebrity moves into a castle and makes some major changes.
• The royal family who have a secret locked away deep within the castle.
• A teenager lives in an abandoned castle, and decides to make it a space for others who need a safe refuge.
• An estranged family divide a castle between themselves.