Horror prompts for short stories

So, you want to write about something horrible. These horror prompts for short stories will be right up your dark, dank alley.

The horror genre is cathartic, allowing you to release strong emotions of fear, revulsion, and terror. To make yourself uncomfortable is a horror writer’s greatest goal. Causing a reader to be spooked or unnerved is even better.

For more horror prompts, check out my horror writing prompts. Or try some short fiction prompts for Halloween.

22 horror prompts

You can take just one prompt or combine any of the following for one story! Every prompt is entirely up to your interpretation.

You’ll find prompts for characters, words, settings, tropes, plotlines, and something sensory below.

Characters: A butcher. A thief. A landlord.

Words: Envious. Immerse. Knot. Merciless. Nail. Snatch.

Settings: A graveyard. A haunted forest. A tower.

Tropes: Blended Family Drama. The Hermit. Humans Are Cthulhu.

Plotlines:

• The buzzing comes from everywhere and nowhere.
• It’s like glue. They can’t speak.
• Having an obsession can be good; being the subject of an obsession is rarely good.
• An invitation to dinner arrives, but they’re not a guest.
• Stinging, overwhelming pain consumes them.
• They notice the trees following them.

Sensory: Frying.

Horror character ideas

Enjoy these horror character ideas for even more inspiration! Having a strong protagonist and, where needed, antagonist can make or break your horror story. You really want your readers to be emotionally invested in what happens to the characters.

• A protagonist with a limp, which makes it harder for them to escape.
• An otherwise bubbly protagonist broken down by the situation they’re in.
• Two protagonists who rely on each other but end up separated.
• An antagonist who won’t let a past betrayal go.
• A curious antagonist devoted to finding out just how far they can go.
• Two antagonists who combine their skills to become even more dangerous.