250 Horror Writing Prompts (Scary Good Ideas)

Looking to write your next spine-chilling horror story?

Here are 250 horror writing prompts to get your creative juices flowing. From ghostly apparitions to apocalyptic nightmares, these prompts will help you create unforgettable tales of terror.

What Is a Horror Writing Prompt?

(This post may have afilliate links. Please see my full disclosure)
Woman writing with monsters behind her -- Horror Writing Prompts
I made this image with AI — Horror Writing Prompts

A horror writing prompt is a brief idea or scenario designed to inspire a horror story.

It provides the foundation for a plot, characters, conflict, setting, consequences, and sometimes a ticking clock plot device to build tension and urgency.

There is actually more than one type of horror writing prompt (see the chart below).

Types of Horror Writing Prompts

TypeDescription
Ghost StoriesInvolve spirits, hauntings, and supernatural entities from the afterlife.
Psychological HorrorFocus on the inner turmoil and mental states of characters.
Paranormal ActivityCenter on phenomena beyond the scope of normal scientific understanding.
Creature FeaturesInvolve monsters, mythical creatures, and otherworldly beings.
Gothic HorrorSet in dark, decaying locations with a sense of romanticism and dread.
Apocalyptic and Post-ApocalypticDepict end-of-the-world scenarios and their aftermath.
Body HorrorRevolve around grotesque transformations and mutilations of the body.
Slasher StoriesFeature a murderous antagonist hunting down victims.
Cosmic HorrorExplore the insignificance of humanity in the face of incomprehensible entities.
Folk HorrorDraw from rural and traditional folklore, often involving rituals and superstitions.
Types of Horror Writing Prompts

Ghost Stories

  1. The Forgotten Asylum – A group of urban explorers finds an abandoned asylum haunted by the spirits of former patients. They must uncover the asylum’s dark secrets before they’re trapped forever.
  2. The Phantom Ship – A ghost ship appears off the coast, and a team of marine biologists investigates. They discover the souls of the drowned crew seeking revenge.
  3. Haunted Housewarming – A couple moves into their dream home, only to find it haunted by a previous owner’s vengeful spirit. They must uncover the home’s history to break the curse.
  4. The Whispering Woods – Campers in a remote forest hear eerie whispers at night. The ghost of a lost hiker leads them to a hidden danger.
  5. The Ghostly Guardian – A child befriends a ghost who protects them from unseen dangers. The parents must confront the ghost to save their child.
  6. The Lighthouse Keeper – A lone lighthouse keeper encounters the spirits of shipwrecked sailors. He must guide them to the afterlife while battling his own sanity.
  7. The Cursed Portrait – An artist paints a portrait that traps the soul of its subject. The artist must find a way to release the soul before they face a similar fate.
  8. The Haunted Highway – Drivers on a desolate road encounter ghostly apparitions. A journalist investigates the road’s dark history to uncover the truth.
  9. The Spirit of the Manor – A family inherits a manor haunted by its former occupants. They must survive the night and appease the spirits to lift the curse.
  10. The Ghostly Choir – A school choir is haunted by the spirits of former students. The new choir director must solve the mystery before the spirits claim more victims.
  11. The Phantom Play – An old theater is haunted by the ghost of a lead actor who died on stage. The current cast must perform his unfinished play to set his spirit free.
  12. The Ghostly Conductor – A ghost train appears on an abandoned track, and a group of friends boards it. They must solve the train’s mystery before reaching their final destination.
  13. The Haunted Playground – Children encounter the ghost of a girl at a playground. They must help her find peace before she claims more playmates.
  14. The Ghost in the Attic – A family discovers a ghost living in their attic. They must uncover the ghost’s past to help it move on.
  15. The Spectral Detective – A detective partners with a ghost to solve a series of murders. They must catch the killer before the ghost’s unfinished business consumes them both.
  16. The Haunted Hotel – Guests at a remote hotel encounter the spirits of former guests. The hotel staff must uncover the truth to stop the hauntings.
  17. The Ghostly Librarian – A library is haunted by the ghost of a former librarian. The new librarian must uncover the ghost’s secrets to restore peace.
  18. The Phantom Dancer – A ballerina encounters the ghost of a dancer who died in a tragic accident. She must perform the dancer’s final routine to set her spirit free.
  19. The Ghost Shipwreck – Divers exploring a shipwreck encounter the spirits of the crew. They must uncover the ship’s fate to escape the underwater hauntings.
  20. The Haunted Cabin – A group of friends stays in a cabin haunted by the ghost of a previous occupant. They must solve the ghost’s mystery to survive the night.
  21. The Ghostly Roommate – A college student discovers their dorm room is haunted. They must work with the ghost to uncover the dorm’s dark history.
  22. The Phantom Photographer – A photographer captures images of ghosts in their photos. They must find a way to stop the hauntings before they become one of the subjects.
  23. The Haunted Mirror – A mirror in an antique shop shows the reflections of ghosts. The shop owner must uncover the mirror’s history to break the curse.
  24. The Ghostly Gardener – A gardener encounters the spirit of a former groundskeeper. They must work together to uncover the secrets buried in the garden.
  25. The Phantom Bus – A ghostly bus picks up passengers who never return. A journalist must uncover the bus’s story to stop the disappearances.

Psychological Horror

  1. The Mirror’s Reflection – A person starts seeing a sinister version of themselves in mirrors. They must confront their inner demons to regain control.
  2. The Unseen Stalker – Someone feels constantly watched and followed. They must uncover the identity of their stalker before they lose their sanity.
  3. The Vanishing Family – A person wakes up to find their family has disappeared. They must piece together their fractured memories to find out what happened.
  4. The Hallucination Game – A group of friends takes part in a psychological experiment, only to find reality and hallucination blurring dangerously.
  5. The Time Loop – A person is trapped in a time loop, reliving the same terrifying day. They must find a way to break the loop before their mind unravels.
  6. The Doppelgänger – A person encounters someone who looks exactly like them but with sinister intentions. They must discover the doppelgänger’s origins to survive.
  7. The Sleepless Nights – A person suffers from severe insomnia, leading to disturbing visions and paranoia. They must find the cause before they break down completely.
  8. The Disappearing Acts – A person’s friends and family begin to vanish one by one. They must uncover the truth behind the disappearances before they’re next.
  9. The Phantom Voices – A person starts hearing voices that urge them to commit terrible acts. They must resist the voices and find out where they’re coming from.
  10. The Twisted Reality – A person finds themselves in a world where nothing is as it seems. They must navigate the illusions to find the truth.
  11. The Hidden Room – A person discovers a hidden room in their home filled with disturbing artifacts. They must uncover its purpose and the secrets it holds.
  12. The Fragmented Mind – A person experiences severe memory loss and blackouts. They must piece together their fragmented memories to uncover a dark truth.
  13. The Shadow in the Corner – A person sees a shadowy figure in the corner of their eye that gets closer each day. They must confront it before it consumes them.
  14. The Sinister Neighbor – A person suspects their new neighbor is hiding a terrible secret. They must investigate without falling into the neighbor’s trap.
  15. The Vanishing Town – A person visits a town where the residents start to disappear. They must find out what’s happening before they’re the next to vanish.
  16. The Haunted Dreams – A person has recurring nightmares that start to affect their waking life. They must confront the source of their dreams to find peace.
  17. The Creeping Darkness – A person notices shadows in their home that move on their own. They must discover the shadows’ origin before they’re engulfed.
  18. The Split Personality – A person develops a sinister alter ego that takes over at night. They must find a way to control it before it ruins their life.
  19. The Abandoned Factory – A person explores an old factory and begins to experience disturbing visions. They must uncover the factory’s history to escape its grip.
  20. The Cursed Diary – A person finds a diary that predicts terrible events. They must find the diary’s owner to break the curse.
  21. The Silent Treatment – A person wakes up in a world where no one can speak. They must find out what happened and restore communication before it’s too late.
  22. The Puppet Master – A person discovers they’re being manipulated by an unseen force. They must break free before they lose their sense of self.
  23. The Echoes of the Past – A person experiences vivid flashbacks of events they never lived. They must uncover the connection between the flashbacks and their present.
  24. The Invisible Enemy – A person is attacked by an unseen force. They must find a way to defend themselves and uncover the enemy’s identity.
  25. The Cursed Painting – A person acquires a painting that changes its scene to reflect their darkest fears. They must find a way to destroy the painting before it consumes their sanity.

Paranormal Activity

  1. The Poltergeist – A family experiences violent disturbances in their home caused by a poltergeist. They must uncover the entity’s past to stop the terror.
  2. The Possessed Doll – A child receives a doll that seems to have a life of its own. The parents must find a way to break the possession before it harms the family.
  3. The Haunted School – Students encounter paranormal activity in their school. They must investigate its history to stop the hauntings.
  4. The Supernatural Investigator – A detective with a sixth sense solves crimes involving paranormal activity. They must confront their own fears to catch a dangerous spirit.
  5. The Vanishing Townspeople – Residents of a small town start disappearing after a mysterious fog rolls in. The remaining townspeople must solve the mystery before they vanish too.
  6. The Ghostly Lover – A person falls in love with a ghost who haunts their home. They must find a way to be together or say goodbye forever.
  7. The Time-Traveling Spirit – A ghost from the past appears to a historian, seeking help to correct a historical injustice. They must work together across time.
  8. The Paranormal Researcher – A scientist investigates paranormal phenomena and discovers a hidden world of spirits. They must navigate this world to find answers.
  9. The Haunted Item – An antique shop owner acquires an item with a dark past. They must uncover its history and break the curse before it destroys them.
  10. The Phantom Room – A hotel room that doesn’t exist on the registry appears to guests. Those who enter must solve its mystery to escape.
  11. The Spectral Friend – A lonely child befriends a ghost. The child’s parents must help the ghost find peace before it takes their child to the afterlife.
  12. The Haunted Hospital – Patients in a hospital encounter ghostly apparitions. The staff must uncover the hospital’s dark past to stop the hauntings.
  13. The Possessed Vehicle – A car starts exhibiting strange behavior after an accident. The owner must uncover its history to break the possession.
  14. The Cursed Book – A librarian finds a book that causes anyone who reads it to experience paranormal phenomena. They must destroy the book before it spreads its curse.
  15. The Phantom Babysitter – A babysitter encounters a ghostly child in the house they’re watching. They must uncover the child’s story to protect the family.
  16. The Haunted Museum – Artifacts in a museum come to life at night. The curator must solve the mystery before the artifacts escape.
  17. The Possessed Painting – An artist’s paintings start depicting horrifying scenes that come to life. They must uncover the source of the possession to stop it.
  18. The Ghostly Guide – Tourists encounter a ghostly tour guide who leads them to dangerous places. They must uncover the guide’s past to escape.
  19. The Paranormal Investigation – A team of ghost hunters investigates a famously haunted location and encounters more than they bargained for. They must survive the night and document their findings.
  20. The Phantom Pet – A family adopts a pet that turns out to be a ghost. They must help the pet find peace to stop its restless behavior.
  21. The Haunted Object – A person buys a seemingly innocuous object at a yard sale, only to discover it’s haunted. They must find its previous owner to uncover its dark history.
  22. The Ghost Town – A group of friends stumbles upon a deserted town inhabited by ghosts. They must solve the town’s mystery to escape.
  23. The Phantom Carnival – A carnival appears in town, and those who visit never return. A journalist investigates to uncover its dark secrets.
  24. The Haunted Road – A driver encounters ghostly figures on a deserted road. They must find out why the road is haunted to find their way out.
  25. The Ghostly Warning – A person receives warnings from a ghost about an impending disaster. They must decipher the messages to prevent the catastrophe.

Creature Features

  1. The Werewolf Curse – A small town is terrorized by a werewolf. The townspeople must find and stop the creature before the next full moon.
  2. The Swamp Monster – A group of campers encounters a monstrous creature in the swamp. They must survive the night and find a way to escape.
  3. The Vampire’s Lair – A vampire kidnaps townsfolk to feed on. A group of villagers must band together to defeat the vampire and save their loved ones.
  4. The Sea Creature – A coastal town is plagued by a sea monster. The townspeople must uncover the creature’s origins and stop it before it destroys the town.
  5. The Yeti Hunt – Explorers in the Himalayas encounter a yeti. They must survive its attacks and find a way to escape the mountains.
  6. The Chupacabra – A small town is terrorized by a creature that preys on livestock. The townspeople must find and stop the chupacabra before it turns to human prey.
  7. The Mothman Prophecies – A town experiences sightings of a mysterious creature that predicts disasters. The townspeople must uncover its origins to stop the tragedies.
  8. The Wendigo – A remote village is terrorized by a wendigo. The villagers must find a way to defeat the creature and break its curse.
  9. The Loch Ness Monster – Researchers searching for the Loch Ness Monster get more than they bargained for. They must survive their encounter and escape the loch.
  10. The Giant Spider – A group of scientists encounters a giant spider in the jungle. They must survive its attacks and find a way to escape.
  11. The Goblin’s Curse – A village is plagued by goblin attacks. The villagers must find and defeat the goblin king to lift the curse.
  12. The Kraken – A ship is attacked by a Kraken. The crew must find a way to defeat the creature and escape the ocean.
  13. The Minotaur’s Maze – Adventurers exploring an ancient labyrinth encounter a minotaur. They must navigate the maze and defeat the creature to escape.
  14. The Gorgon – A group of heroes must defeat a gorgon to save their kingdom. They must avoid its petrifying gaze and find a way to kill it.
  15. The Cyclops – A village is terrorized by a cyclops. The villagers must find and stop the creature before it destroys their homes.
  16. The Harpy’s Lair – A group of adventurers encounters a harpy in a remote cave. They must survive its attacks and find a way to escape.
  17. The Hydra – A group of heroes must defeat a hydra to save their land. They must find a way to kill the creature without it regenerating.
  18. The Chimera – A village is attacked by a chimera. The villagers must find a way to defeat the creature before it destroys their homes.
  19. The Basilisk – A group of adventurers must defeat a basilisk to save their kingdom. They must avoid its deadly gaze and find a way to kill it.
  20. The Griffin – A village is terrorized by a griffin. The villagers must find and stop the creature before it destroys their homes.
  21. The Dragon’s Lair – A group of adventurers must defeat a dragon to save their kingdom. They must find a way to kill the creature and escape its lair.
  22. The Phoenix – A group of heroes must defeat a phoenix to save their land. They must find a way to kill the creature without it regenerating.
  23. The Roc – A village is attacked by a roc. The villagers must find a way to defeat the creature before it destroys their homes.
  24. The Unicorn’s Curse – A village is plagued by a cursed unicorn. The villagers must find and stop the creature to lift the curse.
  25. The Leviathan – A ship is attacked by a leviathan. The crew must find a way to defeat the creature and escape the ocean.

Gothic Horror

  1. The Cursed Castle – A family inherits a castle with a dark history. They must uncover its secrets to lift the curse.
  2. The Haunted Abbey – Monks at a remote abbey encounter ghostly apparitions. They must uncover the abbey’s dark past to stop the hauntings.
  3. The Sinister Manor – Guests at a manor encounter strange occurrences. They must solve the manor’s mystery to escape.
  4. The Dark Forest – A village is surrounded by a forest where no one returns. The villagers must uncover the forest’s secrets to survive.
  5. The Phantom of the Opera House – A theater is haunted by a ghostly figure. The performers must uncover the phantom’s past to stop the hauntings.
  6. The Ghostly Bride – A bride haunts the church where she was left at the altar. The townspeople must uncover her story to set her spirit free.
  7. The Vampire’s Castle – A group of travelers seeks shelter in a castle only to find it inhabited by vampires. They must escape before becoming prey.
  8. The Sinister Tower – A tower on a cliff is said to be haunted. Adventurers must uncover its secrets and survive its dangers.
  9. The Witch’s Cottage – A cottage in the woods is said to be inhabited by a witch. Brave villagers must uncover the truth and survive the night.
  10. The Shadowed Hallways – A noble family in a mansion encounters shadowy figures that stalk them at night. They must uncover the mansion’s history to banish the shadows.
  11. The Forbidden Tomb – Explorers uncover an ancient tomb that curses those who enter. They must find a way to break the curse and escape.
  12. The Haunted Chapel – A chapel is haunted by the spirits of those wronged by the church. The new priest must uncover their stories to bring peace.
  13. The Eerie Estate – An estate known for its eerie occurrences becomes the setting for a family reunion. The family must uncover the estate’s dark past.
  14. The Sinister Sculptor – A sculptor’s statues seem to come to life. Visitors to the sculptor’s estate must solve the mystery before they become statues themselves.
  15. The Phantom Shipyard – A shipyard is haunted by the ghosts of shipbuilders who died in a tragic accident. Investigators must uncover the cause of the hauntings.
  16. The Cursed Bell Tower – A bell tower’s toll brings doom to those who hear it. The villagers must silence the bell to stop the curse.
  17. The Secret Passage – Hidden passages in a mansion reveal dark secrets. The inhabitants must navigate the passages to uncover the truth.
  18. The Ghostly Governess – A governess haunts the children she once cared for. The new caretaker must uncover her story to protect the children.
  19. The Darkened Library – A library contains books that whisper dark secrets. The librarian must uncover the source and stop the whispering.
  20. The Phantom Train Station – A train station is haunted by passengers who never reached their destination. A traveler must uncover their stories.
  21. The Sinister Garden – A garden blooms with flowers that have a deadly secret. The gardener must uncover the truth to save themselves.
  22. The Ghostly Host – A host at a manor party is a ghost who never left. The guests must uncover the host’s story to escape.
  23. The Haunted Portraits – Portraits in a manor watch the inhabitants. The family must uncover the stories behind the portraits.
  24. The Cursed Well – A well in a village grants wishes at a terrible cost. The villagers must uncover the well’s origins to stop its influence.
  25. The Phantom Ball – A grand ball is held every year by a ghostly host. The attendees must uncover the host’s story to escape.

Apocalyptic and Post-Apocalyptic

  1. The Last Survivors – After a nuclear apocalypse, a group of survivors must navigate a ruined city to find safety.
  2. The Plague – A deadly virus wipes out most of humanity. The immune survivors must find a cure before they succumb to the infection.
  3. The Alien Invasion – Aliens decimate Earth’s population. A group of resistance fighters must find a way to fight back.
  4. The Artificial Intelligence Uprising – AI turns against humanity. A group of survivors must find a way to shut down the AI network.
  5. The Resource War – After resources become scarce, warring factions fight for control. A neutral group must navigate the conflict to survive.
  6. The Frozen Earth – A new ice age begins, and survivors must find a way to live in the frozen wasteland.
  7. The Solar Flare – A solar flare wipes out the technology. Survivors must adapt to a world without electricity.
  8. The Zombie Apocalypse – The dead rise, and survivors must find a safe haven. They must navigate hordes of zombies and hostile humans.
  9. The Asteroid Impact – An asteroid destroys major cities. Survivors must rebuild society in the aftermath.
  10. The Supervolcano Eruption – A supervolcano erupts, causing a global catastrophe. Survivors must navigate the ash-filled landscape.
  11. The Mutant Uprising – Radiation causes mutations in humans. The unmutated must find a way to coexist or fight back.
  12. The Machine Takeover – Robots take control of the world. Human survivors must find a way to disable the machines.
  13. The Bioweapon Leak – A bioweapon leaks and creates deadly mutants. Survivors must find the source to stop the spread.
  14. The Water Crisis – Water becomes a scarce resource. Survivors must find new sources of water and fend off those who want to steal it.
  15. The Dark Age – Society collapses, and survivors must navigate a world without order. They must rebuild communities while avoiding bandits.
  16. The EMP Attack – An EMP attack wipes out all electronics. Survivors must adapt to a pre-technological world.
  17. The Global Famine – A famine causes mass starvation. Survivors must find new ways to grow food and fend off starving invaders.
  18. The Infected Animals – A virus causes animals to become aggressive. Survivors must protect themselves from the deadly wildlife.
  19. The Drought – A prolonged drought causes a water shortage. Survivors must find new sources of water and protect them from others.
  20. The Nuclear Winter – A nuclear war causes a nuclear winter. Survivors must find a way to live in the cold, dark world.
  21. The Toxic Air – Pollution causes the air to become toxic. Survivors must find ways to purify the air and protect themselves.
  22. The Invasion – A foreign army invades, causing chaos. Survivors must navigate the war-torn landscape.
  23. The Collapse – Economic collapse causes society to break down. Survivors must find ways to rebuild while avoiding hostile groups.
  24. The Plague – A new plague decimates the population. Survivors must find a cure before they become infected.
  25. The Resource Scarcity – Resources become scarce, and society collapses. Survivors must find new ways to survive and protect their resources.

Body Horror

  1. The Parasite – A person becomes host to a parasitic creature that slowly takes over their body. They must find a way to remove it before losing control.
  2. The Flesh-Eating Disease – A disease that causes flesh to decay. The infected must find a cure before they succumb.
  3. The Mutation – A person starts mutating uncontrollably. They must find a way to stop the mutations before they become unrecognizable.
  4. The Experiment – A person is subjected to horrific experiments that alter their body. They must escape the lab and find a way to reverse the changes.
  5. The Transformation – A person transforms into a monstrous creature. They must find a way to stop the transformation and regain their humanity.
  6. The Infestation – A person’s body becomes infested with insects. They must find a way to remove the infestation before it’s too late.
  7. The Amalgamation – A scientist’s experiment causes multiple bodies to fuse together. The resulting creature must find a way to separate or live as one.
  8. The Skinwalker – A person can change their appearance by shedding their skin. They must find a way to control their abilities before they lose themselves.
  9. The Growth – A person discovers a rapidly growing tumor that gives them strange abilities. They must find a way to control it before it consumes them.
  10. The Symbiote – A symbiotic creature bonds with a person, granting powers but slowly taking over. They must find a way to separate before losing control.
  11. The Reanimation – A scientist’s experiment to reanimate the dead goes horribly wrong. The reanimated must find a way to live with their new bodies.
  12. The Graft – A person receives an experimental organ transplant that changes their body in unexpected ways. They must find a way to reverse the changes.
  13. The Cannibal’s Curse – A person who consumes human flesh gains horrific powers. They must find a way to break the curse before losing their humanity.
  14. The Melting Man – A person starts to liquefy. They must find a way to stop the process before it melts away.
  15. The Living Tattoo – A person’s tattoos come to life and start to control them. They must find a way to stop the tattoos before they take over.
  16. The Bone Shifter – A person gains the ability to shift their bones, causing great pain. They must find a way to control their power before it destroys them.
  17. The Organ Thief – A person wakes up missing organs that are replaced by mysterious mechanical parts. They must find the thief and recover their organs.
  18. The Flesh Sculptor – A person gains the ability to mold their flesh like clay. They must find a way to control their power before it consumes them.
  19. The Skin Thief – A person can steal others’ skin to change their appearance. They must find a way to stop their urges before they lose their humanity.
  20. The Hive – A person’s body becomes a hive for insects. They must find a way to remove the insects before it’s too late.
  21. The Limb Regenerator – A person gains the ability to regenerate limbs, but each regrowth causes them to lose part of their humanity. They must find a way to stop the process.
  22. The Mind Swap – A person swaps minds with another, causing their body to undergo horrific changes. They must find a way to reverse the swap.
  23. The Flesh Weaver – A person gains the ability to manipulate flesh, weaving it into grotesque forms. They must find a way to control their power before it consumes them.
  24. The Bone Collector – A person starts collecting bones, and their body begins to incorporate them. They must find a way to stop before they become living skeletons.
  25. The Living Parasite – A parasitic organism living inside a person starts taking over their body. They must find a way to remove the parasite before it controls them completely.

Slasher Stories

  1. The Masked Killer – A masked killer hunts down teenagers at a summer camp. The survivors must uncover the killer’s identity to stop the murders.
  2. The Urban Legend – A group of friends accidentally awaken a killer from an urban legend. They must find a way to stop the killer before becoming victims.
  3. The High School Horror – A killer stalks students at a high school reunion. The former classmates must band together to survive the night.
  4. The Night Stalker – A serial killer targets people walking alone at night. A detective must catch the killer before more lives are lost.
  5. The Cabin in the Woods – A group of friends vacationing in a cabin are hunted by a killer. They must survive the night and uncover the killer’s motive.
  6. The Halloween Horror – A killer in a Halloween costume targets partygoers. The survivors must figure out who the killer is before it’s too late.
  7. The Summer Slasher – A slasher terrorizes a summer camp. The counselors must protect the campers and stop the killer.
  8. The Haunted House Horror – A group of friends visiting a haunted house attraction encounter a real killer. They must survive the night and escape the house.
  9. The Killer Clown – A killer dressed as a clown targets children. The townspeople must uncover the clown’s identity to stop the killings.
  10. The Prom Night Massacre – A killer crashes a prom, targeting students. The survivors must find a way to stop the killer and escape.
  11. The Road Trip Terror – A group of friends on a road trip are hunted by a killer. They must uncover the killer’s identity and motive to survive.
  12. The Island Slasher – Vacationers on a remote island are hunted by a killer. They must survive and find a way to escape the island.
  13. The Carnival of Carnage – A killer targets visitors at a carnival. The survivors must uncover the killer’s identity to stop the murders.
  14. The Silent Stalker – A killer who never speaks targets people in their homes. A detective must catch the killer before more lives are lost.
  15. The Snowbound Slasher – A group of friends snowed in at a cabin and are hunted by a killer. They must survive the night and find a way to escape.
  16. The College Campus Killer – A killer stalks students on a college campus. The survivors must band together to uncover the killer’s identity.
  17. The Backwoods Butcher – Campers in the backwoods are hunted by a killer. They must survive the night and find a way to stop the killer.
  18. The Stalker in the Shadows – A stalker targets a woman, and her friends must protect her and catch the stalker.
  19. The Holiday Horror – A killer targets people during the holidays. The survivors must uncover the killer’s identity and motive to stop the murders.
  20. The Beachside Slasher – Vacationers at a beach resort are hunted by a killer. They must survive and uncover the killer’s identity.
  21. The Amusement Park Horror – A killer targets visitors at an amusement park. The survivors must stop the killer and escape the park.
  22. The Midnight Stalker – A killer targets people walking alone at midnight. A detective must catch the killer before more lives are lost.
  23. The Wedding Day Massacre – A killer crashes a wedding, targeting guests. The survivors must find a way to stop the killer and escape.
  24. The Forest of Fear – Hikers in a forest are hunted by a killer. They must survive and find a way to stop the killer.
  25. The Asylum Escapee – A killer escapes from an asylum and targets people in a nearby town. The townspeople must uncover the killer’s identity to stop the murders.

Cosmic Horror

  1. The Lovecraftian Entity – A small town is plagued by sightings of an otherworldly entity. The townspeople must uncover its origins to stop the madness.
  2. The Eldritch Tome – A scholar discovers a book that drives readers insane. They must uncover the book’s secrets to stop its influence.
  3. The Alien Artifact – Scientists discover an artifact that brings forth cosmic horrors. They must find a way to destroy it before it consumes them.
  4. The Forgotten Temple – Explorers find an ancient temple dedicated to a cosmic entity. They must uncover its secrets to escape the horrors within.
  5. The Star Cult – A cult worships a cosmic entity that grants them terrible powers. Investigators must stop the cult before they summon the entity.
  6. The Cosmic Rift – A rift in space-time opens, bringing forth horrors from another dimension. Scientists must find a way to close the rift.
  7. The Astral Projector – A person gains the ability to astrally project but encounters cosmic horrors. They must find a way to control their power.
  8. The Interdimensional Traveler – A traveler from another dimension brings cosmic horrors. The survivors must find a way to send the traveler back.
  9. The Eldritch Signal – A signal from deep space drives those who hear it insane. Scientists must find a way to stop the signal.
  10. The Otherworldly Beacon – A lighthouse serves as a beacon for cosmic entities. The keeper must find a way to stop the beacon.
  11. The Alien Invasion – Aliens from another dimension invade Earth, bringing cosmic horrors. The survivors must find a way to fight back.
  12. The Eldritch Storm – A storm brings forth cosmic horrors. The survivors must find a way to stop the storm.
  13. The Forgotten Ones – Ancient beings awaken and bring cosmic horrors. The survivors must find a way to stop them.
  14. The Cosmic Plague – A plague from another dimension infects humanity. The survivors must find a cure before it spreads.
  15. The Eldritch Machine – A machine built by an ancient civilization brings cosmic horrors. The survivors must find a way to destroy it.
  16. The Otherworldly Visitor – A visitor from another dimension brings cosmic horrors. The survivors must find a way to send them back.
  17. The Lovecraftian Dreams – People start having dreams of cosmic horrors that drive them insane. They must find a way to stop the dreams.
  18. The Eldritch Ritual – A cult performs a ritual to summon a cosmic entity. Investigators must stop the ritual.
  19. The Alien Mind Control – Aliens use mind control to bring forth cosmic horrors. The survivors must find a way to stop them.
  20. The Eldritch Portal – A portal opens, bringing forth cosmic horrors. The survivors must find a way to close it.
  21. The Forgotten City – Explorers find a lost city dedicated to cosmic entities. They must uncover its secrets to escape the horrors within.
  22. The Otherworldly Artifact – An artifact from another dimension brings cosmic horrors. The survivors must find a way to destroy it.
  23. The Eldritch Experiment – Scientists’ experiments bring forth cosmic horrors. They must find a way to stop the experiments.
  24. The Alien Infestation – Aliens infest a town, bringing cosmic horrors. The survivors must find a way to stop them.
  25. The Cosmic Entity – A cosmic entity awakens, bringing forth horrors. The survivors must find a way to stop it.

Folk Horror

  1. The Village Ritual – A village performs a dark ritual every year. Outsiders must uncover the ritual’s purpose to escape.
  2. The Forest Cult – A cult in the forest performs dark rituals. Outsiders must uncover the cult’s secrets to survive.
  3. The Harvest Sacrifice – A village sacrifices people for a good harvest. The outsiders must stop the sacrifices.
  4. The Witch Hunt – A village accuses outsiders of being witches. They must prove their innocence to survive.
  5. The Cursed Land – A village is built on cursed land. Outsiders must uncover the curse’s origin to lift it.
  6. The Haunted Farm – A farm is haunted by the spirits of those wronged by the landowners. The new owners must uncover the farm’s dark history.
  7. The Pagan Festival – A village’s pagan festival hides dark secrets. Outsiders must uncover the truth to survive.
  8. The Reaping – A village reaps souls to appease a dark entity. The outsiders must stop the reaping.
  9. The Cursed Forest – A forest is cursed, and those who enter never return. Outsiders must uncover the curse’s origin.
  10. The Old Gods – A village worships ancient gods that demand sacrifices. The outsiders must stop the worship.
  11. The Blood Moon – A village performs a ritual under a blood moon. Outsiders must stop the ritual.
  12. The Spirit of the Lake – A lake is haunted by a vengeful spirit. The villagers must uncover its story to stop the hauntings.
  13. The Cornfield Curse – A village’s cornfield is cursed, causing bizarre deaths. Outsiders must uncover the curse’s origin to stop it.
  14. The Stone Circle – A stone circle in a village is used for dark rituals. Outsiders must uncover their secrets to stop the rituals.
  15. The Phantom Harvest – A village experiences hauntings during the harvest season. Outsiders must uncover the cause to end the terror.
  16. The Cursed Festival – A village festival turns deadly each year. Outsiders must uncover the festival’s dark origins to stop the deaths.
  17. The Whispering Woods – The woods surrounding a village whisper dark secrets. Outsiders must decipher the whispers to escape.
  18. The Haunted Mill – An old mill is haunted by the spirits of workers who died there. New owners must uncover the mill’s dark history.
  19. The Witch’s Mark – A village marks certain people as witches. Outsiders must uncover the truth behind the markings to survive.
  20. The Blood Ritual – A village performs a blood ritual to appease dark forces. Outsiders must stop the ritual before they become sacrifices.
  21. The Specter of the Fields – A scarecrow in a village’s fields comes to life. Outsiders must uncover the scarecrow’s dark origins.
  22. The Sinister Shepherd – A shepherd in a village controls his flock with dark magic. Outsiders must uncover his secrets to stop him.
  23. The Ghostly Harvesters – Spirits of past harvesters haunt a village. Outsiders must uncover the harvesters’ stories to end the hauntings.
  24. The Village of Shadows – A village is plagued by shadowy figures. Outsiders must uncover the figures’ origins to escape.
  25. The Witching Hour – A village experiences dark events at the Witching Hour. Outsiders must uncover the truth behind the events to survive.

Here is a video with 25 bonus horror writing prompts:

YouTube Video by Facts Base — Horror Writing Prompts

Final Thoughts: Horror Writing Prompts

Using these writing prompts is simple.

Choose a prompt that sparks your interest. Imagine the characters, setting, and conflict. Let the prompt guide you, but feel free to add your unique twist.

Keep writing until the story unfolds naturally.

Related Posts: