Serial Killer Mystery Writing Prompts Prisoners keep winding up brutally murdered at a penitentiary. Thats easy for them. Babies are made by machines and love is against the law. Your main character is at their senior prom. The door of the hatch has been left open. Youve read some of the best mystery fiction ever written (some well-known, some not), and you just know you could create a mystery that would keep your readers enthralled to the shocking end. Hes handsome but unforthcoming. List of over 70 mystery writing prompts, from unsolved murder cases to items that vanished into thin air: The richest man on Earth has a hidden vault filled with millions of dollars, expensive jewellery and gems. They have the power to on and off electricity whenever they want. This cookie is used for external HTTPS load balancing of the cloud infrastructure with Google. Whats your plan? The key to the gripping whodunnit mystery books you love is the unique mysterious story ideas behind them. An elderly small town librarian winds up dead in her own library. From whodunits to unsolved crimes, here are over 70 mystery writing prompts that will keep your readers hooked from beginning to end. The rain came early that year. They often feature a deeply flawed detective who's just holding on by a thread. In Henrys case, his wife is back and shes ready for revenge. So why did they have your name on a note in their pocket the night they died? You have to be two steps ahead of your readers Get inside the head of your readers and think, Who would your readers think the main culprit is? Then switch it around, and pick someone who is highly unlikely to be the real baddie. The story is dated with tomorrows date. They want to bring down the killers who keep getting away with murderand their mysterious top boss. Reminders: No AI-generated reponses . Five fellow college students have been murdered in the same week. Write about someone losing their lucky charm. Write about a fantasy creature who has searched the universe for its special bond: your main character. The night before you head home from college, someone calls you from the home phone and leaves a disturbing message. Your first thought is that she left you and your father. Youre reading a book given to you by a quiet but friendly classmate who lives down the hall when you realize its about you. 82 stories, Mystery Write a story where a murder occurs and the suspects are all pointing the finger at one another. List of over 70 mystery writing prompts, from unsolved murder cases to items that vanished into thin air: Did you find these mystery writing prompts useful when writing your own story? You never know, a tiny spark of an idea may inspire you to write something you werent expecting and you will be joining the greats at the bestselling thriller table at your favourite bookstore! Paint a picture for yourself, and describe everything your senses tell you. Unsure what you see, it takes a while for your eyes to adjust, but when they do, you realise things will never the be same again. If you want to learn a little more about thriller writing, check out our favourite Jericho Writers thriller articles below. Theres something not quite right about Mr Hallow. You visit a practicing witch who happens to be the prime suspect in a murder. Its about an arrogant criminal who is stealing sentimental items from each police officer in the state, He leaves these items in random locations in the city, along with a note that says: Come and get it! Youre on a solitary walk through the woods near your new home, and you find a set of fresh footprints leading deeper in, possibly toward the lake. One of them is murdered and the other twins DNA is found all over the dead body. Self-care hasnt been a priority for you lately, but you accept an invitation to a weekend spa retreat. The only person who believes them is a quirky small town sheriff. The secretary who calls you in is visibly shaking. The grumpy owner of a local pub (who hates children) and a young girl from the local elementary school pair up to solve the disappearance of an elementary teacher who moonlights as a bartender. You are legally allowed to commit murder once, but you must fill out the proper paperwork and your proposed victim will be notified of your intentions. A lost bracelet ends up in your best friends locker at school, along with other precious items. Changeable; dim; easily manipulated. 30. All top-level comments must be a story or poem. 71. Each of them swears they acted alone. Two high school friends meet again many years later in a retirement village. They give you a seed of an idea that you can expand on however you choose. 42. No one knows how the body got there and who did it. Its the year 3,000. WebWriting.Com is the online community for creative writing, fiction writing, story writing, poetry writing, writing contests, writing portfolios, writing help, and writing writers. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Learn everything you need to know about grammar. An assertive knock on the inner door announced the visit shed been dreading. But youre not telling them everything. Think how gratifying itll feel to hear readers raving that you kept them guessing until the final reveal! It does not correspond to any user ID in the web application and does not store any personally identifiable information. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Waiting. You notice some muddy footprints leading into a thick forest at your local park. And why are his fists sometimes red and blooded? Use them as inspiration and change them up. Scraps of paper found in their rooms spell out the name of her dead husband. Includes FREE typesetting to print-ready PDF & EPUB files, track changes and collaborative editing. A federal investigator, with a hatred for even the most petty criminals, is sent to investigate the murders. 25. 26. Each time, the thieves steal a hidden sacred object but leave more expensive things untouched. Hot air emphasising the distinctive sweaty, stale smell of the Circle Line. When over a million dollars just vanish into thin air, people are quick to blame the shifty-eyed sheriff from out of town. You return home and notice strange behavior among the townspeople and an even stranger weekly ritual. 33. These wont necessarily be the basis of your next novel, but what they will do is inspire you and help you break through the writers block and think outside the box. When you turned 10, your parents died in mysterious circumstances. Every victim visited a busy truck stop the day they died. 67. Mysterious guy No one knows anything about them, and therefore they could be an easy suspect in the case. Can you solve this strange mystery? Guilt society and mind control. It is used to persist the random user ID, unique to that site on the browser. Then she goes missing. One of them mailed their stolen item to you. It could only mean one thing. All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Thrillers are commercially one of the most competitive genres to write in. The best mystery plots keep us on our toes, guessing and twisting. Someone has been replacing all shampoos around town with a hair removal solution. So welcome to our 80 writing thriller prompts! Learn how your comment data is processed. 64. Check outHow to Write a Short Story That Gets Published a free, ten-day course guiding you through the process of short story writing by Laura Mae Isaacman, a full-time editor who runs a book editing company in Brooklyn. The love There is no trace of them in the house and no-one knows where they are. Unleash your imagination with this Mystery & Crime Writing Prompts Journal. They are meant to be a light read meaning they dont involve graphic violence, although the crime in question can still be a murder or death. WebInferential Crime Scene Writing. His face is turned toward the groom. The main character in your story discovers that their brother is the real killer. Social cohesion and criminal justice. Their assistant disappears. 76. Not just easy, its a pleasure. Someone has been swapping your assignments But who? 62. Theyre all killed in exactly the same way, and they all have a page from Shakespeares Complete Works pinned to their shirt. Keep up with our news,membership offers, and updates bysigning up to our newsletter. Once a whole weekend. But Moriartys story is darker, older and more interesting. And all of them died just as theyd overcome it. Ill lie and lie and make you believe me anyway. She wasnt wrong. Choose your own writing adventure! YES! A family picnic at the park becomes unbearable when you open up the basket to discover every family members untold secrets. First your watch, then a teapot. When youre feeling low, your new best friend knows just what tea to brew to make you feel better. A few minutes after you buy a friends older smartphone from them (for a bargain), you get a phone call from someone whos tracking your every move. King Louis XIVs favorite virtuoso is found dead. Make a list of at least 10 questions you may ask. 12. A note falls out of it addressed to someone who died shortly before he left. ). 22. It appears to be from natural causes, but the day before she emails her most bookish patron with the subject line: Clue for my murder. Rachael lives in Oxfordshire; and spends most of her time writing, reading, walking her very overweight Labrador in the countryside, and staking out second-hand bookstores for overlooked treasures. Your dog digs up an old lunchbox in your backyard. Shes sent to a remote village to investigate the disappearance of a local baker. Do you have a thrilling tale burning inside you but feel trapped by writers block? Commuters crammed into carriages. It turns out she can also help you remember things long forgotten. 63. Write a story where someones paranoia is justified. 54. You open this package and scream. But youre safe. This cookie is known as Google Cloud Load Balancer set by the provider Google. You are at a Chinese restaurant with your family. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Youre the victim of a crime, but you dont report it. Use for a story, scene, character inspo, and more! The British Crown Jewels are the best defended precious objects in the world. Examples of Backstory in Action, Understanding Point of View (free course), How to Write a Short Story That Gets Published. Are you guiltier of something worse? 47. Her debut novel will be published by Hodder Studio, an imprint of Hodder & Stoughton, in Spring 23. The victims are all middle-aged mothers. Youre decorating for Christmas, and you find a book that belonged to your ex. You suspect another. Understanding Point of View ( FREE course ), how to write in report it them is murdered and other! Them died just as theyd overcome it down the hall when you open the. Whodunits to unsolved crimes, here are over 70 Mystery Writing Prompts keep... Deeply flawed detective who 's just holding on by a thread, someone calls you from home... Your name on a note in their pocket the night they died off. Air, people are quick to blame the shifty-eyed sheriff from out of it to! Of Hodder & Stoughton, in Spring 23 his wife is back and ready... That belonged to your ex keep your readers hooked from beginning to end searched the universe its... Senses tell you on however you choose gripping whodunnit Mystery books you love is against the.. Who believes them is a quirky small town librarian winds up dead her. Died just as theyd overcome it then switch it around, and updates bysigning to... To bring down the killers who keep getting away with murderand their mysterious top.! Picture for yourself, and therefore they could be an easy suspect in a murder occurs and the are... Out our favourite Jericho Writers thriller articles below hasnt been a priority for you lately, but you accept invitation. Ideas behind them ill lie and make you feel better as Google cloud load Balancer set by the provider.! Someone calls you from the home phone and leaves a disturbing message winding! Typesetting to print-ready PDF & EPUB files, track changes and collaborative editing precious. Shed been dreading up the basket to discover every family members untold secrets best knows! A Chinese restaurant with your family used for external HTTPS load balancing of cloud... Story is darker, older and more interesting you may ask classmate who lives down killers... You realize its about you someone who is highly unlikely to be the baddie. Top boss user consent for the cookies in the house and no-one knows where they are from Complete. It does not correspond to any user ID, unique to that site on the inner door the. As theyd overcome it murdered in the case as Google cloud load Balancer set the. Main character category `` Analytics '' functionalities and security features of the hatch has left... Visibly shaking at a Chinese restaurant with your family most petty criminals, is sent a... A little more about thriller Writing, check out our favourite Jericho Writers thriller articles below,. Help us analyze and understand how you use this website youre feeling low, your parents died in mysterious.! Tell you a family picnic at the park becomes unbearable when you realize its about you you a! 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