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Best Dark Writing Prompts

Join (probably?) the world's largest writing contest. Flex those creative muscles with weekly writing prompts.

Showing 34 prompts reset

This week's contest:
Win $250

Write on Track

171 contest entries /
91 stories

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View contest
Closes at 23:59 - May 30 EST

Start or end your story with a house going up in flames.

Dark – 55 stories

Write about a character who tells a lie which turns out to be true - or a truth which turns out to be a lie.

Dark – 30 stories

Start your story with a character having a premonition, but no one believes them.

Dark – 146 stories

Start your story with an unexpected knock on a window.

Dark – 138 stories

Write a story in which a window is broken or found broken.

Dark – 141 stories

Start your story with a character struggling to remember the date, because every day is like the last one.

Dark – 177 stories

Write about someone hosting a cookie exchange as a cover to hide the true reason for inviting one of their guests.

Dark – 141 stories

Write a story where one character needs to betray the other, but isn’t sure if they can.

Dark – 170 stories

Five years ago, you moved away, changed your name, got a new job, and altered your appearance. But they managed to find you anyway.

Dark

Your character has made a terrible mistake in his/her life and is living with the consequences, at least a decade later.

Dark

You work the graveyard shift... at a graveyard for notable figures.

Dark

On a cold evening, two people cheers over hot chocolate. One mug contains more than just hot chocolate.

Dark

It was a hell of a way to die.

Dark

Big Brother is real. And it's you.

Dark

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RBE | Simple Cat | 2025-03

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