139 stories
A thriller is a fast-paced novel full of suspense, unexpected twists, and high stakes. The narrative is built for the specific purpose to propel the (usually fast-paced) action — taking readers on a rollercoaster.
If you want to write your own thrilling tale, here are a few types you might want to consider:
- Politics
- Espionage
- Psychological
- Action-adventure
- Crime
- Historical
- Legal
- Military
- Domestic
In the meantime, hopefully this list of suspense story prompts will get the creative wheels turning, and have you dreaming up nail-biting, page-turning action!
Want more help learning how to write a short thriller story? Check out How to Write a Short Story That Gets Published — a free, ten-day course by Laura Mae Isaacman, a full-time editor who runs a book editing company in Brooklyn.
Have a story you’re ready to start submitting? Check out our list of writing contests or our directory of literary magazines.
