In this post, we’ve included 21 Gothic fiction writing prompts to give you some ideas for your scary novel. Scroll down to read the prompts!
1. The Lighthouse Keeper
On a stormy night, a shipwreck survivor seeks refuge in an ancient lighthouse on a desolate island. Inside, they discover the journal of a former lighthouse keeper who mysteriously vanished, leaving behind chilling accounts of ghostly apparitions.
2. A Haunting Muse
A reclusive artist moves into a long-abandoned, Gothic-style mansion to find inspiration for their next masterpiece. However, as the paintings take form, they begin to reveal haunting visions of the mansion’s tragic past.
3. In Loving Memory
In a forgotten cemetery hidden behind an overgrown and abandoned church, a young woman discovers a mysterious tombstone with her own name on it. As she investigates further, she uncovers a family curse that has plagued her ancestors for generations and could soon claim her, too.
4. By Any Means Necessary
A renowned scientist becomes obsessed with the idea of conquering death and begins conducting forbidden experiments in his secluded laboratory. As he delves deeper into his research, he unleashes dark forces that threaten to consume him and challenge how far he will go to achieve his goals.
5. Anything for Love
A rich mogul loses his beloved wife to an illness. Instead of having her buried, he instead decides to try to bring her back to life at any cost, while maintaining the illusion that she is still alive to visitors. However, does this goal truly stem from his devotion or truths that he needs to conceal?
6. Sinister Reflections
A lonely boy, ignored by his affluent parents, begins speaking to the mirror in his room. When the reflection in the mirror starts talking back, what will it start to reveal about himself and reality?
7. Inspired by Real Events
An acclaimed writer seeks inspiration for their next gothic novel and accepts an invitation to stay in a supposedly haunted inn. As they spend the night, they begin to experience ghostly visitations and uncover the inn’s tragic past.
8. An Otherworldly Dilemma
An archaeologist unearths an ancient tomb containing an ornate, mysterious key. The key is said to unlock the gateway to a hidden realm inhabited by malevolent entities, and the archaeologist must decide whether to explore the otherworldly secrets or seal the tomb forever.
9. To Heal or To Harm
In a remote village, a doctor stumbles upon an ancient medical text with forbidden knowledge. Driven by the desire to heal the sick, they unwittingly unleash a malevolent force that feeds on human suffering. How far will they go to keep the malevolent force satisfied while still being able to save lives that would otherwise be lost without the tome’s help?
10. Dark Devotion
Deep within the heart of a dense forest, a group of explorers discovers an abandoned abbey. As they venture inside, they encounter unsettling signs that the abbey was once a site of dark rituals and unspeakable horrors, and may not be as abandoned as they first thought.
11. A Life in Pictures
A young woman wakes up in a lavish Victorian mansion with no memory of how she got there. As she explores her surroundings, she discovers paintings of herself depicting events she cannot remember, with each one more unsettling than the last.
12. For the Greater Good
A village appears to prosper despite the odds, even when other nearby settlements suffer from disease and poor harvests. A traveling missionary visits the village and learns that their success seems to come from a darker allegiance and that he is the next sacrifice.
13. We are the Freakshow
A carnival freakshow comes to a Victorian town. However, instead of the expected exhibits, the townspeople find that each of the “freaks” represents their deepest and darkest fears and secrets.
14. Shelter from the Storm
A weary traveler caught in a vicious storm enters a seemingly abandoned mansion in search of shelter. However, as soon as the doors creak open, he realizes that the house and its inhabitants have been eagerly expecting his arrival.
15. The Pursuit of Knowledge
In a search for knowledge, a budding academic works their way through dark and dusty library shelves. One particular tome draws their interest, although they soon find that in order to unlock the book’s information, heavy prices must be paid. How far will they go in the pursuit of knowledge?
16. The Clockwork Coup
An eccentric inventor working in a dilapidated warehouse creates lifelike clockwork dolls. As he brings them to life, they display emotions and a desire for freedom, leading to a chilling battle for control as he reassesses what makes someone truly human.
17. In Her Dreams
A young woman starts having vivid dreams of a mysterious manor. The dreams become so lifelike that she decides to visit the manor in reality, only to find that the line between dreams and real life is far more blurred than she could have imagined.
18. Encroaching Moonlight
A powerful curse plagues a quaint village, causing its inhabitants to transform into monstrous creatures every full moon. The townspeople must unravel the curse’s origin before they lose their humanity forever, especially as civilization and technology draw ever closer to their community.
19. The Greatest Show on Earth
A famed Victorian illusionist performs his greatest show yet in a grand theater where the line between illusion and reality becomes increasingly blurry. As audience members start to disappear during the show, it’s unclear whether it’s all part of the act or something far more sinister.
20. Not Just an Act
A Victorian fraudster poses as a medium in order to con grieving families out of their money for a chance to be able to commune with their loved ones, using elaborate tricks and props to fool them into thinking that they are there. However, they soon realize that the spirits are real, and out to seek vengeance for their living relatives.
21. A Sharp-Fanged Truth
A young woman has long romanticized the idea of vampires, reading every legend about them and secretly wishing that she was one. However, when she is turned by one of the creatures that she idolizes, she soon finds that the reality is far more unsettling than her dreams.