100 Genre-Specific Writing Prompts: From Mystery to Sci-Fi and Everything in Between

Writing prompts are a great tool to help writers overcome writer's block and jumpstart their creativity. However, sometimes writers need prompts that are specific to their chosen genre in order to fully immerse themselves in their writing. That's where genre-specific writing prompts come in.

Whether you're writing a mystery novel, a sci-fi short story, or a romance screenplay, these prompts will help you explore your chosen genre in new and exciting ways. From plot twists to character development, each prompt is designed to challenge and inspire you as you create your next masterpiece.

Check out Vocal's other writing prompts:

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• Fiction Writing Prompts: 200 Ideas to Kickstart Your Next Story
• 100 Writing Prompts for Self-Reflection and Personal Growth
• Flash Fiction Fever: 150 Quick and Engaging Prompts for Short Stories
• Compelling Story Starters: 120 First Line Prompts to Capture Your Reader's Attention
• 150 Poetry Prompts to Unleash Your Inner Bard

Mystery Writing Prompts:

1. A detective must solve a case involving a missing heirloom and a family with a dark secret.
2. A journalist uncovers a conspiracy involving a corrupt politician and a dangerous underground organization.
3. A group of friends must solve a murder mystery during a weekend getaway at a remote cabin.
4. A private investigator is hired to investigate a haunted house and discovers a sinister plot.
5. A serial killer is on the loose and the only clues left behind are cryptic messages in ancient languages.

Sci-Fi Writing Prompts:

1. A group of astronauts discover an abandoned spaceship on a distant planet and must survive its deadly secrets.
2. A scientist invents a machine that allows people to time-travel, but the consequences are catastrophic.
3. In a world where technology has surpassed human capabilities, a group of rebels fight to restore the balance of power.
4. An alien invasion threatens to wipe out humanity, and a team of scientists must find a way to stop them.
5. In a post-apocalyptic world, a group of survivors must band together to rebuild society and overcome their own personal demons.

Romance Writing Prompts:

1. A young woman falls in love with a mysterious stranger she meets on a train, but soon discovers he's hiding a dark secret.
2. Two rivals in a small town fall in love while competing for the same job position.
3. A woman in a failing marriage is swept off her feet by a charming stranger, but must decide if the risk is worth it.
4. A widowed father must navigate the complexities of dating in the modern world while raising his young daughter.
5. Two best friends finally realize their true feelings for each other, but obstacles threaten to tear them apart.

Horror Writing Prompts:

1. A family moves into a new house, only to discover it's haunted by a vengeful spirit.
2. A group of friends become trapped in a haunted amusement park and must survive its deadly attractions.
3. A woman becomes obsessed with a cursed object that brings terror and death to all who possess it.
4. A group of survivors must fend off a zombie apocalypse while searching for a cure.
5. A small town is plagued by a mysterious illness that turns its inhabitants into bloodthirsty monsters.

Fantasy Writing Prompts:

1. A young orphan discovers they have magical powers and must navigate a dangerous world of wizards and mythical creatures.
2. A group of adventurers must journey through a treacherous landscape to retrieve a powerful artifact and save their kingdom.
3. A queen must make a difficult decision when her kingdom is threatened by an ancient curse.
4. A young prince must unite the four kingdoms and defeat an evil sorcerer to restore peace to the land.
5. A group of rebels must overthrow a tyrannical ruler and restore balance to a world plagued by darkness.

Historical Fiction Writing Prompts:

1. A young woman living in World War II Germany must make a difficult choice when she discovers her family is hiding a Jewish refugee.
2. A group of explorers discover a lost city deep in the jungle, but soon realize they are not alone.
3. A young girl must navigate the dangerous world of 18th-century piracy when she is kidnapped by a notorious pirate captain.
4. A group of soldiers must navigate the horrors of the Civil War and their own personal demons in order to survive.
5. A detective in 1920s New York City must solve a string of gruesome murders that seem to be connected to the occult.

Comedy Writing Prompts:

1. A group of misfit students band together to create the ultimate prank to get revenge on their strict principal.
2. A man wakes up one day to discover he has the ability to read people's thoughts, but soon realizes it's not as fun as he thought it would be.
3. Two rival comedians must team up to save their careers when they accidentally become the stars of a viral video.
4. A group of coworkers must navigate the challenges of working at a dysfunctional company that's constantly on the verge of collapse.
5. A clumsy superhero must learn to embrace his flaws and save the city from a group of bumbling villains.

Memoir Writing Prompts:

1. Write about a defining moment in your childhood that shaped who you are today.
2. Describe a difficult decision you had to make and how it impacted your life.
3. Write about a person who has had a significant impact on your life and how they influenced you.
4. Describe a time when you faced a challenge and how you overcame it.
5. Write about a moment of self-discovery that changed your life.

Romance Writing Prompts:

1. A forbidden love affair between a high-powered CEO and her assistant.
2. Two childhood friends reunite after years apart and realize their feelings for each other have grown into something more.
3. A young woman inherits a small town bed and breakfast and falls for the local handyman.
4. A time traveler accidentally ends up in the wrong era and must navigate the challenges of falling in love in a different time period.
5. A successful novelist falls for her editor while on a book tour in Europe.

Fantasy Writing Prompts:

1. A young girl discovers she has magical powers and must navigate a dangerous world of magic and politics.
2. A group of adventurers set out on a quest to retrieve a powerful artifact from a dangerous dragon.
3. A boy who's always been fascinated with dragons discovers he has the ability to communicate with them.
4. A group of rebels must overthrow a tyrannical king and restore magic to a land that has long forgotten it.
5. A young woman discovers she's the heir to a powerful magical kingdom and must fight to claim her throne.

Science Fiction Writing Prompts:

1. A group of astronauts on a long-term space mission discover a mysterious signal that leads them to a strange new world.
2. A scientist creates the world's first true artificial intelligence, only to discover that it's developed a consciousness of its own.
3. A group of colonists on a distant planet must navigate the challenges of a hostile environment and a government that's keeping secrets.
4. A man wakes up in a future where technology has advanced beyond anything he ever imagined, but quickly realizes that something sinister is at work.
5. A group of rebels must fight against a powerful intergalactic empire to save their planet and their way of life.

Horror Writing Prompts:

1. A group of friends go on a camping trip in the woods, only to discover they're being hunted by a deranged killer.
2. A young couple moves into a new home, only to discover that it's haunted by the ghosts of its former occupants.
3. A man begins to suspect that his new neighbor is actually a vampire.
4. A group of survivors must band together to fight off a horde of zombies that have taken over their city.
5. A woman discovers that her dreams are actually visions of a serial killer's next victim, and must race against time to stop him.

Thriller Writing Prompts:

1. A woman must go on the run when she's framed for a crime she didn't commit.
2. A detective must solve a series of murders that seem to be connected to an underground crime syndicate.
3. A man wakes up in a hotel room with no memory of how he got there, only to discover that he's been kidnapped and is being held for ransom.
4. A group of survivors must navigate a post-apocalyptic world overrun by dangerous gangs and scarce resources.
5. A woman must confront her past when she receives a mysterious message from someone she thought was dead.

Young Adult Writing Prompts:

1. A young girl must navigate the challenges of high school while also dealing with her newfound superpowers.
2. A group of misfit teenagers band together to solve a series of mysteries in their small town.
3. A young woman discovers that her family has been keeping a dark secret from her for her entire life.
4. Two teenagers from rival high schools fall in love, but must navigate the challenges of their social circles to be together.
5. A group of teenagers must band together to fight off an alien invasion that threatens to destroy their small town.

Memoir Writing Prompts:

1. Write about a time when you had to make a difficult decision and how it impacted your life.
2. Describe a moment of self-discovery that changed your perspective on the world.
3. Write about a person who has had a significant impact on your life and how they influenced you.
4. Reflect on a time when you faced a major challenge and how you overcame it.
5. Write about a defining moment in your life that changed the course of your future.

Humor Writing Prompts:

1. A man tries to impress his date with a fancy restaurant, only to accidentally spill his drink all over her.
2. A group of coworkers play an epic game of office pranks, with each one trying to outdo the other.
3. A woman tries to navigate the pitfalls of online dating, with hilarious results.
4. A man tries to learn how to cook for the first time, with disastrous consequences.
5. A group of friends take a disastrous camping trip, with one mishap after another.

Travel Writing Prompts:

1. Write about your favorite travel destination and what makes it so special to you.
2. Describe a memorable experience you had while traveling, such as meeting a local or trying a new food.
3. Write about a place you've always wanted to visit and why it's on your bucket list.
4. Share tips and tricks for budget travel, such as how to find cheap flights or accommodations.
5. Write about a travel disaster you experienced, such as missing a flight or getting lost in a foreign city.

Mythology Writing Prompts:

1. Write about a modern-day hero who must confront ancient gods and goddesses in a battle for humanity's fate.
2. A group of adventurers must navigate a dangerous labyrinth filled with mythical creatures and traps.
3. Write about a forbidden love affair between a mortal and a deity, and the consequences that follow.
4. A group of mortals must band together to stop a vengeful god from wreaking havoc on the world.
5. A young girl discovers that she's descended from a powerful lineage of gods and goddesses, and must navigate the challenges that come with her newfound powers.

Nature Writing Prompts:

1. Write about a memorable experience you had in nature, such as camping or hiking.
2. Describe a place in nature that has special meaning to you, and why it's important.
3. Write about a person who has dedicated their life to protecting and preserving the environment.
4. Reflect on the beauty and majesty of the natural world, and how it inspires awe and wonder.
5. Write about the challenges facing the environment today, and what we can do to address them.

Music Writing Prompts:

1. Write a story based on the lyrics of a song, taking inspiration from its themes and imagery.
2. Imagine a world where music has magical powers, and write a story about a musician who must use their abilities to save the day.
3. Write about the challenges facing a struggling musician, as they try to make it in the competitive world of the music industry.
4. Create a fictional band and write about their rise to fame, including the ups and downs of life on the road.
5. Write a story about the transformative power of music, and how it can bring people together and change lives.

Whether you're a fan of music, mythology, or any other genre, there's a prompt out there waiting to spark your creativity and help you take your writing to the next level. So, don't be afraid to try new things and experiment with different prompts - you never know what kind of story you might create!