When it comes to writing a thrilling story, one of the most important parts is coming up with an interesting and unpredictable plot. If you’re feeling stuck for ideas when it comes to writing a thriller, here are 101 thriller writing prompts to help you get started. I will also provide you with tips on how to get started with your thriller journal and become a better writer.

What is Thriller Writing?

Thriller writing is a type of popular genre of fiction that focuses on suspense, tension, and excitement.

These stories focus on creating intense moments of surprise, danger, and fear to keep the reader’s attention. Stories with any other genre of thriller can range from the supernatural to crime-based stories.

101 Thriller Story Prompts

Here is a list of creative writing prompts for writing thrillers:

1. Write a story about a young girl who discovers she has the power to control her mind.

2. Create a story about a brilliant scientist who develops a new virus that could potentially wipe out humanity.

3. Craft a tale about an ex-convict who returns to the town he once terrorized and plots revenge.

4. Create a story of a group of strangers who discover they are all being watched by a mysterious figure.

5. Devise a story where a government agency is experimenting on innocent people in search of a cure for a deadly disease.

6. Write a story about a secret society that is plotting to take over the world and how one person must outwit them.

7. Create a story of a family that is haunted by an evil spirit who wants to take over their lives.

8. Write a tale about a man who wakes up in the middle of nowhere with no memory and starts searching for answers.

9. Craft a story about an international spy whose mission is to stop a terrorist plot before it’s too late.

10. Devise a story where an ancient artifact holds the key to unlocking the world’s darkest secrets.

11. Write a story about how someone discovers they have supernatural powers, and what happens when they choose to use them or not use them.

12. Create a story of two siblings who are separated by a horrific tragedy and must find their way back to each other.

13. Craft a tale of an impending alien invasion that no one believes until it’s too late.

14. Write a story about a high school student who discovers they are the key to solving a centuries-old mystery.

15. Create a story of two rivals who must work together to survive an extreme situation they find themselves in.

16. Design a world where a group of scientists is attempting to create artificial intelligence and the consequences that follow.

16. Develop characters who must face their inner demons to save the world.

17. Write a story of a woman whose life is being controlled by an invisible entity.

18. Create a story about a secret government organization that deals in the unusual and mysterious.

19. Craft a tale of how a small town is overrun by an unstoppable force, and how its citizens must work together to survive.

20. Write a story of a young woman who discovers a portal to an alternate reality.

21. Create a story of a mad scientist with plans for world domination and the heroes’ mission to stop them.

22. Devise a tale of how a group of criminals finds an ancient weapon that could bring untold destruction to the world.

23. Write a story about a family who unknowingly unleashes an ancient evil upon the world.

24. Create a story of a man who is haunted by the ghosts of his past and must confront them to save his future.

25. Craft a tale about an obsessed detective whose mission is to catch a serial killer that no one believes exists.

26. Write a story of how two strangers are forced to work together to uncover the truth behind a mysterious organization.

27. Create a character who is the only one who can save the world, but they must first confront their fears.

28. Design a world where a virus has wiped out almost all of humanity and the survivors must find a way to survive.

29. Develop an epic battle between two powerful forces that could determine the fate of the world.

30. Write a story about a young girl who discovers she has the power to time travel.

31. Create a story where a group of people must travel to an alternate universe and stop the force behind it from destroying their world.

32. Craft a tale of how an unsuspecting individual uncovers a conspiracy that threatens to unravel the fabric of society.

33. Write a story about a secret government project gone wrong and the heroes’ mission to stop it before it’s too late.

34. Create a character that is trying to unlock the secrets of their past and what they find out could change the world.

35. Design a post-apocalyptic world where a group of survivors must fight to survive.

36. Write a character who discovers that their entire life has been a lie and must confront the truth to live.

37. Create a story of an alien invasion and the brave humans who must stand up against them.

38. Craft a tale of how a normal person is chosen to save the world from an ancient evil.

39. Design a world where two rival gangs are fighting for control and the heroes must choose a side to survive.

40. Write a story of a powerful artifact that holds the key to saving humanity and the heroes’ mission to find it.

41. Explore the consequences of a virus that turns humans into monsters.

42. Develop a character who discovers they have the power to turn back time and what they do with it.

43. Design a character who is being stalked by a psychopath with a hidden agenda.

44. Create a story of a group of people stuck in an underground bunker during a zombie apocalypse and their struggle to survive.

45. Write a story of an abandoned island where monsters lurk in the shadows and no one has ever survived.

46. Craft a tale of a conspiracy theorist whose theory becomes true.

47. Design a world where technology has advanced to the point of being able to bring things back from the dead.

48. Write a tale of a mysterious organization that is plotting to take over the world and how one person must outwit them.

49. Create a story of an intergalactic war between two powerful forces and the unlikely hero who must save the day.

50. Devise a story where an ancient alien race has returned with plans for world domination and the only thing standing in their way is a group of brave humans.

51. Write a story about someone who discovers they have supernatural powers and must use them to save the world.

52. Craft a tale of a group of misfits who band together to stop an evil force from destroying their world.

53. Write a story of how a group of people must work together to stop a madman before he unleashes a weapon of mass destruction.

54. Create a story about an alternate future where humanity is on the brink of extinction and it’s up to one person to save them.

55. Develop a world where an ancient prophecy is coming true and the heroes must find a way to stop it.

56. Write a story about a mysterious island that holds the secrets of an ancient civilization and the adventurers who seek to uncover them.

57. Create a tale of two people from opposing sides who must put aside their differences and work together to save the world.

58. Design a character who discovers they are the key to solving a centuries-old mystery.

59. Devise a story of how a small group of people must join forces to battle an unstoppable force.

60. Write a story about a hidden city where the citizens have access to advanced technology and must defend it against outsiders.

61. Create a tale of how artificial intelligence threatens to take over the world and the heroes’ mission to stop it.

62. Design a character who is the only one with the power to save their world from destruction, but they must first confront their fears.

63. Create a character who learns they are the chosen one and must fulfill an ancient prophecy to save their people.

64. Write a short story about a mysterious group of people who possess powerful magic and the heroes’ mission to stop them from using it for evil.

65. Craft a tale of two nations at war and the unlikely hero who manages to bring peace.

66. Design a world where technology has advanced to the point of being able to create clones and the consequences of this.

67. Write a story about an interdimensional portal that opens up and unleashes chaos.

68. Create a character who discovers they are the sole survivor of their race and must find a way to save them from extinction.

69. Design a post-apocalyptic world where the surviving humans must fight to survive and rebuild civilization.

70. Create a story of a powerful group of witches who must work together to stop an evil entity from taking over their world.

71. Write a tale about a group of people who must journey to the center of the earth and battle an ancient evil to save their world.

72. Develop characters who are stuck in a mysterious world with no memory of who they are or why they’re there.

73. Craft a story where a group of scientists must travel to an alternate universe and prevent a powerful force from destroying their world.

74. Write a story about a mysterious character whose true identity is unknown,

75. Create a story about a murder on Halloween night.

76. Design a world where magic and technology intertwine and the heroes must use both to save their kingdom.

77. Write a tale of two civilizations, one living above ground and the other below, and the unlikely hero who must bridge the gap between them.

78. Create a story of an ancient artifact that holds the secret to immortality and the heroes who must find it before evil forces can get their hands on it.

79. Design a world where two powerful nations are at war and the heroes must find a way to bring them together.

80. Craft a story of an alien race that has invaded Earth and the brave heroes who must stop them.

81. Write a tale of how a group of people must use their wits and courage to defeat an unstoppable villain.

82. Write a mystery thriller story about a dead body that appears in a small town and the detectives who must uncover the truth.

83. Create a world where magic and science have collided, leading to a powerful force that threatens the balance between good and evil.

84. Write a story about a powerful being who manipulates the universe and the heroes’ mission to stop him.

85. Design a main character who is being stalked by a mysterious entity and who must use their wits to survive.

86. Write a story dystopian society where individuals must fight against an oppressive government to reclaim their freedom.

87. Write a story of how a group of people must find the strength to overcome their fears and take on a powerful enemy.

88. Write a thriller about a missing person who must be found before it’s too late.

89. Write a thriller about the prime suspect in a murder investigation who must prove their innocence before it’s too late.

90. Write a thriller about a newly married couple who discovers they are being hunted by an ancient evil.

91. Write a Psychological Thriller about a character struggling with their mental health and the consequences that follow.

92. Write a mystery thriller story about a detective who must uncover the truth behind a series of strange disappearances.

93. Craft a tale of horror set in an isolated town where the residents must battle an ancient evil.

94. Write a thriller science fiction where magic and technology come together to create a powerful weapon and the heroes must find a way to stop it.

95. Write a story of how a group of people must battle a powerful entity to reclaim their home.

96. Create a character who discovers a terrible secret and must use their wits to protect it from the wrong hands.

97. Craft a tale of how a small village is threatened by an ancient evil and the heroes who must stop it.

98. Write a Psychological Thriller about a character who finds themselves in a nightmare and must find their way out before it’s too late.

99. Write a story of how two powerful clans must put aside their differences and work together to save the world.

100. Write a mystery thriller about a group of people who are investigating an unsolved murder and the secrets they uncover.

101. Write a thriller historical fiction where two forces of good and evil clash and the heroes must find a way to restore balance.

Tips for Using Thriller Writing Prompts Effectively

Start with a concept or story idea that thrills you

Whether it is a scene, character, plot twist, or setting, use your excitement to create fresh ideas on a blank page and use it as the foundation of your story ideas.

Introduce an element of suspense

Keep readers guessing by incorporating unpredictable and unforeseen elements to keep them on their toes throughout the story.

Focus on Characterization

Develop your characters to be complex and layered individuals with motivations that keep the story moving.

Keep it tight

Thrillers are usually fast-paced, so try not to get bogged down in too much description or dialogue.

Know when to turn up the heat

The key to a good story is building tension throughout, but make sure the crescendo is powerful and exciting.

Consider an unexpected ending

Surprise your readers by deviating from the expected conclusion. Thriller writing prompts can be a great way of exploring new and unexpected directions.

Bottom Line

Thriller writing prompts can help jump-start thriller writers’ creativity, and writing skills and get you on the path to a successful piece of writing. Don’t be afraid to try something new and push yourself out of your comfort zone.

Popular genres like Stephen King, Strange things, and IT are great starting points for exploring different elements of thrillers.

Focus on creating characters that have depth, building suspense around the story, and making sure to have a satisfying conclusion.

With the right amount of focus and effort, you can craft a compelling and thrilling story. So start writing now and good luck!