Writing prompts are handy for several reasons. First, they spark creativity by providing a starting point to ignite your imagination and help overcome writer’s block. 

Prompts offer focus and direction, allowing you to narrow down your ideas and providing a clear path for your writing. This makes staying on topic easier. 

I use prompts regularly in my writing, so, in that spirit, I wanted to start a mini-series where I offer some horror fiction prompts. Here are ten creepy horror fiction writing prompts to inspire your next story:

The Whispering Walls 

A family moves into an old house, only to discover that the walls are lined with the bones of previous occupants. At night, they begin to hear faint whispers from the walls, growing louder and more coherent each day, revealing the sinister fate of the last family.

The Mirror in the Attic

A young woman inherits her grandmother’s house, where she finds an antique mirror hidden in the attic. Every time she looks into it, her reflection lingers longer than it should—and begins to move independently, mocking her life and eventually trying to replace her.

The Harvest of Shadows

In a small, isolated town, a shadowy figure collects one child from each household every fall. No one speaks of it or resists it, except for one mother who decides to follow the figure into the woods. What she finds is a twisted ritual that has kept the town alive for centuries.

The Unread Diary

A man discovers an old diary in a second-hand bookstore. As he reads, he realizes that the diary entries predict his life, even his deepest secrets. The final entry warns of an imminent danger, but he’s unable to stop the events from unfolding.

The Watchers in the Fog

Every night, a seaside village is shrouded in thick fog. People have reported seeing strange figures standing still in the mist. One night, the fog doesn’t lift, and the figures move closer to the town, observing the villagers’ every move.

The Abandoned Carnival

A group of friends sneaks into an abandoned carnival rumored to be haunted. Once inside, they realize that they can’t find the exit. The rides and attractions begin to turn on, but they’re not alone—something inhuman runs the show, and it wants them to stay forever.

The Silent Tenants

A woman buys an apartment in a crumbling building with a history of mysterious disappearances. She soon notices her neighbors always stay in their rooms. One day, she realizes why: they aren’t alive and wants her to join them.

The Handprint on the Window

Every morning, a young boy finds a fresh handprint on his bedroom window, even though he lives on the fifth floor of an apartment building. As the handprints increase, he begins to see the outline of a figure pressed against the glass.

The Dollmaker’s Curse

A famous dollmaker, now long dead, was known for making lifelike dolls that looked disturbingly similar to real people. A collector discovers one of these dolls, only to realize it’s aging and growing—like a person.

The Endless Hallway

A new employee in a massive, labyrinthine office building is told never to go down a particular hallway. One night, curiosity gets the better of her, and she walks down the forbidden corridor. No matter how far she goes, she cannot find the end—and something is following her.

Let me know if you use one of these prompts and how the story turns out. Enjoy!