55+ Best Fantasy Writing Prompts for Crafting Magical Worlds and Stories

Writing prompts are like sparks that ignite your imagination. They provide a starting point for your creative writing journey. They can be anything from a simple phrase to a complex scenario.

That's where writing prompts come in. Whether you're building an expansive high fantasy saga or a gritty dark fantasy tale, prompts can spark inspiration and help you overcome writer's block.

In this article, you'll find best fantasy writing prompts tailored to a variety of subgenres, including high fantasy, dark fantasy, urban fantasy, and more. These prompts are designed to kickstart your creativity and guide you in crafting unforgettable stories. Let the adventure begin!

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Dark Fantasy Writing Prompts

• Features: Bleak worlds, morally complex characters, supernatural horror.

• Tone: Grim, haunting, unsettling.

• Examples: The Witcher by Andrzej Sapkowski, The Black Company by Glen Cook.

• Prompt Example 1: "A cursed village survives by offering one soul to the darkness each month. One person dares to end the tradition—at any cost."

• Prompt Example 2: "A knight discovers their enchanted armor is powered by the souls of the innocent, and every battle feeds the corruption."

• Prompt Example 3: "The only way to end an ancient plague is to wake the god it has been keeping asleep—but no one knows if the god is a savior or a destroyer."

Young Adult Fantasy Writing Prompts

• Features: Young protagonists navigating magical worlds, themes of self-discovery and growth, overcoming challenges, and often exploring friendship and family dynamics.

• Tone: Adventurous, hopeful, relatable, with a mix of light and dark moments.

• Examples: Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir.

• Prompt Example 1: "A teenager discovers they can communicate with animals but must hide their powers from a society that fears magic—and decides to use their abilities to expose a dark conspiracy."

• Prompt Example 2: "A young orphan finds a mysterious key that opens doors to different dimensions, but each door reveals a past they've tried to forget."

• Prompt Example 3: "When a quiet village is attacked by shadow creatures, a group of friends discovers they share a magical bond that could save—or doom—the world."

High Fantasy Writing Prompts

• Features: Epic worlds, heroic quests, complex societies.

• Tone: Grand, majestic, hopeful.

• Examples: The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan.

• Prompt Example 1: "A young farmer discovers their bloodline grants them the ability to communicate with the mythical guardians of the realm."

• Prompt Example 2: "The sun has vanished from the skies, and only the heirs of rival kingdoms can bring it back—if they work together."

• Prompt Example 3: "A magical artifact needed to save the world is hidden in a fortress surrounded by dragons."

Low Fantasy Writing Prompts

• Features: Minimal magic, grounded worlds, personal stakes.

• Tone: Realistic, gritty, morally ambiguous.

• Examples: A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin, The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch.

• Prompt Example 1: "A thief's most valuable stolen item turns out to hold the secret to overthrowing the kingdom."

• Prompt Example 2: "A band of mercenaries is hired to protect a noble family during a rebellion, but they uncover a plot that could destroy the entire kingdom."

• Prompt Example 3: "A skeptical detective investigates murders linked to an underground cult claiming to perform 'real magic.'"

Urban Fantasy Writing Prompts

• Features: Magic in modern settings, secret worlds, urban struggles.

• Tone: Contemporary, mysterious, action-packed.

• Examples: The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher, Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman.

• Prompt Example 1: "A struggling artist discovers that their paintings can alter reality—but each change has unintended consequences."

• Prompt Example 2: "In a city where mythical creatures hide among humans, a runaway werewolf seeks refuge and uncovers a conspiracy against their kind."

• Prompt Example 3: "A detective specializing in magical crimes must solve a murder where the victim's soul is missing."

Heroic Fantasy Writing Prompts

• Features: Brave heroes, personal journeys, thrilling combat.

• Tone: Bold, adventurous, optimistic.

• Examples: Conan the Barbarian by Robert E. Howard.

• Prompt Example 1: "A lone warrior must rescue their kidnapped village from a powerful sorcerer with no allies but their wits and courage."

• Prompt Example 2: "A cursed hero seeks redemption by protecting a kingdom they once tried to destroy."

• Prompt Example 3: "A magical weapon chooses a lowly blacksmith to become the land's greatest champion."

Magical Realism Writing Prompts

• Features: Subtle magic in everyday life, poetic narratives.

• Tone: Dreamlike, mysterious, introspective.

• Examples: One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez, The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.

• Prompt Example 1: "A small town's clocks stop, and time freezes—except for one family who continues to age."

• Prompt Example 2: "A bookstore owner finds that every book they sell changes the buyer's life in strange ways."

• Prompt Example 3: "A tree in the center of a village begins growing objects instead of fruit, each tied to someone's deepest regret."

Sword and Sorcery Writing Prompts

• Features: Fast-paced action, personal stakes, magical duels.

• Tone: Thrilling, visceral, exciting.

• Examples: Elric of Melniboné by Michael Moorcock.

• Prompt Example 1: "A warrior is cursed to carry a sword that grows heavier with every life it takes."

• Prompt Example 2: "A mercenary must retrieve a stolen artifact from a haunted temple filled with deadly traps."

• Prompt Example 3: "A mage and a swordsman form an uneasy alliance to take down a corrupt warlord."

Fairy Tale Fantasy Writing Prompts

• Features: Magical worlds, moral lessons, whimsical tone.

• Tone: Enchanting, darkly whimsical, cautionary.

• Examples: The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter, Stardust by Neil Gaiman.

• Prompt Example 1: "A prince must survive seven impossible trials to awaken a sleeping kingdom."

• Prompt Example 2: "A girl who weaves sunlight into cloth must outwit a shadow spirit seeking her power."

• Prompt Example 3: "A cursed mirror reflects not the truth but the future—and only for those willing to pay its price."

Comic or Satirical Fantasy Writing Prompts

• Features: Humor, parody, absurdity.

• Tone: Lighthearted, clever, entertaining.

• Examples: Discworld by Terry Pratchett.

• Prompt Example 1: "A clumsy wizard accidentally turns their kingdom into a giant amusement park."

• Prompt Example 2: "A hero discovers the magical prophecy that made them 'chosen' was actually just an administrative error."

• Prompt Example 3: "A dragon sues adventurers for trespassing and damages to its lair."

Revolution Fantasy Writing Prompts

• Features: Uprisings, power struggles, oppressed societies.

• Tone: Defiant, dramatic, inspiring.

• Examples: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.

• Prompt Example 1: "A hidden resistance uses forgotten magic to overthrow a tyrannical emperor."

• Prompt Example 2: "A group of rebels infiltrates the royal palace to expose the king's forbidden alchemical experiments."

• Prompt Example 3: "A young revolutionary discovers their parent is secretly the leader of the regime they're fighting against."

Fantasy Fiction Writing Prompts

• Features: Magic, mythical creatures, extraordinary worlds, imaginative storytelling.

• Tone: Diverse, ranging from whimsical to dramatic.

• Examples: Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling, The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis.

• Prompt Example 1: "A forgotten kingdom rises from the sands every 100 years, bringing with it both treasure and deadly creatures."

• Prompt Example 2: "A young magician discovers a secret society that protects the balance between the human world and the magical realm."

• Prompt Example 3: "A village's fate lies in the hands of a child born with the mark of the moon, prophesied to end an ancient curse."

Dragon Fantasy Writing Prompts

• Features: Dragons as central characters or themes, often tied to magic and mythology.

• Tone: Majestic, adventurous, awe-inspiring.

• Examples: Eragon by Christopher Paolini, Temeraire by Naomi Novik.

• Prompt Example 1: "A dragon and its rider must save their kingdom from an ancient enemy awakened by greed."

• Prompt Example 2: "A mysterious egg hatches in a farmer's barn, and the dragon inside chooses the farmer's child as its companion."

• Prompt Example 3: "Dragons have gone extinct, or so everyone thinks—until one emerges, claiming to be the guardian of forgotten knowledge."

Epic Fantasy Writing Prompts

• Features: Expansive worlds, large-scale conflicts, multiple characters and storylines.

• Tone: Sweeping, heroic, immersive.

• Examples: The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson, The Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson.

• Prompt Example 1: "A world split into five warring nations must unite to fend off an ancient invader from beyond the stars."

• Prompt Example 2: "A hidden prophecy binds a group of strangers together to prevent the return of a fallen god."

• Prompt Example 3: "The heir to a broken throne embarks on a quest to reclaim their kingdom while battling enemies both seen and unseen."

Science Fantasy Writing Prompts

• Features: Combines fantasy elements (magic, myths) with futuristic science fiction.

• Tone: Futuristic yet magical, exploratory.

• Examples: Dune by Frank Herbert, The Broken Earth trilogy by N.K. Jemisin.

• Prompt Example 1: "In a distant galaxy, a young stargazer discovers that their visions of a magical war from the past are actually warnings of the future."

• Prompt Example 2: "A planet's ecosystem is powered by magical crystals, but overuse causes catastrophic breakdowns."

• Prompt Example 3: "An AI develops the ability to wield magic, challenging humanity's understanding of both technology and the arcane."

Portal Fantasy Writing Prompts

• Features: Characters travel from one world to another, often fantastical.

• Tone: Enchanting, adventurous, mysterious.

• Examples: The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.

• Prompt Example 1: "A door in a forgotten library leads to a realm where knowledge manifests as living creatures."

• Prompt Example 2: "A child discovers a portal in their backyard that changes location every time they step through."

• Prompt Example 3: "A group of travelers stumbles into a world where time runs backward, and they must escape before they forget who they are."

Mythic Fantasy Writing Prompts

• Features: Stories rooted in myths, legends, and ancient cultures.

• Tone: Mystical, grand, timeless.

• Examples: American Gods by Neil Gaiman, Circe by Madeline Miller.

• Prompt Example 1: "A mortal is chosen by an ancient god to retrieve a stolen artifact, risking their life to maintain balance between realms."

• Prompt Example 2: "The constellations vanish from the sky, and a seer claims they've returned to earth as mortals."

• Prompt Example 3: "A young blacksmith is tasked with reforging a legendary weapon that once slew a god."

Historical Fantasy Writing Prompts

• Features: Combines real historical settings with magical or fantastical elements.

• Tone: Rich, immersive, historically grounded yet magical.

• Examples: Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke, The Night Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko.

• Prompt Example 1: "In 16th-century Venice, a secret guild uses forbidden magic to shape the course of history."

• Prompt Example 2: "A medieval scribe discovers their writing can alter the reality of historical events."

• Prompt Example 3: "During the French Revolution, a young revolutionary discovers their bloodline is tied to ancient magic."

Grimdark Fantasy Writing Prompts

• Features: Dark, morally ambiguous worlds and characters, grim themes.

• Tone: Bleak, brutal, realistic.

• Examples: The First Law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie, Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence.

• Prompt Example 1: "A kingdom crumbles as its ruling family turns on one another, leaving its fate in the hands of a notorious war criminal."

• Prompt Example 2: "A brutal tyrant offers a condemned prisoner freedom in exchange for assassinating the rebel leader—only to discover they share a common goal."

• Prompt Example 3: "A cursed soldier fights to protect a child destined to destroy their world, questioning their loyalties with every battle."

Final Words

Fantasy writing is a journey into the boundless realms of imagination, where creativity knows no limits. These fantasy writing prompts are designed to inspire you, whether you're crafting an epic fantasy novel, a gripping dark fantasy tale, or a whimsical story filled with magic and wonder.

Let your ideas flow, build captivating worlds, and bring unforgettable characters to life. And if you ever need help refining your drafts, tools like AI to human text converter tool can ensure your writing stands out with a polished, human-like touch.