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BEST DYSTOPIAN WRITING PROMPTS
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Something wicked this way comes, set your story in a world where conversation about one particular topic is banned — but there are ways to get around the rule., imagine a world where exploration is forbidden, and write a story about a character who defies this rule to satisfy their innate curiosity., write a story imagining 'what if' one historic invention had never happened. how would our world be different now, set your story in a world where time travel has been perfected, and people can use it to hop between alternate timelines — but at a cost., set your story in a society where everyone is constantly aware of unwanted surveillance..
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Write a story that starts with, "the clock ticked past 61.".
- Write about the end of the world… of Atlantis.
A mobile app tells you the amount of time that you have left to live. One morning, this time on everyone's phones syncs to the same number.
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- Write about an apocalypse triggered by technology. What happened?
- Write a story about two enemies who must band together to survive the aftermath of the end of the world.
You are a clone designed to mimic your human's every movement and habit so that you can seamlessly take over after the apocalypse starts, but there's just one problem: your human is the weirdest human being ever.
It's one hour before the end of the world. what do you do with that time.
- Write a story about a group of zombie friends who go adventuring together after the apocalypse.
No one left on Earth knows what the color blue looks like… until one day, the great fog parts and the sky appears for the first time in a millennia.
In the form of diary entries, write a story from the perspective of the last remaining person in the world., in the end, it wasn't humankind that destroyed the world. it was (fill in the blank)., set your story in a town that’s teetering on the edge of something dark, literally or metaphorically., your character, by chance or habit, peers through a telescope. they see something unusual — what is it, win $250 in our short story competition 🏆.
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The best dystopian writing prompts
We're living through strange times — but they could always get stranger. Dystopian literature allows us to project ourselves into the distant (or not too distant) future, and imagine what we might find. Perhaps a post-apocalyptic landscape ravaged by war, a nightmarish government who are in absolute control of its citizens, or a human race that has merged with technology. The possibilities are endless, and we're here to provide some more inspiration.
To get you started, here are our top ten dystopian writing prompts:
- Write a story about a character who is certain the world is going to end today.
- In the end, it wasn't humankind that destroyed the world. It was (fill in the blank).
- You are a clone designed to mimic your human's every movement and habit so that you can seamlessly take over after the apocalypse starts, but there's just one problem: your human is the weirdest human being ever.
- A mobile app tells you the amount of time that you have left to live. One morning, this time on everyone's phones syncs to the same number.
- No one left on Earth knows what the color blue looks like… until one day, the great fog parts, and the sky appears for the first time in millennia.
If you're looking for some more help writing your dystopian story, check out this free resource:
- The Ultimate Worldbuilding Guide (free resource) — To write a dystopian story, you need to understand the world you're creating, inside and out. What kind of resources are available? How has society changed? Is there crime, or poverty, or has the world left its issues behind — or at least the government claims it has? Our worldbuilding template will ask the questions you need to find this information.
Want more help learning how to write a dystopian short story? Check out How to Write a Short Story That Gets Published — a free, ten-day course guiding you through the process of short story writing by Laura Mae Isaacman, a full-time editor who runs a book editing company in Brooklyn.
Ready to start writing? Check out Reedsy’s weekly short story contest , for the chance of winning $250 , plus potential publication in our literary magazine, Prompted ! You can also check out our list of writing contests or our directory of literary magazines for more opportunities to submit your story.
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Dystopian Writing Prompts: 45 Dark and Edgy Ideas to Get You Started
By: Author Paul Jenkins
Posted on September 21, 2022
Categories Writing , Inspiration
Do you love writing dark and edgy stories? Are you looking for something to get you started? Then look no further! In this blog post, we will provide 45 dystopian creative writing prompts to help get your creative juices flowing. These prompts are perfect for writers who want to explore a darker side of storytelling. So what are you waiting for? Start writing your short story or novel!
32 Dystopian Writing Prompts
1. What would people be like in a world where the sun never shines, and the moon is always full?
2. In a world where everyone is required to take a monthly government-mandated happiness pill, what would happen if someone decided not to take it?
3. In a world where technology has taken over, and humans are nothing more than slaves to machines, how would the resistance fight back?
4. In a world where the wealthy live in opulent mansions while the poor live in squalor, what would happen if the two classes decided to switch places?
5. In a world with an ongoing war between two factions, what would happen if a neutral third party tried to broker peace?
6. In a world where the government is constant surveillance of its citizens, what would happen if someone found a way to turn off the cameras?
7. In a world where climate change has made it so that there is only one livable city left, how would the citizens react to being told they must build a wall to keep everyone else out?
8. In a world without laws, what would happen if someone proposed that the old laws should be reinstated?
9. In a world where the government uses brainwashing to ensure the loyalty of its citizens, what would happen if a group of rebels tried to break the hold of the brainwashing?
10. In a world with strict guidelines on what can be eaten and what can’t, what would happen if someone decided to break the rules and eat something forbidden?
11. In a world where people are given a choice of being executed or having their memories erased, what would happen if someone chose to die?
12. In a world where the government controls all forms of entertainment, how would people act if someone managed to smuggle in illegal documents?
13. In a world where compulsory beauty is enforced, how would the free thinkers react when they met the people responsible for enforcing the rules?
14. In a world where there is a natural law that states only the strong can rule, what would happen if an old man tried to fight his way to the top?
15. In a world where the government has banned all forms of technology, including electricity and computers, how would people cope?
16. In a world where people are pressured to be perfect, how would the misfits cope?
17. In a world where there is a law decreeing that a certain group of people must be killed, what would happen if someone refused to kill their friends?
18. In a world where people are encouraged to report their neighbors for breaking the law, what would happen if somebody disobeyed?
19. In a world where the few people who can read and write are considered more valuable than everyone else, what would happen if someone tried to teach others to read?
20. In a world where everyone is required to live in containment shelters, how would the citizens react to a group of people who chose to live outside them?
21. In a world where the government controls all food sources, how would people react if someone started a black market for food?
22. In a world where everybody is forced to take a drug that controls their behavior, how would the free willers react?
23. In a world with a law stating that all people over 50 must be killed, what would happen if someone tried to break the law?
24. In a world where a nuclear war has destroyed the world, what would happen if people found a way to survive?
25. In a world where scientific research is always under government supervision, what would happen if someone tried to break the rules?
26. In a world where all communication is carried out in pictures, what would happen if someone figured out a way to communicate in words?
27. In a world where everything is controlled by a government monopoly, what would happen if someone tried to start their own business?
28. In a world where there is a computer program that can tell your future by analyzing your DNA, what would happen if someone asked it a very personal question?
29. In a world with a drug that can make people invisible, what would happen if someone started selling the drug?
30. In a world where everyone is assigned a number based on their skills, how would the unnumbered people react?
31. In a world where people are chosen to participate in a game where they must hunt the other players, how would the players react if they found out their fellow humans were the prey?
32. In a world where the government is under constant attack by terrorists and saboteurs, what would happen if someone tried to break the cycle of violence?
And there you have it, 32 great ideas for your next dystopian story! These ideas can be combined or individually as inspiration for your next writing project.
13 Dystopian Character Ideas
1. A teenage hacker rebels against the government by breaking into their systems and spreading anti-authority propaganda.
2. A group of revolutionaries who fight to overthrow the current regime, even though they know that they may not survive in the end.
3. An evil dictator who rules over the people with an iron fist, crushing any resistance with ruthless brutality.
4. A disillusioned soldier who has seen too much violence and bloodshed, struggling to hold onto his humanity as he fights in a never-ending war.
5. A downtrodden factory worker who is sick of being exploited by greedy corporations and strives for a better life for herself and her fellow workers.
6. A young girl trapped in an oppressive society where women are treated like second-class citizens, fighting to claim her own space and freedom in a male-dominated world.
7. An enigmatic leader who has risen to power through cunning manipulation and political intrigue, using brute force to maintain control over a society.
8. A woman is forced to turn her back on her beloved brother after he killed their abusive father and was sentenced to death.
9. A doctor is forced to work for the government after they kill her husband, helping them to diagnose and destroy the subversive elements in the population.
10. An idealistic revolutionary fighting to overthrow and replace the government with a more humane regime.
11. An amnesic woman who doesn’t know who she is, her backstory, or the world she came from but is determined to find out.
12. A teenager discovers that the government is lying to its people about the state of the world and leads a secret resistance movement to overthrow the corrupt regime.
13. A female bounty hunter who uses her deadly fighting skills to capture fugitives and bring them back to the authorities.
What Makes a World Dystopian?
In a dystopian world, everything is wrong. The government is corrupt. Society is collapsing. The environment is ruined. People are unhappy. But what makes a world truly dystopian? Is it the presence of these things, or is something else required for a world to be truly dystopian? Let’s take a closer look.
The first thing that comes to mind when thinking about dystopian worlds is usually government control and fear in the population. Often accompanied by conformity. In George Orwell’s 1984, the government controls everything from the food people eat to their thoughts. Similarly, in Suzanne Collins’s The Hunger Games, the government dictates every aspect of citizens’ lives, from what they wear to whether they live or die. In both of these examples, and in many others, the government’s stranglehold on power makes the world dystopian.
But government control is not the only factor that can make a world dystopian. In Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, society has collapsed due to an unspecified cataclysmic event. There is no government, no law, and no order. People are reduced to eating each other to survive. In this example, it is not the government that makes the world dystopian but rather the complete breakdown of society itself.
A truly dystopian future is one where everything has gone wrong. The government is corrupt, and society is collapsing. The environment is ruined, and people are unhappy. But what makes a world truly dystopian? Is it the presence of these things, or is something else required for a world to be truly dystopian? It seems that the answer may be both.
Is Dystopia a Genre or Theme?
Genres are categories of literature that are defined by specific conventions, such as plot structure, style, and characterization. There are many different genres, such as mystery, romance, science fiction, etc. A genre is like a template you can use to write your story.
Themes are ideas or topics that are explored in a work of literature . A theme can be something as simple as love or loss or more complicated as betrayal or redemption. Unlike genres, themes are not constrained by specific conventions. You can use any literary device to explore a theme in your stories, such as symbolism, foreshadowing, or flashbacks.
So, is dystopia a genre or a theme? The answer is both! Dystopia is a genre that explores the idea of a society gone wrong. If you’re interested in writing a dystopian story, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the conventions of the genre. But don’t let those constraints limit your creativity-remember that you can always explore additional themes in your story.
How to Start a Good Dystopian Story
Dystopian stories are all the rage these days. With so many popular books and movies being set in dark, post-apocalyptic worlds, it’s no wonder that writers are looking to get in on the action. But what makes a good dystopian story? And how do you start one?
The first thing you need to do when writing a dystopian story is to come up with a compelling premise. What has caused the world to become a dark, dangerous place? This can be anything from a natural disaster to a totalitarian government.
Once you have your premise, you need to decide what kind of story you want to tell. Are you going to focus on the struggles of a single character as they try to survive in this new world? Or will you paint a more sweeping picture, showing how different people are affected by the new world order?
Once you have your premise and focus, it’s time to start writing! The important thing to remember when writing a dystopian story is that while the world may be dark and grim, there should still be hope. After all, what is a story without hope? So don’t forget to inject optimism into your tale, even amid all the darkness.
How to Describe a Dystopian City in Your Writing
A dystopian city can be a great setting for your story. It can be a place of extremes where the rich live in opulence, and the poor are left to fend for themselves. It can be a place of indoctrination, where an oppressive government regime controls people. A dystopian society can be dangerous, where law and order have broken down, and crime is rampant. Whatever form your dystopian city takes, here are some tips on how to describe it in your writing.
1. Establish the mood. Is your dystopian city dark and foreboding? Is it a bright and shining example of what could go wrong? The mood you establish will set the tone for the rest of your descriptions.
2. Get specific with your details. The more specific you are with your descriptions, the easier it will be for your readers to picture the scene in their minds. When you’re painting a picture of your dystopian city, don’t forget the small details that will make it come alive.
3. Use sensory language. Be sure to use all five senses when describing your city. What does it look like? What does it smell like? What does it sound like? By engaging all of the senses, you’ll give your readers a fuller understanding of the world you’ve created.
4. Compare and contrast. A great way to add depth to your description is to compare and contrast different city elements. For example, you might describe the divide between the rich and the poor or the effect of living in an oppressive regime.
5. Show, don’t tell. One mistake many writers make is telling their readers what they should be feeling instead of showing them through their words. If you want your readers to feel scared, don’t tell them, “this city is scary.” Show them why it’s scary by describing everything that makes it so.
The Importance of a Strong Main Character in Dystopian Fiction
In any good story, the protagonist is the engine that drives the plot forward. But a strong protagonist is even more essential in dystopian fiction, where the stakes are often high, and the world is often dark and oppressive. After all, it’s up to the protagonist to lead the charge against the forces of evil and bring about a better future.
But what makes a strong protagonist? In dystopian fiction, there are a few key qualities that a strong protagonist must possess to be successful.
- Strength of character. The protagonist must be willing to stand up against overwhelming odds and fight for what’s right, even when it seems like all hope is lost. They must be brave and determined, with an unshakeable belief in their cause.
- Intelligence. The protagonist must be able to outthink their opponents, whether they’re governmental forces or other rebel groups. They must be able to see through deception and manipulation and be quick on their feet to take advantage of opportunities as they arise.
- The protagonist must withstand whatever obstacles are thrown in their path, whether torture, imprisonment, or death. They must be able to pick themselves up after defeats and setbacks and never give up on their quest for justice.
Dystopian Fiction to Study
- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
- Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
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