Back to School: Get Writing With These Inspiring Fantasy Writing Prompts

September is the month many of us think about starting a new writing project, and we’ve got just the thing to help you fall back in love with your novel: writing prompts.

Whether you’re writing a fairy tale, urban fantasy, dark fantasy or romantasy, using a writing prompt can help develop your fictional world, improve your knowledge of your main character and, most importantly, help you start writing and getting words down on the page. 

Ella McLeod is a writing coach at The Novelry and a bestselling author of fantasy and YA fiction. Fantasy is the realm of liberated imagination where anything goes: dragons, beasts, fae and all kinds of mythical creatures; kingdoms, magical powers, and quests... But sometimes, you need a little nudge to get your pen flowing freely. Demonstrating her love for the fantasy genre, Ella provides a variety of fantasy writing prompts, covering subgenres from high fantasy and mythology all the way to dark fantasy and romantasy. You’ll find a mix of relationship dynamics, genders, settings and tones that should ignite your creative spark!

Prompts are also a great way to battle writer’s block. Giving yourself the space to be creative without any pressure can help in moments when you lack motivation or are paralyzed by self-doubt. You don’t need to be writing a fantasy novel to find value in these creative writing prompts.

Read through the examples below and try a few—you might find it gives the momentum you need to get back on track with your novel. You could choose one and set a timer for 15 minutes, or share one with your writing buddy and compare each other’s short stories. Adapt the prompts however you like, and happy writing!

Getting into writing fantasy can be really hard work! Building worlds, magic systems, magical beings, power structures... And that’s before you get to fleshing out characters or giving your settings texture to make them come to life!

Before you get started, have a real think about the kind of story you want to tell and, more importantly, why it should be YOU that tells it.

What about your narrative voice lends itself to the world you’re building and how can you lean into that—how can you be the most yourself while writing? When I wrote my debut Rapunzella, Or, Don’t Touch My Hair, I knew I wanted to write a fairy-tale retelling that subverted genre expectations. I knew I wanted to center blackness and the experience of black womanhood, rooting the world I was creating in the familiar so as to better highlight where I’d chosen to deviate.

The story was personal to me and the world was organic, a world built out of a desire to say something about adolescence, magic and revolution.

Why are you telling your story? What does it mean to you?

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1. High fantasy writing prompts

Try this for a high fantasy plot idea: the king of a magical realm dies suddenly, leaving no heir. Various factions vie for power, all arguing their claim to the throne. How can you tell this story in a way that is unique? What distinguishes the factions from each other? Who leads them? What are their magical abilities? Where are they from?

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Your protagonist is led to a forest by a dream. In the clearing they find something... An item that calls to them and only them and has the power to change everything. Describe them finding the item. What is it? Why is it special? Why does it call to only them? Does anyone else want it?

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In this fantasy world, dragons (it doesn’t have to be dragons, it could be another fantastical behemoth) are gods and those who ride them are considered blessed. But there are fewer and fewer riders than ever before and the need for them has never been greater... What happens next? Why are riders dwindling? What is the threat against that which they protect? And who is our rider protagonist?

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Your protagonist is the youngest child of a powerfully magical family. They, however, have missed out on the family gift. They live in shame and fear of anyone discovering how ordinary they are. Until an enemy with the power to detect and quell magic arises and suddenly they are thrust into suddenly they are thrust into a world of politics and mind games where they find that their life-long shame may actually be the thing that saves them and everyone they love…

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The witches of your land had their power stolen years ago by an evil sorcerer. But a child of the witches has been prophesized to lead the people to an uprising... What does the tyrant want? What is their hamartia? What is the system that they’re keeping in place? How do they benefit from it?

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2. Mythology writing prompts

Prometheus is chained and attacked by eagles every day. Abandoned and alone, he is left to ponder on his relationship with humanity. Meanwhile, Heracles continues with his labors, making his way inevitably, guided by fate, toward him. But the pages of the myth leave out the actions of those not noticed by the gods... Where were the humans helped by Prometheus? Who were they? Why was he so compelled? And what was his relationship with Heracles?

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Everyone forgets about Hestia. As the first and oldest Olympian she has the good sense to swear herself celibate and keep to her hearth. But what secrets burn in that constant fire? Who is she beyond the ultimate eldest sister?

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Trapped in a labyrinth, lonely and self-loathing, with nothing to muse upon but the hatred of his father and the loss of his mother, Asterius knows only grief and hunger. Will anything free him from his torment? Is there hope for him yet? Can he be seen as more than just the Minotaur?

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Anansi the spider is known for his tricks and is generally mistrusted. His family prosper but are social outcasts in the land of Jamaica. His daughter, Nancy, resents this and seeks a life of proprietary and social respect. Is this even possible? Are the gifts she inherited from her father—wisdom, cunning and being sharp of tongue—things to be ashamed of? Or, in a world where ancient powers are restless and new gods clamor for dominion, is a little spider who spins fairy tales, weaves webs of lies and is easily underestimated, the most dangerous enemy of all?

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Layla already has a reputation for being the weird girl in school. Her penchant for dark clothes, her love of horror films and her infamously large and rowdy family don’t endear her to her colleagues at the advertising agency where she works. But Layla has a secret... There is a reason she sometimes seems to talk to people that aren’t there... And there is a reason that she works a Saturday job at the cemetery. Layla is a daughter of the goddess Isis. Her communion with the dead takes up a fair bit of time and so does her family of gods and demi-gods, who seem determined to get in the way of living life as a normal twentysomething.

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3. Science fiction/fantasy writing prompts

It’s 3,000 years in the future, and after endless global pandemics, society solely exists in bubbles. The nature of work has entirely changed and dating requires official sign-off. A visitor from the past arrives with a dire warning.

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A spell gone wrong begins to give household appliances sentience. What happens next? What is the spell? Which appliances would be friendly? Which would be menacing? What could the long-term ramifications be here?

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An apprentice sorcerer wins a competitive place in the laboratory of a sorcerer famed for their mysterious experiments. What happens next? What kind of lab? Who is the sorcerer? What do they find? What are the VIBES? 

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A young girl is a nomad by blood, bound to hop from planet to planet every seven years. Is she immortal? Describe the planets. Who does she meet along the way? Does she enjoy her lifestyle? How does it affect her personally? 

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Start a story like this: ‘Erin had alway considered herself a strong swimmer. She felt the most at home when diving into the water. She lived for the feeling of the wind whipping her face as she leapt from the hovercraft, arms cutting through the smooth surface of the loch. The day was bright and clear. The water lapped against the banks, the waiting hovercraft hummed gently, and Erin felt peaceful. But she was not prepared... For the kelpie.’

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4. Romantasy writing prompts

Your female protagonist casts a love spell. It goes very badly wrong and she find herself inextricably tied to the worst possible person...

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After hundreds of years of war, two rival kingdoms seek a peace alliance. As part of these negotiations, the two heirs are to marry. The last time they saw each other, they were fighting to the death on the battlefield, blasting each other with their opposing magic. Can they move forward when they have known hatred for so long? The future of their kingdoms is at stake...

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Two best friends find their lives changed when one turns into a vampire. Because they care for and trust each other so much, the friend who remains human offers themselves up for the vampire to feed on. The change in their physical relationship heralds a change in their emotional one... I dare you to get spicy with this one!

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Cinderella has a hard life, only made harder by the death of her doting, aged fairy godmother. She is reassigned to a new fairy godparent and they are not what she is expecting—they are young, barely qualified, and with each wave of their wand, sparks fly... Think about how magic can be used in fantasy stories to show intimacy and affection.

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Two people with the gift of rebirth find each other across many lifetimes but are also, ultimately, doomed to repeat the same mistakes. Or are they...? Who are our two main characters? What are the qualities of a love that defies the ages?

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5. YA fantasy writing prompts

Think about the Magical School trope—how has it not been done? What kind of magical school would you want to go to? Is it one with all sorts of creatures? Is it one where they’re trained to do a specific thing? Think about one magical lesson that you’d like to read about and start to plot ideas from there. Some ideas:

• Practical lycanthropy: shifting, pack work, and sustainable fashion
• Siren song: choir practice, persuasive writing, and finding Your Sound
• Astrology: listening to the stars
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Think about the dynamics of adolescence. The classic In Group and Out Group. Even if your setting isn’t a school, think about how important community is in teenage self-actualization and then write a story where one magical group is an In Group and the other is an Out Group. What qualities makes someone In—cool? Popular? Powerful? How does this manifest magically? For example, are faeries in and witches out because faeries are often seen as delicate and beautiful and wealthy, and witches are seen as wild and difficult?

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Start a story with the sentence: ‘Nora’s teacher had said, on her first day of Year 10, that this period of their lives was all about “shedding their previous skin.” Now, as she slipped out of her selkie fur and felt her toes return from the fins, pebbles beneath, Nora snorted at the irony.’

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An ancient cathedral guards relics with the power to restore the kingdom, war-torn and poverty-stricken, to its former glory. However, the magic on the cathedral will only grant entry to the innocent—anyone over the age of 16 is considered too old. Every year a child under 16 is sent by the king to restore their home to glory. Think about the YA chosen one; the pressure of being sent on a quest at a tender age.

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A millennia ago there was a great magical war between two kingdoms that nearly brought about the destruction of all things. In order to secure peace, it was decided that only one person in each magical kingdom, a person deemed worthy, can hold the key to each kingdom’s power. These two powers are equal and opposite, maintaining balance in the world. Who will be crowned victor of each kingdom? And what could possibly go wrong...

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6. Magic realism writing prompts

In an ordinary world your protagonist can take flight when they’re anxious. What would the social ramifications of this be? What are their triggers? What brings them down to earth?

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In an ordinary world, your protagonist can read minds. What kind of character would have this ability? How would people act around them? Would they be popular or lonely? Would it be beneficial or harmful? 

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Your protagonist finds that as they age, they are becoming more and more like a bear. Write about this process. The loss of self? The gaining of different qualities? Is it funny? Absurd? Magical? Exciting? Terrifying?

A family moves into a house with a mind of its own. Doors move, staircases vanish and their new home clearly has favorites... Play with the idea of an ordinary, non-magical family living somewhere inherently magical. What is the atmosphere like? Is it haunting or comical or cozy? What does the house want? Let your imagination run wild!

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Start a story like this: ‘Willa was used to her dreams affecting her in a deep and profound way. But she was not used to being able to affect her dreams—to affect those wisps of memory that walked beside her and became corporeal when she woke.’

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7. Contemporary fantasy writing prompts

Your protagonist finds a portal to another world in the basement of the museum they work in. What is this world? How does it relate to the museum? What happens when they go there? 

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Your protagonist has had a run of bad luck with jobs. They keep getting fired or made redundant and can’t quite make anything stick. Until they get a calling... Literally, their mum calls to tell them that they are Santa’s heir and have been summoned to the North Pole. Describe their journey? Reuniting with their family?

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Write a short fantasy story where a coven of witches find a way to replace electricity with magic. Are they outsiders as a result of this? Persecuted? Or powerful? Do they keep their discovery a secret? Or capitalize on it?

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All of London’s most notable landmarks—places rich in history and memory—are inhabited by guardians. These guardians protect the city... So what happens when one goes missing? Who is responsible? And who can solve the mystery?

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An elite group of spies possess magical abilities and various superpowers that they use for intelligence-gathering and have to keep secret from the rest of the world. But what is the agenda of the shadowy organization they work for? Write about what sort of magic system would lend itself to intelligence? What sort of people would end up involved with such an organization?

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8. Cozy fantasy writing prompts

In a magical world, a witch bakes magic cakes that enhance people’s feelings. A love cake heightens feelings of affection, a sad cake causes the blues, etc. Write about how their magic could run away with itself. What effect might her magic have on her community?

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Describe a magic library. Who looks after it? What kind of sorcery do the books hold? Is it a secret library? Is it ancient and powerful? Is it crumbling and in need of restoration?

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Your protagonist is sent to study the local history of a small countryside town. They become immersed in the local community and fall in love with the inn they’re staying in—this is helped in no small part by the attractive bartender who makes sure they are well cared for. What creates wholesome vibes? How can you balance the escapist predictability of fantasy elements with high enough stakes to keep your pages turning? Consider a mystery that eschews violence but is nonetheless compelling, perhaps due to the personal sense of discovery.

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A magical horticulturalist discovers a rare species of plant, one that hasn’t been seen in millennia. It has the power to change everything... If only they can protect it from invading forces and keep its environment free of those who would exploit it for profit.

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Start a story: ‘Ronnie was distracted. As their father slammed the door behind him, stalking out into the night, Ronnie savagely jammed their needle through the fabric. The cushion cover—which depicted the tale of the Mage and the Dragon—was their favorite so far, but they could not get any satisfaction out of the usually soothing process. Their father was infuriating. They pulled and stabbed the needle again, this time letting out a yelp as its sharp point embedded itself in their thimble-free finger. Bright red blood welled and dropped onto the cushion cover, staining the mage’s white robes with red. Ronnie cursed furiously, but their harsh expletive was interrupted as the shining red droplet began to shine even more brightly. It seeped into the threading, turning the entire scene red and glowing as if lit by a fire...’

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9. Dark fantasy writing prompts

A young woman in the nineteenth century is taken in by her late husband’s estranged family after he dies suddenly. She does not know much about the brother and parents that her husband seemed to visit so rarely, nor does she remember him ever mentioning his beautiful and dangerously alluring sister, whom she only ever sees when the wind howls... Write what happens when your protagonist arrives. Who are the inhabitants of this strange and mysterious place? What are they hiding? And how does her memory of her husband hold up in light of what she learns?

Your protagonist is part of an army of necromancers who raise the dead to fight for them. Who are their enemies? Are there obvious good guys and bad guys or is everyone culpable and easily corruptible? What does it do to a group of people who turn something as definite and sacrosanct as death into their plaything? Should everyone be left to rest in peace?

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On the grounds of an ancient castle is a labyrinth. At the heart of the labyrinth lives something terrible, something that those in nearby villages do not even speak of. But now a young man will venture into the heart of fear itself in order to save his family... Think about what scares you. How could magic heighten this? How can you take the classic hero’s journey and subvert it? What can become unexpected or unnerving?

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In this world our protagonists are a colony of ants who gain access to magic and use it to seek revenge on humans in the form of mass infestation. I just find bugs and insects en masse so utterly horrifying; the thought of them using magic and organizing themselves gives so much scope for something truly dark and twisted!

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10. Paranormal fantasy writing prompts

In a world where werewolves are feared and hated, a fortysomething is navigating single parenthood when they are bitten by one... Paranormal stories often center teenagers, so subverting expectations of character ages could definitely be a fun exercise!

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Your protagonist is immune to vampire bites in a mercenary world of vampires and vampire hunters. This could take place anywhere and any-when... Is it futuristic? Is it medieval? Victorian? Have a think about what setting could lend itself to this story idea.

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A psychic writer discovers they can commune with the dead and writes their stories. Until someone realizes that their works of fiction aren’t quite as made up as they claim they are... Lots of fun to be had with this one! Tarot reading! Crystals! Seances!

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A monster is hunted for their dark powers despite wanting isolation and safety. They gain a fearsome reputation for the way in which they defend themselves, but are they misunderstood? Where did they come from? And if they are so powerful... Why are they hiding? Who are they hiding from?

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An angel is banished from heaven and allies themselves with a demon, prompting a holy war. No creature will remain untouched and all must pick a side. But things are not always what they seem and all must question their beliefs... How can you play with reader expectations of epic fantasy? Who are the small folk affected by the actions of divine creatures? Could there be potential for forbidden romance here?

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