175+ ‘Backstory’ Writing Prompts
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Wandering Space Nomad
Conceptualize an original nomadic character who chose to live in solitude, separated from both the galaxies’ political proceedings.
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Intriguing Alter Egos
Pretend you have an alter ego. What’s their name, how do they act, and what is their backstory?
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The Villain’s Perspective
Create a compelling backstory for your villain, explaining why they chose a path of evil.
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Flashbacks and Their Significance
Compose a story that utilizes flashbacks to reveal major elements of the plot.
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My Special Talent
Describe a special talent or skill that you possess, providing a backstory of how you discovered and nurtured this talent.
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Emergency Landing
Imagine a scenario where a pilot and co-pilot are incapacitated, leaving an untrained passenger with a secret past to land…
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Undercover Espionage
Your character is a secret government agent dispatched on an undercover mission to a hostile country.
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Personal Superhero
Create your own superhero, detailing their backstory, abilities, and their first heroic act.
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Fairy Fables
Create a new Fairy Pokemon type, integrating elements of classic fairy tales or myths into its design and abilities.
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A Rival’s Backstory
Write a chapter from the perspective of the antagonist highlighting their journey, struggles, and motivations.
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Harry Potter’s Halloween Mystery
Write a Halloween-themed suspenseful adventure where Harry Potter discovers a secret about one of the Hogwarts ghosts.
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Secret Behind Magical Mascots
Write about a magical mascot of a Quidditch team—it’s origin story and unique magical abilities.
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Sinister Schoolhouse
Imagine a story where an aged, abandoned schoolhouse becomes the epicenter for paranormal activities.
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Eerie Object Encounter
Write a detailed description of an encounter with a seemingly mundane object that holds an eerie significance.
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Heartfelt Regrets
What are some things that the ghost didn’t get to do in life or feels regret about?
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Life Before Death
Write about your ghost before they became a ghost, what was their life like, and what led to their death?
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Mischievous Poltergeist
Craft a story where a harmless-seeming ghost starts interfering with mundane life, only to later reveal a disturbing past.
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Indomitable Presence
Describe an abandoned location your character(s) decide to explore, unaware a malicious spirit lingers there.
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Game Origin Story
Create a backstory for a beloved video game character who lacks a comprehensive origin story.
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The Backstory Paradox
Write a detailed history for a character that was never fully explored in the original series or film.
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Role Reversal
What would happen in your favorite story if the protagonist and antagonist suddenly swapped roles?
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From Antagonist to Protagonist
Pick a villain character and reimagine them as a hero. Write a fanfiction piece showing their transition from antagonist to…
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The Unsung Backstory
Select a villain from an animated movie and create a backstory explaining their villainous behaviors.
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In Another’s Shoes
Write a story from the perspective of a less popular character in a teen novel series.
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Minor Character Backstory
Choose a minor character from an animated series and write a backstory for them.
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Prequel Passion
Write a prequel to the series, focusing on the lives of the characters before they crossed paths in The Vampire…
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The Forgotten Song
Imagine your favorite character from a musical and write a previously ‘unheard’ song that details a key moment in their…
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The Other Side
Write from the perspective of an antagonist like the Darach or the Nogitsune, painting them as a misunderstood character.
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Eleven’s Origin
Write a theory about Eleven’s true origin and how it might be different from what was portrayed in the show.
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Unseen Bonds in One Piece
Create an unseen backstory for a secondary character in One Piece. How does it affect how they interact with the…
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Birth of a Hero
Construct a backstory for an anime hero, explaining the circumstances and trials that led to them taking up their heroic…
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Path of the Antagonist
Create an antagonist for an anime scenario. Pen down a backstory that would justify their subsequent actions and choices.
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Origins of Power
Reflect on an anime character with unique abilities or powers. Explore the backstory that led to the manifestation and reason…
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Necessary Shadows
Consider an anime character with a shadowy, mysterious past. Adventure into the narrative arc they could have, explained by their…
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5. Capturing Happiness
Describe a picture where you look genuinely happy and discuss the backstory.
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Designing Company
Sketch a character or companion to keep you company, description and backstory included.
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Beyond the Outer Shell
Write the backstory of an antagonist from a book, a movie, or your life, trying to empathize with their choices.
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Characters Beyond the Screen
Envision a favorite character from a film or TV show and elaborate on their life outside of what is shown…
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Mystery In The Attic
You’ve discovered a fascinating, old artifact in your attic. Describe it and craft an imaginary backstory of who it belonged…
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The Grey Area
Revise the tale of Snow White depicting the Evil Queen as a nuanced character rather than an outright villain.
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Birth of a Villain
Write the backstory of an antagonist, focusing on the motives behind their sinister actions.
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Champion’s Origins
Pen down the backstory of a powerful protagonist, detailing their journey from being an ordinary person to becoming a hero.
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Symbols of Connection
Describe an object or person that carries immense significance for your leading character.
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Layering the Past
Write a prologue that reveals a significant event from your protagonist’s past that still haunts them.
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Forces of Nature
Explore a natural disaster or significant environmental event that your character experienced.
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A Fellow Voyager
Chronicle the dynamics of your character’s earliest friendship, a relationship that played a part in shaping their worldview.
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Build the Bridge
Begin with a character’s defining qualities and weave a narrative on how they learned or cultivated these traits.
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Peeling the Layers
Write about a closed-off, enigmatic character who gradually opens up, revealing layers of complexity beneath their initial exterior.
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Hallow Ground
Narrate an experience, event, or ritual that significantly marks your cultural or family heritage.
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Confluences of Culture
Envision two distinct cultures coming into contact in your created world for the first time.
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Heritage and Traditions
Describe a family tradition that’s been passed on for generations and give a backstory as to how it originated.