203+ ‘Crime’ Writing Prompts
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First Vigilante Act
Write about your superhero’s first step into crime-fighting, and their emotions during this crucial phase.
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Dystopia Within Utopia
Write a story in a society that appears to be a utopia on the surface, but underneath, it controls and suppresses its citizens in horrifying ways.
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Taboo Ties
Imagine a world where love is strictly regulated and falling for the ‘wrong’ person leads to grave consequences. Write about a pair who defies these rules.
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My Sibling, My Partner in Crime
Write about a fun or adventurous incident you and your sibling(s) had.
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Silent Culprit of Silicon Valley
Write a story about a brilliant detective pursuing a notorious hacker who’s framing innocent programmers.
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The Art of Deception
Write about a charming con artist who crafts a notorious pyramid scheme, beguiling unsuspecting victims into losing their money.
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Werewolf Detective
Write about a werewolf who works as a detective, and uses their unique abilities to solve crimes, while hiding their identity.
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Into the Victorian Underworld
Create a story centred on the daily life of a character involved in the less glamorous, darker side of Victorian society.
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Immortal Suspects
A vampire detective takes on a case where the suspects have lived through centuries, amassing incredible cunning and knowledge.
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Empathy Surge
Write about a superhero who doesn’t possess super strength or fast speed, but rather an intense level of empathy.
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Forgotten Masterpiece
You are pulled into a cold case when an unrecognized artwork appears in a prestigious gallery.
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The Mystery of the Abandoned Mansion
Imagine a never-before-entered mansion that holds the key to an unsolved murder.
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Unseen Ties
Write a mystery where an innocuous-seeming object turns out to be a major clue connecting the suspect to the crime.
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The forensic Fanatic
Write about a crime scene investigator who finds a critical clue that everyone else overlooked.
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Digital Ghost in The Machine
Write about a notorious cyber criminal who mysteriously disappears leaving a series of complex codes behind.
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A Lawman’s Turn
Write a crime narrative where the villain is an unpredictable high ranking law enforcement officer who uses his position to carry out illicit activities.
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Truth and Consequence
Take a true crime story you’ve read about and reimagine the events, focusing on the mind of the perpetrator or the victim.
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Time Cops
Your protagonist is part of a special task force that goes back in time to prevent crimes that have yet to happen.
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The Humanity Behind the Mask
Analyze the persona and real life of a superhero, and the influences that drive their actions.
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March Equinox Mystery
Weave a mystery where the resolution can only be revealed on the March Equinox.
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After the Heist
Create a story where the protagonist belongs to a bootlegging gang during Prohibition, and has just successfully evaded law enforcement.
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The Revival of Civilization
Imagine the first community that manages to rebuild after an apocalypse and the challenges they face in their journey.
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Chase through Time
Create a suspenseful cat-and-mouse chase between a relentless detective and a criminal with the ability to time travel.
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Whodunit With Wit
Write a suspenseful murder mystery at a comedic dinner theater where the actors are suspects.
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Retirement Years
Explore the experience of an aged superhero who has now retired from their crime-fighting days.
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Digital Savior
Compose a story about a superhero who uses their expertise in technology to save the day.
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Online Super Identity
Your superhero creates an online persona to interact without giving away their true identity.
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Viral Superhero
Imagine your superhero has become a viral sensation overnight. What kind of content made them famous?
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Existential Superheroes
What is the purpose of a superhero’s existence beyond fighting crime and defending the innocent?
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The Steampunk Detective
Craft a mystery about a detective in a steampunk world working on a seemingly unsolvable case.
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The Hutt’s Dilemma
Create a predicament faced by a Hutt crime lord and examine their decision-making process.
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Interstellar Heist
Plan the perfect space crime – a con job or heist targeting a powerful intergalactic corporation.
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Ethereal Space Convict
In a universe where every crime is recorded and broadcasted, tell the story of a fugitive en route to the most secure prison in the Galaxy.
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Locked Room Mystery
Write about a mystery involving a seemingly impossible crime committed in a locked room.
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The Game of Chess
Develop a story where a detective must utilize the principles of chess in order to solve a mysterious crime.
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The Detective in Math
Write about solving a mathematical puzzle or problem as if you were a detective solving a crime.
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Unusual Superpower
Think about a unique superpower that you want and write a simple story about how you would use it to change your daily life.
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Memento Mori
Pen a sinister story about a serial killer who leaves a unique signature at every crime scene.
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Martian Murder Mystery
Write a story about a detective on a newly colonised Mars solving the first-ever murder on the red planet.
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Cybernetic Assassination
Tell a story of a detective working on solving a murder committed via a network of sentient AIs.
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Morality Flip
Imagine a classic superhero and explore what would happen if their moral compass was suddenly inverted.
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Piecing Together Zodiac
Write a crime story based on the Zodiac Killer that blends fiction with the unresolved aspects and ciphered messages.
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Pumpkin Patch Mystery
Devise a short mystery story where a pumpkin patch is an essential part of the plot.
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Two Sides of the Law
Craft a short story where you alternate between two points of view: the detective investigating a crime and the suspect being investigated for the same crime.
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Transplant Tragedy
In your story, a heart transplant recipient realizes he’s re-living the brutal murder of his donor.
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Martian Utopia
Imagine a future where Earth has successfully colonized Mars and society has been perfected. Write about a day in this utopian Mars colony.
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Spectral Justice
Craft a detective story with the twist that your protagonist’s consulting detective is a ghost.
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The Accidental Detective
Write about a clumsy librarian who accidentally stumbles upon a crime scene.
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The Case of Vanishing Cupcakes
Craft a detective story where the crime involves vanishing cupcakes in a sleepy small town.
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Medium’s Ordeal
Craft a tale around a medium who begins to receive messages from the afterlife that hint at an old unsolved crime.
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Transcendent Detective
Narrate a crime-solving story of a detective who can temporarily leave their corporeal form to gather clues.
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A Toast to the Bootleggers
Imagine being a bootlegger smuggling illegal alcohol during the Prohibition Era.
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Ice-Cold Deeds
Write a suspenseful saga about a notorious gang planning a daring heist on an ice-entrenched bank.
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Frozen Heirloom
Write a tale about an heirloom diamond necklace known as the ‘Ice Queen’ that goes missing during a winter gala.
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Artistic Artifice
Weave a mystery where the crime scene is an art gallery, and the clue lies in understanding the artwork.
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Clashing Civilizations
Write a mystery that combines elements from two distinct cultures, creating a unique and confusing crime scene.
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Venetian Masked Ball Mystery
Write about a notorious cat burglar stealing an invaluable mask from a lavish masquerade ball in Venice.
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Mysterious Moniker
Craft a thrilling story where the protagonist’s name has uncanny connections to a murder they’re investigating.
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Doppelgänger Among Us
A woman, distraught by a sequence of murders happening around her, clings onto sanity when she begins to spot her doppelgänger at each crime scene.
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In Silence, They Whisper
The residents of a remote town stop speaking altogether after a gruesome murder. The only communication they share with outsiders is a cryptic warning: “Silence will protect you”.
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‘Ghostly Confession’
A murder convict’s ghost reveals to you the location of the body and the real murderer.
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‘Undercover in a Devil’s Cult’
You’re an undercover detective infiltrating a cult rumored to perform human sacrifices.
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Desperate Measures
Write a story about a character who resorts to a life of crime to provide for their family.
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Tangled Witness
Write a story about a regular citizen witnessing a gang crime and getting entangled in the ensuing fallout.
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Mystery Pizza Delivery
Write a story about a pizza delivery driver who has to solve a crime while on duty.
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Tales From the Throne Room
Write an account of a day in Jabba the Hutt’s throne room – the power play, minions, merchants and bounty hunters.
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Boss of the Underworld
Imagine you are Jabba the Hutt, leading your notorious crime syndicate in the Star Wars galaxy.
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Shadow of Doubt
Create a story based on a character who starts doubting their beloved spouse after discovering a horrific secret about their past.
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Jailhouse Ghost
A detective interrogates a convicted killer who claims he’s haunted by his victims’ ghosts, begging for justice.
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Phantom Clues
Describe a seasoned detective who starts receiving mysterious hints from an unidentified source.
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Two Faced Truth
Write about a detective who has been assigned to investigate a crime committed by their twin, without knowing their sibling’s involvement.
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The Last Case
Construct a narrative about an aging detective working on solving the very first crime they were assigned but failed to solve.
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Serial Killer on the Loose
Capture the perceptive mind of a serial killer while steering clear of cliches.
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Master of Deception
Create an elegant, multi-layered hoax that tricks even the most clinical investigators.
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Heist of Untraceable Artifacts
Describe a high-stakes, international art heist without getting caught.
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Love Letter Whodunit
Write a mystery where a series of anonymous and cryptic love letters are found at the scene of each crime.
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Lingering Loyalties
Write from the perspective of a murderer who just committed their first crime out of loyalty to a loved one.
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“Artistic Vandal”
A city mayor is flustered as historical statues suddenly sport brightly colored knitwear, courtesy of an anonymous yarn bomber.
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“Kitten Kidnapping”
Create a comedic crime narrative about a notorious cat burglar who steals feline friends, only to pamper them in luxurious settings.
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“Gelato Gobblers”
A self-obsessed fitness guru discovers that her secret stash of “cheat day” gelato has been stolen from her freezer.
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“Bumbling Baboons and Stolen Bananas”
In a whimsical turn of events, follow a group of baboons who have successfully robbed a banana plantation.
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Ghostly Repentance
A ghost haunts a place or person as a form of penance for a crime they committed in their primary life.
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Photograph in the Wrong Hands
Craft a story where a harmless photograph gets a character framed for a crime.
