49+ ‘Puzzle’ Writing Prompts
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Ancient Rituals Run Amok
Write a story wherein archaeologists find a site deep in the jungle where ancient rituals have accidentally been reactivated.
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Puzzle of the Enigma Machine
You are a talented cryptologist recruited to decode the decrypted messages from the enemy during World War II.
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Missing Puzzle Piece
Your investigation begins when a puzzle piece from a legendary missing puzzle is found.
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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 Puzzle of the Heart
Expound upon a time when logic did not align with your feelings in a romantic situation.
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Puzzle Of The Paranormal
Delve into a haunting mystery that seems inexplicable only to be revealed with a chillingly rational explanation.
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The Numbers Game
Write about a protagonist who starts noticing a repeating string of numbers in their day to day life, leading to a sinister discovery.
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Battle of Hoth: A Strategic Nightmare
Write about the strategic challenges faced by the Rebellion during the Battle of Hoth.
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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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Silent Threat
Create a scenario where the main character receives a silent threat, like a mysterious package or a creepy doll.
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Puzzle of the Player
The star football player goes missing just a day before the most important match of the season.
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Disappearance in a Small Town
Write about the sudden mysterious disappearance of a high school student, and your detective journey to find them.
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Mental Might
Your hero’s greatest weapon is their mind. Write a sequence where their intelligence saves the day.
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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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Memento Mori
Pen a sinister story about a serial killer who leaves a unique signature at every crime scene.
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The Secret Code
Imagine that you found a cryptic message with a code. Write about how you decipher the code and what it revealed.
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Message in a Bottle
You find a mysterious bottle on the shore with a message inside. Write a story about the message and what unfolds.
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Lifelong Companions
Choose six words that best describe you right now and write about why you chose each word.
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Problem-Solving Puzzles
Recall a problem or challenge you had to solve in your kindergarten experience and detail how you handled it.
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News Report: Formatting Saves the Day
Write a fictional news report where proper formatting in a document helps solve a problem.
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The Unraveling Of Deceit
The villain creates a series of false clues leading the protagonist on a wild goose chase.
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Time Capsule Conundrum
Imagine discovering a mysterious time capsule planted by someone from the past with a puzzling message for the future.
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Puzzle of Dimensions
Imagine a map that doesn’t just describe the location of places in the kingdom, but also their time and dimension.
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Cracking the Code
Draft a flash fiction piece in which the protagonist must solve a cryptic message or puzzle in order to avert disaster.
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Estranged Companions
In a survival scenario where two estranged friends are stranded in the wilderness, expound on how they resolve past differences, or leverage them, to survive.
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Enigmatic Market Square
Describe an exotic marketplace set in a far-off land and craft a storyline around a unique object found there.
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Love Letters from a Stranger
Imagine you’re receiving love letters from a stranger that hint towards an unforgettable love story.
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Mystery-Unraveled Puzzle
Your challenge is to write a flash fiction story that begins with a mystery and abruptly ends with a solution no one saw coming.
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Unheroic Means to Heroic Ends
Imagine a scenario where a superhero uses questionable methods to achieve a greater good.
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Enigmatic Letter
Write a story in which a stranger drops a letter in a public place and your character picks it up.
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Puzzle of the Locked Room
Conceive a mystery where a crime is committed in a locked room with no visible entry or exit points.
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Aqua Labyrinth
Write about your journey, as a deep-sea diver getting lost in an underwater labyrinth.
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No Trace Left Behind
Imagine a scenario where a mastermind plans a perfect crime but leaves a single, seemingly insignificant piece of evidence behind.
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Chilling Phone Call
Create a story where a character receives a terrifying phone call from an unknown caller.
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The Last Clue
Invent a nail-biting situation where the final significant clue to the treasure is about to be lost forever.
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One Last Puzzle
A close friend who was a well-known puzzle-maker passes away, leaving behind one last unsolved puzzle.
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Petrifying Puzzle
Your protagonist receives a series of riddles that, when solved, point towards a chilling reality.
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Cryptic Clues
Create a story involving a meticulously planned scavenger hunt for a coveted treasure, designed by a famous cryptographer.
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Disappearing Acts
Write a story in which the most crucial piece of evidence vanishes without a trace.
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Disappeared Without a Trace
Compose a narrative about a character who suddenly vanishes from a small town.
