18+ ‘tension’ Writing Prompts
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‘Neighborhood Watch’
Write about a quiet suburban neighborhood suddenly plagued by a series of unsolved burglaries.
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The Revealed Prophecy
A prophecy has foretold the downfall of a great empire by an unassuming protagonist. How does this affect your main character’s life, choices and relationships?
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The Unspoken Language
Write a dialogue where much of the meaning is conveyed through what isn’t said – via pauses, body language, or hidden emotions.
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Mirror Image
Write a scene where your protagonist and antagonist meet for the first time, but neither of them realizes who the other is.
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Sorrowful Celebration
Write an essay about a celebration or party where the underlying mood is one of deep sorrow.
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Facing the Final Moment
Write a scene where one character is faced with a life-or-death decision that will impact not only their life but the life of another character as well.
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Shadowy Companions
Imagine a storyline where the protagonist constantly feels watched, yet finds no one when they look around.
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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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The Vanishing Town
Write a story where an entire town vanishes overnight leaving only a single survivor.
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Battle Against Time
Write an application of a character struggling to accomplish a task before a deadline, failure of which could have dire consequences.
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Crisis in the Courtroom
Craft a story where a character is forced to defend their innocence in a major court case.
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The Ideal Suspect
Create a chilling narrative that revolves around a perfect crime committed by an unexpected suspect.
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Pivotal Game Moments
Describe a moment in a sport or game that decisively changed the outcome, real or fictional.
