Beginners Mystery Writing Prompts

All your wishes begin to come true, but the consequences are not as you imagined.

You work in a busy office and come in late one day. Sitting at your desk is someone who looks identical to you, dressed in your clothes, and nobody has noticed anything is wrong...

Write a story where the protagonist only speaks at the very end.

The ending may be impactful or comical, this is up to you.

Your character wakes up each day to find a new gift waiting for them on their doorstep - they have no idea why and aren't sure whether to be grateful or worried.

Write a short story set at a carnival.

Whether it is a fantastical, magical carnival, or just a lovely day out, this vibrant setting offers interesting descriptions and plots.

A character who can see into the future is suddenly surprised by something.

If they know everything that will happen, what could have taken them by surprise?

Describe the exterior and/or interior of an antique shop.

An antique shop, selling vintage and ancient items, is filled with hidden treasures - or maybe even haunted ones. What descriptive language can you use for this place?

The main character is having their morning coffee at their usual coffee shop. Suddenly, they begin to feel dizzy, and ultimately faint.

Write what happens in continuation to this.

Your character is woken up by a sudden noise in the middle of the night.

Use this scenario to create an atmosphere of tension and fear, no matter how you resolve the scene!

An ancient tomb is disturbed with disastrous consequences.

Practice building tension and suspense from the very beginning with this story - will you focus on the event, or the consequences?

They headed out the door, determined to never look back.

Write a story which ends with this line.

Write a story about something that never changes throughout an ever-evolving world.

Think about the properties of this thing that make it so consistent, and whether this makes it good or bad.