Students Mystery Writing Prompts

Write a poem inspired by a tarot card.

Some of the characters of these cards include Death, Justice, Judgement, the Moon, the Magician, and many more. What can this character symbolise in your poem?

You wake up with a sketchbook next to you, coordinates scrawled onto its ivory pages... and this is not your house.

Continue the story...

Write a story about a character trapped alone in a room with no doors or windows.

You could focus on how this situation occured, or the emotional response of the protagonist.

Your friend works for the local newspaper, creating the clues for the crossword. One day, you realise they are trying to give you a message.

‘It was a small town, the type of place where everyone knew everyone.’

Begin your story or poem with this line.

Your protagonist is haunted by a recurring dream and must find out what it means.

Your character is at a feast but cannot eat a single mouthful.

Think about what could be preventing your character from tucking into the food, and how you can portray their emotions.

Create a story a scene which takes place at this location.

You begin to hear a voice singing to you, a voice that nobody else can hear. It slowly grows louder, and carries a sinister message.

Create a poem based on this concept. You may wish to include the voice's words and use them throughout the poem.

Choose a major issue going on in the world today. Write a story that symbolises this idea on a personal level between two characters.

Consider how you will allude to the wider global issue while keeping your story intimate and relatable.

Write a story about a spy.

Consider which type of 'spy' you want to follow; is their type of spying something serious or light-hearted?

'I need to tell you something, urgently. It's about your boss.'

Write a tense, engaging story with this as the opening OR closing line.