Fictional Fixation

Writing Prompt:
Deep within the haunted woods, there lies an ancient ruin, a temple that was long forgotten until strange events began unfolding in the nearby village. The air is thick with an unsettling energy, the trees whispering secrets in the dead of night, and the village inhabitants are disappearing without a trace. Superstitions say that the ruins are cursed, the site of an unholy ritual performed centuries ago. But as the disappearances intensify, something even darker stirs.

You play as a local historian, intrigued by the rumors of the ancient curse and the disturbing events surrounding the ruined temple. After a particularly chilling encounter with a villager who claims to have seen a shadowy figure in the forest, you decide to investigate further. What you uncover is more terrifying than anything you could have imagined.

At the heart of the temple, an old ritual book, bound in dark leather, contains instructions for summoning an ancient entity. This entity, an evil force of unimaginable power, is said to return every hundred years to claim what is rightfully its own. The ritual must be stopped, or the entity will once again be unleashed, bringing death and destruction to the world.

As the full moon rises, you must decide: risk your life to stop the ritual, or succumb to the terrifying forces at play, risking the very soul of the village and possibly the entire world.

Tips for Writing This Prompt:

1. Build the Atmosphere: Horror stories thrive on atmosphere. Use your setting to create a sense of foreboding, from the eerie silence of the woods to the decaying stone of the temple. Let the environment mirror the dread that the characters feel.
2. Supernatural Elements: When writing horror fantasy, the supernatural should feel real and present. Think about what makes the entity terrifying—does it manipulate time, appear in dreams, or feed off fear?
3. Tension and Pacing: Horror works best when tension builds slowly. Unveil the true horror bit by bit, giving your readers time to get invested in the characters and plot before you reveal the terrifying truths.
4. Character Fear and Decision: Your protagonist should experience genuine fear and indecision. Let their internal struggle weigh heavily as they grapple with the potential consequences of stopping the ritual or letting it unfold. This makes their eventual decision more impactful.
5. The Ritual’s Significance: The ritual should have high stakes. The entity being summoned needs to have a clear motive or reason for its existence, whether it’s destruction, control, or revenge. Make sure it’s not just a force of evil but something with depth and purpose.