Activity

Ray Bradbury said “Write a new short story every week.  It’s not possible to write 52 bad short stories in a row.”  So technically this challenge starts with him.  I think.  Feel free to write a short story about that!

Anyway, THIS challenge is that only 52 short stories are completed, with a preference for the horror genre.  BUT any genre is acceptable.  Building on previous short stories is acceptable.  Going buck-wild and blasting us with a novella is acceptable (mostly because I think that would be funny over-kill).  As for word counts, the short story must be at least a complete sentence, at least 6 words.

For convenience, I am providing 52 prompts.  Use or don’t use.  All I ask is that you number the prompt you are using.

Here we go:

1. Retell a RealLifeTM scary / interesting story.
2. TheDollRoomTM setting with a twist
3. Character A is removing the evidence of their clone/doppelganger (Bonus: show your research)
4. Animal born with extra limbs isn’t a portent of doom.  (Bonus: genre is horror OR comedy)
5.  You walk in on your imaginary friend and your favorite toy talking about you.
6.  Scientists open a cave – there’s something alive in it.
7. Your favorite weird fact.  Just a short story about it.  Doesn’t have to be horror just mind boggling.
8.  The Sun is actually an eldritch abomination
9. Normal interaction, only you write it scary.
10. This shouldn’t have human features but it does.
11. Retell your favorite ghost story.
12. Non-Standard Horror Setting List Here
13. Character A haunts the team producing a horror film in their area. (Bonus: the film is still made and Character A has an uncredited cameo in the film.)
14. The weird noises at night didn’t bug you until after your pet died.
15. A sci-fi horror story.
16. After a strange weather phenomenon, the townspeople find the graveyard dug up and empty
17. A story on your favorite cryptid. (Bonus: show your research.)
18.  There is something mundane and cheerful and happy – but it is at the bottom of the sea and shouldn’t be.  (Goal: mood-whiplash!)
19. Zombies – or what you consider a close second (like That Relative before coffee.)
20. The Gothic of your stomping grounds.
21. Retell that story assigned to you in school that kept you up at night.
22. Your favorite haunted setting
23. Character A is in a classic horror situation but has (and uses) more than two brain cells.
24.  The dog with a shadow of a wolf.
25. Your cool talking toy is starting to get creepy. (Bonus: there is a perfectly natural explanation.  Bonus Bonus: still horror genre)
26. In the country, we ignore weird noises at night and don’t go outside.  It’s smart.  This time, it’s smarter to go outside.
27. Fracture your favorite fairy-tale.
28.  The furniture is alive and scary (think dark!Beauty and the Beast)
29. Grandma’s got a secret.
30. “No, this isn’t a supernatural haunting problem.  You did a stupid.”
31. Retell a RealLifeTM scary / interesting story only Three Truths, One Lie.
32. The formally locked room is now unlocked.  You wish that hadn’t happened.
33. Someone believes Character A is a changeling. (Bonus: show your research)
34. It’s not a demon.  It’s a cat.
35. You’re selling a haunted house.  It’s going… about as well as you would expect.
36. Google the thing that scares you.  Now write about it.
37.  The clock only goes to 11.
38.  Google “most dangerous islands” and set a story in one. (Bonus: show your research)
39.  A short story during your favorite historical event. (Bonus: show your research)
40.  Pull three key words from your favorite quote. (Bonus: cite it)
41.  The first personal object you spot in your room. (Bonus: why is it personal?)
42. Retell ThatStoryTM from ThatRelativeTM.  You know, moms’ kitchen story that only the women hear, grandfathers’ story when relaxing without making eye-contact, grandma’s strange story she tells like a joke and then you grow up and are 0.o.
43. You just made friends with everyone in the haunted house – you learn it runs all year long.
44. Character A is the new president.  They are given new information: it is their worst nightmare
45. Google the thing you love.  Now write it scary.
46. America is spooky because it is big.  Europe is spooky because it’s old.  Why is your imaginary country / continent (your Neverland) spooky?
47. Set the story during Thanksgiving dinner
48.  Escaped science experiment.  (Bonus: It is never mentioned directly.)
49.  Why is your favorite Christmas ornament WrongTM?
50.  Christmas Elves are creepy.  They are not only always watching you, they are waiting for you to mess up.
51. “You better watch out, you better watch out, yOu BeTtEr WaTcH oUt.”
52. At the end of every year, you must fight an eldritch abomination that is stopping the new year from coming.