91 BEST Angst Writing Prompts to Cure Writer’s Block

91 writing prompts to get a firm hold of your imagination

This post is all about angst writing prompts.

The worst thing ever is knowing you want to write but not knowing where to start. One of the best places to start with your writing is by focusing on an emotion, and finding some angst writing prompts is one of the best ways to do that.

If you can’t think of your own angsty ideas for your creative writing journey, you’re in luck because I’ve come up with a huge list of the best angst ideas for writing!

Whether you’re hoping to write about a love triangle, a happy ending, an angst-ridden character, or a story about emotional trauma, this prompt list will give you tons of ideas.

Hopefully you find some writing inspiration in this list that will lead to an amazing story!

IDEAS TO FIND A GOOD STARTING POINT:

Writing prompts about inner pain

1. Write about a character who constantly feels like they’re on the verge of something life-changing, but it never materializes.
2. Write about a character who is torn between an obligation and personal dreams.
3. Write about the loneliness of a person who is immersed in a community but still feels like the only person in the world.
4. Write a story that focuses on the sense of betrayal a character feels when they discover a hidden secret about someone they trusted.
5. Write a story about someone who is ridiculed by someone in their life and struggles to let go of the insecurity they experience as a result.
6. Explore the fear of abandonment in a character who can’t trust others due to past experiences.
7. Describe the feeling of anxiety a character feels when they know something bad is about to happen but there’s nothing they can do to stop it.
8. Write about a character dealing with the fear of aging and time running out
9. Create a story about the isolation of a character who has lost all connections to their past.
10. Explore the romantic relationship between two characters where their “happily ever after” comes crashing down as their flaws and insecurities tear them apart.
11. Describe a protagonist who possesses the power to change their appearance at will but struggles with their own identity.

Angst writing prompts about a lifetime of misery

1. Write the haunting, wild memory of a character who can’t figure out if they’re living in a dream or real life.
2. Explore a character who is haunted by mistakes that they struggle to let go of from their past.
3. Explore the feeling of inadequacy in a character who constantly compares themselves to others.
4. Describe the feeling of being suffocated by a monotonous routine with no clear way out.
5. Write a story about a person whose first time and last time out of their childhood home is on their 21st birthday.
6. Write about a protagonist who, instead of the hero’s journey, spirals into a life of darkness and despair.
7. Create a scene or story about the loneliness of a chosen one who discovers that their destiny is to be perpetually isolated.
8. Write about a protagonist who, instead of overcoming their fears, succumbs to them, leading to their tragic demise.
9. Explore the theme of generational suffering, tracing the impact of a family curse that brings increased misery to each new generation.
10. Describe the slow deterioration of a character’s mental and emotional well-being as they navigate a lifetime filled with disappointment and heartbreak

Writing prompts with pitiful emotion

1. Write about the existential crisis of a protagonist who questions the meaning and purpose of their own existence.
2. Create a story about a self-loathing character who blames themselves for everything that goes wrong around them.
3. Write about the emptiness a character feels when they achieve a long-desired goal, only to find it unfulfilling.
4. Describe the feeling of being unfulfilled that character A experiences as they feel like time is slipping away
5. Write a scene showing a character’s angst through their body language alone (not using the character’s dialogue)
6. Write about a character who is haunted by the constant feeling of inadequacy, convinced they will never measure up to others’ expectations.
7. Explore the loneliness of a protagonist who yearns for connection but is always pushed away by those they try to be close to.
8. Describe the overwhelming self-pity of a character who sees themselves as a perpetual victim, blaming the world for their misfortunes.
9. Write about the bitterness of unrequited love, where the character can’t escape the painful realization that their feelings are not reciprocated.
10. Explore the theme of shattered dreams as a character confronts the harsh reality that their ambitions will never come to fruition.

Angst writing prompts about getting a second try

1. Write about someone who has no choice but to betray their true love and explore the emotional obstacle course that the true love endures when they have to decide whether to give a second chance.
2. Create a story about a character who has waited a long time to get a second chance from someone they love and is finally in the right place to do so
3. Write a story about a character who is known for their bitterness but by the end of the story develops into the kind of person who forgives easily
4. Explore a character who is an aspiring author. Despite trying and trying to publish a book, they find that being seen by publishers is one of the hardest parts of writing. Will they fail or succeed? You decide.
5. Describe the internal conflict of a character who, after a near-death experience, is given a second chance at life but struggles with the fear of repeating past failures.
6. Write about a person who, after losing everything, is undeservingly given a second chance at success, only to grapple with imposter syndrome and the fear of failure.
7. Describe the reunion of two siblings who are giving each other a second chance after a long period of estrangement.
8. Write about a person who, after a tragic loss, is given a second chance at saving a loved one, forcing them to grapple with the moral implications and potential consequences.

Creative writing prompts about taking the moral high ground

1. Write about a character that overcomes a crippling fear of failure 
2. Write about the guilt a character carries that had severe consequences for others, and how they make peace with their mistakes
3. Create a story about a character who possesses a unique, life-saving ability but views it as a curse rather than a gift, and refuses to use it for good.
4. Write a story about a world where the prophesied hero fails and an evil character rises to save the day.
5. Write about the conflicts in the life of a protagonist who chooses a normal life over a life of adventure and danger.
6. Explore a love story where the couple is meant to be together but must sacrifice their individual happiness for the greater good.
7. Write about a villain who, in a twist of fate, becomes the unexpected savior of the world
8. Describe a character who is burdened by their need for perfectionism but ultimately decides to strive for a life of letting go of our perfectionist ideals
9. Write about a protagonist who experiences an act of injustice but decides to resist revenge, struggling with the internal conflict of doing so, when society expects retaliation.
10. Describe the emotional struggle of a character who is tempted to betray their principles for personal gain but ultimately chooses the moral high ground, despite the potential consequences.

Writing prompts about facing your worst enemy

1. Describe the sense of regret person A feels when they do something to get on person B’s bad side
2. Write a story about a best friend turned enemy – and it all started on the drive home from school
3. Write a story about a character who had a bad night due to a break-up, and wakes up in the morning to find their house has been robbed while they were sleeping.
4. Explore a character who has the ability to control minds and decides to use this skill against their enemy, only to realize the devastating consequences of manipulating even their worst enemies.
5. Write an enemies-to-lovers story where the romantic relationship between two characters is started by force or blackmail, causing the initial stages of their relationship to be filled with animosity, resentment, and disdain.
6. Write about a character who discovers that their worst enemy is a reflection of their own darker impulses, forcing them to confront the internal battle within themselves.
7. Explore the emotional turmoil of a protagonist who must team up with their worst enemy to overcome a greater threat, navigating the tension between cooperation and personal vendetta.
8. Describe a character who, after years of avoidance, comes face-to-face with their worst enemy and must grapple with buried traumas and unresolved conflicts.
9. Write about a protagonist whose worst enemy is unknown to them, tormenting him anonymously.
10. Write a story about a protagonist whose worst enemy is a family member.

Angst writing prompts about delusion

1. Write a story about character A, who is trapped in a fantasy novel and just got to the worst part of the story.
2. Write a story focusing on the paranoia of a character who suspects everyone around them is out to get them.
3. Describe a character who, instead of being haunted by the unresolved conflicts and traumas of their past, firmly believes nothing bad ever happened to them. Explore characters that get hurt by them in the process of their denial.
4. Explore the theme of self-deception as a protagonist clings to a delusional belief, causing harm to themselves and those around them.
5. Explore the psychological toll of a character who, haunted by past traumas, constructs a delusional narrative to rewrite history and cope with their unresolved pain
6. Write about a character who fixates on an idealized version of a person, entering into a relationship without a clear view of their partner.
7. Write about a protagonist who, despite mounting evidence to the contrary, stubbornly clings to a delusional belief, leading to a tragic and inevitable downfall.

Angst writing prompts about an evil character

1. Write a story about a character who specifically targets good people and robs them as a means of revenge for a past trauma.
2. Create a story about a villain who ends up being the last person on earth and finally realizes the destruction they’ve caused
3. Write about a villain who is left with a profound emptiness and regret after achieving their goal
4. Write about a fairytale kingdom where the princess willingly chooses a life of darkness rather than the expected happily ever after
5. Write about a character who gains immense strength but is then cursed, only being able to use their strength for evil
6. Create an origin story about a character who started good and then, through a life of turmoil and angst, was led down a path of darkness, ultimately becoming evil
7. Explore the internal struggle of a character who, despite their malevolent nature, experiences moments of doubt and guilt.
8. Explore the theme of redemption as an evil character attempts to break free from their wicked nature, facing resistance from both internal and external forces.
9. Describe the internal conflict of an evil character who, despite their nefarious intentions, harbors a desperate desire for love and acceptance.
10. Write about the twisted sense of justification that an evil character clings to as they rationalize their immoral actions in a quest for power or revenge.

Angsty fantasy writing prompts

1. Write about a magical artifact that grants the power of resurrection, but each revival results in the loss of the revived person’s humanity
2. Describe the life of a sidekick who, despite all their achievements on a quest, is doomed to remain in the shadow of the main hero
3. Explore the story of a prophecy that turns out to be a self-fulfilling nightmare rather than an impactful destiny
4. Write a story about a magical artifact that grants wishes but then twists them into nightmares
5. Find the closest fantasy book to you and use the opening sentence as a writing prompt, giving it a dark ending
6. Write about a protagonist who realizes that the mentor guiding them is actually leading them towards their own destruction
7. Write about a character who can communicate with animals but is burdened by the weight of knowing a lot of things about the pain and suffering of the natural world.
8. Create a story about a magical realm where the concept of true love’s kiss is a dangerous and destructive force.
9. Explore a world where magical entities feed on the emotional energy of humans, focusing on a character whose overwhelming angst becomes a beacon for these otherworldly beings, leading to a dangerous convergence
10. Write about a group of adventurers who stumble upon an ancient artifact that amplifies their deepest fears, turning their quest into a harrowing journey through realms of personal angst
11. Describe a character cursed with the ability do hear the anguished thoughts of others, employing themes of inner turmoil where understanding the weight of collective suffering can never do enough damage.
12. Write about a society where the power of magic is fuelled by emotions, and a character who, burdened by inner turmoil the entire time, inadvertently triggers destructive magical events
13. Write about a world where dreams have tangible consequences
14. Write about a city ruled by enchanted creatures that reflect one’s emotional state. Explore a character tormented by their perpetual anguish.
15. Explore the story of an ancient, sorrowful being imprisoned within a magical artifact

This post was all about angst writing prompts.

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