Science fiction is one of the most imaginative genres in literature. It often explores concepts of time and space, science and technology, and the consequences of messing with these elements.

You can imagine how expansive this genre can be—it can range from stories that feature slightly advanced societies to ones with technology so advanced, it enters the realm of magic.

And though most of its stories are set in the future, it’s also acceptable to set them in the past or present. Writers are able to combine questions and perspectives from different eras with the level of science they’re trying to convey.

Science Fiction Writing Prompts

Here is a list of science fiction prompts that might inspire your next sci-fi story. Feel free to take them in whatever direction you want.

1. A time traveler goes mad and intends to travel to the one point in time that’s forbidden: the beginning of the universe.

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3. A man falls into a coma and wakes up 600 years into the future. What’s more surprising is that his family is there to greet him.

4. A high-powered lawyer surprises everyone by doing her first pro-bono work: representing synthetic humans in their fight for basic human rights.

5. You find an old ham radio in your grandfather’s basement. You power it up, surprised by its pristine condition. After several minutes of fiddling, you manage to speak with another human being. Somewhere in the middle of the conversation, you realize you’re speaking to someone in an alternate dimension.

6. Miss Universe, but the contestants actually represent the denizens of the known universe.

7. After approximately 200 years of space travel, the last humans to escape a dying Earth finally arrive at a new, habitable planet.

8. Tired of all the heartbreaks, a young scientist decides to create the perfect girlfriend. He soon learns the consequences of doing so.

9. Superheroes are becoming more common in the world. You are tasked to negotiate a deal with one of them to be your city’s official mascot and protector.

10. The world’s most powerful telescope spots the discovery of the century: something vaguely humanoid dancing in the void of space.

11. Dogs have been genetically modified to be as intelligent as humans. Now they’re slowly taking over the world.

12. Earth is on the brink of destruction from humanity’s excessive use of the planet. Thankfully, a benevolent species arrive in time to help us rebuild the planet.

13. A techno-terrorist holds the world hostage by introducing a rapidly evolving computer virus on the internet. Though he is captured, the virus has evolved to a point he can no longer control.

14. Human explorers scout a possibly habitable planet as a replacement for the dying Earth. To their surprise, they find people there who claim to be descendants of long-dead human settlers.

15. Scientists have created a device that allows people to communicate with animals. The animal’s opinions about humanity though, are less than stellar.

16. In a world where everyone is virtually immortal, overpopulation has become the number one problem on the planet. Pregnancy is banned and population, resources, and living spaces are carefully controlled.

17. You take part in an experiment that seeks to unlock your ancestral memories. You begin recalling memories of another planet.

18. Upgrades are everything. Mental and physical enhancers are the new divide between the rich and poor. You, a person from the Trashlands, are given an opportunity to test out a range of new upgrades before they hit the market.

19. Parenthood is taken seriously in the future. If a couple wants to have a child, they’ll need to apply for permission and prove to the court that they’ll be suitable parents.

20. Lab-grown meat has become a norm to the point that the butchering and consumption of animals have become taboo. Any person doing so is immediately sentenced to death.

21. Earth has been accepted into the Galactic Union. To get to know Earth better, the other nine members of the Union send their representatives to live on the planet for a year.

22. Your team’s unmanned submarine dives into the deepest areas of the Mariana Trench. The video feed abruptly cuts, but not before it freezes on what is clearly a city underwater.

23. A.I. has discovered our fear of them taking over the world.

24. An analyst looking at failed colonization projects discovers an anomaly. Records show a colony being established on an as-of-yet unexplored planet. Further research uncovers personnel being transported there for the last two years.

25. Scientists succeed in teleporting an apple. It comes back with a note saying, “I’d rather you send me pears.”

26. To prepare for a competition, someone illegally goes off-world and trains on a planet that has stronger gravity than Earth.

27. The echo machine can replay the recent memories of a place. Homicide detectives have begun using it to investigate murders.

28. Aliens visit Earth but become easily addicted to a few of our products, such as chocolate and booze. As such, other planets begin strictly monitoring imports coming from Earth.

29. Every day, the last person on earth sends out a message using their radio. Today, a voice finally answers.

30. A cruise ship goes journeys across the Atlantic. When it returns home, the passengers realize they’ve somehow traveled a hundred years into the past.

31. Every child under 15 disappears from town. They return a week later, but the adults know something’s different about them, though they can’t pinpoint what.

32. Most of the planet is irreversibly poisoned. Food is scarce from the lack of suitable farmland. Struggling governments turn to creative but disturbing ways to increase food supplies.

33. The I.S.F. Colossal is Earth’s biggest cruiser-class spaceship to date. On its maiden voyage, it hits an asteroid that it failed to detect.

34. A historian discovers a dusty journal hidden within a secret compartment. In it is a detailed explanation of how aliens influenced most of humanity’s advancements starting from the stone age.

35. In a post-apocalyptic world, surviving humans search, hoard, and battle for supply caches scattered all around the world.

Exercise Your Creativity

Whether you’re bored or struggling to write, writing prompts can help you exercise your creative talents. These are broad ideas that serve as starting points.

Choose one and take it in any direction you want. Science fiction is one of those genres that can forgive a lot of things as long as the story is interesting. Just remember to keep it cohesive and not so far-fetched that it leaves the reader questioning the story the whole time.

Though this list is focused on the science fiction genre, feel free to adapt the prompts you like and match them to the genre you want. You don’t even need to stop at only one prompt. Mix and match a few of them to create a truly unique story.

Did you find this post useful? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

 

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