101 Sorrowful Writing Prompts That Are Sadder Than Sad
The most powerful way to engage your reader is to invoke strong emotion .
Readers who quickly empathize are more likely to keep reading a story that invites them to do just that.
We’ve rounded up 101 heartbreaking, sad writing prompts to make your job easier.
And since sad prompts aren’t always enough, we’ve thrown in some story ideas to show how you can spin a few words into a story your reader can’t put down.
#1 — She never slept in this late…
#2 — “what would you say if i asked you… “, #3 — the folks at work call me a “cat lady.”, #4 — she took her time choosing the perfect stone for this one. , #5 — he had that luxury., 101 sad writing prompts to inspire your next heart-wrenching story , what are some sad story ideas .
Check out these five sad book ideas, each based on a prompt but taking it a step further.
As you move on to the prompts list, pay attention to those that start developing in your mind into story ideas. Then set a timer for a writing sprint and see what happens.
But as he rolled out of bed that morning, he seized upon the idea of surprising her with breakfast in bed. It took longer than he expected, and for a moment, he feared she would wake before he brought it to her.
He needn’t have worried.
The eggs and toast were cold now on the breakfast tray. He hadn’t noticed the folded letter on the bedside table, which the officer held in her hand as she read it. Then, she looked up at him, her mouth closed and her eyes unreadable behind the reflective lenses.
“Can I read it, now?” he asked.
“Asked me to what?” He visibly stiffened in his chair. She took a deep breath.
“I want you to empty one of the two rooms you’ve filled with your things — and I mean completely empty it, closet and all — by the beginning of summer… Or I’m out.”
He turned away, but she saw him swallow, heard him clear his throat, and take a deep, noisy breath through his nose.
Without looking at her, he nodded briefly and said, “I’ll see what I can do.”
I have two of them. And while my mother had earned a reputation for trapping strays in her house and taking them to the vet to be spayed or neutered, I was nowhere near that ambitious.
Mischa and Cal just got me. Both were spayed. Both patrolled the apartment with the confidence of creatures whose mere will sustained the universe.
Right now, they mutually shunned my guest, yowling every time the smell assaulted their nostrils.
“Patience, kitties. Wait ‘til the embalming fluid does its work. It’s a special recipe. You’ll warm up to him no time.”
They’d switched to cremation after she lost the first baby. Six more followed, and this one — the one she’d named Hope — had almost survived the ordeal of childbirth. It had started normally, but her doctor had urged an emergency C-section. She hadn’t argued.
No time for anesthesia. No time to say goodbye to her husband, who told her he would be in there as soon as he could.
Hope was silent. They tried reviving her, and she… lying on the table with her abdomen cut open, waited, afraid to breathe.
The door opened then to let her husband in.
The luxury of agreeing to work whatever hours he chose. Not being the family chauffeur gave him a freedom he’d gotten used to. He couldn’t see why none of her interviews resulted in a job offer.
He was about to learn.
“Jax and Lily finish school at 2:00. Ben’s done at 3. Then Lily starts her shift at 4 and is done by 7. Jax doesn’t work today, but they do tomorrow. And no, neither of them can cancel last minute.”
“Why not? How am I supposed to get anything done if I’m constantly heading out the door to get them from something?” he asked.
“Oh… Sorry, does your boss not know you have kids?”
Read through these sad story prompts until you find one you’d like to use, either for a new story contest or for your own creative journaling .
Develop at least one of them into an idea today. Which of these will get you started on your next writing sprint?
1. The lone survivor of an advanced race tells the story of their family’s mission to Earth and what it cost them.
2. The main character receives a devastating diagnosis and decides to track down and try to reconnect with their estranged daughter and son.
3. She asked him a question she wished she’d asked him years ago. He reacted much as she’d expected.
4. One look at his face, and she knew he’d been through a lifetime’s worth of pain but hadn’t been beaten by it.
5. Whose idea was it to add “‘Till death do us part” to the wedding vows? And did only one kind of death matter to them?
6. “How did I not see it in my own daughter? She was dying right in front of me!”
7. He teased her for not being a “detail person.” But she noticed well enough how he looked at her best friend.
8. “A hero would sacrifice you to save the world. I’m not a hero.”
9. They were playing hide-and-seek. She never found him. Until now.
10. “You’ve had 15 years to notice… It just didn’t bother you enough to do something about it.”
11. “I was hoping you’d prove me wrong. Being right is the last thing I want to be right now.”
12. “She gave me one last look before walking out into the storm. No one has seen her since.”
13. He had no idea how much she already knew. He walked in the door, ready to tell her everything.
14. “You were angry with me … because I made you look bad to your family. What am I, then?”
15. I was old enough to remember the day I became an orphan.
16. “You honestly think this is the first time he’s done this? Where have you been?”
17. “It gets worse at night. We can’t allow anyone into that room with her.“
18. She wanted to marry her best friend. He wanted an idea she couldn’t live up to.
19. She emptied the hope chest, filled it with potting soil, and, planting it full of cacti, left it behind his car before she drove off.
20. Being depressed is hard enough. Trying to hide it is what led to this moment.
21. “You have no idea how messed up it is that you’re fine with the way things are.”
22. Most of my nightmares are about things that happen when the sun is shining.
23. “I know I need to grieve what I thought I would have with him. But right now, I’m just relieved.”
24. She gave him her house key and the garage door button with a small smile and nod before walking to her car.
25. “I was a different woman when I married him. And I’ve never been enough. But good Catholic husbands don’t give up, right?”
26. “I was waiting in the car when the rain started. He stepped out onto the covered porch, looked at me, and shook his head.”
27. “What kind of retreat was this anyway?” she thought. But then she saw it: the perfect stone, worn smooth and darker than its neighbors.
28. She spent the week in bed, unable to do more than sleep between small sips of water. He wasn’t there when she recovered.
29. It was the best part of their usual cycle, but even then, she saw the beginnings of the next stage. Nothing had changed.
30. “It’s not that I’m not motivated to put in the effort to become a saint. It’s that I’d rather be anything else.”
31. His voice brought back memories she wasn’t ready for.
32. “Don’t wait until you’re ready. No one’s really ready until they have nothing left to lose — and not enough time to enjoy winning.”
33. “One day, when he grows up and tells the church to piss off, he’ll find someone else, and they’ll be happy together. I hope.”
34. Maybe I’m ready for a job that requires me to shower on a daily basis. Maybe I need that now.
35. This was the song that was playing when we met. It hits differently, now.
36. He wasn’t a stranger for long. Something he said within those first few minutes flipped a switch. And just like that, he was my home.
37. “You seriously overestimate my need for certainty.”
38. All anyone can guess is that she took the wrong prescription by mistake. It was right next to hers. No one knew about the allergy.
39. One day at a time, she sorted through her things, boxed them up, hauled donations out the door. This time was different. She was ready.
40. That cat was the only creature who brought a smile to her face. No one’s seen her leave the house since.
41. He sent her a bouquet of pink Gerbera daisies with a note. She bit her lip as she read it, sighing deeply before looking up.
42. She was the only one putting up signs when the child went missing. No one knew why until the police arrived at her door.
43. The flowers he bought meant something. The ones she bought for herself meant something else.
44. She never needed the alcohol to numb herself. It just made it easier to stay.
45. Retirement was finally just a week away. The cardiac wing of the hospital wasn’t the vacation spot he had in mind.
46. She listed every item in the donation box, making sure to add a value estimate to every gift she’d kept.
47. He left a note on the kitchen countertop: “I ate the cake you made for book club. It was dry.” Terrible last words.
48. “You have no idea how little those words mean right now.”
49. He’d forgotten how nice it was when people showed up when they said they would.
50. The last teddy bear sat on top of the pile, his head bowed.
51. The best thing about the property was the trees. One by one, they started dying.
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52. She brewed his favorite tea every morning and started her day with it.
53. Find a box that will work for my Dell tower, monitor (in a pillowcase w/ padding), keyboard, speakers, and cords.
54. What could have been doesn’t matter anymore. I’m more interested in what’s next.
55. He interpreted my being demisexual to mean I wasn’t attracted to him. He was right about that — but wrong to think he could fix it.
56. We never needed a perfect dad — just one that kept trying.
57. The “functional” bit in functional alcoholic is the word we use to trick ourselves into thinking we’re still in control — or that we ever were.
58. He had what he said he’d always wanted. It wasn’t enough.
59. They told her to choose between her own life and that of her unborn child. He chose for her.
60. After years of waiting for him to see what this was costing her, she finally told him.
61. Her leash and collar still hang on the hook by the front door.
62. He meant well. But he shouldn’t have used their daughter’s dead guinea pig as his first taxidermy project.
63. The child had a habit of eating houseplants, and his mother, the “salad queen,” was distracted.
64. She named her house “the Owlery” and started collecting them on her front porch, one cage at a time.
65. She folded the clothes and gently laid them in the donation box. These were for the woman she used to be.
66. Ankle-length skirts, demure necklines, muted colors… they no longer had a place in her wardrobe. She smiled and closed the box.
67. She paused just outside the door, hearing the dance music playing inside. She caught her reflection, and her shoulders sank.
68. She wasn’t used to being missed. So, she hadn’t called to let her parents know when she’d need a ride.
69. For years he would ask for it, teasing her one day and then resorting to guilt.
70. She’d burned a CD with his favorite songs, including some he’d introduced to her. She gently laid it near his cold hands.
71. Every time she heard a dog bark, she’d freeze, waiting to hear it again.
72. “Why are you grieving? Isn’t this what you want,” she asked. It is, now, I thought. But it wasn’t always.
73. If she were a house, her doors would be locked. But there might still be a way in for someone determined to find it.
74. Her interview was tomorrow. The clothes would arrive next week.
75. If there was ever a time for expedited shipping, this was it. She clicked on the box, wincing at the price. He would know.
76. I hadn’t known I was pregnant when I went out that night.
77. She would have chosen her child. I would have chosen her. The virus chose for both of us.
78. “Yes, beauty is fleeting,” she said. “But it’s right in front of us, now. Why not enjoy it?”
79. The flowers she’d bought the day before lay wilting on the sidewalk.
80. “You don’t know how hard I looked for it,” he said. “It wasn’t there.”
81. The rain and wind suddenly fell silent, and her eyes turned toward the deck window, her face paler than I’ve ever seen it.
82. She rubbed the lotion into her hands absent-mindedly, her fingernails shorter than they were before the movie started.
83. She held her doll to her face while her mother scooped her up and headed out the door.
84. The dog stood patiently by the door as he always did, waiting for his return.
85. Our cats all end up in the same place eventually. It’s a busy road.
86. She’d made her famous noodle casserole for every family that came to hire her husband. This one was different.
87. The phone rang five times before the seven-year-old picked it up. “No one’s here,” he said.
88. “The only apples that grow on those trees are half-eaten by worms by the time they ripen. You want applesauce? Buy some.”
89. I’d seen him chase her down the road, carrying something and yelling at her. The cops found them both an hour later.
90. They thought he would come when they sent word of his mother’s illness. Only after she passed did they learn the truth.
91. He had the best balance of all of us — and the least fear.
92. No one could see that he was actually suffocating until he passed out.
93. The box was empty. All of them were. She looked up with tears in her eyes.
94. Seconds before he pulled the trigger, I realized I was the villain in this story.
95. Now that I’m leaving, he won’t have to worry about renting storage space for all the things he wants to keep.
96. I could see that the front door was ajar when I pulled in. I left the engine running.
97. The curtain fell, and behind it, so did she.
98. She wasn’t trying to be the perfect mother. She was just trying to get through the day.
99. She trimmed the crusts off his sandwiches and brought them to his bed.
100. He has no idea most people aren’t born that way. No one’s told him.
101. Someone had left the starving animal chained to a fence post in the middle of nowhere.
Now that you’ve looked through all the sad story prompts and story ideas in this post, we hope you found at least one you’re itching to write about today. Jot it down, along with any ideas that come — snippets of dialogue, setting details, etc.
Then pick a time and let those words flow.
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135+ Sad Writing Prompts to Stir Deep Emotions in Readers
By: Author Hiuyan Lam
Posted on Last updated: October 20, 2023
Categories Writing Prompts
The benefits of using sad writing prompts
Unlocking creative depths.
Enhancing writing skills
Exploring emotions and improving mental health
Sad writing prompts to unleash creative depths
Exploring health challenges and personal struggles.
| 1 | Write a narrative about a strong protagonist who has just been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Focus on how this disease disrupts their everyday life and relationships, emphasizing the struggle with the unpredictability of life and the impact of health on personal identity. |
| 2 | Create a story about a resilient protagonist who is slowly losing their sight and will soon be completely blind. Highlight the challenges they face, the inevitability of change, and their courage in adapting to a life without sight. |
| 3 | Explore the psychological and emotional journey of a person living with a terminal illness. Highlight the preciousness of life and the courage in accepting one’s destiny. |
| 4 | Write a personal narrative about living with a physical disability, highlighting the daily challenges, social discrimination and personal victories. |
| 5 | Narrate a story about a character with a disability who confronts and overcomes societal prejudices to achieve their dream. Emphasize social awareness about disabilities, the injustices they face, and the triumph of the human spirit against odds. |
| 6 | Write a story that delves into the emotional journey of caring for someone with a terminal illness or the stress of raising a child with special needs. Highlight the sacrifice, the emotional toll, and the resilience required in caregiving roles. |
| 7 | Craft a personal blog post detailing the moment you first acknowledged the need for mental health therapy. Focus on the importance of mental health, the stigma often attached to seeking help, and the relief and empowerment that comes with taking the first step. |
| 8 | Write about a soldier’s struggle with upon returning from war. Focus on the often-ignored aspect of the aftermath of war, showcasing the need for better mental health resources for veterans. |
| 9 | Write a memoir from the perspective of someone overcoming addiction and the impact it has on their relationships. Document their recovery journey and show the realities of addiction. |
| 10 | Create a character who begins to question their own sanity following a series of bizarre, inexplicable events. Highlight the struggle of understanding one’s mental health, the terrifying journey into the unknown, and the importance of seeking help. |
| 11 | Cover the story of a high-profile person who is open about their mental health struggles to raise awareness about mental health. |
| 12 | Write a screenplay about a character who survives a natural disaster or a tragic accident, focusing on their journey to rebuild their life. Highlight the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity, the process of healing, and the rebuilding of life after devastation. |
| 13 | Chronicle the journey of a successful musician battling drug addiction. Highlight the destructive power of addiction, the personal struggles faced, and the road to recovery. |
| 14 | Describe a couple’s emotional journey as they grapple with infertility, and how it impacts their relationship. Highlight the social stigmas surrounding infertility and the strength of relationships in times of crisis. |
Tackling social challenges and environmental crises
| 1 | Write a story about a character who spends years in prison for a crime they didn’t commit and their journey towards freedom and redemption. The story details the flaws in the justice system that contribute to wrongful prosecutions. |
| 2 | Write about a prosperous entrepreneur who becomes homeless overnight due to a market crash. Showcase the harsh reality of economic instability and the resilience needed to survive adversity. |
| 3 | Write about the emotional toll of encountering poverty first-hand during a journey or event, highlighting the socio-economic disparities and humanizing the struggles of those living in poverty. |
| 4 | Construct a narrative where a character, whose family once enjoyed wealth but is now bankrupt, revisits their former home. Highlight the themes of loss, change, and the transient nature of material wealth. |
| 5 | Detail the inner struggles of a character who loses their job amid an economic crisis. Focus on the anxiety of the unknown future and the harsh realities of economic downturns. |
| 6 | Narrate a story about a middle-aged character replaced by AI in their job, underscoring the uncertainties faced by the workforce due to technological advancements and the need to adapt. |
| 7 | Write a memoir from the viewpoint of a person who endured racial discrimination at their workplace. Emphasize the impact of systemic racism, the need for social change, and the journey towards equality. |
| 8 | Write an investigative report about the poverty cycle in a particular community. Highlight the systemic issues maintaining the cycle and the necessity of societal intervention. |
| 9 | Create a screenplay revolving around a family in poverty striving to secure a better future for their children. Focus on the challenges they face and the strength of familial love. |
| 10 | Tell the story of a young person growing up in a war-torn country, emphasizing their pursuit of peace amidst chaos and the resilience of the human spirit. |
| 11 | Detail the journey of a character forced to flee their war-ravaged homeland and their experiences in a refugee camp, emphasizing the impact of conflict on human lives and the quest for safety. |
| 12 | Write a screenplay about a child in a challenging neighborhood who matures rapidly to safeguard their younger sibling and disabled parents. Focus on the themes of forced maturity, familial love, and resilience in adversity. |
| 13 | Dive into the experiences of a college student grappling with mental health issues brought on by the dual pressures of academics and finances. Shine a light on the often neglected stress young adults face, the urgent need for improved mental health resources, and the grim truth about mental health treatment facilities in your city. |
| 14 | Write a feature addressing the rising epidemic of loneliness in the digital age, backed by personal narratives and expert insights, emphasizing the paradox of connection and isolation in the digital era. |
| 15 | Construct a story or artwork illustrating the draining effects of social media on users. Highlight the mental and emotional toll of digital overconsumption. |
| 16 | Chronicle the journey of an individual battling , emphasizing the importance of mental health awareness and the courage to seek help. |
| 17 | Compose an investigative article exploring the systemic obstacles hindering escape from domestic violence. Integrate survivor narratives and expert opinions to highlight the need for comprehensive support systems. |
| 18 | Following a series of wildfires, a family loses everything. Bring out the devastation caused by climate change and the human spirit’s undying hope in the face of such a calamity. |
| 19 | Document the rebuilding process of a small town after being hit by a devastating hurricane or flooding. Highlight climate change’s catastrophic impact and the resilience of communities in the face of adversity. |
| 20 | Unravel the story of an immigrant family grappling with language barriers, cultural differences, and financial woes. Emphasize the social awareness of the immigrant struggle and the resilience of the human spirit. |
| 21 | Describe the emotional aftermath of a public mass shooting. Focus on the community’s collective grief and resilience, underscoring the need for stricter gun control. |
| 22 | Share a beloved teacher’s struggle to reclaim their dignity and profession amidst false allegations. Focus on the implications of and the power of perseverance. |
Delving into personal relationships and trust issues
| 1 | Write a narrative wherein your protagonist grapples with a moral conflict that could harm their loved ones. Highlight the painful complexity of personal versus collective welfare and the moral spectrum in decision making. |
| 2 | Set up a scene where your character crosses paths with someone they’ve wronged in the past and is now seeking forgiveness. Illuminate the theme of remorse, personal growth, and the power of forgiveness in healing relationships. |
| 3 | Share the tale of a young widow trying to raise two children while dealing with grief. Emphasize the harsh realities of unexpected loss and the strength of a single parent. |
| 4 | Develop a scenario in which your character experiences a deep loss of faith in a once trusted individual. Stress the emotional toll of shattered trust and the journey towards resilience and discernment. |
| 5 | Weave a narrative where your main character unearths a shocking secret kept by their partner. Focus on the repercussions of deceit in relationships and the journey towards healing and understanding. |
| 6 | Write a personal account of a character who experiences betrayal from a close friend or lover, and explore how this shifts their view on trust and affects their relationships moving forward. Emphasize the aftermath of betrayal and the process of regaining trust in oneself and others. |
| 7 | Share a personal narrative of a moment when you had to part ways with a or relationship. Highlight the importance of self-care and the courage required to prioritize one’s mental and emotional health. |
| 8 | Pen a story about a character who escapes an abusive relationship. Focus on the resources they leverage, their mental health recovery process, and the rebuilding of their life. Highlight the resilience in the face of adversity and the journey towards self-renewal. |
| 9 | Write a brief tale about a character who expresses their love to a longtime friend, only to find their affection isn’t reciprocated. Emphasize the emotional resilience required to preserve the friendship and personal growth in the face of unrequited love. |
| 10 | Write a personal account of a character who forsakes a treasured dream to care for a loved one. Underline the self-sacrifice, the themes of love and devotion, and the search for personal fulfillment in care-giving. |
| 11 | Conduct a detailed interview with someone who has triumphed over childhood trauma, shedding light on its effect on their adult life and their healing journey. Showcase resilience and the path towards healing from past wounds. |
| 12 | Unearth a real-life Romeo and Juliet saga where love struggles against societal and familial disputes. Highlight the heart-wrenching struggle of love against external forces and the questions it raises about societal norms. |
| 13 | Probe into and narrate the emotional aftermath for someone who learns that one of their parents killed the other. Emphasize the personal turmoil, the shattering of familial trust, and the journey towards acceptance and healing. |
Artistic expressions of emotions
| 1 | Craft an artwork or song that embodies the turmoil of inner conflict, revealing the struggle between our values, desires, and actions, and prompting reflection on self-awareness. |
| 2 | Compose a poem that encapsulates a moment of profound self-reflection, shedding light on the transformative power of introspection and self-awareness. |
| 3 | Create an artwork or song that conveys the concept of shedding light on the complex emotions related to surviving a tragedy others did not. |
| 4 | Express profound regret over a past decision through the use of color, shape, melody, or rhythm, emphasizing the enduring power of regret in shaping our perspectives and behavior. |
| 5 | In the form of a poem, illustrate the sensory experience of regret, capturing the human struggle with past mistakes and missed opportunities. |
| 6 | Through your art or music, depict how a personal error significantly altered your character’s life, underscoring the life-altering power of our decisions. |
| 7 | Craft an artwork or song that portrays the tumultuous journey of living with anxiety, underlining the often misunderstood struggles of individuals with anxiety disorders. |
| 8 | Create a mural or song that encapsulates the daily trials and resilience of those living in poverty, calling for empathy and awareness of the socio-economic struggles faced by many. |
| 9 | Compose a sonnet or create a painting that captures the bittersweet essence of unrequited love, emphasizing the pain and growth that can stem from such experiences. |
| 10 | Produce an artwork or song that narrates the journey from grief to acceptance, emphasizing the human capacity to heal and grow from loss. |
| 11 | Pen a verse about a pivotal moment in therapy that led to self-discovery, emphasizing the transformative power of mental health care. |
| 12 | Write a piece that captures the silent agony of a significant loss, underscoring the deep emotional impact of grief and the struggle to give voice to our pain. |
| 13 | Compose a poem charting your character’s journey from fear to courage, highlighting personal growth and the empowering nature of overcoming fear. |
| 14 | Describe the transition from sadness to acceptance using a natural phenomenon as a metaphor, emphasizing the natural process of healing and acceptance. |
| 15 | Paint a picture from the perspective of the first person to move to Mars, exploring their coping mechanisms for extreme loneliness, highlighting the human struggle for connection in isolation. |
Sad writing prompts to develop students’ writing skills
Addressing academic pressure and anxiety.
| 1 | Write a story about a character who is under immense pressure to get perfect grades, and the moment they realize that there’s more to life than a report card. |
| 2 | Describe an instance when your character failed at something they were passionate about. How did they handle the failure, and how to find motivation and courage to try again? |
| 3 | Write a dialogue between your character and a mentor about the stress of high school academics and finding balance in life. |
| 4 | Write a letter to your future self, talking about the fears and hopes you currently have. Imagine what your future self says to it. |
| 5 | Describe a character who feels overwhelmed by future decisions they have to make. What event helps them understand that it’s okay not to have all the answers? |
| 6 | Write a story about a character who learns the hard way that they can’t do everything and must prioritize their responsibilities and learn how to better manage their time. |
| 7 | Detail a character’s first day at a new school, focusing on their feelings of loneliness and anxiety. |
| 8 | Write a poem from the perspective of a character who is learning to embrace their unique identity and to how to boost their self-esteem. |
| 9 | Write about a time when a character felt different or left out in school. How did they handle the situation? |
| 10 | A student works tirelessly throughout high school to save for college, only to have their parents steal their savings and gamble it all away, just days before the tuition payment is due. |
Understanding family dynamics and common issues
| 1 | Write a story where the main character is dealing with a conflict between their dreams and their parents’ expectations. |
| 2 | Write a story about a character who feels abandoned / misunderstood by their parents. |
| 3 | Write a scene in which a character must cope with their parents’ divorce. |
| 4 | Write about a character experiencing the first Mother’s Day / Father’s day after the loss of their parent. |
| 5 | Write a story about a character who helps their family overcome a crisis, showing the importance of resilience and togetherness. |
| 6 | After their parents’ unexpected death, a teenager must take on the role of parent to their younger siblings, while balancing school and a part-time job. |
| 7 | A young boy has always admired his father’s bravery as a firefighter, but one tragic day, his father doesn’t return from a dangerous rescue mission. |
Confronting bullying and peer pressure
| 1 | Write a first-person account of a character who is dealing with cyberbullying, focusing on their thoughts, feelings, and the steps they take to overcome this challenge. |
| 2 | Write a story about a character who witnesses and intervenes to stop bullying in school. |
| 3 | Write about a character who gives in to peer pressure and the consequences they face, ultimately leading to personal growth. |
| 4 | Write about a character who is struggling with acceptance due to societal discrimination. |
| 5 | Describe a moment when your character had to stand up for what they believe, even if no one around them understands it. |
| 6 | Narrate the journey of self-acceptance of a teen bullied for their weight. Emphasize the pervasive and the importance of self-love. |
Navigating friendship and unexpected setbacks
| 1 | Write a narrative about a character who helps a friend struggling with a mental health issue, highlighting the importance of empathy and understanding. |
| 2 | Describe a situation where your character must say a difficult goodbye to a good friend who is moving away. |
| 3 | Describe a situation where you had to move to a new city and leave your friends behind. Are you feeling a complex mix of excitement and sadness? How did you cope with the change? |
| 4 | Write a conversation between two friends who’ve grown apart, whether due to evolving interests or a misunderstanding that sparked deep resentment. |
| 5 | Write a diary entry from the perspective of a character who has lost their best friend to a misunderstanding after a heated argument / a tragic event. |
| 6 | Write a letter to someone you loved and respected but already passed away. What would you say? |
| 7 | Write a story about your character experiencing their first heartbreak and the lessons they learn about love and loss. |
| 8 | A teenager finally musters up the courage to ask their long-time crush to prom, only to discover they’ve already agreed to go with another classmate. |
| 9 | Tell the emotionally charged story of a talented young athlete who aspired to join the national team, only to have their dreams shattered by an accident that cost them a limb. Focus on the harsh realities of life’s unfairness and their journey to find a new purpose. |
| 10 | A talented young musician who has always dreamt of becoming a broadway singer develops a serious condition that damages her vocal cords. |
Sad writing prompts to facilitate emotional expressions and personal growth
Facing anxiety and fear.
| This exercise aims to externalize your anxiety, helping you to understand and manage your feelings more objectively. |
| This sad writing prompt is designed to help you personify and address your fear, encouraging courage and personal growth. |
| This activity encourages introspection and helps you identify what gives you comfort, fostering self-care strategies. |
| This prompt can assist in expressing your emotional state, enhancing empathy and self-awareness, and acknowledging your daily struggles. |
| This sad writing prompt allows you to express your feelings about your mental health struggles, fostering self-understanding and acceptance. |
| This exercise encourages understanding of your internal conflicts, promoting emotional regulation and conflict resolution skills. |
| This task helps you express feelings about a dominant emotion, encouraging emotional understanding, and balance. |
| This prompt helps you acknowledge your fears and coping mechanisms, encouraging resilience and personal growth. |
| This exercise encourages you to recognize the strength in vulnerability, promoting emotional honesty and personal growth. |
| This activity encourages self-reflection, forward thinking, and personal growth by exploring future perspectives. |
| This exercise aids in understanding the subconscious mind’s manifestation and interpretation of deep-seated emotions and fears. |
Examining loneliness and isolation
| This exercise is intended to help you externalize and better understand your feelings of loneliness, providing insights for self-awareness and potential coping mechanisms. |
| This sad writing prompt is designed to help you explore your feelings of social disconnection, fostering emotional expression and encouraging self-compassion. |
| This activity encourages introspection, helps in identifying what brings you comfort, and promotes self-care strategies. |
| This prompt is useful to express your feelings about rejection and to understand its influence on your self-perception, encouraging resilience and personal growth. |
| This task helps you explore your coping mechanisms during loneliness, encouraging emotional understanding, self-compassion, and the potential discovery of internal resources. |
Reflecting on regrets and mistakes
| This exercise is intended to facilitate understanding of emotional triggers and promote self-awareness towards better emotional management. |
| This prompt helps in accepting past mistakes, learning from them and encourages the development of better decision-making skills. |
| This exercise fosters the expression of complex emotions and promotes resilience by highlighting the courage needed to make tough decisions. |
| This activity assists in facilitating self-forgiveness, reducing feelings of guilt, and promoting emotional wellbeing. |
| This exercise encourages reflection, recognition of growth from past errors, and fosters self-compassion. |
| This prompt is designed to explore feelings of regret, understand their origins and impacts, and encourage acceptance of the past. |
| This task facilitates introspection and understanding of self-expectations, fostering emotional expression and self-acceptance. |
| This exercise assists in retrospective analysis, promoting resilience and growth through the re-evaluation of past challenges. |
Dealing with loss and heartbreak
| This activity encourages emotional expression, processes feelings of loss and cultivates strength to endure life changes. |
| This prompt is designed to delve into the depths of personal emotions, fostering resilience and understanding of personal capacity to recover and learn from emotional pain. |
| This exercise allows exploration of attachment, memories, and understanding the value of tangible and intangible aspects of life. |
| This prompt encourages the expression of unvoiced feelings, fostering emotional healing and acceptance of loss. |
| This prompt encourages navigation through deep grief and understanding of how significant losses can influence personal growth and worldview. |
| This activity promotes introspection, fosters self-compassion, and encourages the understanding of personal growth that arises from hardships. |
| This prompt encourages emotional exploration, self-awareness, and emotional expression, facilitating emotional health and wellbeing. |
Unraveling betrayal, conflict, and misunderstandings
| This task assists in visualizing emotions, enhancing self-awareness, and understanding emotional responses to betrayal. |
| This exercise facilitates the expression of complex emotions, fosters conflict resolution skills, and enhances emotional literacy. |
| This activity promotes understanding of interpersonal relationships, communication, and self-perception in diverse contexts, fostering personal growth. |
| This task encourages self-reflection, empathy, and growth through the acknowledgement and acceptance of past mistakes. |
| This exercise assists in expressing unvoiced feelings, encourages emotional release, and fosters resilience, thereby promoting emotional health. |
| This prompt fosters understanding of expectations, emotional resilience, and the complexity of relationships, contributing to emotional wellbeing and self-awareness. |
| This prompt encourages introspection, self-awareness, and emotional exploration, fostering resilience in the face of interpersonal challenges. |
| This exercise facilitates cognitive flexibility, self-awareness, and growth through the exploration of personal beliefs and values. |
| This activity enhances empathy, societal awareness, and personal growth by exploring diverse perspectives. |
Do sad writing prompts have to be with a sad or tragic ending?
Conclusion: Gateways to emotional depth, imagination, and transformation
Gabriella Stamm
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125+ Sad Story Ideas: Prompts to Inspire Your Next Tearjerker
Struggling to find the perfect idea for your next tear-jerking story? Sometimes, you just need a quick prompt, and you’ll be off to the races!
So, I’ve put together these 125+ top sad story ideas and prompts to inspire your next short story , novel , or screenplay . Imagine the feeling of writing a heartbreaking story that moves your readers to their core.
That’s what you’ll find here – creative writing prompts that cover everything from tragic love stories to devastating personal losses. They’re perfect for both novice writers and pros looking for fresh inspiration. Say goodbye to writer’s block and hello to these sad writing prompts!
Ready to pen a truly unforgettable sad story? Let’s get started!
Sad Story Ideas to Get You Started
Let’s get right into the story prompts that you can use for your own sorrowful story!
Unrequited Love
Explore the emotional turmoil of fictional characters who fall deeply in love only to find that their feelings are not reciprocated. These sad story ideas explore the pain of longing, the struggle to move on, and the personal growth that comes from accepting a love that will never be returned.
The Lighthouse Keeper – Set in a remote lighthouse, the keeper falls for a sailor they rescue from a shipwreck. The sailor leaves once they’re well, promising to return but never does, leaving the keeper to watch for them in vain.
The Painter’s Muse – A painter becomes obsessed with a model who poses for his art. His paintings capture her beauty, but she only sees him as a friend, leaving him to paint his love into every stroke, never to be returned.
The Voice from the Radio – In a post-apocalyptic world, a DJ broadcasts hope and love. A listener falls deeply in love with the voice, only to find out the DJ is a program, an AI designed to keep morale up, with no real person behind it.
The Last Letter – A soldier during WWII writes letters to a woman back home, believing they’re in love. She, however, has been writing back out of guilt, as she’s married to another. The soldier only learns this from her last letter, which arrives just before his death.
The Mirror’s Reflection – A character discovers a mirror that shows them their perfect match. However, the reflection is of someone who exists in a parallel universe, unattainable in their reality.
The Unseen Guardian —A guardian angel watches over a human and falls in love with them. The rules of heaven dictate no contact or revelation of their existence, leaving the angel to love silently.
The Playwright’s Tragedy – A playwright writes a play where the characters are based on their unrequited love and their own alter ego. The play becomes a hit, but their love never sees the connection or the depth of the playwright’s feelings.
The Virtual Reality – In a future where VR is indistinguishable from reality, someone falls in love with an NPC (non-player character) in a game, only to be heartbroken when the server shuts down.
The Songwriter’s Lament – A musician writes all their hits about a love that never was. Their fame grows, but their heart remains with someone who never knew or cared for them beyond friendship.
The Ghost’s Love —A ghost haunts a house and falls in love with its new occupant. The ghost can interact with the world subtly but can never reveal its true nature or be with the person it loves.
Lost Friendship
Two childhood friends grow apart as they age, only realizing too late how much they mean to each other. This story could highlight the bittersweet nature of nostalgia and the regrets that come with time lost and words unspoken.
The Mix Tape – A story set in the ’90s where two friends bond over music, creating mix tapes for each other. One moves away, and the tapes become a symbol of their lost connection, only to be rediscovered years later.
The Treehouse Diaries – Two friends build a treehouse where they share all their secrets. Years later, one of them returns to find the treehouse dilapidated, realizing they’ve lost touch with their friend over petty arguments from their teenage years.
The Pen Pal Promise : Two friends, separated by their parents’ divorce, promise to keep in touch through letters. Life gets in the way, and they stop writing, only to find each other’s letters years later and realize how much they’ve missed each other.
The Summer Camp Secret – At summer camp, two friends share a secret that bonds them. Years later, one of them writes a book about it, not realizing the other friend would feel betrayed by the public revelation, leading to a rift.
The Band That Never Was – A group of friends form a band in high school, dreaming of fame. Life pulls them in different directions, and they disband. A chance encounter at a music festival years later stirs up old dreams and regrets.
The Forgotten Promise – On a childhood adventure, friends make a pact to meet at a specific place when they turn 30. One shows up, but the other has forgotten the promise.
The Digital Divide – Friends who were close online during the early days of the internet lose touch as social media and life take over. An old message board post leads to a digital reunion.
The Book Club – A group of friends start a book club in college. Over the years, they stop meeting, but one member starts a blog about their old discussions, inadvertently bringing them back together.
The Time Capsule – Friends bury a time capsule with promises to meet again when they open it. Life intervenes, and only one returns on the appointed day to open the capsule, leading to a quest to find the others.
The Secret Code – Friends who used to communicate through a secret code drift apart as they grow older. When one finds a letter written in the code, they are inspired to reconnect and revive their unique way of communicating.
Terminal Illness
These sad stories follow a character’s journey after being diagnosed with a terminal illness. The story could focus on their process of coming to terms with their fate, the impact on their relationships, and how they choose to spend their remaining time, exploring themes of mortality, love, and legacy.
The Gardener’s Last Bloom – An old gardener with a terminal illness focuses on cultivating a garden that will bloom after their death, symbolizing life’s continuity.
The Last Concert – A renowned musician diagnosed with a terminal illness decides to go on one final tour. The story follows their journey, the music they create, and the emotional farewells they share with fans and family.
The Unfinished Project – An architect known for not completing his masterpiece receives a terminal diagnosis. His final months are spent in a race against time to finish his life’s work, reflecting on what truly matters.
The Family Album – A photographer, knowing their time is limited, decides to capture moments with their family in a way that tells a story of love, regret, and reconciliation, leaving behind a legacy of images.
The Last Class – A teacher with a terminal illness continues teaching, using their final semester to impart life lessons beyond the curriculum, impacting students in profound ways.
The Chef’s Final Dish —A chef known for culinary innovation creates a menu for a final dinner party, with each dish representing a significant moment in their life.
The Time Capsule – A terminally ill person buries a time capsule for their unborn grandchild, filling it with messages, toys, and predictions about the future, hoping to connect across time.
The Game Designer’s Last Game – A game designer, knowing their time is short, creates a video game that mirrors their life’s journey, with puzzles and levels representing their struggles and achievements.
The Playwright’s Epilogue – A playwright writes a play about their own life, casting friends and family in roles, using the stage to say goodbye and express unspoken truths.
The Artist’s Legacy – An artist, knowing they’re dying, starts painting a mural in their hometown, each section telling a story of their life, hoping to leave a lasting mark on the community.
These sad writing prompts center around a main character who experiences deep betrayal by someone they trust, a theme often explored within the romance genre. The story could center on their emotional journey through pain, anger, and the challenge of forgiveness or explore how betrayal shapes their future actions and relationships.
The Heir’s Betrayal – A young heir to a family business discovers their sibling has been embezzling funds, leading to a corporate coup. The story explores their struggle with loyalty, betrayal, and the fight to save the family’s legacy.
The Spy’s Double Life – A spy, deeply in love with their handler, learns that their handler has been selling secrets to the enemy. The narrative could discuss the spy’s mission to expose the truth while grappling with heartbreak.
The Mentor’s Fall – A young apprentice discovers their mentor, whom they idolize, has been manipulating them for personal gain. The story could explore the apprentice’s journey to independence and the reevaluation of their life’s work.
The Family Secret – A family member uncovers that their parents adopted them to cover up a scandal, leading to a quest for their true identity and the emotional turmoil of feeling betrayed by those they loved.
The Best Friend’s Betrayal – Two best friends start a tech company together, but one secretly sells their idea to a competitor, leading to a legal battle and a deep personal rift.
The Teacher’s Deception – A student finds out their favorite teacher has been falsifying grades to keep their job, forcing the student to confront the betrayal of an educational figure they trusted.
The Religious Betrayal – A devout follower discovers their spiritual leader is involved in a scandal, leading them to question their faith and the community’s response to the betrayal.
The Sibling’s Secret – A young adult sibling, always thought to be the black sheep, reveals they’ve been secretly supporting the family financially, only to be betrayed by another sibling who takes credit for their success.
The Hidden Past – A character finds out their spouse has a criminal past they’ve hidden, leading to a reevaluation of their relationship and the fear of what else might be concealed.
The Betrayal of Trust —A therapist, trusted with their patients’ deepest secrets, uses this information for personal gain, leading to a patient’s mission to expose them while dealing with their own betrayal.
Tragic Accident
An unexpected accident drastically changes a character’s life or the lives of their loved ones. These sad writing prompts will help you start writing the emotional aftermath of the accident on the main character of the story. This might include themes of grief, guilt, and the long road to recovery or acceptance.
The Last Ride – A teenager borrows their parent’s car for the first time and gets into an accident, leading to the death of their best friend, who was sitting in the passenger seat. The story explores their journey through guilt, legal battles, and the struggle to forgive themselves.
The Firefighter’s Choice – A firefighter in the line of duty makes a split-second decision that saves many but costs a life. The aftermath deals with community backlash, personal guilt, and the quest for redemption.
The Wedding Day Crash – On the day of their wedding, the bride or groom is involved in a car accident, leading to severe injuries or worse. The story follows the other partner’s life as they navigate through grief, postponed dreams, and the support of their community.
The Pilot’s Mistake – A seasoned pilot makes an error during a routine flight, leading to a crash. The narrative follows the pilot’s life after the accident, dealing with survivor’s guilt, public scrutiny, and the fight to fly again.
The Family Outing – A family outing to the mountains turns disastrous when an avalanche hits. The story focuses on the survivors’ efforts to cope with loss and rebuild their lives. They also deal with the unspoken guilt of surviving.
The Festival Fire – During a town festival, a fireworks display goes wrong, causing a fire that changes many lives. The story could follow different characters affected by the tragedy, tying together their stories of loss, recovery, and community support.
The Boating Accident – A group of friends on a boat trip encounter a storm, leading to a capsizing. The narrative could explore the dynamics of survival, the guilt of those who made it, and the impact on their friendships.
The Construction Site – A worker at a construction site accidentally causes a scaffolding collapse, resulting in injuries and deaths. The story could include workplace safety, the legal consequences, and the worker’s journey to redemption.
The Ice Fishing Tragedy – A group of friends go ice fishing, but the ice gives way, leading to a rescue operation. The story could explore the aftermath for the survivors, the guilt of the one who suggested the trip, and the impact on their small town.
The Train Derailment – An engineer misses a signal, causing a train to derail. The narrative could focus on the investigation, the engineer’s life post-accident, and how the community rebuilds after such a disaster.
Unfulfilled Dreams and Lost Opportunity
A character spends their life chasing a dream that ultimately remains out of reach. These sad stories explore themes of ambition, regret, and the struggle to find meaning when life doesn’t go as planned.
The Astronaut’s Grounding —After years of training, a would-be astronaut is grounded due to a medical condition discovered just before their first mission. The story follows their life on Earth, dealing with the dream that slipped away.
The Olympic Dream —An athlete trains for the Olympics, only to suffer a career-ending injury just before qualifying. The story could explore their life post-injury, the struggle to redefine success, and finding new passions.
The Inventor’s Workshop – An inventor, obsessed with creating a device that could change the world, spends their life in a cluttered workshop, never quite perfecting their invention. Their story could be about the pursuit of innovation and the legacy they leave behind.
The Explorer’s Last Expedition – An explorer, known for their daring adventures, plans one final expedition to an uncharted territory. Health issues prevent the journey, and the story could focus on their life of storytelling and mentoring young explorers.
The Dream of Home – A character dreams of returning to their ancestral home, only to find it changed beyond recognition or lost to time. The story could be about the journey to find a new sense of home.
The Space Colony – A scientist dreams of living on a space colony, dedicating their life to the project. When the project is canceled, they must find meaning in the work they’ve done and the knowledge they’ve contributed to the world.
The Dream of Flight – A character, fascinated by flight, dreams of becoming a pilot but is grounded by fear of flying. They end up working at an airport, living vicariously through others’ journeys.
The Unpublished Scientist – A scientist makes groundbreaking discoveries but never gets recognition due to being overshadowed by more charismatic peers. Their story could be about the pursuit of knowledge for its own value.
The Unheard Songwriter – A songwriter writes beautiful music but lacks the confidence to perform or share it. Their songs are discovered posthumously, leading to a sad short story about legacy and the impact of art beyond the artist’s life.
The Unplayed Game – A game designer creates what they believe to be the perfect game, but it’s never released due to company politics. The story could explore their journey to find fulfillment in other aspects of life.
War and Separation
A family is torn apart by war, dealing with the pain of separation and the hope of reunion. This story could explore the personal cost of conflict, the enduring bond of family, and the resilience required to survive in the face of overwhelming odds.
The Last Letter – A soldier writes a final letter to their family before an upcoming battle, knowing it might be their last. The story follows the family’s journey as they cope with the uncertainty of their loved one’s fate.
The Refugee’s Journey – A family fleeing war must split up to increase their chances of survival. The narrative could focus on a child’s perspective, navigating the world alone, hoping to reunite with their family.
The Homefront Widow – A woman whose husband is missing in action must raise their children alone, dealing with the community’s pity, her own grief, and the hope of his return.
The Pen Pal Connection – Two siblings, separated by war, start writing to each other through a pen pal service, unaware of each other’s identity, sharing their experiences and hopes for a reunion.
The War Photographer’s Legacy – A war photographer leaves behind many undeveloped images. Their child, years later, develops the photos, piecing together their parent’s last days and the stories of those they captured.
The Smuggler’s Promise – A family hires a smuggler to get their youngest child out of a war-torn country. The story follows the smuggler’s journey, the child’s adaptation to a new life, and the family’s desperate attempts to follow.
The War Orphan – An orphan of war is adopted by a family in a different country. The story explores the struggle of the adopted child with identity, the search for their biological family, and the new bonds they form.
The Peacekeeper’s Dilemma – A peacekeeper in a war zone falls in love with a local, but their duty and the conflict keep them apart. The story could explore their clandestine meetings and the hope for a future together.
The Hidden Messages – A family uses coded messages in letters to communicate their location and plans to escape a war zone, with each letter holding clues to their next move.
The War Bride – A young woman marries a soldier from another country to escape the war, only to find herself in a new culture, dealing with isolation and the longing for her family.
Estranged Family
A character tries to reconnect with estranged family members, only to face rejection or unresolved conflicts. This idea can highlight the complexity of family dynamics, the pain of rejection, and the difficulty of seeking forgiveness or closure.
The Inheritance Quest – After inheriting a family estate, a character must reconnect with estranged siblings to settle the will, uncovering old wounds and new secrets.
The Christmas Truce – A family member attempts to organize a family reunion for Christmas, hoping to mend old rifts, but finds that time has deepened the estrangement.
The Letter from the Past – An old letter surfaces, revealing a family secret that estranged siblings must confront together, leading to a journey to understand their family’s history.
The Estranged Twins – Identical twins, separated by a childhood argument, meet again at a family funeral. Their story could explore the nature vs. nurture debate through their different lives.
The Family Business – A family business is failing, and the only one with the skills to save it is the estranged black sheep. Their return stirs up old resentments and new alliances.
The Wedding Invitation – An estranged family member sends a wedding invitation, prompting a reluctant reunion where old conflicts resurface amidst the celebration.
The Lost Parent – A child, now an adult, searches for a parent who left when they were young, only to find them living a life they never imagined, leading to a complex reconciliation.
The Grandchild’s Quest – A grandchild, curious about their family history, seeks out estranged grandparents, uncovering family lore and the reasons for the estrangement.
The Estranged Sibling’s Illness – News of a sibling’s terminal illness brings an estranged family member back, facing the reality of forgiveness and time running out.
The Estranged Aunt – An aunt, always seen as the black sheep, returns to help her niece through a crisis, revealing layers of family dynamics and the strength of unconventional bonds.
The Estranged Uncle’s Legacy – An uncle, estranged from the family, leaves behind a mysterious inheritance that requires his estranged niece or nephew to solve a puzzle or complete a task to claim it.
The Family Farm – A family farm on the brink of being sold brings estranged siblings back to decide its fate. The story could explore their childhood memories, current lives, and the pull of the land.
The Family Secret Society – An estranged family member discovers they are part of a secret society within the family, leading to a quest to understand their lineage and the reasons for the secrecy.
The Estranged Grandparent’s Story – A grandparent, long estranged, writes a memoir that gets published posthumously. Their grandchild reads it, learning about their family’s history and the reasons for the estrangement.
The Estranged Brother’s Return – A brother who left to join a cult or a radical group returns, causing a stir in the family. The story could explore the dynamics of belief, redemption, and forgiveness.
The Family’s Lost Child – A child thought to have died in an accident is found alive but estranged from the family. Their return opens old wounds and strong emotions.
The Estranged Aunt’s Art – An aunt, an artist who left the family to pursue her career, dies, leaving her art collection to her estranged family. The art reveals her life’s journey and the reasons for her departure.
Natural Disaster
A community is devastated by a natural disaster, and the story focuses on individual tales of loss, resilience, and the effort to rebuild. These sad story ideas can help you write about human strength, the fragility of life, and the collective effort to overcome tragedy.
The Ashfall Chronicles – In a world where a supervolcano eruption has led to a nuclear winter, a family must navigate through the ash-covered landscape to reach a rumored safe zone, exploring themes of survival, loss, and the human will to find light in the darkness.
The Flooded City – Following a catastrophic flood, a city’s underwater district becomes a new frontier for those who couldn’t or wouldn’t leave. The story explores how this new aquatic community adapts, with a focus on a young engineer who designs floating homes.
Whispers of the Storm – A tornado devastates a rural community, but one family’s barn, filled with generations of family history, remains oddly untouched. The story revolves around the family’s decision to turn this barn into a community center for healing and remembrance.
The Last Light – An electromagnetic pulse from a solar flare plunges the world into darkness. The story centers on a lighthouse keeper who becomes a beacon of hope for those navigating the literal and metaphorical darkness.
The Green Aftermath – After a chemical spill causes a bizarre, accelerated growth of plants, a town must deal with both the beauty and the chaos of nature’s overgrowth. A botanist’s daughter takes it upon herself to understand and control this new ecosystem.
The Rift – A massive earthquake opens a geological rift, revealing ancient, untouched ecosystems. The story follows a group of scientists and locals who explore these new lands, facing dangers but also discovering new resources that could help rebuild their world.
The Sky’s Shadow – A meteor shower causes widespread fires, but one family finds an untouched valley. They decide to stay, creating a sanctuary for survivors and exploring themes of leadership, community building, and the psychological effects of isolation.
The Sandstorm’s Gift – In a desert town, a massive sandstorm uncovers ancient ruins with mysterious artifacts. The story follows a local historian who, amidst the chaos of rebuilding, becomes obsessed with these artifacts, discovering they hold secrets to ancient technologies or perhaps even a lost civilization’s wisdom.
The Tidal Shift – A series of tidal waves reshape the coastline, creating new islands. A group of adventurers set out to claim one, only to find it’s already inhabited by a secretive community with its own laws and customs, leading to conflicts over territory and rights.
The Fire’s Canvas – After a wildfire, an artist returns to his burnt-out studio to find the fire has transformed his work into something new and haunting. He starts a project to paint the town’s recovery, capturing the beauty in destruction and rebirth.
The Frostbound – An unexpected, prolonged frost hits a tropical island, freezing its lush forests. The story revolves around a botanist who uses this opportunity to study the effects on plant life, discovering a new species that could revolutionize agriculture.
The Hollow Earth – An earthquake opens up a vast sinkhole, revealing a network of caves. A group of explorers, including a geologist and a survivalist, venture inside, finding signs of life that suggest the earth’s crust might be more alive than anyone thought.
The Wind’s Whisper – A hurricane destroys a small town, but in its wake, a mysterious, soothing wind begins to blow, bringing peace to those who hear it. The story explores the psychological effects of this phenomenon, with a psychologist trying to understand its source.
The Sinking Lands – A region starts to sink due to geological shifts, and residents must decide whether to stay or leave. The story focuses on a family torn between their ancestral home and the safety of higher ground, exploring themes of legacy and survival.
The Light After the Quake – An earthquake in a city known for its nightlife causes widespread power outages. The story follows a nightclub owner who turns his club into a community hub, using emergency lights to signal hope and unity.
Aging and Loneliness
An elderly character reflects on their life as they deal with the loneliness that comes with age, including the loss of friends and loved ones. This compelling story can be a poignant exploration of memory, legacy, and the search for connection in the twilight years.
The Forgotten Inventor – An old inventor whose inventions were ahead of their time now lives in obscurity. He starts documenting his inventions in a journal, hoping someone in the future might find them useful, thus leaving a mark on the world.
The Old Fisherman’s Net – A fisherman, too old to go out to sea, spends his days mending nets and telling stories to the children of the village. Through his tales, he relives his adventures and finds a sense of community and purpose.
The Pianist’s Echo – An elderly pianist whose fingers can no longer play listens to recordings of his past concerts. Each note brings back memories of his youth, and he starts writing music again, not for performance but as a personal journey through his life.
The Astronomer’s Last Star – An aging astronomer, now blind, can no longer see the stars he loved. He starts a podcast where he shares his knowledge, his stories, and his love for the cosmos, connecting with listeners who share his passion.
The Sculptor’s Final Form – A sculptor, whose hands are now too arthritic to sculpt, begins to create with his voice, dictating designs to a young apprentice. This mentorship becomes his way of passing on his art and easing his loneliness.
The Last Library – An elderly librarian, the last in a town where books have been replaced by digital media, spends her days in the dusty, forgotten library. She starts writing letters to her past self, reflecting on her life’s choices and the books that shaped her, finding companionship in her own history.
The Unsung Song – An aging musician, once famous, now forgotten, lives in a small apartment. He starts recording his old songs, not for fame, but to leave a piece of himself behind, hoping someone, somewhere, might still listen.
The Widow’s Garden – A widow, after losing her husband, turns her garden into a living memorial. Each plant represents a memory or a person she’s lost, and through gardening, she finds a way to talk to them, easing her loneliness.
The Last Dance – An elderly woman, once a ballroom dancer, teaches dance to children in her community center. Through teaching, she relives her youth, finding joy in the dance steps and the laughter of the young.
The Forgotten Letters – An old man discovers a box of letters he wrote but never sent to his lost love. He decides to send them now, not expecting a reply, but as a way to connect with his past self and the love he once had.
The Storyteller’s Last Tale – A grandfather, known for his stories, feels his memory fading. He decides to record his tales, not just for his grandchildren, but to leave a piece of himself in the world.
The Chef’s Last Recipe – A retired chef, now alone, cooks for himself but imagines he’s preparing meals for all the people he’s loved. Each dish is a story, a memory, and through cooking, he finds a way to keep them alive.
Adoption and Identity
A character struggles with their identity after discovering they were adopted, leading to a search for their biological family. This narrative could explore themes of belonging, the complexity of family, and the quest for self-understanding.
The DNA Match – After taking a DNA test for fun, a character discovers they have a sibling they never knew about. The story follows their journey to meet this sibling, uncovering family secrets and redefining their sense of self and family.
The Echoes of a Name – A character finds out they were named after a great-grandparent they never knew. This revelation sparks a quest to understand why, leading to a discovery of a family history rich with stories of resilience, loss, and identity.
The Hidden Letters – Cleaning out their adoptive parents’ attic, a character finds letters from their birth mother. The letters, written but never sent, become a guide to understanding their past, leading to a poignant reunion or closure.
The Forgotten Festival – A character, always drawn to a particular cultural festival, learns they were adopted from a family deeply involved in its traditions. Their journey to reconnect with this festival becomes a journey of self-discovery and cultural identity.
The Mirror’s Reflection – An artist, adopted as a child, starts painting scenes from dreams that eerily resemble places they’ve never been. The quest to understand these visions leads them to their birth family, revealing a hidden artistic lineage and a legacy they must decide to embrace or reject.
The Music of Identity – A musician, known for their unique style, discovers they were adopted and that their biological family has a musical legacy. The story explores how this revelation influences their music, their identity, and their relationship with their adoptive family.
The Lost Language – A linguist, adopted from another country, starts to dream in a language they’ve never learned. Their quest to understand this language leads them back to their birth country, where they must reconcile their adopted identity with their cultural roots.
The Heritage Quest —An adoptee who feels disconnected from their adoptive family’s traditions starts a blog to trace their biological roots. The blog becomes a journey of self-discovery, connecting the adoptee with a community of adoptees and ultimately, their birth family.
The Inheritance – Upon the death of their adoptive parents, a character inherits a mysterious estate. Exploring the estate, they find clues to their adoption and a hidden family history that challenges their understanding of wealth, family, and legacy.
The Identity Thief —After being scammed by someone claiming to be a relative, an adoptee starts a journey to protect their identity, only to find themselves on a path to discovering their true heritage, exploring themes of trust and belonging.
Unresolved Grief
A character is unable to move on after the loss of a loved one, struggling with unresolved feelings or guilt. This story could explore the nature of grief, its impact on relationships and daily life, and the path to eventual healing.
The Unfinished Symphony – A composer, unable to complete a symphony he was writing with his late partner, finds that each note brings back memories. His struggle to finish the piece becomes a way to honor and let go of the past.
The Last Photo – A photographer, haunted by the last picture he took of his son before a tragic accident, starts a project to capture moments of joy, trying to find peace through his lens.
The Unspoken Promise – A woman, after her brother’s death, finds a list of promises they made to each other as children. She embarks on fulfilling these promises, each one a step towards healing.
The Last Recipe – A chef whose mentor and father figure passed away can’t cook without feeling his presence. His journey to create a new dish becomes a way to honor his mentor’s legacy and find his own path.
The Keeper of the Garden – An old man, grieving the loss of his wife, tends to a garden she loved. Each plant he nurtures becomes a conversation with her, a way to keep her memory alive.
The Unread Book – A woman discovers a book her deceased mother had started but never finished. Reading it becomes a journey through her mother’s thoughts, helping her understand and grieve.
The Last Message – A person receives a final, undelivered text from their deceased partner. The story explores their journey to understand the message, leading to revelations about their relationship and the healing process.
The Unfinished Project – A widow continues her late husband’s art project, which was meant to be a surprise for her. The story examines how this project becomes both a source of pain and a path to healing.
The Echoes of the Past – A man, unable to move on from his sister’s death, starts hearing her voice in his old recordings. His journey to understand these “messages” leads him to confront unresolved issues from their past.
The Letter Never Sent – A woman finds a letter her deceased brother wrote to her but never mailed. The letter’s contents, revealing his struggles, push her to address her own guilt and grief.
The Unspoken Words —A man haunted by the last argument he had with his father starts a blog where he writes about the conversations they never had, finding catharsis in these virtual dialogues.
The Last Dance —After losing her dance partner and lover, a dancer can’t step onto the dance floor without feeling his presence. Her story is about reclaiming her passion while dealing with the ghost of her past.
The Painter’s Canvas – An artist, grieving the loss of his muse, starts painting scenes from their life together. Each painting is a step towards understanding his grief, turning pain into art.
The Shadow at the Table – At every family dinner, a widower sets a place for his deceased wife. His children, worried, try to intervene, leading to a story about grief, memory, and letting go.
The Last Journey – A woman, unable to move on from her daughter’s death, takes a trip they had planned together. The journey becomes a metaphorical and literal path to acceptance and new beginnings.
Unwanted Goodbye
A character is forced to say goodbye to a loved one who is moving far away, highlighting the emotional challenges of a long-distance relationship. The story could explore the pain of separation, the uncertainty of change, and how people cope with loss in relationships.
The Last Summer – Two best friends spend their final summer together before one moves overseas for a prestigious scholarship. The story captures their adventures, the unspoken fears, and the promise to stay connected.
The Departure Gate : Two young lovers must part ways at an airport due to visa issues. They plan to reunite, but the story explores the emotional toll of indefinite separation.
The Family Tree – A family is uprooted when the breadwinner gets a job offer they can’t refuse in another country. The story follows the youngest child’s struggle with leaving their grandparents behind.
The Promise of Return – A soldier, leaving for deployment, promises his partner they’ll return. The story explores the waiting, the doubt, and the impact of this promise on their relationship.
The Moving Van – A child watches as their family’s belongings are loaded onto a moving van, moving away from their lifelong friends. The narrative explores their feelings of abandonment and the new beginning.
The Sunset Goodbye – A couple watches their last sunset together on a beach before one must leave for a new job. The story explores how they plan to keep their love alive across continents.
The Unsent Letters – A person writes letters to their best friend who moved away – but never sends them, fearing they’ll sound too sad. The story unfolds through these letters, revealing their coping mechanism.
The Echo of the Train – A character stands on a platform, watching the train carrying their sibling away to a new life. The story explores the silence left behind and the echo of their last conversation.
The Goodbye Party – A group of friends throw a party for one of their own who’s moving. The story captures the laughter, tears, and the unspoken fears about the future of their friendship.
The Last Game – Two friends who met through their love for a sport play their final game together before one moves. The story uses the game as a metaphor for their relationship’s end.
Lost Opportunity
A character misses an important opportunity that could have changed their life, leading to a journey filled with what-ifs and eventual acceptance. These sad story ideas could explore themes of regret and personal growth.
The Missed Reunion : A group of friends plan a high school reunion, but one key member misses it due to a misunderstanding. The story explores how this absence affects their relationships and individual lives.
The Unused Ticket : A lottery ticket, forgotten in a drawer, turns out to be a winner. The story follows the life of the person who bought it, imagining how winning might have changed everything.
The Unspoken Apology : A man, estranged from his family, misses the chance to reconcile before his father’s death. The narrative unfolds through his journey back to his hometown, dealing with his guilt and missed reconciliation.
The Abandoned Startup : Two friends start a tech company, but one backs out at the last minute due to fear of failure. The story follows their separate paths, with one becoming successful with the company. The other always wonders what could have been if they had stayed together.
The Missed Performance : A street performer, too nervous to perform in front of a record producer, spends years regretting the moment. His life story is told through the songs he never sang.
The Unclaimed Inheritance : A woman discovers she was due an inheritance from a distant relative she never knew, but the claim period has passed.
The Missed Signal : In a wartime setting, a soldier misses a crucial signal that could have saved his unit. The story explores his life post-war, haunted by the what-ifs, and his journey towards forgiveness.
The Missed Flight : A young man misses a flight to an interview that could have been his big break. Instead, he spends the day in the airport, meeting various travelers whose stories make him question his own life’s direction.
The Scholarship : A high school student, due to a family emergency, misses the deadline for a scholarship that would have allowed him to escape his small town. The narrative follows his life, always haunted by what might have been.
The Unseen Talent : An artist too shy to submit her work misses out on a prestigious art show. Years later, her work is discovered posthumously, leading to a reflection on her life’s missed recognition.
The Forgotten Promise : Two friends make a pact to travel the world together, but life pulls them apart. One friend, on his deathbed, remembers the promise, leading to a poignant exploration of their divergent paths.
The Unplayed Game : A chess prodigy, pressured by his family to pursue a more “stable” career, never competes in a world championship. His life story is told through the chess games he imagined playing, each move reflecting his life’s choices.
The Silent Audition : A dancer, too nervous to perform at an important audition, spends her life teaching dance, always haunted by the music that could have been her soundtrack to fame.
The Unpublished Manuscript : An author, fearing rejection, never submits his first novel. Decades later, his family finds the manuscript, leading to a narrative exploring his life through the lens of his unshared stories.
The Missed Connection : In a bustling city, two souls meant for each other miss their chance at a subway station. The story follows their parallel lives, with occasional near-misses, until a final encounter.
The Unspoken Love : A woman, too afraid of rejection, never confesses her love to her best friend. The story unfolds through her diary entries, each one a step closer to acceptance of her own choices.
Writing Advice for a Good Sad Story
1. write deep characters.
To get readers to care about your story, you’ve got to create relatable characters . Give your characters full personalities with clear motivations, fears, and desires. Their back stories should be rich enough that readers can understand why they feel and act the way they do.
When readers connect with your characters on an emotional level, the impact of the sadness becomes much bigger.
2. Use Emotional Triggers
Use scenarios that naturally evoke strong emotions, like the pain of loss, the sting of betrayal, or the emptiness of unfulfilled dreams. These emotional triggers tap into universal human experiences so readers can empathize with your characters.
3. Build Up Gradually
Sadness shouldn’t be sudden or forced. Instead, let it build throughout the story. Start with subtle hints of melancholy or discomfort and gradually increase the stakes.
This gradual build-up allows readers to become more invested in the character’s journey, so when the full weight of the tragedy is revealed, it’s even more heartbreaking.
4. Show, Don’t Tell
Instead of telling your readers a character is sad or heartbroken, show it through their actions, dialogue, and internal thoughts. Describe the slump in their shoulders, the way they avoid eye contact, or how their voice cracks when they speak.
This way, readers can experience the sad feelings alongside the characters.
5. Symbolism and Metaphors
Symbols and metaphors can add depth to your story by adding layers of meaning. For example, a wilting flower can symbolize a character’s fading hope, or a storm can represent inner turmoil.
These literary devices can convey complex emotions in a subtle but powerful way.
6. Leave Room for Hope
Even in the saddest of stories, you need to leave room for hope or the possibility of redemption. This doesn’t mean your characters have to have a happy ending, but rather that something positive or meaningful can come from their suffering.
A glimmer of hope stops the story from being too bleak and gives readers something to hold onto.
Embrace the Challenge
Writing a sad story offers a unique opportunity to explore the full spectrum of human emotion. With these sad prompts at your fingertips, you’re equipped to create literary fiction that is both deeply poignant and moving.
Experience the thrill of bringing your characters to life and sharing their joys, sorrows, and everything in between with the world. Take that first step today, and if you ever need guidance, my story coaching is just a click away, ready to help you shape your next unforgettable sad story.
Filmmaker, Author, Actor and Story Consultant
Neil Chase is an award-winning, produced screenwriter, independent filmmaker, professional actor, and author of the horror-western novel Iron Dogs. His latest feature film is an apocalyptic thriller called Spin The Wheel.
Neil has been featured on Celtx, No Film School, Script Revolution, Raindance, The Write Practice, Lifewire, and MSN.com, and his work has won awards from Script Summit, ScreamFest, FilmQuest and Cinequest (among others).
Neil believes that all writers have the potential to create great work. His passion is helping writers find their voice and develop their skills so that they can create stories that are entertaining and meaningful. If you’re ready to take your writing to the next level, he's here to help!
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Sad Writing Prompts: Over 50 Ideas That Are Complete Tearjerkers
- July 14, 2022
Strong emotions make for great story-telling.
Sadness is one of those emotions that pulls on the heartstrings and makes a story engaging and memorable.
The saddest stories make us cry and even summon a tear when we remember them long after we first heard them.
Even though sadness is a complex emotion, it’s part of life.
Each of us will face feelings of sadness at some point in our lives.
When it comes to story-telling, exploring sadness offers some benefits.
It allows readers to connect with the characters on a deeply personal level and can be incredibly cathartic. Catharsis is the purging of emotions through storytelling.
We’ve got you covered if you’re a writer and want an idea for a sad short story.
This article has over 50 sad writing prompts to help you get started.
The prompts below include general sad story ideas, sad opening lines, and suggestions for sad dialogue.
We’ve also included sad lines and quotes from world-famous novels to inspire you further.
50+ sad writing prompts
Check out the 50+ sad story prompts below to inspire you!
Ideas for sad short stories
The main character is diagnosed with a terminal illness. Write a story about their attempts to reconnect with distant family members during the short time they have left.
A couple who lost their child to an illness years ago adopted an orphan. Write a story from the parents’ perspective as they learn to love this adopted child.
Write a story about a teenager trying to get through high school while also battling her depression. Explore her background, trials, tribulations, and the main character’s rocky relationship with herself.
Write a story from the perspective of a dead person who watches over their loved ones from the afterlife.
One of the last remaining members of an animal species is caged in a zoo. Write a story about their memories of life before the zoo, how they got caught, and their thoughts and sentiments today.
A couple about to reunite after ten years has their plans thwarted by a global pandemic. Write a series of letters between the two lovers yearning for each other during this unprecedented pandemic. For extra drama, add a conflict to the correspondence. Does a letter go missing? Is there some vital information revealed in one of the letters, something that might change the relationship?
An older, overweight woman just wants some love and affection. Her size and the amount of time since she was held by someone make her believe she is unlovable. One day, an old friend from school shows up to ask how she is. They spend time together, have lots of fun, and make lasting memories. Our main character develops feelings for her old friend, but he won’t be around forever.
A young boy is destined to become a superhero and save the world. To fulfill his destiny, he must leave his friends and family behind without telling them and enter a strict training regime in a secret location. Write a story from the perspective of his friends and family members who believe their loved one has gone missing.
A young high school couple decides to try a long-distance relationship when high school ends, and both go to different states for college. Write a letter from one partner to another explaining why they think they should break up—include memories and sentiments from the relationship and important last things they say to each other.
Write a story about a young girl whose cat was run over on the road outside her house. Explore how her parents teach her about death and grief.
An old man slowly dying in a hospital bed recounts the story of his life to his young grandson.
A father’s alcoholism tears a family apart. Write a story from the perspective of a daughter who needs her father, but his addiction makes him indisposed to help.
In high school, all the girls receive Valentine’s day cards from the boys in class. All but one. Write a story about the girl who doesn’t get a card.
Two young lovers are forbidden from seeing each other. Yearning for each other’s company, they sneak out of their respective homes. Knowing that their love is forbidden, they never return home.
A woman whose husband is killed in war dreams about him every night and wakes up alone every morning. Tired of the pain of waking up alone, she tries to go to sleep forever.
An old man and his dog are best friends and have only had each other for years. When the old man dies, the dog is left alone. The man’s relatives take the dog into their home. Every day, the dog runs away and sits on his former owner’s grave until his new owner comes to bring him home.
Sad short story opening line prompts
When I was a child I always wanted a dog, and I had one. The three months I spent with my dog was some of the most fun I’ve ever had.
Maria couldn’t cry. She was sad and angry but tired, and crying required far more energy than she could summon.
One morning, Brian woke up alone. He was surprised until he remembered that his dream life was a dream.
The best way to break a person’s heart is to pretend that you care about them.
I loved her, and she loved me. Now I’m a stranger, and she’s a memory.
One day I woke up, and she was gone. No text, no note, nothing. Just the smell of her hair on the pillow and my loneliness were all that was left.
You never know how much you love someone until they’re gone. That was one of the hardest lessons I ever had to learn.
Have you ever loved someone so much that it broke your heart?
When I was younger, I thought love was about butterflies, smiles, holding hands, and being happy forever after. Now that I’m older, I realize how much pain it causes. Still, that doesn’t mean we should stop loving.
The day the doctor told me I was sick was the first day of the rest of my life.
Looking back on my life before I died, I realize that there were so many things I could have done differently. All the worry, the procrastination, the pointless arguments, what a waste of time!
I’m done with love. Over. Never again.
Sad short story dialogue prompts
‘No, I won’t let you go!’
‘I love you.’
‘I’m sorry, but I have to leave.’
‘I was waiting for you.’
‘I’m sorry.’
‘I wish you told me how you felt before today.’
‘I understand if you never want to see me again.’
‘Can we just talk?’
‘I don’t love you anymore.’
‘I heard this song, which made me think of us.’
‘Loving you is the best and worst thing ever to me.’
‘Is there someone else?’
‘I have some bad news.’
‘How could you do this to me?’
‘I need to tell you something.’
‘I have to go, and I don’t know when I’ll be back.’
‘I really thought things would be different this time.’
‘I can’t help myself.’
‘I hope you never miss someone as much as I miss you.’
‘Words can’t describe the pain I feel right now.’
‘I’m worried about you; call me?’
‘All I want is one more moment with you; is that wrong?’
‘I know you don’t want to talk to me anymore, but I just want to thank you for making me a better person.’
‘I thought you would notice, but you didn’t.’
‘How can I possibly trust you anymore?’
‘I’m not mad at you, but I’m very disappointed.’
‘One time, I would have screamed and argued with you, but now I just don’t have the energy.’
‘I heard you’re happy now.’
‘All of this hurt, all of this pain, and still I love you.’
‘I never realized loving you would hurt this much. Still, I don’t regret a thing.’
‘I dreamed we were still together, you and me.’
Sad lines and quotes from literature
“Beautiful things grow to a certain height, and then they fall and fade off, breathing out memories as they decay.” F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Beautiful and Damned
“Time was passing like a hand waving from a train I wanted to be on. I hope you never have to think about anything as much as I think about you.” Jonathan Safran Foer, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
“If you have a sister and she dies, do you stop saying you have one? Or are you always a sister, even when the other half of the equation is gone?” Jodi Picoult, My Sister’s Keeper
“There are a lot of children in Afghanistan, but little childhood.” Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner
“I know so many last words. But I will never know hers.” John Green, Looking for Alaska
“I have scars on my hands from touching certain people.” J. D. Salinger, Raise High the Roof Beam
“I hid my deepest feelings so well I forgot where I placed them.” Amy Tan, Saving Fish from Drowning
“You see I usually find myself among strangers because I drift here and there trying to forget the sad things that happened to me.” F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
“The heart dies a slow death, shedding each hope like leaves until one day there are none. No hopes. Nothing remains.” Arthur Golden, Memoirs of a Geisha
‘I think everyone feels alone in their sadness, and there’s a certain value to hearing other people’s sad stories.’ Brandon Stanton, American Novelist
Sad stories evoke difficult emotions.
All of us have some sadness in our lives somewhere. Such is the nature of human life.
Many of us would rather avoid sadness altogether and only allow ourselves to feel positive emotions.
However, integrating and accepting sadness is essential for living a life of emotional stability.
Sad stories, though emotionally heavy, can help us process our own sadness.
American Novelist Brandon Stanton believes that hearing others’ stories is valuable. We experience catharsis, the purging of emotions through experiencing them vicariously through fictional characters .
Sad stories also help us feel sympathy, empathy, and compassion for others.
For writers, sad stories pose a challenge.
It’s essential to approach sad scenes and themes with authenticity and honesty.
At the same time, one shouldn’t indulge in sadness. It should exist as a theme as a by-product of the natural unfolding of events in a story.
So, if you’re a writer and you want to write a heart-heavy, tear-jerker story, use any of the prompts and ideas outlined above.
Feel free to chop and change elements of each prompt to suit you.
Take inspiration from one or several of the prompts above and craft your unique story that will bring a tear of sadness to your reader’s eye.
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50 Sad Story Ideas That Will Leave Your Readers Shattered
What is it about a sad story idea that’s so appealing?
I mean, it seems weird, right—the things readers want us to put them through? And it might be even weirder that we fulfill their requests so eagerly.
Maybe it’s because a book is a safe space. Sad stories give us an opportunity to explore difficult topics and our own capacity for sorrow without enduring real-life trauma.
Or maybe it’s that, like a sad song, a devastating story is cathartic. If we could use a good cry, a heart-wrenching book will get the job done.
Or maybe—and this is my favorite explanation—it’s the connective experience of seeing our own familiar pain reflected in an unfamiliar life. What reveals our common humanity more than our shared knowledge of loss, rejection, heartache, and isolation?
And what’s more reassuring than our ability to hurt because someone else—even a fictional someone else—is hurting?
Of course, in order to pull any of this off, you’ve got to know how to use your sad story idea well . You need to know how to write a tearjerker without leaning on clichés or accidentally exploiting real-life trauma.
Fortunately, you’re about to learn exactly that. I’ll also share 50 sad story ideas you can use to write a novel your readers will never get over.
Let’s get started.
How to Evoke Emotion
The key to evoking emotion is to make your story feel real for your readers. Help them forget they’re reading fiction.
Now, a carefully crafted plot and fully developed characters will go a long way towards accomplishing this goal. But you’ll need a few nuanced moves to really drive those big feelings home. Moves like this:
Create Context
A little context helps your reader not only connect with your character’s sadness but also understand the depth and complexity of their sadness.
It’s one thing for your protagonist to lose their beloved dog. It’s another for them to lose the dog that sat loyally at their feet for every AA meeting when they were at the lowest point in their life.
Creating context can be as simple as adding a couple sentences or as revealing a full backstory through flashbacks . Either way, help your reader understand what this harrowing situation actually means for the character.
Keep It Real
Our hungry little author brains devour all the tricks and maneuvers other writers use to spark emotions. Then, sometimes, we accidentally regurgitate those strategies onto the page (gross), using them as a sort of shortcut to accomplish what those other writers did.
That’s how we get clichés —characters sobbing into pillows and punching walls and saying “Don’t you die on me!”
To avoid this, key into your own emotions and life experiences.
How does loss feel in your body? What mannerisms do you observe when your romantic partner is angry? How would you describe the sounds and smells of a hospital if you’d never read another author’s description?
By all means, notice when another author’s story puts the sting in your tear ducts. But ask yourself why you feel so connected to the story. Is it the characterization? The sensory details ? A vivid metaphor?
Take the lesson and make it your own.
Show, Don’t Tell
If you’re not already familiar with this popular piece of writing advice, here’s the gist:
Great writing shows the reader what’s happening rather than explaining the scene.
For example, this is showing:
“So many times my eyes in the mirror were vacant or bruised with sorrow. Tonight they are clear and kohl lined, seemingly darkened by mystery and secrets, a cat-eyed stare shining with anticipation.” – Before I Let Go
This is telling:
“I’m used to seeing myself look sad in the mirror. Tonight my make-up looks good and I feel more alive.” –Me, ruining the line from Before I Let Go
Help the reader experience the moment for themselves. If you could use some help building your “show, don’t tell” muscles, we’ve got worksheets for that exact purpose.
At some point in your writerly life, you’re going to have to write about a trauma you have not experienced yourself. When you do, a strong imagination and deep sense of empathy can get you pretty far. But it won’t be enough.
Take some time to research the experience you’re writing about. Find articles about the psychological effects. Listen to podcasts in which specialists or survivors discuss that particular kind of trauma. Read the memoirs of people who’ve been through similar struggles.
(Little tip: we’ve got a couple articles to get you started on respectfully writing depressed and abused characters .)
It may also be a good idea to hire a sensitivity reader who can review your next-to-final draft and make sure you’re representing that experience respectfully.
This extra effort can help you…
Stay Out of the Exploitation Zone
There are two big things you want to look out for when you brainstorm sad story ideas.
First, notice if you have a character who’s defined exclusively by the sad thing that happens to them.
For example, do you have an abused character who’s got nothing else going on other than being victimized? Or do they also experience joy and hope on occasion? Do they look for ways to find some sense of control?
As tragic as a character’s situation may genuinely be, painting them with one big trauma brush flattens them. They become sadness caricatures and the reader becomes super aware that the author’s trying to make them cry.
Second, be extremely careful about sad story ideas that are basically just “the protagonist is from a marginalized community” (assuming it’s not your community).
For one thing, there’s a risk of portraying someone else’s entire identity as inherently sad. In no universe is that a good thing.
And for another, marginalized voices are only beginning to get a shot at the spotlight. They’ve endured generations of watching writers from outside their community tell their stories with very little effort to get it right.
I personally believe that when it comes to the identity-specific challenges of a marginalized demographic, it’s best to let the people who’ve lived it tell their own stories.
50 Sad Story Ideas
Now that you’ve had a quick lesson on devastating readers both effectively and ethically, let’s get those wheels turning.
Here are 50 sad story ideas spanning five different topics.
Purpose and Identity
- After a crushing loss, a talented artist struggles to regain their creative spark.
- A serious injury forces a young athlete to end the career they’ve built their entire identity around.
- When a grandparent is diagnosed with dementia, they invite their adult grandchild on a cross-country roadtrip, hoping to connect on a deeper level before their condition progresses.
- A struggling musician plans a final performance before giving up on their dream.
- A military chaplain experiences a crisis of faith after witnessing atrocities on the war front.
- While working with a therapist to process a friend’s death by suicide, an emotionally avoidant person confronts their own mental health struggles.
- Unhoused for the first time, a middle-aged person navigates the challenges of life without a home.
- After spending the first part of their life as “the only one of their kind,” an adolescent “extraterrestrial” embarks on a mission to find their planet of origin, only to learn they were made in a lab.
- A teenager is forced to rethink everything when they realize the “religion” they were raised in is actually a cult.
- A person finds themselves feeling trapped and unhappy in their “idyllic” life, realizing for the first time that they worked hard to build a life that would spark everyone’s envy but their own.
- The accidental loss of a cherished family heirloom sparks a long-overdue family feud and unearths old grievances.
- A couple considers divorce when they reach an impasse about how to handle their fertility struggles.
- A young adult goes on a mission to find their twin who went missing as a child. Along the way, they’re forced to confront their resentment over a childhood that was always about the sibling who wasn’t there.
- Parents fight to get their kidnapped and adopted child back from the adoptive parents. (Or the reverse perspective: parents learn that their adopted child was kidnapped—not orphaned—and the birth parents want the child back.)
- A peasant child adopted into a royal family feels trapped between worlds.
- Two siblings who had very different experiences in the foster care system struggle to find a connection as adults.
- A stray dog goes on a journey to find a loving home.
- A single parent struggles to rescue their adult child from a cult.
- Conflict arises when an economic crisis threatens the survival of a 90-year-old family business.
- After stumbling on a family secret they were never supposed to know, three cousins carry the burden of deciding whether or not to reveal information that could destroy their family.
Relationships
- An elderly couple struggles to stay connected after their different medical needs force them to live in separate care facilities.
- Lifelong friends find themselves on opposite ends of the political divide, both sucked into social media rage culture and ultimately unable to find their way back to one another.
- Two teenagers struggling with anxiety and isolation during the pandemic discover a deeper connection in their virtual study group.
- After spending a decade together, a once-in-a-lifetime job opportunity forces a couple to navigate a long-distance relationship. New opportunities and experiences cause them to question whether their relationship allows them to be their true selves.
- Young lovers are torn apart when one becomes the accused in a literal witch trial.
- After fighting with their neighbor/friend, a person leaks a rumor about the neighbor that has more devastating consequences than they expected.
- A young, orphaned wizard discovers their adored mentor has been luring them towards danger this whole time.
- Now in danger of losing their house, a newly unemployed person discovers their best friend is to blame for their firing.
- A divorced couple reunite after two years of not speaking to put their cat to sleep together. They spend the remainder of the day hashing out what went wrong in their marriage.
- An engaged couple begins to question if love really is enough as they endure the painful process of planning a wedding that doesn’t involve their disapproving parents.
- A soldier returns home to a changed world.
- After accidentally starting a destructive wildfire, a former #vanlife influencer struggles to forgive themselves even as they try to make amends with the communities they’ve hurt.
- A family is separated while fleeing war and must find their way back to one another.
- Questioning the accuracy of their own recollections, the witness to a violent crime grapples with the power of their testimony to destroy the defendant’s life.
- Having recently witnessed a mass shooting, a student struggles to find a sense of purpose or hope as they begin their first year of college.
- A general makes a seemingly minor error that results in a devastating attack on their utopian kingdom.
- A teacher must keep their students safe after an earthquake leaves them trapped in their classroom.
- When severe drought causes a lake to shrink, an unidentified body surfaces. A detective works tirelessly to determine who the person is and provide closure for the family.
- After being seriously injured in an avalanche, a skier must come to terms with the loss of their Olympic dreams.
- A child tries to find their way home after being swept away in a flash flood.
- Still grappling with their own mortality, a heart transplant recipient decides to honor their donor by completing the donor’s unfinished bucket list.
- A hospice nurse is at a loss when the time comes to guide her own father through his final days.
- As their single parent battles a terminal illness, a young teenager has no choice but to serve as primary caretaker.
- After losing their mentor in a diving accident, a deep-sea diver confronts their new fear of the ocean by taking on a dangerous cave diving expedition.
- A widow(er) learns their late spouse committed a heartbreaking betrayal. Now they must grieve not only their partner but also the person they believed their partner was.
- After the death of the family dog, a child seeks the answer to whether there’s an afterlife for pets.
- Unable to move on, a widow(er)/scientist keeps traveling back in time to relive their best days with their spouse. Meanwhile, their current life is crumbling due to their neglect.
- Now able to see and understand their loved ones on a deeper level, the ghost of a recently deceased person feels regret for the way they handled their relationships in life.
- A person with a terminal illness seeks to make amends with an estranged relative before it’s too late.
- A teenager grapples with survivor guilt after a close friend dies saving their life.
Craft Your Tearjerker With Dabble
Hopefully a few of those ideas spoke to you or inspired some of your own. And now that the sad story ideas are coming in hot, you’re gonna need a place to store and organize your brilliant brainstorm .
Allow me to suggest Dabble . From Story Notes and the famous Plot Grid to co-authoring and commenting, Dabble has everything you need to stay organized through the entire writing process.
Plus, you can access Dabble on any device, online or off, and never worry about losing a word of genius thanks to autosave.
Want to try it for yourself? Snag a free 14-day trial by clicking this link .
Now get there and utterly destroy your readers. In a good way.
Abi Wurdeman is the author of Cross-Section of a Human Heart: A Memoir of Early Adulthood, as well as the novella, Holiday Gifts for Insufferable People. She also writes for film and television with her brother and writing partner, Phil Wurdeman. On occasion, Abi pretends to be a poet. One of her poems is (legally) stamped into a sidewalk in Santa Clarita, California. When she’s not writing, Abi is most likely hiking, reading, or texting her mother pictures of her houseplants to ask why they look like that.
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40 Sad Writing Prompts and Story Ideas
If you’re into stories that really hit you in the feels, then you’re in the right place.
Sad stories have a way of sticking with us, don’t they?
They can be about devastating breakups, loss that cuts to the bone, or any kind of struggle that just doesn’t seem to have a good ending.
Want to give writing a tragic story a try?
We’ve got some writing prompts below that are all about those deep, sorrowful feelings. They’ll help you dig into themes like love, loss, betrayal, the whole nine yards.
Just a heads up – these prompts are no joke.
They’re designed to bring up some seriously heavy emotions, so get ready!
Trapped in a Dream – Imagine you’re in a deep, everlasting dream that you can’t wake up from, and within this dream, you are constantly reliving your most regrettable actions and decisions. It’s a world that punishes you endlessly by bringing back the people you’ve hurt, the opportunities you’ve missed, and the lives you could have lived differently. Craft a story where your protagonist navigates through this dream world and attempts to find redemption within their own subconscious.
The Lighthouse Keeper’s Loneliness – Write about a lighthouse keeper living in a remote island. The keeper’s only interaction is with occasional sailors passing by. The isolation is haunting, and he yearns for human companionship. The sight of the boundless sea only intensifies his loneliness. Explore the depths of the lighthouse keeper’s solitude and his longing for connection with the world beyond the sea.
Once Unconditional Love – Your character was madly in love with their spouse, but after many years, the once passionate love has fizzled out. No catastrophic event or argument led to this, only the slow, torturous process of time and monotony. Describe the aching pain of still loving someone while acknowledging that the spark is gone and the struggle to reignite it.
Memento Mori – Your main character has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. However, the true tragedy lies not in the impending death, but in the realization that they have not truly lived. Their life was dominated by the pursuit of societal norms and expectations. Write about the character’s journey to rediscover life and fill their remaining days with genuine, heartfelt experiences.
Broken Dreams of an Athlete – Your character was once a promising athlete, but a career-ending injury shattered their dreams and ambitions. Now, they must face the harsh reality of life without the one thing that defined them. Dive into the mental turmoil of this character as they search for a new purpose and identity, all while mourning the life they once had.
The Desolate Soldier – A veteran returns home after a long and harrowing tour of duty. He finds that while he was away fighting, life moved on without him. His home, family, and friends, everything is different and he struggles to fit in. Write about the struggle and the sorrow of the soldier trying to readjust to a world that no longer feels like home.
The Silence of an Empty Nest – With the kids grown up and moved out, your character and their spouse are left alone in the house that was once full of life and laughter. They are both grappling with the quiet and the emptiness, feeling a profound sense of loss. Narrate the journey of acceptance and the search for a new meaning to life in the face of this deafening silence.
Final Letters of a Migrant – Your protagonist is an old migrant who has lived in a foreign land all their life but has never truly felt at home. Now, facing the end of their life, they decide to write a series of letters to their estranged family back in their homeland. Depict the migrant’s experience of a lifetime of isolation and longing for a home that exists only in their memories.
Unsung Hero’s Guilt – Your protagonist has done numerous acts of kindness and bravery in secret, while another person unknowingly reaps all the praise and admiration. As the other person’s fame grows, so does your protagonist’s guilt. Write about their internal struggle of wanting recognition yet also wanting to remain an unsung hero.
An Old Friend’s Betrayal – The protagonist is betrayed by their closest friend, a person they trusted unconditionally. The pain of betrayal is worse than the actual act of treachery itself. Capture the poignant journey of the protagonist grappling with feelings of trust broken and love lost.
In the Shadows of Success – Your character has lived their entire life in the shadow of a successful sibling, constantly being compared and always falling short. The burden of feeling never good enough is affecting their self-esteem. Portray the protagonist’s struggle for self-acceptance in a world that only measures them against their sibling.
Love in the Time of Dementia – Your character’s lifelong partner is slowly losing their memories due to dementia. The heartbreaking process of watching the person they love most forget their shared life together is unfolding. Write about their struggle to hold onto their shared past as the one they love slips further and further away.
The Last Bookstore – The protagonist owns the last physical bookstore in a town where everyone else has switched to digital. Despite their efforts to save it, the inevitable closure of the store looms ahead. Describe their grief over the impending loss of not just their livelihood, but a piece of culture they hold dear.
The Unsent Letter – Your character finds an unsent letter from their late parent. The letter reveals feelings of regret and unfulfilled dreams, giving them a new perspective on their parent they thought they knew well. Explore their journey of grief and understanding as they grapple with their parent’s untold story.
A Mother’s Sacrifice – The protagonist is a single mother who sacrifices everything for her child, even her dreams and aspirations. One day, her child accuses her of not understanding the importance of dreams. Write about her silent sorrow and her struggle to reveal her own lost dreams without making her child feel guilty.
The Artist’s Last Masterpiece – An aging artist, once renowned but now forgotten, is creating what they know will be their last masterpiece. But they fear that like them, their art will go unnoticed and unappreciated. Describe the artist’s fear of being forgotten and their desire to leave a lasting impact on the world.
A Child’s Loss – Your protagonist is a young child who loses their beloved pet, experiencing the harsh reality of death for the first time. The child’s parents, while dealing with their own grief, must explain this irreversible change. Explore the child’s journey of understanding and accepting the concept of mortality.
The Uncelebrated Hero – The protagonist, a paramedic, is exposed to life and death scenarios daily but their work remains largely unrecognized by society. They save lives yet go home each day feeling insignificant. Narrate the story of this uncelebrated hero dealing with feelings of underappreciation while continuing their selfless work.
Time-Travel Regret – Your character gains the ability to time travel but makes a decision that alters their timeline for the worse. Unable to rectify the situation, they must now live with a reality they created but deeply regret. Write about their struggle to adapt to this new timeline, and the burden of their regret.
Last Words Unheard – The protagonist’s last interaction with a loved one was an argument. When that loved one suddenly passes away, the protagonist grapples with guilt, regret, and the words left unspoken. Describe their journey of coping with the guilt and seeking forgiveness in their own heart.
The Failed Protector – Your character, a police officer, is unable to prevent a crime that results in a victim’s death. They had joined the force to protect, but now they feel like a failure, dealing with guilt and self-doubt. Illustrate their inner turmoil as they try to make peace with their failure and regain confidence in their purpose.
Behind the Smile – Your character is known for their cheerful and bubbly personality, but underneath that, they are fighting their own mental health battles. Afraid to worry their loved ones, they choose to suffer in silence. Unfold their hidden struggle and their journey to reach out for help while maintaining their facade.
Empty Victory – The protagonist finally achieves a goal they have been working towards for years, only to find it hollow and unfulfilling. Now, they feel lost and devoid of purpose. Describe their journey to rediscover their passion and to understand what true success means to them.
The Poet’s Block – Your character, a renowned poet, suddenly finds themselves unable to create any meaningful verse. With their identity tied to their art, they’re left feeling empty and lost. Write about their struggle with creative block and the fear of never being able to create again.
Bearing the Burden Alone – The protagonist is the eldest child in a family that’s fallen on hard times. They have to take on multiple jobs and responsibilities, leaving no room for their own personal dreams or desires. Chronicle the struggles and sacrifices the character makes while feeling overwhelmed by the weight of their responsibilities.
A Promise Unfulfilled – Your character made a promise to their best friend as children, a promise they were unable to keep due to circumstances beyond their control. Now, many years later, the guilt of that unfulfilled promise haunts them. Dive into their journey of self-forgiveness and letting go of past regrets.
The Melody of the Past – The protagonist, a retired musician, is losing their hearing. With every passing day, the world becomes a little quieter, and their connection to their past and their music is fading. Narrate the story of their struggle to cope with this loss and their journey to find a new purpose in life.
The Unnoticed Helper – Your character is a quiet, reserved person who constantly helps everyone but always goes unnoticed. They struggle with feelings of invisibility and yearn for acknowledgment. Write about their silent battle with loneliness and their desire to be seen and appreciated.
Ghost of a Lover – The protagonist loses their significant other in a tragic accident. Even years after the incident, they are unable to move on and feel haunted by the memories of their lost love. Describe the pain of their loss, their struggle with letting go, and their journey to find closure.
The Forgotten Village – Your character hails from a small village that is rapidly being forgotten due to urbanization. As the city grows, their home becomes a ghost town. Narrate their pain of seeing their home disappear and their fight to preserve their culture and heritage.
The Letter That Never Arrived – The protagonist has been waiting for a letter from their estranged sibling for years. The letter never arrives, leaving them in a state of anticipation and longing. Depict their emotional turmoil as they grapple with the uncertainty and their longing for reconciliation.
Invisible Chains – Your character, despite being free physically, is shackled by their past and their fear. This invisible chain is preventing them from moving forward in life. Explore their internal struggle to break free from their past and overcome their fear.
A Flower Among Weeds – Your protagonist is a skilled and talented person living in a community that fails to appreciate their abilities. Instead of nurturing their talent, the community mocks and ridicules them. Depict the protagonist’s struggle with this constant discouragement and their journey towards self-acceptance and belief in their own worth.
The Diary of Unspoken Words – Your character finds a diary left behind by their late spouse, revealing a side of them they never knew. The diary’s words echo with unfulfilled dreams and unexpressed emotions. Narrate the painful journey of discovery as the character grapples with these newfound aspects of their partner’s life.
A Teacher’s Dilemma – The protagonist is a dedicated teacher in a school system that prioritizes grades over actual learning. They watch helplessly as their students lose interest and enthusiasm for learning. Write about their struggle to ignite a spark of passion for knowledge in their students within this stifling system.
Sorrow in Silence – Your character is a radio host who is a source of joy and positivity for their listeners. However, behind their cheerful voice lies a lonely individual battling their own demons. Explore the dichotomy of their on-air personality and their off-air reality, and their journey towards self-healing.
A Life on the Stage – The protagonist, an aging actor, is being forced into retirement. The stage was their life, and now, without it, they feel a deep sense of emptiness. Capture their struggle to adapt to life off stage and their yearning for the applause and the lights one last time.
Gifts From the Departed – On their birthday each year, your character receives a gift from their deceased parent, arranged years in advance. With each gift, they relive their loss anew. Write about their emotional journey each year as they celebrate their birthday with joy and sorrow in equal measures.
The Echoes of a Childhood Home – The protagonist returns to their childhood home after decades, only to find it in ruins. The sight triggers a wave of nostalgia and loss, as they recall the days of laughter and love that once filled the house. Narrate their struggle to reconcile their vibrant memories with the stark reality before them.
The Weight of a Crown – Your character, a young ruler, feels overwhelmed by the responsibilities of their position. They are expected to be strong and wise beyond their years, but inside, they’re still just a person filled with self-doubt and fear. Chronicle their journey as they navigate the burdens of leadership while struggling to maintain their own identity.
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Home / Book Writing / Sad Writing Prompts: 50+ Ideas to Get Your Started
Sad Writing Prompts: 50+ Ideas to Get Your Started
One of the reasons stories of all kinds are so popular — and have been for thousands of years — is that they help us process real-world emotions. We'll all have to deal with grief, sadness, heartache, depression, and negative thoughts at some point in our lives. And sometimes, one thing that can help us get through tough times is a story where fictional characters go through something similar.
That's why we've developed this list of sad writing prompts for your next journal entry, short story, or novel idea.
- Sad Book Genres
- Tips for Writing a Sad Story
- Sad Writing Prompts
Table of contents
- Where Do Sad Stories Fit?
- Tips to Help Your Sad Writing
- Planning for Publishing Success
One of the things we talk about here at Kindlepreneur is writing to market. That is, writing something you want to write that also intersects with an existing marke t. Preferably one with hungry readers. And as you surely know, there's no such thing as a “Sad” book genre. But that doesn't mean that sad books don't fit nicely into some existing genres . They do. And here are a couple to keep in mind:
- Literary Fiction – These kinds of books don't fit neatly into other popular fiction categories like mystery or romance. This is where you'll often find books of a sad nature, dealing with loss, depression, interpersonal relationships, and overwhelming feelings.
- Romance – There are often some seriously strong emotions in romance stories. And sadness is chief among them. But the thing to remember about the romance genre is readers expect a happy ending. So, not too much sadness!
- Drama – There's not really an official drama category in most bookstores. Amazon certainly doesn't have a drama category for Kindle books. But thinking about sad, dramatic films is a good way to categorize your story, at least in your own head.
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If you can write a book or story that evokes strong emotions from your readers, then you'll likely have a good career as an author. Provided, of course, those strong emotions are the ones you intended to evoke. No matter the genre, a good story relies on character development , conflict, and rising stakes. For this reason, there’s really only a handful of story structures out there. And if you familiarize yourself with these story structures , you can write a compelling story that people will enjoy.
The big difference between most popular fiction genres and a sad book in a genre like literary fiction is the type of stakes. In a thriller, the stakes may be death. Maybe for the character. Maybe for the whole world.
In a dramatic book, the stakes will be mostly emotional. Often love or enlightenment . If your main character doesn't get what she seeks, she'll remain lost in her life. Or he'll break down and will no longer be able to function. Or the love of her life will slip away forever.
So as you write, keep the stakes in mind. And try to keep raising the stakes as you move toward the climax . This is what readers expect. And while there's a little bit of leeway in the literary fiction genre, the climactic story structure is so ingrained in our cultural psyche that you ignore it at your peril.
Now, on to the creative writing prompts!
The following writing ideas can be used as a jumping-off point or merely for inspiration. If you like a story starter as it is, start writing and see where it takes you. Or change the writing prompt however you see fit and let the inspiration take over!
1. Write about a mental health professional who is afraid one of her patients may hurt himself.
2. Write about the grief a young character experiences when he loses a close friend.
3. Explore how social media negatively affects one young person's view of the world. Write it from the young person's perspective using first person POV .
4. Write about a young woman reading a love letter and crying. What's in the letter that's making her cry?
5. Write about two characters who speak different languages coming into conflict with each other because of their language barrier.
6. Write about a character who receives a terminal diagnosis. What does he do with the time he has left?
7. There's something wrong with your main character's sister. She begins acting erratically and saying very strange things.
8. Write about an unlikely friendship that develops between a hospice worker and a patient.
9. One high school is thrown into turmoil after a terrible bus accident takes the lives of many students.
10. Start your story as a diary entry written by a character who's contemplating suicide.
11. Think about your happiest childhood memory. Identify a few things that helped you feel that happiness. Now write a story about a character who never had those things in her life.
12. Write a story from the perspective of someone battling depression and overcoming anxiety.
13. Start a story in which one character lets anger take control. He says or does things that he'll find hard to take back when he calms down.
14. Write a story in which a small town or village is destroyed by deforestation or another environmentally questionable practice.
15. Write a story in which a woman gets convicted of a crime she didn't commit.
16. Detail one family's struggle to survive during a catastrophic natural disaster.
17. Explore the feelings of a young character dealing with rejection.
18. Write about a character who is orphaned when he loses his only family member. Will he find a new family?
19. Explore the terrible things that can happen when a loved one is afflicted with a drug problem.
20. Have a character look back on something bad that happened to their younger self. Have them use that incident to overcome their biggest challenge as an adult.
21. Sometimes what seems like the worst thing in the world can actually be a good thing. Write about how good things come from unlikely places.
22. Write about a character who has a hard time dealing with emotion. When things are bottled up, they can often come out in other ways.
23. Write about an old married couple who thinks they can no longer stay together. What are their final days before the divorce like? Do they end up falling back in love?
24. Abuse comes in all shapes and sizes. Write a story about a character finally getting out of an abusive relationship.
25. Write about how the world always seems to take the good ones away first.
26. Explore a character who ventures to meet her biological mother for the first time. The meeting is nothing like what she expected.
27. Explore the struggles families go through when dealing with a family member with a mental health problem.
28. She always wanted a child. But now that she has one, she feels like something is missing.
29. The grass always seems greener on the other side. But when you get over there, it rarely is. Write about a character who seems to burn every bridge in search of greener grass.
30. Write about a character learning to live again after suffering a debilitating injury.
31. People express their feelings in different ways. Explore a character who expresses her feelings in a way that makes people think she's abrasive.
32. Hate is a strong emotion. But so is love. Explore two characters learning how to stop hating and start loving.
33. “All I want is to find something to fill that hole inside me. But I don't think it exists.”
34. She just left the bathroom for a minute to answer the phone. There were only a few inches of water in the tub…
35. He could still feel the painful wound in his hand. This time, he managed to look into the mirror without punching it.
36. She tried to see the beauty in everything. But after the funeral, it seemed impossible. She thought all the beauty had been sucked out of the world.
37. He watched the storm coming slowly closer. The sky looked exactly like this when his life was torn apart.
38. Explore how one seemingly insignificant choice can change a life for the worst.
39. He saw the homeless man every day on the way to work. One day, he decided to call in sick and help the man.
40. Write a story about a character who must deal with a narcissistic and extremely manipulative father.
41. It feels too good to be true. Has she finally found love, or is she being manipulated?
42. He's the most in-demand actor in Hollywood. So why does he feel so empty inside?
43. Write about a character who has a bad day and is rude to someone at a coffee shop. They feel bad, but soon find out the person they were rude to is out for revenge.
44. The new marriage is exciting, but something isn't quite right. Could it be that the perfect relationship is anything but?
45. She's poor until she receives a large inheritance. But with the money comes a whole new set of problems.
46. His brother has always been a lot to handle. But on this trip back home, the sibling does something truly terrible.
47. Her favorite thing in the world is her music. But a freak accident causes her to go deaf.
48. As a writer prepares to take his final breaths before his assisted suicide, he laments those things he didn't do in his life.
49. When a young man experiences some bullying at his new school, he's heartbroken. But he could never have guessed what would happen to his bully. Or why everyone would suspect him.
50. As a godmother to her best friend's child, she never thought she'd actually have to raise the kid. But a horrible accident makes her an adoptive mother.
Whether you use one of these sad writing prompts as a story starter or a journal prompt doesn't matter much. What matters is you sharpen your story-writing skills with practice. Whether the story is novel-length or simply a short story, you'll still enjoy the practice that comes with executing a character-driven plot .
But what if you've written a sad book and you'd like to put it out in the world to make some money from it? If that's your goal, then it's good to have a plan.
The most successful indie authors have a plan in place before publishing their books. And part of that plan means looking at the market to find readers who are interested in their books . There’s more than one way to go about this, but only one way that doesn’t take hours of mind-numbing research.
With Publisher Rocket , you can get data in seconds that would otherwise take you hours if you were to comb through Amazon yourself . The main PR tools allow you to:
- Learn what keywords Amazon customers use to search for books like yours — and how many searches a given keyword (or phrase) receives per month.
- See what's working for other authors in your genre with data on book price, monthly sales, ranking, and book cover styles.
- Find niche categories with the right amount of demand and competition for your books.
- Gather keywords to use in your Amazon Ad campaigns.
Check out Publisher Rocket here to learn more.
Jason Hamilton
When I’m not sipping tea with princesses or lightsaber dueling with little Jedi, I’m a book marketing nut. Having consulted multiple publishing companies and NYT best-selling authors, I created Kindlepreneur to help authors sell more books. I’ve even been called “The Kindlepreneur” by Amazon publicly, and I’m here to help you with your author journey.
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50 Sad Story Writing Prompts That Aren’t Boring
Writing prompts are becoming one of the greatest ways to initiate conversations and writing at different levels. The Love to Know defines a writing prompt as a statement that is accompanied by a question that one can use to design or craft a story. The questions are intended to guide the writer or the storyteller on particular areas they should pay attention to. A sad story writing prompts carry emotions of sorrowfulness or events that we would never wish to have again in our lives. Like all the other writing prompts, sad story writing prompts fall into different categories, as seen in our discussion.
Creative Sad Story Writing Prompts
These are writing prompts based on possibilities the writer has never experienced. They may contain questions or use eclipses to give the writer a chance to pick up a story from a given level. Some of them are as stated below.
50. That night, my brother went to bed early, Having his usual smile. However, in the morning, he never came to wake me up as he used to. When I went to his room, I found him crying and he told me that…
49. On that morning, you were expecting your father, who was serving abroad, to return. Instead, you realize that things are not good when you see the army captain knock at your family’s door. Upon opening the door, his tired face looked at your mother, and he delivered the sad news that…
48. Your class teacher has been sick and hospitalized for a long period. When you finally visited them, you met your friends who were crying, saying how good the deceased teacher was…
47. You have just arrived home and found your pet dead. What will you do?
46. There is that Stranger you always see at the church gate begging for food. What will you do if you realize that he is one of your lost relatives, of which you were unaware?
45. You have just visited your friend’s house, and you find that they have lost their sibling through a terrific road accident. What are the best three songs you would sing to them and why?
44. Your grandmother has been telling you that you have to visit her soon. The day you intend to travel, you have fallen sick. Please write a letter to him explaining the situation.
43. You have been diagnosed with cancer, and you have been told that you have three months to live. If allowed to choose the best thing you wish to do, what will that be?
42. You have been given a role where you must cry during a play. What event will you think of so that you shed tears in that part of the play?
41. You are tired of some students bullying others in the school. What are the appropriate actions that you think should be taken by your school to stop the vice?
Descriptive Sad Story Writing Prompts
After stating the statement, there is the use of phrases like “write about,” “describe,” or “tell your…”. Descriptive writing prompts target learners’ ability to talk about a real-life experience. The learners must give in detail how painful the event/ experience was, and they must do so vividly. Some of the best examples are as given below:
40. Last summer you went on a holiday camp. When having a play, one of your friends got injured, tell your class the appropriate steps you took.
39. You have just moved into a new school and like its diet. What are some of the most boring meals you wish they could do away with?
38. When packing clothes for hiking and camping classes, you forgot to pack your cold-weather clothes. Describe how bad the experience was.
37. You arrived home, and you found that there was a fire that had consumed everything you had. Describe one item which you felt so bad losing and why?
36. Families can be separated through legal means. When your parents decided to separate, you had to make a difficult choice on which you would live with them. Write about why you chose the one you have today.
35. Your family has just moved into a new location, and on the first Sunday, after coming from church, you find that someone broke into your parents’ house and stole several items. What are the factors which could have contributed to this?
34. There are friends your parents have warned against interacting with them. What are some of the reasons they have advanced against them?
33. Some of your classmates have racially discriminated against your new friend in your school. Describe the right measures you would take to ensure that the same does not happen in future.
32. You have consistently failed in a certain subject, and the reason is because of the bad attitude the subject teacher has towards you. Describe how you wish to solve the problem.
31. One of your parents was transferred to a foreign country last year, and since then, he has been coming only twice a year. He has just arrived and wants to know how things have been without them. Describe the situation.
Imaginative Sad Story Writing Prompts
Most times, imaginative writing prompts are confused with creative ones. However, there is still a thin line between them in that imaginative prompts may create situations that may not exist in real life and may be based on things we may never experience. On the other hand, creative prompts are based on real situations, and their probability is so high. You will likely see the phrase “imagine that” or “if it were true that. ” Here are some of the imaginative sad story-creating prompts.
30. Imagine that you are your school’s principal [all and the students who had gone on a trip got into an accident, and all of them have lost their lives. How would you break the story to the rest of the school?
29. Last night, you dreamt of floods in your area, and all the houses will be swept. Imagine that all your dreams must come to pass. How will you break the news to your parents?
28. Your parents have never entertained the idea that you choose a pet for yourself. Imagine that you have won a cash award and have decided to buy yourself a pet instead. How will you convince your parents why they should allow you to own a pet?
27. Imagine that you can stop people from destroying the environment. What are some of the laws you would pass to make this happen?
26. Imagine that all the stories you hear about an abandoned building in your village are true and, with your friends, must get into it to confirm the same.
25. Imagine that there is that one guy who keeps mocking your sister that she is a “fat lady with no shape.” What will you do to stop him?
24. There are places you wish to visit in your life. Imagine one of such places and write about them.
23. Imagine that you are the lead character in a leading movie cast that has just hit the airwaves and has fallen sick. Whom will you recommend that they take up your role and why?
22. You know that there is a new developer in your area demanding the evictions of the people surrounding his area. What are the best actions you can take to stop this?
21. You have been a teacher in your local school, and students have decided to go on strike. Imagine that you are the only teacher who is easily available; what will you do to stop them?
Poetic Sad Story Writing Prompts
Poetry is one of the greatest ways we can poetry our sad feelings. Poetic sad story writing prompts to guide the writer in focusing their energy on telling a painful emotional experience. Britannica summarizes poetry as the use of literature to evoke emotions through creative and imaginative writing skills. Some of them are as stated below.
20. Your current grade/ form is the worst year you have ever had in school. Write a poem to document all the bad incidents.
19. You have just witnessed the border police separate a parent from their kids. Write a poem to narrate the situation.
18. Your parents have been embroiled in marital fights daily. This has had a lot of negative impact on your school performance. Write a poem on the same.
17. You have entered a competition to write poems about the fallen army soldiers. Do a poem you shall present with your class at their memorial service.
16. There has been serious water pollution in your area. Do a poem about it.
15. Parents’ Day is just around the corner, and your teacher needs you to do a poem on bullying. In a group of five, write and pre-recite the poem.
14. You have been looking for your sister, who disappeared five years ago. Write a poem on the things you miss about her.
13. War has serious implications for people’s lives. Write a poem on why you do not like war.
12. Using a short poem, tell people how difficult it has been as an orphan.
11. You remember that time you were in a deep depression? Write a poem to your friends about how you felt.
Speculative Sad Story Writing Prompts
Speculative prompts find their place between imaginative and creative prompts. They carry the elements of both prompts only that they introduce the use of the phrase “what if” to initiate a possibility. Some of the best sad story writing prompts are as stated below.
10. Accidents have been the greatest cause of death in your nation. What would you do if such a tragedy occurred in your school?
9. You have not been aware that your friend is a gang member in the town. What would happen if the police conducted a search and found his murder weapon at your house?
8. What if you realized that your parents are drug dealers who have been responsible for the death of several youths in your area?
7. You have been planning your wedding for the last two years. What if another person shows up and claims that they have been having an affair with your partner for longer?
6. You have planned to visit the children with your wife, whom you work with, at a place far away from home. What if one of you is denied permission at the workplace?
5. You have been selected to represent your school at the regional competitions. What if you sustain an injury?
4. You have been hoping you will retire from your current company. What if it closed down?
3. You have always known that your birth parents are the ones you have been living with. What if you find documents showing that you were adopted?
2. Your class teacher has been your role model. What if you are watching the news in the evening and see them arrested for being a serial sex offender?
1. You have been performing well in your favorite subjects. What if you fail the last exam?
Why Writing Prompts?
Though we have analyzed different writing prompts and how they can be useful, it is good that we look at the general importance of writing prompts.
- They can be used as the platform for writers to create future writings on books or novels.
- They unclog a writer’s mind by guiding them on the specific areas they should write about. For example, after a long holiday, students may have a problem trying to get what they should write, but using writing prompts, they can quickly sort out these problems.
- They are important in enhancing learners’ creativity levels by giving them new ideas.
- Through them, writers learn how to initiate their stories.
- Where they are set in a school context, they are used by teachers to determine improvements in the writing skills of a given learner as they move from one level to another.
In Conclusion
The above sad story writing prompts have been designed with much respect for learners’ and writers’ abilities. Depending on the writer’s capability, they have a wide room from which they can choose. Teachers can use some of them and develop new prompts. For example, one can improve poetic prompts into imaginative or creative writing prompts. We hope that we have guided you to understand and get a list of 50 sad writing prompts that are not boring.
Janine is passionate about parenting. As a mother of 5 she knows a thing or two about how to raise children. She has a love for food, travel, and making sure her children stay on the right path.
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40+ Sad Backstory Ideas for Your Character (2024)
Looking for sad backstory ideas for your characters?
Read on for ideas like an aging bread earner’s job being replaced by an AI, a character who was once part of an unethical experiment, and many more!
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Sad backstory prompts
Relating to loss and grief, relating to trauma and adversity, relating to betrayal and abandonment, relating to internal struggles and challenges, why sad backstory.
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Related posts: Tragic Love Story Ideas (2023) The Most Enticing Forbidden Love Story Ideas (Updated in 2023) Riveting Family Drama Story Ideas (Updated in 2023) Creative Story Ideas to Inspire You (Updated in 2023)
Sad Backstory Ideas
While sad backstory can vary depending on the context and storytelling, they can often be grouped into four common categories. These categories provide a framework for creating emotionally compelling character histories. Here are some ideas in each category.
Please note that the genders in these prompts and story ideas are just placeholders and do not mean to enforce any hurtful stereotypes nor offend anyone.
Here are some prompts that you can use to give your character layers of depth and authenticity to their journey.
- The Lost Melody: A renowned composer loses their ability to hear music after a tragic accident, leading to a deep depression and loss of purpose.
- The Dream Catcher: A person who has the ability to enter and manipulate dreams discovers they are unable to dream themselves, causing feelings of isolation and emptiness.
- The Tainted Gift: A child born with an extraordinary talent for painting realizes that their artwork has the power to bring their subjects to life, but every creation is, somehow, lifespan.
- The Forgotten Lighthouse: A lighthouse keeper spends their entire life alone, guiding ships to safety, only to be forgotten and abandoned when the lighthouse becomes automated.
- The Muted Voice: A gifted singer loses their voice in a traumatic event, leading to a profound loss of identity and a struggle to find alternative means of expression.
- The Broken Compass: A skilled navigator becomes disoriented after witnessing a devastating shipwreck, forever losing their sense of direction and purpose.
- The Vanishing Memory: A person wakes up one day with no recollection of their past, surrounded by evidence that they were once deeply connected to a powerful secret organization.
- The Silent Puppeteer: A puppeteer becomes trapped inside their own marionette creation, forced to perform and entertain others while unable to control their own actions or escape their wooden prison.
- The Eclipsed Star: A promising astronomer loses their sight, just as they discover an extraordinary celestial event that could change the course of scientific understanding forever.
- The Cursed Poet: A poet cursed with the inability to write anything other than heartbreaking and melancholic verses struggles to find joy and meaning in their craft.
- The Phantom Dancer: A professional ballet dancer loses a leg in an accident, but continues to dance in their dreams, caught between the beauty of their former life and the harsh reality of their new limitations.
- The Shadow Painter: A gifted artist discovers that every painting they create drains the life force of a living being, forcing them to choose between their art and the well-being of others.
- The Forgotten Muse: A muse who has inspired countless artists throughout history is suddenly abandoned, leaving them without purpose and fading into obscurity.
- The Whispering Woods: A person who can communicate with trees and plants witnesses the gradual destruction of their beloved forest, leading to a deep sense of helplessness and grief.
- The Fading Smile: A famous comedian loses their ability to make others laugh after a personal tragedy, struggling to find humor in a world that seems to have lost its light.
- The Shattered Reflection: A renowned mirror maker accidentally creates a cursed mirror that shows a distorted and tragic version of anyone who looks into it, leading to a crisis of conscience and regret.
- The Broken Clockwork: A master clockmaker creates a clockwork companion that develops sentience, but is plagued by glitches that cause intense emotional pain and confusion.
- The Endless Rain: A person who has the power to control the weather inadvertently causes a never-ending rainstorm that floods their hometown, leading to guilt and isolation.
- The Forsaken Healer: A gifted healer loses their ability to cure others after failing to save the life of a loved one, questioning their purpose and the true nature of their abilities.
- The Fading Star: A once-famous actor, now aging and forgotten, struggles with their fading career and battles with addiction, desperately seeking one final chance at redemption on the stage. RELATED: The Only Character Workbook You’ll Ever Need
Explore ideas relating to the impact of significant losses and the grief associated with them, which can shape a character’s worldview and drive their motivations.
- The death of a lover, a pet, a parent, a young child, a cherished sibling, a beloved grandmother, you get the idea.
- When a character experiences the death of a loved one, the grief can be profound. However, when multiple deaths occur within a character’s life, the impact can be exponentially magnified. For example, the deaths of a character’s closed ones due to an association with a cult. Or the deaths of a character’s closed ones due to a war.
- The death or life-altering injury of a teammate, a roommate, a combat mate, a coworker, etc, which led to a character’s survivor’s guilt.
- A natural disaster which destroyed a character’s life, their childhood home and their entire possession.
- A man-made disaster (oil spill, war, etc) which destroyed a character’s livelihood and life.
- A tragic traffic accident which took away a character’s special ability or gift.
- A devastating illness or injury which took away someone’s autonomy or special ability.
- The loss of a prized possession, for example, losing innocence, a prized jewelry, or a family heirloom.
- The loss of a dream, for example, an actress who witnessed her star dimming due to age, or due to other rising star(s) replacing her.
- The loss of a character’s job due to automation, advanced machinery or artificial intelligence.
RELATED: The Ultimate Fantasy Novel Planner
Explore ideas where the weight of trauma and adversity molds individuals, leaving an indelible mark that forever alters their personality and perspective on life.
- A character (or their loved one) enduring a physical, mental or sexual abuse.
- A character (or their loved one) falling victim to a scam.
- A character (or their loved one) being wrongly accused of a crime.
- A character (or their loved one) enduring the gruesome effect of war, accident, or natural disaster.
- A character (or their loved one) involvement in a cult.
- A character who grew up in poverty and faced hardships, such as homelessness, hunger, and limited opportunities.
- A refugee who escaped a war-torn country and faces the loss of loved ones, displacement, and the hardships of starting anew in a foreign land.
- A character who fell victim to blackmailing, gaslighting and the likes.
- A character who suffered because of favoritism in the workplace, in the family, or in the society.
- A character who was disadvantaged because they were not part of the right clique.
- A character who was prejudiced against based on gender, race, religion, beliefs, etc.
Here are some ideas relating to betrayal and abandonment, whether through neglect or rejection, which can cause deep wounds and a struggle with forming new connections.
- A character who was betrayed by their closest friend or family member, who revealed their deepest secrets and vulnerabilities to the world.
- A character who grew up in an orphanage, feeling abandoned and unwanted by their birth parents, constantly seek validation and struggle with feelings of self-worth.
- A character who was betrayed by a romantic partner, leading to a devastating breakup and a loss of faith in love.
- An individual who was abandoned by their parents at a young age and left to navigate the world on their own.
- A character who was backstabbed by a trusted mentor or authority figure, causing their dreams and aspirations to crumble.
- A character who was constantly passed over for promotion at work despite their dedication and commitment.
- A character whose colleague/partner stole their intellectual work and pass it as their own.
- A character who was abandoned and shunned by their community or social group due to their beliefs or identity, facing rejection and isolation.
- A character who was betrayed by a close friend or sibling, who stole their identity and left them to face the consequences.
- An individual who was abandoned by their significant other during a time of great need, such as a severe illness or financial crisis.
- An individual who was cheated on by their significant other.
- A character who was betrayed by their teammates and sacrificed as a scapegoat.
Here are ideas relating to internal struggles and challenges, things that are outside of one’s control, creating internal conflicts and driving the character’s growth throughout the story.
- A character who battles with an internal identity crisis, questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity, and facing rejection or discrimination from society and loved ones.
- A protagonist who struggles with self-harm or suicidal thoughts, grappling with deep emotional pain and a constant battle against their own destructive impulses.
- An individual who faces an eating disorder, such as anorexia or bulimia, leading to a distorted body image and a destructive relationship with food.
- A character who must battle their own perceived or real bodily flaw.
- A character who was born with a debilitating illness or disability, facing physical limitations and societal prejudices that make it difficult for them to fully participate in everyday life.
- A character who was subjected to systemic oppression and discrimination based on their race, ethnicity, or social class, resulting in a constant battle for equality and dignity.
- A character who got reincarnated against their wish.
- An android who longs to be human.
- A human character who underwent forced reengineering that transformed them into an android.
- A character who was once the subject of an unlawful or unethical experiment.
What’s a Backstory?
Now, what’s a backstory, really?
A backstory refers to the personal history and experiences of a character that occur before the main events of a story or narrative. It provides context and depth to a character’s motivations, personality, and actions.
A backstory can include details about a character’s upbringing, family, education, past relationships, etc, and developing a rich and compelling backstory can help make a character more relatable and three-dimensional, allowing readers or viewers to understand their behaviors and emotions on a deeper level.
Sad backstories are often used in storytelling to create depth and emotional connection with characters, by exploring the hardships, challenges, and traumas that characters have experienced.
Sad backstories can also create opportunities for character development, resilience, and eventual triumph over adversity. Overall, incorporating sad backstories in storytelling adds emotional weight and can make the characters and their journeys more relatable and compelling to the audience.
I hope the sad backstory prompts above are able to spark your imagination! If you need more story ideas and prompts, please browse our Story Ideas & Writing Prompts category!
Have any question or feedback? Feel free to contact me here . Until next time!
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Get Inspired: 44 Sad Romance Writing Prompts for Your Next Love Story
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The Golden Rule of the romance genre is found in the HEA, otherwise known as the Happily Ever After. As long as the two protagonists end up happily together by the end of the book, it counts as a romance novel. And yet, some of what we consider the greatest love stories of all time are notoriously lacking in the HEA department (hello, Romeo and Juliet). Tragic love stories and sad romances have fascinated us and graced the literary canon for hundreds of years. If you’re ready to write your own tragic (or at least somber) love story, check out these 44 sad romance writing prompts.
Why Readers Love Sad Romances
Like many of their protagonists’ relationships, sad romances are contentious. Romance novel fans and publishers usually refuse to acknowledge love stories without HEAs as belonging to the romance book genre.
Fortunately, there are other genres sad love stories can easily fit into. Depending on the nature of the story, it may be considered literary fiction, women’s fiction, fantasy, dystopian, historical fiction, mystery, or general fiction. Just because it’s a love story that doesn’t fit into the romance category does not mean there isn’t a market waiting to read your compelling story.
Romance writers must sew everything up by the end and assure readers that everything worked out for the happy couple. While this type of book can be fun to read—especially when you’re seeking escapism and want to focus on uplifting vibes—they’re not always what we’re looking for.
Sometimes we want to read books that more closely emulate real life and the human experience, with its full spectrum of emotions. This is a good thing. The greater the diversity of experiences we read about, the more we’re able to reflect on the universal human experience, evaluate situations and people in our own lives, develop our capacity for empathy, and cultivate a sense of gratitude.
Cheryl Frazier wrote in the Winter 2016 issue of the Florida Philosophical Review ,
“Having the opportunity to interact with tragic works of fiction allows us to have a safe experience that is as close as possible to the real thing without actually being [in] said situation. It is so addictive precisely because it causes us to feel the pain that we would feel in our everyday lives, while still providing a means of escape from the situation (since we can easily turn off a movie or close a book, thus ending the experience altogether)…Through experiencing fictional situations, we get a sort of emotional catharsis…that elicits positive emotions (such as relief, reassurance, and a feeling of belonging) and a desire to revisit the experience whenever the same catharsis is needed…I contend that the crying itself is also pleasant, on a different level than the work as a whole. It often feels good to cry over something that I know won’t actually cause me to suffer, as it gives me the opportunity to have an emotional response or release without the actual experience itself.”
Sad Romance vs. Tragic Romance: Are They the Same Thing?
While both sad romances and tragic romances explore themes of love, loss, and longing and are marked by ill-fated relationships, there are subtle distinctions between the two subgenres. In sad romances, obstacles and challenges typically stand in the way of the lovers achieving their HEA. For example, a couple may drift apart, someone might have a relationship-ending affair, or a societal/cultural issue might come between them. The story is still sad because the characters (and readers) don’t get the happy ending they crave, but it’s not necessarily tragic.
In tragic romances, as the name suggests, the love story is usually cut short by a tragedy caused by external circumstances, misunderstandings, character flaws, or some combination of these. One or both of the lovers typically pass away in some type of catastrophic incident.
There does seem to be some overlap in what people refer to as sad romances and tragic romances. For example, many titles in which one of the lovers passes away are frequently mentioned on lists of both sad and tragic romances. While definitions of these terms vary, there seems to be a trend in so-called sad romances to have some sort of fulfillment, closure, or positive outcome for one or both characters either before or after the relationship ends.
This is less prevalent in so-called tragedies, which usually don’t leave the opportunity for closure or positive outcomes. The character(s)’s mistakes or flaws cause great harm to themselves or others and generally rob one of the opportunity to learn from one’s mistakes.
Both sad and tragic romances allow readers to experience a full range of strong emotions including happiness, sadness, longing, joy, gratitude, hope, desperation, despair, and dismay.
Some examples of sad romance stories include:
- The Fault in Our Stars
- Me Before You
- A Walk to Remember
- Eleanor & Park
- The Notebook
- Five Feet Apart
Examples of tragic romances include:
- Romeo and Juliet
- Anna Karenina
- The Great Gatsby
- West Side Story
- Tristan and Isolde
- Doctor Zhivago
- A Star is Born
Sad Romance Writing Prompts
This section is divided into two parts. The first includes prompts designed with sad romance stories in mind—they’re dark, doomed, and melancholic but not necessarily tragic. The second section focuses more on prompts with calamitous endings. Jump in wherever you feel most inspired and use this list of sad writing prompts to kick-start your next sad or tragic romance.
Just a note before we start: as with all our writing prompts , these are merely seeds of ideas to get your creative juices flowing. You can use them as is, combine them, or change them up in any way that suits you. We have used gendered pronouns here for illustration purposes, but feel free to change these as desired to fit the goals of your story.
You can also customize the prompts by playing around with different periods, genres, settings, and circumstances. At the end of this post, you’ll find some suggestions for solemn settings that work well with sad romance themes, but you can probably think of many others.
Brainstorm and play around with different combinations of locations, periods, socio-economic positions, etc. Ask yourself how each option would support your overall story and choose the one that provides the best backdrop for your protagonists’ romance.
Sad Romance Story Ideas with Bittersweet Endings
- Write about a young woman who is in love with the brother of her best friend but can’t do anything about it because her best friend reviles anyone she perceives as using her to get to her brother. Perhaps they finally get their chance to be together when the best friend passes away but find they are unable to do so without dishonoring her memory and so choose to go their separate ways.
- Write a story about two childhood sweethearts who lose touch when one of their families moves away and their family member conspires to extinguish contact between them.
- Two young professionals fall hard for each other the first time they meet and commence a relationship. Unfortunately, he’s betrothed via an arranged marriage and, though he desperately wants to, he’s unable to turn his back on his fiancée or his family’s wishes.
- Two good friends carry a torch for each other for years but are always too scared to say anything. She finally has the nerve to tell him how she feels on the eve of his wedding to someone else. He tries to go through with the wedding but his fiancée finds out and calls it off. The friends try to make it work with each other but she can’t get over the nagging feeling she was his second choice.
- Write about high school sweethearts from a small town who try to succeed in a long-distance relationship after one of them moves to a city for work. How do their conflicting priorities conspire to keep them apart?
- Write about a woman who sets her good friend up on a successful blind date even though she’s madly in love with him.
- Write about young lovers who meet on a business trip and are convinced they’re meant to be together but can’t find their stride when they try to pursue their relationship in their everyday contexts.
- Write a short story about a young couple who are torn apart by the woman’s immeasurable grief at the loss of her mother.
- Write about a man who loses his wife because he’s consumed with jealousy over her relationship with her childhood friend.
- Write a story about an interracial couple who are unable to overcome the cultural differences in their relationship. You might give your story added emotional depth by layering it with each of their families’ cultural expectations of them.
- Write about a couple whose relationship falls apart after the loss of an unborn child.
- While working together on a big project at work, a man falls for his colleague and relentlessly pursues her until she agrees to date him. After building a promising relationship with her, he starts wavering when an ex-girlfriend comes back into his life and wants to try again.
- Write about a couple who lose their way after one of them gets injured and has to give up a budding professional sports career while the other’s star continues to rise.
- In a fantasy world where using magic can drain your life force from you, a heartbroken girl must choose between saving her lover’s life or her own.
- Write a story about a couple who gets physically separated during a natural disaster. Although they are both alive, one of them hears a false rumor of the other’s death and forces themself to move on and start over while the other continues their search.
- A man meets a woman at a coffee shop and they hit it off. Their relationship progresses and though they sometimes talk of marriage, he resists taking that step. The woman thinks he is not in love with her, but it turns out he is hiding a terminal illness from her. He finally confides in her and she convinces him to marry her anyway, but he passes away before they’re able to.
- Shortly before deploying to a foreign country for a tour as a medical technician, a man hears from his conniving friend that his fiancée has had an affair and is pregnant with someone else’s child. Instead of talking to her, he leaves quietly, dedicates himself to his work, and forces himself to get over her. He avoids his hometown and everyone in it for years. After his so-called friend finds him and confesses that he made the story up, the man tries to track his former love down but when he does, he’s shocked by the state he finds her in and is unable to attain her forgiveness.
- During the Victorian era, a young woman is sent to live with her aunt after her birth parents pass away. Before she leaves, she shares her first kiss with a young man for whom she has harbored feelings and they promise to write each other weekly letters. After keeping their promise for over a year, one of them suddenly stops receiving replies. Write the story from one or both perspectives or try writing it partially or fully as an epistle: a story told in letter form. Perhaps the letters have been found by a grandchild determined to unravel the mystery.
- Write a story set in a dystopian world that has strict rules about who is allowed to date whom. Create two characters who fall in love despite the rules—perhaps they’re from different classes, belief systems, or tribes. What are they willing to sacrifice to be together? Will it be enough? Will it be worth the price they pay?
- Write a story about a person trying to navigate a relationship with someone struggling with mental illness.
- Write a story about an online relationship that goes awry when the two characters meet in person.
- Using a dual timeline, write a story that shows a couple falling in love and starting their life together, and their lives after they separate.
- Write about academic rivals whose love story begins when they’re competing to get into the same school and ends when only one of them does.
- Write about an older woman who tracks down her first love after learning she has a terminal illness. Give them a second chance at love in her final days and explore the bittersweet beauty of their time together marked by their mourning of all the time and opportunities lost.
- Write about a time traveler who falls in love with someone from an earlier time but then realizes they cannot remain in the past without causing major havoc on a worldwide scale.
- Write about two strangers who develop a romantic relationship after rescuing an abandoned baby together but who are torn apart after someone comes forward with claims to the child.
- Write about a defense attorney who falls for her client and goes to extreme lengths to win his exoneration, only to find out after he’s free that he was actually guilty.
- Write a story about a middle-aged married couple who have worked together their whole married life, perhaps running a farm or an independent publishing house. When their business runs into financial trouble, cracks in their relationship start to deepen. Show how the deterioration of their union mirrors that of their enterprise and the growth they experience as individuals as they reflect on and evaluate what they want for the next stage of their lives.
- Write a short story in which social media is both the catalyst for a new relationship and a significant factor in its demise.
- A mysterious stranger appears one day in a small town, as if from nowhere. He knows nobody and mostly keeps to himself. A local bookseller establishes a friendship-turned-romantic relationship with him over their shared love of literature. When a jealous neighbor starts digging into the man’s past and asking too many questions, he vanishes overnight without a trace. His distraught lover searches fervently for him but turns up nothing. Gaslit by her neighbor, she begins to question whether he was ever there or if she is delusional.
- Two strangers have a meet cute in the heart of a busy city. Their connection is instant and they spend one magical day together, exploring the city, getting lost, and running into a bit of trouble. They plan to meet again the next day, but in their haste, they forget to exchange contact numbers or last names. An emergency comes up and one of them doesn’t show up for the second date. Desperate to find each other again, they go to great lengths searching the city for each other.
- Write a sad romance set in a post-apocalyptic world where few people remain and all are fighting to survive. Make one or both of the protagonists leaders within their community and give them the burden of caring for others while also being completely willing to sacrifice for the sake of the community’s survival. To heighten the conflict and emotional experience, you could create a scenario in which one of them has to choose between saving their lover and saving other vulnerable people.
- She’s a private investigator. He’s been on the run for years. Will she risk her job for love or can she do what it takes to put him behind bars?
- Two people from completely different places meet on a vacation. Though they know the summer will only end in heartbreak, they can’t help but fall in love. The movies say that one of them will surprise the other with a move to their hometown, but life doesn’t work like that…
Romantic Writing Prompts on the Slightly More Tragic Side
- Write a story about a young adult whose partner falls into a habit of recreational drug use and is unable to save them.
- Write about a couple who bond over their shared affinity for sailing. They decide to enter an elite sailing competition together and spend months (or years) preparing for it. Weeks into the competition, they hit a terrible storm and one of them dies trying to save the other, who then has to finish the mission by themselves while also starting to process their loss.
- Try doing a retelling of a classic tragic love story set in a modern world with new characters. You might consider working with Romeo and Juliet, Antony and Cleopatra, Anna Karenina, or Tristan and Isolde. Map out the major plot points from the original story and how they will translate to the story beats for your next love story. Examine the factors that kept the protagonists apart and brainstorm some modern-day equivalents.
- Consider writing a tragic love story with a ghost as a main character. Perhaps you have protagonists who were childhood friends until one of them passed away and now the survivor finds himself falling for the ghost of his old friend. Or maybe the ghost is not one of the protagonists but the former lover of one of them, intent on preempting their beloved’s new relationship.
- Write about a Greek god falling in love with a mortal. The god gives up his immortality, unbeknownst to his partner, hoping to spend the end of their days together. The end comes a lot sooner than expected when the mortal begs the god to run into a burning building to save a beloved possession, thinking that he cannot die.
- Write about a man who can see the future. He learns that he will meet the love of his life in twenty years and have a long happy life with her. Impatient, he decides to take matters into his own hands and tracks her down hoping to start their lives together earlier. Unfortunately, in doing so, he alters the course of her life and a year after he meets her, she dies in a motor vehicle incident during a road trip she never would have taken in her original timeline.
- In the midst of a war, two people from opposing nations fall in love after one of them saves the other’s life in a forbidden act of mercy. The one who saved the other’s life is given a choice: take their beloved as a prisoner of war or be outcast from their army. They choose the latter and are taken in by the opposing army who manipulates them to extract secrets and eventually sets them up to take the fall for war crimes committed by others.
- Write a story where a man and woman fall for each other and have a whirlwind romance, becoming closer in months than most people do in years. Then, have a major natural disaster such as a hurricane or earthquake hit their area and have one of them sacrifice their life to save the other.
- Write a love story in which one of the main characters suffers from an abundance of pride. Have him or her make a simple mistake such as forgetting to pack an important medicine when asked, not taking the car for servicing on time, or not getting the furnace checked after someone noticed a whiff of gas. When their lover asks if they took care of the thing they said they’d do, their pride leads them to lie and say they did it. Sadly, the lie has major consequences and leads to a catastrophe.
- Create a protagonist who becomes addicted to gambling and, in an act of great stupidity, desperation, and pride, stakes their lover’s soul in a bet. And promptly loses.
Solemn Settings for Your Sad Romance
Setting is a vital story element you can use to enhance your readers’ experience of your story. The setting is key in establishing context (the where and when of your story), but it also sets the mood or tone of each scene, deepens the exploration of themes, enhances the reader’s experience, and sparks emotional reactions.
When writing a sad romance, consider including some scenes set in solemn, lonely, or isolated places that reflect the mood and tone of the character.
Somber settings include:
1. Abandoned or decaying buildings such as churches, old houses, and estates that have fallen from their former states of glory. See Kate Morton’s The Clockmaker’s Daughter and The Secret Keeper.
2. War-torn landscapes such as London during the Blitz or other European cities under German occupation. See Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale or The Women or Secrets of a Charmed Life by Susan Meissner.
3. Natural Disaster Zones where devastating events such as earthquakes, wildfires, or hurricanes have recently occurred. See This is Not the End by Chandler Baker and Kristin Hannah’s The Great Alone and The Four Winds.
4 . An isolated village or town struggling with economic decline or social unrest could provide the perfect context for a star-crossed love story. See Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier and The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey.
No matter where you decide to set your sad romance story, take the time to research the setting you plan to use and think about how it might reflect and enhance your characters’ story.
Writing a nuanced love story that explores a wide range of human emotions is a great way to challenge and stretch yourself as a writer. Whether you want to focus on sad romances or true tragedies, we hope these sad story ideas and creative writing prompts inspire you to take your fictional characters on an emotional roller coaster ride. Do you have some favorite sad romance writing prompts from the list above? Let us know in the comments or share one or two of your own. Better yet, feel free to share a small excerpt of the writing you’ve done based on one of these prompts. We’d love to see it and cheer you on!
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Sad Writing Prompts
I know you guys like making your readers cry, so I thought I'd enable this pattern. If any of these ideas really resonate with you, you can fill in this free plot template and flesh it out into a short story (or novel! Or poem!). Please tag me if you publish it! I love reading your work.
Clockwork Heart
In a steampunk fantasy setting, a heartbroken lover has their heart replaced with a clockwork one to avoid future heartbreak. The procedure takes several visits. During this time, the lover and the clockwork mechanic bond and fall in love, but it’s too late. The heart is replaced!
Doomed Clairvoyant
A character with the ability to see the future falls in love with a ‘chosen one’ warrior. Everyone expects the warrior to triumph, but the protagonist knows that the warrior must sacrifice their own life to save the kingdom.
Abandoned Town
A character explores an abandoned town. The occupants had to leave in a hurry 20 years ago, and it’s now overgrown with plantlife. Exploring a house, the character pieces together the story of an unhappy family via diaries, mixtapes, & stashed items.
Estranged Friends
Two childhood friends are on opposite sides of a war. One is sent to kill the other. As they’re breaking into the other person’s home, they spot the ball they used to play with as kids.
Tragic Shape-Shifter
A shape-shifter has been alive for 500 years. They try not to shift, because each shift erases their memories. They have a partner and family. However, in a moment of danger, they have to choose between dying and shifting.
Deaf Composer
A virtuoso composer is slowly going deaf. Knowing they’ll lose their hearing, they set out to write one last symphony.
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15 Emotion-Based Writing Prompts For Digging Deep
- Post author By Marisa Donnelly
- Post date May 8, 2018
- Categories In Creative , Writing Inspiration , Writing Resources
- 1 Comment on 15 Emotion-Based Writing Prompts For Digging Deep
It’s one thing to write efficiently, it’s entirely different to write effectively , but neither of those would be possible (for creative work) without writing emotionally. These fifteen emotional writing prompts will help you to dive into your feelings, challenge you to think deeply about some of the more personal topics in your life, and bridge the gap between your experiences and the characters on the page.
Prepare to be pushed into a more vulnerable realm of thinking and creating. 🙌💡
2. Write as if you’re seeing someone in your life for the very first time.
What do you notice about them? What are you drawn to? Now write from your current perspective of knowing and seeing them all your life. What do you appreciate/notice that differs from your first impressions? Can you highlight their uniqueness, their attributes that identifying them as who they are?
3. Write to, or about the last person you kissed.
You can do this one of two ways:
1) Write to that person first as if you were to give them this paragraph/piece as a letter. 2) Write about this person as if he/she is a character in a story. You can add yourself as a character, too, if you want to keep some distance from the story. You can also write in total third person, where both characters are written about more objectively.
4. Listen to an old song and write the emotions that come forth.
This can be a breakup song, love song, favorite song, childhood favorite song, etc. Whatever you choose, pay attention to the emotions you’re experiencing. Can you describe them? Can you describe without any characters at first? Then add characters, can you show how you/the character is feeling in listening instead of telling the reader?
5. Consider what you would change in your life, write a letter to your younger self based on those things.
Then, to challenge yourself, incorporate this letter into a monologue between characters (first, second, or third person).
6. Write a stranger’s story.
Find a place where you can (inconspicuously) people watch. Pick a stranger and write his/her story. Where did he/she come from? What’s his/her background, fears, present thoughts, love life? Embellish into a short story.
7. Make a ‘happy moments’ list and write a scene from one of those times.
Sometimes to get inspired we simply need to create or remember a situation. On a blank sheet of paper, create a list of favorite memories (aka: your ‘happy moments’ list). From that list, select one at random and write either your story of being at that place, a loved one’s perspective, or create a story with characters in the third person. Really describe the scene so that the reader can engage and picture where you are.
8. Write to or about your fears.
If you wrote a letter to your fear, what would you say? Can you incorporate these thoughts into the inner monologue of a character in a story? Into a poem? Etc.
9. Write a third person scene in which you are apologizing to someone in your life indirectly.
Sometimes we fall into first person habits because they’re easier. Challenge yourself to write about something present in your life (a person you’ve hurt) but in a way that creates distance between you and the characters. Have one character apologize to the other through your use of third person pronouns and setting up a scene. (Tip: Challenge yourself by switching the sex of the person apologizing to the opposite of you for even more distance between your emotions and what you’re putting on the page.)
10. Write a letter to your body.
Do some self-reflection. What are things you love, change, working on. Can you craft these introspective thoughts into a character? (Tip: Challenge yourself to do the reverse, too. If you’re very insecure about your legs, can you build a character who is super confident? Can you create an insecurity in a character that you don’t possess.
11. Write about a character with a secret.
12. Write about a conversation you’re longing to have.
What is something you wish you could say to someone? Create a scene in which you (or a character) is having this conversation. Use both dialogue and nonverbal cues as well as build the scene around the characters to make the moment more believable.
13. Write a poem about sorrow.
Incorporate vivid language, detail, and figurative language to create a mood rather than outright saying words like “sad,” “pain,” or “hurting.”
14. Write a love story that starts with a very strange opening line of dialogue.
15. Pick sides on a controversial topic and write from a character who strongly believes that side, or the opposing side.
Challenge yourself to create a believable character from either end of the spectrum. Provide the scene, situation, and background to make that character dynamic and interesting, even if the reader may not agree.
Featured Image Credit: Gabi Nehring
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Describing Sadness in Creative Writing: 33 Ways to Capture the Blues
By: Author Paul Jenkins
Posted on August 25, 2023
Categories Creative Writing , Writing
Describing sadness in creative writing can be a challenging task for any writer.
Sadness is an emotion that can be felt in different ways, and it’s important to be able to convey it in a way that is authentic and relatable to readers. Whether you’re writing a novel, short story, or even a poem, the ability to describe sadness can make or break a story.
Understanding sadness in writing is essential to creating a believable character or scene. Sadness is a complex emotion that can be caused by a variety of factors, such as loss, disappointment, or loneliness. It’s important to consider the context in which the sadness is occurring, as this can influence the way it is expressed.
By exploring the emotional spectrum of characters and the physical manifestations of sadness, writers can create a more authentic portrayal of the emotion.
In this article, we will explore the different ways to describe sadness in creative writing. We will discuss the emotional spectrum of characters, the physical manifestations of sadness, and the language and dialogue used to express it. We’ll also look at expert views on emotion and provide unique examples of describing sadness.
By the end of this article, you’ll have a better understanding of how to authentically convey sadness in your writing.
Key Takeaways
- Understanding the emotional spectrum of characters is essential to creating a believable portrayal of sadness.
- Physical manifestations of sadness can be used to convey the emotion in a more authentic way.
- Authenticity in describing sadness can be achieved through language and dialogue, as well as expert views on emotion.
33 Ways to Express Sadness in Creative Writing
Let’s start with some concrete examples of sadness metaphors and similes:
Here are 33 ways to express sadness in creative writing:
- A heavy sigh escaped her lips as a tear rolled down her cheek.
- His eyes glistened with unleashed tears that he quickly blinked away.
- Her heart felt like it was being squeezed by a cold, metal fist.
- A profound emptiness opened up inside him, threatening to swallow him whole.
- An avalanche of sorrow crashed over her without warning.
- His spirit sank like a stone in water.
- A dark cloud of grief descended on her.
- Waves of sadness washed over him, pulling him under.
- She felt like she was drowning in an ocean of melancholy.
- His eyes darkened with sadness like a gathering storm.
- Grief enveloped her like a wet blanket, heavy and smothering.
- The light in his eyes dimmed to a flicker behind tears.
- Sadness seeped through her veins like icy slush.
- The corners of his mouth drooped like a wilting flower.
- Her breath came in short, ragged gasps between sobs.
- A profound melancholy oozed from his pores.
- The weight of despair crushed her like a vice.
- A haunted, hollow look glazed over his eyes.
- An invisible hand squeezed her heart, wringing out all joy.
- His soul curdled like spoiled milk.
- A silent scream lodged in her throat.
- He was consumed by a fathomless gloom.
- Sorrow pulsed through her veins with every beat of her heart.
- Grief blanketed him like new-fallen snow, numbing and icy.
- Tears stung her eyes like shards of glass.
- A cold, dark abyss of sadness swallowed him.
- Melancholy seeped from her like rain from a leaky roof.
- His spirit shriveled and sank like a deflating balloon.
- A sick, hollow ache blossomed inside her.
- Rivulets of anguish trickled down his cheeks.
- Sadness smothered her like a poisonous fog.
- Gloom settled on his shoulders like a black shroud.
- Her sorrow poured out in a river of tears.
Understanding Sadness in Writing
Describing sadness in writing can be a challenging task.
Sadness is a complex emotion that can manifest in different ways. It can be expressed through tears, sighs, silence, or even a simple change in posture. As a writer, you need to be able to convey sadness effectively to your readers, while also avoiding cliches and melodrama.
One way to approach describing sadness is to focus on the physical sensations and reactions that accompany it. For example, you might describe the feeling of a lump in your throat, or the tightness in your chest. You could also describe the way your eyes become watery, or the way your hands tremble.
These physical descriptions can help your readers to empathize with your characters and feel the same emotions.
Another important aspect of describing sadness is the tone of your writing. You want to strike a balance between conveying the depth of the emotion and avoiding excessive sentimentality.
One way to achieve this is to use simple, direct language that conveys the emotion without resorting to flowery language or overwrought metaphors.
When describing sadness, it’s also important to consider the context in which it occurs. Sadness can be a response to many different situations, such as loss, disappointment, or rejection. It can also be accompanied by other emotions, such as anger, confusion, or melancholy.
By considering the context and accompanying emotions, you can create a more nuanced and realistic portrayal of sadness in your writing.
Finally, it can be helpful to draw on examples of how other writers have successfully described sadness. By studying the techniques and descriptions used by other writers, you can gain a better understanding of how to effectively convey sadness in your own writing.
In conclusion, describing sadness in writing requires a careful balance of physical descriptions, tone, context, and examples. By focusing on these elements, you can create a more nuanced and effective portrayal of this complex emotion.
Emotional Spectrum in Characters
In creative writing, it’s important to create characters that are multi-dimensional and have a wide range of emotions. When it comes to describing sadness, it’s essential to understand the emotional spectrum of characters and how they respond to different situations.
Characters can experience a variety of emotions, including love, happiness, surprise, anger, fear, nervousness, and more.
Each character has a unique personality that influences their emotional responses. For example, a protagonist might respond to sadness with a broken heart, dismay, or feeling desolate.
On the other hand, a character might respond with anger, contempt, or apathy.
When describing sadness, it’s important to consider the emotional response of the character. For example, a haunted character might respond to sadness with exhaustion or a sense of being drained. A crestfallen character might respond with a sense of defeat or disappointment.
It’s also important to consider how sadness affects the character’s personality. Some characters might become withdrawn or depressed, while others might become more emotional or volatile. When describing sadness, it’s important to show how it affects the character’s behavior and interactions with others.
Overall, the emotional spectrum of characters is an important aspect of creative writing. By understanding how characters respond to different emotions, you can create more realistic and relatable characters. When describing sadness, it’s important to consider the character’s emotional response, personality, and behavior.
Physical Manifestations of Sadness
When you’re feeling sad, it’s not just an emotion that you experience mentally. It can also manifest physically. Here are some physical manifestations of sadness that you can use in your creative writing to make your characters more believable.
Tears are one of the most common physical manifestations of sadness. When you’re feeling sad, your eyes may start to water, and tears may fall down your cheeks. Tears can be used to show that a character is feeling overwhelmed with emotion.
Crying is another physical manifestation of sadness. When you’re feeling sad, you may cry. Crying can be used to show that a character is feeling deeply hurt or upset.
Numbness is a physical sensation that can accompany sadness. When you’re feeling sad, you may feel emotionally numb. This can be used to show that a character is feeling disconnected from their emotions.
Facial Expressions
Facial expressions can also be used to show sadness. When you’re feeling sad, your face may droop, and your eyes may look downcast. This can be used to show that a character is feeling down or depressed.
Gestures can also be used to show sadness. When you’re feeling sad, you may slump your shoulders or hang your head. This can be used to show that a character is feeling defeated or hopeless.
Body Language
Body language can also be used to show sadness. When you’re feeling sad, you may cross your arms or hunch over. This can be used to show that a character is feeling closed off or defensive.
Cold and Heat
Sadness can also affect your body temperature. When you’re feeling sad, you may feel cold or hot. This can be used to show that a character is feeling uncomfortable or out of place.
Sobbing is another physical manifestation of sadness. When you’re feeling sad, you may sob uncontrollably. This can be used to show that a character is feeling overwhelmed with emotion.
Sweating is another physical manifestation of sadness. When you’re feeling sad, you may sweat profusely. This can be used to show that a character is feeling anxious or nervous.
By using these physical manifestations of sadness in your writing, you can make your characters more realistic and relatable. Remember to use them sparingly and only when they are relevant to the story.
Authenticity in Describing Sadness
When it comes to describing sadness in creative writing, authenticity is key. Readers can tell when an author is not being genuine, and it can make the story feel less impactful. In order to authentically describe sadness, it’s important to tap into your own emotions and experiences.
Think about a time when you felt truly sad. What did it feel like? What physical sensations did you experience? How did your thoughts and emotions change? By tapping into your own experiences, you can better convey the emotions of your characters.
It’s also important to remember that sadness can manifest in different ways for different people. Some people may cry, while others may become withdrawn or angry. By understanding the unique ways that sadness can present itself, you can create more authentic and realistic characters.
If you’re struggling to authentically describe sadness, consider talking to a loved one or best friend about their experiences. Hearing firsthand accounts can help you better understand the nuances of the emotion.
Ultimately, the key to authentically describing sadness is to approach it with empathy and understanding. By putting yourself in the shoes of your characters and readers, you can create a powerful and impactful story that resonates with your audience.
Language and Dialogue in Expressing Sadness
When writing about sadness, the language you use can make a big difference in how your readers will perceive the emotions of your characters.
Consider using metaphors and similes to create vivid images that will help your readers connect with the emotions of your characters.
For example, you might describe the sadness as a heavy weight on the character’s chest or a dark cloud hanging over their head.
In addition to using metaphors, you can also use adjectives to describe the character’s emotions. Be careful not to overuse adjectives, as this can detract from the impact of your writing. Instead, choose a few powerful adjectives that will help your readers understand the depth of the character’s sadness.
For example, you might describe the sadness as overwhelming, suffocating, or unbearable.
When it comes to dialogue, it’s important to remember that people don’t always express their emotions directly. In fact, sometimes what isn’t said is just as important as what is said.
Consider using subtext to convey the character’s sadness indirectly. For example, a character might say “I’m fine,” when in reality they are struggling with intense sadness.
Another way to use dialogue to convey sadness is through the use of behaviors. For example, a character might withdraw from social situations, stop eating or sleeping properly, or engage in self-destructive behaviors as a result of their sadness.
By showing these behaviors, you can help your readers understand the depth of the character’s emotions.
Finally, when describing sadness, it’s important to consider the overall mood of the scene. Use sensory details to create a somber atmosphere that will help your readers connect with the emotions of your characters.
For example, you might describe the rain falling heavily outside, the silence of an empty room, or the dim lighting of a funeral home.
Overall, when writing about sadness, it’s important to choose your words carefully and use a variety of techniques to convey the depth of your character’s emotions.
By using metaphors, adjectives, dialogue, behaviors, and sensory details, you can create a powerful and emotionally resonant story that will stay with your readers long after they’ve finished reading.
Expert Views on Emotion
When it comes to writing about emotions, it’s important to have a deep understanding of how they work and how they can be conveyed effectively through writing. Here are some expert views on emotion that can help you write about sadness in a more effective and engaging way.
Dr. Paul Ekman
Dr. Paul Ekman is a renowned psychologist who has spent decades studying emotions and their expressions. According to Dr. Ekman, there are six basic emotions that are universally recognized across cultures: happiness, sadness, anger, fear, surprise, and disgust.
When it comes to writing about sadness, Dr. Ekman suggests focusing on the physical sensations that accompany the emotion.
For example, you might describe the heaviness in your chest, the lump in your throat, or the tears that well up in your eyes. By focusing on these physical sensations, you can help your readers connect with the emotion on a deeper level.
While sadness is often seen as a “negative” emotion, it’s important to remember that all emotions have their place in creative writing. Disgust, for example, can be a powerful tool for conveying a character’s revulsion or aversion to something.
When writing about disgust, it’s important to be specific about what is causing the emotion. For example, you might describe the smell of rotting garbage, the sight of maggots wriggling in a pile of food, or the texture of slimy, raw meat.
By being specific, you can help your readers feel the full force of the emotion and understand why your character is feeling it.
Overall, when it comes to writing about emotions, it’s important to be both specific and authentic. By drawing on your own experiences and using concrete details to describe the physical sensations and causes of emotions, you can create a more engaging and emotionally resonant piece of writing.
Unique Examples of Describing Sadness
When it comes to describing sadness in creative writing, there are many unique ways to convey this emotion to your readers. Here are some examples that can help you create a powerful and moving scene:
- The crying scene : One of the most common ways to show sadness is through tears. However, instead of just saying “she cried,” try to describe the crying scene in detail. For instance, you could describe how her tears fell like raindrops on the floor, or how her sobs shook her body like a violent storm. This will help your readers visualize the scene and feel the character’s pain.
- The socks : Another way to show sadness is through symbolism. For example, you could describe how the character is wearing mismatched socks, which represents how her life is falling apart and nothing seems to fit together anymore. This can be a subtle yet effective way to convey sadness without being too obvious.
- John : If your character is named John, you can use his name to create a sense of melancholy. For example, you could describe how the raindrops fell on John’s shoulders, weighing him down like the burdens of his life. This can be a creative way to convey sadness while also adding depth to your character.
Remember, when describing sadness in creative writing, it’s important to be specific and use vivid language. This will help your readers connect with your character on a deeper level and feel their pain.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some effective ways to describe a person’s sadness without using the word ‘sad’.
When describing sadness, it’s important to avoid using the word “sad” as it can come across as cliché and lackluster. Instead, try using more descriptive words that evoke a sense of sadness in the reader. For example, you could use words like “heartbroken,” “bereft,” “devastated,” “despondent,” or “forlorn.” These words help to create a more vivid and emotional description of sadness that readers can connect with.
How can you describe the physical manifestations of sadness on a person’s face?
When describing the physical manifestations of sadness on a person’s face, it’s important to pay attention to the small details. For example, you could describe the way their eyes become red and swollen from crying, or how their mouth trembles as they try to hold back tears. You could also describe the way their shoulders slump or how they withdraw into themselves. By focusing on these small but telling details, you can create a more realistic and relatable portrayal of sadness.
What are some examples of using metaphor and simile to convey sadness in creative writing?
Metaphors and similes can be powerful tools for conveying sadness in creative writing. For example, you could compare a person’s sadness to a heavy weight that they’re carrying on their shoulders, or to a storm cloud that follows them wherever they go. You could also use metaphors and similes to describe the way sadness feels, such as a “gnawing ache” in the pit of their stomach or a “cold, empty void” inside their chest.
How can you effectively convey the emotional weight of sadness through dialogue?
When writing dialogue for a character who is experiencing sadness, it’s important to focus on the emotions and feelings that they’re experiencing. Use short, simple sentences to convey the character’s sadness, and avoid using overly complex language or metaphors. You could also use pauses and silences to create a sense of emotional weight and tension in the scene.
What are some techniques for describing a character’s inner sadness in a way that is relatable to the reader?
One effective technique for describing a character’s inner sadness is to focus on their thoughts and feelings. Use introspection to delve into the character’s emotions and describe how they’re feeling in a way that is relatable to the reader. You could also use flashbacks or memories to show why the character is feeling sad, and how it’s affecting their current actions and decisions.
How can you use sensory language to create a vivid portrayal of sadness in a poem or story?
Sensory language is an effective way to create a vivid portrayal of sadness in a poem or story. Use descriptive words that evoke the senses, such as the smell of rain on a sad day or the sound of a distant train whistle. You could also use sensory language to describe the physical sensations of sadness, such as the weight of a heavy heart or the taste of tears on the tongue. By using sensory language, you can create a more immersive and emotional reading experience for your audience.
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Creative Writing Prompts
When the idea to start a weekly newsletter with writing inspiration first came to us, we decided that we wanted to do more than provide people with topics to write about. We wanted to try and help authors form a regular writing habit and also give them a place to proudly display their work. So we started the weekly Creative Writing Prompts newsletter. Since then, Prompts has grown to a community of more than 450,000 authors, complete with its own literary magazine, Prompted .
Here's how our contest works: every Friday, we send out a newsletter containing five creative writing prompts. Each week, the story ideas center around a different theme. Authors then have one week — until the following Friday — to submit a short story based on one of our prompts. A winner is picked each week to win $250 and is highlighted on our Reedsy Prompts page.
Interested in participating in our short story contest? Sign up here for more information! Or you can check out our full Terms of Use and our FAQ page .
Why we love creative writing prompts
If you've ever sat in front of a computer or notebook and felt the urge to start creating worlds, characters, and storylines — all the while finding yourself unable to do so — then you've met the author's age-old foe: writer's block. There's nothing more frustrating than finding the time but not the words to be creative. Enter our directory! If you're ready to kick writer's block to the curb and finally get started on your short story or novel, these unique story ideas might just be your ticket.
This list of 1800+ creative writing prompts has been created by the Reedsy team to help you develop a rock-solid writing routine. As all aspiring authors know, this is the #1 challenge — and solution! — for reaching your literary goals. Feel free to filter through different genres, which include...
Dramatic — If you want to make people laugh and cry within the same story, this might be your genre.
Funny — Whether satire or slapstick, this is an opportunity to write with your funny bone.
Romance — One of the most popular commercial genres out there. Check out these story ideas out if you love writing about love.
Fantasy — The beauty of this genre is that the possibilities are as endless as your imagination.
Dystopian – Explore the shadowy side of human nature and contemporary technology in dark speculative fiction.
Mystery — From whodunnits to cozy mysteries, it's time to bring out your inner detective.
Thriller and Suspense — There's nothing like a page-turner that elicits a gasp of surprise at the end.
High School — Encourage teens to let their imaginations run free.
Want to submit your own story ideas to help inspire fellow writers? Send them to us here.
After you find the perfect story idea
Finding inspiration is just one piece of the puzzle. Next, you need to refine your craft skills — and then display them to the world. We've worked hard to create resources that help you do just that! Check them out:
- How to Write a Short Story That Gets Published — a free, ten-day course by Laura Mae Isaacman, a full-time editor who runs a book editing company in Brooklyn.
- Best Literary Magazines of 2023 — a directory of 100+ reputable magazines that accept unsolicited submissions.
- Writing Contests in 2023 — the finest contests of 2021 for fiction and non-fiction authors of short stories, poetry, essays, and more.
Beyond creative writing prompts: how to build a writing routine
While writing prompts are a great tactic to spark your creative sessions, a writer generally needs a couple more tools in their toolbelt when it comes to developing a rock-solid writing routine . To that end, here are a few more additional tips for incorporating your craft into your everyday life.
- NNWT. Or, as book coach Kevin Johns calls it , “Non-Negotiable Writing Time.” This time should be scheduled into your routine, whether that’s once a day or once a week. Treat it as a serious commitment, and don’t schedule anything else during your NNWT unless it’s absolutely necessary.
- Set word count goals. And make them realistic! Don’t start out with lofty goals you’re unlikely to achieve. Give some thought to how many words you think you can write a week, and start there. If you find you’re hitting your weekly or daily goals easily, keep upping the stakes as your craft time becomes more ingrained in your routine.
- Talk to friends and family about the project you’re working on. Doing so means that those close to you are likely to check in about the status of your piece — which in turn keeps you more accountable.
Arm yourself against writer’s block. Writer’s block will inevitably come, no matter how much story ideas initially inspire you. So it’s best to be prepared with tips and tricks you can use to keep yourself on track before the block hits. You can find 20 solid tips here — including how to establish a relationship with your inner critic and apps that can help you defeat procrastination or lack of motivation.
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7. Homeless Heart: A homeless man receives a job, but his past mistakes haunt him. The sad story unfolds as he tries to rebuild his life, offering a message of redemption. 8. The Writer's Block: A writer struggling with their craft receives writing advice from an unlikely source, their late mother's letters.
If you're looking to cut to the chase, here's a list of top sad writing prompts: Someone in the story has a lot of hard lessons to learn. Write a story about someone tired of their day-to-day routines. Write a story about someone who loses their cat. Write a story based on the metaphor: "Beauty is a fading flower."
12. "She gave me one last look before walking out into the storm. No one has seen her since.". 13. He had no idea how much she already knew. He walked in the door, ready to tell her everything. 14. "You were angry with me … because I made you look bad to your family.
2. Compose a poem that encapsulates a moment of profound self-reflection, shedding light on the transformative power of introspection and self-awareness. 3. Create an artwork or song that conveys the concept of "survivor's guilt," shedding light on the complex emotions related to surviving a tragedy others did not. 4.
The Unfinished Symphony - A composer, unable to complete a symphony he was writing with his late partner, finds that each note brings back memories. His struggle to finish the piece becomes a way to honor and let go of the past. The Last Photo - A photographer, haunted by the last picture he took of his son before a tragic accident, starts a project to capture moments of joy, trying to ...
This article has over 50 sad writing prompts to help you get started. The prompts below include general sad story ideas, sad opening lines, and suggestions for sad dialogue. We've also included sad lines and quotes from world-famous novels to inspire you further. 50+ sad writing prompts. Check out the 50+ sad story prompts below to inspire you!
And now that the sad story ideas are coming in hot, you're gonna need a place to store and organize your brilliant brainstorm. Allow me to suggest Dabble. From Story Notes and the famous Plot Grid to co-authoring and commenting, Dabble has everything you need to stay organized through the entire writing process.
40 Sad Writing Prompts and Story Ideas. Trapped in a Dream - Imagine you're in a deep, everlasting dream that you can't wake up from, and within this dream, you are constantly reliving your most regrettable actions and decisions. It's a world that punishes you endlessly by bringing back the people you've hurt, the opportunities you ...
Now, on to the creative writing prompts! Sad Writing Prompts. The following writing ideas can be used as a jumping-off point or merely for inspiration. If you like a story starter as it is, start writing and see where it takes you. Or change the writing prompt however you see fit and let the inspiration take over! 1.
Creative Sad Story Writing Prompts. These are writing prompts based on possibilities the writer has never experienced. They may contain questions or use eclipses to give the writer a chance to pick up a story from a given level. Some of them are as stated below. 50. That night, my brother went to bed early, Having his usual smile.
Ok, without further ado, here is the list of good and helpful writing ideas and prompts for you. 29 Sad Writing Prompts to Process Emotion. Take a look at and please use this powerful, helpful, and (yes!) creative mix of sad writing prompts and ideas. They are excellent, and I hope you find them valuable. What makes depression different from ...
18 Heartfelt Sad Story Ideas and Writing Prompts. Write about the journey of a high school artist struggling with a creative block in the wake of a devastating loss, as she searches for inspiration amidst their grief. Explore themes of resilience, self-discovery, and the healing power of art.
Riveting Family Drama Story Ideas (Updated in 2023) Creative Story Ideas to Inspire You (Updated in 2023) Sad Backstory Ideas. While sad backstory can vary depending on the context and storytelling, they can often be grouped into four common categories. These categories provide a framework for creating emotionally compelling character histories.
Writing a nuanced love story that explores a wide range of human emotions is a great way to challenge and stretch yourself as a writer. Whether you want to focus on sad romances or true tragedies, we hope these sad story ideas and creative writing prompts inspire you to take your fictional characters on an emotional roller coaster ride.
Write a story that feels lonely, despite being set in a packed city. Sad - 231 stories. Write a story inspired by this quote from Ally Condie: "Growing apart doesn't change the fact that for a long time we grew side by side; our roots will always be tangled. I'm glad for that." Sad - 161 stories.
Clockwork Heart. In a steampunk fantasy setting, a heartbroken lover has their heart replaced with a clockwork one to avoid future heartbreak. The procedure takes several visits. During this time, the lover and the clockwork mechanic bond and fall in love, but it's too late. The heart is replaced!
Embellish into a short story. 7. Make a 'happy moments' list and write a scene from one of those times. Sometimes to get inspired we simply need to create or remember a situation. On a blank sheet of paper, create a list of favorite memories (aka: your 'happy moments' list). From that list, select one at random and write either your ...
Instead, try using more descriptive words that evoke a sense of sadness in the reader. For example, you could use words like "heartbroken," "bereft," "devastated," "despondent," or "forlorn.". These words help to create a more vivid and emotional description of sadness that readers can connect with.
These creative writing prompts, pulled from our favourite therapeutic writing books and articles, focus on both healing writing and on writing creatively. Feeling sad and interested in sad writing prompts? Looking to express your emotions? Then this is the right list for you. Looking for more? Keep checking back as we update this article with ...
Click to continue. *****. 100 Creative Writing Prompts for Writers. 1. The Variants of Vampires. Think of an alternative vampire that survives on something other than blood. Write a story or scene based on this character. 2. Spinning the Globe.
Your closest friend; someone you love dearly and know nearly everything about, just did the one thing you never thought they'd be capable of doing.
Here's how our contest works: every Friday, we send out a newsletter containing five creative writing prompts. Each week, the story ideas center around a different theme. Authors then have one week — until the following Friday — to submit a short story based on one of our prompts. A winner is picked each week to win $250 and is highlighted ...
The Writing Prompt Generator can generate thousands of ideas for your project, so feel free to keep clicking and at the end use the handy copy feature to export your writing prompts to a text editor of your choice. Enjoy! There's thousands of random writing prompts in this generator. Here are some samples to start:
Writing and world building tips for creative fiction writers. Pick 4 traits to build a world around! No limits, no need for reality. Fight writers block with simple tasks and games ... Writing Advice, Tips And Prompts | Fueled.By.Fiction. Create Fantasy World. Worldbuilding Ideas Inspiration. Jobs In Fantasy World.