Power up Prompt #6: 7.19.25

A Setting, a Character, and a Conflict to use However You’d Like!

Welcome to the fifth Power up Prompt! The votes from last week are in, and this week we’re doing eldritch horror!

While you wait for the next 30-day challenge, Power Up Prompts will be here every Saturday going forward. Read on for a reminder on how they work, and to see this week’s new options!

A Prompt with Three Levels

My vision for Power Up Prompts is to put the power in the hands of my fellow writers. Most prompts give you a single idea to run with, and those are great, but I’m always looking for ways to keep you on your toes.

So, these weekly prompts are going to have three separate parts that can fit together, but they can also work on their own. This will allow you to mix and match to your heart’s content and set the challenge accordingly!

Should you decide to participate, here’s how you can figure out which power level your story or poem falls into:

• Level 1 = A story or poem that uses one of the three elements

• Level 2 = A story or poem that uses two of the three elements

• Level 3 = A story or poem that uses all three elements

For the time being, going for level 3 will also get you a shout-out from me on my weekly writing podcast, Saved as Draft. I’ll feature a quick look at Level 3 stories each week in the show during their own segment.

This week’s prompt is eldritch horror. This is a type of horror that deals with unfathomable and unknowable horrors beyond human comprehension. It typically includes themes of insanity, cosmic horror, and forbidden knowledge.

The Word Count Limit for Power Up Prompts is 2.5K words.

You can also do a story or poem depending on what you think works best for your idea. Also, remember to check out the poll at the end to vote on which genre we should do for next week’s Power Up Prompt!

Element 1: Setting

This week’s setting is The Catacombs. An underground labyrinth filled with the bodies of long-dead entities.

Are these halls filled with human remains, or perhaps this is the resting place of far more sinister creatures? The choice is yours.

Element 2: Character(s)

This week’s character is The Inmate. A prisoner, locked away in a place and for a duration of your choosing. Are they guilty of some crime? Will they plan an escape? Have they been imprisoned in the catacombs themselves?

Are they even human?

Feel free to use this element on its own, or combine it with the others as you’d like for a higher-level story!

Element 3: Conflict

The conflict for this week is The Cost of Freedom. Your character seeks freedom, but at what cost? Will their freedom condemn innocents to death? Or, will they themselves be forced to sacrifice something much more personal to achieve their goals?

Or, in the spirit of eldritch horror, perhaps they will unleash something horrific and unknowable upon the world in exchange for their freedom.

Let Inspiration Strike

You may use all three elements for a level 3 story or poem, or you can take just one or two and run in a different direction entirely. When your story or poem is ready this week, be sure to tag me and share which level it falls into.

As always, I will do my best to read every single piece, and of course, level 3 submissions will be mentioned in next week’s episode of the Saved as Draft podcast.

I can’t wait to see what you come up with! Check the poll below to vote on which genre next week’s prompt will fall into!

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Thanks for Reading! Here’s Your Musical Pairing

Listen to this while you plan your story or poem for this week’s prompt!