Funny and Unsettling Writing Prompts for Writers Who Love a Good Twist
Summer is here—sunshine, pool floats, cold drinks… and, possibly, a dramatic necromancer sipping cursed lemonade while plotting revenge in a cabana.
Because even villains need a break.
Whether you write dark fantasy, magical comedy, dystopian drama, or something deliciously strange in between, imagining what your villain does off-duty can unlock all kinds of inspiration. And let’s be honest: nothing stirs up creativity like a villain trying to “relax” and failing miserably.
Below are some funny, chaotic, and slightly unsettling prompts to help you explore the lighter (or darker) side of your antagonists.
😈 What Would Your Villain Do on Vacation?
- The Dark Lord has officially “retired” and is trying out beach volleyball. He keeps turning the ball into a fireball, and no one will tell him the rules.
- Your vampire villain starts a Sunset Cruise for mortals. “Nothing suspicious,” they insist… but there’s no sunscreen on board. Or garlic bread.
- A necromancer opens a smoothie shack at the beach. The skeleton staff is literal, but business is booming… until health inspectors arrive.
- A swamp witch tries to enjoy a peaceful fishing trip… until the fish start talking back, and one demands vengeance for her toad-based magic.
- The tyrant queen disguises herself as a lifeguard to spy on rebels—turns out, she’s good at it. Too good. She saves a puppy and starts trending online.
- A chaos god, bored of universal destruction, decides to infiltrate a family road trip as the grandma. No one questions why Grandma glows.
- A trickster villain signs up for a yoga retreat to “reconnect with their inner shadow.” But someone insults their aura, and now the full moon is broken.
- A villain gets dragged to their family’s reunion cookout. Nobody knows they’re evil… until a nosy uncle sees their face on a wanted poster.
- A fire demon wants to learn to surf. The ocean doesn’t want them back. Cue angry wave spirits, boiled sea foam, and awkward sunburn.
- A villain-themed summer camp opens for aspiring henchmen. Halfway through, one camper discovers the villain is actually their estranged parent.
- The villain builds a luxury beach resort to trap heroes. But the heroes love it… and the villain ends up winning a hospitality award.
- A cursed sandcastle tournament awakens something ancient. Now the villain is stuck negotiating peace between toddlers and eldritch horrors.
- Every year, a secret island appears where villains gather to relax. This time, a hero crashes the party—and ends up leading karaoke night.
✍️ Writing Challenge:
Choose your favorite prompt and write a short scene (300–500 words) where your villain tries to relax… but their true nature just can’t help but shine through. Do they succeed? Fail miserably? Accidentally make a friend?
Summer isn’t just for heroes. Give your villain a break—and maybe a pool float shaped like a skull. You never know what kind of fun (or doom) will come from it.
Happy writing ^_^
Sara's Writing Sanctuary 