description of a zombie creative writing

How to Write Great (Awful) Zombies

By Melanie Karsak

It’s October, my favorite month of the year. Without fail, I always get in the mood to write something spooky this time of year. Over the summer, I completed the fifth and final book in The Harvesting Series. The Harvesting series begins with an outbreak that leads to a zombie apocalypse. Once mankind is mostly dead, the survivors learn that we weren’t as alone as we thought we were. The fey, vampires, and other supernatural creatures and powers always existed in our world, we just didn’t know it. Writing five books in a zombie series pushed me to constantly innovate and look for new ways to write scary creatures. Just how many ways are there to describe a zombie? In the end, I found the best was to go back to basics. Hit the readers right in the senses:

1) Zombies smell like…

I spent a lot of time considering how a zombie might smell. From the harrowing bouquet of the rotted corpse to the whiff of an entire horde of the decaying undead, zombies stink. When writing zombies, you will get your readers into the scene more completely if you can help them envision what it would be like face-to-face with breath that smells like the “soup” at the bottom of a trash can. On The Walking Dead , characters can grimace and cover their mouths. Our characters should do that too, but describing the scents of rancid, pussy sores, molding clothing, and maggot-filled chunks of bloody flesh can bring your zombies to…life? Zombies should smell so bad you can taste it. Speaking of…

2) Zombies taste like…

Okay, no one is going to go around and taste a zombie, but you should get the reader’s taste buds thinking. My favorite taste description is of the bloody saliva my zombies drool all over everything. Imagine that sharp salty and metallic taste of blood in your mouth. Imagine the wash of stomach acid that will burn up your esophagus and into your mouth when you see one of my stinking zombies. Image a scent so putrid you can taste it. Yes, zombies taste bad too.

3) I hear zombies…

The groan of the undead, the sound of them dragging their body parts down the street behind them, the spitty hiss they make as their decayed teeth, yellowed and full of pulpy bits of bloody flesh, snap as they try to bite you, all make up the beautiful chorus that is the zombie apocalypse. Zombies moan like no other monster. Their terrible hunger evokes painful sounding moans as they hiss and snap at their meal: you. The zombie really makes a music all its own.

4) Zombies feel like…

Imagine a rotted corpse had just lunged at you. You try to push it away find only pulpy, decayed flesh. Your fingers sink into the meat. The skin peals back like the casing of a sausage to reveal rotted sinew and tissue now softer than mud. The decaying flesh slips off the still-solid skeleton underneath until your down to the very bone. Zombies feel gross. Describing how zombies feel is best imagined as that feeling you get when you reach into a bag, box, or cupboard only to find something wet, soft, and suspect—where it shouldn’t be. If you have kids, you’ve experienced this for sure. You’re immediately repulsed by the unknown. Add in some great taste and smell descriptions, and you have a perfect recipe for the grotesque.

5) Zombie look like…

Describing how a zombie looks is where writers can take the most liberties. Are your zombies fast or slow? Do they decay or do they not? It’s pretty standard fare to have zombies in tattered clothes, from I am Legend ’s thinking and hairless undead to 28 Days Later’s fast zombies, a bad wardrobe is the norm. Zombies can have red eyes, black eyes, white or decayed-looking eyes, or more. You zombies might be able to communicate or even seem more human than undead. Playing with just what your special brand of zombie will look like, and making is as scary as possible, is what makes writing zombies entertaining.

Evoking the senses when trying to scare the reader is really fun—and maybe a little evil—way to pull the reader into the moment and get their hearts racing. The best way to imagine what will be scary to the reader, what will repulse and frighten them, is to question what you find repulsive and frightening. Play on common human fears. Manipulate the fears of the dark, unknown sounds, and all manner of deeply held unconscious worries.

Of course, I didn’t write a zombie dressed as a clown spitting out spiders while giving a speech, but if I did, he definitely would have smelled like rancid meat, his entrails falling out of a fresh wound as he tried to claw off some poor innocent’s face with his yellowed fingernails, pressing those boney fingers into their flesh. I didn’t write that scene…yet.

The Harvesting

More about Melanie Karsak

9 responses to “How to Write Great (Awful) Zombies”

It was good and helpful

Exceptional detail given here. Two thumbs up! I feel inspired for my own “zombie book”.

Thank you so much this will really help with my creative writing in class. Thanks again.

What does it mean to ‘write like Zombies’?

Your suggestions certainly are helpful for writers of fiction. What would you do differently in a zombie/western screenplay?

I love this article thank you!

Your article was amazing so inspiring thank you!

I find this very helpful and inspiring for my creative writing. Thank you.

This was very helpful with my story! I felt it was bland before, but after some revising with these tips in mind, I like it a lot more!

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143+ Unique Zombie Story Ideas [Prompts for Creative Writers]

Are you looking for some inspiration for your next zombie story, screenplay, or comic book?

Well, you’re in the right place! As a full-time genre writer and independent filmmaker , I’ve written a ton of monsters , including zombies. They’ve been so much fun to write!

I promise you’ll love creating your zombie story as much as I have! And, to help you out, here are some great writing prompts for unique zombie characters and zombie story ideas for your next zombie fiction story!

What Are Good Zombie Story Ideas?

Let’s get right into all the best story ideas!

Traditional Survival Horror

These zombie writing prompts will capture the essence of the genre, focusing on survival amid a classic zombie apocalypse. Key elements include scavenging for supplies, seeking safe havens, and the constant threat of the undead.

Last Light in the City : Amidst an urban apocalypse, a group of survivors must navigate through a city overrun by zombies to reach a rumored safe haven.

The Warehouse : A group of survivors finds refuge in a massive warehouse filled with supplies but must devise clever traps and defenses against waves of zombies.

Radio Silence : A lone radio operator broadcasts messages of hope and guidance to survivors while defending his station from the undead.

The Last Hospital : Medical professionals in the last functioning hospital must balance their duty to patients and their own survival as zombies close in.

Highway to Hell : A convoy of survivors travels on deserted highways, scavenging for supplies, and fighting off zombie hordes along the way.

The Farmhouse Standoff : A family barricades themselves in their farmhouse, using their knowledge of the land to fend off relentless zombie attacks.

The Underground : Survivors living in subway tunnels face not only the threat of zombies but also rival survivor groups vying for control of the underground.

Mountain Refuge : A group of hikers retreats to a remote mountain cabin during a zombie outbreak, battling harsh weather, isolation, and the undead.

The Shopping Mall Siege : Survivors holed up in a shopping mall must defend their fortress of supplies from a massive zombie horde.

The Lighthouse : A lighthouse keeper uses his isolated island lighthouse to guide survivors at sea, while keeping the undead at bay.

School’s Out Forever : Teachers and students fortify their school against zombies after their town is overrun.

Zombie Zoo : The staff of a city zoo struggles to keep the animals alive while fending off zombies that have breached the gates.

The Library : A group of survivors in a public library uses their collective knowledge to outsmart zombies and search for a cure.

The Stadium : A sports stadium becomes a safe haven for survivors, but with limited resources, they must venture out into zombie-infested city for supplies.

The Sewers : When the city above is overrun by zombies, a band of survivors must navigate the labyrinthine sewers below to escape.

RELATED: Read my apocalypse story ideas here !

Comedy and Parody

These story ideas take a lighter approach to the zombie genre, infusing humor and satire into the grim apocalypse. They include slapstick humor, satirical takes on society, and quirky characters facing off against zombies.

Zombie Mall Shoppers : A group of retail workers must survive the Black Friday shopping frenzy – except this year, the shoppers are zombies.

Dawn of the Undead Dentist : A dentist discovers that flossing and brushing can actually kill zombies, leading to hilarious and bizarre encounters.

The Zombie Gourmet : A renowned chef is forced to adapt his cooking skills to a world where brains are the main ingredient.

Zombie Prom : A high school prom takes a turn when a zombie outbreak occurs, leading to a night of dance-offs, love triangles, and brain-eating hilarity.

Zombie Retirement Home : In an elderly care home, a group of lively senior citizens are more than ready to take on the zombie apocalypse.

Zombies in Vegas : What happens when a group of bachelor party goers wake up from a night in Las Vegas to find a zombie apocalypse? Chaos, humor, and a lot of lost bets.

Zombies on a Cruise : The luxury cruise turns into a floating buffet for zombies, where the crew and passengers have to use the ship’s resources creatively to survive.

Zombie Love Story : A hopeless romantic falls in love with a zombie, leading to a series of comedic and awkward situations.

Zombies vs. Aliens : When aliens invade during a zombie apocalypse, both the zombies and the survivors are too confused about who should be attacking whom.

Zombie Weight Loss Program : A fitness influencer capitalizes on the zombie apocalypse by promoting a new weight loss program – running from zombies.

Zombie Reality TV : A reality show continues filming during a zombie apocalypse, leading to absurdly comical and deadly challenges.

Zombies at the Zoo : A group of zookeepers use their knowledge of animals to fend off a horde of zombies that have taken over the zoo.

Zombie Office Politics : An office worker realizes that his colleagues have turned into zombies – but strangely, office life goes on almost as normal.

Zombie Road Trip : A family on a cross-country road trip must navigate kitschy tourist traps, roadside diners, and hordes of zombies.

Zombies in Space : Astronauts aboard the International Space Station watch the zombie apocalypse unfold from space and struggle with the fact that they might be the last humans left.

RELATED: If you’re writing a zombie story or movie and haven’t found a name for your zombie yet, click here to see my list of zombie name ideas !

Romantic Zombies

These plot ideas feature love in the time of zombies, blending elements of romance and horror. You’ll find star-crossed lovers (one being a zombie or both battling the undead) exploring themes of love transcending the horror of zombification.

Zombie Love Letter : An old love letter is found by a survivor, leading him to search for his lost love amidst the apocalypse.

From Zombies With Love : Two zombies, retaining their memories and emotions, fall in love and struggle to protect each other from the living who see them as threats.

The Zombie Bride : On her wedding day, a bride turns into a zombie, and her groom goes to great lengths to find a cure to save her.

Zombie Prom : High school sweethearts must navigate their prom night when their classmates start turning into zombies.

Love Bites : A woman falls for a man who, unbeknownst to her, is slowly turning into a zombie. As she uncovers his secret, they both fight for their love and survival.

The Forbidden Kiss : A human and a sentient zombie share a forbidden love, challenging the prejudices of both humans and zombies.

Zombie Honeymoon : A newlywed couple’s honeymoon turns into a fight for survival when their tropical paradise is overrun by zombies.

Undying Love : After losing his lover to a zombie bite, a man discovers she has retained her consciousness after turning and vows to stay by her side.

Zombie Love Triangle : A woman must choose between her human ex-boyfriend and her new love interest, who happens to be a sentient zombie.

Zombified Romeo and Juliet : A retelling of the classic tale, where two lovers from rival families must confront their prejudices and the zombie outbreak.

Love in the Lab : Two scientists working on a cure for the zombie virus find love amidst the chaos and desperation of their work.

Zombie Serenade : A musician uses his songs to communicate with his zombie girlfriend, leading to touching and humorous situations.

Love on the Run : Two strangers meet during a zombie outbreak and fall in love while trying to escape the city.

The Last Dance : A couple trapped in their school during a zombie outbreak decide to have one last dance before trying to escape.

Zombie Heart : A man discovers his heart donor was a sentient zombie and begins to experience emotions and memories of the zombie’s past love life.

Zombie Heist

These zombie stories combine the thrill of heist plots with the peril of a zombie apocalypse. Elements of these stories will likely include a team with special skills, a seemingly impossible mission amidst zombies, and high-stakes tension.

The Living Vault : A team of thieves attempt to break into a vault rumored to contain a cure for the zombie virus.

Undead Casino Heist : In the ruins of Las Vegas, a band of survivors plan to rob a casino vault filled with supplies.

Zombie Jailbreak : A group of convicts plan a daring escape from a zombie-infested prison.

Last Train to Survival : A team must infiltrate a moving train filled with zombies to retrieve a vaccine.

Bunker Heist : A group of survivors attempts to break into a government bunker rumored to be filled with food, weapons, and medicine.

The Diamond Dead : A band of thieves plan a risky heist on a diamond store in a zombie-ridden city.

The Zombie Bank Job : A group plans to rob a bank vault in a zombie-infested city, hoping it contains resources for survival.

Art of the Apocalypse : A team of survivors aim to steal priceless works of art from a zombie-infested museum, hoping to sell them for survival supplies.

Operation Z : A special ops team is dispatched to retrieve a top-secret weapon from a military base overrun by zombies.

The Last Heist : In a world overrun by zombies, a retiring thief plans one last heist to secure enough supplies for his family’s survival.

Zombie Gold Rush : A group of survivors hears rumors of a gold mine untouched by the zombie apocalypse and plans a daring heist.

The Undead Heist Club : A group of high school friends plans a heist on their zombie-infested school to retrieve left-behind supplies.

Breaking into the Dead Zone : A team of daredevils plans a heist in the city’s dead zone to retrieve a cache of weapons.

The Silent Heist : A deaf thief and her crew plan a heist on a zombie-infested mansion rumored to be full of valuable antiques.

The Biohazard Job : A group of survivors hears about a biotech lab that holds the cure for the zombie virus and plans an audacious heist to steal it.

Military and Tactical

These zombie writing prompts focus on military operations during a zombie outbreak, highlighting strategy and firepower. They will include special forces, tactical missions against zombies, and insights into military protocols and weaponry.

Operation Dead Zone : A Special Forces team is dispatched into a quarantine zone to retrieve a scientist who may hold the cure to the zombie virus.

Zombie Siege : A military base is surrounded by zombies, and the soldiers must use their training and tactics to survive.

The Zombie Protocol : After a failed mission, a soldier discovers a top-secret military protocol designed to combat a zombie apocalypse.

Undead Warfare : A squad of soldiers is trapped behind enemy lines in a country overrun by zombies and must fight their way back home.

The Last Stand : A platoon makes a heroic stand against an overwhelming horde of zombies to protect a refugee camp.

Operation Z : A drone operator discovers an impending zombie attack on a remote military outpost and must warn them before it’s too late.

The Biohazard Unit : An elite military unit specializes in combating biohazard threats, including zombies.

The Undead Navy : A naval ship becomes the last refuge for humanity amidst a global zombie outbreak.

Airborne Apocalypse : A paratrooper squad is dropped into a zombie-infested city to rescue important political figures.

The Zombie Sniper : A sniper uses her skills to protect a group of survivors from a horde of zombies.

Black Ops Zombies : A covert ops team is tasked with infiltrating a zombie-infested enemy base to retrieve valuable intel.

Zombie Marines : A group of marines stranded on a remote island must battle zombies and find a way to communicate with the outside world.

The Zombie War : In a world conquered by zombies, a ragtag group of soldiers forms a resistance movement.

Desert Zombies : A military convoy crossing a desert encounters an unexpected enemy – zombies.

The Zombie Draft : Due to a shortage of soldiers, the government starts drafting civilians into the military to fight against the zombie apocalypse.

Psychological Thriller

These zombie stories look into the human psyche, exploring the mental toll of surviving in a world overrun by zombies. You’ll be writing about mind games, the blur between reality and hallucination, and the psychological depth of characters struggling to maintain their sanity.

Mind of the Undead : A survivor starts to empathize with the zombies, blurring the line between humanity and monstrosity.

Sanity’s Last Stand : In a world overrun by zombies, a group of survivors grapples with their sanity as they debate whether to hold on or let go.

Isolation : A lone survivor in a zombie apocalypse starts to question their reality, unsure if the zombies are real or figments of their imagination.

Fragmented Reality : After a head injury, a survivor starts seeing zombies even when there are none around, leading to paranoia and mistrust among his group.

The Zombie Therapist : A psychologist uses her skills to help survivors cope with the mental trauma of a zombie apocalypse.

Undead Dreams : A survivor can’t distinguish between dreams and reality, causing panic and chaos within a safe house.

The Zombie Mirage : Stranded in a desert, survivors start hallucinating about zombies, leading to devastating consequences.

Echoes of the Past : Haunted by their past actions, survivors are tormented by guilt-induced visions of zombified loved ones.

The Madhouse : A group of survivors finds refuge in an abandoned mental asylum, only to be haunted by the former patients turned zombies.

Zombie Phobia : A man with a severe phobia of zombies must confront his fear to protect his family during a zombie outbreak.

Survivor’s Guilt : The last member of a squad struggles with survivor’s guilt and PTSD, seeing his fallen comrades as zombies.

The Reality Game : A reality TV show producer exploits the zombie apocalypse to create a twisted new show, manipulating survivors’ fears for ratings.

The Walking Shadows : A survivor starts seeing ‘shadow zombies’ due to severe sleep deprivation.

The Descent : A safe haven slowly becomes a madhouse as cabin fever sets in and survivors start turning on each other, suspecting infiltration by zombies.

Paranoia : A group of survivors turns on one of their own, believing him to be infected, leading to a tragic series of events.

Historical and Period Zombies

These zombie story ideas have zombie outbreaks in historical or specific period contexts, and they blend history with horror. You’ll be writing about authentic historical settings, period-specific challenges, and the juxtaposition of zombies with historical events or figures.

Revolution of the Dead : During the French Revolution, a zombie plague adds a terrifying twist to the Reign of Terror.

The Black Death Reimagined : The Bubonic Plague in the 14th century was actually a zombie outbreak, and survivors must navigate medieval Europe’s challenges to survive.

Civil War of the Undead : During the American Civil War, fallen soldiers rise as zombies, forcing the North and South to unite against the undead.

The Z Pharaohs : Ancient Egypt is hit by a zombie plague during the reign of a powerful Pharaoh, turning pyramid builders into undead monsters.

Victorian Zombies : In Victorian London, a zombie outbreak lurks beneath the city’s foggy streets, threatening to interrupt the Industrial Revolution.

The Samurai and the Dead : In Feudal Japan, a Samurai warrior must use his skills to fend off a zombie infestation.

Dead Men Tell Tales : Pirates in the Golden Age of Piracy face off against zombified shipmates and island natives.

The Undead Renaissance : Leonardo da Vinci invents contraptions not only for the betterment of humanity but also to combat a zombie outbreak.

Stonehenge Apocalypse : Druids in ancient Britain must use their knowledge and magic to stop a zombie outbreak during the construction of Stonehenge.

Zombies of the Wild West : A sheriff in a small Western town faces his biggest challenge yet – a horde of undead cowboys.

The Gladiator Graveyard : In Ancient Rome, fallen gladiators rise from the dead, turning the Colosseum into an arena of horror.

The Aztec Curse : An Aztec curse turns the sacrificed into zombies, threatening to wipe out the Mesoamerican civilization.

The Plague of Independence : The American Revolution takes a horrific turn when British soldiers use a zombie virus as a biological weapon.

The Silk Road Horror : Merchants and travelers on the ancient Silk Road must combat a zombie outbreak spread by a mysterious artifact.

Cold War of the Dead : At the height of the Cold War, a zombie outbreak forces NATO and the Warsaw Pact to put aside differences and unite against the common undead enemy.

RELATED: Find more story idea inspiration, check out these lists of western story ideas , monster ideas , halloween story ideas and dystopian story ideas !

Sci-Fi and Experimental Zombies

These zombie writing prompts introduce elements of science fiction, offering a fresh twist on zombie origins and characteristics. You might write about genetic engineering, alien viruses, futuristic technology, and exploring the science behind the undead.

Alien Outbreak : An alien virus brought back from a Mars expedition turns humans into zombies, forcing astronauts and scientists to work together to stop the spread.

The Bio-Engineered Apocalypse : A genetically engineered super-soldier serum goes wrong, turning its subjects into aggressive, intelligent zombies.

Nano-Zombies : Nanotechnology meant to improve human health malfunctions, turning those implanted into high-tech zombies.

Post-Apocalyptic AI : In a world destroyed by nuclear war, an AI reanimates the dead to rebuild society, leading to a new breed of cybernetic zombies.

Zombie Singularity : As humanity merges with technology, a computer virus jumps to humans, turning them into zombie-like drones connected to a malevolent AI.

The Quantum Dead : A quantum physics experiment gone wrong opens a portal to a parallel universe, unleashing a zombie virus into our world.

Zombies in Space : A space mining crew on an asteroid unwittingly unleash an ancient alien pathogen, turning them into space zombies.

The Martian Dead : Colonists on Mars face a zombie outbreak after disturbing an ancient microbial lifeform.

Time Traveling Virus : A scientist from the future travels back in time to prevent a zombie apocalypse, only to accidentally introduce the virus earlier in history.

Radioactive Reanimation : After a nuclear meltdown, radiation leaks cause the dead in nearby cemeteries to rise as radioactive zombies.

The Genetic Pandora’s Box : Scientists attempting to unlock the secret to immortality accidentally create a zombie virus that rapidly spreads through the population.

Zombie Robots : Advanced robots designed to mimic humans malfunction and start acting like zombies, creating panic in a futuristic society.

The Zombie Meteor : A meteorite crash lands on Earth, carrying an alien virus that turns people into zombies.

Dystopian Dead : In a dystopian future where resources are scarce and the rich live in luxury, a zombie outbreak becomes the ultimate leveler.

The Cloning Disaster : An attempt to solve overpopulation by cloning humans goes awry when the clones turn out to be flesh-eating zombies.

Cross-Genre Blend

These zombie stories merge zombies with other genres like fantasy, western, or noir. They incorporate elements like magic, cowboys, or detectives into the zombie world.

Zombie Noir : In a post-apocalyptic city, a hard-boiled detective investigates a series of murders, only to discover that zombies are the culprits.

Cowboy Zombies : In the Wild West, a group of cowboys must protect their town from an incoming horde of zombies, stirred up by a nefarious outlaw’s black magic.

Fantasy Zombies : A powerful necromancer raises an army of zombies to overthrow a kingdom, and it’s up to a ragtag group of adventurers to stop him.

Steampunk Zombies : In a Victorian-era city powered by steam and gears, a mad scientist’s creation of mechanized zombies threatens to bring about an apocalypse.

Zombies in Space : On a distant space station, crew members must fight off an unexpected zombie outbreak caused by an alien virus.

Time-Traveling Zombies : A time traveler accidentally brings a zombie back to the present, sparking an outbreak that he must now stop.

Zombie Pirates : A cursed treasure turns a crew of pirates into undead horrors, terrorizing the Caribbean until a brave heroine steps up to stop them.

Zombie Romance : Two lovers separated by a zombie apocalypse must navigate through hordes of the undead to find each other again.

Cyberpunk Zombies : In a futuristic dystopia, rogue AI turns the city’s citizens into cybernetic zombies, forcing a group of hackers to save humanity.

Zombie Superheroes : A zombie virus infects a city’s superhero population, leaving ordinary citizens to fend off their former protectors.

Zombie Comedy : A group of friends wake up from a wild party to find their town overrun by zombies, leading to hilarious and terrifying antics.

Zombie Heist : A group of thieves plan a heist amid a zombie apocalypse, using the chaos as a cover for their daring robbery.

Zombie Musical : In a world where music soothes the undead, a band of musicians use their talents to survive in a zombie-infested city.

Zombie Western : In a post-apocalyptic future resembling the old west, a lone cowboy faces off against hordes of the undead.

Zombie Fairy Tale : In a twisted version of a classic fairy tale, a princess must save her kingdom from a wicked witch’s zombie curse.

Post-Apocalyptic

These zombie apocalypse stories focus on rebuilding civilization after a zombie apocalypse. They explore themes of hope and renewal, and you’ll be writing about community building, the rise of new societies, and the challenges of creating a new world.

Eden After Undeath : A group of survivors discover an untouched paradise amidst the ruins. Can they keep their Eden safe from the outside world?

Rise of New Athens : A community of intellectuals tries to rebuild civilization based on ancient Greek principles. But can philosophy and science thrive in a world overrun by zombies?

The Last Library : In a world where knowledge is power, a band of survivors protect a library – the last bastion of human knowledge.

Zombie Renaissance : Artists and musicians create a vibrant cultural movement amidst the post-apocalyptic ruins, bringing hope and beauty back into the world.

The Wall : A fortified city thrives amidst the apocalypse. But when the walls start cracking, the society within must face its greatest challenge.

From the Ashes : After the zombies decay, survivors must deal with a new threat – rival factions fighting over resources in the newly safe world.

The Second Chance : A group of prisoners released after the apocalypse use their skills to build a thriving community, challenging notions of morality and redemption.

The New Frontier : A group of pioneers set out to reclaim and repopulate abandoned cities, facing the challenges of nature reclaiming urban spaces.

Democracy of the Dead : As communities grow, so do conflicts. A town attempts to establish a democratic government, navigating the complexities of politics in a post-apocalyptic world.

Children of the Apocalypse : Born after the outbreak, a generation of children must learn to rebuild the world from the stories and relics of the past.

Post-Apocalyptic Agriculture : The struggle to cultivate crops and develop sustainable food sources becomes a vital task for a group of farming enthusiasts.

The Radio Tower : A group of survivors turns a radio tower into a beacon of hope, broadcasting messages of survival and assistance.

The Wandering School : A mobile community of teachers and students travels from place to place, sharing knowledge and skills essential for rebuilding society.

New Currency : In a world where money has lost its value, a group of survivors must devise a new form of currency and establish an economy.

Reclaiming the Skies : A team of engineers works on restoring old planes, hoping to reconnect isolated communities and establish trade routes.

So there you have it – my best ideas for a good zombie story. I hope you’ve found a great idea for your next creative work!

These days, you can also find ideas for a story by using AI story generator tools . Check out this article for how to use AI to brainstorm story ideas .

As always, please leave a comment below if you have any other interesting ideas to share. And please, stay creative!

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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50 Zombie Writing Prompts to scary up stories

November 21, 2023 by Richard Leave a Comment

Undead Inspiration: 50 Zombie Writing Prompts to Scare Up Stories

Few horror creations have embedded themselves into popular culture quite like zombies – the ravenous, shambling undead that relentlessly crave brains. Zombies have shuffled their way into movies, TV shows, books, video games, and endless creative works, taking over imaginations worldwide.

Part of what makes zombies so compelling is that they can represent different themes and tap into deep societal fears – of contagions, mob mentality, the loss of our humanity and free will. They emerge from the unknown – maybe science experiments gone wrong, occult practices summoning the dead, or biblical plagues.

Zombies stories throw characters into high-stakes survival situations where ingenuity, courage, and luck are constantly tested in the struggle against the undead threat. The scenarios force difficult choices, community-building, heroism but also sacrifices in an unforgiving apocalypse landscape. There seems to be no end to creative angles and mashups the undead can shamble into.

So if you’re looking to write a zombie story, I’ve created a list of 50 zombie apocalypse writing prompts covering a wide range terrifying and thought-provoking scenarios. Let the zombie story ideas and survival tales come ripping straight out of your brain and onto the page! Click below to check out the prompts and let me know which ones capture your imagination or inspire a tale you’d read! Also check out other writing prompts on our site .

50 Zombie Writing Prompts to Scare Up Stories

50 zombie writing prompts:

After a zombie virus outbreak, a group of survivors barricade themselves in a mall and try to fight off hordes of the undead to survive.
A researcher desperately tries to develop a cure as the zombie infection spreads exponentially, threatening to overwhelm the city within days.
A man wakes from a coma to find himself seemingly alone in a hospital that shows signs of being hastily evacuated – then discovers it’s swarming with zombies.
Soldiers battle swarms of intelligent zombies that retain the military training and lethal skills they had when human.
A teenager faces her zombified parents not knowing if she can pull the trigger to stop them.
Rival groups of survivors clash over scarce resources after establishing strongholds, struggling to rebuild society amidst the relentless undead threat.
A widow traverses the zombie wasteland with her infected husband in tow desperately searching for a sanctuary rumored to be developing a cure.
A jilted groom rampages through his wedding after a zombie virus outbreak turns guests and family undead.
A blind man discovers his spare senses make him uniquely attuned to detect and hunt zombies roaming the city ruins.
After zombies overrun earth’s last sanctuary bunker, scientists desperately try escaping into space but realize too late one astronaut was bitten.
Distraught survivors gather for counseling struggling with losing everything to the apocalypse only to learn the therapist was bitten days ago.
Fearing zombies breaking into their doomsday bunker, a prepared survivalist insists a newcomer slave quarantine outside for weeks, exposing divisions within the shelter.
A guilt-ridden scientist tries to rescue his family from the zombie army created inadvertently after his experiments were sabotaged.
After zombies topple the government, resistance fighters discover the undead’s hive mind intelligence rapidly evolving without conscience or restraint.
A man arrested for his wife’s suspicious death wakes imprisoned as the zombie outbreak begins, battling undead while handcuffed as he tries to prove his innocence.
Contestants half way through an isolated reality TV series shoot emerge from wilderness exile to discover an apocalypse overran civilization in their absence.
A lone survivor is ambushed and bitten by zombies but discovers he’s immune, fueling him with determination to reach the rumored refuge developing a cure.
Bold survivors drag Racing cars out the abandoned speedway to battle undead gladiator style, buying precious distraction time for others harvesting supplies from once overwhelmed towns.
An Emergency Room doctor watches helplessly as zombie bite victims rapidly turn while hospital chaos erupts into an ordeal separating him from his trapped family.
A widowed grandmother protects her bedridden husband’s reanimated zombie unable to accept losing him, keeping him secretly isolated and bound within their home.
Solitary scouts maintaining vital radio relays across vast distances risk the horror of being stranded far from shelter after zombie swarms ambush communication towers.
Fragile alliances between rival apocalypse cults fracture, plunging survivors into sectarian warfare as fanatics try purifying decimated populations they each consider damned.
From remote farm country untouched since the outbreak began, groups risk everything following faint emergency radio transmissions toward promised airlifts off the mainland.
After satellites confirm the zombie infection went global, an ISS astronaut helplessly watches the Earth burn below then investigates strange garbled transmissions about secret survival stations established off planet.
A Special Forces team infiltrates a zombie hive cresting the wreckage of an overrun asylum to capture specimens and fallen intelligence critical for developing defenses and weaponry able to overwhelm exponentially growing undead numbers.
An ordinary high school inexplicably becomes both haven and hell for lost students and staff fleeing zombies while trapped without communication amidst deteriorating siege conditions and crumbling campus defenses.
A lone wolf special ops veteran works to extricate their apocalypse hardened but traumatized child squad from capture by an opportunistic warlord building zombie army conscripts from brain washed orphaned survivors.
Fueled by revenge after loved ones are infected, resistance fighters brutally combat collaborating cults worshiping the undead, sparking an unholy civil war amongst remaining battered human holdouts.
Preserved cryogenically waiting decades for a cure, an infected couple awaken in a seemingly deserted complex, banding with others to restore power and access the abandoned world outside to verify if humanity survived.
Bereaved survivors overwhelmed with trauma and loss after relentless horrors find therapy adopting orphaned refugee children, forcing meaning in mentoring the next generation.
A serial killer languishing on death row becomes an unexpected asset able to exploit understanding of evil during initial zombie outbreaks allowing government agencies critical insight when negotiating fragile truces.
Facing dwindling odds of evacuating the zombie wasted red zone, a weary medic wrestles with should they stay attempting to stabilize the quarantine line or flee carrying vital research before the city is aimlessly nuked.
Beneath a remote monastery converted into an apocalypse bunker, descending catacombs reveal mysterious glowing relics worshipped by forgotten gods and dark cults suggesting zombies were prophesied punishments upon a sinful world awaiting this foretold cleansing.
Fanatical preppers vindicated establishing isolated redoubts amidst global zombie outbreaks warily debate rescues as infamous raiders and infiltration risks until dwindling supplies ultimately force confronting harsh survival realities alone.
After civilization collapses when initial ineffective directives worsen outbreaks exponentially, rogue generals launch unauthorized nuclear strikes against overrun strategic zones, fracturing command continuity and communications vital for global response efforts.
A jaded CDC doctor races to perfect an experimental vaccine derived from an anomalous immune survivor’s blood as zombies close in on her surviving team’s clandestine mobile laboratory’s location, threatening to end essential research.
Desperate enclaves transmit repeating emergency broadcasts, each falling silent one by one as relentless zombies overwhelm isolated havens and scattered listeners debate seeking opportunities for sanctuary or making final stands.
Facing terminal cancer treatment delays after zombies devastate infrastructure, a father struggles crossing the wasteland seeking scattered rumors of rogue biochemists concocting bootleg pharmaceuticals from abandoned labs to self administer life saving makeshift chemotherapy.
Grieving survivors adopt orphaned children rescued from devastated areas, discovering youth traumatized witnessing zombie slaying prove unexpectedly better adjusted forming new post apocalyptic families from the remnants of broken ones.
Trapped aboard an international space station watching helplessly as governments collapse worldwide, diverse astronauts of rival nations uncomfortably cooperate awaiting plans for recovery missions or permanent exile drifting above an overrun home world.
Underground coal miners surprised unscathed emerging after exhausting emergency supplies for shelter discover the zombie infection strangely bypasses populations isolated from open air contamination suggesting fungus or chemtrails as the vector.
Vigilante auxiliary units raid overwhelmed infection zones striving to rescue critical personnel in danger being overrun before vital knowledge, expertise and infrastructure guarding civilization’s last sanctuaries is lost amidst the chaos.
Driven by survivor’s guilt after loved ones perish early in outbreaks, a remorseful scientist works ruthlessly perfecting weaponized contagions to genocidally eradicate zombie threats despite moral outcry over his drastic bio attacks from others.
Responding to ashes from funeral pyres darkening skies, opportunistic apocalyptic cults herald zombies as harbingers of end times, flourishing conversions from lost souls seeking answers even as rational enclaves actively work to restore sanity amidst turmoil.
Surviving celebrities band together as influential social media influencers using fame advantageously uniting scattered fans into communities for protection, their star power strange currency in a ruined landscape.
An intrepid documentarian follows an eccentric billionaire covertly funding illegal experiments ritualistically sacrificing zombie specimens attempting to reanimate the dead seeking immortality, eternal youth or resurrecting loved ones.
A clumsy oaf bumbling through outbreaks realizes his inexplicable invulnerability is a latent mutant superpower allowing him to heroically save others when boldly walking through hordes unscathed.
An intrepid journalist investigates hidden Pentagon bioweapons experiments as the initial source of unprecedented ‘wildfire mutations’ rapidly accelerating zombie virus transmission and resilience worldwide.
Under siege and without communications for months, isolated survivors in an apocalyptic red zone emerge changed by their ordeals, having turned feral forming violent tribal communities centered around defending scarce local resources from outsiders.
An obsessive scientist frenetically works in secret to weaponize the zombie virus aiming to perfect infectious control mechanisms for deploying swarms as unquestioningly loyal minions trainable seeking brains through precise directives encoded into post hypnotic triggers.

I hope these 50 Zombie Writing prompts will get you writing. If you want to share your work or comments or concerns please leave them in the comments below.

About Richard

Richard Everywriter (pen name) has worked for literary magazines and literary websites for the last 25 years. He holds degrees in Writing, Journalism, Technology and Education. Richard has headed many writing workshops and courses, and he has taught writing and literature for the last 20 years.

In writing and publishing he has worked with independent, small, medium and large publishers for years connecting publishers to authors. He has also worked as a journalist and editor in both magazine, newspaper and trade publications as well as in the medical publishing industry. Follow him on Twitter, and check out our Submissions page .