The History Hackers
A cyber-crime specialist receives an unusual case where thieves are using obscure historical facts to hack into government databases. As the investigation unfolds, the specialist uncovers a conspiracy that ties back to an ancient criminal organization thought to be extinct. Tell the tale of this high-tech hunt with a blend of modern day sleuthing and historical intrigue.
Suggested length: A short story: 1,500 to 5,000 words, or flash fiction under 1,000
Start the clock
Pick a sprint, press start and keep going until it stops. Momentum beats polish on a first draft.
Make it yours
Three ways to take this prompt somewhere nobody else will.
- Give the victim a secret the reader learns before the detective does.
- Start with the confession, and make the story about why it's false.
- Make the detective wrong at the midpoint, for a good reason.
Writing crime fiction
Not who did it, but why, and whether they'll get away with it.
Crime fiction covers any story built around a crime, and it's often told from the criminal's side. Where a mystery is a puzzle, crime fiction is about people: the pressures that lead to the crime, and what it costs everyone involved.
What readers expect
- A crime at the heart of the story
- Moral gray areas
- Criminals as real people
- Tension over who gets caught
A tip before you start
Give your criminal a reason the reader understands, even one they'd never act on themselves.
More Crime Fiction prompts
- The Cleaner and the CrimeYour protagonist is a crime scene cleaner who discovers evidence that the police missed at a murder site. Choosing to investigate on their own, they…
- The Crime Novel Comes TrueA crime novelist witnesses a crime that eerily mirrors a scene from one of their unpublished manuscripts. Using their deep understanding of crime…
- Pieces of a Coastal CrimeWrite a story set in a small coastal town where everyone harbors secrets. A local journalist starts receiving pieces of a shredded photograph that…
- The Librarian’s Crime NotesA small town librarian discovers a series of notes hidden inside various books that predict local crimes before they happen. Write a story about how…
Fifteen minutes in? Keep going.
Chapterly gives a draft somewhere to grow: chapters, daily word goals, and readers when you're ready.
Plans from $9.99 a month. Cancel any time. Your words are always yours.