The Monastery's Plague Relic
During the Black Death, a traveling merchant from Venice finds himself in a secluded monastery where the monks claim to have a mysterious relic that protects them from the plague. Explore his journey as he tries to uncover the truth behind the relic and the monks’ unscathed condition.
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.
- End with a choice that history would never record.
- Let your character believe something about their world that turned out to be wrong.
- Give the hero a rule of the era they have to break.
Writing historical fiction
Step into another time and feel what it was like.
Historical fiction is set in the past, usually at least 50 years before it was written. Real events and people often appear, but the story belongs to its characters. Readers come for the immersion: the smells, the rules, the dangers of a world that's gone.
What readers expect
- A vivid, well-researched setting
- Real events as backdrop or engine
- Characters shaped by their era
- Details that feel lived, not looked up
A tip before you start
Research deeply, show lightly. One telling detail in a scene beats a paragraph of facts.
More Medieval prompts
- The Squire's First BattleWrite a story about a young squire in medieval England who uncovers a secret plot against the king while serving in his first battle. His loyalty is…
- The Cathedral BuildersCraft a tale centered around the construction of a grand cathedral in medieval Spain. Explore the lives of various people involved, from the visionary…
- The Bard's Three Impossible TasksDescribe the journey of a roaming bard who, after unwittingly offending a powerful lord, is sentenced to complete three impossible tasks for…
- The Monk's Forbidden TextImagine a medieval monastery where a young monk discovers an ancient text that challenges the foundations of their faith and knowledge of the world.…
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.