20 Fantasy Picture Prompts to Inspire Your Next Story

For TeachersFor WritersCreative WritingWriting Prompts
Written By Ink & Insights .

Fantasy worlds are filled with hidden kingdoms, ancient gods, impossible bargains, and mysteries waiting to be uncovered. Whether you're writing epic fantasy, dark fantasy, high fantasy, or magical adventure stories, these fantasy picture prompts are designed to spark new ideas and help you build rich, imaginative worlds.

Each image includes observation questions, story questions, and a writing prompt to encourage deeper thinking and inspire original stories. They can be used for independent writing, creative writing lessons, warm-up activities, or worldbuilding exercises.

If you're looking for even more inspiration, explore the Fantasy Writing Hub for additional fantasy prompts, character ideas, settings, creatures, and story starters. You can also browse the Creative Writing Archive for hundreds of prompts across fantasy, horror, sci-fi, romance, mystery, and many other genres.

How to Use These Fantasy Picture Prompts

These fantasy picture prompts are designed to help writers move beyond the blank page and begin building characters, worlds, conflicts, and stories.

For Individual Writers

◆ Study the image carefully and answer the What Do You Notice? questions.

◆ Use the Story Questions to develop ideas about the setting, characters, and conflict.

◆ Choose the provided Writing Prompt or create your own story inspired by the image.

◆ Challenge yourself to include details from the image in your writing.

For Classrooms

◆ Display an image and discuss the observation questions as a class.

◆ Ask students to compare their answers and explain what details led them to their conclusions.

◆ Use the story questions as speaking, planning, or group discussion activities before writing.

◆ Set a timed writing challenge using the accompanying writing prompt.

For Worldbuilding

◆ Treat each image as a location within a larger fantasy world.

◆ Connect several prompts together to create kingdoms, myths, journeys, factions, and conflicts.

◆ Consider how locations such as The Heartwood Kingdom, The Dragonbone Cathedral, and The Gates of the Underworld might exist within the same setting.

◆ Create maps, timelines, legends, and character backstories inspired by the images.

There are no right or wrong answers. The goal is to ask questions, explore possibilities, and discover stories that might not have existed before you looked at the picture.

Fantasy city built inside a giant ancient tree above the clouds, with towers, bridges and homes woven among the branches.

  1. The Heartwood Kingdom

What Do You Notice?

  1. Which part of the city immediately draws your attention, and why?

  2. How do the buildings appear to have been adapted to fit the shape of the giant tree?

  3. What clues suggest the city has existed for a very long time?

  4. What might daily life be like for people living high among the branches?

  5. Which area of the image would you most want to explore, and what do you think you would discover there?

Story Questions

  1. Why was the city originally built inside the Great Tree?

  2. What lies beyond the highest inhabited branches?

  3. What would happen if the people discovered the tree was beginning to die?

  4. Could the tree itself be alive, and if so, what might it think of the people who live within it?

  5. What secret might be hidden deep inside the trunk that only a handful of people know about?

Writing Prompt

For generations, the people of the Heartwood Kingdom have lived among the branches of the Great Tree. When a crack appears in the trunk and begins spreading upward, ancient records reveal a terrifying truth: the city was never meant to remain there forever.

A young heir kneels during a coronation ceremony in a candlelit stone hall while nobles watch in silence as a crown is lowered onto their head.
A cloaked traveller walks along a vast stone causeway across a stormy sea toward a distant fortress city beneath dark skies.
Two astronomers stand within a celestial observatory above the clouds, studying enormous crystal lenses and star charts beneath a luminous sky.
Naturalists observe a migration of enormous skywhales drifting through pastel clouds from a wooden platform suspended above the world.
An ancient sword lies trapped deep within a glacier, visible through clear blue ice in a vast frozen mountain landscape.
An ancient circular library filled with towering bookshelves, candlelight, and forbidden manuscripts preserved within a vast stone chamber.
An ancient stone bridge illuminated by hundreds of lanterns stretches across a mist-filled chasm toward a distant mountain city at dusk.
A colossal sleeping creature lies hidden beneath an ancient underground city built among bridges, towers, and cavern walls.
A vibrant fantasy festival fills a medieval city street as musicians, dancers, masked performers, and a royal procession celebrate beneath colourful banners and flower garlands.
A group of travellers stands on a mountain path overlooking a vast green valley and distant kingdom as sunlight breaks across the landscape.
A vast gothic cathedral built around the skeleton of an ancient dragon, with towering bone arches, candlelit aisles, and hooded pilgrims beneath stained glass windows.
A mortal negotiates with a powerful dark fae ruler within a moonlit gothic hall filled with shadows, silver light, and ancient secrets.
A lone traveller stands before colossal ancient gates leading into the Underworld, surrounded by dark cliffs, firelit braziers, and towering stone carvings.

2. The Moonmarket

What Do You Notice?

  1. Which stall, ship, or platform would you visit first, and why?

  2. What clues suggest that traders have travelled from many different kingdoms to reach this market?

  3. How do people move safely between the floating islands and bridges?

  4. What unusual goods or magical objects might be sold here?

  5. How does the enormous moon affect the atmosphere of the market?

Story Questions

  1. Why does the Moonmarket only appear under this particular moon?

  2. What rare item is being sold tonight that could change someone's fate?

  3. Who controls the market, and what price must visitors pay to enter?

  4. What would happen if the floating islands suddenly began drifting apart?

  5. Which merchant is hiding a dangerous secret from the rest of the market?

Writing Prompt

Once every year, the Moonmarket appears above the clouds beneath the light of the Silver Moon. Merchants, adventurers, and thieves gather to trade impossible treasures, but this year, one stall is offering something that should not exist.

3. The Coronation of the Last Heir

What Do You Notice?

  1. How do the expressions and body language of the people in the hall suggest their feelings about the coronation?

  2. Which details make this ceremony feel important or unusual?

  3. What clues suggest the kingdom has a long and complicated history?

  4. Why do you think the heir is kneeling rather than standing?

  5. What atmosphere is created by the lighting, architecture, and crowd?

Story Questions

  1. Why is this heir known as the last heir?

  2. What prophecy or warning surrounds the coronation?

  3. Who in the hall does not want the ceremony to succeed?

  4. What responsibility comes with wearing the crown?

  5. What might happen immediately after the coronation ends?

Writing Prompt

For centuries, the crown had passed from ruler to ruler without interruption. As it descended toward the head of the last remaining heir, a messenger burst through the doors carrying news that threatened to change the future of the kingdom forever.

4. The Dragonkeeper

What Do You Notice?

  1. What details suggest there is a strong bond between the dragon and its keeper?

  2. How does the landscape help create the atmosphere of the image?

  3. What clues suggest the dragon may be rare or important?

  4. Why might the dragonkeeper have chosen to live so far from the kingdom below?

  5. What might the dragon and its keeper be thinking as they look across the valley?

Story Questions

  1. Why is this dragon one of the last of its kind?

  2. What responsibility has been passed down to the dragonkeeper?

  3. Who might be searching for the dragon, and why?

  4. What danger threatens the peaceful relationship between the dragon and its keeper?

  5. What secret does the dragon know about the kingdom below?

Writing Prompt

For as long as anyone could remember, the Dragonkeepers had protected the last dragons from the outside world. When a royal messenger arrives carrying news of an approaching war, one keeper must decide whether to continue hiding the dragons or reveal their existence to the kingdom once more.

5. The Shadow King

What Do You Notice?

  1. What details make the ruler appear powerful or intimidating?

  2. How does the weather help create the mood of the image?

  3. What clues suggest the kingdom is wealthy, important, or ancient?

  4. Why do you think the ruler is standing alone?

  5. Which part of the kingdom would you most want to explore, and why?

Story Questions

  1. Why do people call this ruler the Shadow King?

  2. Is the ruler protecting the kingdom or planning its downfall?

  3. What threat lies beyond the borders of the realm?

  4. What secret has the ruler been hiding from their people?

  5. Who might be brave enough to challenge their rule?

Writing Prompt

For years, the Shadow King had ruled from the highest tower in the kingdom. On the night a strange light appeared beyond the mountains, an ancient enemy long thought defeated began its return.

6. The Map That Should Not Exist

What Do You Notice?

  1. Which details make the map appear ancient or unusual?

  2. What clues suggest the scholar has spent a long time studying it?

  3. How do the books and objects surrounding the map add to the atmosphere?

  4. Which part of the map would you investigate first, and why?

  5. What questions does the image immediately raise about the world beyond the library?

Story Questions

  1. Where did the mysterious map come from?

  2. Why does the map show places that do not exist on any known chart?

  3. What secret is hidden within the symbols and markings?

  4. Who else is searching for the map?

  5. What might happen if the location it reveals is real?

Writing Prompt

While researching in an ancient library, a scholar discovers a map hidden inside the cover of a forgotten book. The map depicts a kingdom that should not exist—and a route leading directly to it.

7. The Giant's Causeway

What Do You Notice?

  1. How does the weather affect the mood of the scene?

  2. What details make the causeway appear ancient or unusual?

  3. Why do you think the travellers are heading toward the distant city?

  4. What clues suggest this journey may be dangerous?

  5. Which part of the landscape raises the most questions for you?

Story Questions

  1. Who built the Giant's Causeway, and for what purpose?

  2. What waits at the far end of the stone path?

  3. Why do so few travellers return from the journey?

  4. What ancient power lies beneath the sea surrounding the causeway?

  5. What might happen if the pathway suddenly began to crumble?

Writing Prompt

For thousands of years, the Giant's Causeway had connected the mainland to a forbidden island kingdom. When cracks begin appearing along the ancient stones, a small group of travellers is sent to discover what is awakening beneath the waves.

8. The Crystal Observatory

What Do You Notice?

  1. How do the crystal lenses and instruments suggest the observatory is used?

  2. What details make this place feel connected to the stars and heavens?

  3. Why might the observatory have been built so high above the clouds?

  4. What can you infer about the astronomers from their clothing and surroundings?

  5. Which part of the observatory would you most like to explore, and why?

Story Questions

  1. What celestial event are the astronomers waiting to witness?

  2. Why are the stars appearing in patterns that have never been recorded before?

  3. What secret is hidden within the ancient star charts?

  4. What might happen if the observatory's predictions come true?

  5. Who outside the observatory would do anything to obtain its knowledge?

Writing Prompt

For generations, the astronomers of the Crystal Observatory had watched the heavens from above the clouds. When a new constellation appears overnight and begins moving across the sky, two scholars discover it is pointing toward a location that should not exist.

9. The Forgotten God

What Do You Notice?

  1. How does the size of the statue compare to the surrounding ruins and vegetation?

  2. What details suggest this place was once important to a powerful civilisation?

  3. How has nature changed the appearance of the temple over time?

  4. Why do you think the explorer has come to this hidden location?

  5. Which part of the ruins would you most want to investigate, and why?

Story Questions

  1. Why was the god abandoned and forgotten?

  2. What secret lies hidden beneath the ruined temple?

  3. Why do local legends warn people to stay away from this place?

  4. What might happen if the forgotten god were awakened?

  5. Who else is searching for the temple, and what do they hope to find?

Writing Prompt

For centuries, the jungle had concealed the Temple of the Forgotten God from the outside world. When an explorer discovers a hidden chamber beneath the statue, they uncover evidence that the god's followers never truly disappeared.

10. The Skywhale Migration

What Do You Notice?

  1. How do the skywhales compare in size to the people watching them?

  2. What details make the creatures appear peaceful rather than threatening?

  3. Why might the observers have gathered on this platform?

  4. How do the colours of the clouds and sky affect the atmosphere of the image?

  5. What questions does the migration raise about the world these creatures inhabit?

Story Questions

  1. Where are the skywhales travelling, and why do they migrate?

  2. Why does this migration only happen once every few years?

  3. What secret are the skywhales unknowingly carrying with them?

  4. What might happen if one of the creatures suddenly changed course?

  5. Who would do anything to uncover the destination of the migration?

Writing Prompt

Every twenty years, the skywhales return to the same stretch of cloud-filled sky before continuing toward an unknown destination. When one young naturalist notices that a single whale has broken away from the migration, they decide to follow it into the uncharted heavens.

11. The Sword in the Glacier

What Do You Notice?

  1. How does the scale of the glacier compare to the sword hidden within it?

  2. What details suggest the weapon has been trapped in the ice for a very long time?

  3. How does the landscape contribute to the atmosphere of the image?

  4. Why do you think the sword was left behind in such a remote location?

  5. What questions does the image raise about the history of the glacier?

Story Questions

  1. How did the sword become trapped inside the ice?

  2. Who was the last person to wield the weapon?

  3. Why has the glacier preserved the sword for so long?

  4. What ancient event is connected to the weapon's disappearance?

  5. What might happen if the glacier begins to melt?

Writing Prompt

For centuries, the sword remained hidden inside the glacier, untouched and forgotten. When unusually warm weather reveals strange markings beneath the surrounding ice, scholars realise the weapon is only one part of a much larger secret buried within the mountain.

12. The Library of Forbidden Names

What Do You Notice?

  1. What details make the library feel ancient and mysterious?

  2. How does the architecture contribute to the atmosphere of the space?

  3. Which section of the library would you most want to explore, and why?

  4. What clues suggest some books may be more dangerous than others?

  5. How do the lighting and shadows affect your impression of the library?

Story Questions

  1. Why were certain names removed from history?

  2. What happens when a forbidden name is spoken aloud?

  3. Who is responsible for protecting the library's secrets?

  4. Why has access to these records been restricted for centuries?

  5. What might happen if the wrong person discovers one of the forbidden names?

Writing Prompt

For generations, the Library of Forbidden Names had remained sealed to all but a handful of trusted guardians. When a young scholar discovers their own name recorded within a forbidden manuscript, they realise a secret about their past has been hidden from them for their entire life.

13. The Bridge of a Thousand Lanterns

What Do You Notice?

  1. How do the lanterns change the atmosphere of the bridge?

  2. What details make the bridge seem ancient and significant?

  3. How does the surrounding landscape contribute to the sense of mystery?

  4. Why do you think so many lanterns have been placed along the crossing?

  5. What questions does the distant city raise about the world beyond the bridge?

Story Questions

  1. Who lights the lanterns, and why are they maintained so carefully?

  2. What memories are said to be contained within the lanterns?

  3. Why are travellers warned never to stop halfway across the bridge?

  4. What secret lies hidden in the city at the far end of the crossing?

  5. What might happen if one of the lanterns suddenly goes dark?

Writing Prompt

For centuries, the lanterns along the bridge had burned without ever needing to be relit. When one of the lights suddenly extinguishes, a young traveller discovers it belongs to a memory that someone has deliberately erased.

14. The Beast Beneath the City

What Do You Notice?

  1. How does the size of the creature compare to the city built around it?

  2. What details suggest the beast has been sleeping for a very long time?

  3. How have the city's buildings and bridges adapted to the cavern environment?

  4. What atmosphere is created by the darkness and scattered lights?

  5. Which part of the underground city would you most want to explore, and why?

Story Questions

  1. Why was the city built above the sleeping creature?

  2. What would happen if the beast suddenly awakened?

  3. Who knows the truth about what lies beneath the city?

  4. Why has the creature been kept hidden from ordinary citizens?

  5. What ancient agreement exists between the city and the beast?

Writing Prompt

For centuries, the city's rulers had guarded a secret hidden beneath its streets. When unexplained tremors begin shaking the foundations and strange sounds echo through the caverns below, a young engineer discovers that the creature beneath the city is beginning to wake.

15. The Queen's Parade

What Do You Notice?

  1. How do the costumes, banners, and decorations contribute to the atmosphere of the festival?

  2. Which performer or member of the procession catches your attention first, and why?

  3. What details suggest this celebration is an important tradition?

  4. How do the people in the crowd appear to feel about the event?

  5. Which part of the city would you most like to explore during the festival?

Story Questions

  1. What is the true purpose of the Queen's Parade?

  2. Why does the Queen appear in public only during this celebration?

  3. What secret is hidden somewhere within the procession?

  4. Which visitor in the crowd has come for reasons other than celebration?

  5. What unexpected event might interrupt the festival before it reaches its destination?

Writing Prompt

Every year, the Queen's Parade follows the same route through the capital. When the procession suddenly changes direction for the first time in centuries, rumours spread that the Queen has received a message that could change the future of the kingdom forever.

16. The Last Journey

What Do You Notice?

  1. What details suggest the travellers have been on a long journey together?

  2. How does the landscape create a sense of scale and adventure?

  3. What clues suggest the distant kingdom is important?

  4. How do the characters' positions and body language reveal their feelings about what lies ahead?

  5. Which part of the landscape would you most like to explore, and why?

Story Questions

  1. Why has this group travelled so far to reach this place?

  2. What challenge must they overcome before reaching the kingdom?

  3. What personal sacrifice has each traveller made along the way?

  4. Why is this known as the Last Journey?

  5. What might they discover when they finally reach their destination?

Writing Prompt

For years, the five companions had followed the same map across forests, mountains, and forgotten ruins. Standing at the edge of the valley, they finally see the kingdom they have been searching for—but one member of the group knows a secret that could change everything.

17. The Dragonbone Cathedral

What Do You Notice?

  1. How have the dragon's bones been incorporated into the cathedral's architecture?

  2. What details make the cathedral feel ancient and sacred?

  3. How do the candles, shadows, and stained glass affect the atmosphere?

  4. What might the hooded figures be doing inside the cathedral?

  5. Which part of the building would you most want to investigate, and why?

Story Questions

  1. Was the cathedral built to honour the dragon or to imprison it?

  2. Why do pilgrims continue to visit this place centuries later?

  3. What secret is hidden within the dragon's remains?

  4. What would happen if the dragon's spirit still lingered inside the cathedral?

  5. Who is responsible for protecting the cathedral's oldest relics?

Writing Prompt

For generations, the Dragonbone Cathedral had served as both a place of worship and a warning. When strange sounds begin echoing through the dragon's ribs and ancient bones start appearing in places they should not be, the cathedral's guardians fear that something buried beneath the foundations is beginning to awaken.

18. The Bargain

What Do You Notice?

  1. What details make the fae ruler appear powerful or dangerous?

  2. How do the lighting and surroundings contribute to the atmosphere of the scene?

  3. What clues suggest the mortal is taking a significant risk?

  4. How do the characters' expressions and body language reveal the balance of power between them?

  5. Which object or detail in the image seems most important, and why?

Story Questions

  1. What favour has driven the mortal to seek out the High Fae?

  2. What price is being offered in exchange for the bargain?

  3. Why does the fae ruler seem interested in the deal?

  4. What hidden condition has not yet been revealed?

  5. What consequences might follow if the bargain is broken?

Writing Prompt

Everyone knew the oldest rule of the High Fae: never accept a bargain unless you fully understand its price. As the agreement is sealed, the mortal realises they have overlooked a single line in the contract—one that could cost far more than they intended to give.

19. Phoenix Rising

What Do You Notice?

  1. What details suggest the phoenix has recently emerged from the ashes?

  2. How do the feathers, nest, and surrounding landscape contribute to the story?

  3. What clues suggest this place has been important for many generations?

  4. How does the sunrise affect the atmosphere of the image?

  5. Which part of the scene raises the most questions for you?

Story Questions

  1. Why does the phoenix return to this exact location each time it is reborn?

  2. What happened to the previous phoenix?

  3. Who built the ruined sanctuary overlooking the valley?

  4. Why are phoenix feathers considered so valuable?

  5. What danger threatens the young phoenix before it can grow?

Writing Prompt

Every five hundred years, a phoenix returns to the same mountain sanctuary to be reborn. When a young scholar discovers that this phoenix has emerged decades earlier than expected, they realise something has gone terribly wrong elsewhere in the world.

20. The Gates of the Underworld

What Do You Notice?

  1. How does the scale of the gates compare to the traveller standing before them?

  2. What details make the entrance feel ancient and powerful?

  3. How do the firelight, shadows, and surrounding landscape contribute to the atmosphere?

  4. What symbols or carvings on the gates seem most significant?

  5. What questions does the image raise about what lies beyond the doorway?

Story Questions

  1. Why has the traveller come to the Gates of the Underworld?

  2. What must someone sacrifice in order to pass through?

  3. Who or what guards the entrance between the worlds?

  4. Why have the gates opened now after remaining closed for centuries?

  5. What might happen if something escaped from the Underworld?

Writing Prompt

The Gates of the Underworld had remained sealed for generations. When they unexpectedly open during a violent storm, a lone traveller discovers a message waiting on the other side—one that appears to have been written by someone who should have been dead for years.

Fantasy Writing Tips

The best fantasy stories are about more than magic, dragons, and imaginary worlds. At their heart, they are stories about people facing difficult choices, overcoming challenges, and discovering who they truly are.

As you work through these picture prompts, think about the questions fantasy writers ask when creating a new world:

◆ What makes this place different from our world?

◆ Who holds power here, and how did they gain it?

◆ What secrets, myths, or legends shape the lives of ordinary people?

◆ What dangers threaten the characters and their world?

◆ What does the protagonist stand to gain—or lose?

Many of the strongest fantasy stories begin with a simple question. What lies beyond the Gates of the Underworld? Why was the dragon imprisoned beneath the cathedral? What secret is hidden within the Library of Forbidden Names?

Use the images as a starting point, but don't stop at describing what you can see. Think about the history of the world, the conflicts between characters, and the choices that will drive the story forward.

The most memorable fantasy worlds feel real because they contain rich histories, believable cultures, meaningful conflicts, and characters whose decisions matter. Let these prompts inspire you to create a world that feels as though it existed long before your story began—and will continue long after it ends.

Final Thoughts

Fantasy stories invite us to explore impossible worlds, uncover ancient secrets, and imagine what might exist beyond the edge of the known map. Whether you're drawn to forgotten gods, skywhale migrations, dragonbone cathedrals, enchanted libraries, or kingdoms hidden among the clouds, each image in this collection offers a starting point for a new adventure.

Remember that there is no single correct interpretation of these prompts. One writer might see a tale of heroism, while another discovers a mystery, a tragedy, or a story of magic and wonder. Follow the questions that interest you most and allow your imagination to build upon the world suggested by each image.

If you enjoyed these prompts, explore the Fantasy Writing Hub for more fantasy story ideas, character prompts, worldbuilding resources, creatures, kingdoms, and magical settings. You can also browse the Creative Writing Archive for hundreds of writing prompts across fantasy, horror, sci-fi, mystery, romance, gothic fiction, and many other genres.

Your next story could begin with a hidden map, a forgotten prophecy, a bargain with the fae, or a journey through the Gates of the Underworld. The only question is where you'll go first.

Choose Your Next Adventure

Ink & Insights .
Next

100 Space Colony Names (With Meanings, Atmosphere & Story Ideas)