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327 Depression Essay Titles & Examples

When choosing a title about depression, you have to remain mindful since this is a sensitive subject. This is why our experts have listed 177 depression essay topics to help you get started.

🌧️ How to Write a Depression Essay: Do’s and Don’ts

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• ❓ Research Questions for a Depression Essay

Depression is a disorder characterized by prolonged periods of sadness and loss of interest in life. The symptoms include irritability, insomnia, anxiety, and trouble concentrating. This disorder can produce physical problems, self-esteem issues, and general stress in a person’s life. Difficult life events and trauma are typical causes of depression. Want to find out more? Check out our compilation below.

A depression essay is an important assignment that will help you to explore the subject and its impact on people. Writing this type of paper may seem challenging at first, but there are some secrets that will make achieving a high grade much easier. Check below for a list of do’s and don’ts to get started!

DO select a narrow topic. Before starting writing, define the subject of the paper, and write down some possible titles. This will help you to focus your thoughts instead of offering generic information that can easily be found on Wikipedia. Consider writing about a particular population or about the consequences of depression. For example, a teenage depression essay could earn you excellent marks! If you find this step challenging, try searching for depression essay topics online. This will surely give you some inspiration.

DON’T copy from peers or other students. Today, tutors are usually aware of the power of the Internet and will check your paper for plagiarism. Hence, if you copy information from other depression essays, you could lose a lot of marks. You could search for depression essay titles or sample papers online, but avoid copying any details from these sources.

DO your research before starting. High-quality research is crucial when you write essays on mental health issues. There are plenty of online resources that could help you, including Google Scholar, PubMed, and others. To find relevant scientific articles, search for your primary and secondary topics of interest. Then filter results by relevance, publication date, and access type. This will help you to identify sources that you can view online and use to support your ideas.

DON’T rely on unverified sources. This is a crucial mistake many students make that usually results in failing the paper. Sources that are not academic, such as websites, blogs, and Wiki pages, may contain false or outdated information. Some exceptions are official publications and web pages of medical organizations, such as the CDC, APA, and the World Health Organization.

DO consider related health issues. Depression is often associated with other mental or physical health issues, so you should reflect on this in your paper. Some examples of problems related to depression are suicide, self-harm, eating disorders, and panic attack disorder. To show your in-depth understanding of the issue, you could write a depression and anxiety essay that shows the relationship between the two. Alternatively, you can devote one or two paragraphs to examining the prevalence of other mental health problems in people with depression.

DON’T include personal opinions and experiences unless required. A good essay on the subject of depression should be focused and objective. Hence, you should rely on research rather than on your understanding of the theme. For example, if you have to answer the question “What is depression?” look for scientific articles or official publications that contain the definition rather than trying to explain it in your own words.

DON’T forget about structure. The structure of your essay helps to present arguments or points logically, thus assisting the reader in making sense of the information. A good thing to do is to write a depression essay outline before you start the paper. You should list your key points supported by relevant depression quotes from academic publications. Follow the outline carefully to avoid gaps and inconsistencies.

Use these do’s and don’ts, and you will be able to write an excellent paper on depression! If you want to see more tips and tricks that will help you elevate your writing, look around our website!

• Understanding Teen Depression Impacts of depression on teenagers Depression is characterized by several effects; however, most of them impact negatively to the teens. For instance, a considerable percentage of teens use extra-curriculum activities such as sports and games, […]
• Beck Depression Inventory, Its History and Benefits Therefore, the detection of depression at its early stage, the evaluation of the risks, and the definition of the level of depression are the main goals.
• Depression in the Lens of History and Humanities In terms of history, this paper analyzes the origin of depression and the progress made over the years in finding treatment and preventive mechanisms.
• Report Writing About Depression There is concrete evidence that many people in Australia tend to believe that depression is the cause of all suicide deaths in the world, but this not true.
• Anxiety and Depression Among College Students The central hypothesis for this study is that college students have a higher rate of anxiety and depression. Some of the materials to be used in the study will include pencils, papers, and tests.
• Using the Neuman Model in the Early Diagnosis of Depression In the history of the academic development of nursing theories, there are a variety of iconic figures who have made significant contributions to the evolution of the discipline: one of them is Betty Neuman.
• Emotional Wellness: The Issue of Depression Through Different Lenses As for the humanities lens, the increasing prevalence of depression causes the institution of religion to incorporate the issue into major confessions’ mindsets and messages.
• Bipolar Disorder: Reoccurring Hypomania & Depression Admission Date: 9/10/2018 Name J.D. DOB: 4/5/1990 Sex: Female Allergies: None Language: English VS: BP 130/98, HR 74, Respirations 19, Pulse Ox 98% Chief Complaint: The patient is concerned with reoccurring hypomania episodes and […]
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Treating Depression CBT works on the principle that positive thoughts and behaviour heralds positive moods and this is something that can be learned; therefore, by learning to think and behave positively, someone may substitute negative thoughts with […]
• Case Study of Depression and Mental Pressure Alison believes that her illness is severe and taking a toll all the time, and the environment is worsening the condition.
• Effect of Social Media on Depression The number of friends that the participants of the mock study had in their social sites was also related to the degree of depression that they experienced.
• The Problem of Childhood Depression Thus, it is essential to explore the reasons for the disease and possible ways to treat depression in kids. In kids, the prevention of depression is fundamental to understanding the cause of the poor mood […]
• Depression, Grief, Loss in “Ordinary People” Film The coach is curious to know Conrad’s experiences at the hospital and the use of ECT. Towards the end of the film, Conrad reveals to the therapist that he feels guilty about his brother’s death.
• Depression and Melancholia Expressed by Hamlet The paper will not attempt and sketch the way the signs or symptoms of depression/melancholia play a part in the way Shakespeare’s period or culture concerning depression/melancholia, but in its place portrays the way particular […]
• Depression in Older Adults The understanding and modification of the contributions of these factors is the ultimate goal of the clinicians who engage in the treatment of depression.
• Anxiety and Depression: The Case Study As he himself explained, he is not used to positive affirmation due to low self-esteem, and his family experiences also point to the fact that he was not comforted often as a child.
• Depression and Anxiety Due to School and Work-Related Stress Many young students are not aware of the roots of their psychological problems and continue suffering from depression or anxiety, which results in low productivity, poor achievements, and a decreased quality of life.
• Depression in female adolescents This technique differentiates between those characteristics that are considered normal by the society in relation to female adolescent and those that are peculiar which are symptoms of depression. However, there are side effects related to […]
• Social Networking and Depression The findings of the study confirmed that once an individual engages in social networking, his or her feeling of safety goes down and depression mood emerges meaning that a correlation between depression and social networking […]
• The Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI) Measure The author of the article on “Depression in Children: Children’s Depression Inventory” has used both the classical test score and generalizability theories.
• Depression Symptoms and Cognitive Behavior Therapy The tone of the article is informative and objective, throughout the text the authors maintain an academic and scientific mood. The structure of the article is well organized and easy to read.
• Proposal on Depression in Middle-Aged Women By understand the aspect of unhappiness among the young women; it will be easier for the healthcare institutions to formulate effective and appropriate approaches to reduce the menace in the society.
• Biological Psychology: Lesion Studies and Depression Detection The purpose of this article is to share the research findings and discussion on the new methodological developments of Lesion studies.
• Using AI to Diagnose and Treat Depression One of the main features of AI is the ability to machine learning, that is, to use data from past experiences to learn and modify algorithms in the future.
• Artificial Intelligence Bot for Depression By increasing the availability and accessibility of mental health services, these technologies may also contribute to the development of cognitive science practices in Malaysia.
• COVID-Related Depression: Lingering Signs of Depression The purpose of the article is to depict the research in a more approachable way, while the latter accentuates the importance of various factors and flaws of the results. While the former is more simplified, […]
• Depression and Anxiety Among African Americans Finally, it should be insightful to understand the attitudes of friends and family members, so 5 additional interviews will be conducted with Black and White persons not having the identified mental conditions. The selected mental […]
• Depression in Dialysis Patients: Treatment and Management If I were to conduct experimental research about the treatment and management of depression in dialysis patients, I would focus on finding the most effective and safe medication for the condition among adults.
• The Serotonin Theory of Depression by Moncrieff et al. The serotonin theory of depression is closely related to antidepressants since the advent of SSRIs played a significant role in the popularization of the theory.
• Avery’s Depression in “The Flick” Play by Baker The emotional and mental state of Avery, the only African-American character out of the three, is fairly obvious from the get-go when asked about why he is so depressed, the answer is: “Um.
• Depression: A Quantitative-Qualitative Analysis A decision tree can be used due to the nature of the research question or hypothesis in place, the measurement of the dependent or research variable, the number of groups or independent variable levels, and […]
• Depression Detection Tests Analysis The problem of the abundance of psychological tests leads to the need to compare multiple testing options for indicators of their purpose, features, and interpretations of the evaluation and validity.
• Nursing Care for Patients With COVID-19 & Depression The significance of the selected problem contributed to the emergence of numerous research works devoted to the issue. This approach to choosing individuals guaranteed the increased credibility of findings and provided the authors with the […]
• 16 Personality Factors Test for Depression Patient Pablos results, it is necessary to understand the interaction and pattern of the scores of the primary factors. A combination of high Apprehension and high Self-Reliance is a pattern describing a tendency to isolate oneself.
• Depression in a 30-Year-Old Female Client In the given case, it would be useful to identify the patterns in Alex’s relationships and reconsider her responses to her partner.
• Depression in Primary Care: Screening and Diagnosis The clinical topics for this research are the incidence of depression in young adults and how to diagnose this disorder early in the primary care setting using screening tools such as PHQ9.
• Major Depression and Cognitive Behavior Therapy Since the intervention had no significant effect on Lola, the paper will explore the physical health implication of anxiolytics and antidepressants in adolescents, including the teaching strategies that nurses can utilize on consumers to recognize […]
• Jungian Psychotherapy for Depression and Anxiety They work as a pizza delivery man in their spare time from scientific activities, and their parents also send them a small amount of money every month.S.migrated to New York not only to get an […]
• COVID-19 and Depression: The Impact of Nursing Care and Technology Nevertheless, combatting depression is a crucial step in posing positive achievements to recover from mental and physical wellness caused by COVID-19.
• Depression Disorder Intervention The researchers evaluated the socioemotional signs of mental illnesses in a sample of diagnostically referred adolescents with clinical depression required to undergo regular cognitive behavioral therapy in a medical setting.
• Financial Difficulties in Childhood and Adult Depression in Europe The authors found that the existence of closer ties between the catalyst of depression and the person suffering from depression leads to worse consequences.
• Activity During Pregnancy and Postpartum Depression Studies have shown that women’s mood and cardiorespiratory fitness improve when they engage in moderate-intensity physical activity in the weeks and months after giving birth to a child.
• Clinical Depression: Causes and Development Therefore, according to Aaron Beck, the causes and development of depression can be explained through the concepts of schema and negative cognitive triad.
• Aspects of Working With Depression It also contributes to the maintenance and rooting of a bad mood, as the patient has sad thoughts due to the fact that the usual does not cause satisfaction.
• Depression Among Nurses in COVID-19 Wards The findings are of great significance to researchers and governments and can indicate the prevalence of anxiety and depression among nurses working in COVID-19 wards in the North-East of England during the pandemic.
• Depression Associated With Sleep Disorders Y, Chang, C. Consequently, it directly affects the manifestation of obstructive sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, and periodic limb movement disorder in people with depression.
• Depression in a 25-Year-Old Male Patient Moreover, a person in depression complains of the slowness in mental processes, notes the oppression of instincts, the loss of the instinct of self-preservation, and the lack of the ability to enjoy life.
• Aspects and Manifestation of Depression Although, symptoms of depression in young people, in contrast to older adults, are described by psychomotor agitation or lethargy, fatigue, and loss of energy.
• Complementary Therapy for Postpartum Depression in Primary Care Thus, the woman faced frustration and sadness, preventing her from taking good care of the child, and the lack of support led to the emergence of concerns similar to those in the past.
• Depression and Anxiety Clinical Case Many of the factors come from the background and life experiences of the patient. The client then had a chance to reflect on the results and think of the possible alternative thoughts.
• Uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetes and Depression Treatment The data synthesis demonstrates that carefully chosen depression and anxiety treatment is likely to result in better A1C outcomes for the patient on the condition that the treatment is regular and convenient for the patients.
• Technology to Fight Postpartum Depression in African American Women I would like to introduce the app “Peanut” the social network designed to help and unite women exclusively, as a technology aimed at fighting postpartum depression in African American Women.
• Complementary Therapy in Treatment of Depression Such practices lower the general level of anxiety and remove the high risks of manifestation of states of abulia, that is, clinical lack of will and acute depression.
• Social Determinants of Health and Depression Among African American Adults The article “Social Determinants of Health and Depression among African American Adults: A Scoping Review of Current Research” examines the current research on the relationship between social determinants of health and depression among African American […]
• Outcomes Exercise Has on Depression for People Between 45-55 Years According to the WHO, the rate of depression in the U.S.was 31. 5% as of October 2021, with the majority of the victims being adults aged between 45 and 55 years.
• The Postpartum Depression in Afro-Americans Policy The distribution of the funds is managed and administered on the state level. Minnesota and Maryland focused on passing the legislation regulating the adoption of Medicaid in 2013.
• Depression Among the Medicare Population in Maryland The statistics about the prevalence and comorbidity rates of depression are provided from the Medicare Chronic Conditions Dashboard and are portrayed in the table included in the paper.
• Depression as Public Health Population-Based Issue In regard to particular races and ethnicities, CDC provided the following breakdown of female breast cancer cases and deaths: White women: 128 new cases and 20 deaths per 100.
• Managing Mental Health Medications for Depression and its Ethical Contradiction The second objective is to discover ethical contradictions in such treatment for people of various cultures and how different people perceive the disorder and react to the medication.
• Aspects of Depression and Obesity In some cases, people with mild to severe depression choose not to seek professional care and instead try to overcome their depression with self-help or the support of family and friends.
• Antidepressant Treatment of Adolescent Depression At the same time, scientists evidenced that in the case of negative exposure to stress and depression, the human organism diminishes BDNF expression in the hippocampus.
• Online Peer Support Groups for Depression and Anxiety Disorder The main objective of peer support groups is connecting people with the same life experiences and challenges to share and support each other in healing and recovery.
• Depression in Adolescence and Treatment Approaches The age of adolescence, commonly referred to as children aged 10-19, is characterized by a variety of changes to one’s physical and mental health, as the child undergoes several stages of adjustment to the environment […]
• Emotional Encounter With a Patient With Major Depression Disorder I shared this idea with him and was trying to create the treatment plan, sharing some general thoughts on the issue.
• Childhood Depression in Sub-Saharan Africa According to Sterling et al, depression in early childhood places a significant load on individuals, relatives, and society by increasing hospitalization and fatality and negatively impacting the quality of life during periods of severe depression.
• Breastfeeding and Risk of Postpartum Depression The primary goal of the research conducted by Islam et al.was to analyze the correlation between exclusive breastfeeding and the risk of postpartum depression among new mothers.
• Nursing Intervention in Case of Severe Depression The patient was laid off from work and went through a divorce in the year. This led to a change in prescribed medications, and the patient was put on tricyclic anti-depressants.
• Screening for Depression in Acute Care The literature review provides EB analysis for the topic of depression to identify the need for an appropriate screening tool in addition to the PHQ-9 in the assessment evaluation process.
• Social Media Use and the Risk of Depression Thapa and Subedi explain that the reason for the development of depressive symptoms is the lack of face to face conversation and the development of perceived isolation. Is there a relationship between social media use […]
• Depression in the Field of a Healthcare Administrator According to Davey and Harrison, the most challenging part of healthcare administration in terms of depression is the presence of distorted views, shaped by patients’ thoughts.
• The Treatment of Adolescents With Depression While treating a teenager with depression, it is important to maintain the link between the cause of the mental illness’ progression and the treatment.
• Depression in the Black Community The speaker said that her counselor was culturally sensitive, which presumes that regardless of the race one belongs to, a specialist must value their background.
• Loneliness and Depression During COVID-19 While the article discusses the prevalence of loneliness and depression among young people, I agree that young people may be more subject to mental health problems than other population groups, but I do not agree […]
• Depression Screening in the Acute Setting Hence, it is possible to develop a policy recommending the use of the PHQ-9, such as the EBDST, in the acute setting.
• Ketamine for Treatment-Resistant Depression: Neurobiology and Applications It is known that a violation of the functions of the serotonergic pathways leads to various mental deviations, the most typical of which is clinical depression.
• Treating Obesity Co-Occurring With Depression In most cases, the efficiency of obesity treatment is relatively low and commonly leads to the appearance of a comorbid mental health disorder depression.
• Treadmill Exercise Ameliorates Social Isolation-Induced Depression The groups included: the social isolation group, the control group, and the exercise and social isolation and exercise group. In the treadmill exercise protocol, the rat pups ran on the treadmill once a day for […]
• Depression and Anxiety Among Chronic Pain Patients The researchers used The Depression Module of the Patient Health Questionnaire and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale to interview participants, evaluate their answers, and conduct the study.
• The Difference Between Art Deco and Depression Modern Design By and whole, Art Deco and Depression differ in their characteristics and their meanings as they bring unlike messages to the viewers.
• Postpartum Depression in African American Women As far as African American women are concerned, the issue becomes even more complex due to several reasons: the stigma associated with the mental health of African American women and the mental health complications that […]
• The Depression Construct and Instrument Analysis For the therapist, this scaling allows to assess the general picture of the patient’s psychological state and obtain a result that is suitable for measurement.
• The Effects of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) on Depression in Adults Introduction It is hard to disagree that there is a vast number of mental disorders that prevent people from leading their normal lives and are quite challenging to treat. One such psychological condition is depression (Li et al., 2020). Since there is a social stigma of depression, and some of its symptoms are similar to […]
• Stress and Depression Among Nursing Students The study aims to determine how different the manifestations of stress and depression are among American nursing students compared to students of other disciplines and what supports nursing students in continuing their education.
• Depression in Diabetes Patients The presence of depression concomitant to diabetes mellitus prevents the adaptation of the patient and negatively affects the course of the underlying disease.
• Depression among Homosexual Males The literature used for the research on the paper aims to overview depression among homosexual males and describe the role of the nurse and practices based on the Recovery Model throughout the depression.
• “What the Depression Did to People” by Edward Robb Ellis Nevertheless, the way the facts are grouped and delivered could be conducive to students’ ability to develop a clearer picture of the catastrophic downturn’s influences on the nation’s and the poor population’s mentalities.
• Economic Inequality During COVID-19: Correlation With Depression and Addiction Thus, during the pandemic, people with lower incomes experienced depression and increased their addictive behaviors to cope with the stress of COVID-19.
• Obesity Co-Occurring With Depression The assessment will identify the patient with the two conditions, address the existing literature on the issue, examine how patients are affected by organizational and governmental policies, and propose strategies to improve the patient experience.
• Depression in the Black and Minority Ethnic Groups The third sector of the economy includes all non-governmental, non-profit, voluntary, philanthropic, and charitable organizations and social enterprises specializing in various types of activities, which did not find a place in either the public or […]
• Biological and Social-Cognitive Perspectives on Depression The social-cognitive perspective states that the disorder’s development is influenced by the events in the patient’s life and their way of thinking.
• A Description on the Topic Screening Depression If there is the implementation of evidence-based care, a reduction in the proportion of disability for patients with depression would be expected. A proposal was written describing the need for screening depression patients of nearly […]
• “Disclosure of Symptoms of Postnatal Depression, …” by Carolyn Chew-Graham Critique In light of hypothesizing the research question, the researchers suggest that health practitioners have the ability to create a conducive environment for the disclosure of information.
• Depression – Psychotherapeutic Treatment Taking into account the fact that the specialist is not able to prescribe the medicine or a sort of treatment if he/she is not sure in the positive effect it might have on the health […]
• Depression as a Major Health Issue The purpose of the study was to examine the implications of cognitive behavior approaches for depression in old women receiving health care in different facilities.
• Effective Ways to Address Anxiety and Depression Looking deep into the roots of the problem will provide a vast and detailed vision of it, and will help to develop ways to enhance the disorders.
• Einstepam: The Treatment of Depression The treatment of depression has greatly revolutionized since the development of tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors in the 1950s. In the brain, it inhibits the NMDA receptors and isoforms of NOS.
• The Potential of Psilocybin in Treating Depression First of all, it is essential to understand the general effects of psilocybin on the brain that are present in the current literature.
• Depression Among High School Students The major problem surrounding depression among adolescents is that they are rarely diagnosed in time and therefore do not receive treatment they need.
• NICE Guidelines for Depression Management: Project Proposal This topic is of importance for VEGA because the center does not employ any specific depression management guidelines.
• Depression: Diagnostics, Prevention and Treatment Constant communication with the patient and their relatives, purposeful questioning of the patient, special scales and tests, active observation of the patient’s appearance and behavior are the steps in the nursing diagnosis of depression.
• Depression and Anxiety Intervention Plan John’s Wort to intervene for her condition together with the prescribed anti-depressant drugs, I would advise and educate her on the drug-to-drug relations, and the various complications brought about by combining St. Conducting proper patient […]
• The Use of Psychedelic Drugs in Treating Depression This study aims to establish whether depressive patients can significantly benefit from psilocybin without substantial side effects like in the case of other psychedelic drugs.
• Postpartum Depression Among the Low-Income U.S. Mothers Mothers who take part in the programs develop skills and knowledge to use the existing social entities to ensure that they protect themselves from the undesirable consequences associated with the PPD and other related psychological […]
• The Beck Depression Contrast (BDI) The second difference between the two modes of the BDI is in the methodology of conducting the survey. This is where the interviewer first gets the history of the patient to try and get the […]
• Depression: Description, Symptoms and Diagnosis, Prognosis and Treatment A diagnosis is made in situations where the symptoms persist for at least two weeks and lead to a change in the individual’s level of functioning.
• Psychedelic Drugs and Their Effects on Anxiety and Depression The participants must also be willing to remain in the study for the duration of the experiments and consent to the drugs’ use.
• VEGA Medical Center: The Quality of Depression Management This presentation is going to provide an overview of a project dedicated to the implementation of NICE guidelines at the VEGA Medical Center.
• Anxiety and Depression in Hispanic Youth in Monmouth County Therefore, the Health Project in Monmouth County will help Hispanic children and adolescents between the ages of 10 and 19 to cope with anxiety and depression through behavioral therapy.
• Anxiety Disorders and Depression In her case, anxiety made her feel that she needed to do more, and everything needed to be perfect. She noted that the background of her depression and anxiety disorders was her family.
• Clinical Case Report: Depression It is possible to assume that being in close contact with a person who has depression also increases the probability of experiencing its symptoms.
• PICO Analysis of Depression In other words, the causes of the given mental disorder can highly vary, and there is no sufficient evidence to point out a primary factor that triggers depression.
• Interventions for Treating Depression after Stroke Inherently, the link between depression and stroke can be analyzed on the basis of post-stroke depression that is identified as the major neuropsychiatric corollary of stroke.
• Depression: The Implications and Challenges in Managing the Illness At home, these people lack interest in their family and are not be able to enjoy the shared activities and company of the family.
• Expression Symptoms of Depression A major finding of the critique is that although the research method and design are appropriate to this type of study, the results may be speculative in their validity and reliability as the researchers used […]
• Researching Postnatal Depression Health professionals suggest that the fluctuations in the level of hormones cause changes in the chemical composition of the brain. The researcher has stated that the sample was selected from the general practitioners and health […]
• The Older Women With Depression Living in Long-Term Care The researchers used the probability-sampling method to select the institutions that were included in the study. The health care professionals working in the nursing homes were interviewed to ascertain the diagnosis of depression as well […]
• Medical Evaluation: 82-Year-Old Patient With Depression Her extreme level of weakness unfolded when the patient admitted that she lacked the strength to stand on her feet and to head back to her sleeping bed on a disastrous night.Mrs.
• Depression in Adults: Community Health Needs The challenge of depression in the elderly is the recognition of signs and symptoms or the frequent underreporting of the symptoms of depression in adults over the age of 65.
• The Discussion about Depression in Older Patients Depression is often identified as the most prevalent psychiatric disorder in the elderly and is usually determined by symptoms that belong to somatic, affective, and cognitive categories.
• Depression in Older People in Australia Although a good number of depressed elderly patients aspire to play an active role in the treatment decision-making process, some prefer to delegate this role to their doctors.
• In-Vitro Fertilization and Postpartum Depression The research was conducted through based on professional information sources and statistical data collected from the research study used to further validate the evidence and outcome of this study.
• Depression: Screening and Diagnosis What he tries to do is to live a day and observe the changes that occur around. What do you do to change your attitude to life?
• Depression in Australia. Evaluation of Different Factors In attempts to identify the biological causes of depression, the researchers focus on the analysis of brain functioning, chemical mediators, their correlations with the neurologic centers in the brain, and impact on the limbic system […]
• Mental Health Paper: Depression The prevalence of mental health conditions has been the subject of many studies, with most of these highlighting the increase in these illnesses.
• The Two Hit Model of Cytokine-Induced-Depression The association between IL-6 polymorphism and reduced risk of depressive symptoms confirms the role of the inflammatory response system in the pathophysiology of IFN-alpha-induced depression.
• Ante-Partum & Postpartum Exposure to Maternal Depression The researchers engaged in the research work on this particular study topic by approaching it on the basis of maternal behavior and circumstances, as they connect to depressive conditions in their own lives and the […]
• Depression in Australia, How Treat This Disorder According to The World Health Organization, depression is defined as a disorder in the mental health system that is presented with feelings of guiltiness, low concentration, and a decrease in the need for sleep.
• Steroid Use and Teen Depression In this manner, the researcher will be in a position to determine which of the two indicators is strongest, and then later, the indicators can be narrowed down to the most basic and relevant.
• Depression Among Minority Groups Mental disorders are among the major problems facing the health sector in America and across the world in the contemporary society.
• Aspects and Definition of Depression: Psychiatry This is the personal counseling of a patient with the doctor, and it is one of the very best processes. In the case of a physician dealing with a mental patient, the most preferable way […]
• Alcoholism and Depression: Intervention Strategies The intention of the research paper is to assess if indeed there is an association between alcoholism as manifested by Jackson, and a case of depression.
• Depression and Paranoid Personality Disorder Bainbridge include: The analysis of paranoia and anxiety caused by substance abuse reveals that the diagnosis can be correct based on the symptoms, but the long-lasting nature of the symptoms rejects this diagnosis in favor […]
• Antidepressant Drugs for Depression or Dysthymia These are the newer form of antidepressant that are based on both the principle of serotonin reuptake prevention and norepinephrine action.
• The Relationship of Type 2 Diabetes and Depression Type 2 diabetes is generally recognized as an imbalance between insulin sensitivity and beta cell function We have chosen a rural area in Wisconsin where we can focus our study and select a group of […]
• Teenage Depression and Alcoholism There also has been a demonstrated connection between alcoholism and depression in all ages; as such, people engage in alcoholism as a method of self medication to dull the feelings of depression, hopelessness and lack […]
• “Relationships of Problematic Internet Use With Depression”: Study Strengths and Weaknesses One of the study strengths is that the subject selection process is excellently and well-designed, where the subjects represent the study sample, in general.
• Depression Treatment: Biopsychosocial Theory More to the point, the roles of nurses, an interprofessional team, and the patient’s family will be examined regarding the improvement of Majorie’s health condition.
• Postpartum Depression and Its Impact on Infants The goal of this research was “to investigate the prevalence of maternal depressive symptoms at 5 and 9 months postpartum in a low-income and predominantly Hispanic sample, and evaluate the impact on infant weight gain, […]
• Postpartum Depression: Statistics and Methods of Diagnosis The incorporation of the screening tools into the existing electronic medical support system has proved to lead to positive outcomes for both mothers and children.
• Comorbidity of Depression and Pain It is also known that dysregulation of 5-HT receptors in the brain is directly related to the development of depression and the regulation of the effects of substance P, glutamate, GABA and other pain mediators. […]
• Depression Among University Students The greatest majority of the affected individuals in different universities will be unable to take good care of their bodies and living rooms.
• Hallucinations and Geriatric Depression Intervention Sandy has asserted further that the cleaners at the residence have been giving him the wrong medication since they are conspiring to end his life with the FBI.Mr.
• Changes in Approaches to the Treatment of Depression Over the Past Decade In spite of the fact that over the past decade many approaches to the treatment of depression remained the same, a lot of new methods appeared and replaced some old ones due to the development […]
• Management of Treatment-Resistant Depression The significance of the problem, the project’s aims, the impact that the project may have on the nursing practice, and the coverage of this condition are the primary focuses of this paper.
• Teenage Depression: Psychology-Based Treatment This finding underlines the need to interrogate the issue of depression’s ontology and epistemology. Hence, there is the need to have an elaborate and comprehensive policy for addressing teenage depression.
• Depression and Anxiety in Dialysis Patients However, the study indicates the lack of research behind the connection of depression and cognitive impairment, which is a significant limitation to the conclusive statement.
• Depression Disorder: Key Factors Epidemiology refers to the study of the distribution and determinants of health related events in specific populations and its applications to health problems.
• Depression Effects of School Children However the present difficulties that he is going through being a 16 year old; may be associated to a possible cause of Down syndrome complications, or the feelings and behavioral deficiency he associates to the […]
• Depression, Hallucination, and Suicide: Mental Cases How they handle the process determines the kind of aftermath they will experience for instance it can take the route of hallucinations which is treatable or suicide which is irreversible thus how each case is […]
• Depression, Its Perspective and Management Therefore this paper seeks to point out that stress is a major ingredient of depression; show the causes, symptoms, highlight how stresses is manifested in different kinds of people, show how to manage stress that […]
• The Theory of Personality Psychology During Depression The study concerns personality pathology, and the results of the treatment given to patients who are under depression, and how personalities may have adverse effects on the consequences of the cure.
• Depression and the Media Other components of the cognitive triad of depression are the aspect of seeing the environment as overwhelming and that one is too small to make an impact and also seeing the future as bleak and […]
• Poor Body Image, Anxiety, and Depression: Women Who Undergo Breast Implants H02: There is no difference in overt attractiveness to, and frequency of intimacy initiated by, the husband or cohabitating partner of a breast implant patient both before and after the procedure.
• Depression: A Cognitive Perspective Therefore, the cause of depression on this line may be a real shortage of skills, accompanied by negative self-evaluation because the individual is more likely to see the negative aspects or the skills he lacks […]
• Stress, Depression and Psychoneuroimmunology The causes and symptoms of stress may vary from person to person and the symptoms can be mental as well as physical.
• Depression: Helping Students in the Classroom With sufflcient information, teachers can detect depression and are in a good position to identify it and seek help for the student.
• Family Therapy for Treating Major Depression One reason why this is so is that, given the onion-layered nature of their problems, family members, individually or as a group, lack the ability to “diagnose” the difficulties they face and to identify their […]
• Adverse Childhood Experiences Cause Depression However the numbers of females who are affected are far more than the numbers of males. It is also more probable that a girl would experience it as compared to boys at some point in […]
• Rumination, Perfectionism and Depression in Young People Depression in the psychological sense displays the overall depression of the normal behavior of a person, and a depression in the ability of that person to respond normally to various circumstances in one’s life.
• Beck’s Cognitive Therapy Approach to Depression Treatment The principle underlying Aaron Beck’s cognitive therapy model of approach to the treatment of depression capitalizes on the reality-supported interpretation of a situation and seeks to eliminate any doubts that often torment most stressed persons.
• Depression: Risk Factors, Incidence, Preventive Measures & Prognostic Factors
• Depression Diagnostics Methods
• Concept Analysis of Loneliness, Depression, Self-esteem
• Teen Suicide and Depression
• The Correlation Between Perfectionism and Depression
• Geriatric Dementia, Delirium, and Depression
• Dementia, Delirium, and Depression in Older Adults
• Depression in People With Alcohol Dependence
• Creating a Comprehensive Psychological Treatment Plan: Depression
• Experimental Psychology. Bouldering for Treating Depression
• Depression and Psychotherapy in Adolescence
• Postpartum Depression: Treatment and Therapy
• Atypical Depression Symptoms and Treatment
• Dementia, Delirium, and Depression in Frail Elders
• Depression & Patient Safety: Speak Up Program
• Mindfulness Meditation Therapy in Depression Cases
• A Review of Postpartum Depression and Continued Post Birth Support
• Psychodynamic Therapy for Depression
• Depression as a Psychological Disorder
• Great Depression in “A Worn Path” by Eudora Welty
• Depression in Adolescents and Interventions
• Postpartum Depression: Understanding the Needs of Women
• Major Depression Treatment During Pregnancy
• Patients’ Depression and Practitioners’ Suggestions
• Traditional Symptoms of Depression
• Social Media Impact on Depression and Eating Disorder
• Anxiety and Depression in Children and Adolescents
• Depression Studies and Online Research Sources
• Depression Explanation in Psychological Theories
• Depression Assessment Using Intake Notes
• Depression in Adolescents and Cognitive Therapy
• Depression and Grief in the “Ordinary People” Film
• Diagnosing Depression: Implementation and Evaluation Plan
• Beck Depression Inventory: Evaluation Plan
• Depression Patients and Psychiatrist’s Work
• Depression Patients’ Needs and Treatment Issues
• Health Promotion: Depression Awareness in Teenagers
• Depression in Patients with Comorbidity
• Depression After Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Treatment
• Depression and Psychosis: 32-Year-Old Female Patient
• Postpartum Depression and Acute Depressive Symptoms
• Postpartum Depression and Its Peculiarities
• Exercises as a Treatment for Depression
• Depression Treatment Changes in 2006-2017
• Depression in Elders: Social Factors
• Depression Among High School Students
• False Memories in Patients with Depression
• Postpartum Depression Analysis in “Yellow Wallpaper”
• The Canadian Depression Causes
• Teen Website: Fish Will Keep Depression Away
• Bipolar Expeditions: Mania and Depression
• Fast Food, Obesity, Depression, and Other Issues
• Depression in the Future Public Health
• Depression: Patients With a Difficult Psychological State
• Depression: Pathophysiology and Treatment
• Stress, Depression, and Responses to Them
• Beck Depression Inventory in Psychological Practice
• Problem of the Depression in Teenagers
• Supporting the Health Needs of Patients With Parkinson’s, Preeclampsia, and Postpartum Depression
• Depression and Its Causes in the Modern Society
• Hamilton Depression Rating Scale Application
• Psychological Measures: The Beck Depression Inventory
• Yoga for Depression and Anxiety
• Sleep Disturbance, Depression, Anxiety Correlation
• Depression in Late Life: Interpersonal Psychotherapy
• Postpartum Depression and Comorbid Disorders
• Arab-Americans’ Acculturation and Depression
• Organizational Behaviour: Depression in the Workplace
• Relationship Between Depression and Sleep Disturbance
• Child’s Mental Health and Depression in Adulthood
• Parents’ Depression and Toddler Behaviors
• Managing Stress and Depression at Work Places – Psychology
• Job’ Stress and Depression
• Depression Measurements – Psychology
• Methodological Bias Associated with Sex Depression
• Relationship Between Sleep and Depression in Adolescence
• The Effects of Depression on Physical Activity
• Psychological Disorder: Depression
• Depression and Workplace Violence
• The Effects of Forgiveness Therapy on Depression, Anxiety and Posttraumatic Stress for Women After Spousal Emotional Abuse
• Depression Diagnosis and Theoretical Models
• The Impact of Exercise on Women Who Suffer From Depression
• Evolutionary Psychology: Depression
• Depression in the Elderly
• Poly-Substance Abuse in Adolescent Males With Depression
• How Does Peer Pressure Contribute to Adolescent Depression?
• How Do Genetic and Environmental Factors Contribute To The Expression of Depression?
• Cognitive Treatment of Depression
• Book Review: “Breadwinning Daughters: Young Women Working in a Depression- Era City, 1929-1939” by Katrina Srigley
• Depression: A Critical Evaluation
• Psychopharmacological Treatment for Depression
• “Breadwinning Daughters: Young Working Women in a Depression-Era City” by Katrina Srigley
• Interpersonal Communication Strategies Regarding Depression
• Depression: Law Enforcement Officers and Stress
• Social Influences on Behavior: Towards Understanding Depression and Alcoholism Based on Social Situations
• Depression Experiences in Law Enforcement
• Childhood Depression & Bi-Polar Disorder
• Depression Psychological Evaluation
• Concept of Childhood Depression
• Correlation Between Multiple Pregnancies and Postpartum Depression or Psychosis
• Catatonic Depression: Etiology and Management
• Depression: A Cross-Cultural Perspective
• Depression Levels and Development
• Depression Treatment: Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
• Concept of Depression Disorder
• Does Divorce Have a Greater Impact on Men than on Women in Terms of Depression?
• Oral versus Written Administration of the Geriatric Depression Scale

❓Research Questions for a Depression Essay

• Does Poverty Impact Depression in African American Adolescents and the Development of Suicidal Ideations?
• Does Neighborhood Violence Lead to Depression Among Caregivers of Children With Asthma?
• Does Parent Depression Correspond With Child Depression?
• How Depression Affects Our Lives?
• Does Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Have an Effect on Depression Levels in Elderly Women?
• How Can Overcome Depression Through 6 Lifestyle Changes?
• Does Maternal Depression Have a Negative Effect on Parent-Child Attachment?
• Can Providers’ Education About Postpartum Depression?
• Can Vacation Help With Depression?
• How Children Deal With Depression?
• Can Diet Help Stop Depression and Violence?
• Does Depression Assist Eating Disorders?
• Does Depression Lead to Suicide and Decreased Life Expectancy?
• Can Obesity Cause Depression?
• Can Exercise Increase Fitness and Reduce Weight in Patients With Depression?
• Does Fruit and Vegetable Consumption During Adolescence Predict Adult Depression?
• Does Depression Cause Cancer?
• Does Money Relieve Depression?
• Does the Average Person Experience Depression Throughout Their Life?
• Are Vaccines Cause Depression?
• Does Social Anxiety Lead to Depression?
• Does Stress Cause Depression?
• How Bipolar and Depression Are Linked?
• Does Postpartum Depression Affect Employment?
• Does Postpartum Depression Predict Emotional and Cognitive Difficulties in 11-Year-Olds?
• Does Regular Exercise Reduce Stress Levels, and Thus Reduce Symptoms of Depression?
• Does the Natural Light During Winters Really Create Depression?
• How Can Art Overcome Depression?
• How Anxiety and Depression Are Connected?
• Does Positive Psychology Ease Symptoms of Depression?
• Bullying Research Topics
• Conflict Research Topics
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Topics
• Disease Questions
• Burnout Questions
• Hyperactivity Disorder Research Ideas
• Insomnia Questions
• Eating Disorders Questions
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

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135+ Sad Writing Prompts to Stir Deep Emotions in Readers

By: Author Hiuyan Lam

Posted on Last updated: October 20, 2023

Categories Writing Prompts

The benefits of using sad writing prompts

Unlocking creative depths.

Enhancing writing skills

Exploring emotions and improving mental health

Sad writing prompts to unleash creative depths

Exploring health challenges and personal struggles.

Tackling social challenges and environmental crises

Delving into personal relationships and trust issues

Artistic expressions of emotions

Sad writing prompts to develop students’ writing skills

Addressing academic pressure and anxiety.

Understanding family dynamics and common issues

Confronting bullying and peer pressure

Navigating friendship and unexpected setbacks

Sad writing prompts to facilitate emotional expressions and personal growth

Facing anxiety and fear.

Examining loneliness and isolation

Reflecting on regrets and mistakes

Dealing with loss and heartbreak

Unraveling betrayal, conflict, and misunderstandings

Do sad writing prompts have to be with a sad or tragic ending?

Conclusion: Gateways to emotional depth, imagination, and transformation

Sunday 15th of September 2024

I do agree with all the ideas you have introduced on your post They are very convincing and will definitely work Still the posts are very short for newbies May just you please prolong them a little from subsequent time Thank you for the post

101 Sorrowful Writing Prompts That Are Sadder Than Sad

The most powerful way to engage your reader is to invoke strong emotion .

Readers who quickly empathize are more likely to keep reading a story that invites them to do just that. 

We’ve rounded up 101 heartbreaking, sad writing prompts to make your job easier. 

And since sad prompts aren’t always enough, we’ve thrown in some story ideas to show how you can spin a few words into a story your reader can’t put down. 

#1 — She never slept in this late… 

#2 — “what would you say if i asked you… “, #3 — the folks at work call me a “cat lady.”, #4 — she took her time choosing the perfect stone for this one. , #5 — he had that luxury., 101 sad writing prompts to inspire your next heart-wrenching story , what are some sad story ideas .

Check out these five sad book ideas, each based on a prompt but taking it a step further.

As you move on to the prompts list, pay attention to those that start developing in your mind into story ideas. Then set a timer for a writing sprint and see what happens. 

But as he rolled out of bed that morning, he seized upon the idea of surprising her with breakfast in bed. It took longer than he expected, and for a moment, he feared she would wake before he brought it to her. 

He needn’t have worried. 

The eggs and toast were cold now on the breakfast tray. He hadn’t noticed the folded letter on the bedside table, which the officer held in her hand as she read it. Then, she looked up at him, her mouth closed and her eyes unreadable behind the reflective lenses. 

“Can I read it, now?” he asked. 

“Asked me to what?” He visibly stiffened in his chair. She took a deep breath. 

“I want you to empty one of the two rooms you’ve filled with your things — and I mean completely empty it, closet and all — by the beginning of summer… Or I’m out.” 

He turned away, but she saw him swallow, heard him clear his throat, and take a deep, noisy breath through his nose. 

Without looking at her, he nodded briefly and said, “I’ll see what I can do.” 

I have two of them. And while my mother had earned a reputation for trapping strays in her house and taking them to the vet to be spayed or neutered, I was nowhere near that ambitious. 

Mischa and Cal just got me. Both were spayed. Both patrolled the apartment with the confidence of creatures whose mere will sustained the universe. 

Right now, they mutually shunned my guest, yowling every time the smell assaulted their nostrils. 

“Patience, kitties. Wait ‘til the embalming fluid does its work. It’s a special recipe. You’ll warm up to him no time.” 

They’d switched to cremation after she lost the first baby. Six more followed, and this one — the one she’d named Hope — had almost survived the ordeal of childbirth. It had started normally, but her doctor had urged an emergency C-section. She hadn’t argued. 

No time for anesthesia. No time to say goodbye to her husband, who told her he would be in there as soon as he could. 

Hope was silent. They tried reviving her, and she… lying on the table with her abdomen cut open, waited, afraid to breathe. 

The door opened then to let her husband in.

The luxury of agreeing to work whatever hours he chose. Not being the family chauffeur gave him a freedom he’d gotten used to. He couldn’t see why none of her interviews resulted in a job offer. 

He was about to learn. 

“Jax and Lily finish school at 2:00. Ben’s done at 3. Then Lily starts her shift at 4 and is done by 7. Jax doesn’t work today, but they do tomorrow. And no, neither of them can cancel last minute.”

“Why not? How am I supposed to get anything done if I’m constantly heading out the door to get them from something?” he asked. 

“Oh… Sorry, does your boss not know you have kids?”

Read through these sad story prompts until you find one you’d like to use, either for a new story contest or for your own creative journaling .

Develop at least one of them into an idea today. Which of these will get you started on your next writing sprint?

1. The lone survivor of an advanced race tells the story of their family’s mission to Earth and what it cost them. 

2. The main character receives a devastating diagnosis and decides to track down and try to reconnect with their estranged daughter and son. 

3. She asked him a question she wished she’d asked him years ago. He reacted much as she’d expected. 

4. One look at his face, and she knew he’d been through a lifetime’s worth of pain but hadn’t been beaten by it.

5. Whose idea was it to add “‘Till death do us part” to the wedding vows? And did only one kind of death matter to them?

6. “How did I not see it in my own daughter? She was dying right in front of me!” 

7. He teased her for not being a “detail person.” But she noticed well enough how he looked at her best friend. 

8. “A hero would sacrifice you to save the world. I’m not a hero.” 

9. They were playing hide-and-seek. She never found him. Until now. 

10. “You’ve had 15 years to notice… It just didn’t bother you enough to do something about it.” 

11. “I was hoping you’d prove me wrong. Being right is the last thing I want to be right now.” 

12. “She gave me one last look before walking out into the storm. No one has seen her since.” 

13. He had no idea how much she already knew. He walked in the door, ready to tell her everything. 

14. “You were angry with me … because I made you look bad to your family. What am I, then?” 

15. I was old enough to remember the day I became an orphan. 

16. “You honestly think this is the first time he’s done this? Where have you been?”

17. “It gets worse at night. We can’t allow anyone into that room with her.“

18. She wanted to marry her best friend. He wanted an idea she couldn’t live up to. 

19. She emptied the hope chest, filled it with potting soil, and, planting it full of cacti, left it behind his car before she drove off.

20. Being depressed is hard enough. Trying to hide it is what led to this moment.

21. “You have no idea how messed up it is that you’re fine with the way things are.”

22. Most of my nightmares are about things that happen when the sun is shining.

23. “I know I need to grieve what I thought I would have with him. But right now, I’m just relieved.” 

24. She gave him her house key and the garage door button with a small smile and nod before walking to her car.

25. “I was a different woman when I married him. And I’ve never been enough. But good Catholic husbands don’t give up, right?” 

26. “I was waiting in the car when the rain started. He stepped out onto the covered porch, looked at me, and shook his head.”

27. “What kind of retreat was this anyway?” she thought. But then she saw it: the perfect stone, worn smooth and darker than its neighbors.

28. She spent the week in bed, unable to do more than sleep between small sips of water. He wasn’t there when she recovered.

29. It was the best part of their usual cycle, but even then, she saw the beginnings of the next stage. Nothing had changed.

30. “It’s not that I’m not motivated to put in the effort to become a saint. It’s that I’d rather be anything else.”

31. His voice brought back memories she wasn’t ready for. 

32. “Don’t wait until you’re ready. No one’s really ready until they have nothing left to lose — and not enough time to enjoy winning.”

33. “One day, when he grows up and tells the church to piss off, he’ll find someone else, and they’ll be happy together. I hope.” 

34. Maybe I’m ready for a job that requires me to shower on a daily basis. Maybe I need that now. 

35. This was the song that was playing when we met. It hits differently, now. 

36. He wasn’t a stranger for long. Something he said within those first few minutes flipped a switch. And just like that, he was my home.

37. “You seriously overestimate my need for certainty.” 

38. All anyone can guess is that she took the wrong prescription by mistake. It was right next to hers. No one knew about the allergy. 

39. One day at a time, she sorted through her things, boxed them up, hauled donations out the door. This time was different. She was ready. 

40. That cat was the only creature who brought a smile to her face. No one’s seen her leave the house since. 

41. He sent her a bouquet of pink Gerbera daisies with a note. She bit her lip as she read it, sighing deeply before looking up.

42. She was the only one putting up signs when the child went missing. No one knew why until the police arrived at her door.

43. The flowers he bought meant something. The ones she bought for herself meant something else. 

44. She never needed the alcohol to numb herself. It just made it easier to stay.

45. Retirement was finally just a week away. The cardiac wing of the hospital wasn’t the vacation spot he had in mind.

46. She listed every item in the donation box, making sure to add a value estimate to every gift she’d kept. 

47. He left a note on the kitchen countertop: “I ate the cake you made for book club. It was dry.” Terrible last words.

48. “You have no idea how little those words mean right now.”

49. He’d forgotten how nice it was when people showed up when they said they would. 

50. The last teddy bear sat on top of the pile, his head bowed. 

51. The best thing about the property was the trees. One by one, they started dying. 

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52. She brewed his favorite tea every morning and started her day with it. 

53. Find a box that will work for my Dell tower, monitor (in a pillowcase w/ padding), keyboard, speakers, and cords. 

54. What could have been doesn’t matter anymore. I’m more interested in what’s next.

55. He interpreted my being demisexual to mean I wasn’t attracted to him. He was right about that — but wrong to think he could fix it.

56. We never needed a perfect dad — just one that kept trying. 

57. The “functional” bit in functional alcoholic is the word we use to trick ourselves into thinking we’re still in control — or that we ever were. 

58. He had what he said he’d always wanted. It wasn’t enough. 

59. They told her to choose between her own life and that of her unborn child. He chose for her. 

60. After years of waiting for him to see what this was costing her, she finally told him. 

61. Her leash and collar still hang on the hook by the front door.

62. He meant well. But he shouldn’t have used their daughter’s dead guinea pig as his first taxidermy project. 

63. The child had a habit of eating houseplants, and his mother, the “salad queen,” was distracted. 

64. She named her house “the Owlery” and started collecting them on her front porch, one cage at a time.

65. She folded the clothes and gently laid them in the donation box. These were for the woman she used to be. 

66. Ankle-length skirts, demure necklines, muted colors… they no longer had a place in her wardrobe. She smiled and closed the box. 

67. She paused just outside the door, hearing the dance music playing inside. She caught her reflection, and her shoulders sank.

68. She wasn’t used to being missed. So, she hadn’t called to let her parents know when she’d need a ride. 

69. For years he would ask for it, teasing her one day and then resorting to guilt. 

70. She’d burned a CD with his favorite songs, including some he’d introduced to her. She gently laid it near his cold hands. 

71. Every time she heard a dog bark, she’d freeze, waiting to hear it again. 

72. “Why are you grieving? Isn’t this what you want,” she asked. It is, now, I thought. But it wasn’t always.

73. If she were a house, her doors would be locked. But there might still be a way in for someone determined to find it. 

74. Her interview was tomorrow. The clothes would arrive next week. 

75. If there was ever a time for expedited shipping, this was it. She clicked on the box, wincing at the price. He would know.

76. I hadn’t known I was pregnant when I went out that night. 

77. She would have chosen her child. I would have chosen her. The virus chose for both of us. 

78. “Yes, beauty is fleeting,” she said. “But it’s right in front of us, now. Why not enjoy it?”

79. The flowers she’d bought the day before lay wilting on the sidewalk. 

80. “You don’t know how hard I looked for it,” he said. “It wasn’t there.” 

81. The rain and wind suddenly fell silent, and her eyes turned toward the deck window, her face paler than I’ve ever seen it.

82. She rubbed the lotion into her hands absent-mindedly, her fingernails shorter than they were before the movie started.

83. She held her doll to her face while her mother scooped her up and headed out the door. 

84. The dog stood patiently by the door as he always did, waiting for his return. 

85. Our cats all end up in the same place eventually. It’s a busy road. 

86. She’d made her famous noodle casserole for every family that came to hire her husband. This one was different.

87. The phone rang five times before the seven-year-old picked it up. “No one’s here,” he said. 

88. “The only apples that grow on those trees are half-eaten by worms by the time they ripen. You want applesauce? Buy some.”

89. I’d seen him chase her down the road, carrying something and yelling at her. The cops found them both an hour later.

90. They thought he would come when they sent word of his mother’s illness. Only after she passed did they learn the truth.

91. He had the best balance of all of us — and the least fear. 

92. No one could see that he was actually suffocating until he passed out. 

93. The box was empty. All of them were. She looked up with tears in her eyes.

94. Seconds before he pulled the trigger, I realized I was the villain in this story. 

95. Now that I’m leaving, he won’t have to worry about renting storage space for all the things he wants to keep. 

96. I could see that the front door was ajar when I pulled in. I left the engine running. 

97. The curtain fell, and behind it, so did she. 

98. She wasn’t trying to be the perfect mother. She was just trying to get through the day. 

99. She trimmed the crusts off his sandwiches and brought them to his bed. 

100. He has no idea most people aren’t born that way. No one’s told him. 

101. Someone had left the starving animal chained to a fence post in the middle of nowhere. 

Now that you’ve looked through all the sad story prompts and story ideas in this post, we hope you found at least one you’re itching to write about today. Jot it down, along with any ideas that come — snippets of dialogue, setting details, etc. 

Then pick a time and let those words flow. 

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112 Depression Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Depression is a mental health disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. It can have a significant impact on an individual's life, their relationships, and their overall well-being. If you are tasked with writing an essay on depression, it can be challenging to come up with a unique and compelling topic. To help you get started, here are 112 depression essay topic ideas and examples:

• The impact of depression on academic performance.
• Depression: A silent epidemic.
• The correlation between depression and substance abuse.
• The role of genetics in depression.
• The effects of childhood trauma on adult depression.
• Depression among college students: Causes and solutions.
• Depression in the elderly: Challenges and interventions.
• The link between depression and social media usage.
• The portrayal of depression in literature and art.
• Depression and its impact on physical health.
• The connection between depression and eating disorders.
• Depression in men: Breaking the stigma.
• The role of exercise in managing depression.
• The impact of depression on sleep patterns.
• Depression in minority communities: Understanding cultural factors.
• The relationship between depression and anxiety.
• Depression and its impact on creativity.
• The efficacy of antidepressant medications.
• The role of therapy in treating depression.
• Depression and its effects on the immune system.
• The impact of depression on cognitive function.
• Depression and its effect on romantic relationships.
• The connection between depression and unemployment.
• Depression in adolescents: Identifying signs and providing support.
• The impact of depression on parenting.
• Depression and suicide: Addressing the link.
• The role of nutrition in managing depression.
• Depression and its effect on memory.
• The impact of childhood neglect on adult depression.
• Depression in the LGBTQ+ community: Understanding unique challenges.
• The correlation between depression and chronic pain.
• Depression and self-esteem: A vicious cycle.
• The relationship between depression and postpartum depression.
• The role of mindfulness in managing depression.
• Depression and the impact on social relationships.
• Depression and its effect on work productivity.
• The connection between depression and perfectionism.
• Depression and its effect on decision-making abilities.
• The impact of depression on the brain's structure and function.
• The role of early intervention in preventing depression.
• Depression in veterans: Addressing the mental health crisis.
• The correlation between depression and obesity.
• Depression and the impact on personal hygiene.
• The role of music therapy in treating depression.
• Depression and its effect on creativity.
• The connection between depression and academic burnout.
• Depression and its impact on social skills.
• The relationship between depression and sexual dysfunction.
• Depression and its effect on the immune system.
• The role of pets in managing depression.
• Depression and its impact on decision-making in adolescents.
• The correlation between depression and technology addiction.
• Depression and its effect on body image.
• The connection between depression and ADHD.
• Depression and the impact on job satisfaction.
• The role of peer support in managing depression.
• Depression and its effect on impulse control.
• The impact of depression on cognitive flexibility.
• The relationship between depression and childhood bullying.
• Depression and the role of spirituality in recovery.
• Depression and its effect on academic motivation.
• The correlation between depression and early childhood trauma.
• Depression and the impact on creativity in children.
• The role of sleep hygiene in managing depression.
• Depression and its effect on emotional intelligence.
• The connection between depression and body dysmorphia.
• Depression and the impact on family dynamics.
• The relationship between depression and attachment styles.
• Depression and the role of exercise in brain health.
• Depression and its effect on risk-taking behaviors.
• The impact of depression on social isolation.
• The correlation between depression and personality disorders.
• Depression and the role of nutrition in brain health.
• Depression and its effect on academic achievement.
• The connection between depression and childhood abuse.
• Depression and the impact on emotional regulation.
• The role of cognitive-behavioral therapy in treating depression.
• Depression and its effect on executive functioning.
• The correlation between depression and sleep disorders.
• Depression and the impact on interpersonal relationships.
• Depression and its effect on self-compassion.
• The connection between depression and trauma.
• Depression and the role of art therapy in recovery.
• Depression and its impact on decision-making in adults.
• The relationship between depression and social anxiety.
• Depression and the link to perfectionism in adolescents.
• Depression and the impact on academic motivation in college students.
• The correlation between depression and chronic illness.
• Depression and the role of mindfulness in self-care.
• Depression and its effect on emotional regulation in children.
• The connection between depression and seasonal affective disorder.
• Depression and the impact on cognitive flexibility in older adults.
• Depression and its effect on body image in adolescents.
• The relationship between depression and self-harm.
• Depression and the role of medication in managing symptoms.
• Depression and its impact on decision-making in the elderly.
• The correlation between depression and eating disorders in males.
• Depression and the role of social support in recovery.
• Depression and its effect on emotional intelligence in adolescents.
• The connection between depression and chronic pain in older adults.
• Depression and the impact on body image in males.
• Depression and the role of narrative therapy in recovery.
• Depression and its effect on self-esteem in adolescents.
• The relationship between depression and cognitive decline in older adults.
• Depression and the impact on academic motivation in high school students.
• The correlation between depression and bullying in schools.
• Depression and the role of animal-assisted therapy in recovery.
• Depression and its effect on emotional regulation in adolescents.
• The connection between depression and bipolar disorder.
• Depression and the impact on cognitive flexibility in children.
• Depression and its effect on body image in females.
• The relationship between depression and self-compassion in adults.

These essay topic ideas provide a wide range of angles and perspectives to explore the complex issue of depression. Choose a topic that resonates with you and allows you to delve deep into the subject matter. Remember to conduct thorough research, cite relevant sources, and approach the topic with empathy and understanding. By doing so, you can create an impactful and informative essay that raises awareness about depression and promotes understanding and support for those affected by it.

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Sad Writing Prompts: Over 50 Ideas That Are Complete Tearjerkers

• July 14, 2022

Strong emotions make for great story-telling. 

Sadness is one of those emotions that pulls on the heartstrings and makes a story engaging and memorable. 

The saddest stories make us cry and even summon a tear when we remember them long after we first heard them.

Even though sadness is a complex emotion, it’s part of life. 

Each of us will face feelings of sadness at some point in our lives. 

When it comes to story-telling, exploring sadness offers some benefits.

It allows readers to connect with the characters on a deeply personal level and can be incredibly cathartic. Catharsis is the purging of emotions through storytelling.

We’ve got you covered if you’re a writer and want an idea for a sad short story. 

This article has over 50 sad writing prompts to help you get started. 

The prompts below include general sad story ideas, sad opening lines, and suggestions for sad dialogue. 

We’ve also included sad lines and quotes from world-famous novels to inspire you further.

50+ sad writing prompts

Check out the 50+ sad story prompts below to inspire you!

Ideas for sad short stories

The main character is diagnosed with a terminal illness. Write a story about their attempts to reconnect with distant family members during the short time they have left.

A couple who lost their child to an illness years ago adopted an orphan. Write a story from the parents’ perspective as they learn to love this adopted child.

Write a story about a teenager trying to get through high school while also battling her depression. Explore her background, trials, tribulations, and the main character’s rocky relationship with herself.

Write a story from the perspective of a dead person who watches over their loved ones from the afterlife.

One of the last remaining members of an animal species is caged in a zoo. Write a story about their memories of life before the zoo, how they got caught, and their thoughts and sentiments today.

A couple about to reunite after ten years has their plans thwarted by a global pandemic. Write a series of letters between the two lovers yearning for each other during this unprecedented pandemic. For extra drama, add a conflict to the correspondence. Does a letter go missing? Is there some vital information revealed in one of the letters, something that might change the relationship?

An older, overweight woman just wants some love and affection. Her size and the amount of time since she was held by someone make her believe she is unlovable. One day, an old friend from school shows up to ask how she is. They spend time together, have lots of fun, and make lasting memories. Our main character develops feelings for her old friend, but he won’t be around forever.

A young boy is destined to become a superhero and save the world. To fulfill his destiny, he must leave his friends and family behind without telling them and enter a strict training regime in a secret location. Write a story from the perspective of his friends and family members who believe their loved one has gone missing.

A young high school couple decides to try a long-distance relationship when high school ends, and both go to different states for college. Write a letter from one partner to another explaining why they think they should break up—include memories and sentiments from the relationship and important last things they say to each other.

Write a story about a young girl whose cat was run over on the road outside her house. Explore how her parents teach her about death and grief.

An old man slowly dying in a hospital bed recounts the story of his life to his young grandson.

A father’s alcoholism tears a family apart. Write a story from the perspective of a daughter who needs her father, but his addiction makes him indisposed to help.

In high school, all the girls receive Valentine’s day cards from the boys in class. All but one. Write a story about the girl who doesn’t get a card.

Two young lovers are forbidden from seeing each other. Yearning for each other’s company, they sneak out of their respective homes. Knowing that their love is forbidden, they never return home.

A woman whose husband is killed in war dreams about him every night and wakes up alone every morning. Tired of the pain of waking up alone, she tries to go to sleep forever.

An old man and his dog are best friends and have only had each other for years. When the old man dies, the dog is left alone. The man’s relatives take the dog into their home. Every day, the dog runs away and sits on his former owner’s grave until his new owner comes to bring him home.

Sad short story opening line prompts

When I was a child I always wanted a dog, and I had one. The three months I spent with my dog was some of the most fun I’ve ever had.

Maria couldn’t cry. She was sad and angry but tired, and crying required far more energy than she could summon.

One morning, Brian woke up alone. He was surprised until he remembered that his dream life was a dream.

The best way to break a person’s heart is to pretend that you care about them.

I loved her, and she loved me. Now I’m a stranger, and she’s a memory.

One day I woke up, and she was gone. No text, no note, nothing. Just the smell of her hair on the pillow and my loneliness were all that was left.

You never know how much you love someone until they’re gone. That was one of the hardest lessons I ever had to learn.

Have you ever loved someone so much that it broke your heart?

When I was younger, I thought love was about butterflies, smiles, holding hands, and being happy forever after. Now that I’m older, I realize how much pain it causes. Still, that doesn’t mean we should stop loving.

The day the doctor told me I was sick was the first day of the rest of my life.

Looking back on my life before I died, I realize that there were so many things I could have done differently. All the worry, the procrastination, the pointless arguments, what a waste of time!

I’m done with love. Over. Never again.

Sad short story dialogue prompts

‘No, I won’t let you go!’

‘I love you.’

‘I’m sorry, but I have to leave.’

‘I was waiting for you.’

‘I’m sorry.’

‘I wish you told me how you felt before today.’

‘I understand if you never want to see me again.’

‘Can we just talk?’

‘I don’t love you anymore.’

‘I heard this song, which made me think of us.’

‘Loving you is the best and worst thing ever to me.’

‘Is there someone else?’

‘I have some bad news.’

‘How could you do this to me?’

‘I need to tell you something.’

‘I have to go, and I don’t know when I’ll be back.’

‘I really thought things would be different this time.’

‘I can’t help myself.’

‘I hope you never miss someone as much as I miss you.’

‘Words can’t describe the pain I feel right now.’

‘I’m worried about you; call me?’

‘All I want is one more moment with you; is that wrong?’

‘I know you don’t want to talk to me anymore, but I just want to thank you for making me a better person.’

‘I thought you would notice, but you didn’t.’

‘How can I possibly trust you anymore?’

‘I’m not mad at you, but I’m very disappointed.’

‘One time, I would have screamed and argued with you, but now I just don’t have the energy.’

‘I heard you’re happy now.’

‘All of this hurt, all of this pain, and still I love you.’

‘I never realized loving you would hurt this much. Still, I don’t regret a thing.’

‘I dreamed we were still together, you and me.’

Sad lines and quotes from literature

“Beautiful things grow to a certain height, and then they fall and fade off, breathing out memories as they decay.” F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Beautiful and Damned

“Time was passing like a hand waving from a train I wanted to be on. I hope you never have to think about anything as much as I think about you.” Jonathan Safran Foer, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

“If you have a sister and she dies, do you stop saying you have one? Or are you always a sister, even when the other half of the equation is gone?” Jodi Picoult, My Sister’s Keeper

“There are a lot of children in Afghanistan, but little childhood.” Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner

“I know so many last words. But I will never know hers.” John Green, Looking for Alaska

“I have scars on my hands from touching certain people.” J. D. Salinger,  Raise High the Roof Beam

“I hid my deepest feelings so well I forgot where I placed them.” Amy Tan, Saving Fish from Drowning

“You see I usually find myself among strangers because I drift here and there trying to forget the sad things that happened to me.” F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

“The heart dies a slow death, shedding each hope like leaves until one day there are none. No hopes. Nothing remains.” Arthur Golden, Memoirs of a Geisha

‘I think everyone feels alone in their sadness, and there’s a certain value to hearing other people’s sad stories.’   Brandon Stanton, American Novelist

Sad stories evoke difficult emotions. 

All of us have some sadness in our lives somewhere. Such is the nature of human life. 

Many of us would rather avoid sadness altogether and only allow ourselves to feel positive emotions. 

However, integrating and accepting sadness is essential for living a life of emotional stability.

Sad stories, though emotionally heavy, can help us process our own sadness. 

American Novelist Brandon Stanton believes that hearing others’ stories is valuable. We experience catharsis, the purging of emotions through experiencing them vicariously through fictional characters . 

Sad stories also help us feel sympathy, empathy, and compassion for others.

For writers, sad stories pose a challenge. 

It’s essential to approach sad scenes and themes with authenticity and honesty. 

At the same time, one shouldn’t indulge in sadness. It should exist as a theme as a by-product of the natural unfolding of events in a story.

So, if you’re a writer and you want to write a heart-heavy, tear-jerker story, use any of the prompts and ideas outlined above. 

Feel free to chop and change elements of each prompt to suit you. 

Take inspiration from one or several of the prompts above and craft your unique story that will bring a tear of sadness to your reader’s eye.

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Home / Book Writing / Sad Writing Prompts: 50+ Ideas to Get Your Started

Sad Writing Prompts: 50+ Ideas to Get Your Started

One of the reasons stories of all kinds are so popular — and have been for thousands of years — is that they help us process real-world emotions. We'll all have to deal with grief, sadness, heartache, depression, and negative thoughts at some point in our lives. And sometimes, one thing that can help us get through tough times is a story where fictional characters go through something similar.

That's why we've developed this list of sad writing prompts for your next journal entry, short story, or novel idea.

• Sad Book Genres
• Tips for Writing a Sad Story
• Sad Writing Prompts

Table of contents

• Where Do Sad Stories Fit?
• Tips to Help Your Sad Writing
• Planning for Publishing Success

One of the things we talk about here at Kindlepreneur is writing to market. That is, writing something you want to write that also intersects with an existing marke t. Preferably one with hungry readers. And as you surely know, there's no such thing as a “Sad” book genre. But that doesn't mean that sad books don't fit nicely into some existing genres . They do. And here are a couple to keep in mind:

• Literary Fiction – These kinds of books don't fit neatly into other popular fiction categories like mystery or romance. This is where you'll often find books of a sad nature, dealing with loss, depression, interpersonal relationships, and overwhelming feelings.
• Romance – There are often some seriously strong emotions in romance stories. And sadness is chief among them. But the thing to remember about the romance genre is readers expect a happy ending. So, not too much sadness!
• Drama – There's not really an official drama category in most bookstores. Amazon certainly doesn't have a drama category for Kindle books. But thinking about sad, dramatic films is a good way to categorize your story, at least in your own head.

Formatting Has Never Been Easier

Write and format professional books with ease.  Never before has creating formatted books been easier.

If you can write a book or story that evokes strong emotions from your readers, then you'll likely have a good career as an author. Provided, of course, those strong emotions are the ones you intended to evoke. No matter the genre, a good story relies on character development , conflict, and rising stakes. For this reason, there’s really only a handful of story structures out there. And if you familiarize yourself with these story structures , you can write a compelling story that people will enjoy.

The big difference between most popular fiction genres and a sad book in a genre like literary fiction is the type of stakes. In a thriller, the stakes may be death. Maybe for the character. Maybe for the whole world.

In a dramatic book, the stakes will be mostly emotional. Often love or enlightenment . If your main character doesn't get what she seeks, she'll remain lost in her life. Or he'll break down and will no longer be able to function. Or the love of her life will slip away forever.

So as you write, keep the stakes in mind. And try to keep raising the stakes as you move toward the climax . This is what readers expect. And while there's a little bit of leeway in the literary fiction genre, the climactic story structure is so ingrained in our cultural psyche that you ignore it at your peril.

Now, on to the creative writing prompts!

The following writing ideas can be used as a jumping-off point or merely for inspiration. If you like a story starter as it is, start writing and see where it takes you. Or change the writing prompt however you see fit and let the inspiration take over!

1. Write about a mental health professional who is afraid one of her patients may hurt himself.

2. Write about the grief a young character experiences when he loses a close friend.

3. Explore how social media negatively affects one young person's view of the world. Write it from the young person's perspective using first person POV .

4. Write about a young woman reading a love letter and crying. What's in the letter that's making her cry?

5. Write about two characters who speak different languages coming into conflict with each other because of their language barrier.

6. Write about a character who receives a terminal diagnosis. What does he do with the time he has left?

7. There's something wrong with your main character's sister. She begins acting erratically and saying very strange things.

8. Write about an unlikely friendship that develops between a hospice worker and a patient.

9. One high school is thrown into turmoil after a terrible bus accident takes the lives of many students.

10. Start your story as a diary entry written by a character who's contemplating suicide.

11. Think about your happiest childhood memory. Identify a few things that helped you feel that happiness. Now write a story about a character who never had those things in her life.

12. Write a story from the perspective of someone battling depression and overcoming anxiety.

13. Start a story in which one character lets anger take control. He says or does things that he'll find hard to take back when he calms down.

14. Write a story in which a small town or village is destroyed by deforestation or another environmentally questionable practice.

15. Write a story in which a woman gets convicted of a crime she didn't commit.

16. Detail one family's struggle to survive during a catastrophic natural disaster.

17. Explore the feelings of a young character dealing with rejection.

18. Write about a character who is orphaned when he loses his only family member. Will he find a new family?

19. Explore the terrible things that can happen when a loved one is afflicted with a drug problem.

20. Have a character look back on something bad that happened to their younger self. Have them use that incident to overcome their biggest challenge as an adult.

21. Sometimes what seems like the worst thing in the world can actually be a good thing. Write about how good things come from unlikely places.

22. Write about a character who has a hard time dealing with emotion. When things are bottled up, they can often come out in other ways.

23. Write about an old married couple who thinks they can no longer stay together. What are their final days before the divorce like? Do they end up falling back in love?

24. Abuse comes in all shapes and sizes. Write a story about a character finally getting out of an abusive relationship.

25. Write about how the world always seems to take the good ones away first.

26. Explore a character who ventures to meet her biological mother for the first time. The meeting is nothing like what she expected.

27. Explore the struggles families go through when dealing with a family member with a mental health problem.

28. She always wanted a child. But now that she has one, she feels like something is missing.

29. The grass always seems greener on the other side. But when you get over there, it rarely is. Write about a character who seems to burn every bridge in search of greener grass.

30. Write about a character learning to live again after suffering a debilitating injury.

31. People express their feelings in different ways. Explore a character who expresses her feelings in a way that makes people think she's abrasive.

32. Hate is a strong emotion. But so is love. Explore two characters learning how to stop hating and start loving.

33. “All I want is to find something to fill that hole inside me. But I don't think it exists.”

34. She just left the bathroom for a minute to answer the phone. There were only a few inches of water in the tub…

35. He could still feel the painful wound in his hand. This time, he managed to look into the mirror without punching it.

36. She tried to see the beauty in everything. But after the funeral, it seemed impossible. She thought all the beauty had been sucked out of the world.

37. He watched the storm coming slowly closer. The sky looked exactly like this when his life was torn apart.

38. Explore how one seemingly insignificant choice can change a life for the worst.

39. He saw the homeless man every day on the way to work. One day, he decided to call in sick and help the man.

40. Write a story about a character who must deal with a narcissistic and extremely manipulative father.

41. It feels too good to be true. Has she finally found love, or is she being manipulated?

42. He's the most in-demand actor in Hollywood. So why does he feel so empty inside?

43. Write about a character who has a bad day and is rude to someone at a coffee shop. They feel bad, but soon find out the person they were rude to is out for revenge.

44. The new marriage is exciting, but something isn't quite right. Could it be that the perfect relationship is anything but?

45. She's poor until she receives a large inheritance. But with the money comes a whole new set of problems.

46. His brother has always been a lot to handle. But on this trip back home, the sibling does something truly terrible.

47. Her favorite thing in the world is her music. But a freak accident causes her to go deaf.

48. As a writer prepares to take his final breaths before his assisted suicide, he laments those things he didn't do in his life.

49. When a young man experiences some bullying at his new school, he's heartbroken. But he could never have guessed what would happen to his bully. Or why everyone would suspect him.

50. As a godmother to her best friend's child, she never thought she'd actually have to raise the kid. But a horrible accident makes her an adoptive mother. 

Whether you use one of these sad writing prompts as a story starter or a journal prompt doesn't matter much. What matters is you sharpen your story-writing skills with practice. Whether the story is novel-length or simply a short story, you'll still enjoy the practice that comes with executing a character-driven plot .

But what if you've written a sad book and you'd like to put it out in the world to make some money from it? If that's your goal, then it's good to have a plan. 

The most successful indie authors have a plan in place before publishing their books. And part of that plan means looking at the market to find readers who are interested in their books . There’s more than one way to go about this, but only one way that doesn’t take hours of mind-numbing research.

With Publisher Rocket , you can get data in seconds that would otherwise take you hours if you were to comb through Amazon yourself . The main PR tools allow you to:

• Learn what keywords Amazon customers use to search for books like yours — and how many searches a given keyword (or phrase) receives per month.
• See what's working for other authors in your genre with data on book price, monthly sales, ranking, and book cover styles.
• Find niche categories with the right amount of demand and competition for your books.
• Gather keywords to use in your Amazon Ad campaigns.

Check out Publisher Rocket here to learn more.

Jason Hamilton

When I’m not sipping tea with princesses or lightsaber dueling with little Jedi, I’m a book marketing nut. Having consulted multiple publishing companies and NYT best-selling authors, I created Kindlepreneur to help authors sell more books. I’ve even been called “The Kindlepreneur” by Amazon publicly, and I’m here to help you with your author journey.

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50 Sad Story Writing Prompts That Aren’t Boring

Writing prompts are becoming one of the greatest ways to initiate conversations and writing at different levels. The Love to Know defines a writing prompt as a statement that is accompanied by a question that one can use to design or craft a story. The questions are intended to guide the writer or the storyteller on particular areas they should pay attention to. A sad story writing prompts carry emotions of sorrowfulness or events that we would never wish to have again in our lives. Like all the other writing prompts, sad story writing prompts fall into different categories, as seen in our discussion.

Creative Sad Story Writing Prompts

These are writing prompts based on possibilities the writer has never experienced. They may contain questions or use eclipses to give the writer a chance to pick up a story from a given level. Some of them are as stated below.

50. That night, my brother went to bed early, Having his usual smile. However, in the morning, he never came to wake me up as he used to. When I went to his room, I found him crying and he told me that…

49. On that morning, you were expecting your father, who was serving abroad, to return. Instead, you realize that things are not good when you see the army captain knock at your family’s door. Upon opening the door, his tired face looked at your mother, and he delivered the sad news that…

48. Your class teacher has been sick and hospitalized for a long period. When you finally visited them, you met your friends who were crying, saying how good the deceased teacher was…

47. You have just arrived home and found your pet dead. What will you do?

46. There is that Stranger you always see at the church gate begging for food. What will you do if you realize that he is one of your lost relatives, of which you were unaware?

45. You have just visited your friend’s house, and you find that they have lost their sibling through a terrific road accident. What are the best three songs you would sing to them and why?

44. Your grandmother has been telling you that you have to visit her soon. The day you intend to travel, you have fallen sick. Please write a letter to him explaining the situation.

43. You have been diagnosed with cancer, and you have been told that you have three months to live. If allowed to choose the best thing you wish to do, what will that be?

42. You have been given a role where you must cry during a play. What event will you think of so that you shed tears in that part of the play?

41. You are tired of some students bullying others in the school. What are the appropriate actions that you think should be taken by your school to stop the vice?

Descriptive Sad Story Writing Prompts

After stating the statement, there is the use of phrases like “write about,” “describe,” or “tell your…”. Descriptive writing prompts target learners’ ability to talk about a real-life experience. The learners must give in detail how painful the event/ experience was, and they must do so vividly. Some of the best examples are as given below:

40. Last summer you went on a holiday camp. When having a play, one of your friends got injured, tell your class the appropriate steps you took.

39. You have just moved into a new school and like its diet. What are some of the most boring meals you wish they could do away with?

38. When packing clothes for hiking and camping classes, you forgot to pack your cold-weather clothes. Describe how bad the experience was.

37. You arrived home, and you found that there was a fire that had consumed everything you had. Describe one item which you felt so bad losing and why?

36. Families can be separated through legal means. When your parents decided to separate, you had to make a difficult choice on which you would live with them. Write about why you chose the one you have today.

35. Your family has just moved into a new location, and on the first Sunday, after coming from church, you find that someone broke into your parents’ house and stole several items. What are the factors which could have contributed to this?

34. There are friends your parents have warned against interacting with them. What are some of the reasons they have advanced against them?

33. Some of your classmates have racially discriminated against your new friend in your school. Describe the right measures you would take to ensure that the same does not happen in future.

32. You have consistently failed in a certain subject, and the reason is because of the bad attitude the subject teacher has towards you. Describe how you wish to solve the problem.

31. One of your parents was transferred to a foreign country last year, and since then, he has been coming only twice a year. He has just arrived and wants to know how things have been without them. Describe the situation.

Imaginative Sad Story Writing Prompts

Most times, imaginative writing prompts are confused with creative ones. However, there is still a thin line between them in that imaginative prompts may create situations that may not exist in real life and may be based on things we may never experience. On the other hand, creative prompts are based on real situations, and their probability is so high. You will likely see the phrase “imagine that” or “if it were true that. ” Here are some of the imaginative sad story-creating prompts.

30. Imagine that you are your school’s principal [all and the students who had gone on a trip got into an accident, and all of them have lost their lives. How would you break the story to the rest of the school?

29. Last night, you dreamt of floods in your area, and all the houses will be swept. Imagine that all your dreams must come to pass. How will you break the news to your parents?

28. Your parents have never entertained the idea that you choose a pet for yourself. Imagine that you have won a cash award and have decided to buy yourself a pet instead. How will you convince your parents why they should allow you to own a pet?

27. Imagine that you can stop people from destroying the environment. What are some of the laws you would pass to make this happen?

26. Imagine that all the stories you hear about an abandoned building in your village are true and, with your friends, must get into it to confirm the same.

25. Imagine that there is that one guy who keeps mocking your sister that she is a “fat lady with no shape.” What will you do to stop him?

24. There are places you wish to visit in your life. Imagine one of such places and write about them.

23. Imagine that you are the lead character in a leading movie cast that has just hit the airwaves and has fallen sick. Whom will you recommend that they take up your role and why?

22. You know that there is a new developer in your area demanding the evictions of the people surrounding his area. What are the best actions you can take to stop this?

21. You have been a teacher in your local school, and students have decided to go on strike. Imagine that you are the only teacher who is easily available; what will you do to stop them?

Poetic Sad Story Writing Prompts

Poetry is one of the greatest ways we can poetry our sad feelings. Poetic sad story writing prompts to guide the writer in focusing their energy on telling a painful emotional experience. Britannica summarizes poetry as the use of literature to evoke emotions through creative and imaginative writing skills. Some of them are as stated below.

20. Your current grade/ form is the worst year you have ever had in school. Write a poem to document all the bad incidents.

19. You have just witnessed the border police separate a parent from their kids. Write a poem to narrate the situation.

18. Your parents have been embroiled in marital fights daily. This has had a lot of negative impact on your school performance. Write a poem on the same.

17. You have entered a competition to write poems about the fallen army soldiers. Do a poem you shall present with your class at their memorial service.

16. There has been serious water pollution in your area. Do a poem about it.

15. Parents’ Day is just around the corner, and your teacher needs you to do a poem on bullying. In a group of five, write and pre-recite the poem.

14. You have been looking for your sister, who disappeared five years ago. Write a poem on the things you miss about her.

13. War has serious implications for people’s lives. Write a poem on why you do not like war.

12. Using a short poem, tell people how difficult it has been as an orphan.

11. You remember that time you were in a deep depression? Write a poem to your friends about how you felt.

Speculative Sad Story Writing Prompts

Speculative prompts find their place between imaginative and creative prompts. They carry the elements of both prompts only that they introduce the use of the phrase “what if” to initiate a possibility. Some of the best sad story writing prompts are as stated below.

10. Accidents have been the greatest cause of death in your nation. What would you do if such a tragedy occurred in your school?

9. You have not been aware that your friend is a gang member in the town. What would happen if the police conducted a search and found his murder weapon at your house?

8. What if you realized that your parents are drug dealers who have been responsible for the death of several youths in your area?

7. You have been planning your wedding for the last two years. What if another person shows up and claims that they have been having an affair with your partner for longer?

6. You have planned to visit the children with your wife, whom you work with, at a place far away from home. What if one of you is denied permission at the workplace?

5. You have been selected to represent your school at the regional competitions. What if you sustain an injury?

4. You have been hoping you will retire from your current company. What if it closed down?

3. You have always known that your birth parents are the ones you have been living with. What if you find documents showing that you were adopted?

2. Your class teacher has been your role model. What if you are watching the news in the evening and see them arrested for being a serial sex offender?

1. You have been performing well in your favorite subjects. What if you fail the last exam?

Why Writing Prompts?

Though we have analyzed different writing prompts and how they can be useful, it is good that we look at the general importance of writing prompts.

• They can be used as the platform for writers to create future writings on books or novels.
• They unclog a writer’s mind by guiding them on the specific areas they should write about. For example, after a long holiday, students may have a problem trying to get what they should write, but using writing prompts, they can quickly sort out these problems.
• They are important in enhancing learners’ creativity levels by giving them new ideas.
• Through them, writers learn how to initiate their stories.
• Where they are set in a school context, they are used by teachers to determine improvements in the writing skills of a given learner as they move from one level to another.

In Conclusion

The above sad story writing prompts have been designed with much respect for learners’ and writers’ abilities. Depending on the writer’s capability, they have a wide room from which they can choose. Teachers can use some of them and develop new prompts. For example, one can improve poetic prompts into imaginative or creative writing prompts. We hope that we have guided you to understand and get a list of 50 sad writing prompts that are not boring.

Janine is passionate about parenting. As a mother of 5 she knows a thing or two about how to raise children. She has a love for food, travel, and making sure her children stay on the right path.

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Essay Examples on a Sad Story

What makes a good sad story essay topics.

When it comes to writing a sad story essay, choosing the right topic is crucial. A good sad story essay topic should be thought-provoking, emotionally engaging, and unique. It should elicit empathy and evoke strong emotions in the reader. In this section, we will discuss What Makes a Good sad story essay topic and provide recommendations on how to brainstorm and choose the perfect topic.

To brainstorm and choose a sad story essay topic, it is important to consider your own experiences, emotions, and the impact you want to make on the reader. Reflect on personal experiences or observe the world around you to find inspiration. Consider the emotions you want to convey and the message you want to communicate through your essay. It is also important to think about the audience and what topics may resonate with them. A good sad story essay topic should be relatable and have a universal appeal.

When choosing a sad story essay topic, it is important to consider the depth and complexity of the subject matter. A good topic should allow for exploration of deep emotions and meaningful insights. It should also provide an opportunity for personal growth and self-reflection. Additionally, a good sad story essay topic should be original and unique. Avoid clichéd or overused topics and instead opt for something fresh and unexpected.

In summary, a good sad story essay topic should be emotionally engaging, thought-provoking, and unique. It should elicit empathy and evoke strong emotions in the reader. When brainstorming and choosing a topic, consider your own experiences, emotions, and the impact you want to make on the reader. Also, think about the depth and complexity of the subject matter, as well as the originality and uniqueness of the topic.

Best Sad Story Essay Topics

• The Unspoken Grief: Coping with the Loss of a Loved One
• The Heartbreak of Betrayal: A Story of Love and Deceit
• The Weight of Regret: Living with Unfulfilled Dreams
• The Loneliness of Longing: A Tale of Unrequited Love
• The Pain of Goodbye: Navigating the End of a Relationship
• The Burden of Guilt: Confronting Past Mistakes
• The Despair of Isolation: A Story of Solitude and Alienation
• The Anguish of Addiction: Struggling to Break Free
• The Agony of Rejection: Overcoming the Sting of Disapproval
• The Sorrow of Injustice: Fighting for Equality and Fairness
• The Torment of Illness: Coping with the Ravages of Disease
• The Melancholy of Memories: Navigating the Pain of the Past
• The Desolation of Displacement: A Story of Homelessness and Displacement
• The Heartache of Unfulfilled Ambition: Chasing Dreams That Never Materialize
• The Misery of Loss: Coping with the Absence of Something Precious
• The Desperation of Poverty: Struggling to Survive in Adversity
• The Agony of Betrayal: Coping with the Pain of Deception and Disloyalty
• The Grief of Unrequited Love: A Story of Longing and Heartbreak
• The Despair of Failure: Confronting the Demons of Defeat
• The Pain of Silence: Navigating the Emptiness of Unspoken Words

Sad Story essay topics Prompts

• Write a sad story about a character who loses everything they hold dear in a natural disaster.
• Craft a story about a person who discovers a long-hidden family secret that changes their life forever.
• Tell a tale of unrequited love and the emotional turmoil it brings to the protagonist.
• Create a story about a person who must come to terms with the consequences of a life-altering decision.
• Write a sad story about a character who struggles with the burden of an unfulfilled dream and the impact it has on their life.

Choosing a good sad story essay topic is essential to creating a compelling and emotionally engaging piece of writing. By considering the emotions you want to convey, the impact you want to make, and the depth and complexity of the subject matter, you can select a topic that will resonate with your audience and evoke strong emotions. Additionally, by opting for original and unique topics, you can create a sad story essay that stands out and leaves a lasting impression on the reader.

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125+ Sad Story Ideas: Prompts to Inspire Your Next Tearjerker

Struggling to find the perfect idea for your next tear-jerking story? Sometimes, you just need a quick prompt, and you’ll be off to the races!

So, I’ve put together these 125+ top sad story ideas and prompts to inspire your next short story , novel , or screenplay . Imagine the feeling of writing a heartbreaking story that moves your readers to their core.

That’s what you’ll find here – creative writing prompts that cover everything from tragic love stories to devastating personal losses. They’re perfect for both novice writers and pros looking for fresh inspiration. Say goodbye to writer’s block and hello to these sad writing prompts!

Ready to pen a truly unforgettable sad story? Let’s get started!

Sad Story Ideas to Get You Started

Let’s get right into the story prompts that you can use for your own sorrowful story!

Unrequited Love

Explore the emotional turmoil of fictional characters who fall deeply in love only to find that their feelings are not reciprocated. These sad story ideas explore the pain of longing, the struggle to move on, and the personal growth that comes from accepting a love that will never be returned.

The Lighthouse Keeper – Set in a remote lighthouse, the keeper falls for a sailor they rescue from a shipwreck. The sailor leaves once they’re well, promising to return but never does, leaving the keeper to watch for them in vain.

The Painter’s Muse – A painter becomes obsessed with a model who poses for his art. His paintings capture her beauty, but she only sees him as a friend, leaving him to paint his love into every stroke, never to be returned.

The Voice from the Radio – In a post-apocalyptic world, a DJ broadcasts hope and love. A listener falls deeply in love with the voice, only to find out the DJ is a program, an AI designed to keep morale up, with no real person behind it.

The Last Letter – A soldier during WWII writes letters to a woman back home, believing they’re in love. She, however, has been writing back out of guilt, as she’s married to another. The soldier only learns this from her last letter, which arrives just before his death.

The Mirror’s Reflection – A character discovers a mirror that shows them their perfect match. However, the reflection is of someone who exists in a parallel universe, unattainable in their reality.

The Unseen Guardian —A guardian angel watches over a human and falls in love with them. The rules of heaven dictate no contact or revelation of their existence, leaving the angel to love silently.

The Playwright’s Tragedy – A playwright writes a play where the characters are based on their unrequited love and their own alter ego. The play becomes a hit, but their love never sees the connection or the depth of the playwright’s feelings.

The Virtual Reality – In a future where VR is indistinguishable from reality, someone falls in love with an NPC (non-player character) in a game, only to be heartbroken when the server shuts down.

The Songwriter’s Lament – A musician writes all their hits about a love that never was. Their fame grows, but their heart remains with someone who never knew or cared for them beyond friendship.

The Ghost’s Love —A ghost haunts a house and falls in love with its new occupant. The ghost can interact with the world subtly but can never reveal its true nature or be with the person it loves.

Lost Friendship

Two childhood friends grow apart as they age, only realizing too late how much they mean to each other. This story could highlight the bittersweet nature of nostalgia and the regrets that come with time lost and words unspoken.

The Mix Tape – A story set in the ’90s where two friends bond over music, creating mix tapes for each other. One moves away, and the tapes become a symbol of their lost connection, only to be rediscovered years later.

The Treehouse Diaries – Two friends build a treehouse where they share all their secrets. Years later, one of them returns to find the treehouse dilapidated, realizing they’ve lost touch with their friend over petty arguments from their teenage years.

The Pen Pal Promise : Two friends, separated by their parents’ divorce, promise to keep in touch through letters. Life gets in the way, and they stop writing, only to find each other’s letters years later and realize how much they’ve missed each other.

The Summer Camp Secret – At summer camp, two friends share a secret that bonds them. Years later, one of them writes a book about it, not realizing the other friend would feel betrayed by the public revelation, leading to a rift.

The Band That Never Was – A group of friends form a band in high school, dreaming of fame. Life pulls them in different directions, and they disband. A chance encounter at a music festival years later stirs up old dreams and regrets.

The Forgotten Promise – On a childhood adventure, friends make a pact to meet at a specific place when they turn 30. One shows up, but the other has forgotten the promise.

The Digital Divide – Friends who were close online during the early days of the internet lose touch as social media and life take over. An old message board post leads to a digital reunion.

The Book Club – A group of friends start a book club in college. Over the years, they stop meeting, but one member starts a blog about their old discussions, inadvertently bringing them back together.

The Time Capsule – Friends bury a time capsule with promises to meet again when they open it. Life intervenes, and only one returns on the appointed day to open the capsule, leading to a quest to find the others.

The Secret Code – Friends who used to communicate through a secret code drift apart as they grow older. When one finds a letter written in the code, they are inspired to reconnect and revive their unique way of communicating.

Terminal Illness

These sad stories follow a character’s journey after being diagnosed with a terminal illness. The story could focus on their process of coming to terms with their fate, the impact on their relationships, and how they choose to spend their remaining time, exploring themes of mortality, love, and legacy.

The Gardener’s Last Bloom  – An old gardener with a terminal illness focuses on cultivating a garden that will bloom after their death, symbolizing life’s continuity.

The Last Concert  – A renowned musician diagnosed with a terminal illness decides to go on one final tour. The story follows their journey, the music they create, and the emotional farewells they share with fans and family.

The Unfinished Project  – An architect known for not completing his masterpiece receives a terminal diagnosis. His final months are spent in a race against time to finish his life’s work, reflecting on what truly matters.

The Family Album – A photographer, knowing their time is limited, decides to capture moments with their family in a way that tells a story of love, regret, and reconciliation, leaving behind a legacy of images.

The Last Class – A teacher with a terminal illness continues teaching, using their final semester to impart life lessons beyond the curriculum, impacting students in profound ways.

The Chef’s Final Dish —A chef known for culinary innovation creates a menu for a final dinner party, with each dish representing a significant moment in their life.

The Time Capsule – A terminally ill person buries a time capsule for their unborn grandchild, filling it with messages, toys, and predictions about the future, hoping to connect across time.

The Game Designer’s Last Game – A game designer, knowing their time is short, creates a video game that mirrors their life’s journey, with puzzles and levels representing their struggles and achievements.

The Playwright’s Epilogue – A playwright writes a play about their own life, casting friends and family in roles, using the stage to say goodbye and express unspoken truths.

The Artist’s Legacy – An artist, knowing they’re dying, starts painting a mural in their hometown, each section telling a story of their life, hoping to leave a lasting mark on the community.

These sad writing prompts center around a main character who experiences deep betrayal by someone they trust, a theme often explored within the romance genre. The story could center on their emotional journey through pain, anger, and the challenge of forgiveness or explore how betrayal shapes their future actions and relationships.

The Heir’s Betrayal – A young heir to a family business discovers their sibling has been embezzling funds, leading to a corporate coup. The story explores their struggle with loyalty, betrayal, and the fight to save the family’s legacy.

The Spy’s Double Life – A spy, deeply in love with their handler, learns that their handler has been selling secrets to the enemy. The narrative could discuss the spy’s mission to expose the truth while grappling with heartbreak.

The Mentor’s Fall – A young apprentice discovers their mentor, whom they idolize, has been manipulating them for personal gain. The story could explore the apprentice’s journey to independence and the reevaluation of their life’s work.

The Family Secret – A family member uncovers that their parents adopted them to cover up a scandal, leading to a quest for their true identity and the emotional turmoil of feeling betrayed by those they loved.

The Best Friend’s Betrayal – Two best friends start a tech company together, but one secretly sells their idea to a competitor, leading to a legal battle and a deep personal rift.

The Teacher’s Deception – A student finds out their favorite teacher has been falsifying grades to keep their job, forcing the student to confront the betrayal of an educational figure they trusted.

The Religious Betrayal – A devout follower discovers their spiritual leader is involved in a scandal, leading them to question their faith and the community’s response to the betrayal.

The Sibling’s Secret – A young adult sibling, always thought to be the black sheep, reveals they’ve been secretly supporting the family financially, only to be betrayed by another sibling who takes credit for their success.

The Hidden Past – A character finds out their spouse has a criminal past they’ve hidden, leading to a reevaluation of their relationship and the fear of what else might be concealed.

The Betrayal of Trust —A therapist, trusted with their patients’ deepest secrets, uses this information for personal gain, leading to a patient’s mission to expose them while dealing with their own betrayal.

Tragic Accident

An unexpected accident drastically changes a character’s life or the lives of their loved ones. These sad writing prompts will help you start writing the emotional aftermath of the accident on the main character of the story. This might include themes of grief, guilt, and the long road to recovery or acceptance.

The Last Ride – A teenager borrows their parent’s car for the first time and gets into an accident, leading to the death of their best friend, who was sitting in the passenger seat. The story explores their journey through guilt, legal battles, and the struggle to forgive themselves.

The Firefighter’s Choice  – A firefighter in the line of duty makes a split-second decision that saves many but costs a life. The aftermath deals with community backlash, personal guilt, and the quest for redemption.

The Wedding Day Crash – On the day of their wedding, the bride or groom is involved in a car accident, leading to severe injuries or worse. The story follows the other partner’s life as they navigate through grief, postponed dreams, and the support of their community.

The Pilot’s Mistake – A seasoned pilot makes an error during a routine flight, leading to a crash. The narrative follows the pilot’s life after the accident, dealing with survivor’s guilt, public scrutiny, and the fight to fly again.

The Family Outing – A family outing to the mountains turns disastrous when an avalanche hits. The story focuses on the survivors’ efforts to cope with loss and rebuild their lives. They also deal with the unspoken guilt of surviving.

The Festival Fire – During a town festival, a fireworks display goes wrong, causing a fire that changes many lives. The story could follow different characters affected by the tragedy, tying together their stories of loss, recovery, and community support.

The Boating Accident – A group of friends on a boat trip encounter a storm, leading to a capsizing. The narrative could explore the dynamics of survival, the guilt of those who made it, and the impact on their friendships.

The Construction Site – A worker at a construction site accidentally causes a scaffolding collapse, resulting in injuries and deaths. The story could include workplace safety, the legal consequences, and the worker’s journey to redemption.

The Ice Fishing Tragedy – A group of friends go ice fishing, but the ice gives way, leading to a rescue operation. The story could explore the aftermath for the survivors, the guilt of the one who suggested the trip, and the impact on their small town.

The Train Derailment – An engineer misses a signal, causing a train to derail. The narrative could focus on the investigation, the engineer’s life post-accident, and how the community rebuilds after such a disaster.

Unfulfilled Dreams and Lost Opportunity

A character spends their life chasing a dream that ultimately remains out of reach. These sad stories explore themes of ambition, regret, and the struggle to find meaning when life doesn’t go as planned.

The Astronaut’s Grounding —After years of training, a would-be astronaut is grounded due to a medical condition discovered just before their first mission. The story follows their life on Earth, dealing with the dream that slipped away.

The Olympic Dream —An athlete trains for the Olympics, only to suffer a career-ending injury just before qualifying. The story could explore their life post-injury, the struggle to redefine success, and finding new passions.

The Inventor’s Workshop – An inventor, obsessed with creating a device that could change the world, spends their life in a cluttered workshop, never quite perfecting their invention. Their story could be about the pursuit of innovation and the legacy they leave behind.

The Explorer’s Last Expedition – An explorer, known for their daring adventures, plans one final expedition to an uncharted territory. Health issues prevent the journey, and the story could focus on their life of storytelling and mentoring young explorers.

The Dream of Home – A character dreams of returning to their ancestral home, only to find it changed beyond recognition or lost to time. The story could be about the journey to find a new sense of home.

The Space Colony – A scientist dreams of living on a space colony, dedicating their life to the project. When the project is canceled, they must find meaning in the work they’ve done and the knowledge they’ve contributed to the world.

The Dream of Flight – A character, fascinated by flight, dreams of becoming a pilot but is grounded by fear of flying. They end up working at an airport, living vicariously through others’ journeys.

The Unpublished Scientist – A scientist makes groundbreaking discoveries but never gets recognition due to being overshadowed by more charismatic peers. Their story could be about the pursuit of knowledge for its own value.

The Unheard Songwriter – A songwriter writes beautiful music but lacks the confidence to perform or share it. Their songs are discovered posthumously, leading to a sad short story about legacy and the impact of art beyond the artist’s life.

The Unplayed Game – A game designer creates what they believe to be the perfect game, but it’s never released due to company politics. The story could explore their journey to find fulfillment in other aspects of life.

War and Separation

A family is torn apart by war, dealing with the pain of separation and the hope of reunion. This story could explore the personal cost of conflict, the enduring bond of family, and the resilience required to survive in the face of overwhelming odds.

The Last Letter – A soldier writes a final letter to their family before an upcoming battle, knowing it might be their last. The story follows the family’s journey as they cope with the uncertainty of their loved one’s fate.

The Refugee’s Journey – A family fleeing war must split up to increase their chances of survival. The narrative could focus on a child’s perspective, navigating the world alone, hoping to reunite with their family.

The Homefront Widow – A woman whose husband is missing in action must raise their children alone, dealing with the community’s pity, her own grief, and the hope of his return.

The Pen Pal Connection – Two siblings, separated by war, start writing to each other through a pen pal service, unaware of each other’s identity, sharing their experiences and hopes for a reunion.

The War Photographer’s Legacy – A war photographer leaves behind many undeveloped images. Their child, years later, develops the photos, piecing together their parent’s last days and the stories of those they captured.

The Smuggler’s Promise – A family hires a smuggler to get their youngest child out of a war-torn country. The story follows the smuggler’s journey, the child’s adaptation to a new life, and the family’s desperate attempts to follow.

The War Orphan – An orphan of war is adopted by a family in a different country. The story explores the struggle of the adopted child with identity, the search for their biological family, and the new bonds they form.

The Peacekeeper’s Dilemma – A peacekeeper in a war zone falls in love with a local, but their duty and the conflict keep them apart. The story could explore their clandestine meetings and the hope for a future together.

The Hidden Messages – A family uses coded messages in letters to communicate their location and plans to escape a war zone, with each letter holding clues to their next move.

The War Bride – A young woman marries a soldier from another country to escape the war, only to find herself in a new culture, dealing with isolation and the longing for her family.

Estranged Family

A character tries to reconnect with estranged family members, only to face rejection or unresolved conflicts. This idea can highlight the complexity of family dynamics, the pain of rejection, and the difficulty of seeking forgiveness or closure.

The Inheritance Quest – After inheriting a family estate, a character must reconnect with estranged siblings to settle the will, uncovering old wounds and new secrets.

The Christmas Truce – A family member attempts to organize a family reunion for Christmas, hoping to mend old rifts, but finds that time has deepened the estrangement.

The Letter from the Past – An old letter surfaces, revealing a family secret that estranged siblings must confront together, leading to a journey to understand their family’s history.

The Estranged Twins – Identical twins, separated by a childhood argument, meet again at a family funeral. Their story could explore the nature vs. nurture debate through their different lives.

The Family Business – A family business is failing, and the only one with the skills to save it is the estranged black sheep. Their return stirs up old resentments and new alliances.

The Wedding Invitation – An estranged family member sends a wedding invitation, prompting a reluctant reunion where old conflicts resurface amidst the celebration.

The Lost Parent – A child, now an adult, searches for a parent who left when they were young, only to find them living a life they never imagined, leading to a complex reconciliation.

The Grandchild’s Quest – A grandchild, curious about their family history, seeks out estranged grandparents, uncovering family lore and the reasons for the estrangement.

The Estranged Sibling’s Illness – News of a sibling’s terminal illness brings an estranged family member back, facing the reality of forgiveness and time running out.

The Estranged Aunt – An aunt, always seen as the black sheep, returns to help her niece through a crisis, revealing layers of family dynamics and the strength of unconventional bonds.

The Estranged Uncle’s Legacy – An uncle, estranged from the family, leaves behind a mysterious inheritance that requires his estranged niece or nephew to solve a puzzle or complete a task to claim it.

The Family Farm  – A family farm on the brink of being sold brings estranged siblings back to decide its fate. The story could explore their childhood memories, current lives, and the pull of the land.

The Family Secret Society – An estranged family member discovers they are part of a secret society within the family, leading to a quest to understand their lineage and the reasons for the secrecy.

The Estranged Grandparent’s Story – A grandparent, long estranged, writes a memoir that gets published posthumously. Their grandchild reads it, learning about their family’s history and the reasons for the estrangement.

The Estranged Brother’s Return  – A brother who left to join a cult or a radical group returns, causing a stir in the family. The story could explore the dynamics of belief, redemption, and forgiveness.

The Family’s Lost Child  – A child thought to have died in an accident is found alive but estranged from the family. Their return opens old wounds and strong emotions.

The Estranged Aunt’s Art – An aunt, an artist who left the family to pursue her career, dies, leaving her art collection to her estranged family. The art reveals her life’s journey and the reasons for her departure.

Natural Disaster

A community is devastated by a natural disaster, and the story focuses on individual tales of loss, resilience, and the effort to rebuild. These sad story ideas can help you write about human strength, the fragility of life, and the collective effort to overcome tragedy.

The Ashfall Chronicles – In a world where a supervolcano eruption has led to a nuclear winter, a family must navigate through the ash-covered landscape to reach a rumored safe zone, exploring themes of survival, loss, and the human will to find light in the darkness.

The Flooded City – Following a catastrophic flood, a city’s underwater district becomes a new frontier for those who couldn’t or wouldn’t leave. The story explores how this new aquatic community adapts, with a focus on a young engineer who designs floating homes.

Whispers of the Storm – A tornado devastates a rural community, but one family’s barn, filled with generations of family history, remains oddly untouched. The story revolves around the family’s decision to turn this barn into a community center for healing and remembrance.

The Last Light – An electromagnetic pulse from a solar flare plunges the world into darkness. The story centers on a lighthouse keeper who becomes a beacon of hope for those navigating the literal and metaphorical darkness.

The Green Aftermath – After a chemical spill causes a bizarre, accelerated growth of plants, a town must deal with both the beauty and the chaos of nature’s overgrowth. A botanist’s daughter takes it upon herself to understand and control this new ecosystem.

The Rift – A massive earthquake opens a geological rift, revealing ancient, untouched ecosystems. The story follows a group of scientists and locals who explore these new lands, facing dangers but also discovering new resources that could help rebuild their world.

The Sky’s Shadow – A meteor shower causes widespread fires, but one family finds an untouched valley. They decide to stay, creating a sanctuary for survivors and exploring themes of leadership, community building, and the psychological effects of isolation.

The Sandstorm’s Gift – In a desert town, a massive sandstorm uncovers ancient ruins with mysterious artifacts. The story follows a local historian who, amidst the chaos of rebuilding, becomes obsessed with these artifacts, discovering they hold secrets to ancient technologies or perhaps even a lost civilization’s wisdom.

The Tidal Shift – A series of tidal waves reshape the coastline, creating new islands. A group of adventurers set out to claim one, only to find it’s already inhabited by a secretive community with its own laws and customs, leading to conflicts over territory and rights.

The Fire’s Canvas – After a wildfire, an artist returns to his burnt-out studio to find the fire has transformed his work into something new and haunting. He starts a project to paint the town’s recovery, capturing the beauty in destruction and rebirth.

The Frostbound – An unexpected, prolonged frost hits a tropical island, freezing its lush forests. The story revolves around a botanist who uses this opportunity to study the effects on plant life, discovering a new species that could revolutionize agriculture.

The Hollow Earth – An earthquake opens up a vast sinkhole, revealing a network of caves. A group of explorers, including a geologist and a survivalist, venture inside, finding signs of life that suggest the earth’s crust might be more alive than anyone thought.

The Wind’s Whisper – A hurricane destroys a small town, but in its wake, a mysterious, soothing wind begins to blow, bringing peace to those who hear it. The story explores the psychological effects of this phenomenon, with a psychologist trying to understand its source.

The Sinking Lands – A region starts to sink due to geological shifts, and residents must decide whether to stay or leave. The story focuses on a family torn between their ancestral home and the safety of higher ground, exploring themes of legacy and survival.

The Light After the Quake – An earthquake in a city known for its nightlife causes widespread power outages. The story follows a nightclub owner who turns his club into a community hub, using emergency lights to signal hope and unity.

Aging and Loneliness

An elderly character reflects on their life as they deal with the loneliness that comes with age, including the loss of friends and loved ones. This compelling story can be a poignant exploration of memory, legacy, and the search for connection in the twilight years.

The Forgotten Inventor  – An old inventor whose inventions were ahead of their time now lives in obscurity. He starts documenting his inventions in a journal, hoping someone in the future might find them useful, thus leaving a mark on the world.

The Old Fisherman’s Net – A fisherman, too old to go out to sea, spends his days mending nets and telling stories to the children of the village. Through his tales, he relives his adventures and finds a sense of community and purpose.

The Pianist’s Echo  – An elderly pianist whose fingers can no longer play listens to recordings of his past concerts. Each note brings back memories of his youth, and he starts writing music again, not for performance but as a personal journey through his life.

The Astronomer’s Last Star – An aging astronomer, now blind, can no longer see the stars he loved. He starts a podcast where he shares his knowledge, his stories, and his love for the cosmos, connecting with listeners who share his passion.

The Sculptor’s Final Form – A sculptor, whose hands are now too arthritic to sculpt, begins to create with his voice, dictating designs to a young apprentice. This mentorship becomes his way of passing on his art and easing his loneliness.

The Last Library – An elderly librarian, the last in a town where books have been replaced by digital media, spends her days in the dusty, forgotten library. She starts writing letters to her past self, reflecting on her life’s choices and the books that shaped her, finding companionship in her own history.

The Unsung Song – An aging musician, once famous, now forgotten, lives in a small apartment. He starts recording his old songs, not for fame, but to leave a piece of himself behind, hoping someone, somewhere, might still listen.

The Widow’s Garden – A widow, after losing her husband, turns her garden into a living memorial. Each plant represents a memory or a person she’s lost, and through gardening, she finds a way to talk to them, easing her loneliness.

The Last Dance – An elderly woman, once a ballroom dancer, teaches dance to children in her community center. Through teaching, she relives her youth, finding joy in the dance steps and the laughter of the young.

The Forgotten Letters – An old man discovers a box of letters he wrote but never sent to his lost love. He decides to send them now, not expecting a reply, but as a way to connect with his past self and the love he once had.

The Storyteller’s Last Tale – A grandfather, known for his stories, feels his memory fading. He decides to record his tales, not just for his grandchildren, but to leave a piece of himself in the world.

The Chef’s Last Recipe – A retired chef, now alone, cooks for himself but imagines he’s preparing meals for all the people he’s loved. Each dish is a story, a memory, and through cooking, he finds a way to keep them alive.

Adoption and Identity

A character struggles with their identity after discovering they were adopted, leading to a search for their biological family. This narrative could explore themes of belonging, the complexity of family, and the quest for self-understanding.

The DNA Match – After taking a DNA test for fun, a character discovers they have a sibling they never knew about. The story follows their journey to meet this sibling, uncovering family secrets and redefining their sense of self and family.

The Echoes of a Name – A character finds out they were named after a great-grandparent they never knew. This revelation sparks a quest to understand why, leading to a discovery of a family history rich with stories of resilience, loss, and identity.

The Hidden Letters – Cleaning out their adoptive parents’ attic, a character finds letters from their birth mother. The letters, written but never sent, become a guide to understanding their past, leading to a poignant reunion or closure.

The Forgotten Festival – A character, always drawn to a particular cultural festival, learns they were adopted from a family deeply involved in its traditions. Their journey to reconnect with this festival becomes a journey of self-discovery and cultural identity.

The Mirror’s Reflection – An artist, adopted as a child, starts painting scenes from dreams that eerily resemble places they’ve never been. The quest to understand these visions leads them to their birth family, revealing a hidden artistic lineage and a legacy they must decide to embrace or reject.

The Music of Identity – A musician, known for their unique style, discovers they were adopted and that their biological family has a musical legacy. The story explores how this revelation influences their music, their identity, and their relationship with their adoptive family.

The Lost Language – A linguist, adopted from another country, starts to dream in a language they’ve never learned. Their quest to understand this language leads them back to their birth country, where they must reconcile their adopted identity with their cultural roots.

The Heritage Quest —An adoptee who feels disconnected from their adoptive family’s traditions starts a blog to trace their biological roots. The blog becomes a journey of self-discovery, connecting the adoptee with a community of adoptees and ultimately, their birth family.

The Inheritance – Upon the death of their adoptive parents, a character inherits a mysterious estate. Exploring the estate, they find clues to their adoption and a hidden family history that challenges their understanding of wealth, family, and legacy.

The Identity Thief —After being scammed by someone claiming to be a relative, an adoptee starts a journey to protect their identity, only to find themselves on a path to discovering their true heritage, exploring themes of trust and belonging.

Unresolved Grief

A character is unable to move on after the loss of a loved one, struggling with unresolved feelings or guilt. This story could explore the nature of grief, its impact on relationships and daily life, and the path to eventual healing.

The Unfinished Symphony – A composer, unable to complete a symphony he was writing with his late partner, finds that each note brings back memories. His struggle to finish the piece becomes a way to honor and let go of the past.

The Last Photo – A photographer, haunted by the last picture he took of his son before a tragic accident, starts a project to capture moments of joy, trying to find peace through his lens.

The Unspoken Promise – A woman, after her brother’s death, finds a list of promises they made to each other as children. She embarks on fulfilling these promises, each one a step towards healing.

The Last Recipe  – A chef whose mentor and father figure passed away can’t cook without feeling his presence. His journey to create a new dish becomes a way to honor his mentor’s legacy and find his own path.

The Keeper of the Garden – An old man, grieving the loss of his wife, tends to a garden she loved. Each plant he nurtures becomes a conversation with her, a way to keep her memory alive.

The Unread Book – A woman discovers a book her deceased mother had started but never finished. Reading it becomes a journey through her mother’s thoughts, helping her understand and grieve.

The Last Message – A person receives a final, undelivered text from their deceased partner. The story explores their journey to understand the message, leading to revelations about their relationship and the healing process.

The Unfinished Project – A widow continues her late husband’s art project, which was meant to be a surprise for her. The story examines how this project becomes both a source of pain and a path to healing.

The Echoes of the Past – A man, unable to move on from his sister’s death, starts hearing her voice in his old recordings. His journey to understand these “messages” leads him to confront unresolved issues from their past.

The Letter Never Sent – A woman finds a letter her deceased brother wrote to her but never mailed. The letter’s contents, revealing his struggles, push her to address her own guilt and grief.

The Unspoken Words —A man haunted by the last argument he had with his father starts a blog where he writes about the conversations they never had, finding catharsis in these virtual dialogues.

The Last Dance —After losing her dance partner and lover, a dancer can’t step onto the dance floor without feeling his presence. Her story is about reclaiming her passion while dealing with the ghost of her past.

The Painter’s Canvas – An artist, grieving the loss of his muse, starts painting scenes from their life together. Each painting is a step towards understanding his grief, turning pain into art.

The Shadow at the Table – At every family dinner, a widower sets a place for his deceased wife. His children, worried, try to intervene, leading to a story about grief, memory, and letting go.

The Last Journey – A woman, unable to move on from her daughter’s death, takes a trip they had planned together. The journey becomes a metaphorical and literal path to acceptance and new beginnings.

Unwanted Goodbye

A character is forced to say goodbye to a loved one who is moving far away, highlighting the emotional challenges of a long-distance relationship. The story could explore the pain of separation, the uncertainty of change, and how people cope with loss in relationships.

The Last Summer – Two best friends spend their final summer together before one moves overseas for a prestigious scholarship. The story captures their adventures, the unspoken fears, and the promise to stay connected.

The Departure Gate : Two young lovers must part ways at an airport due to visa issues. They plan to reunite, but the story explores the emotional toll of indefinite separation.

The Family Tree – A family is uprooted when the breadwinner gets a job offer they can’t refuse in another country. The story follows the youngest child’s struggle with leaving their grandparents behind.

The Promise of Return – A soldier, leaving for deployment, promises his partner they’ll return. The story explores the waiting, the doubt, and the impact of this promise on their relationship.

The Moving Van – A child watches as their family’s belongings are loaded onto a moving van, moving away from their lifelong friends. The narrative explores their feelings of abandonment and the new beginning.

The Sunset Goodbye – A couple watches their last sunset together on a beach before one must leave for a new job. The story explores how they plan to keep their love alive across continents.

The Unsent Letters – A person writes letters to their best friend who moved away – but never sends them, fearing they’ll sound too sad. The story unfolds through these letters, revealing their coping mechanism.

The Echo of the Train – A character stands on a platform, watching the train carrying their sibling away to a new life. The story explores the silence left behind and the echo of their last conversation.

The Goodbye Party – A group of friends throw a party for one of their own who’s moving. The story captures the laughter, tears, and the unspoken fears about the future of their friendship.

The Last Game – Two friends who met through their love for a sport play their final game together before one moves. The story uses the game as a metaphor for their relationship’s end.

Lost Opportunity

A character misses an important opportunity that could have changed their life, leading to a journey filled with what-ifs and eventual acceptance. These sad story ideas could explore themes of regret and personal growth.

The Missed Reunion : A group of friends plan a high school reunion, but one key member misses it due to a misunderstanding. The story explores how this absence affects their relationships and individual lives.

The Unused Ticket : A lottery ticket, forgotten in a drawer, turns out to be a winner. The story follows the life of the person who bought it, imagining how winning might have changed everything.

The Unspoken Apology : A man, estranged from his family, misses the chance to reconcile before his father’s death. The narrative unfolds through his journey back to his hometown, dealing with his guilt and missed reconciliation.

The Abandoned Startup : Two friends start a tech company, but one backs out at the last minute due to fear of failure. The story follows their separate paths, with one becoming successful with the company. The other always wonders what could have been if they had stayed together.

The Missed Performance : A street performer, too nervous to perform in front of a record producer, spends years regretting the moment. His life story is told through the songs he never sang.

The Unclaimed Inheritance : A woman discovers she was due an inheritance from a distant relative she never knew, but the claim period has passed.

The Missed Signal : In a wartime setting, a soldier misses a crucial signal that could have saved his unit. The story explores his life post-war, haunted by the what-ifs, and his journey towards forgiveness.

The Missed Flight : A young man misses a flight to an interview that could have been his big break. Instead, he spends the day in the airport, meeting various travelers whose stories make him question his own life’s direction.

The Scholarship : A high school student, due to a family emergency, misses the deadline for a scholarship that would have allowed him to escape his small town. The narrative follows his life, always haunted by what might have been.

The Unseen Talent : An artist too shy to submit her work misses out on a prestigious art show. Years later, her work is discovered posthumously, leading to a reflection on her life’s missed recognition.

The Forgotten Promise : Two friends make a pact to travel the world together, but life pulls them apart. One friend, on his deathbed, remembers the promise, leading to a poignant exploration of their divergent paths.

The Unplayed Game : A chess prodigy, pressured by his family to pursue a more “stable” career, never competes in a world championship. His life story is told through the chess games he imagined playing, each move reflecting his life’s choices.

The Silent Audition : A dancer, too nervous to perform at an important audition, spends her life teaching dance, always haunted by the music that could have been her soundtrack to fame.

The Unpublished Manuscript : An author, fearing rejection, never submits his first novel. Decades later, his family finds the manuscript, leading to a narrative exploring his life through the lens of his unshared stories.

The Missed Connection : In a bustling city, two souls meant for each other miss their chance at a subway station. The story follows their parallel lives, with occasional near-misses, until a final encounter.

The Unspoken Love : A woman, too afraid of rejection, never confesses her love to her best friend. The story unfolds through her diary entries, each one a step closer to acceptance of her own choices.

Writing Advice for a Good Sad Story

1. write deep characters.

To get readers to care about your story, you’ve got to create relatable characters . Give your characters full personalities with clear motivations, fears, and desires. Their back stories should be rich enough that readers can understand why they feel and act the way they do.

When readers connect with your characters on an emotional level, the impact of the sadness becomes much bigger.

2. Use Emotional Triggers

Use scenarios that naturally evoke strong emotions, like the pain of loss, the sting of betrayal, or the emptiness of unfulfilled dreams. These emotional triggers tap into universal human experiences so readers can empathize with your characters.

3. Build Up Gradually

Sadness shouldn’t be sudden or forced. Instead, let it build throughout the story. Start with subtle hints of melancholy or discomfort and gradually increase the stakes.

This gradual build-up allows readers to become more invested in the character’s journey, so when the full weight of the tragedy is revealed, it’s even more heartbreaking.

4. Show, Don’t Tell

Instead of telling your readers a character is sad or heartbroken, show it through their actions, dialogue, and internal thoughts. Describe the slump in their shoulders, the way they avoid eye contact, or how their voice cracks when they speak.

This way, readers can experience the sad feelings alongside the characters.

5. Symbolism and Metaphors

Symbols and metaphors can add depth to your story by adding layers of meaning. For example, a wilting flower can symbolize a character’s fading hope, or a storm can represent inner turmoil.

These literary devices can convey complex emotions in a subtle but powerful way.

6. Leave Room for Hope

Even in the saddest of stories, you need to leave room for hope or the possibility of redemption. This doesn’t mean your characters have to have a happy ending, but rather that something positive or meaningful can come from their suffering.

A glimmer of hope stops the story from being too bleak and gives readers something to hold onto.

Embrace the Challenge

Writing a sad story offers a unique opportunity to explore the full spectrum of human emotion. With these sad prompts at your fingertips, you’re equipped to create literary fiction that is both deeply poignant and moving.

Experience the thrill of bringing your characters to life and sharing their joys, sorrows, and everything in between with the world. Take that first step today, and if you ever need guidance, my story coaching is just a click away, ready to help you shape your next unforgettable sad story.

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 Sad Story Ideas That Will Leave Your Readers Shattered

What is it about a sad story idea that’s so appealing?

I mean, it seems weird, right—the things readers want us to put them through? And it might be even weirder that we fulfill their requests so eagerly.

Maybe it’s because a book is a safe space. Sad stories give us an opportunity to explore difficult topics and our own capacity for sorrow without enduring real-life trauma.

Or maybe it’s that, like a sad song, a devastating story is cathartic. If we could use a good cry, a heart-wrenching book will get the job done.

Or maybe—and this is my favorite explanation—it’s the connective experience of seeing our own familiar pain reflected in an unfamiliar life. What reveals our common humanity more than our shared knowledge of loss, rejection, heartache, and isolation? 

And what’s more reassuring than our ability to hurt because someone else—even a fictional someone else—is hurting?

Of course, in order to pull any of this off, you’ve got to know how to use your sad story idea well . You need to know how to write a tearjerker without leaning on clichés or accidentally exploiting real-life trauma.

Fortunately, you’re about to learn exactly that. I’ll also share 50 sad story ideas you can use to write a novel your readers will never get over.

Let’s get started.

How to Evoke Emotion

The key to evoking emotion is to make your story feel real for your readers. Help them forget they’re reading fiction.

Now, a carefully crafted plot and fully developed characters will go a long way towards accomplishing this goal. But you’ll need a few nuanced moves to really drive those big feelings home. Moves like this:

Create Context

A little context helps your reader not only connect with your character’s sadness but also understand the depth and complexity of their sadness.

It’s one thing for your protagonist to lose their beloved dog. It’s another for them to lose the dog that sat loyally at their feet for every AA meeting when they were at the lowest point in their life.

Creating context can be as simple as adding a couple sentences or as revealing a full backstory through flashbacks . Either way, help your reader understand what this harrowing situation actually means for the character. 

Keep It Real

Our hungry little author brains devour all the tricks and maneuvers other writers use to spark emotions. Then, sometimes, we accidentally regurgitate those strategies onto the page (gross), using them as a sort of shortcut to accomplish what those other writers did.

That’s how we get clichés —characters sobbing into pillows and punching walls and saying “Don’t you die on me!” 

To avoid this, key into your own emotions and life experiences. 

How does loss feel in your body? What mannerisms do you observe when your romantic partner is angry? How would you describe the sounds and smells of a hospital if you’d never read another author’s description?

By all means, notice when another author’s story puts the sting in your tear ducts. But ask yourself why you feel so connected to the story. Is it the characterization? The sensory details ? A vivid metaphor?

Take the lesson and make it your own.

Show, Don’t Tell

If you’re not already familiar with this popular piece of writing advice, here’s the gist:

Great writing shows the reader what’s happening rather than explaining the scene.

For example, this is showing:

“So many times my eyes in the mirror were vacant or bruised with sorrow. Tonight they are clear and kohl lined, seemingly darkened by mystery and secrets, a cat-eyed stare shining with anticipation.” – Before I Let Go

This is telling:

“I’m used to seeing myself look sad in the mirror. Tonight my make-up looks good and I feel more alive.” –Me, ruining the line from Before I Let Go

Help the reader experience the moment for themselves. If you could use some help building your “show, don’t tell” muscles, we’ve got worksheets for that exact purpose.

At some point in your writerly life, you’re going to have to write about a trauma you have not experienced yourself. When you do, a strong imagination and deep sense of empathy can get you pretty far. But it won’t be enough.

Take some time to research the experience you’re writing about. Find articles about the psychological effects. Listen to podcasts in which specialists or survivors discuss that particular kind of trauma. Read the memoirs of people who’ve been through similar struggles.

(Little tip: we’ve got a couple articles to get you started on respectfully writing depressed and abused characters .)

It may also be a good idea to hire a sensitivity reader who can review your next-to-final draft and make sure you’re representing that experience respectfully.

This extra effort can help you…

Stay Out of the Exploitation Zone

There are two big things you want to look out for when you brainstorm sad story ideas.

First, notice if you have a character who’s defined exclusively by the sad thing that happens to them. 

For example, do you have an abused character who’s got nothing else going on other than being victimized? Or do they also experience joy and hope on occasion? Do they look for ways to find some sense of control?

As tragic as a character’s situation may genuinely be, painting them with one big trauma brush flattens them. They become sadness caricatures and the reader becomes super aware that the author’s trying to make them cry.

Second, be extremely careful about sad story ideas that are basically just “the protagonist is from a marginalized community” (assuming it’s not your community). 

For one thing, there’s a risk of portraying someone else’s entire identity as inherently sad. In no universe is that a good thing. 

And for another, marginalized voices are only beginning to get a shot at the spotlight. They’ve endured generations of watching writers from outside their community tell their stories with very little effort to get it right. 

I personally believe that when it comes to the identity-specific challenges of a marginalized demographic, it’s best to let the people who’ve lived it tell their own stories. 

50 Sad Story Ideas

Now that you’ve had a quick lesson on devastating readers both effectively and ethically, let’s get those wheels turning.

Here are 50 sad story ideas spanning five different topics.

Purpose and Identity

• After a crushing loss, a talented artist struggles to regain their creative spark.
• A serious injury forces a young athlete to end the career they’ve built their entire identity around.
• When a grandparent is diagnosed with dementia, they invite their adult grandchild on a cross-country roadtrip, hoping to connect on a deeper level before their condition progresses.
• A struggling musician plans a final performance before giving up on their dream.
• A military chaplain experiences a crisis of faith after witnessing atrocities on the war front.
• While working with a therapist to process a friend’s death by suicide, an emotionally avoidant person confronts their own mental health struggles.
• Unhoused for the first time, a middle-aged person navigates the challenges of life without a home.
• After spending the first part of their life as “the only one of their kind,” an adolescent “extraterrestrial” embarks on a mission to find their planet of origin, only to learn they were made in a lab. 
• A teenager is forced to rethink everything when they realize the “religion” they were raised in is actually a cult.
• A person finds themselves feeling trapped and unhappy in their “idyllic” life, realizing for the first time that they worked hard to build a life that would spark everyone’s envy but their own. 

• The accidental loss of a cherished family heirloom sparks a long-overdue family feud and unearths old grievances.
• A couple considers divorce when they reach an impasse about how to handle their fertility struggles.
• A young adult goes on a mission to find their twin who went missing as a child. Along the way, they’re forced to confront their resentment over a childhood that was always about the sibling who wasn’t there.
• Parents fight to get their kidnapped and adopted child back from the adoptive parents. (Or the reverse perspective: parents learn that their adopted child was kidnapped—not orphaned—and the birth parents want the child back.)
• A peasant child adopted into a royal family feels trapped between worlds.
• Two siblings who had very different experiences in the foster care system struggle to find a connection as adults.
• A stray dog goes on a journey to find a loving home.
• A single parent struggles to rescue their adult child from a cult.
• Conflict arises when an economic crisis threatens the survival of a 90-year-old family business.
• After stumbling on a family secret they were never supposed to know, three cousins carry the burden of deciding whether or not to reveal information that could destroy their family.

Relationships

• An elderly couple struggles to stay connected after their different medical needs force them to live in separate care facilities.
• Lifelong friends find themselves on opposite ends of the political divide, both sucked into social media rage culture and ultimately unable to find their way back to one another.
• Two teenagers struggling with anxiety and isolation during the pandemic discover a deeper connection in their virtual study group.
• After spending a decade together, a once-in-a-lifetime job opportunity forces a couple to navigate a long-distance relationship. New opportunities and experiences cause them to question whether their relationship allows them to be their true selves.
• Young lovers are torn apart when one becomes the accused in a literal witch trial. 
• After fighting with their neighbor/friend, a person leaks a rumor about the neighbor that has more devastating consequences than they expected.
• A young, orphaned wizard discovers their adored mentor has been luring them towards danger this whole time.
• Now in danger of losing their house, a newly unemployed person discovers their best friend is to blame for their firing.
• A divorced couple reunite after two years of not speaking to put their cat to sleep together. They spend the remainder of the day hashing out what went wrong in their marriage.
• An engaged couple begins to question if love really is enough as they endure the painful process of planning a wedding that doesn’t involve their disapproving parents.

• A soldier returns home to a changed world.
• After accidentally starting a destructive wildfire, a former #vanlife influencer struggles to forgive themselves even as they try to make amends with the communities they’ve hurt.
• A family is separated while fleeing war and must find their way back to one another.
• Questioning the accuracy of their own recollections, the witness to a violent crime grapples with the power of their testimony to destroy the defendant’s life. 
• Having recently witnessed a mass shooting, a student struggles to find a sense of purpose or hope as they begin their first year of college.
• A general makes a seemingly minor error that results in a devastating attack on their utopian kingdom.
• A teacher must keep their students safe after an earthquake leaves them trapped in their classroom.
• When severe drought causes a lake to shrink, an unidentified body surfaces. A detective works tirelessly to determine who the person is and provide closure for the family.
• After being seriously injured in an avalanche, a skier must come to terms with the loss of their Olympic dreams.
• A child tries to find their way home after being swept away in a flash flood.  

• Still grappling with their own mortality, a heart transplant recipient decides to honor their donor by completing the donor’s unfinished bucket list.
• A hospice nurse is at a loss when the time comes to guide her own father through his final days.
• As their single parent battles a terminal illness, a young teenager has no choice but to serve as primary caretaker.
• After losing their mentor in a diving accident, a deep-sea diver confronts their new fear of the ocean by taking on a dangerous cave diving expedition.
• A widow(er) learns their late spouse committed a heartbreaking betrayal. Now they must grieve not only their partner but also the person they believed their partner was.
• After the death of the family dog, a child seeks the answer to whether there’s an afterlife for pets.
• Unable to move on, a widow(er)/scientist keeps traveling back in time to relive their best days with their spouse. Meanwhile, their current life is crumbling due to their neglect.
• Now able to see and understand their loved ones on a deeper level, the ghost of a recently deceased person feels regret for the way they handled their relationships in life.
• A person with a terminal illness seeks to make amends with an estranged relative before it’s too late.
• A teenager grapples with survivor guilt after a close friend dies saving their life.

Craft Your Tearjerker With Dabble

Hopefully a few of those ideas spoke to you or inspired some of your own. And now that the sad story ideas are coming in hot, you’re gonna need a place to store and organize your brilliant brainstorm .

Allow me to suggest Dabble . From Story Notes and the famous Plot Grid to co-authoring and commenting, Dabble has everything you need to stay organized through the entire writing process.

Plus, you can access Dabble on any device, online or off, and never worry about losing a word of genius thanks to autosave. 

Want to try it for yourself? Snag a free 14-day trial by clicking this link .

Now get there and utterly destroy your readers. In a good way.

Abi Wurdeman is the author of Cross-Section of a Human Heart: A Memoir of Early Adulthood, as well as the novella, Holiday Gifts for Insufferable People. She also writes for film and television with her brother and writing partner, Phil Wurdeman. On occasion, Abi pretends to be a poet. One of her poems is (legally) stamped into a sidewalk in Santa Clarita, California. When she’s not writing, Abi is most likely hiking, reading, or texting her mother pictures of her houseplants to ask why they look like that.

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Whether writing is your hobby or career, you'll need to deal with the financial side of authorship sooner or later. It's not as fun as coming up with love triangles or magical worlds, but this Deep Dive tells you all you need to know to get a handle on your author finances.

Themes add an important element to our stories, giving them meaning and adding extra depth. We'll cover some common book themes and how to write stories with them in mind.

It isn't easy to write a good villain, at least not without the right ingredients. Let Dabble give you the perfect recipe for a villain!

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BEST SAD WRITING PROMPTS

Join (probably?) the world's largest writing contest. Flex those creative muscles with weekly writing prompts.

Showing 53 prompts reset

Reap what you sow, write about a character who keeps ending up in the same place., write a story that either starts or ends with someone (or something) saying, “please, don’t do it.”, write about an apartment building being demolished., write a story involving a noise complaint., write about two neighbors who cannot stand each other., start your story with two people sitting in a movie theater, waiting for the lights to come back on., write about someone who has been nominated for a prestigious award, but isn’t sure they deserve it., write a story that spans a month during which everything changes., write about someone who grew up in a bunker, and lockdown life is all they’ve ever known., write about someone who discovers the only family member they have left has just betrayed them., write about someone who decides it’s time to cut ties with a family member., write about two people who just can’t seem to understand each other, no matter how clearly they think they’re speaking., write about a character who’s so afraid of making the wrong choice that their indecision ruins the very thing they were hoping to keep safe., write about someone who’s so obsessed with a goal that it leads to the destruction of their closest relationship., write about someone telling their family they won’t be continuing the long-standing family business., start your story with the line, “this was supposed to be the happiest day of their lives,” and end it with, “by then it was too late.”, write a story that feels lonely, despite being set in a packed city., write a story inspired by this quote from ally condie: "growing apart doesn't change the fact that for a long time we grew side by side; our roots will always be tangled. i'm glad for that.", write a story about someone who loses their cat., write about one character’s fundamental misunderstanding of another character’s job., win $250 in our short story competition 🏆.

We'll send you 5 prompts each week. Respond with your short story and you could win $250!

Contest #268 LIVE

Enter our weekly contest.

This week's theme: Reap What You Sow

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• Death And Dying

8 Popular Essays About Death, Grief & the Afterlife

Updated 05/4/2022

Published 07/19/2021

Joe Oliveto, BA in English

Contributing writer

Cake values integrity and transparency. We follow a strict editorial process to provide you with the best content possible. We also may earn commission from purchases made through affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more in our affiliate disclosure .

Death is a strange topic for many reasons, one of which is the simple fact that different people can have vastly different opinions about discussing it.

Jump ahead to these sections: 

Essays or articles about the death of a loved one, essays or articles about dealing with grief, essays or articles about the afterlife or near-death experiences.

Some fear death so greatly they don’t want to talk about it at all. However, because death is a universal human experience, there are also those who believe firmly in addressing it directly. This may be more common now than ever before due to the rise of the death positive movement and mindset.

You might believe there’s something to be gained from talking and learning about death. If so, reading essays about death, grief, and even near-death experiences can potentially help you begin addressing your own death anxiety. This list of essays and articles is a good place to start. The essays here cover losing a loved one, dealing with grief, near-death experiences, and even what someone goes through when they know they’re dying.

Losing a close loved one is never an easy experience. However, these essays on the topic can help someone find some meaning or peace in their grief.

1. ‘I’m Sorry I Didn’t Respond to Your Email, My Husband Coughed to Death Two Years Ago’ by Rachel Ward

Rachel Ward’s essay about coping with the death of her husband isn’t like many essays about death. It’s very informal, packed with sarcastic humor, and uses an FAQ format. However, it earns a spot on this list due to the powerful way it describes the process of slowly finding joy in life again after losing a close loved one.

Ward’s experience is also interesting because in the years after her husband’s death, many new people came into her life unaware that she was a widow. Thus, she often had to tell these new people a story that’s painful but unavoidable. This is a common aspect of losing a loved one that not many discussions address.

2. ‘Everything I know about a good death I learned from my cat’ by Elizabeth Lopatto

Not all great essays about death need to be about human deaths! In this essay, author Elizabeth Lopatto explains how watching her beloved cat slowly die of leukemia and coordinating with her vet throughout the process helped her better understand what a “good death” looks like.

For instance, she explains how her vet provided a degree of treatment but never gave her false hope (for instance, by claiming her cat was going to beat her illness). They also worked together to make sure her cat was as comfortable as possible during the last stages of her life instead of prolonging her suffering with unnecessary treatments.

Lopatto compares this to the experiences of many people near death. Sometimes they struggle with knowing how to accept death because well-meaning doctors have given them the impression that more treatments may prolong or even save their lives, when the likelihood of them being effective is slimmer than patients may realize.

Instead, Lopatto argues that it’s important for loved ones and doctors to have honest and open conversations about death when someone’s passing is likely near. This can make it easier to prioritize their final wishes instead of filling their last days with hospital visits, uncomfortable treatments, and limited opportunities to enjoy themselves.

3. ‘The terrorist inside my husband’s brain’ by Susan Schneider Williams

This article, which Susan Schneider Williams wrote after the death of her husband Robin Willians, covers many of the topics that numerous essays about the death of a loved one cover, such as coping with life when you no longer have support from someone who offered so much of it. 

However, it discusses living with someone coping with a difficult illness that you don’t fully understand, as well. The article also explains that the best way to honor loved ones who pass away after a long struggle is to work towards better understanding the illnesses that affected them. 

4. ‘Before I Go’ by Paul Kalanithi

“Before I Go” is a unique essay in that it’s about the death of a loved one, written by the dying loved one. Its author, Paul Kalanithi, writes about how a terminal cancer diagnosis has changed the meaning of time for him.

Kalanithi describes believing he will die when his daughter is so young that she will likely never have any memories of him. As such, each new day brings mixed feelings. On the one hand, each day gives him a new opportunity to see his daughter grow, which brings him joy. On the other hand, he must struggle with knowing that every new day brings him closer to the day when he’ll have to leave her life.

Coping with grief can be immensely challenging. That said, as the stories in these essays illustrate, it is possible to manage grief in a positive and optimistic way.

5. Untitled by Sheryl Sandberg

This piece by Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook’s current CEO, isn’t a traditional essay or article. It’s actually a long Facebook post. However, many find it’s one of the best essays about death and grief anyone has published in recent years.

She posted it on the last day of sheloshim for her husband, a period of 30 days involving intense mourning in Judaism. In the post, Sandberg describes in very honest terms how much she learned from those 30 days of mourning, admitting that she sometimes still experiences hopelessness, but has resolved to move forward in life productively and with dignity.

She explains how she wanted her life to be “Option A,” the one she had planned with her husband. However, because that’s no longer an option, she’s decided the best way to honor her husband’s memory is to do her absolute best with “Option B.”

This metaphor actually became the title of her next book. Option B , which Sandberg co-authored with Adam Grant, a psychologist at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, is already one of the most beloved books about death , grief, and being resilient in the face of major life changes. It may strongly appeal to anyone who also appreciates essays about death as well.

6. ‘My Own Life’ by Oliver Sacks

Grief doesn’t merely involve grieving those we’ve lost. It can take the form of the grief someone feels when they know they’re going to die.

Renowned physician and author Oliver Sacks learned he had terminal cancer in 2015. In this essay, he openly admits that he fears his death. However, he also describes how knowing he is going to die soon provides a sense of clarity about what matters most. Instead of wallowing in his grief and fear, he writes about planning to make the very most of the limited time he still has.

Belief in (or at least hope for) an afterlife has been common throughout humanity for decades. Additionally, some people who have been clinically dead report actually having gone to the afterlife and experiencing it themselves.

Whether you want the comfort that comes from learning that the afterlife may indeed exist, or you simply find the topic of near-death experiences interesting, these are a couple of short articles worth checking out.

7. ‘My Experience in a Coma’ by Eben Alexander

“My Experience in a Coma” is a shortened version of the narrative Dr. Eben Alexander shared in his book, Proof of Heaven . Alexander’s near-death experience is unique, as he’s a medical doctor who believes that his experience is (as the name of his book suggests) proof that an afterlife exists. He explains how at the time he had this experience, he was clinically braindead, and therefore should not have been able to consciously experience anything.

Alexander describes the afterlife in much the same way many others who’ve had near-death experiences describe it. He describes starting out in an “unresponsive realm” before a spinning white light that brought with it a musical melody transported him to a valley of abundant plant life, crystal pools, and angelic choirs. He states he continued to move from one realm to another, each realm higher than the last, before reaching the realm where the infinite love of God (which he says is not the “god” of any particular religion) overwhelmed him.

8. “One Man's Tale of Dying—And Then Waking Up” by Paul Perry

The author of this essay recounts what he considers to be one of the strongest near-death experience stories he’s heard out of the many he’s researched and written about over the years. The story involves Dr. Rajiv Parti, who claims his near-death experience changed his views on life dramatically.

Parti was highly materialistic before his near-death experience. During it, he claims to have been given a new perspective, realizing that life is about more than what his wealth can purchase. He returned from the experience with a permanently changed outlook.

This is common among those who claim to have had near-death experiences. Often, these experiences leave them kinder, more understanding, more spiritual, and less materialistic.

This short article is a basic introduction to Parti’s story. He describes it himself in greater detail in the book Dying to Wake Up , which he co-wrote with Paul Perry, the author of the article.

Essays About Death: Discussing a Difficult Topic

It’s completely natural and understandable to have reservations about discussing death. However, because death is unavoidable, talking about it and reading essays and books about death instead of avoiding the topic altogether is something that benefits many people. Sometimes, the only way to cope with something frightening is to address it.

Categories:

• Coping With Grief

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