Not Your Usual Post Apocalypse Story Ideas (2024)

Looking for unusual post apocalypse writing prompts and story ideas? You’ve come to the right place!

Read on for ideas like a post apocalyptic world where the survivors are human-plant hybrids, or a post apocalyptic world where intangible assets such as memories, fears and dreams have replaced currences, and more!

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Post Apocalypse Story Ideas & Writing Prompts
- Story ideas
- Picture prompts
The Post Apocalypse Trope
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Post Apocalypse Story Ideas & Writing Prompts

Join us as we journey through the remnants of civilization, uncover hidden truths, and discover the indomitable spirit that emerges in the wake of destruction with these out-of-the-box ideas!

Please note that the genders in these prompts and story ideas are just placeholders and do not mean to enforce any hurtful stereotypes nor offend anyone.

Story ideas

The post-apocalypse trope provides a blank canvas for storytelling, allowing for a wide range of interpretations and settings. From virus-infested wastelands to alien invasion, here are some unique ideas like you’ve never seen before.

When Plants Take Over the World

A global food crisis incites the development of genetically modified crops. But when they mutate rapidly, they become highly aggressive and toxic, leading to famine and societal collapse.
The Rise of Lab-Grown Meat

Lab-grown meat becomes a revolutionary solution to food scarcity. But when they unexpectedly gains sentience and intelligence, it rapidly takes over of the world.

(Originally appeared in my post Not Your Usual Utopian Story Ideas (2023))
Revolt Against Robots

Robots have replaced most human labor and leave the majority of human population impoverished and desperate. When a group of humans revolt, their uprising inadvertently triggers an irreversible apocalyptic event.
Emotional Currency

In a post apocalyptic world, the concept of currency has shifted. Instead of tangible possessions, the inhabitants now trade in intangible assets, such as memories, dreams, fears, and personal experiences, which can be extracted and stored.

(Originally appeared in my post The Most Mesmerizing Fantasy World Ideas (2023))
Into the Darkness

A large-scale electromagnetic disturbance renders all electronic devices and communication systems useless, plunging the world into darkness and cutting off all means of modern communication.
The Fabled Oasis

In a post-apocalyptic world, a cowgirl navigates the barren wasteland with a ragtag group of animal companions, searching for a fabled oasis said to hold the key to saving humanity.

(Originally appeared in my post 25+ Cowboy Writin Prompts to Spark Your Creativity (2023))
The Second Evolution

In a fascinating turn of events, the Earth embarks on yet another cycle of evolution, where animals continue evolving and eventually giving rise to new human races who slowly displaces the existing human population.
Cellphone Virus

An alien race engineers a virus that drains humans of their energy every time they indulge in their cellphones, ultimately triggering apocalypse in which 90% of earth’s population is eradicated.

(Originally appeared in my post Imaginative Alien Story Ideas (2023))
The Hybrid

In a post apocalyptic world, the survivors are those who have forged an extraordinary symbiotic relationship with a mysterious vegetation, which over time, resulting in the emergence of bizarre human-plant hybrids.
‘Til Death

In a post-apocalyptic world where traditional societal structures have collapsed, a woman turns to a mail-order bride agency for a better future for herself and her younger siblings.

(Originally appeared in my post Not Your Usual Arranged Marriage Prompts (2023))
Human Farms

When zombie apocalypse happens, the zombies are nothing like what they depicted in TVs and comics. They’re intelligent, and they’ve built clusters of human farms for ease of feeding.

(Originally appeared in my post Unique Zombie Ideas.)
Femina Ascendant

Following a freaky apocalypse, the birth rate of female babies are declining. Women become scarce, but instead becoming precious commodities they rise to the top of the command chain. Societies are becoming matriarchal, with women taking up many partners and making most of the societal decisions.

(Originally appeared in my post Reverse Harem Story Ideas (2023))
Mirror Meltdown

A family bickers so much that it triggers the start of an apocalypse in a parallel world. And now their dopplegangers from the parallel world have come to visit them in order to reconcile them, and hopefully, reverse or prevent the apocalypse in their world.

(Originally appeared in my post Riveting family Drama Story Ideas (2023))
Digital Fallout

A sophisticated cyber attack has caused a sudden and catastrophic failure of the global banking system, resulting in the collapse of economies worldwide.

Picture prompts

Here are some post apocalypse picture writing prompts, because a picture speaks a thousand words! What kind of post apocalypse prompt or story jumps out at you when looking at the picture prompts below?

Consider:

A widespread outbreak of a mysterious neurological disease that causes uncontrollable laughter, leading to societal collapse as people become unable to perform basic tasks and maintain order.

(Please click on the image for more information about it.)
Consider:

Meant to research the key to eternal life, an experiment has instead triggered a rapid and uncontrollable aging process that spread quickly to all living beings.

(Please click on the image for more information about it.)

The Post Apocalypse Trope

Now that we’ve seen some interesting ideas and writing prompts, let’s take a closer look at the trope!

The post-apocalypse trope is a popular storytelling device that explores the aftermath of a catastrophic event that has devastated society. It presents a world in ruins, where survivors must navigate a harsh and unforgiving landscape while grappling with the loss of infrastructure, resources, and often, their fellow human beings.

What sets the post-apocalypse trope apart is its focus on the resilience and resourcefulness of humanity. It delves into the survival instincts such as characters adapting to the new reality, forming alliances, and confronting moral dilemmas.

Themes of hope, redemption, and the human spirit are often explored as individuals and communities strive to rebuild and find meaning in a world forever changed.