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50 Zombie Writing Prompts to scary up stories

November 21, 2023 by Richard Leave a Comment

Undead Inspiration: 50 Zombie Writing Prompts to Scare Up Stories

Few horror creations have embedded themselves into popular culture quite like zombies – the ravenous, shambling undead that relentlessly crave brains. Zombies have shuffled their way into movies, TV shows, books, video games, and endless creative works, taking over imaginations worldwide.

Part of what makes zombies so compelling is that they can represent different themes and tap into deep societal fears – of contagions, mob mentality, the loss of our humanity and free will. They emerge from the unknown – maybe science experiments gone wrong, occult practices summoning the dead, or biblical plagues.

Zombies stories throw characters into high-stakes survival situations where ingenuity, courage, and luck are constantly tested in the struggle against the undead threat. The scenarios force difficult choices, community-building, heroism but also sacrifices in an unforgiving apocalypse landscape. There seems to be no end to creative angles and mashups the undead can shamble into.

So if you’re looking to write a zombie story, I’ve created a list of 50 zombie apocalypse writing prompts covering a wide range terrifying and thought-provoking scenarios. Let the zombie story ideas and survival tales come ripping straight out of your brain and onto the page! Click below to check out the prompts and let me know which ones capture your imagination or inspire a tale you’d read! Also check out other writing prompts on our site .

50 Zombie Writing Prompts to Scare Up Stories

50 zombie writing prompts:

  • After a zombie virus outbreak, a group of survivors barricade themselves in a mall and try to fight off hordes of the undead to survive.
  • A researcher desperately tries to develop a cure as the zombie infection spreads exponentially, threatening to overwhelm the city within days.
  • A man wakes from a coma to find himself seemingly alone in a hospital that shows signs of being hastily evacuated – then discovers it’s swarming with zombies.
  • Soldiers battle swarms of intelligent zombies that retain the military training and lethal skills they had when human.
  • A teenager faces her zombified parents not knowing if she can pull the trigger to stop them.
  • Rival groups of survivors clash over scarce resources after establishing strongholds, struggling to rebuild society amidst the relentless undead threat.
  • A widow traverses the zombie wasteland with her infected husband in tow desperately searching for a sanctuary rumored to be developing a cure.
  • A jilted groom rampages through his wedding after a zombie virus outbreak turns guests and family undead.
  • A blind man discovers his spare senses make him uniquely attuned to detect and hunt zombies roaming the city ruins.
  • After zombies overrun earth’s last sanctuary bunker, scientists desperately try escaping into space but realize too late one astronaut was bitten.
  • Distraught survivors gather for counseling struggling with losing everything to the apocalypse only to learn the therapist was bitten days ago.
  • Fearing zombies breaking into their doomsday bunker, a prepared survivalist insists a newcomer slave quarantine outside for weeks, exposing divisions within the shelter.
  • A guilt-ridden scientist tries to rescue his family from the zombie army created inadvertently after his experiments were sabotaged.
  • After zombies topple the government, resistance fighters discover the undead’s hive mind intelligence rapidly evolving without conscience or restraint.
  • A man arrested for his wife’s suspicious death wakes imprisoned as the zombie outbreak begins, battling undead while handcuffed as he tries to prove his innocence.
  • Contestants half way through an isolated reality TV series shoot emerge from wilderness exile to discover an apocalypse overran civilization in their absence.
  • A lone survivor is ambushed and bitten by zombies but discovers he’s immune, fueling him with determination to reach the rumored refuge developing a cure.
  • Bold survivors drag Racing cars out the abandoned speedway to battle undead gladiator style, buying precious distraction time for others harvesting supplies from once overwhelmed towns.
  • An Emergency Room doctor watches helplessly as zombie bite victims rapidly turn while hospital chaos erupts into an ordeal separating him from his trapped family.
  • A widowed grandmother protects her bedridden husband’s reanimated zombie unable to accept losing him, keeping him secretly isolated and bound within their home.
  • Solitary scouts maintaining vital radio relays across vast distances risk the horror of being stranded far from shelter after zombie swarms ambush communication towers.
  • Fragile alliances between rival apocalypse cults fracture, plunging survivors into sectarian warfare as fanatics try purifying decimated populations they each consider damned.
  • From remote farm country untouched since the outbreak began, groups risk everything following faint emergency radio transmissions toward promised airlifts off the mainland.
  • After satellites confirm the zombie infection went global, an ISS astronaut helplessly watches the Earth burn below then investigates strange garbled transmissions about secret survival stations established off planet.
  • A Special Forces team infiltrates a zombie hive cresting the wreckage of an overrun asylum to capture specimens and fallen intelligence critical for developing defenses and weaponry able to overwhelm exponentially growing undead numbers.
  • An ordinary high school inexplicably becomes both haven and hell for lost students and staff fleeing zombies while trapped without communication amidst deteriorating siege conditions and crumbling campus defenses.
  • A lone wolf special ops veteran works to extricate their apocalypse hardened but traumatized child squad from capture by an opportunistic warlord building zombie army conscripts from brain washed orphaned survivors.
  • Fueled by revenge after loved ones are infected, resistance fighters brutally combat collaborating cults worshiping the undead, sparking an unholy civil war amongst remaining battered human holdouts.
  • Preserved cryogenically waiting decades for a cure, an infected couple awaken in a seemingly deserted complex, banding with others to restore power and access the abandoned world outside to verify if humanity survived.
  • Bereaved survivors overwhelmed with trauma and loss after relentless horrors find therapy adopting orphaned refugee children, forcing meaning in mentoring the next generation.
  • A serial killer languishing on death row becomes an unexpected asset able to exploit understanding of evil during initial zombie outbreaks allowing government agencies critical insight when negotiating fragile truces.
  • Facing dwindling odds of evacuating the zombie wasted red zone, a weary medic wrestles with should they stay attempting to stabilize the quarantine line or flee carrying vital research before the city is aimlessly nuked.
  • Beneath a remote monastery converted into an apocalypse bunker, descending catacombs reveal mysterious glowing relics worshipped by forgotten gods and dark cults suggesting zombies were prophesied punishments upon a sinful world awaiting this foretold cleansing.
  • Fanatical preppers vindicated establishing isolated redoubts amidst global zombie outbreaks warily debate rescues as infamous raiders and infiltration risks until dwindling supplies ultimately force confronting harsh survival realities alone.
  • After civilization collapses when initial ineffective directives worsen outbreaks exponentially, rogue generals launch unauthorized nuclear strikes against overrun strategic zones, fracturing command continuity and communications vital for global response efforts.
  • A jaded CDC doctor races to perfect an experimental vaccine derived from an anomalous immune survivor’s blood as zombies close in on her surviving team’s clandestine mobile laboratory’s location, threatening to end essential research.
  • Desperate enclaves transmit repeating emergency broadcasts, each falling silent one by one as relentless zombies overwhelm isolated havens and scattered listeners debate seeking opportunities for sanctuary or making final stands.
  • Facing terminal cancer treatment delays after zombies devastate infrastructure, a father struggles crossing the wasteland seeking scattered rumors of rogue biochemists concocting bootleg pharmaceuticals from abandoned labs to self administer life saving makeshift chemotherapy.
  • Grieving survivors adopt orphaned children rescued from devastated areas, discovering youth traumatized witnessing zombie slaying prove unexpectedly better adjusted forming new post apocalyptic families from the remnants of broken ones.
  • Trapped aboard an international space station watching helplessly as governments collapse worldwide, diverse astronauts of rival nations uncomfortably cooperate awaiting plans for recovery missions or permanent exile drifting above an overrun home world.
  • Underground coal miners surprised unscathed emerging after exhausting emergency supplies for shelter discover the zombie infection strangely bypasses populations isolated from open air contamination suggesting fungus or chemtrails as the vector.
  • Vigilante auxiliary units raid overwhelmed infection zones striving to rescue critical personnel in danger being overrun before vital knowledge, expertise and infrastructure guarding civilization’s last sanctuaries is lost amidst the chaos.
  • Driven by survivor’s guilt after loved ones perish early in outbreaks, a remorseful scientist works ruthlessly perfecting weaponized contagions to genocidally eradicate zombie threats despite moral outcry over his drastic bio attacks from others.
  • Responding to ashes from funeral pyres darkening skies, opportunistic apocalyptic cults herald zombies as harbingers of end times, flourishing conversions from lost souls seeking answers even as rational enclaves actively work to restore sanity amidst turmoil.
  • Surviving celebrities band together as influential social media influencers using fame advantageously uniting scattered fans into communities for protection, their star power strange currency in a ruined landscape.
  • An intrepid documentarian follows an eccentric billionaire covertly funding illegal experiments ritualistically sacrificing zombie specimens attempting to reanimate the dead seeking immortality, eternal youth or resurrecting loved ones.
  • A clumsy oaf bumbling through outbreaks realizes his inexplicable invulnerability is a latent mutant superpower allowing him to heroically save others when boldly walking through hordes unscathed.
  • An intrepid journalist investigates hidden Pentagon bioweapons experiments as the initial source of unprecedented ‘wildfire mutations’ rapidly accelerating zombie virus transmission and resilience worldwide.
  • Under siege and without communications for months, isolated survivors in an apocalyptic red zone emerge changed by their ordeals, having turned feral forming violent tribal communities centered around defending scarce local resources from outsiders.
  • An obsessive scientist frenetically works in secret to weaponize the zombie virus aiming to perfect infectious control mechanisms for deploying swarms as unquestioningly loyal minions trainable seeking brains through precise directives encoded into post hypnotic triggers.

I hope these 50 Zombie Writing prompts will get you writing. If you want to share your work or comments or concerns please leave them in the comments below.

Related Posts:

56 Captivating Frame Story Writing Prompts 

About Richard

Richard Everywriter (pen name) has worked for literary magazines and literary websites for the last 25 years. He holds degrees in Writing, Journalism, Technology and Education. Richard has headed many writing workshops and courses, and he has taught writing and literature for the last 20 years.  

In writing and publishing he has worked with independent, small, medium and large publishers for years connecting publishers to authors. He has also worked as a journalist and editor in both magazine, newspaper and trade publications as well as in the medical publishing industry.   Follow him on Twitter, and check out our Submissions page .

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How to Write Apocalyptic Stories

Last Updated: January 16, 2024 Approved

This article was co-authored by Gerald Posner . Gerald Posner is an Author & Journalist based in Miami, Florida. With over 35 years of experience, he specializes in investigative journalism, nonfiction books, and editorials. He holds a law degree from UC College of the Law, San Francisco, and a BA in Political Science from the University of California-Berkeley. He’s the author of thirteen books, including several New York Times bestsellers, the winner of the Florida Book Award for General Nonfiction, and has been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in History. He was also shortlisted for the Best Business Book of 2020 by the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 91% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 116,388 times.

The end of the world, and no matter what, is always interesting. So here's a guide of how to write an apocalyptic story, making it as good as possible!

Step 1 Decide what kind of apocalyptic story it is:

Community Q&A

Community Answer

  • Make sure each character has a specific goal. In other words, no character should be standing around doing nothing. Even the smallest character wants something. Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 0
  • Ensure the idea is solid. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
  • Read survival guides on what type of apocalypse you chose so you can make more realistic surviving of your character. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0

how to start an essay about zombie

  • If you are going to write one, be scared for what might happen to your own characters. If even you are scared about what might happen to them, then the readers especially will! Thanks Helpful 37 Not Helpful 4
  • Avoid your characters being too cool about things. A large part of what makes apocalyptic writing so fun to read is the psychological effects that something like an apocalypse would have on a human mind. Thanks Helpful 7 Not Helpful 1
  • If you are going to make it sci-fi, try to avoid making it defy the laws of physics. Thanks Helpful 6 Not Helpful 2

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  • ↑ https://writingtipsoasis.com/guide-to-writing-a-post-apocalyptic-novel/#1_Understanding_the_genre_novel
  • ↑ https://www.deviantart.com/josephblakeparker/art/7-Tips-for-Writing-Post-Apocalyptic-Fiction-537430106
  • ↑ https://refiction.com/articles/deconstructing-apocalyptic-fiction
  • ↑ https://writingtipsoasis.com/guide-to-writing-a-post-apocalyptic-novel/#4_Creating_an_impact_where_the_story_begins_and_ends

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How to Write a Zombie Story: One Dance at a Time

By: Author Paul Jenkins

Posted on April 21, 2023

Categories Writing

So, you want to write a zombie story? Let’s face it; we’re all infected with the hunger for undead adventures. From classic zombie films like Night of the Living Dead to the modern-day mayhem of The Walking Dead , zombies have been making our hearts race (and sometimes stop) for decades. As you venture into the deliciously gory world of zombie lore, let us guide you through writing a story that keeps your reader (and zombies) hungry for more.

First, we must get our brains in gear and consider what makes a great zombie tale. If there’s one thing we’ve learned from shambling corpses, it’s persistence. Your story needs characters readers can root for, a dynamic plot, and just the right amount of gore. Above all, your zombies should be more than mindless, flesh-eating fiends – they should represent something more profound, like humanity’s deepest fears, societal decay, or even a really bad case of the Mondays.

Now that you’re just as excited as we are let’s grab our survival gear, barricade the doors, and jump right into crafting the perfect zombie story. From drawing inspiration and choosing the right narrative voice to embrace your inner Romero and delving into the darkest corners of your imagination, we’ve got your back every step of the way. Remember, when writing about the undead, the only limit is your brain – we mean imagination.

Zombie Origin

In crafting a compelling zombie story, one of our first considerations should be the origin – how did this whole mess begin? Let’s explore some classic and humorous options.

Classic Causes

When it comes to traditional zombie origins, there are a few tried-and-true avenues we can consider:

  • Virus: A deadly virus, natural or lab-engineered, can turn victims into mindless, shambling horrors.
  • Supernatural: Dark forces, such as curses or demonic possessions, provide a chilling rationale for the undead uprising. ‘
  • Science gone wrong: Sometimes, experiments in reanimation or biological enhancements go horribly awry, unleashing an unstoppable horde of zombies.

Humorous Twists

For those of us looking to lighten the mood and take our readers on a humorous, tongue-in-cheek adventure, consider these unconventional zombie origins:

  • Alien Cuisine: Extraterrestrial food critics visit Earth, accidentally turning humanity into zombie ingredients for their reality cooking show.
  • Fashion Catastrophe: A new craze in cosmetic techniques unlocks an unforeseen side effect – customers end up craving brains instead of beauty.
  • Zombified Pets: After a pet food company releases a new line of products, pets start transforming into zombies, taking their unsuspecting owners along for the ride.

With such a diverse range of possible origins at our disposal, we’re equipped to create an engaging and entertaining zombie story that will capture the imagination of our readers, regardless of our chosen narrative tone.

Character Development

When writing a zombie story, how we develop our characters is of utmost importance. Remember, even the most exciting zombie apocalypse can become a drag without intriguing characters. So let’s dive into some essential aspects of building unique survivors and zombies.

Survivors with Style

First and foremost, let’s talk about our living, breathing protagonists. Sure, the basic survival skills are essential, but their style sets them apart from your run-of-the-mill survivor. Think about their dress, manner of speech, and quirky habits.

For example, consider a survivor who sports a brightly colored Hawaiian shirt amid a zombie-infested urban landscape, cracking jokes that lighten the mood even as hordes of the undead close in. The point is to create memorable and relatable characters, making it easier for readers to invest in their journey.

  • Consider unique backstories for your characters.
  • Give them specific goals, desires, and fears.
  • Add humorous or emotional elements to make them more relatable.

Zombies with Personality

Let’s not forget the other half of our cast: the undead. Sure, they may be brain-eating monsters, but that doesn’t mean they can’t have a little personality. Sprinkle some variety into your zombie horde by giving them distinguishing traits that hint at who they were before becoming a mere morsel on a survivor’s menu.

Maybe there’s a zombie who can’t seem to shake off its former love for dance, shuffling around in a bizarre but oddly fascinating routine. Or perhaps a zombified security guard persists in its old duties, chasing after survivors who dare to trespass on its territory.

Zombie TypeUnique Trait
Zombie ChefWearing a bloodstained apron and wielding a large cleaver
Zombie MimeSilent and stealthy, miming actions while hunting survivors

By giving our zombies some personality, we add a layer of dark humor to the story, making it far more enjoyable for our readers to sink their teeth into. After all, who wouldn’t get a chuckle out of seeing an undead accountant stumble around, clinging to a ragged briefcase?

Plot Points

As all good zombie stories go, our approach needs a little twist to keep readers engaged. Let’s break down the plot points for our zombified masterpiece.

Laughing Through The Apocalypse

Inspired by classics like “Shaun of the Dead” and “Zombieland,” our zombie story will combine wit and sarcasm amidst the chaos of an undead apocalypse . It’s important to balance horror with comic relief. Our characters need to crack jokes, engage in ridiculous situations, and maintain their sense of humor even when faced with certain doom.

To make this happen, let’s work on the following:

  • Quick-witted dialogue with genuinely funny lines that don’t feel forced
  • Embarrassing or comically awkward situations, like a character slipping and falling in a puddle (of ketchup, not blood)
  • Physical comedy, like a zombie getting hit with a frying pan or a character’s pants falling unexpectedly

Comic Conflicts

Next, we’ll create comic conflicts to set our story apart from the standard brain-eating narratives. We can develop a unique cast of characters who, even in the apocalypse, can’t help but bicker and tease one another.

Here are some ideas for comical character conflicts:

  • The protagonists meet other survivors with polar opposite personalities, resulting in hilarious clashes.
  • Despite zombies threatening to devour them at any moment, our characters engage in petty arguments over something trivial, like who gets the last piece of chocolate.
  • Miscommunications spark chaos, causing the truly ridiculous – like a character-driven game of telephone that turns an ordinary message into something outlandish and obscene.

With these plot points and comic situations in place, our zombie story will be an undead delight, giving readers a hilariously fresh take on the apocalypse.

Setting and World Building

When crafting our zombie story, we cannot stress the importance of setting and world-building enough. A properly thought-out and fleshed-out world will not only enhance the story’s terrifying, thrilling, and humorous atmosphere but also allow our colorful cast of characters to interact with the environment in wildly unpredictable ways. Let us delve into a couple of subsections:

Hilarious Havens

Starting with “Hilarious Havens,” these are the safe zones where our survivors take refuge and inject a bit of humor into an otherwise grim tale of survival. In these havens, it’s important to consider what remains intact in the old world that can be used for laugh-inducing relief.

For example:

  • An overturned ice cream truck – why not serve up a sweet treat amid the chaos?
  • A comedy club with a functioning sound system – perfect for impromptu stand-up sessions to break the tension.
  • An antique store – characters can find outrageous outfits to wear to confuse the zombie hordes.

Wacky Wastelands

Now let us move on to “Wacky Wastelands.” In this desolate environment, we can still find those little pockets of absurdity that remind us, even in the darkest times, that life is indeed still mad. Wacky wastelands can include:

  • A long-abandoned amusement park – imagine navigating a zombie-infested roller coaster or battling the undead inside a haunted house attraction.
  • A petting zoo turned into a ragtag fortress – who wouldn’t want to ride into battle on a sturdy llama?
  • An office environment – we’ve all experienced the drudgery of cubicle life, but throw in some zombies, and a stapler can become a hilarious weapon in a pinch.

Keeping these two approaches in mind during our setting and world-building will elevate our zombie story from a simple tale of survival to an unforgettable piece of apocalyptic hilarity. Don’t be afraid to experiment and let loose – after all; it’s the end of the world!

Writing Tips and Techniques

We’re here to convince you that writing a zombie story can be as amusing as it is spine-chilling. So get ready to dive into our tips to strike the perfect balance between horror and humor.

Balancing Humor and Horror

Let’s start by finding the right laugh-and-scream mix in our story. We’ll need to decide how serious (or unserious) we want our zombie apocalypse to be.

We must maintain a sense of danger to ensure our comedic moments don’t undermine the horror. We can use humor to lighten the mood but should remind our audience that zombies never stop being a threat.

When creating our characters, it’s essential to have a variety of personalities that will naturally bring out the humor. For example, mixing a tough-guy action hero with a lovable fool can produce great banter and survival moments when the zombie horde descends.

Using Puns and Satire

Puns and satire are our weapons for keeping our story entertaining. In the bleak world of a zombie apocalypse, a good pun can work wonders to break the tension, while satire can help us expose the absurdities that might accompany the end of the world. Imagine our hero saying, “ I must be losing my mind because these zombies seem deadly serious .”

  • When it comes to using puns, we’ll want to sprinkle them throughout our story—but not overdo it. Timing is key. We don’t want our characters cracking jokes left and right while they’re in mortal danger. Remember, less is more.
  • As for satire, it’s an excellent opportunity to poke fun at the conventions of the genre while still keeping our story engaging. We can satirize everything from governments’ responses to the outbreak to the ridiculous ways people try to survive.

There you have it—a few of our favorite techniques to pen a memorable and entertaining zombie story. Follow these tips and unleash your creativity while crafting the perfect blend of humor and horror. Good luck!

Writing a zombie story is a blast. We’ve covered everything from fleshing out your undead antagonists to crafting nail-biting conflicts that keep readers on the edge. All that’s left is to grab our pens, fire up our laptops, and let the creative juices flow!

We’re a fan of experimentation, so don’t be afraid to break the mold occasionally. Who says zombies must always be brain-munching monsters? Perhaps our reanimated friends could form a well-choreographed dance troupe or become dedicated environmentalists, cleaning up the toxic waste that created them in the first place.

Furthermore, use this opportunity to play with various story structures and themes. But remember, balance is key. Since we’re aiming for a light-hearted, whimsical tone, employ humor thoughtfully. After all, we wouldn’t want our zombie saga to become a detergent commercial, would we?

Lastly, enjoy the process. Embrace the absurdity and revel in the creative chaos. It’s our story, after all! Let’s take the world by storm together, one zombie dance routine at a time.

All Write Alright

Zombie Writing Prompts and Story Ideas

how to start an essay about zombie

Zombies are a beloved trope in literature and media, and it doesn’t seem like the craze will be dying off any time soon. However, in such a diverse genre, it’s not always easy to come up with ideas on your own. Zombies are only part of the equation, after all. 

If you know you want to write about zombies, but you need a little direction, here are some short prompts, settings, and story ideas to help you get started. 

Short Zombie Writing Prompts for Warming Up

Zombies are a lot of fun to write about, but if you don’t want to write an entire novel, try just writing a single scene instead. It can exist as part of a larger story, but you don’t have to write everything that precedes it. Give readers enough context to understand the characters and the situation, but get creative with how you reveal information over time. That way, you can practice writing about different zombie-related situations without the pressure of making it a complete narrative. Besides, if you end up liking what you write, you can always flesh out (haha) the story later and add more to it!

Here’s a list of zombie writing prompts you can use to warm up, practice, or just have a little fun:

  • A desperate character decides to loot a shady gas station they normally wouldn’t approach. Most places have already been ransacked, and this is the only option left. 
  • Your characters have a bit of downtime repairing and cleaning up their current shelter. What sorts of things do they talk about? How long have they been there?
  • Two characters are driving through a zombie wasteland when their car breaks down. One has to repair the car while the other has to defend against the oncoming horde. 
  • One character in a group of survivors is secretly infected. As their health slowly declines, they get more desperate to blame their symptoms on other things (ie: the colder weather, allergies). At what point do the other survivors realize the truth?
  • A pair of siblings reunite for the first time in forever—in the middle of a zombie siege. Is this tearful reunion shortly followed by tragedy, or do the two successfully escape with their lives?
  • Zombies are little more than a vague rumor, and you aren’t sure what to believe. The media has a habit of exaggerating the truth, after all… But when you accidentally hit a zombie with your car, you have no choice but to accept the gruesome truth. 
  • The zombie apocalypse has been going on for some time, and one character has managed to survive inside their own home. Most people abandoned the city, and there aren’t even many zombies around, so they have gotten away with fortifying their home very little. However, when a looter breaks in and injures them, they regret not taking the time to build up their defenses more. 
  • Your characters have nothing to lose, and a lot of high-powered weapons. When they are cornered by an immense hoard of zombies, they decide to take as many down with them as they can. What ensues can only be described as a zombie-slaying massacre, and the characters leave carnage in their wake before they finally succumb to the zombies. 
  • A single father of three has to break the news to his children: he was bitten and is going to turn.
  • Describe a character slowly succumbing to the disease in first-person. Is it painful? At what point does their consciousness fade? Does it fade completely, or do they remain somewhat aware of what their body does after turning? 
  • Your protagonist has been living off-the-grid for years, with almost no connection to the outside world. During a rare visit to town, they finally learn about the state of the world.

Setting Ideas for Zombie Apocalypse Stories

If you’re already writing a zombie story, then you probably know that the setting plays a huge part in the storytelling. You need to keep putting your protagonists in interesting and exciting places to encounter zombies to set scenes apart from each other, but it can be hard to keep coming up with new ideas. So, I’ve come up with a brief list of setting ideas that you can use to spice up your characters’ zombie encounters!

Your characters could encounter zombies in a:

  • Swamp 
  • Cruise ship
  • Graveyard 
  • Lecture hall
  • Hiking trail
  • Subway station 
  • Furniture store
  • Wax museum 
  • Train graveyard
  • Mountain lodge
  • Sports stadium
  • Nuclear power plant
  • Movie theater

Zombie Story Plot Ideas

If you’re looking for plot ideas for an entire novel, comic, roleplay, or another kind of story, then I’ve got some ideas for you. Unlike the prompts above, these will give you ideas to base an entire narrative around.

  • Write a story from the perspective of the person who caused it. Are they a poor scientist trying to find a cure for another disease? A team of infectious disease specialists hired for biological warfare? What was their motivation in the beginning, and what are they going to do about the outbreak now that it is out of control? 
  • Your main character finds a safe camp, completely walled off from zombies. They have food, water, and shelter in place, as well as a complex security system and a simple form of government. They say their medics have discovered a mix of drugs that combats the virus in early stages and can even prevent infection from spreading immediately, but this is all a ruse in order to control and manipulate people. How do the protagonists find out the truth, and what do they do about it? The people are safe from infection behind the shelter’s walls, but there is no such thing as freedom here. 
  • Lately, rumors of a perfect camp have been spreading around the wasteland. With nothing left to lose, your protagonist sets off to find it, asking everyone they can for information. Finally, after months of searching, they manage to find the formidable walls of the last major safe place in the nation. When they approach the gates, however, they are told that the shelter is no longer accepting new residents, and if the protagonist does not leave, the shelter will open fire. What happens next? 
  • There’s a cure for the disease, and you’re a recovering zombie. What’s that like? Will you ever return to normal, or will you live with symptoms forever? Is this story a psychological horror, a comedy, or something else? 
  • The zombie disease only affects children. Some kids manage to make it to adulthood without getting sick, but the population isn’t sustainable, and the disease becomes more widespread each year. Humanity is slowly dying off. Your main character has a young child they are trying to protect from getting sick, but not only do they have to battle zombies, they have to resist a government that wants to confiscate the child to ensure they reach adulthood. As a bonus, all the zombies in this world are miniature because they’re all children, so that adds another layer of horror into the mix.
  • Your protagonist is determined to find a cure… by any means necessary. They slowly descend into madness as the cure proves impossible to create, and they begin desperately experimenting on other human beings by infecting them with the disease. 
  • Zombies have been a problem for years, and your protagonists are part of an elite zombie cleanup team. The outbreaks are always kept under control and quickly contained… until recently. Now everyone expects your protagonists to control the growing horde, and they’re in over their heads. 
  • You’ve been bitten. You know it, your group knows it, and no one is trying to hide it. You know that you’re going to die, and you have accepted it. However, your group would be defenseless without you, so you must escort them to a new safe place before you turn completely—and you’re running out of time.
  • A group of astronauts on a space station brings in a mysterious space rock from outside. Everyone forgets about it pretty quickly—especially since people start getting sick soon after. Thanks to the infected people’s tendency of biting at their doctors, the alien sickness spreads rapidly and soon gets out of control. Now, the astronauts must survive an alien zombie outbreak, trapped in a space station orbiting hundreds of miles above the Earth. 
  • Zombie fighting is now the most popular form of entertainment for post-apocalyptic America. Two zombies are drenched in fresh blood and locked in a cage together to tear each other apart. People gamble on the fights, and it all seems like a good way for people to overcome their resentment towards the zombies while having fun in the process. Your protagonist has been going to these fights since they first started, and they love it. However, they stumble upon a dark secret: one zombie owner has been kidnapping strong humans and turning them into zombies to win more fights, and ultimately make more money. 

How Writing About Zombies can Make You a Better Writer

Writing about zombies is a great way of refining some really good skills as a writer. That sounds ridiculous, so let me explain. Zombie stories commonly contain a lot of similar themes, techniques, and storytelling strategies. To write one effectively, you need to be good at utilizing suspense, surprising your readers, and exploring the duality of each individual character. You will have to press your characters to do bad things, to manipulate each other, and to act in unsavory ways, and this can help break you out of the habit of writing perfect Mary Sues. 

In addition to that, zombie stories often blend many different genres, like horror, action, and even romance or comedy. You need to be able to write high-energy fight scenes, while also being able to properly write suspense and tension. You’ll need to convey sadness, fear, loss, and death, and you need to show tenderness and love between surviving characters. Zombie stories are a great way of probing human conscience and exploring the complex emotions of humans when pushed to their limits. 

how to start an essay about zombie

Although that sounds difficult, a lot of this comes naturally to writers tackling a zombie plot. We’ve all seen zombies in movies, books, comics, and video games, and we subconsciously understand that that’s what the genre requires. Then, after writing about zombies, you’ll get better at applying those techniques in other things you write.

And really, zombies are fun to write about, so relax and just enjoy the carnage. 

how to start an essay about zombie

Brandon Cornett

Ten Tips for Writing Zombie Novels and Fiction

by Brandon Cornett | May 10, 2020

Fight for Humanity

Need some tips for writing good zombie fiction? You’ve come to the right place. Below, you’ll find some of my own writing advice, along with tips and suggestions from other writers working in the genre. Enter, if you dare!

Brandon’s Top 10 Tips for Writing Zombie Fiction

You could fill an entire book with tips and strategies for writing zombie fiction. But this is a blog, not a book. So I’ve boiled it all down into ten key points. Without further ado, here are my top-ten tips for writing zombie novels:

Want more? This article is part of an ongoing series for writers. Elsewhere on the site, you’ll find a list of zombie-related story ideas along with a few strategies for starting your novel .

1. Invest in your characters.

Zombies are fun to write. They’re ugly and savage. They crave human flesh. What’s not to love?

But the real story is what happens to your human characters, as they navigate the perils of a post-apocalyptic world. So my first tip for writing zombie fiction is to invest some time and energy into your protagonist and other main characters. Develop them to the best of your ability.

In a way, the zombies in your story function as obstacles. They challenge your human characters. Sometimes they kill your characters. But they themselves are not characters. Zombies lack depth and complexity. They’re single-minded organisms, not much different from a virus or parasite.

The depth and complexity in your story has to come from your human characters — and especially your protagonist.

Before you start writing your zombie story or novel, you want to figure out what makes your protagonist tick. What are her biggest hopes and fears? What is her main goal in life, at the time when the story takes place?

Zombies can make a story exciting. But humans make the story.

2. Take your story into uncharted territory.

Life is normal. The undead rise. People struggle to survive. The end.

If that’s the full scope of your story, you might have trouble keeping the reader engaged. Zombie outbreaks have been done … and done again … and done some more. We’ve seen it all before. So I would encourage you to come up with something new , something people haven’t read before.

Novelty and originality go a long way toward helping a book break away from the pack. This is true for all genres, but especially speculative fiction. Take the horror novel Birdbox , by Josh Malerman. Originality helped that book take off. Malerman delivered something we hadn’t read before.

Within the zombie genre, World War Z shows how an author can innovate within existing norms. In that book, author Max Brooks borrowed the first-person narrative format that Studs Terkel used for The Good War (a collection of first-hand accounts from World War II).

World War Z ‘s unique storytelling model helped it rise to the top of a crowded genre. That book spent several weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and spawned a movie adaption of the same name.

3. Remember that humans can be scary, too.

Zombies are dangerous. We know that. But, as a writer, there’s only so much fear and tension you can extract from the undead.

Humans can be pretty terrible as well. I like to think that most humans are decent people who do the right thing most of the time. But we all know there are people out there who prey on the innocent. They are wolves in human skin. And they can be even more terrifying than the undead.

In his book The Science of Evil , author and psychologist Simon Baron-Cohen explains the concept of “empathy erosion.” In short, this concept says that some people act cruelly toward others because they’re unable to empathize with them.

Here’s a relevant excerpt from Baron-Cohen’s book:

“When our empathy is switched off, we are solely in the ‘I’ mode. In such a state we relate only to things or to people as if they were just things. Most of us are capable of doing this occasionally. We might be quite capable of focusing on our work without sparing a thought for the homeless person on the street outside our office. But whether we are in this state transiently or permanently, there is no ‘thou’ visible—at least, not a thou with different thoughts and feelings.”

Maybe you can relate to this. Maybe you know people who exhibit a lack of empathy toward others. Channel that into your fiction writing. Your story will be stronger, more realistic, and more relatable in the end.

As writers, we must remember there are different kinds of monsters. Some have rotted skin and a hunger for human flesh. Others are human on the outside, with a monster dwelling within. Consider incorporating both kinds of monsters into your story.

4. Read widely, both in and out of the zombie genre.

If you want to write good zombie fiction, you have to read lots of it. I think we can all agree on that. It helps you discover the work of other authors working in the genre. That gives you a sense of what’s out there, what’s been done before, etc.

Check out: 15 of the best zombie books

It’s also important to read outside of this particular genre. You can learn a lot by reading “far and wide.” All genres have something to offer, when it comes to developing your writing skills.

From poetry, you can learn to be concise and descriptive. From thrillers, you can learn to build toward an explosive climax. From science writing, you learn about the biological aspects of viruses and contagion.

5. Develop your vision for the “new world.”

Take it from someone who has been down this road before. You can save yourself some pain, time and rewrites by planning out your post-apocalyptic world in advance .

World-building is a key component of post-apocalyptic fiction . The world-as-we-know-it has ended. But something has to rise up in its place. Maybe it’s a kind of dystopia with totalitarian leadership. Maybe it’s a ragged wasteland with nomadic, wandering tribes. That’s up to you.

Before you start writing zombie fiction, spend some time thinking about the new world you want to create. Think about the details, like transportation, logistics, living spaces, fortification, etc.

Developing a clear vision before you start writing will save you some work down the road. It can also help draw readers into your story and the world where it takes place.

6. When you get stuck, follow your instincts.

Writing is all about choices. Every time you pick up your pencil or open your computer file, you’ll be making choices.

What happens next? How do your characters respond to certain events? Where do they go? What do they do? There are choices on top of choices, with a side-order of choices.

There’s no right or wrong answer to any of these questions. As a writer, you get to figure these things out for yourself. And that’s where instincts come into the picture.

When you come to a place in your story where a decision has to be made — a literary fork in the road — ask yourself what feels right. Which path is best for the story? Which path creates the most conflict and drama?

Bring truth to your story. Let your characters think and react in realistic ways, driven by their individual beliefs and values.

This relates back to zombie fiction-writing tip #4 (reading widely). Reading a lot of fiction helps you develop your writerly instincts. It gives you the confidence needed to make important decisions within your own story.

7. Push your characters to the breaking point.

Vladimir Nabokov, author of  Lolita , once described the novel-writing process like this: “The writer’s job is to get the main character up a tree, and then once they are up there, throw rocks at them.”

You might now want to throw these figurative rocks at your characters. You probably like your characters. But you have to throw the rocks — over and over again. That might sound sadistic. In a way, it is. But it’s also necessary.

Challenges. Obstacles. Hurdles. Surprises. These are the things that keep readers turning pages. Without those things, the reader will lose interest. If your protagonist is having a good time, the reader is not.

This is one of the most important zombie fiction-writing tips on the list. You have to create problems for your characters. You have to challenge them in a way that reveals their true character and forces them to change.

In his insightful book  Immediate Fiction: A Complete Writing Course , author and writing coach Jerry Cleaver expresses this idea in simple mathematical terms:

“Want + obstacle = conflict”

Conflict, in turn, creates drama. And drama can keep readers engaged and engrossed in a story.

Think about some of the zombie fiction you’ve read in the past — or any good fiction, for that matter. Think about a novel you couldn’t put down. I’m willing to bet the characters in that story encountered a lot of challenges. And it kept you turning pages, didn’t it?

8. Throw in the occasional twist or surprise.

The zombie genre has been around for decades. Like the shuffling flesh-eaters themselves, it refuses to die. So it’s important to take a fresh approach when writing a zombie story of your own. (We touched on this earlier, with fiction-writing tip #2.)

One way to liven up your story is by adding a plot twist or surprise, something the reader doesn’t see coming. There are many ways to do this.

  • Maybe we learn that the outbreak was intentional, part of a bioweapon attack. And it was only phase one.
  • Maybe the survivors make some kind of discovery that changes the whole story and their role within it.
  • Maybe they discover a cure.
  • Maybe they learn how to control the zombies.
  • Maybe the zombies “evolve” in some way, becoming even more dangerous as the story progresses.

When it comes to introducing plot twists and surprises, you are limited only by your imagination.

9. Blow us away with your climax.

As readers, we tend to remember the climax and ending long after we finish the novel. They echo in the mind.

We remember the ending for chronological reasons. It’s the last thing we read. We remember the  climax for its intensity. The climax is when the story’s tension and action rise to a peak. It’s when the literary “fireworks” go off.

how to start an essay about zombie

Climaxes are important for all fiction genres. Without one, a story can feel flat and anticlimactic. But I would argue that a big climax is even  more  important for speculative fiction writers, including those writing zombie fiction.

With a zombie novel, you’re starting off with a big idea. You’ve “wowed” the reader with your harrowing post-apocalyptic vision. In order to go  up  from there — in order to reach the apex or climax — you have to climb pretty high.

In other words, the climax of a zombie novel has to be “higher” than the climax for literary or mainstream fiction. Readers of post-apocalyptic fiction expect an explosive climax. Don’t let them down.

10. Edit your work mercilessly.

Writing zombie fiction is pretty straightforward. You sit down with your notebook or computer, and you write. In this stage, you’re putting scenes on paper. You’re getting it all down.

So what happens when you finish the story? Is it time to share it with the world? No! It’s time for editing.

As Stephen King wrote in his book, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft :

“When you write a book, you spend day after day scanning and identifying the trees. When you’re done, you have to step back and look at the forest.”

That’s a good analogy. When writing the first draft of a zombie story, it’s best to turn off your internal editor. Don’t beat yourself up about sentence construction, word choice and the like. Just get the story down. Stay in the moment. Go with the flow.

When you finish the first draft, put your work aside for a while. Maybe a week or two. Maybe a month. Then, come back to it with an editor’s eye. Now is the time to tighten the prose, trim the fat, and polish the work.

I can’t tell you how to edit your own work. For me, it’s a very personal process. I tell stories in a certain way, and I write sentences in a certain way. Those decisions come from within. They’re a reflection of me, as a person. The same goes for you.

But I’m happy to point you toward some useful resources.

One of my favorite books on editing is called Self-Editing for Fiction Writers . It was written by Renni Browne and Dave King, professional book editors. I consider this a must-read for anyone who wants to improve their fiction-writing game.

You can also gain some useful tips and insight from the NY Book Editors blog (nybookeditors.com/blog), as well as The Editor’s Blog (theeditorsblog.net).

Here are some articles worth a look, from those two blogs:

  • 10 Tips to Shape Up Your Manuscript (nybookeditors.com)
  • Checklist for Editors (theeditorsblog.net)

Get a copy of the Renni Browne / Dave King book. Read the articles listed above. And remember: Writing can produce a good story. But you need editing to make your story great.

Conclusion and Summary

This isn’t a writing class and these aren’t rules. They’re only suggestions, some zombie fiction-writing tips and strategies to get your wheels turning. Some of them might not apply to your story.

But all of these tips have something in common. They can help you create a breakout zombie novel that rises above the rest. They can help you craft a first-rate novel — a story with interesting characters who navigate their way through a harrowing landscape, adapting and evolving along the way.

Share Your Thoughts

Are you an experienced writer working within this genre? Or maybe a voracious reader and fan of zombie fiction? Do you have some tips or suggestions for aspiring writers out there? Feel free to share!

Drop your comments in the box below. If your tips are relevant to the article, I’d be happy to add them. Be sure to include your name, if you’d like to receive credit for your contribution.

Science Fiction Academy

It is really great and I was a beginner and it help me another

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Madgamersam12

You helped me a bit, but I’m still confused. Writing a story is really hard.

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Brandon Cornett

You’re right about that. Writing a story can be challenging at times. My advice is to keep it simple and focus on the basics, at least for the first draft. Your character wants to accomplish a mission. A big obstacle stands in his or her way. Conflict follows, and ultimately the character reaches some kind of resolution. These are the basic building blocks of all fiction. Keep at it!

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Essay on Zombies

Students are often asked to write an essay on Zombies in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Zombies

Understanding zombies.

Zombies are fictional creatures often seen in movies and books. They’re typically depicted as dead humans who’ve come back to life, craving human flesh or brains.

Origin of Zombies

The concept of zombies originated from Haitian folklore. They were initially associated with magic and were said to be controlled by sorcerers.

Zombies in Pop Culture

Zombies became popular in western culture through movies like “Night of the Living Dead”. Now, they’re a common theme in horror genre, symbolizing fear and societal issues.

Zombies and Symbolism

Zombies often symbolize society’s fears or problems, making them more than just scary monsters in stories.

250 Words Essay on Zombies

Introduction to zombies.

Zombies, the walking dead, have long been a fixture in popular culture. These creatures, typically depicted as reanimated corpses or mindless human beings, are often associated with a global apocalypse caused by an infectious virus.

Zombie Origins: Historical and Cultural Context

The concept of zombies originated in Haitian folklore, where they were seen as bodies reanimated by magic or witchcraft. Over time, this concept evolved and was adapted by various cultures, each adding their unique interpretation.

Zombies in Popular Culture

Zombies have become a prevalent figure in films, literature, and video games. The portrayal of zombies in these mediums often reflects societal fears and anxieties. For instance, George Romero’s 1968 film “Night of the Living Dead” used zombies as a metaphor for the societal upheaval of the time.

Zombies: A Symbol of Fear

Zombies embody the fear of death and the unknown. They are often used as metaphors for societal issues like consumerism, pandemics, and political unrest. Their mindless nature and insatiable hunger make them a fitting symbol for the destructive potential of humanity.

Conclusion: The Enduring Appeal of Zombies

Zombies’ popularity in popular culture can be attributed to their ability to adapt and reflect our deepest fears. As long as these fears persist, zombies will continue to walk among us in our stories and myths, serving as a mirror to our collective anxieties.

500 Words Essay on Zombies

Introduction to the concept of zombies, the historical roots of zombies.

The concept of zombies originates from Haitian folklore, where zombies were dead bodies reanimated through magical means by a sorcerer, known as a “bokor”. The zombie served the bokor, devoid of free will, reflecting the dehumanizing conditions of Haitian slavery. This narrative was later westernized, and George A. Romero’s 1968 film “Night of the Living Dead” is often credited with shaping the modern concept of zombies.

In contemporary culture, zombies have become a staple of horror and post-apocalyptic genres. They are featured in various forms of media, including films, television series, books, video games, and even music. This widespread fascination with zombies can be attributed to their flexibility as a narrative device. They can be used to explore themes of societal collapse, human survival, and existential dread.

Symbolic Representation of Zombies

On a broader scale, zombies can embody societal fears of pandemics and disease. The transformation process into a zombie often involves infection, which can be seen as a reflection of our fears regarding uncontrollable disease spread. This metaphor has become particularly poignant in the context of the recent COVID-19 pandemic.

The enduring appeal of zombies in popular culture can be attributed to their adaptability as a narrative device and their ability to embody societal fears and anxieties. They serve as a mirror, reflecting our deepest fears and darkest aspects of human nature. As long as these fears and anxieties persist, zombies will continue to walk among us, in our stories and on our screens.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

Happy studying!

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Essay Samples on Zombie

An overview of zombies: epidemiology of fear.

This article aimed to rationale how science fiction content describe and illustrate human culture through zombies. There was no formal concept of probability in Europe prior to the mid-17th century [3], despite the idea of randomized objects was already commonly seen. Asides from the first...

The Rising Dead: A Zombie Apocalypse Survival Guide

The groan of the undead; the sputter of hisses they make with their decaying rotten teeth and the boils of putrid flesh that lingers around like the smell of oven baked cookies. Their molten skin peals back, revealing rotted ligaments and tissue that swarms with...

The Literature Review of Zombie Firm Research

Introduction The term of zombie is a concept that remains in our minds as living dead from horror movies. In recent times, this term has often been used to describe standing firms while it should have been closed a long time ago. Zombie firms are...

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"Train to Busan" as a Perfect Example of Zombie Film

Once treated as a minority of manipulative pleasures, zombies have expanded their territory in popular culture. Now in present days, many people are familiar with zombies through various entertaining sources including cartoons, novels, and movies. However, not all zombie tales are necessarily the same, as...

Best topics on Zombie

1. An Overview of Zombies: Epidemiology of Fear

2. The Rising Dead: A Zombie Apocalypse Survival Guide

3. The Literature Review of Zombie Firm Research

4. “Train to Busan” as a Perfect Example of Zombie Film

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  • How to write an essay introduction | 4 steps & examples

How to Write an Essay Introduction | 4 Steps & Examples

Published on February 4, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on July 23, 2023.

A good introduction paragraph is an essential part of any academic essay . It sets up your argument and tells the reader what to expect.

The main goals of an introduction are to:

  • Catch your reader’s attention.
  • Give background on your topic.
  • Present your thesis statement —the central point of your essay.

This introduction example is taken from our interactive essay example on the history of Braille.

The invention of Braille was a major turning point in the history of disability. The writing system of raised dots used by visually impaired people was developed by Louis Braille in nineteenth-century France. In a society that did not value disabled people in general, blindness was particularly stigmatized, and lack of access to reading and writing was a significant barrier to social participation. The idea of tactile reading was not entirely new, but existing methods based on sighted systems were difficult to learn and use. As the first writing system designed for blind people’s needs, Braille was a groundbreaking new accessibility tool. It not only provided practical benefits, but also helped change the cultural status of blindness. This essay begins by discussing the situation of blind people in nineteenth-century Europe. It then describes the invention of Braille and the gradual process of its acceptance within blind education. Subsequently, it explores the wide-ranging effects of this invention on blind people’s social and cultural lives.

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Table of contents

Step 1: hook your reader, step 2: give background information, step 3: present your thesis statement, step 4: map your essay’s structure, step 5: check and revise, more examples of essay introductions, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about the essay introduction.

Your first sentence sets the tone for the whole essay, so spend some time on writing an effective hook.

Avoid long, dense sentences—start with something clear, concise and catchy that will spark your reader’s curiosity.

The hook should lead the reader into your essay, giving a sense of the topic you’re writing about and why it’s interesting. Avoid overly broad claims or plain statements of fact.

Examples: Writing a good hook

Take a look at these examples of weak hooks and learn how to improve them.

  • Braille was an extremely important invention.
  • The invention of Braille was a major turning point in the history of disability.

The first sentence is a dry fact; the second sentence is more interesting, making a bold claim about exactly  why the topic is important.

  • The internet is defined as “a global computer network providing a variety of information and communication facilities.”
  • The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the world of education.

Avoid using a dictionary definition as your hook, especially if it’s an obvious term that everyone knows. The improved example here is still broad, but it gives us a much clearer sense of what the essay will be about.

  • Mary Shelley’s  Frankenstein is a famous book from the nineteenth century.
  • Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is often read as a crude cautionary tale about the dangers of scientific advancement.

Instead of just stating a fact that the reader already knows, the improved hook here tells us about the mainstream interpretation of the book, implying that this essay will offer a different interpretation.

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Next, give your reader the context they need to understand your topic and argument. Depending on the subject of your essay, this might include:

  • Historical, geographical, or social context
  • An outline of the debate you’re addressing
  • A summary of relevant theories or research about the topic
  • Definitions of key terms

The information here should be broad but clearly focused and relevant to your argument. Don’t give too much detail—you can mention points that you will return to later, but save your evidence and interpretation for the main body of the essay.

How much space you need for background depends on your topic and the scope of your essay. In our Braille example, we take a few sentences to introduce the topic and sketch the social context that the essay will address:

Now it’s time to narrow your focus and show exactly what you want to say about the topic. This is your thesis statement —a sentence or two that sums up your overall argument.

This is the most important part of your introduction. A  good thesis isn’t just a statement of fact, but a claim that requires evidence and explanation.

The goal is to clearly convey your own position in a debate or your central point about a topic.

Particularly in longer essays, it’s helpful to end the introduction by signposting what will be covered in each part. Keep it concise and give your reader a clear sense of the direction your argument will take.

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See an example

how to start an essay about zombie

As you research and write, your argument might change focus or direction as you learn more.

For this reason, it’s often a good idea to wait until later in the writing process before you write the introduction paragraph—it can even be the very last thing you write.

When you’ve finished writing the essay body and conclusion , you should return to the introduction and check that it matches the content of the essay.

It’s especially important to make sure your thesis statement accurately represents what you do in the essay. If your argument has gone in a different direction than planned, tweak your thesis statement to match what you actually say.

To polish your writing, you can use something like a paraphrasing tool .

You can use the checklist below to make sure your introduction does everything it’s supposed to.

Checklist: Essay introduction

My first sentence is engaging and relevant.

I have introduced the topic with necessary background information.

I have defined any important terms.

My thesis statement clearly presents my main point or argument.

Everything in the introduction is relevant to the main body of the essay.

You have a strong introduction - now make sure the rest of your essay is just as good.

  • Argumentative
  • Literary analysis

This introduction to an argumentative essay sets up the debate about the internet and education, and then clearly states the position the essay will argue for.

The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the world of education. The use of the internet in academic contexts is on the rise, and its role in learning is hotly debated. For many teachers who did not grow up with this technology, its effects seem alarming and potentially harmful. This concern, while understandable, is misguided. The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its critical benefits for students and educators—as a uniquely comprehensive and accessible information source; a means of exposure to and engagement with different perspectives; and a highly flexible learning environment.

This introduction to a short expository essay leads into the topic (the invention of the printing press) and states the main point the essay will explain (the effect of this invention on European society).

In many ways, the invention of the printing press marked the end of the Middle Ages. The medieval period in Europe is often remembered as a time of intellectual and political stagnation. Prior to the Renaissance, the average person had very limited access to books and was unlikely to be literate. The invention of the printing press in the 15th century allowed for much less restricted circulation of information in Europe, paving the way for the Reformation.

This introduction to a literary analysis essay , about Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein , starts by describing a simplistic popular view of the story, and then states how the author will give a more complex analysis of the text’s literary devices.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is often read as a crude cautionary tale. Arguably the first science fiction novel, its plot can be read as a warning about the dangers of scientific advancement unrestrained by ethical considerations. In this reading, and in popular culture representations of the character as a “mad scientist”, Victor Frankenstein represents the callous, arrogant ambition of modern science. However, far from providing a stable image of the character, Shelley uses shifting narrative perspectives to gradually transform our impression of Frankenstein, portraying him in an increasingly negative light as the novel goes on. While he initially appears to be a naive but sympathetic idealist, after the creature’s narrative Frankenstein begins to resemble—even in his own telling—the thoughtlessly cruel figure the creature represents him as.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

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Your essay introduction should include three main things, in this order:

  • An opening hook to catch the reader’s attention.
  • Relevant background information that the reader needs to know.
  • A thesis statement that presents your main point or argument.

The length of each part depends on the length and complexity of your essay .

The “hook” is the first sentence of your essay introduction . It should lead the reader into your essay, giving a sense of why it’s interesting.

To write a good hook, avoid overly broad statements or long, dense sentences. Try to start with something clear, concise and catchy that will spark your reader’s curiosity.

A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . Everything else you write should relate to this key idea.

The thesis statement is essential in any academic essay or research paper for two main reasons:

  • It gives your writing direction and focus.
  • It gives the reader a concise summary of your main point.

Without a clear thesis statement, an essay can end up rambling and unfocused, leaving your reader unsure of exactly what you want to say.

The structure of an essay is divided into an introduction that presents your topic and thesis statement , a body containing your in-depth analysis and arguments, and a conclusion wrapping up your ideas.

The structure of the body is flexible, but you should always spend some time thinking about how you can organize your essay to best serve your ideas.

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Home — Essay Samples — Arts & Culture — Pop Culture — Process Paper: How To Survive A Zombie Apocalypse

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Process Paper: How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse

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Published: Jun 6, 2024

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Introduction, securing a safe location, ensuring a sustainable supply of resources, maintaining physical and mental health.

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How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse? essay

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It’s Time to Start Taking Mpox and Bird Flu Seriously

DRCONGO-HEALTH-MPOX

It’s been a bad month for public health.

On August 14, the World Health Organization declared mpox as an international health emergency , given the “unprecedented” spread of a new, more deadly variant . In the United States, bird flu, formally known as H5N1, has spread to 10 agricultural workers in Colorado, an alarming development since only three other cases have been reported this year.

Mpox and bird flu are distinct infectious diseases; however, they have been united by assumptions that containment is easily achievable and thus a complacent public health response. Indeed, almost 100,000 people got infected with mpox after the 2022 outbreak, and while the disease shrinked away from public view, mpox continued to spread and evolve into deadlier variants. Similarly, while bird flu first jumped into mammals around the same time in 2022, the response in the U.S. was anemic with little consistent messaging or concrete action.

This is part of a larger inertia around infectious diseases—one we believe is driven by two key factors.

First, public health leaders have grown overly cautious after the COVID-19 pandemic, seeing how bold efforts to contain the pandemic were met with anti-science aggression, populist outrage, relentless lawsuits, and at least 30 states limiting public health powers . The impending U.S. elections have added to the polarization and disinformation. As such, instead of proactive action, we are seeing trepidation.

Second, there is a sense that another pandemic cannot happen so soon after COVID-19—that these infectious diseases will inevitably burn themselves out like before. This is a “gambler’s fallacy,” and because of it, the U.S. may be underestimating the risks posed by mpox and bird flu, allowing two potential pandemics to brew on the global stage.

This has manifested in several failures for both diseases. For instance, the U.S. saw 1800 mpox cases between October 2023 and April 2024, while the more dangerous Clade 1b variant, which combines efficient sexual transmission with high mortality , started to spread in Africa. However, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stopped updating their mpox outbreak case count in January , downplaying this added threat since case counts were not yet increasing. The CDC restarted the public reporting in May, suggesting its discontinuation may have been overly expedient and optimistic.

Our mpox global health response mirrors such underestimation and delayed action. On August 7, the U.S. announced that it was donating 50,000 vaccines to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, almost a year after Clade 1b was first reported there. For reference, Africa CDC estimates it needs 10 million doses to control the current outbreak on the continent. In 2022, the U.S. failed to tackle mpox while it was confined to Africa, dragging its feet until the disease was spreading uncontrollably at home; we are seeing history repeat itself in 2024.

Read More: Health Experts are Watching a More Dangerous Version of Mpox

For bird flu, the mortality rate can be as high as 52% , given WHO case data. But as the New York Times noted , “Only recently has the [CDC] begun to mobilize real funding for a testing push, after a period of months in which various federal groups batted around responsibility and ultimate authority like a hot potato.” In the U.S., ignorance is bliss, with our public health leaders rolling the dice that this too shall pass.

So, perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) detected bird flu in cattle four months after it happened, or that the agency has not required routine testing of cattle (unless they cross state lines) nor vaccination of farmworkers . While decisions to leave these programs voluntary are multifactorial, they are likely influenced by political reticence after COVID-19 and recent Supreme Court rulings striking down vaccination requirements.

To be clear, the pandemic risk of mpox or bird flu is currently low. The transmission dynamics of mpox, requiring very close contact , make it more difficult to spread than SARS-CoV-2. Similarly, cases of bird flu have thus far been mild and limited in number. However, these are not absolute truths, but day-by-day assessments, which require real preparedness—measured in testing, ongoing surveillance, and forward planning.

We have no easy answers for overcoming public health paralysis. But at minimum, the U.S. needs better public health communication that not only emphasizes transparency but also holds our leaders accountable. Bringing this COVID-19-era lesson to mpox and bird flu is one way to give Americans a new, positive memory of public health, fostering early, decisive action and realistic risk assessments.

With two rapidly evolving outbreaks, we cannot afford trepidation and false optimism. And, even as we work to make the U.S. safer, we cannot forget our global obligations to share vaccines, medicines, and resources. Global crises require global solidarity and collective action.

More Must-Reads from TIME

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Full Transcript of Kamala Harris’s Democratic Convention Speech

The vice president’s remarks lasted roughly 35 minutes on the final night of the convention in Chicago.

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This is a transcript of Vice President Kamala Harris’s speech on Thursday night in which she formally accepted the Democratic Party’s nomination for the presidency.

OK, let’s get to business. Let’s get to business. All right.

So, let me start by thanking my most incredible husband, Doug. For being an incredible partner to me, an incredible father to Cole and Ella, and happy anniversary, Dougie. I love you so very much.

To our president, Joe Biden. When I think about the path that we have traveled together, Joe, I am filled with gratitude. Your record is extraordinary, as history will show, and your character is inspiring. And Doug and I love you and Jill, and are forever thankful to you both.

And to Coach Tim Walz. You are going to be an incredible vice president. And to the delegates and everyone who has put your faith in our campaign, your support is humbling.

So, America, the path that led me here in recent weeks was, no doubt, unexpected. But I’m no stranger to unlikely journeys. So, my mother, our mother, Shyamala Harris, had one of her own. And I miss her every day, and especially right now. And I know she’s looking down smiling. I know that.

So, my mother was 19 when she crossed the world alone, traveling from India to California with an unshakable dream to be the scientist who would cure breast cancer.

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    Conclusion. The zombie apocalypse was a nightmare that tested the limits of our strength, resilience, and humanity. It taught me the importance of community, compassion, and never losing hope, even in the darkest of times. The scars may never fade, and the memories will haunt me forever, but surviving the apocalypse has made me appreciate the ...

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    2. Tell it from the zombie's point of view. Here's an idea for your next zombie apocalypse novel or short story. Try telling it from the Z's point of view. Bear with me now…. Maybe the protagonist has partial immunity from the zombie contagion. Maybe she "turns," but not all the way.

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  7. 100 Zombie Writing Prompts

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    If you know you want to write about zombies, but you need a little direction, here are some short prompts, settings, and story ideas to help you get started. Contents hide. 1 Short Zombie Writing Prompts for Warming Up. 2 Setting Ideas for Zombie Apocalypse Stories. 3 Zombie Story Plot Ideas.

  9. Ten Tips for Writing Zombie Novels and Fiction

    Maybe the zombies "evolve" in some way, becoming even more dangerous as the story progresses. When it comes to introducing plot twists and surprises, you are limited only by your imagination. 9. Blow us away with your climax. As readers, we tend to remember the climax and ending long after we finish the novel.

  10. Zombie-Inspired Assignments for Secondary ELA ...

    Creating a Zombie Survival Guide. This activity takes direct inspiration from The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead by Max Brooks as well as the CDC's website for Zombie Preparedness (yes, it's real). An imminent zombie apocalypse provides a high-interest platform for writing a process essay around the concept of how best to survive the attack.

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    Zombies, the walking dead, have become a prevalent figure in popular culture, often depicted as reanimated corpses or virally infected human beings. They are primarily characterized by their mindless, ravenous behavior and their desire to consume human flesh or brains. This essay aims to explore the cultural significance of zombies, their ...

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    Essay grade Excellent. The groan of the undead; the sputter of hisses they make with their decaying rotten teeth and the boils of putrid flesh that lingers around like the smell of oven baked cookies. Their molten skin peals back, revealing rotted ligaments and tissue that swarms with... Survival. Zombie. 1788 Words | 4 Pages.

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    From Veronica Roth's *New York Times* bestselling *Divergent* trilogy to James Dashner's *Maze Runner* series, dystopian stories offer lessons about the present by looking ahead to the future. Dystopian novels can challenge readers to think differently about their social and political climate—and in some instances can even inspire action.

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    Step #6: Proofread and edit. Hooray! You've finished writing your essay. But before you submit it, make sure you've crossed your T's and dotted your I's. Proofreading and editing are pretty important last steps because you want to make sure your process essay flows logically from one step to the next.

  22. Help with a title for a college essay about the Zombie Apocalypse

    Oooh, I kinda like this one! Perhaps School DayZ. A play on school days and DayZ the game. Yeah, I don't make the title til after I'm done with the first draft. "School's Out...FOREVER." Introduction to Apocalypse living. "A" of the Dead. I hope it's the horticulture department. "Zombie Delight."

  23. How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse? Free Essay Example

    This essay has some good tips for surviving a zombie epidemic, but it could be clearer. First, make the start more interesting. Then, talk about protecting yourself and finding a safe place together. Next, simplify the part about helping others. Lastly, explain getting water and food more straightforwardly, like hunting or raiding houses.

  24. It's Time to Start Taking Mpox and Bird Flu Seriously

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  28. Kamala Harris's 2024 DNC Speech: Full Transcript

    So, let me start by thanking my most incredible husband, Doug. For being an incredible partner to me, an incredible father to Cole and Ella, and happy anniversary, Dougie. I love you so very much.