Written by Emily Harstone March 17th, 2014

Writing Prompt: Wrongly Accused

In The Fugitive a doctor is accused of killing his wife. In Double Jeopardy a wife is accused of killing her husband. Both did not commit the crime they are accused of. They are both innocent. That has been a reoccurring theme in movies and literature for a very long time.

It can be a lot of fun to play with this theme. You can learn a lot by putting characters, new or already created in such an unusual situation.

You should write this prompt from one character’s point of view. This main character does not have to be accused, but they can be. They can also be a detective investigating the case, or a close friend or family member of the accused.

The story can take place at any point during the plot. You don’t have to write the whole plot arc. You could just focus on the initial accusation, or on the trial, or any other aspect of the story.

Just think of this as a 15 minutes exercise, and it is up to you whether you want to write more. You don’t even have make it clear that one of the characters is falsely accused, however it should be something that you keep in mind.

Explore this prompt, it is a good way to see how characters react under pressure.

 

We Send You Publishers Seeking Submissions.

Sign up for our free e-magazine and we will send you reviews of publishers seeking short stories, poetry, essays, and books.

Subscribe now and we'll send you a free copy of our book Submit, Publish, Repeat

Ten Manuscript Publishers Open to Direct Submissions in June 2025

Ten Manuscript Publishers Open to Direct Submissions in June 2025

International publishers and small presses open to direct submissions. No agent required.

Fish Barrel Review: Now Seeking Submissions

Fish Barrel Review: Now Seeking Submissions

An online journal seeking fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and art. The deadline is July 1st.

Unusual Writing Formats: When Your Story Demands Footnotes, Letters, or a Series of Haikus

Unusual Writing Formats: When Your Story Demands Footnotes, Letters, or a Series of Haikus

“We’re not sure what we just read, but we’re a little scared.”

36 Themed Calls and Contests for June 2025

36 Themed Calls and Contests for June 2025

These are themed calls and contests for fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Some of the call themes are: the uncanny; cryptids; numerical; birds; train; it was paradise; best dressed; sweet hereafter; science; and stories of galactic pest control. THEMED CALLS Talk Vomit: The uncanny“Our summer edition theme is the uncanny, however you interpret that. What happens when…