Master red herrings with 5 writing prompts
A hands-on exercise for practicing red herrings in fiction
We’ve talked about red herrings in fiction and why they’re such a powerful storytelling tool:
Then we broke the process down into 7 clear steps you can use when writing your own:
If you haven’t read those yet, I recommend starting there. They’ll give you a solid foundation before you jump into practice.
If you’ve already read them, it’s time to practice!
Below, you’ll find 5 writing prompts designed to help you practice using red herrings intentionally.
Each prompt focuses on misdirection, reader expectation, and subtle clues, so you can experiment without pressure and see how this technique works on the page.
Take your time with them, and keep in mind that you don’t need to write something perfect.
Prompt 1
Write a mystery scene where one character behaves suspiciously in public. Give them a clear motive and strong clues pointing to guilt. Later, reveal a simple, believable reason for their behavior that has nothing to do with the crime.
Prompt 2
Create a crime or secret that happened off-page. Plant three clues that seem to point to the wrong person. Make sure each clue is true, but misleading because the context is incomplete.
Prompt 3
Write a scene where an object looks extremely important to the plot. Characters react strongly to it and argue over it. At the end of the scene, show that the object matters for a completely different reason than the reader assumed.
Prompt 4
Draft a short investigation where the narrator strongly believes one theory. Let their bias shape how clues are described. In the final paragraph, expose how that bias caused them to misread the evidence.
Prompt 5
Write a reveal scene where the real solution comes out. Go back and subtly reference the red herring one last time, showing how it distracted both the characters and the reader without ever lying.
Final words
Red herrings take practice. Even experienced writers don’t get them right every time.
So treat these prompts as experiments, not tests. Try different approaches. Push the misdirection further. Pull it back. See how small changes affect the tension and the reveal.
If you want more support, go back to the earlier posts and revisit the basics and the 7 steps whenever you need them. And when you’ve tried one of the prompts, I’d love to hear how it went.
Happy writing!