WHUMPTOBER is a month-long, prompt-based creation CHALLENGE (think: Inktober, but whumpier). There are four prompts for each day of the month, giving 124 for you to play with! There is also a list of 18 alternative prompts that can be subbed in for any day to give participants as much creative freedom as possible.
All prompts are meant to serve as inspiration without being taken literally (e.g. you don’t have to include the exact wording of prompts into your work). Feel free to run rampant on interpretation. For example, if the prompt is “flame", you could create something with reference to a candle/campfire, your character could have suffered a burn, or the flame could be a reference to an ‘old flame’ - an old relationship. It’s truly down to you!
You can produce work in any media you choose, including but not limited to: writing, visual artwork, photo/video/audio edits, paper crafts and elaborate recommendation lists (not just a list of links). You can participate as much or as little as you want (i.e. you don’t have to do ALL the prompts if you don’t want to) and prompts can be used in any order. They are also free to use even after the event ends.
Please make sure to read the Event Info and FAQ carefully, as most of your questions will be answered there already. For everything else, you are welcome to come to our ask box or ask questions in our Discord server here.
Information on how to TAG is here.
This year’s AO3 Collection can be found here.
This year’s playlist can be found here.
The ‘Anatomy of a Whumptober Prompt’ post can be found here.
And our 'Resources for Writing Sensitive Topics’ post is here.
We’re very excited to see the community come together for yet another year of Whumptober! Go ham with the prompts, and support your fellow creators - we wish you all the best of luck, but most importantly: HAVE FUN!
Happy whumping,
Mods Vanne, Yenn, Kitty and Surro
Text versions of the prompts, including a google doc format, are posted below the cut!
A Google Doc of the prompts can be found here for easy copy-and-pasting!
Whumptober 2025 Prompt List
No. 1: “Please don’t cry”
Lamb to Slaughter | Ceremony | Beg for Forgiveness
No. 2: “You’ve got a lot of nerve to dredge up all my fears.”
Prophecy | Sewer | Taking Accountability
No. 3: “I look in people’s windows, transfixed by rose golden glows.”
Isolation | Candlelight | Found Family
No. 4: “Don’t be scared, I’ve done this before.”
Non-Human Whumper | Iron Rod | Loss of Powers
No. 5: “My panic’s at the ceiling, but I’m face down on the carpet.”
Quivering | Dream Journal | Phobia
No. 6: “No grave can hold my body down.”
Caught in a Net | Medical Restraints | Pinned to the Wall
No. 7: “Tell me that you’re okay, and I’m fine.”
Trapped with the Enemy | Elevator | Pushed Beyond Breaking Point
No. 8: “Oh horror, oh horror, what did you see?”
Self-Inflicted Injury | Held at Gunpoint | Dissociation
No. 9: “We’ll make it alright to come undone.”
Touch | Flashbacks | Scalding
No. 10: “There’s nothing you can ever say, nothing you can ever do.”
Without Consent | Secrets | Lips Sewn Shut
No. 11: “Can you get through all the pain inside you?”
Hidden Injury | Laceration | Forced Reveal
No. 12: “It’ll be for nothing.”
Cardiac Arrest | Sacred Place | Withholding Medical Treatment
No. 13: “How dull is it to pause, to make an end, to rust unburnished.”
Never Enough | Insignia | Forced Retirement
No. 14: “In the end, it’s worthwhile.”
Ignoring an Illness | Body Bag | Wounded Caretaker
No. 15: “You can take a break, if you just tell me that it hurts.”
Failed Rescue Attempt | Body Part in the Mail | Live-Streamed Torture
No. 16: “I’ve had the rug pulled beneath my feet.”
Repressed Trauma | Permanent Marker | Disorientation
No. 17: “Tell me there’s a hope for me.”
Internal Bleeding | Coma | Redemption
No. 18: “As the world caves in.”
Dystopia | Ruins | Environmental Whump
No. 19: “You’re on your own, lost in the wild.”
Dehumanisation | Living Weapon | On Patrol
The guard dog -> loyalty has been ingrained into their bones, following their handler around like their shadow. No one dares stand against the organization because of the legendary dread surrounding this living weapon. They hardly say a word but every movement is calculated, eyes always darting, always watching. (“You always were their lapdog.”)
The loose cannon -> dangerous for both sides. Always talking back and never predictable, their value is dependent on their skill. If it wasn’t for that, they’d be dead a long time ago. Their loyalty is earned, not bought. No one wants to be on their bad side, walking on tip toe whenever they show up. And they enjoy it. (“What’s everyone looking at? Aren’t you happy to see me? I even brought my rifle!”)
The broken down -> most common type of whumpee I’ve seen. They’ve been overpowered and forced into the commission. They hate their handler more than anything else but see no way out. When they’re told to shoot, they don’t even blink. It’s always “yes, sir” this and “yes, sir” that. If they feel any sympathy, they don’t show it. They’ll do anything to avoid punishment and flinch at quick movements. Nothing they face on the field is worse than the cards they’ve been dealt. (“I understand, sir/ ma’am. I-I’m sorry.”)
The dissenter -> Usually recruited into the organization or joined as a last ditch option. Not necessarily against using their abilities or skill, they just hate being told what to do. As time goes on and their disobedience is punished over and over again, they grow reluctant. Bitter. With every order, they slip in a snarky comment. Roll their eyes. Anything to assert their own identity. Or what’s left of it. (“ah ah ah, you didn’t think i’d notice? The middle finger was a bit much. I’m afraid it will have to go.”)
The ghost in the machine -> known only by their codename by outsiders and by their number in the organization, they’ve been stripped of all humanity. They live, breathe, and think by their handlers orders. They’ve been told over and over again that they are just a weapon. And a weapon does what it’s told. Their anonymity is attached to the organization in the same way a gun is simply an extension of their arm. But at night they still stare up at the ceiling with a blank stare— did they ever a life before this? They can’t remember. (“It’s not like it’s a person. It doesn’t have feelings like that.”)
whumpee who doesn't need to be chained up in a basement. whumpee who's hidden in plain sight. whumpee who hides their own bruises and smiles when strangers ask them how they're doing.
-whumper who controls what whumpee wears, always picking the next outfit for whumpee
-whumper preferring Whumpees hair in specific style and length and maintaining it for whumpee everyday
-also whumpee being subjected to whumper brushing their hair daily while whumper dotes on them
-whumper also completely controls what whumpee eats and when and exactly how much
-perhaps whumper even showers whumpee
-or dumps cold soapy water on them and thinks good enough
-escaped whumpee struggling to take care of themselves due to whumper never allowing them to do it themselves, or out of pure fear of punishment
-whumper catching whumpee combing their hair with their fingers and hitting Whumpees hands with ruler till whumpee cries
-after that whumpee has to have their hands tied behind them while unsupervised
-whumper mocking whumpee for not being able to take care of themselves as if whumper Doesn't delight in it every second
-as if whumper hadn't specifically done their best to condition whumpee to depend on them for everything
-also can enjoy the duality of whumper always complimenting whumpee while looking the way whumper prefers Compared to whumper tearing everything apart about post captivity whumpee
-imagining whumper crying over whumpee getting those "hideous" tattoos or "bad" hair cut
-whumper being enraged about whumpers dyed hair since it'll take time to grow out, even better if whumper preferred whumper with long hair thus it taking longer for whumpers preferred style to return
-basically anything that could change Whumpees appearance in long term which clashes with whumpers preferred style
-you could also imagine whumper being devastated over whumpee getting their forced tattoo removed for example
-well whumper will make sure it'll all be Whumpees problem way more than whumpers
coming back from spiraling is so funny. like, who was I even before everything started crashing down? lol trying to ease back into everything, yum yum so much whump to read tho
love when whumpers only ever hurt whumpee as either punishment or like... a bargaining thing? whumpee asking for something and getting it in exchange of hurt? i love the cruelty of it.
giving someone the knowledge and hope that they could remain unhurt if only they never needed or asked for anything and always behaved perfectly. so easy, right whumpee? love the guilt it brings, too.
one thing i never really appreciated about whipping is how you are very literally unable to take care of it yourself afterwards. someone else has to treat it for you because you physically cannot reach it. i just think thats neat.
• falling asleep fully clothed, possibly with jacket and shoes still on, legs/feet hanging off the foot of the bed or sprawled half-on half-off a couch
• the “oh shit, i’m gonna faint/nevermind i’m good” face (and aborted grab for nearest solid object or person)
• a character losing their footing for a moment on rough terrain. someone reaching out to grab them so they don’t fall and they both hold on for a hot second
• closing their eyes and leaning into a gentle touch
• shaky hands, shaky voice
• falling asleep at their desk at work/tucked away in an odd place
• doing things that are out of character & having others start to notice: losing their cool, being extra chipper or extra quiet, jumpy
• zoning out
• someone getting between them and whoever they’re having a heated exchange with, gently pushing them back with a hand against their chest or shoulder
• slipping out of sight from the others to lean against a wall, tip their head back and close their eyes
Have you considered: punishing whumpees for involuntary actions?
Threaten to cut out their tongue if they scream. Then hurt them until they do.
Tell them you'll kill the friend they were captured with if they fall asleep. See how long they can force themselves to stay awake.
Force water down their throat and wait. When they piss themselves, rub their face in it like a puppy.
Cut them, then punish them for bleeding all over the floor. Make them lick it up - wouldn't want them to inconsiderately leave bloodstains on your nice clean floor, after all.
Tell them they can earn food and water by staying perfectly still. Then give them an electric shock.
With your hands around their throat, order them to keep their attention on you. Choke them until they pass out. When they wake up, break a couple of fingers as punishment for letting their attention waver.
These are my old arts btw. Created an account here before but deactivated it and now I'm in here again. Lol. Found these in the net. Does not guarantee I'll have this exact same style again tho.
skittishhandi @skittishandi - Tumblr Blog | Tumgag
