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Writing Prompt Index

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Here you can find all of our current and past Writing Prompts. By clicking on a writing prompt title you can view what members wrote, or you can write a post yourself! If you missed a writing prompt when it was current, don't let that stop you from posting something now!

DateWriting Prompt
Jan 29Winter Poetry
Winter is a season that brings both good and bad, from beautiful, snowy scenery and winter sports to cold temperatures and high heating costs.
Jan 22I Have a Dream, Part II
When Martin Luther King Jr. gave his "I Have a Dream" speech, it was significantly different from the speech he had on the page in front of him. A spectator called out, "Tell them about the dream, Martin," which prompted him to deviate from the prepared speech.
Jan 15I Have a Dream, Part I
Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "I Have a Dream" speech contains lines such as, "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."
Jan 8I Can't Decide...
Have you ever had a difficult time making a decision about something?
Jan 1A Week Later...
Sometimes we get Christmas presents we really wanted; other times we get gifts we wouldn't wish on a rabid raccoon.
Dec 25, 2011Christmas Day!
It's the day children have been anxiously awaiting all month...and maybe even longer!
Dec 18, 2011An Ornament's Tale
Some Christmas ornaments are generic, while others can have special meaning and significance to you and your family.
Dec 11, 2011Christmas Carol
All around you during the month of December you will be bombarded by the sounds of Christmas carols from stores, elevators, cars, and maybe in your home as well.
Dec 4, 2011Advent
In the Christian Calendar, Advent Season includes the four weeks leading up to Christmas. Advent means "arrival." It is the season when we celebrate both the first coming and the second coming of Christ.
Nov 27, 2011School Haiku
Everyone has had a favorite and least favorite subject in school. Write one Haiku about your favorite school subject, and then write one Haiku about your least favorite subject.
Nov 20, 2011Give Thanks
Some people use November as a month of counting blessings - one blessing for each day of the month.
Nov 13, 2011Car Improvement
If you were going to invent something to add to your car, either to improve its performance, or to add to the enjoyment of driving/riding in it, what would you invent?
Nov 6, 2011Family
The people we love the most, and sometimes the people who frustrate us most, are the members of our own families.
Oct 30, 2011Halloween
Stores began stocking their shelves with Halloween costumes and treats long before Halloween was here.
Oct 23, 2011Helium Balloon
Imagine that you are a helium balloon which was tied to someone's wrist, but then came undone.
Oct 16, 2011Say Cheese!
There are many different varieties of cheese (swiss, cheddar, provolone, etc) and many different ways to eat it.
Oct 9, 2011At the Zoo
Imagine you're at a zoo. Write a story or a poem from the perspective of one of the animals.
Oct 2, 2011Fictional Character
If you could be any character in your favorite book, who would you be?
Sep 25, 2011Fair!
Describe your favorite part of fairs: rides, fair food, 4-H, prize produce, animals, pig scrambles, tractor pulls, etc.
Sep 18, 2011Changing Seasons
Yesterday the National Weather Service predicted frost overnight in our area. It just confirmed what we're already beginning to realize: fall is on the way.
Sep 11, 2011Where Were You?
Today marks the 10th anniversary of a tragic event in the US. Recently a friend of mine made a video describing how the event impacted his family: In My Seat
Sep 4, 2011Team Effort
It is once again that time of year when I have to create writing prompts for the fall months. This task is much easier when it's a team effort, and I have help from our moderators.
Aug 28, 2011Back to School
In the past, we've had people write about going back to school, from the perspective of the students.
Aug 21, 2011Dreams, Part II
They say that people dream every night. My problem is that I don't usually remember what I dreamed.
Aug 14, 2011Dreams, Part I
They say that people dream every night. My problem is that I don't usually remember what I dreamed.
Aug 7, 2011Anticipation
In six days, Laura and I will be getting married. Needless to say, we're rather excited (and maybe a little stressed) about the event. But mostly excited.
Jul 31, 2011Happy Birthday
Birthdays can be events in your life that you never forget. And sometimes they can be events that you wish you could forget.
Jul 24, 2011Free Write
A free write is an exercise that helps develop you as a writer because it forces you to rely on inspiration and instinct, without over-thinking what you write.
Jul 17, 2011Overheard
As Laura and I sit here at Panera, creating writing prompts, there are conversations going on all around us. It can be difficult at times not to eavesdrop on other people.
Jul 10, 2011Independence, Part II
Last week those who live in the United States celebrated Independence Day. But independence can be as much an individual experience as a national one. Children grow in independence as they mature, and often the elderly experience a decrease in independence.
Jul 3, 2011Independence, Part I
July 4th is Independence Day in the United States of America. We often celebrate Independence Day with fireworks.
Jun 26, 2011A Day in the Life...
Look around the room you are sitting in. Pick an object you can see. Imagine that object could think, and maybe even talk or move!
Jun 19, 2011Summer Vacation?
The month of June typically is the beginning of summer vacation for me, though this summer I have so much to do that the end of school doesn't really seem like much of a vacation.
Jun 12, 2011Stormy Weather
Stormy weather can be quite dangerous and frightening, but it can also be quite dramatic, and even beautiful, depending on your perspective.
Jun 5, 2011Home Improvement
I'm currently in the process of doing some interior decorating in my home. It'll be wonderful when it's done, but in the meantime it's rather messy, with clutter and paint supplies everywhere, and the contents of one room dumped into other rooms...
May 29, 2011Memory
Memorial Day is a day to remember (commemorate) men and women who died in military service in the United States.
May 22, 2011Favorite Store
I'm sitting in the cafe at Borders Bookstore as I write this writing prompt. Borders is a store I could browse for hours on end without getting bored.
May 15, 2011Time Flies
They say that "time flies when you're having fun." The flip side of that, of course, is that time seems to be slower than molasses flowing uphill in the winter when you're bored.
May 8, 2011Stamps
I was looking at a stamp today, and thinking about the many people and things that have been commemorated on stamps in my lifetime.
May 1, 2011May 1st
May 1st is celebrated around the world for a variety of reasons. To name just a few celebrations, it's Beltane, the Feast of Saint Joseph, Constitution Day (Marshall Islands), International Worker's Day, and it also is known simply as May Day.
Apr 24, 2011Rhyming Quatrain
The month of April is Poetry Month. Here at Fifteen Minutes of Fiction we will be having a poetry writing prompt each week.
Apr 17, 2011Blank Verse
The month of April is Poetry Month. Here at Fifteen Minutes of Fiction we will be having a poetry writing prompt each week.
Apr 10, 2011Intangible Poetry
The month of April is Poetry Month. Here at Fifteen Minutes of Fiction we will be having a poetry writing prompt each week.
Apr 3, 2011Tangible Poetry
The month of April is Poetry Month. Here at Fifteen Minutes of Fiction we will be having a poetry writing prompt each week.
Mar 27, 2011Give It Up!
At this time of year, many Christians choose to give up something that is a normal part of life, as a way of helping to focus their attention on the death and resurrection of Christ. This year, for example, I'm leaving all meat but fish out of my diet for 40 days.
Mar 20, 2011Math and English
Suppose a mathematician and an English major/writer were planning to get married. What kinds of issues would they face planning a wedding?
Mar 13, 2011Ten Minutes
We live life from one day to the next, not knowing how many more days remain in our lives. But suppose you found out you only have ten minutes left to live! How would you spend that time?
Mar 6, 2011Busyness
Sometimes life gets far too busy. For example, this week I had so much going on that I forgot to get the next set of writing prompts ready, so I woke up Sunday morning and saw that there wasn't a new one in place! (Sorry!)
Feb 27, 2011Computer Woes
Computers have become an integral part of all of our lives, but they can be very frustrating.
Feb 20, 2011All the World is a Stage
Shakespeare said that all the world is a stage, and we are merely actors.
Feb 13, 2011High School Horror
Most people have both good and bad memories of high school. What was your worst memory of high school?
Feb 6, 2011Poetic Dialogue
Shakespeare wrote dialogue between characters in poetry form. Can you do the same?
Jan 30, 2011Inanimate Object
Can you imagine life from the perspective of an inanimate object.
Jan 23, 2011TV Advertisment
Every new television show requires a clever advertising campaign to catch people's attention.
Jan 16, 2011Texting 101
It is a fact that young people enjoy texting as a type of communication. Write a conversation between two people as they converse by text message.
Jan 9, 2011Dear Mr. President
Write a letter to the president. You can write to the current president or choose one from the past. You can praise him, censure his policies, or offer advice.
Jan 2, 2011Disappointment
We've all gone through the disappointment of not getting something we wanted or expected.
Dec 26, 2010Christmas Gift
At Christmas time we experience both the joy of giving gifts and the joy of receiving gifts.
Dec 19, 2010The Angels' Visit
In Luke chapter 2 of the Bible (Luke 2 at Bible Gateway), we read about the angels coming to announce the birth of Christ to the shepherds.
Dec 12, 2010The Guest
If you could choose anyone from modern times or the past to come visit you, who would you choose?
Dec 5, 2010Christmas Shopping
At this time of year malls are crowded with Christmas shoppers trying to find just the right gift for friends and family members.
Nov 28, 2010Favorite Season
There are many opinions about which season is the best time of the year.
Nov 21, 2010Thanksgiving Feast
Family gatherings at Thanksgiving can be very memorable, and often it is the people who make the gathering so interesting.
Nov 14, 2010A Hungry Lion
In Daniel chapter 6 of the Bible (Daniel 6 at Bible Gateway), we read about Daniel being thrown into a lions' den, and God protecting him by keeping the lions from eating him.
Nov 7, 2010Veterans' Day
Veterans' Day (in the United States) is a day set aside to honor veterans (still living) who fought in various wars.
Oct 31, 2010Trick or Treat
Halloween is a time for fun and costumes and candy and maybe even a bit of scariness.
Oct 24, 2010Travel Poem
Travel fills our lives with all sorts of images and experiences that enrich us in many ways.
Oct 17, 2010Personality Makeover
Everyone has personality traits that they like about themselves, and traits they could do without.
Oct 10, 2010Dreamland
Your subconscious mind comes up with all sorts of strange things while you sleep.
Oct 3, 2010First Car
Some folks have hair-raising stories to tell about their very first car.
Sep 26, 2010Writing Prompt
Creating writing prompts can be a challenging exercise. Your moderators on this site spent an hour and a half writing all the prompts for this summer.
Sep 19, 2010Favorite Sport
Sports are often a source of both excitement and controversy, as spectators cheer for their favorite team, or fights break out on the field.
Sep 12, 2010Fall Fibonacci
A Fibonacci Poem is a poem in which the number of syllables per line is 1, 1, 2, 3, 5 and 8. Here is an example: Motherhood.
Sep 5, 2010Numbers
My Algebra students are always asking me, "When will we use this in real life?"
Aug 29, 2010Trusted Friends
Have you ever been betrayed by a trusted friend?
Aug 22, 2010Chocolate!
Chocolate! What more must be said?
Aug 15, 2010A Good Deed Part Two
Jesus spoke about people's good deeds making them shine like lights in the world.
Aug 8, 2010A Good Deed Part One
Jesus spoke about people's good deeds making them shine like lights in the world.
Aug 1, 2010Power Failure
During the ice storm of '98, many people lost power for one to two weeks.
Jul 25, 2010Turning the Tables
Last week, you wrote a pet. Now let's turn that around. What do you think your pet would have to say about you?
Jul 18, 2010Your First Pet
People often remember with great fondness their very first pet.
Jul 11, 2010First Line
"I looked out the window and saw something that would change my entire life." That is the first line of your story.
Jul 4, 2010Periodic Table
The Periodic Table of the Elements lists all of the known elements in the universe, including such elements as Helium, Oxygen, Lead, Gold, Calcium, etc.
Jun 27, 2010Independence Day
In the United States of America we celebrate July 4th as our Day of Independence.
Jun 20, 2010Famous Painting
In Lewis's Voyage of the Dawn Treader characters got sucked into a painting.
Jun 13, 2010Substitute Teacher
If you've never been a substitute teacher, you only look at substitute teachers from one perspective: the perspective of a student.
Jun 6, 2010Poor Planning
The Tacoma Narrows bridge collapsed in gale force winds due to poor design: Collapse video.
May 30, 2010Summer Haiku
Remember that Haiku is a poem with lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables. Often the last line causes you to "re-imagine" what you've read before. An example of this can be found here Space Walk.
May 23, 2010Trees!
A deciduous tree is a tree which loses its leaves in the fall, and is bare throughout the winter. An evergreen tree is...well...ever green!
May 16, 2010Laughter
Laughter, they say, is the best medicine. But what illness does this medicine cure?
May 9, 2010To the Moon...
You have been selected to fly a mission to the moon. What do you suppose the flight there would be like? What adventures would you have when you arrived?
May 2, 2010Limericks!
Limericks are a lot of fun. This form of poetry is generally used for light-hearted, often completely nonsense subject matter.
Apr 25, 2010Obsolete
Due to rapid changes in technology, many once-new and innovative objects have become nearly obsolete, and are no longer used. Some of these are still preserved today - lighthouses, old steam trains, trolleys, (etc.).
Apr 18, 2010A Foreign Land
This evening I watched the movie Cry, The Beloved Country. As I sat watching the movie, looking at the lovely mountains and valleys and the lush green grass, I found myself thinking, "I would really like to visit South Africa someday."
Apr 11, 2010Meta Poetry
Did you know that April is National Poetry Month? In honor of National Poetry Month, let's write some meta-poems!
Apr 4, 2010A Bad Start to the Day
I'll give you a line, you write a story that starts with that line. Note: You can change the character's name, and if you're writing a story-poem, you can tweak the line to make it fit your meter/rhyme.
Mar 28, 2010March
It has often been said that the month of March "comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb," or the other way around, depending on the year. Do you think it happened either way this year? If not, what animal would you compare March to?
Mar 21, 2010Fibonacci Food
A Fibonacci poem is a poem which has 6 lines, and the lines have 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, and 8 syllables.
Mar 14, 2010It's Pi Day!
This Sunday is 3.14 (March 14th), or Pi Day, as we mathematicians like to call it.
Mar 7, 2010Springtime Haiku
It has been awhile since we've written Haiku for our writing prompt. Remember that Haiku has 5-7-5 syllables, and often uses the last line to re-imagine or re-interpret the previous lines.
Feb 28, 2010A New Olympic Event!
Lately I've been hearing a lot about people staying up late to watch the Olympics. Myself, I haven't spent any time watching the Olympics, but I do think it would be fun to invent my own Olympic event.
Feb 21, 2010The Worst Job
I think at some point in the past we've had a writing prompt about "what you want to be when you grow up."
Feb 14, 2010Snowman!
Today I was at a winter camp for children, and the children had to dress up their counselors as snowmen. That made me wonder...what would it be like to be a snowman?
Feb 7, 2010What Irritates You?
We all have pet peeves...things that irritate us and drive us crazy.
Jan 31, 2010Sibling Rivalry
Brothers and sisters are supposed to get along better than anyone...after all, blood is thicker than water...right?
Jan 24, 2010Silence!
It is rare to find silence in this world; noises of all sorts bombard our ears constantly. Do you like silence? Or dislike it? Does it make you feel uncomfortable?
Jan 17, 2010A Bug's Life
Have you ever wondered what a day in the life of a bug would be like? Have you wondered how a bug might perceive humanity?
Jan 10, 2010So Much Trouble
Last week I gave a "first line" prompt; your writing had to start with a specific set of words. Let's try another one of those...
Jan 3, 2010I Resolve...
Because it is the New Year, the word "resolution" is in the air a lot. It reminded me of an old hymn we used to sing in church when I was a child: "I am resolved no longer to linger, charmed by the world's delight; things that are higher, things that are nobler, these have allured my sight."
Dec 27, 2009Historical Character
Imagine what it would be like if you could interview someone from the history books. What kinds of questions would you ask?
Dec 20, 2009It's Better to Give...
On a past Christmas, we've had a writing prompt about the best Christmas present you ever received. But they say it's better to give than to receive. So...
Dec 13, 2009Letter To Santa
We've done this writing prompt in the past, and it has generated some fun pieces...
Dec 6, 2009Snowfall Poetry
As I sit here writing, it is snowing in Maine. Last year on our first snowfall, Iwrote this poem: The Painter.
Nov 29, 2009Book Review
It's been awhile since I've asked for book reviews for the weekly writing prompt.
Nov 22, 2009Thanksgiving Poem
This seems to be a yearly tradition; it's time to write a Thanksgiving poem for this week's writing prompt!
Nov 15, 2009Driving in the Rain
Driving in the rain can be both interesting and nerve-wracking.
Nov 8, 2009Invention
Have you ever imagined yourself as an inventor? Have you had any ideas of things you would like to invent?
Nov 1, 2009Time to Vote
It's November, and that means...time to vote! Imagine that you are running for an office - maybe a real office, or you could invent an office!
Oct 25, 2009One Sided Telephone Conversation
Have you ever tried to listen to someone's telephone conversation and guess what the other person is saying?
Oct 18, 2009A Recipe
It's good to share new and old recipes from one kitchen to another.
Oct 11, 2009Something Simple...A Bit of Haiku
Haiku poetry is written with a 5-7-5 syllable scheme: five syllables in the first line, seven in the second, and five in the third.
Oct 4, 2009A Musical Instrument
Imagine that you were a musical instrument: a guitar, a violin, a clarinet, a bass drum...
Sep 27, 2009An Imaginary Animal
This writing prompt comes from my niece, Annie, who wonders what sorts of animals everyone would create if they could invent their own animal!
Sep 20, 2009Writer's Block
I haven't been writing much lately. Primarily it's because my life has been incredibly busy the last couple months. And then, when I do have a few minutes to write, my brain doesn't seem to be in the mood for writing.
Sep 13, 2009Fairy Tale
Witches, talking animals, lost children, sleeping princesses...they're all part of the genre we know as Fairy Tales.
Sep 6, 2009A Day for Yourself
Today I hiked 10.2 miles over three mountains. It was a fabulous day. If you had a day that you could do whatever you wanted, what would you do?
Aug 30, 2009Parables and Fables
Sometimes writers and storytellers like to tell short little stories that have a pointed message for the listener/reader. Jesus was famous for this, and so was Aesop.
Aug 23, 2009End of Vacation?
For many, the end of August signals the end of vacation time. For students returning to school, it may be a time to write a "What I Did During Summer Vacation" essay.
Aug 16, 2009Alphabet Soup - Z
Think of a person, place, or thing that begins with the letter 'Z'. Now write a paragraph, a poem, or a short story about that person, place or thing.
Aug 9, 2009Alphabet Soup - Y
Think of a person, place, or thing that begins with the letter 'Y'. Now write a paragraph, a poem, or a short story about that person, place or thing.
Aug 2, 2009Alphabet Soup - X
Think of a person, place, or thing that begins with the letter 'X'. Now write a paragraph, a poem, or a short story about that person, place or thing.
Jul 26, 2009Alphabet Soup - W
Think of a person, place, or thing that begins with the letter 'W'. Now write a paragraph, a poem, or a short story about that person, place or thing.
Jul 19, 2009Alphabet Soup - V
Think of a person, place, or thing that begins with the letter 'V'. Now write a paragraph, a poem, or a short story about that person, place or thing.
Jul 12, 2009Alphabet Soup - U
Think of a person, place, or thing that begins with the letter 'U'. Now write a paragraph, a poem, or a short story about that person, place or thing.
Jul 5, 2009Alphabet Soup - T
Think of a person, place, or thing that begins with the letter 'T'. Now write a paragraph, a poem, or a short story about that person, place or thing.
Jun 28, 2009Alphabet Soup - S
Think of a person, place, or thing that begins with the letter 'S'. Now write a paragraph, a poem, or a short story about that person, place or thing.
Jun 21, 2009Alphabet Soup - R
Think of a person, place, or thing that begins with the letter 'R'. Now write a paragraph, a poem, or a short story about that person, place or thing.
Jun 14, 2009Alphabet Soup - Q
Think of a person, place, or thing that begins with the letter 'Q'. Now write a paragraph, a poem, or a short story about that person, place or thing.
Jun 7, 2009Alphabet Soup - P
Think of a person, place, or thing that begins with the letter 'P'. Now write a paragraph, a poem, or a short story about that person, place or thing.
May 31, 2009Alphabet Soup - O
Think of a person, place, or thing that begins with the letter 'O'. Now write a paragraph, a poem, or a short story about that person, place or thing.
May 24, 2009Alphabet Soup - N
Think of a person, place, or thing that begins with the letter 'N'. Now write a paragraph, a poem, or a short story about that person, place or thing.
May 17, 2009A Series of Puns
Puns are jokes that rely on words that sound alike, but have different meanings.
May 10, 2009Mother's Day
This week we celebrate Mother's Day, a day to commemorate and honor mothers.
May 3, 2009Performing a Task
In high school I had a teacher who had us write a paper on "how to reeve a block and tackle." We quickly discovered that writing understandable explanations of how to perform a specific set of instructions could be quite challenging.
Apr 26, 2009Newspaper Reporter
Imagine that you are a newspaper reporter, and your job is to report on the news in your neighborhood.
Apr 19, 2009Blank Verse
Sometimes people get so caught up in rhyming that they forget another very important part of a poem: its rhythm.
Apr 12, 2009A Trip to the Mall
People go to the mall to shop, to hang out with friends, or just to kill time.
Apr 5, 2009Recipe for Disaster?
Do you enjoy cooking? Here's a chance to tell us all your favorite recipe.
Mar 29, 2009Spring Is in the Air?
Where I live, there's still plenty of snow, but we're all anticipating actual, honest-to-goodness spring weather.
Mar 22, 2009Mythological Creatures
Greek and Roman mythology are filled with strange creatures like the Hydra, the Minotaur, Cerberus, and many others.
Mar 15, 2009Iambic Pentameter
An iamb is a sequence of two syllables in which the first syllable is unstressed, and the second is stressed. Iambic Pentameter is made up of lines of 5 iambs apiece.
Mar 8, 2009Admiration
We all have people in our lives we respect and admire, people we look up to, maybe even aspire to be like.
Mar 1, 2009You're a Book
Last week I asked people to imagine that they were an animal, and write a short piece from that perspective. This week, let's make that a bit more challenging...
Feb 22, 2009You're an Animal
Pick an animal, any animal, and imagine that you are that animal.
Feb 15, 2009Pep Talk Grab-Bag
This is a first; I thought it would be fun to do a Grab Bag for the writing prompt. So I went to the Grab Bag Page and asked for four words...
Feb 8, 2009Duct Tape
Some folks say that Duct Tape holds the world together. They even make calendars with 365 uses for Duct Tape.
Feb 1, 2009Writer's Block
This week has been one of the slowest weeks I've seen on this site since its beginning. A few pieces were written, but as of 6:00 PM on Saturday, only one person had done the weekly writing prompt!
Jan 25, 2009Lottery Winner
Imagine that you've just won the lottery. What kinds of things do you think would change in your life as a result of your winnings?
Jan 18, 2009More Historical Confusion
Can you imagine what would happen if Thomas Edison lived in the time of Alexander the Great? What would happen if George Washington could have a conversation with Abraham Lincoln?
Jan 11, 2009Hector and the Clarinets
It's been quite a long time since we last did a "First Line" writing prompt. So let's do one...
Jan 4, 2009Movie Review
Now that 2008 is over, people like to talk about their favorite (or least favorite) movie of last year. What about you?
Dec 28, 2008New Year's Resolutions
Some people resolve to make changes in their lives, starting on January 1st.
Dec 21, 2008Snow, Snow, Snow!
The weatherman is telling me that I'll have a White Christmas for sure this year. As I watch the snowflakes falling, I can't help but wonder: If snowflakes had brains, what kinds of things would they think about?
Dec 14, 2008Science Fiction Holiday
Write a paragraph, a story, or some dialog about people celebrating in a "science fiction" setting.
Dec 7, 2008Anapestic Christmas
'Twas the Night before Christmas' is a famous Christmas poem written in anapestic tetrameter. Each line sounds like this: da da DA da da DA da da DA da da DA, and every pair of lines rhymes.
Nov 30, 2008Memorable Christmas Party
Have you been to a Christmas party that sticks out in your mind, maybe even after many years have gone by?
Nov 2, 2008Short Story
Here at Fifteen Minutes Of Fiction, November 2008 is Short Story Writing Month. There will be only one writing prompt this month: Write a short story.
Oct 26, 2008Thanksgiving - A Month Early
Just a reminder, next week starts ShoStoWriMo at Fifteen Minutes Of Fiction, and we're encouraging writers to write a short story over the course of the month.
Oct 19, 2008School Conversation
Between classes, two students are walking the hallway at school. What are they talking about?
Oct 12, 2008Bird's Eye View
Today I was imagining how the world would look from the perspective of a bird flying overhead.
Oct 5, 2008Fibonacci Poems
We haven't done a Fibonacci Poem for awhile. A "Fib" is a poem with 6 lines, and the number of syllables in each line is: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8. There are no other metrical or rhyming rules, making it somewhat similar to a Haiku.
Sep 28, 2008Animal For A Day
If you could be an animal - any animal you wanted - for a day, what animal would you choose?
Sep 21, 2008Time Machine
A mad scientist just dumped you into a time machine, scrambled the controls, and sent you off to another time.
Sep 14, 2008Dream Vacation
We've written about a dream job, and our dream superpower, now it's time to write about your dream vacation.
Sep 7, 2008Super Hero!
If you were a super hero, what would your super hero name be? What would your super power be?
Aug 31, 2008Labor Day
In honor of Labor Day, let's write about jobs this week.
Aug 24, 2008Summer Haiku
School is starting soon; for many students, "back to school" is this week. Let's start the school year with a poetry writing prompt...
Aug 17, 2008Alphabet Soup - M
Think of a person, place, or thing that begins with the letter 'M'. Now write a paragraph, a poem, or a short story about that person, place or thing.
Aug 10, 2008Alphabet Soup - L
Think of a person, place, or thing that begins with the letter 'L'. Now write a paragraph, a poem, or a short story about that person, place or thing.
Aug 3, 2008Alphabet Soup - K
Think of a person, place, or thing that begins with the letter 'K'. Now write a paragraph, a poem, or a short story about that person, place or thing.
Jul 27, 2008Alphabet Soup - J
Think of a person, place, or thing that begins with the letter 'J'. Now write a paragraph, a poem, or a short story about that person, place or thing.
Jul 20, 2008Alphabet Soup - I
Think of a person, place, or thing that begins with the letter 'I'. Now write a paragraph, a poem, or a short story about that person, place or thing.
Jul 13, 2008Alphabet Soup - H
Think of a person, place, or thing that begins with the letter 'H'. Now write a paragraph, a poem, or a short story about that person, place or thing.
Jul 6, 2008Alphabet Soup - G
Think of a person, place, or thing that begins with the letter 'G'. Now write a paragraph, a poem, or a short story about that person, place or thing.
Jun 29, 2008Alphabet Soup - F
Think of a person, place, or thing that begins with the letter 'F'. Now write a paragraph, a poem, or a short story about that person, place or thing.
Jun 22, 2008Alphabet Soup - E
Think of a person, place, or thing that begins with the letter 'E'. Now write a paragraph, a poem, or a short story about that person, place or thing.
Jun 15, 2008Alphabet Soup - D
Think of a person, place, or thing that begins with the letter 'D'. Now write a paragraph, a poem, or a short story about that person, place or thing.
Jun 8, 2008Alphabet Soup - C
Think of a person, place, or thing that begins with the letter 'C'. Now write a paragraph, a poem, or a short story about that person, place or thing.
Jun 1, 2008Alphabet Soup - B
Think of a person, place, or thing that begins with the letter 'B'. Now write a paragraph, a poem, or a short story about that person, place or thing.
May 25, 2008Alphabet Soup - A
Think of a person, place, or thing that begins with the letter 'A'. Now write a paragraph, a poem, or a short story about that person, place or thing.
May 18, 2008A Penny For Your Thoughts...
Write a short dialogue that begins with one character saying to another, "A penny for your thoughts..."
May 11, 2008Famous Tales Revisited
Pick a favorite story from your childhood - a fable, a fairy tale, or some other story - and rewrite it.
May 4, 2008This Is the Way the World Ends
T.S. Eliot said that the world ends "not with a bang, but a whimper." Douglas Adams said there was a restaurant at the end of the universe.
Apr 27, 2008April Showers and May Flowers
"April showers bring May flowers," they say. We're now at the end of April, so we should be seeing those May flowers soon.
Apr 20, 2008Many Adjectives
Well chosen adjectives make your writing come alive by helping the reader picture what you're describing.
Apr 13, 2008My Favorite Books
Write a paragraph about one of your favorite books, explaining why you like it so much.
Apr 6, 2008Puns!
Write a paragraph, a conversation, or a story which contains lots of puns.
Mar 30, 2008Talking Animals
Have you ever wondered if animals talk to each other when we're not around?
Mar 23, 2008Easter Celebration
Does your family do anything special on Easter? Write about your family traditions/activities.
Mar 16, 2008My Favorite Day Of The Week
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday or Saturday: which is your favorite day of the week?
Mar 2, 2008To Whom It May Concern
Have you ever purchased a product or service and been very unhappy with the quality of what you received?
Feb 24, 2008Inanimate Perspective
Last week you wrote a poem about a "mundane object" - this week you'll need another object...
Feb 17, 2008Poem About A Mundane Object
It's been over two months since our last poetry writing prompt, so lets do another one!
Feb 10, 2008Happy Valentines Day?
Good Grief, Charlie Brown! Valentine's Day is this week! Have you got your Valentine's cards written and mailed?
Feb 3, 2008A Little Fantasy
Great fantasy writing often has strange, mystical creatures such as unicorns, fauns, centaurs, and many more.
Jan 27, 2008Historical Confusion
It has been said that "the winners write the history books". In other words, how can we be sure the things we read in history books are what really happened?
Jan 20, 2008Letter To A Spammer
Spammers (people who send unsolicited emails) are the bane of the internet. If you were going to write a letter to a spammer, what would you say?
Jan 13, 2008The Unexpected Test
Have you ever walked into a classroom having completely forgotten that you had a major test that day?
Jan 6, 2008Alfred's Missing Keys
Alfred has lost his key ring, on which he keeps the keys to everything he owns. How does this affect his day? What does he do to recover his keys?
Dec 30, 2007Alliterative Paragraphs
Alliteration is repetition of a leading vowel or consonant sound in a phrase. For example: "Peter Piper Picked a Peck of Pickled Peppers."
Dec 23, 2007My Favorite Christmas Gift
With Christmas this week, probably no one will have much time to "get creative", so for this writing prompt you really don't need much creativity.
Dec 16, 2007Homeless On Christmas
For many of us, Christmas is a time for family and feasting and celebration - but there are millions of people who are alone and without anything on Christmas each year.
Dec 9, 2007Letter To Santa Claus
For some of you it may have been many years since you wrote a letter to Santa Claus, and maybe some of you never have.
Dec 2, 2007Christmas Haiku
Let's return to Haiku this week! Write two or more Haiku about Christmas. Remember that in a Haiku, there are three lines, with 5/7/5 syllables.
Nov 25, 2007Christmas Story
Christmas is a month away. For the next few weeks the writing prompts will all be Christmas themed.
Nov 18, 2007Thankful Free Verse
Thanksgiving is a time for giving thanks (nothing like stating the obvious, eh?) What are you grateful for?
Nov 11, 2007Children Fighting
Children often fight and argue; two children are having an argument. What are they arguing about? What kinds of things are they saying?
Nov 4, 2007Inside The Television
In Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, a little boy ends up just a few inches tall and "on TV". What would it be like if that's how television really worked?
Oct 28, 2007I Lost My Job
You just found out this morning that you have been fired from your job. Your family does not yet know. What will you tell them? How will they react?
Oct 21, 2007Man-Made vs Nature
Haiku is a short Japanese form of poetry, in which the lines follow the form: 5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables.
Oct 14, 2007My Campaign Speech
People who are running in an election must be prepared to make speeches. If you were going to run for an office, what office would it be? How would you present your campaign to voters?
Oct 7, 2007The Mountain Peak
You've been hiking all morning, and have just reached the peak of the mountain.
Sep 30, 2007A Fibonacci Poem
A Fibonacci Poem (or 'Fib') is similar to a Haiku; the poem's structure is based on the number of syllables per line.
Sep 23, 2007The Thirty Seventh Floor
An elevator got stuck on the 37th floor of a skyscraper. One or more people were stuck in the elevator. Write a short story or story fragment about what happened.



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