Creative Writing Prompts

Imagine you were on a trip to the moon. Describe the trip. Tell what you see and do. (Science writing journal topic)

If you could spend an afternoon with one member of your extended family, who would it be? Tell why you chose this person and tell what you do together. (descriptive writing)

Which superpower would you most like to have-- invisibility, super strength, or the ability to fly? Describe what kinds of things you would do with your powers. (creative thinking)

Describe one time when you were brave. (creative writing journal)

Describe one thing you're really good at. (personal narrative)

Imagine you worked at a football stadium. What would your job be? (examples: quarterback, cheerleader, coach, referee, ticket seller) Describe what you would do while you were on the job. (creative journal prompt)

Would you rather live in a castle, on a houseboat, or on a farm? Why? (writing ideas)

Invent a new kind of sandwich. Describe what is on it and how you would make it. (critical thinking and writing)

If you were a doctor, what kind of doctor would you be? (examples: childrens' doctor, veterinarian, eye doctor, dentist) Tell what your job would be like. (careers)

Cinderella's fairy godmother used her magic wand to create a beautiful dress and slippers. Imagine you had a fairy godmother. What kind of magic would she do?

How old were you four years ago? Describe some things you can do now that you could not do then. (critical thinking writing)

Make up a creative story about a girl or boy who goes fishing and catches something very unusual.

Pretend you had $100, but you weren't allowed to keep it for yourself. You have to give it away to a charity or person. Who would you give the money to? What would you want the person to do with it? (creative writing; economics; character ed.)

What do you like best about your home? (descriptive writing idea)

Imagine you woke up and saw a dinosaur in your backyard. Write a story telling what you see and do. (journal topic)

Describe your favorite season (fall, spring, summer, or winter). Tell what kinds of things you like to do during that season. (Science journal topics)

Imagine you opened your own restaurant. Tell the name of your restaurant. Explain what the restaurant looks like, who works there, and what you serve. (Writing ideas)

Write a descriptive essay about a fun fact many people don't know about you.

If you could cook any meal for your family, what would you cook? Describe the meal and tell how you would make it. (writing topic)

Write a story titled, "My Journey on a Pirate Ship." You and your friends can star in the story. (journal topics)

If you could have any animal for a pet, what would it be? Describe the pet and how you would take care of it.

Write a descriptive essay about what, in your opinion, is a big waste of money.

Do you have any brothers or sisters? If you do, describe what they're like. If you don't, tell whether or not you would like to have a brother or sister. (creative writing; family)

Imagine you could have lunch with any celebrity. Who would it be? What kinds of things would you talk about? (essay idea)

Write a story titled, "The Bat Who Couldn't Fly." (creative story prompt)

Imagine you were a wonderful painter and your parents would let you paint anything you wanted on your bedroom walls. What would you paint? Use lots of details to describe your artwork. (descriptive writing essay)

Describe the oldest person you know. (descriptive paragraph writing)

Describe the youngest person you know. (descriptive writing topics)

Do you think a monkey would make a good pet? Explain why or why not. (persuasive writing topics)

Think of a time when you've won something. Tell what you won and how you won it. (personal narrative)

Write a story titled, "The Baby Dragon." (writing creative stories)

Describe several ways a person your age can earn money. (Social Studies writing topics)

Imagine you are a spider. Where would you build your web? Tell how you would build it? What bugs do you catch in it?

Write about something that always puts a smile on your face.

Use the character, setting, and event story cards to build your own creative story! This activity is a supplementary material to our STW blog post, "Build Your Own Story!" It's a great English language arts exercise for students of all ages!

Students will pick a side on whether or not they would want an AI robot for a teacher. Then they will write a formal argument to persuade their school's board of education. They are prompted to support their claim with evidence and precise information, but acknowledge that the school board may disagree.

This writing prompt encourages students to think about the concept of villains and write an argument about a specific villain not being evil, but misunderstood.

This writing prompt is for a formal argument to have an adult buy something expensive that you don't have the money for. Students will introduce a claim that they need the item but also acknowledge that the person they are trying to convince may say no.

Should the school week only be 4 days? Students will pick a side and write a formal argument to persuade the principal of their opinions.

Write a narrative about finding an alien who only has 24 hours to spend on Earth. Write about showing them around the planet using engaging and descriptive details, as well as dialogue and transition words.

With this writing prompt, students will imagine they have been transported inside the video game they've been playing. They'll write a narrative using descriptive details and sensory language, as well as dialogue.

With this writing prompt, students will write a narrative about what they imagine a typical day in the 1900s to be like. Don't hold it against them if they choose to write about a time period you can remember!

This narrative writing prompt encourages students to think about what they would do if they went viral on social media.

Write a narrative about winning $1 billion using descriptive details, sensory language, and dialogue.

Choose a topic you are an expert on and write an informative text with organized ideas, facts, definitions, details, and headings or diagrams when needed.

With this writing prompt, students will write an explanatory text about a future job they might wish to have someday.

This explanatory-text writing prompt encourages students to think about how they use technology every day and write about it in a formal way.

Manipulative wheel for students to use when they're checking over their writing.  Check for capitals, end marks, topic sentence, etc.

A colorful version of the proofreading wheel above.