Notes from the Inkpot
Writing, teaching, creating - one ink-stained idea at a time.
70 Romantasy Writing Prompts for Teens: Story Starters, Characters, Settings & Visual Ideas
Romantasy writing prompts blend fantasy worldbuilding with romantic tension, creating stories where magic, power, and emotion collide. This curated collection of 70 romantasy writing prompts for teens explores enemies-to-lovers dynamics, political intrigue, forbidden bonds, and love shaped by consequence rather than destiny. Featuring plot hooks, character concepts, opening and closing lines, immersive settings, and cinematic picture prompts, this post is designed for teachers and teen writers looking to develop high-stakes romantasy stories with depth, atmosphere, and emotional impact.
100 Poetry Prompts for the Classroom: Teen-Friendly and Teacher-Tested
Explore 100 poetry writing prompts designed for teens, classrooms, and creative practice. This collection includes imagery-driven prompts, identity and memory poems, surreal writing ideas, social and political poetry, and form-based exercises to help students develop voice, imagery, and poetic language. Ideal for National Poetry Month, creative writing units, journaling, and daily poetry practice.
70 Fairytales Reimagined Writing Prompts for Teens: Story Starters, Characters, Settings & Visual Ideas
70 Fairytales Reimagined Writing Prompts for Teens is a premium creative writing collection designed to help young writers retell classic fairytales through modern, dystopian, and speculative lenses. Inspired by traditional folklore and contemporary YA retellings, these prompts explore how familiar stories change when power shifts, systems replace magic, and happily-ever-afters are no longer guaranteed. Featuring plot hooks, story titles, opening and closing lines, character ideas, reimagined settings, and atmospheric picture prompts, this collection is ideal for classroom creative writing, writing clubs, and independent teen writers who enjoy fairytale retellings with darker, smarter, or more modern twists.
70 Gothic Writing Prompts for Teens: Story Starters, Characters, Settings & Visual Ideas
Gothic fiction is defined by atmosphere — haunted houses, storm-lashed castles, shadowed forests, and secrets that refuse to stay buried. This collection of 70 gothic writing prompts helps teen writers explore gothic fiction through eerie story starters, haunting titles, tragic characters, evocative settings, and atmospheric picture prompts inspired by classic and modern gothic literature. Ideal for classrooms, creative writing clubs, or independent writers, these prompts capture the beauty, tension, and unease at the heart of gothic storytelling.
70 Steampunk Writing Prompts for Teens: Story Starters, Characters, Settings & Visual Ideas
Steampunk writing prompts for teens blend Victorian history with speculative invention, creating worlds shaped by steam power, machinery, and bold technological imagination. More than an aesthetic, steampunk explores systems of power, class, labour, and progress — asking what happens when innovation advances faster than ethics. This collection of 70 steampunk writing prompts is designed to help teen writers build rich, believable worlds through plot hooks, story titles, opening and closing lines, character ideas, immersive settings, and visual picture prompts. From inventors and rebels to airships, factories, and mechanical cities, these prompts encourage thoughtful, consequence-driven storytelling rather than surface-level genre tropes. Ideal for classroom creative writing, genre studies, or independent projects, these steampunk prompts support worldbuilding, narrative tension, and imaginative problem-solving — making them a powerful resource for teachers and young writers exploring speculative fiction.
70 Survival Writing Prompts for Teens: Story Starters, Characters, Settings & Visual Ideas
Survival writing prompts for teens explore what happens when comfort, safety, and certainty disappear. Rooted in isolation, scarcity, and high-stakes decision-making, survival fiction reveals character under pressure and asks how far people are willing to go to endure. This collection of 70 survival writing prompts includes plot hooks, story titles, opening and closing lines, character ideas, immersive settings, and picture prompts designed to support realistic, tension-driven storytelling. From natural disasters and remote environments to moral dilemmas and fractured group dynamics, these prompts help young writers build stories focused on resilience, consequence, and human choice. Ideal for classroom creative writing, survival fiction units, or independent projects, these prompts encourage thoughtful exploration of endurance, leadership, and survival when there are no easy answers.
70 Dark Fairytale Writing Prompts for Teens: Story Starters, Characters, Settings & Visual Ideas
70 Dark Fairytale Writing Prompts for Teens is a premium creative writing collection inspired by the darker roots of classic fairytales from the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen, and modern retellings like Angela Carter. These prompts invite teen writers to reimagine familiar tales through eerie settings, unsettling characters, moral consequences, and haunting endings. Featuring plot hooks, story titles, opening and closing lines, character ideas, atmospheric settings, and picture prompts, this collection supports classroom creative writing, writing clubs, and independent writers who enjoy fantasy with a sharp, unsettling edge.
70 Dark Fantasy Writing Prompts for Teens: Story Starters, Characters, Settings & Visual Ideas
Dark fantasy writing prompts for teens invite young writers into worlds where magic is dangerous, heroes are flawed, and every choice carries consequences. From cursed kingdoms and whispering crowns to eerie forests and impossible bargains, dark fantasy blends wonder with menace to create stories rich in atmosphere and moral tension. This collection of 70 dark fantasy writing prompts is designed for classrooms, writing clubs, and independent teen writers. Inside, you’ll find plot hooks, character ideas, evocative settings, opening and closing lines, and visual prompts that encourage imaginative storytelling while supporting skill development in tone, worldbuilding, and character motivation.
70 Paranormal Mystery Prompts for Teens: Story Starters, Titles, Characters, Settings & Visual Ideas
Paranormal mystery writing prompts for teens combine eerie atmosphere with investigation, logic, and unanswered questions. Unlike pure horror or fantasy, paranormal mystery stories focus on clues, unreliable evidence, and the tension between what can be explained and what refuses to make sense. This collection of 70 paranormal mystery writing prompts is designed to help teen writers develop suspense-driven narratives through plot hooks, story titles, opening and closing lines, character ideas, setting prompts, and visual inspiration. From missing person cases and coded messages to unsettling locations and unexplained phenomena, these prompts encourage writers to think like investigators while crafting stories rich in mood and mystery. Perfect for classroom creative writing, Halloween units, writing clubs, or independent practice, these paranormal mystery prompts support deeper storytelling, critical thinking, and atmosphere-led writing — without relying on shock or spectacle.
70 Mythology Writing Prompts for Teens: Story Starters, Titles, Characters, Settings & Visual Ideas
Mythology is shaped by fate, power, and the fragile boundary between mortals and gods — from ancient temples and cursed heroes to oracles, underworld journeys, and divine punishment. This collection of 70 mythology writing prompts for teens draws on Greek and Roman myths to explore epic storytelling through plot hooks, mythic titles, complex characters, symbolic settings, and evocative picture prompts inspired by classical mythology. Ideal for classrooms, creative writing clubs, or independent writers, these prompts encourage imaginative writing rooted in consequence, sacrifice, and timeless mythic themes.
70 Cyberpunk Writing Prompts for Teens: Story Starters, Titles, Characters, Settings & Visual Ideas
Cyberpunk writing prompts for teens explore futures shaped by surveillance, megacorporations, and technology that controls as much as it empowers. Rooted in questions of power, identity, and resistance, cyberpunk fiction asks what happens when systems outgrow the people living inside them. This collection of 70 cyberpunk writing prompts includes plot hooks, story titles, opening and closing lines, character ideas, immersive settings, and picture prompts designed to support consequence-driven storytelling. From social credit systems and hacked identities to corporate control and digital rebellion, these prompts help teen writers build speculative worlds that feel unsettlingly plausible. Ideal for classroom creative writing, science fiction units, or independent projects, these cyberpunk prompts encourage ethical thinking, modern worldbuilding, and narrative tension — making them a powerful resource for teachers and young writers exploring contemporary speculative fiction.
70 Ghost Story Prompts for Teens: Story Starters, Titles, Characters, Settings & Visual Ideas
Ghost stories are built on atmosphere, memory, and the unsettling sense that something has been left unresolved. This collection of 70 ghost story writing prompts for teens explores haunted places, lingering spirits, strange encounters, and the thin boundary between the living and the dead through eerie plot hooks, story titles, opening and closing lines, character ideas, settings, and atmospheric picture prompts. Ideal for classrooms, creative writing clubs, or independent writers, these prompts support suspenseful, emotion-driven storytelling without relying on shock or horror.
70 Romance Writing Prompts for Teens: Story Starters, Titles, Characters, Settings & Visual Ideas
Romance writing prompts invite writers to explore emotional connection, tension, and the moments that sit between longing and choice. This collection of romance writing prompts for teens and writers is designed to spark meaningful stories — from first love and heartbreak to slow-burn relationships, quiet intimacy, and unresolved feelings. Whether you’re looking for creative writing inspiration, romance plot ideas, character-driven prompts, or scene writing prompts, these ideas help writers move beyond clichés and write romance with depth, authenticity, and emotional weight. Perfect for classrooms, independent writers, and creative writing warm-ups, these prompts support writing romance, developing characters, and building believable relationships through setting, dialogue, and atmosphere.
70 Historical Fiction Prompts for Teens: Story Hooks, Titles, and Characters Across the Ages
Historical fiction writing prompts for teens help young writers explore the lives behind the history books — from private rooms and working spaces to moments of quiet rebellion and social change. This curated collection of 70 historical fiction writing prompts includes plot hooks, titles, opening and closing lines, character ideas, immersive settings, and carefully designed picture prompts, offering teachers and teen writers a premium resource for developing historically grounded, emotionally rich stories.
70 Magical Realism Writing Prompts for Teens: Ideas, Openings, and Visual Starters for the English Classroom
Magical realism writing prompts for teens blend the ordinary with the impossible, creating stories that feel grounded, symbolic, and emotionally rich. This curated collection of 70 magical realism writing prompts includes plot hooks, title ideas, opening and closing lines, character concepts, settings, and picture prompts designed for classroom use or independent creative writing. Ideal for KS3–KS4 students, these prompts help teen writers explore memory, identity, loss, and belonging through subtle magic and familiar worlds.
70 Mystery Writing Prompts for Teens: Ideas, Openings, and Visual Starters for the English Classroom
From eerie settings to twisty plot hooks, these 70 mystery writing prompts are built to spark curiosity and sharpen storytelling. Whether you're planning a full unit or just want a way to get students writing again, you'll find character ideas, opening lines, titles, and atmospheric visuals ready to use in the classroom.
70 Fantasy Writing Prompts for Teens: Story Starters, Characters, Settings & Visual Ideas
Fantasy writing invites teen writers to imagine worlds beyond their own while exploring real questions about identity, power, and choice. This collection of 70 fantasy writing prompts for teens offers structured yet flexible inspiration through story starters, character ideas, settings, opening and closing lines, and visual prompts designed to support imaginative, emotionally grounded storytelling. Ideal for English lessons, creative writing units, writing clubs, and independent practice, these fantasy prompts help students develop worldbuilding, character voice, and narrative structure without relying on clichés or complex magic systems. Whether used for short stories or longer fantasy projects, the prompts encourage thoughtful creativity and meaningful exploration of imagined worlds.
70 Horror Creative Writing Prompts for Teens: Story Starters, Titles, Characters, Settings & Visual Ideas
Explore 70 horror creative writing prompts for teens designed to build atmosphere, tension, and unsettling storytelling. This collection of horror writing prompts includes story starters, title ideas, eerie opening and closing lines, character concepts, unsettling settings, and image-based inspiration focused on psychological dread rather than jump scares. Ideal for classroom writing prompts, creative warm-ups, independent writing, or full horror writing units, these prompts help students practise voice, mood, and descriptive writing while exploring fear in a safe, creative way.
70 Dystopian Writing Prompts for Teen Writers
Dystopian writing prompts give teen writers a powerful way to explore control, resistance, survival, and imagined futures shaped by fear or authority. This collection of 70 dystopian story ideas includes picture prompts, opening lines, titles, and speculative scenarios designed to support creative writing lessons, independent writing, and classroom discussion. Ideal for students studying dystopian fiction or learning how to write a dystopian story, these prompts encourage critical thinking, worldbuilding, and meaningful storytelling.
70 Sci-Fi Writing Prompts for Teens: Ideas, Openings, and Visual Starters for the English Classroom
Explore 70 science fiction writing prompts for teens designed to spark imagination, critical thinking, and original storytelling. This collection of science fiction creative writing prompts includes story starters, opening and closing lines, characters, settings, and visual prompts inspired by futures shaped by technology, power, and possibility. Ideal for classroom warm-ups, independent writing, creative clubs, and full sci-fi genre units, these prompts help students explore big ideas through engaging, age-appropriate science fiction stories.