Notes from the Inkpot
Writing, teaching, creating - one ink-stained idea at a time.
70 January Writing Prompts for Teens: New Beginnings, Aftermaths, and Turning Points
January is a month of quiet turning points — what comes after the celebrations, when routines return and choices begin to matter. This collection of 70 January writing prompts invites teen writers to explore aftermath, new beginnings, and moments of change through plot hooks, opening and closing lines, character ideas, settings, and visual prompts designed for classrooms or independent writing.
31 Daily Writing Prompts for January: Ever After
A 31-day collection of fairytale retellings inspired by myths and folklore from around the world. These prompts move beyond “happily ever after” to explore power, consequence, and the stories left untold — perfect for classrooms, creative writing lessons, or anyone rediscovering their love of storytelling.
70 Winter Writing Prompts for Teens: Story Starters, Characters, Settings & Visual Ideas
Winter is more than just cold weather — it’s a season of stark beauty, hidden dangers, and powerful contrasts. From frozen forests and snowbound trains to icy queens and weary travelers, these prompts invite teen writers to explore survival, mystery, fantasy, and gothic tales shaped by winter’s grip. This collection of 70 prompts includes story starters, titles, characters, settings, and picture prompts, perfect for classrooms or independent writing.
31 Daily Writing Prompts for December: The Longest Night
Step into December with thirty-one hauntingly beautiful prompts inspired by the winter solstice. From cursed carolers to frost-lit markets and mirrors that show more than the year ahead, The Longest Night blends folklore, myth, and midwinter magic. Each prompt includes an image, opening and closing lines, and a plot idea — ready to spark stories in the classroom or at your own desk.
31 Daily Writing Prompts for December: The Longest Night
Step into the hush of winter with The Longest Night — 31 daily writing prompts inspired by folklore, solstice myths, and snowbound magic. From lanterns in the storm to masquerades at midnight, these prompts capture the eerie beauty of the darkest month and the stories that burn brightest against the cold.
Micro Writing for the TikTok Generation (Why Short Bursts Spark Big Ideas)
Micro writing is about stripping things back — short bursts of creativity that can grow into something bigger. This post explores how daily prompts, complete with titles, images, opening and closing lines, and plot ideas, can be used for quick five-minute writes that fit neatly into any lesson. Think of it as a clean, minimalist approach to writing practice: simple to set up, but powerful in what it sparks.
70 November Writing Prompts for Teens: Story Starters, Characters, Settings & Visual Ideas
November is full of contrasts — cozy fires and autumn leaves, but also secrets, shadows, and sudden chaos. From Bonfire Night and the Gunpowder Plot to Thanksgiving tables and Black Friday crowds, this month brims with inspiration. These 70 prompts include story starters, titles, characters, settings, and picture prompts to spark teen writers’ imaginations all season long.
The Hemlock Collection: A Witch Trial Mystery Across Centuries
Step into Crowhurst, 1628. A child’s screams in the night, whispered accusations, and a village consumed by fear. The Hemlock Collection is a digital-first creative writing mystery that blends witch trials and folklore with the modern-day disappearance of Beth Crowhurst in 2023. Through letters, grave rubbings, diary entries, and newspaper clippings, students and writers are invited to investigate both timelines and craft their own stories from the shadows left by history.
70 Dark Fantasy Writing Prompts for Teens: Story Starters, Characters, Settings & Visual Ideas
Dark fantasy blends wonder with menace—cursed kingdoms, perilous magic, and choices that always carry a cost. These prompts invite teen writers to craft atmospheric, morally complex stories with eerie plot hooks, striking titles, opening and closing lines, characters, settings, and picture prompts. Perfect for classrooms, clubs, or solo writing when you want fantasy with sharper teeth.
70 Paranormal Mystery Prompts for Teens: Story Starters, Titles, Characters, Settings & Visual Ideas
Paranormal mysteries mix eerie suspense with the thrill of uncovering secrets. These prompts invite teen writers to explore strange clues, shadowy figures, and unexplained events — from a glowing rotary phone ringing in an abandoned house to a cracked mirror showing a city that doesn’t exist. With 70 ideas covering titles, opening lines, characters, and picture prompts, this collection will keep imaginations racing.
70 October Writing Prompts for Teens: Spooky Starters, Autumn Titles, Characters, Settings & Visual Ideas
October is the perfect month for storytelling—misty nights, glowing lanterns, and the thrill of Halloween in the air. This collection of 70 October writing prompts for teens is packed with spooky plot hooks, atmospheric titles, eerie opening and closing lines, character and setting ideas, and detailed picture prompts to spark your imagination. Whether you’re writing ghost stories, autumn adventures, or a hint of magical realism, you’ll find inspiration to carry you through the season.
70 Mythology Writing Prompts for Teens: Story Starters, Titles, Characters, Settings & Visual Ideas
Step into a world of gods, heroes, and ancient legends with these 70 mythology writing prompts. Perfect for teen writers and classrooms, this collection includes epic plot hooks, mythic titles, opening and closing lines, character archetypes, settings, and vivid picture prompts. From Mount Olympus to the underworld, these prompts invite young writers to reimagine timeless myths or create brand-new legends of their own.
70 Cyberpunk Writing Prompts for Teens: Story Starters, Titles, Characters, Settings & Visual Ideas
Cyberpunk is all about rebellion, technology, and survival in a neon-drenched future. These 70 prompts dive into hackers, megacities, AI, and underground resistance movements, giving teen writers the chance to experiment with high-tech drama and raw emotion. Whether you’re teaching dystopian literature, exploring sci-fi themes, or just want to fuel creativity, this collection blends classic cyberpunk grit with fresh, atmospheric ideas.
Dark Inheritance: 31 Haunting October Writing Prompts for Teachers and Teens
October is the perfect month for eerie storytelling, and Dark Inheritance delivers 31 gothic-inspired prompts packed with secrets, curses, and unsettling twists. Each daily prompt includes a title, image, opening line, closing line, and full plot idea—ideal for classrooms or independent writers who want to embrace the darker side of creativity this Halloween season.
30 Daily Writing Prompts for September: The Architect of Fate
September’s daily writing prompts come wrapped in gold thread and shadow. The Architect of Fate is a month-long journey into stories where destiny isn’t fixed—it’s forged. Across thirty prompts, you’ll explore mythic landscapes, surreal machines, whispered bargains, and impossible choices. Each day offers a spark for your creativity, whether you’re a teacher in search of classroom starters, a student finding your voice, or a writer chasing your next great idea. From villages that vanish before dawn to dreamwalkers trapped between worlds, these prompts are designed to challenge, inspire, and unsettle—in the best possible way.
70 Back-to-School Themed Creative Writing Prompts for Teens: Story Starters, Titles, Characters, Settings & Visual Ideas
The start of the school year is full of story potential — new beginnings, old rivalries, unexpected friendships, and the drama of everyday life. These 70 back-to-school writing prompts include plot hooks, titles, characters, settings, and picture prompts to spark ideas for teen writers and keep creativity flowing all term.
Why I Swear by Picture Prompts for Teaching Literature (And How to Use Them)
Picture prompts aren’t just for creative writing units — they can transform the way students connect with literature. Whether you use them to spark predictions before reading or to inspire a fresh take after finishing a text, the right image can flip the switch from passive reader to active thinker. Here’s how I use picture prompts to teach language through literature, keep lessons fresh, and make analysis feel less like a chore.
70 Romance Writing Prompts for Teens: Story Starters, Titles, Characters, Settings & Visual Ideas
Looking for fresh, heartfelt, or slightly messy story ideas? This collection of teen romance prompts includes everything from first crushes and love letters to emotional plot twists and swoon-worthy settings. Whether you're building a creative writing unit or just want a single spark of inspiration, these prompts are designed to help teen writers explore connection, vulnerability, and what it means to fall in (and out of) love.
70 Historical Fiction Prompts for Teens: Story Hooks, Titles, and Characters Across the Ages
From candlelit courts to war-torn trenches, these historical fiction prompts invite students to step inside the past and imagine the lives history left behind. Whether you’re drawn to whispered secrets at Versailles or the flicker of revolution in the streets, these 70 prompts combine vivid detail with emotional depth - perfect for creative teens and curious minds of any age.
70 Magical Realism Writing Prompts for Teens: Ideas, Openings, and Visual Starters for the English Classroom
Magical realism invites students to see the ordinary world through an extraordinary lens. These 70 creative writing prompts are built for teens who love stories that shimmer just beneath the surface- where lost towns reappear, time bends in kitchens, and emotions take physical shape. Perfect for classroom inspiration or personal writing practice, this collection blends poetic titles, eerie openings, visual prompts, and grounded storytelling to help young writers explore the surreal in everyday life.