Notes from the Inkpot
Writing, teaching, creating - one ink-stained idea at a time.
Save Hours Planning Creative Writing Units with Daily Prompts
Tired of reinventing the wheel for every creative writing lesson? Daily prompts offer a flexible, low-prep way to boost engagement, sharpen skills, and save you hours of planning. Here's how to build an entire unit around them, and where to grab your first month of prompts for free.
70 Dystopian Writing Prompts for Teen Writers
Looking for dystopian writing prompts that actually get teens thinking? This post goes way beyond “write about a world with no rules.” You’ll find story ideas, eerie titles, opening and closing lines, character inspiration, settings, and high-impact picture prompts. Everything you need to help students build powerful dystopian narratives from the ground up.
The Ashridge Collection: A Free Creative Writing Resource for Curious Students and Tired Teachers
Tired of worksheets? The Ashridge Collection is a free printable creative writing mystery designed for curious classrooms. Built from letters, diary entries, and eerie school documents, it invites students to step into a story, and shape it themselves.
10 Creative Writing Challenges to Stretch Your Imagination
Looking for ways to spark fresh ideas? These 10 creative writing challenges are perfect for classrooms, workshops, or solo writing sessions. From genre mashups to story reversals, each quick challenge helps stretch imagination, build skills, and unlock unexpected stories.
Download a Free Daily Writing Prompt for Your Students (Plus 31 Bonus Prompts Inside)
Download a free daily writing prompt to spark creativity in your classroom - plus get 31 bonus prompts when you join the waitlist for my upcoming Daily Writing Prompt Membership. Low-prep, high-impact ideas to keep students engaged and excited to write!
Famous First Lines as Writing Prompts: How to Spark Creativity Without Reinventing the Wheel
First lines are where everything begins -and for writers, they’re often the hardest part. That pressure to hook the reader immediately can be overwhelming. That’s exactly why I started collecting real first lines from published novels.
I use these with students to take the pressure off. Instead of staring at a blank screen, they start with something brilliant and build from there. It gives them structure and freedom all at once. It’s a reminder that writing isn’t about perfection. It’s about momentum.
Some lines are eerie. Some are emotional. Some are bold, jarring, or just weird enough to make you lean in. But the best ones all do the same thing: they open a door.
And that’s what these prompts are about. Opening the door, so the story can step through.
The Shoe Lesson: A Simple, Powerful Creative Writing Activity
What if one ordinary object could unlock a thousand extraordinary stories? The Shoe Lesson is one of my favourite creative writing activities - a simple, unexpected way to spark imagination, build character depth, and turn even the most reluctant writers into storytellers. Here's how a single shoe can transform your classroom or writing group.
100 Creative Writing Prompts Sorted by Genre: A Go-To List for Students & Teachers
Struggling to get words on the page? These 100 creative writing prompts are here to help. Sorted by genre and perfect for teens, this list is your go-to resource for sparking ideas, building writing confidence, and banishing writer’s block—whether you're teaching, journaling, or working on your next big story.
Creative Writing Prompts Reimagined: A Story in a Box
Creative writing prompts don’t have to be flat. These immersive, tactile storytelling boxes are designed for writers who crave atmosphere, mystery, and a spark of the unexpected — whether you’re writing alone, in a group, or just starting to explore your voice.
The Power of Daily Writing Prompts in the Classroom
What if your students didn’t freeze every time they had to write? Here’s how daily writing prompts helped mine go from “I don’t know what to write” to confident, creative thinkers - and how you can do the same.