Notes from the Inkpot
Writing, teaching, creating - one ink-stained idea at a time.
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 Ghost Story Prompts for Teens: Story Starters, Titles, Characters, Settings & Visual Ideas
Step into the shadows with 70 ghost story writing prompts for teens. From eerie plot hooks and chilling opening lines to haunted settings, character ideas, and picture prompts, this collection is packed with inspiration for spooky season. Perfect for classroom activities, creative writing practice, or anyone who loves a good scare.
The Silent Directive: A Creative Writing Box Inspired by a World Without Sound
What if silence wasn’t a choice, but the law? In our latest writing boxThe Silent Directive, citizens live under a regime where sound itself is treason. Broadcasts, memos, detention registers, and propaganda leaflets reveal a world where silence is loyalty, silence is safety, and silence is survival. Unlike my other writing boxes, this one doesn’t whisper secrets — it issues orders in plain sight.
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.
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.
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
Let students build magical worlds and unforgettable characters with these 70 fantasy writing prompts for teens. From enchanted forests and forgotten prophecies to mysterious maps and celestial mirrors, this collection includes story starters, titles, character ideas, setting inspiration, and stunning visual prompts to spark imagination in any classroom.
70 Horror Creative Writing Prompts for Teens: Story Starters, Titles, Characters, Settings & Visual Ideas
Looking for horror writing prompts that go beyond haunted houses and jump scares?
This post includes 70+ eerie and original ideas designed to help teen writers build atmosphere, suspense, and unforgettable stories. Perfect for creative writing units, Halloween lessons, or students who love the strange and uncanny.
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.
70 Sci-Fi Writing Prompts for Teens: Ideas, Openings, and Visual Starters for the English Classroom
Looking for sci-fi writing prompts that actually work with teens? This post goes beyond aliens and spaceships. You’ll find story starters, eerie opening lines, character ideas, atmospheric settings, and picture prompts. all designed to help students write science fiction with substance.
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.
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.