Notes from the Inkpot
Writing, teaching, creating - one ink-stained idea at a time.
A Million Stories in One: The Most Unexpected Christmas Gift for Creative Writers
Finding a Christmas gift for a writer is almost impossible. Another notebook won’t surprise them, and they already own every pen they need. What they really want isn’t stationery — it’s a spark. A doorway. A story waiting to begin.
This December, discover a gift that feels like a secret unearthed rather than something grabbed from a shelf. Digital writing boxes: immersive worlds built from fragments, clues, and forgotten documents, where nothing is explained and everything can become a story. A present that unfolds slowly, invites curiosity, and contains a million possibilities inside a single download.
If you’re searching for something rare, atmospheric, and unforgettable — a gift that feels like discovery — explore the four worlds waiting inside.
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.
70 Gothic Writing Prompts for Teens: Story Starters, Characters, Settings & Visual Ideas
Gothic fiction is all about atmosphere — haunted houses, storm-lashed castles, shadowy forests, and secrets that refuse to stay buried. This collection of 70 gothic writing prompts invites teen writers to explore eerie story starters, haunting titles, tragic characters, evocative settings, and atmospheric picture prompts. Perfect for classrooms or independent writers, these prompts capture the beauty and terror at the heart of gothic storytelling.
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.
Halloween Gothic Short Stories & Creative Writing Bundle: Teach Analysis and Imagination in One Go
Looking for ready-to-go Halloween ELA activities? This Gothic short story and creative writing bundle is perfect for middle and high school lesson plans. Explore The Tell-Tale Heart, The Fall of the House of Usher, and The Monkey’s Paw with complete activities, then let students create their own eerie narratives through the Victoriana Creative Writing Mystery Box. A time-saving, engaging way to combine analysis and imagination this October.
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.
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.
10 Best Edgar Allan Poe Stories to Teach (And How to Teach Them)
Spooky season is the perfect time to teach Edgar Allan Poe. From The Tell-Tale Heart to The Masque of the Red Death, his stories and poems hook students with Gothic atmosphere, unreliable narrators, and detective intrigue. This list highlights the 10 best Poe texts to teach — with ready-to-use resources, activities, and creative ideas to bring them alive in your classroom.