Notes from the Inkpot
Writing, teaching, creating - one ink-stained idea at a time.
70 New Year Writing Prompts for Teens: Midnight Thresholds, Hidden Promises, and the Moment Between Years
This collection of 70 New Year writing prompts for teens explores the moment between years: when time turns, promises are made in secret, and the future feels both vast and unforgiving. Drawing on themes of Father Time, midnight thresholds, hidden resolutions, and cosmic consequence, these prompts invite writers into stories where celebration fades and meaning sharpens. Blending contemporary realism with magical realism, gothic atmosphere, and high-fantasy imagery, the prompts include plot hooks, story starters, character ideas, settings, and cinematic visual prompts — perfect for classrooms, writing clubs, or independent writers ready to explore what it really means to step into a new year.
20 Best Texts to Teach in January: Fresh Starts, New Beginnings, and Smart Classroom Momentum
January is one of the most important — and underestimated — teaching months of the year. After the break, students don’t need noise or novelty; they need texts that rebuild focus, invite reflection, and spark meaningful discussion. This curated list of 20 novels, short stories, poems, films, and podcasts offers flexible, high-impact texts that work across ages and formats, helping you reset classroom momentum without overloading your planning.
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.