Notes from the Inkpot
Writing, teaching, creating - one ink-stained idea at a time.
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 Christmas Writing Prompts for Teens: Story Starters, Characters, Settings & Visual Ideas
Christmas is a season full of contrasts — cozy fireplaces and glittering lights, but also mystery, magic, and the occasional bit of chaos. These prompts invite teen writers to explore the holiday across genres, from festive romance and fantasy adventures to gothic tales and eerie mysteries. With 70 story starters, titles, characters, settings, and picture prompts, this collection sparks creativity for classrooms or independent writing, offering fresh takes on the season that go far beyond the expected.
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 Steampunk Writing Prompts for Teens: Story Starters, Characters, Settings & Visual Ideas
Steampunk is a genre where Victorian elegance collides with brass gears, steam engines, and strange inventions. It’s a world of daring skyship captains, masked vigilantes, rebellious inventors, and cities powered by impossible machines. For teen writers, steampunk opens the door to adventure, rebellion, and discovery in settings that feel both historical and futuristic. These 70 prompts include story starters, titles, characters, settings, and picture prompts to spark imagination in classrooms or independent writing.
70 Enemies-to-Lovers Writing Prompts for Teens: Story Starters, Characters, Settings & Visual Ideas
The enemies-to-lovers trope is one of the most irresistible in fiction — full of sharp banter, fiery standoffs, and unexpected chemistry. From secret agents and rival royals to academic competitors and stage partners, these prompts give teen writers the chance to explore tension that slowly turns into trust. With 70 ideas covering story starters, titles, opening and closing lines, characters, settings, and picture prompts, this collection is perfect for classrooms, clubs, or any writer who loves a little rivalry before romance.
70 Survival Writing Prompts for Teens: Story Starters, Characters, Settings & Visual Ideas
Survival stories push characters to their limits, forcing them to find courage, resourcefulness, and resilience when everything is at stake. From wilderness challenges to natural disasters, and from deserted islands to post-apocalyptic ruins, this collection invites teen writers to explore what it truly means to endure. Inspired by classics like Lord of the Flies and modern YA adventures, these 70 prompts offer story starters, titles, characters, settings, and picture prompts to keep creativity alive in even the harshest conditions.
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.
70 Dark Fairytale Writing Prompts for Teens: Story Starters, Characters, Settings & Visual Ideas
Fairytales weren’t always sweet and sparkly. The originals were filled with darkness and danger. Cinderella’s stepsisters cut off parts of their feet, the Little Mermaid walked in constant pain, and Sleeping Beauty’s tale was far more unsettling than a simple kiss. These 70 prompts invite teen writers to reimagine classic tales with eerie settings, haunting characters, and endings that blur the line between wonder and horror. Perfect for classrooms, clubs, or independent writers who want fantasy with a sinister twist.
1000 Creative Writing Prompts: Spark Imagination in Every Classroom and Notebook
Discover a free collection of 1000 Creative Writing Prompts designed to spark imagination in every classroom and notebook. From eerie openings to beautiful settings and clever twists, this downloadable PDF is packed with story ideas for teachers, students, and writers who want to make creativity part of their daily routine.
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 Halloween Writing Prompts for Teens: Story Starters, Titles, Characters, Settings & Visual Ideas
Get into the spooky spirit with 70 Halloween writing prompts designed for teen writers. From eerie plot hooks and chilling titles to haunted settings and creepy character ideas, this collection brings the mystery and magic of October to life. Perfect for classrooms or young writers, these prompts encourage creativity through suspense, atmosphere, and a touch of fear.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
The Atlas of Lost Places: A Free Creative Writing Resource to Unlock Student Imagination
Want to see how I use daily writing prompts in the classroom? The Atlas of Lost Places is a free 7-day resource that blends eerie images, rich prompts, and flexible teaching tips. It’s a sneak peek into my full daily writing prompt subscription launching in August—and it’s designed to actually get students writing.
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.