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50 creative writing prompts for middle school students.

• September 11, 2023
• 11 min read

Table of Contents:

Why creative writing matters, prompts to explore personal experiences, prompts for imagining fantastic worlds, prompts for exploring emotions, prompts to unleash adventure, prompts for humor and laughter, writing prompts for middle school mystery and suspense section, prompts to reflect on the future, prompts for historical time travel, writing prompts for middle school to target sci-fi and futuristic fantasies, writing prompts for middle school to dive into nature, writing prompts for middle school for alternate realities, are these prompts suitable for both classroom and individual use, creative writing.

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Middle school is a time of exploration, growth, and boundless imagination. It’s a phase where young minds are eager to express themselves, and what better way to channel this energy than through creative writing? This article explores 50 creative writing prompts for middle school students to worlds of wonder, emotion, and adventure. These prompts stimulate their creativity, boost their writing skills, and encourage them to think beyond the ordinary.

Creative writing holds a significance that extends far beyond the confines of a classroom. It is a form of expression that acts like a mirror reflecting human emotions, similar to what is explored in What are the three main purposes for writing? . It is a powerful medium through which individuals can express their innermost thoughts, emotions, and ideas, allowing them to connect with themselves and the world around them on a deeper level. This art form empowers individuals to unleash their imagination and paint vivid landscapes of words, enabling them to communicate in ways that traditional language often falls short of. For middle school students, creative writing is a journey of exploration and growth, much like the journey described in How to write a good story: A complete process . As they engage with a diverse array of writing prompts for middle school, they embark on a path that enriches their vocabulary, refines their grasp of grammar, and teaches them the invaluable skill of structuring their thoughts coherently and effectively. Through crafting narratives and weaving intricate tales, students learn the art of storytelling, a skill crucial in literature and various aspects of life. Whether it’s penning down a compelling essay, delivering a persuasive speech, or even drafting a well-structured email, the ability to organize ideas compellingly is a trait that serves students well throughout their academic and professional journey. However, the benefits of creative writing go well beyond linguistic and organizational services like book writing services . This form of expression acts as a mirror that reflects the complexities of human emotions. As students immerse themselves in crafting characters, settings, and plotlines, they inherently develop a deep sense of empathy. By stepping into the shoes of diverse characters and exploring the world from various perspectives, students cultivate an understanding of different viewpoints, backgrounds, and experiences. This broadens their worldview and nurtures their ability to relate to and connect with people from all walks of life.

• Discovering a Hidden Door

Imagine stumbling upon a mysterious door in your school that no one else has noticed. Where does it lead, and what adventures await on the other side?

• The Day I Traveled Through Time

You wake up one morning to find yourself in a different period. Describe your experiences and the challenges you face in this unfamiliar era.

• My Conversation with a Talking Animal

While wandering in the woods, you encounter an animal that can communicate with you. Write about your unexpected conversation and the wisdom the animal imparts.

• A Mysterious Message in a Bottle

You discover a message in a bottle washed up on the shore. What does the message say, and how does it change your life?

• Life on a Floating Island

Describe a world where entire civilizations exist on floating islands in the sky. What are the unique challenges and wonders of this airborne realm?

• Journey to the Center of a Candy Planet

You embark on a journey to the core of a planet made entirely of candy. Detail your adventures as you traverse the sugary landscapes.

• The Robot’s Secret Rebellion

In a futuristic city, robots have secretly started rebelling against their human creators. Explore the events leading up to this uprising and the consequences that follow.

• When Magic Came to the Modern World

Magic suddenly becomes real in the present day. How does society change, and how do you adapt to this new magical reality?

• The Joy of Finding a Lost Toy

Revisit a childhood memory of losing a cherished toy and the overwhelming happiness of eventually finding it.

• A Moment of Overcoming Fear

Write about when you faced a fear head-on and emerged stronger and braver on the other side.

• The Bittersweet Farewell

Explore the emotions surrounding a farewell to a close friend moving away. How do you cope with the mixture of joy and sadness?

• An Unexpected Act of Kindness

Describe an instance where a stranger’s small act of kindness profoundly impacts your life and perspective.

• Quest for the Enchanted Crown

Embark on a quest to retrieve a stolen enchanted crown from a treacherous dragon’s lair. Chronicle your epic adventure and the challenges you must overcome.

• Lost in a Haunted Forest

You find yourself lost in a mysterious and haunted forest. Describe your eerie surroundings and the spine-chilling encounters you experience.

• Exploring an Abandoned Space Station

Write about your exploration of a deserted space station, uncovering its secrets and unraveling the mysteries of its past.

• Time-Traveling to Historical Events

Where and when would you go if you could time-travel to any historical event? Describe your experiences and the impact they have on your perspective.

• The Day I Turned into a Vegetable

Imagine waking up one day to find yourself transformed into a vegetable. How do you communicate, and what hilarious misadventures ensue?

• Conversations Between My Pets

Write a humorous dialogue between your pets discussing their daily lives, adventures, and their peculiar perspectives on the world.

• When My Room Became a Miniature Zoo

Describe a scenario where your room suddenly becomes a mini-zoo filled with various animals. How do you manage this unexpected turn of events?

• The Misadventures of Super Socks

Create a quirky superhero story where a pair of socks gains extraordinary powers and embarks on comical crime-fighting escapades.

• The Puzzle of the Whispering Walls

Detail a suspenseful investigation into the strange phenomenon of walls that whisper cryptic messages, leading to an unexpected revelation.

• Footprints in the Forbidden Attic

You discover mysterious footprints leading to the forbidden attic in your house. Write about your daring exploration and the secrets you uncover.

• The Disappearance of the Midnight Carnival

Describe the mysterious disappearance of a beloved carnival that only operates at midnight. What clues do you follow to solve the enigma?

• The Secret Diary of a Famous Explorer

You stumble upon the secret diary of a renowned explorer. Unveil the adventures chronicled within its pages and the hidden truths it holds.

• A Glimpse into Life as an Adult

Imagine yourself as an adult and write about a day in your future life. How have your goals, priorities, and perspectives evolved?

• Inventing a Revolutionary Gadget

Design a revolutionary gadget that changes the world. Describe its features, benefits, and the impact it has on society.

• My First Day on Another Planet

Transport yourself to an alien planet and narrate your experiences on the first day of your interstellar adventure.

• The World After Solving Pollution

Describe a world where pollution has been successfully eliminated. How does this achievement reshape the environment, society, and daily life?

• Prompts for Exploring Friendship

Write about a strong and unbreakable bond between two friends. What challenges have they overcome together, and how has their friendship evolved?

• Adventures of the Dynamic Duo

Create a story about a dynamic duo who embark on thrilling adventures together. What makes their partnership special, and how do they complement each other?

• A Magical Friend from a Book

Imagine a character from a book coming to life and becoming your friend. Describe your magical friendship and the escapades you share.

• Messages in a Bottle Between Pen Pals

Two pen pals communicate through messages sent in bottles across a vast ocean. Write about their unique form of friendship and the stories they share.

• An Interview with a Renaissance Artist

Travel back in time to interview a famous Renaissance artist. Explore their inspirations, struggles, and the impact of their art on the world.

• Surviving the Titanic Disaster

Imagine being a passenger on the Titanic and surviving the tragic sinking. Chronicle your experiences and the lessons you learn from the ordeal.

• Ancient Egypt: Through the Eyes of a Pharaoh

Experience life as an ancient Egyptian pharaoh. Describe the grandeur of your rule, interactions with subjects, and leadership challenges.

• Encountering Dinosaurs in Prehistoric Times

Describe an adventurous journey to prehistoric times, where you encounter dinosaurs and experience the wonders and dangers of the ancient world.

• When Robots Ruled the World

Envision a world where robots have taken over as rulers. Detail the consequences of this robotic regime and the struggles of human resistance.

• Galactic Explorers on a New Frontier

Join a group of galactic explorers as they venture into uncharted space territories. Describe their discoveries, encounters, and the mysteries they unravel.

• The Day I Met an Alien from Mars

Write about the day you encounter a friendly alien from Mars. How do you communicate, and what do you learn from each other?

• Earth 3000: A Utopian Dream or Dystopian Reality?

Transport yourself to the year 3000 and describe the state of the Earth. Is it a romantic paradise or a dystopian nightmare? What led to this outcome?

• Conversations with Forest Creatures

Imagine having conversations with animals in a magical forest. Write about the wisdom they share and the adventures you embark on together.

• My Adventure in the Enchanted Rainforest

Describe your thrilling adventure through an enchanted rainforest with mystical creatures and hidden secrets.

• The Underwater Discovery: Mermaid’s Tale

You discover a hidden underwater world inhabited by mermaids. Chronicle your underwater journey and the interactions you have with these mythical beings.

• Exploring a World Inside a Dewdrop

Write about a micro-adventure inside a dewdrop, where you encounter miniature worlds and experience nature from a new perspective.

• Stepping into a Mirror Universe

Describe an experience where you step into an alternate reality through a mirror. How is this world different from yours, and what challenges do you face?

• The Butterfly Effect: Changing a Single Moment

Explore the butterfly effect concept by narrating a story where changing a single moment in the past has a cascading impact on the present and future.

• My Life as a Fictional Character

Imagine living the life of a fictional character from your favorite book. Describe your experiences as you navigate their world and story.

• When Dreams Became Our Reality

Write about a world where dreams have the power to shape reality. How do people use their dreams to create their lives, and what challenges arise?

• The Ethereal Library

Imagine a mystical library that holds books containing the stories of every possible life you could have lived. Write about a person who stumbles upon this library and can read the book of their alternate life stories.

• The Reality Architect

In a future society, some specialized architects design alternate realities for individuals seeking escape from their own lives. Write about a reality architect and their journey to create the perfect alternate world for a client.

• The Convergence Point

Describe a world where all alternate realities converge at a single point in time. People from different realities can meet and interact for a brief period. Write about the challenges and opportunities that arise during this unique convergence.

The suitability of writing prompts for middle school for classroom and individual use depends on their content and complexity. Prompts encouraging critical thinking, creative expression, and thoughtful discussion can work well in both settings. However, there are a few considerations to keep in mind:

• Ensure that the prompts are clear and easily understandable by individuals and a group of students. Avoid overly complex language or concepts that might be confusing.
• Writing prompts for middle school allow various interpretations, and responses can engage individual learners and groups. This flexibility encourages students to express their unique perspectives.
• Choose interesting and relevant writing prompts for middle school to the target audience, whether in a classroom full of students or individuals working independently. Engaging prompts are more likely to spark enthusiasm and thoughtful responses.
• Prompts that invite discussion and debate can lead to rich and meaningful conversations for classroom use. These prompts should be open-ended and encourage diverse viewpoints.

Middle school is critical for nurturing creativity, similar to the journey detailed in How to launch a book: The ultimate guide for authors , young students’ creativity, and honing writing skills. These 50 creative writing prompts for middle school offer many opportunities to explore diverse themes, emotions, and scenarios while refining their writing abilities. Whether they’re crafting tales of time travel, exploring futuristic realms, or delving into the mysteries of the past, these prompts will ignite the imagination and open new avenues of self-expression for budding writers.

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• Writing Prompts

150 Writing Prompts For Middle School (+Free Printable)

Make writing fun and easy, with these 150 writing prompts for middle school students. 

The more you write, the better you become at writing. But the problem is not all middle schoolers enjoy writing. There’s always something better to do, playing video games , watching YouTube videos , hanging with friends , lazing about the house – Why bother writing, right? The trick is to understand that even the smallest piece of writing can make a huge difference in a student’s attitude towards writing. 

If you unload too many lengthy assignments, such as writing 1,000 words on topic X or 3,000 about something, something – Writing can seem like a long, boring chore for some students. But if you break it down, and mix it up a bit, then your students have a real chance of actually liking writing for fun. Think of creating small writing tasks that take no longer than around 10 or 15 minutes to complete. As students complete these small tasks with ease, their confidence will grow, eventually turning them into avid young writers.

To help inspire and motivate young writers, we have created this list of 150 quick and easy writing prompts for Middle School students. Keep reading for a free printable writing pack for middle schoolers as well! Here is a quick generator that will generate a random middle school prompt for you:

For more fun writing ideas, check out this list of over 300 writing prompt for kids .

150 Writing Prompts For Middle School Students

This list of prompts is great for whenever your middle-schooler is bored and needs some quick ideas to write about:

• Make a list of at least three different opening lines for this story idea: A space knight living in outer space wants to fight a real fire-breathing dragon.
• Complete this sentence in at least three different ways: When I’m bored, I like to…
• Draw a picture of your dream house, and describe some of the coolest features it has.
• Make a top ten list of the scariest animals in the animal kingdom. You could even write down one scary fact about each animal.
• Write an acrostic poem using the letters that spell z-o-m-b-i-e.
• Describe the scariest monster that you can think of. You could even draw a picture of it.
• Complete the following sentence in at least three different ways: My goal for the next month is to…
• Make a top ten list of your favourite foods of all time. You could even write down one reason for why each food is your favourite.
• Create your own A-Z book or list of monsters. For A is for Abominable Snowman, B is for Bogeyman and so on.
• Research and write down five facts about an endangered species of your choice. Examples of endangered species include the blue whale, giant pandas, snow leopards and tigers.
•  Create a postcard for your local town or city. What picture would you draw on the front? And what message could you include on the back?
• Write an acrostic poem using the letters that spell out your own first name. This poem could be about yourself. 
• Make a top ten list of your favourite movies of all time.
• Make a top ten list of your favourite songs of all time.
• Complete the following sentence in at least three different ways. When I grow up I want to…
• Which is your favourite season, Winter , Spring , Summer or Autumn? Write a haiku poem about your favourite season.
• Create a party invite for a dinner party at your house. Think about the party theme, entertainment, food and dress code.
• Write down a recipe that uses eggs as one of the ingredients.
• Write a how-to guide on how to take care of a kitten or puppy.
• What do you enjoy doing on the weekends? Start by making a list of activities that you do on the weekend. Then you can pick one to write about in more detail.
• Using a photograph (or one of these picture writing prompts ), write a short caption or description to go alongside it. 
• Imagine you are the owner of a new restaurant. Create a menu of the dishes you will serve at this restaurant. 
• What has been the best part of your day so far? And what has been the worst part of the day?
• Imagine that you have a time machine. What year would you travel to and why?
• If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?
• If you could keep one dinosaur as a pet, which dinosaur would you pick and why?
• Write down everything you remember from a recent nightmare that you had. 
• What is your favourite country in the whole wide world? List at least five fun facts about this country.
• Make a list of at least 3 different story ideas about aliens.
• Create a character description of the world’s most evil supervillains.
• What is your greatest achievement to date? What are you most proud of and why?
• Write an action-packed scene that contains the following: A car chase, a lucky pair of socks and a talking parrot.
• What advice would you give to someone who is being bullied? You could make a list of at least three pieces of advice that you might give.
• Imagine you are stuck on a desert island. Write a diary entry of your first day on the island.
• Imagine you are a pirate sailing the seven seas. Talk about the scariest thing you faced while out at sea.
• You just discovered a new planet . Can you describe this new planet in detail? What would you call it? Does any life exist on the planet? What type of climate does it have?
• Would you rather have a magical unicorn as a pet or a fire-breathing dragon?
• Complete the following sentence in at least three different ways: One day I was walking through the forest and discovered…
• Write a letter to your friend about a favourite memory you have of them. You can use the following starter as inspiration: Remember that time…
• Make a list of book title ideas for a story about a girl who can go invisible whenever she wants.
• A talking cat is fast asleep, then suddenly someone wakes it up. Write down a short script between the cat, and the person arguing. 
• What is the nicest thing that anyone has done for you recently?
• Make a list of 10 online safety tips to help you stay safe online.
• Can you think of at least 5 ways to prevent climate change in your daily life?
• Make a list of your top ten favourite books of all time.
• Think about a movie that you’ve seen recently. What did you enjoy most about this movie, and what did you dislike about it?
• You are just about to take a bite of an apple. And then suddenly the apple starts screaming. What do you do next?
• Describe a magical forest in great detail. What makes this forest so magical?
• Write a super scary scene, using the following starter: As I walked into the haunted house…
• What is your greatest fear? Is it possible to ever overcome this fear? If so, how would you do it?
• Make a list of at least five things you like about yourself. And then make a list of five things that you would change about yourself.
• What would the perfect day look like for you? How would it start? What activities would you do? And how does it end?
• You are standing in the playground when you hear two of your classmates making fun of your best friend. What do you do next?
• A young boy yells at his pet eagle to fly away into the wild. The eagle does not respond. Write down this scene between the two characters in great detail. 
• Describe a pencil in the greatest detail possible.
• Create your own superhero character. What are their strengths and superpowers? What about their weaknesses? Also, think of a cool superhero name for them!
• What is your dream job? What skills and traits do you need to do this job well?
• Imagine that you have had the worst day ever. Write down what happened to make it so bad.
• What is your favourite colour? Now write a short rhyming poem about this colour.
• If you had three wishes, what would you wish for and why? Wishing for extra wishes is not allowed.
• Write an action-packed scene of a lion chasing a zebra in the wild from the perspective of the lion. 
• Imagine you own a video gaming company. Your task is to come up with a new video game idea. Explain this new video game idea in detail.
• What would you do if you were given $1 million dollars? 
• What is your favourite hobby or interest? Can you provide at least five tips for beginners who might be interested in starting this hobby?
• Make a top ten list of your favourite celebrities or YouTube stars.
• Write the opening paragraph of a fairytale about a zombie prince who has returned from the dead.
• Write an alternative ending to a fairytale that you are familiar with. For example, you could write a sad ending for Cinderella or a cliff-hanger style ending for Jack and the Beanstalk.
• Write down a conversation in a script format between two people waiting for the bus at a bus stop.
• Would you rather get abducted by aliens, or discover a magical portal to another realm in your bedroom? Explain your answer.
• Write a shape poem about your favourite food in the shape of this food.
• If you had to prepare for a zombie invasion, which three items would you pack in your bag, and why?
• Describe the most beautiful garden in the world in detail. What type of flowers would it have? Would it have any garden furniture?
• You receive a strange parcel in the middle of the night. You open the parcel to discover… Write down at least one paragraph of what you discover in the parcel.
• Use the word, ‘Stampede’ in at least three different sentences.
• Complete the following metaphor in at least three different ways: Your smile is like…
• Describe the city of the future. What would the buildings look like? How will people travel? What kind of homes will people live in?
• What is Marie Curie (the physicist) famous for? Research and write down five facts about her research and studies. 
• You have just been made leader of the Kingdom of Kinloralm. As the leader, what rules would you set for the kingdom? Make a list of at least 10 rules that you will enforce. 
• A witch has cast a spell on you. Every night at midnight, you turn into a werewolf. Describe this transformation in great detail. What does it feel like when you are transforming? How does your skin change? What about your teeth and fingernails?
• Using the following starter , write at least one paragraph: When I look outside the window…
• After a deep sleep, you wake up to find yourself locked inside a cage. No one else is around. What do you do next?
• You keep on having the same nightmare every night. In your nightmare, you are running as fast as you can, and then you suddenly fall. When you turn around you see… Write at least one paragraph about what you see. 
• Write down at least 10 interview questions that you can ask your favourite celebrity. If you have time, you can even write down the potential answers to these questions from the perspective of the celebrity.
• Write a how-to guide on how to grow tomatoes at home.
• Make a list of at least five tips for keeping your bedroom clean.
• Would you rather drive the fastest car on Earth for one hour or own a custom-made bicycle? Explain your choice.
• Write a limerick poem about an old snail. 
• Find something in your room that begins with the letter, ‘R’, and write a paragraph describing this object in detail.
• Research the history of how the first mobile phone was invented. Create a timeline of mobile phone inventions from the very first mobile to the current time. 
• If you were the headteacher of your school, what changes would you make and why? Try to list and describe at least three changes. 
• What are the benefits and drawbacks of having access to the internet? Try to think of at least five benefits and five drawbacks.
• Write about the best day of your life so far. Then write about the worst day of your life so far.
• Imagine that you are an agony aunt for a newspaper. A reader has written to you with the following problem: Dear Agony Aunt, I have no friends at school. And my classmates are always making fun of me… What advice would you give this reader?
• Imagine that you are a salesperson. Your task is to sell a new chocolate bar to customers. Write down a sales pitch that was selling this chocolate bar. What features would you highlight? What are the benefits of this chocolate bar?
• Can you complete the following sentence in three different ways: When I feel upset, I …
• What is the most difficult part about being in middle school? What is the best part of middle school?
• Imagine that your best friend has just revealed a huge secret. How would you react? Write down a script of the conversation between you and your best friend.
• Have you learned any new skills recently? How did you learn these?
• Imagine you are sitting at a dinner party with a group of strangers. Describe the atmosphere in great detail. Who are you sitting next to? What sort of conversations are the other guests having? What food is being served?
• Five years from now, where will you be? Will you be the same person? How would you have changed?
• Write about your plans for the weekend.
• Describe a day in the life of being a goldfish in a fishbowl at a pet shop.
• While at the seaside, a message in a bottle washes up onto the shore. You open the bottle and read the message. The message reads: Help Me! I’m stranded on an island! What do you do next?
• A mother and her son are baking some muffins in the kitchen. Write down a conversation that they might have while they bake together.
• Make a list of indoor activities you can do when it’s raining outside. Try to think of at least ten activities.
• Write down a diary entry from the perspective of an alien secretly living undercover on Earth. 
• Write at least three different opening lines for the following story idea: A king needs to keep his kingdom safe from the ravenous trolls that come out at night.
• Imagine you are a secret agent cat, write about your most recent mission.
• Complete the following sentence in at least three different ways: If I could change the world, I would…
• If you could program a robot, what tasks would you program it to do, and why?
• Imagine you are the owner of a toy shop. Your task is to hire some toy makers. Write a job description for a toymaker. Think about the skills and traits required to become a toymaker. 
• You are the owner of a zoo. Suddenly you hear people screaming as the lions are accidentally released. What do you do next?
• Your future self comes from the future to warn you about something. Write a conversation that you would have with your future self. 
• If you had a choice to become a superhero or a supervillain, which one would you be and why?
• Can you think of at least three things that no one knows about you? Why have you kept these things a secret?
• During a science experiment, you mix up the wrong chemicals. The liquid turns blue and jumps out of the glass container. It then slides into your backpack. What do you do next?
• Write down at least five things that you are grateful for in your life right now.
• You notice some strange footprints in your backyard leading to your shed. You follow these footprints and discover…
• When was the last time someone upset you or hurt your feelings? How did they hurt your feelings? Do you remember what was said?
• You walk inside a magic shop. You see all sorts of weird and fun things. Describe the inside of the shop in as much detail as possible. 
• Write at least three different opening lines for the following story idea: A young werewolf wants to be a human again.
• Make a list of three different story ideas about dragons.
• Write from the perspective of a kite flying high in the sky. Think about what you feel, see and hear.
• Write about your favourite subject at school. Why do you like this subject?
• Write a haiku poem about the full moon.
• Imagine you are the manager of a TV channel. Make a list of at least three new TV show ideas you can air on Saturday evening.
• You find a baby alien in your basement. What do you do next?
• Think of at least three newspaper headlines for the following article idea: The new mayor of your town/city is planning on creating more homes.
• Imagine that your pet dog has gone missing. Create a missing poster to find your dog. Remember to describe any important details relating to the dog in your power.
• Write an advertisement for the brand new mixer 3000. It mixes all the best music tracks with sounds to create the ultimate track.
• Write down three sentences. One of something interesting that happened to you today. Another of something positive that happened. And finally another sentence of something negative. 
• Write down four different character descriptions. Each character must have a different background story or history when growing up.
• Imagine you had a terrible experience at a restaurant. Write a complaint letter to the restaurant manager, outlining the problems you had. 
• Imagine your family is planning to go on a cruise. As you drive to the boat, a person walks up to your car window, holds up a flyer, and demands that they do what they were told. What is your family’s reply?
• As you’re making your way home, you pass by a group of people. It turns out the person who was walking next to them is a ghost. What do you do next?
• Your best friend has had a terrible year. You need to plan the best birthday party ever for them. Make a list of items that you will need for the party. 
• Using the 5 W’s and 1 H technique, outline the following newspaper article idea: A new breed of wolves was discovered nearby. The 5 W’s include: What, Where, When, Who and why. The one H is How.
• Write a positive self-talk poem, using the following starter: I am…
• Take a recent picture that you have drawn at home or during art class. Using this picture, can you think of at least three ideas for stories from it?
• How can you prevent bullying in your school? Make a list of at least five different ways to prevent bullying.
• Write a list of at least 10 interview questions that you can ask your favourite teacher at school. If you want, you can actually ask these questions and write down the responses your teacher gives.
• Describe a day in the life of being a mouse that lives in your school.
• What qualities to look for in a friend? Make a list of at least 3 qualities. Also, think about what qualities you try to avoid. 
• Complete the following sentence in at least three different ways: When I wake up in the morning, I feel…
• Do you ever wish you could do more to help people? Make a list of at least five ways you can help a friend who is going through a tough time.
• When was the last time you felt angry? How did you deal with this anger? Do you think it is okay to be angry all the time?
• Write down at least three predictions for the future. These predictions can be personal or about the world. You can use the following starter: In 10 years time…
• Do you enjoy writing? If yes, then what kind of things do you enjoy writing about. Explain your answer.
• Think about the last book you read. Which scene in the book stood out to you the most? Why did it stand out for you?
• Complete the following sentence in at least three different ways: The biggest question on my mind right now is…

What did you think of this list of quick and easy writing prompts for Middle School students? Did you find this list useful or difficult to use? Let us know in the comments below!

Printable Writing Pack for Middle Schoolers

Thank you for reading this post! You can download the free PDF writing prompts for Middle School students pack here .

Marty the wizard is the master of Imagine Forest. When he's not reading a ton of books or writing some of his own tales, he loves to be surrounded by the magical creatures that live in Imagine Forest. While living in his tree house he has devoted his time to helping children around the world with their writing skills and creativity.

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100 Creative Writing Prompts for Middle School

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Looking for some inspiration for your next short story? Look no further! We’ve compiled a list of 100 creative writing prompts for middle school to help you get started. Chose your favorite story idea from the list of creative writing prompts below and get started right now.

Why Story Starters and Writing Prompts Work

Writing is a complex skill. Not only do the hands of middle school students still cramp up when they write for more than a nanosecond, but they have to synthesize many new writing skills at once.

Young writers must generate creative writing ideas, assess their ideas to choose the best one, determine a compelling beginning, middle, and end, outline their story, write several drafts, and edit their own work. These are all necessary skills that must be developed, yes, but if we can isolate them, focusing on one or two at a time, we make it easier for middle school children to conquer each skill.

With writing prompts, they have lots of fun writing ideas to choose from. This takes away the stress of having to come up with their own high-concept idea. (And while these prompts only help with writing-induced stress, we recommend these tips for how to relieve stress in general. Being stressed doesn’t go well with creative writing.)

When they have a starting point to work from, writing gets a lot easier. Instead of spending a long time feeling frustrated about a lack of ideas, students can jump right in and write their first sentence. Even reluctant writers tend to get more excited about writing when presented with irresistible story-writing prompts.

In short, the best thing about using these fun writing prompts is that middle schoolers are more likely to fall in love with writing when they have a great time doing it.

Who Should Use These Story Writing Prompts

While these have been prepared with middle school and high school students in mind, many of them are also applicable to adult writers. Most of the prompts below will be too advanced or complex for most elementary school students, though some older kids from the lower grades, especially those with a real passion for writing, might find a few that peak their interest.

To make things a little simpler for you, we’ve also included a free printable version of these prompts that you can grab by entering your information below.

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Writing Prompts for Stories That Start Out Just Like Any Other Day

• I tiptoed into the bathroom. If anyone caught me doing this, I’d be in big trouble. I grabbed my mother’s lipstick and brought it back to my bedroom where my brother slept…
• I peeked through the curtains. There was a limo parked outside with two bodyguards. I heard a knock at the door…
• I went over to say hello to the cute little baby under the umbrella, but when I reached her, I saw that…
• The bell rang, and I sprinted toward my locker. I had to get out of there before…
• I opened the front door to find the UPS man standing on the front stoop, his arm around a cylindrical package that was almost as tall as him. Oh no. Not again, I thought…
• Irene gripped her mom’s hand harder as they walked through the doors of the imposing gray building. Her mom had promised her they’d never have to come here again, but…
• The lights dimmed and the curtains opened. I felt like I was going to throw up. Why had I ever thought this was a good idea?…
• As soon as I boarded the train, I began my letter to my sister.  I did it. I sold everything and am on my way to…
• A kid’s birthday party seemed like an innocent enough place to blend in and relax for a moment. It’s been a while since I stopped moving. But when the balloon popped…
• I sat down at my desk and sifted through the mail that had been placed in front of my computer. All junk, of course. I was about to dump it all in the recycling bin when I saw my favorite magazine at the bottom of the pile. Tossing the rest aside, I snatched it up, but something unexpected fell out from between the pages…
• We were canoeing across the inlet when we noticed some unusual movement alongside the boat. A whale was surfacing next to us. Another one followed closely behind. Suddenly, our boat was being lifted out of the water and…
• The Instagram account I created for my hamster just went viral and he’s getting calls with job offers from around the world, only …
• At first, we thought the box contained the water guns we ordered online, so we tore it open eagerly, ready to load them up. Instead, what we saw inside completely changed everything.
• I got off the boat furious and trembling. I was never getting back on there again, not with him at least. There was no way I was going to let him…
• The pancakes were perfect—round and golden, soft but a little crispy near the edges. I slathered them in maple syrup and fruit. But then mom went to the fridge and took out the whipped cream, giving me an apologetic look as she did so. It was a treat, a very special one, and she only ever brought it out if…
• We sat around the campfire in eerie silence, nobody wanting to bring up our predicament. Everything was going to have to come out anyway, we might as well get it over with. I was just about to clear my throat when I noticed Sam and Layla standing apart from the group, whispering. What were they plotting now?
• I’d always wanted to be brave like my brother Simon. He wasn’t afraid of anything. I remember once, when he was younger, he…
• We walked through the garden one last time, knowing we’d never return to this house again. I waved goodbye to each flower bed, to the apple tree that I’d climbed innumerable times as a child. I wanted to scream. Why were they making me…
• My dad used to tell me these crazy stories when I was a kid. His life seemed so bizarre to me, but his sense of humor was mysterious, like I could never tell when fact blended into fiction. I still don’t know which ones to believe, like that one about…
• Shivering, I tried to open the door of my car, but it was frozen shut. I looked up and scanned the parking lot to make sure nobody had seen me. Why did it have to be this freezing, today of all days? What if they…

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Writing Prompts for Stories That Start with Dialogue

• “Drink it, quick!” I looked at the bottle. The contents were unlike any I’d ever seen. I closed my eyes and drank it in one gulp…
• “Five more minutes,” my dad grunted, as I tried to pull him out of bed. “Dad, they’re here–we have to go!”
• “Shh…” I said frantically, as Robin’s wheelchair squeaked again. “Don’t you know how much trouble we’ll be in if they find us…”
• “Put me down!” I yelled as I was hoisted into the air by a giant…
• “Stop it!” I cried as my little sister snatched my phone from the desk and tried to eat it. I couldn’t run the risk of anyone seeing the words I’d etched into the back of it, the ones that would save my life if anyone ever…
• “Have you ever driven one of these before?” I asked James, trying not to let him see how nervous I was. “Is it safe?”
• “Are you coming or not?” he demanded as he took a few steps further into the…
• “Is there anyone in there?” I wondered aloud, staring up at the gothic castle. “The letter said they’d meet us…”
• “We finally did it!” I exclaimed to my lab partner. “We’ve invented a cream that actually makes people more beautiful. We are going to be so rich!”
• You have just five dollars to your name, and you decide to spend it on lunch at your favorite fast food joint. Just as you’re about to pay, a boy not much older than you leans in and whispers to you, “Hold onto your money. I’ll show you how to turn that five dollars into five grand.”
• You’re standing in line at a coffee shop when you spot a shiny coin on the ground. You bend down to pick it up, but a big black boot stomps down on it just before your fingers grasp it. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” a deep voice warns.
• “I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news,” she began, her arms crossed nervously over her chest. “You didn’t get in.” When I raised my eyebrows at her, she added, “And there’s more…”
• He patted my hand reassuringly and said, “It’s okay, you can trust me,” in that voice of his that I’d learned meant I really couldn’t. “All you have to do is…”
• “It’s for you!” she called, after answering the phone. When I went to take it from her, she covered the mouthpiece and whispered menacingly, “This better not be about what I think it’s about, got it?”
• “I should have listened to you,” Greg acknowledged, as he lay curled up on the grass, his clothes caked in mud. “You were right about…”
• “How could you?” I asked in disbelief. “After everything we’ve been through, I thought you were the one person I could trust. I can’t believe you…”
• I kicked at the dust with my shoe. Her question had caught me off guard. I wasn’t prepared to answer it, not yet. I tried to stall. “Remember that time when…”
• “Okay, okay, I’m here,” I said, rolling my eyes for effect. “What was this important news that you had to drag me away from pizza night for?”
• “It’s okay, you can come out, you don’t have to be afraid. Here, take my hand.” The hand that reached out toward me was like any I’d ever seen before.
• “Let go!” I screamed at the man holding me in a headlock. I tried to kick his shins, but he just grunted and held tight.  Think quick , I told myself.  Time is running out. If only…

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Writing Prompts with an Element of Suspense

• Estella ran down the trail, her dog, Gerard, several feet ahead of her. A gust of wind ripped through the forest and a loud crack on her left caught her attention. She watched the tree fall, then turned back to the trail, but Gerard was gone…
• The light started to flicker, first blue, then white. I looked around for a way out, but I was trapped. I guess I’d have to resort to the backup plan…
• The footprints in the snow were fresh. They veered off the path and into the woods. I had to make a choice. It was now or never.
• I tiptoed down the stairs of the prison. I had to break her out of here before…
• It was really hot that day, so I went to my favorite lake. I was about to jump into the cool water when a big splash in the middle of the lake sent ripples over the water. Something was in there. Something…
• My sister and I entered the fairgrounds suspiciously. The note we’d found had said that the mystery person would be here at five, and it was half-past four. We weren’t taking any chances. We had to find him before…
• Ellen squeezed down the narrow aisle of the plane looking for row M. She stuffed her backpack under the seat in front of her with her feet and buckled up. As the plane lifted off the ground, the pilot welcome them aboard their flight to Iceland. Wait, what? This wasn’t the flight to…?
• I walked out of the interview, still holding my breath. This was my dream job and I was afraid that the smallest of breaths would cause me to wake up. I exited the building and a little girl approached me. “The job’s yours,” she said, somewhat prophetically. “All you have to do is…”
• Last night, I was taking a nap on the couch when the phone rang. When I answered it, the voice on the other end said, “Will you accept a collect call from Brazil?” I started to panic, was this the call John has warned me about? I answered it with trepidation…
• It was my seventeenth birthday, and I’d been planning the party for months. Everything was perfect: the decorations were over the top, the food catered by my favorite restaurant, and every cool kid in school was there. The only problem? I was stuck in…
• The shelves in the used bookstore climbed higher than I could see, I’d never seen so many books before in my life. I climbed the rolling ladder to get a better look. Just then, a woman approached and held out a thick, red leather-bound tome. “This is one you seek,” she called out to me. “Look no further. This one will…
• I was sitting at a bus stop when a little girl came up to me and gave me a small box. It started trembling in my hands but when I looked up to ask her what it was, she’d disappeared.
• I tiptoed into the haunted house, looking both ways to see what was in it. As my eyes adjusted to the light, I saw…
• I was about to enter my house when I saw a little dog running down the street toward the busy intersection. There was nobody with him. Without thinking, I took off after him and…
• A loud crash sent me thundering down the stairs to the kitchen. Wolf, my rottweiler was greedily licking lasagna off the tiled floor. Not unusual in and of itself, but what caught my eye was the shiny silver thing glinting underneath the tomato sauce. Was that what I thought it was?…
•  It was well past dark and I was the last person in the library. It was eerily quiet, except for a faint tapping sound coming from the next aisle. I moved cautiously toward the end of the row and peeked my head around the corner…
• I was running out of time. They’d said they’d give me until sundown, and that was only a few hours away. I had to…
• That’s odd , I thought to myself as I reached the next landing and glanced up at the next set of stairs. I don’t remember there being another set of stairs here before. Is this what the old man was talking about when he said…
• The computer beeped again. It was now pinging six times per minute. Whoever was sending these messages was getting impatient, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to find out why.
• I woke up yesterday in a tree, without even a sweater to keep me dry. The weird thing is…

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Writing Prompts that Ask “What If?”

• What if every character you wrote automatically came to life and a foreign government was after you to make spies for them?
• What if a family member you’d never met left you a parcel of land in Norway, but when you got there you realized it was an enchanted forest?
• What if your parents came home from work tonight and told you they were sending you to boarding school?
• What if you were eating breakfast alone at your kitchen table when a newscaster interrupted your favorite TV show to break the story of a missing person, and the missing person was you?
• What if you could live in Ikea for a month?
• What if a cruise ship full of celebrities got stuck at sea for two weeks?
• What if you were in a museum and discovered a stack of letters describing the location of a buried treasure in your hometown?
• What if you were cast as the lead in an opera but you’d faked your way into the role and didn’t actually know how to sing?
• What if a child saw her parents stealing, but chose to keep it a secret so that she wouldn’t be separated from them?
• What if someone offered you the gift of being the best painter in the world, but in return, you could never stop painting?
• What if your pet was elected mayor of your city?
• What if you were an Uber driver in a world where people travel by hot air balloon instead of by car?
• What if you found a time machine, traveled back in time to ancient Egypt, and discovered that their world was even more modernized than ours and included more advanced technology but that they’d destroyed all evidence of these advances in an effort to protect future generations from making the same devastating decisions that they had?
• What if a screenwriter approached you about making a movie about your life, but every time she interviewed you, she completely ignored every answer you gave and made up her own?
• What if you could type 1000 words per minute and could write a new novel every hour?
• What if you woke up tomorrow morning speaking five new languages that you’d never heard before, only to discover that you’d been recruited by international spies and they’d filled your brain with secrets and information while you were sleeping?
• What if you could never leave high school, but instead had to keep coming back year after year to try and get perfect grades before you were allowed to move on?
• What if your parents were taking you on a dream vacation to Europe, but they got kidnapped at an airport and you had to navigate new countries on your own while trying to save them?
• What if you invented a new tool that could clean your whole house in fifteen minutes and you became a millionaire overnight?
• What if you were reading a list of writing prompts, and you realized that every sentence that came out of your mouth was, in fact, a writing prompt and that you were compelled to write a story for each one?

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Story Starters that will Bend Readers’ Minds

• The answer is 49. I looked around the room. There was nobody else there except Quincey. Could it be?
• It’s all over the news. Random events are taking place. What if someone discovers that it’s my dreams coming true, literally? What will they do to me? I have to find…
• On Saturday morning I went out to the backyard in my slippers and robe to feed my pet rabbits. When I reached their hutch, I gasped. A large hole had been torn in the wire door and the hutch was empty. Fearing the worst, I scanned the yard for signs of their whereabouts, when suddenly I was tapped on the shoulder. I spun around to find a black bear standing in his hind legs. “If you ever want to see your bunnies again,” he said, …
• Never trust your dreams, they will get you in trouble every time. At least, if they’re anything like mine. Maybe trouble has a way of finding me, but still, you need to be safe. Just last week, I had a dream about…
• I’d been tracking him all day, and I almost had him, but I had to wait until he was under a tree before I could pounce. I stood up and scanned the clearing. That’s when I realized that I’d been duped. I wasn’t the stalker, after all. He was the bait, and I was the target.
• A baby sits alone in the plane’s first-class section, bright red headphones perched on his head. He stares at me a moment as I pass, then snaps his fingers at the flight attendant to get her attention. Was this another one of…
• You’re forty years old and are happily married to your spouse of 15 years. You’re offered an opportunity to go back to your childhood and correct a horrible mistake you made, and you accept it. You fix the mistake and continue moving through the stages of your life as you did before. Only, the day you were supposed to meet your spouse for the first time, they never showed up.
• You’re walking down a deserted street downtown when you pass a building with a mural painted on its wall. As you take it in, the faces on the mural suddenly start talking to you, warning you of crimes that are about to occur in the city. You’re unable to shut out their voices or ignore them.
• You’re in the car when the person on the radio starts talking about something you did yesterday. Only, you didn’t actually do it, you only thought about it. And it wasn’t yesterday, it was five minutes ago.
• You discover a book in your parent’s bedroom that describes everything you’ve ever said and done. But the book is a hundred years old, and you’re just twelve. Or so you thought.
• She stepped off the plane looking different from how I remembered her, which was strange as it had only been a few months. But she was taller somehow, her eyes were darker, her features sharper. What had they done to her at that retreat?
• Sometimes I wish I could just get into a waterproof bubble and float away, forever, away from all of this. Leave it all behind and start over. I never actually thought it would be possible, until…
•  The house started to shake, and at first, I thought it was an earthquake. We’d trained for those at school. I ran to the nearest door frame and pushed my hands and feet into it as hard as I could. But this wasn’t a normal earthquake. None of the other houses outside were shaking, for one thing. And it went on much too long. As the shaking got more and more intense, a hole opened in the middle of the house, and from it rose…
• I can talk to animals. It’s just something I’ve always been able to do. I didn’t even know it was weird until some kids at school saw me shooting the breeze with a murder of crows at recess one day. Now I have to keep it a secret. If anyone else finds out…
• You’re walking home with your friends from school one day when your best friend vanishes down a manhole. You jump in without thinking and discover that in the sewer lives an entire species of…
• Leonard sat down on the park bench to tie his shoelace. An old man walked up with his dog and asked Leonard if he’d watch the dog for five minutes. The man never returned, and Leonard…
• I walked through the market timidly, unsure of what I was looking for, but somehow feeling sure that I would find it here. A flash of light flickered almost imperceptibly to my right, and instinctively I turned toward the stall that I’d just passed, but it was gone. In its place…
• Yesterday, my mother was turned into a rock. Yes, a rock. The kind that’s small enough to put in my pocket and carry around. In fact, that’s where she is right now. I have one week to figure out who did this and find them if I ever want to see her face again.
•  I knew robotics were dangerous. I’ve been warning them for years. Even when I was seven, I could see the harm they were capable of causing. But nobody listened to me. Until now. Now that an evil robot is threatening to destroy the world, suddenly they come running back to me for help. Good thing I’m thirteen now. Maybe they’ll actually listen this time.
• It never occurred to me that it would actually work. Who would have thought that the teleporter at the Star Trek Museum was functional? You’d think they would have put up a sign warning kids about that, or something. Anyway, that’s how Jamie and I ended up in this barren land. Now we need to figure out how to get back.

Hopefully, these creative writing prompts for middle school have given you tons of new inspiration for your next class project. Whether you’re writing short stories, flash fiction, or novels, working from a sentence starter or writing prompt is a fun way to spark ideas.

Wednesday 15th of November 2023

these are cool

Tuesday 27th of June 2023

I love these! I've recently started a creative writing journal and have been struggling to find inspiration. I learned about story starters earlier this week and have been hunting down prompts ever since. This list is perfect, thank you!

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20 Creative Writing Activities For Middle School: Poem Ideas, Prompts, Story Starters, And Worksheets

April 10, 2024 //  by  Stephanie Ledford

Some students are prolific writers, needing no help putting pen to paper and telling their stories. However, there are other students who need a little more direction in order to get their stories out. Whatever the case may be, these 20 creative writing activities for middle school will have all of your students showing their creative prowess.

1. I Am From

After reading the poem “Where I’m From” by George Ella Lyon, have students write their own “I Am From” poems. Using a template, all students will be able to create wonderful poems illustrating their own unique backgrounds.

Learn More: Made by Teachers

2. Found Poems

Using the words of others, students create their own “found poems.” By taking a snippet here and a line there, they can arrange them in their own creative ways to create new, interesting poems. Reading a book as a class? Have them use the book to create a found poem!

Learn More: Read, Write, Think

Your middle schoolers are sure to feel like poets in the making with this creative assignment. Encourage them to connect themselves to something bigger, like their families, their culture, or their historical background as you task them with creating poems using their own names. Prompt them to begin their writing process by having them use the letters of their names to inspire a new line of poetry that they think reflects who they are as a person.

Learn More: Mama Smiles

4. Chain Stories

This assignment has each student start with a blank piece of paper. After giving them a writing prompt , every student begins writing a story. After your chosen time limit is up, they stop writing and pass their story to the next person in their group who then has to continue telling the story. When each story returns to its original author, the activity is complete.

Learn More: Creativities ESL

5. Visual Character Sketch

Being able to add depth to a character can be difficult for many students. By allowing a student to create a visual sketch, you are allowing them a different approach to writing a character description.

Learn More: Adobe Education Exchange

6. What If…

“What if” writing prompts are a great way to get your learners’ creative juices flowing. By posing a question, they’re given a starting point, and it’s up to them to decide what twists and turns their stories will take. Will they write a sad, action-packed, or scary story? The possibilities are endless!

Learn More: Journal Buddies

7. Descriptive Writing Prompts

Descriptive writing activities are another way for middle school students to practice their creative writing skills. They can give their descriptions their own unique twists by using their different writing styles to describe common objects. And hey, they might have a different appreciation for the things in their everyday worlds after this assignment!

Learn More: Academic Writing Success

8. Scary Stories

Go through the entire writing process and teach your students how to write scary stories! Before you begin writing, though, read them some (age-appropriate) scary stories to give them the chills and an idea of what is expected in a scary story.

Learn More: Keep ’em Thinking

9. Daily Journal Writing

There is no better way to improve students’ writing abilities than to do daily writing. Each day, give students a different prompt and allow them to write for fifteen minutes. After, allow them the opportunity to share their story with their peers or the class.

Learn More: Daily Teaching Tools

10. So Much Depends Upon…

“ The Red Wheel Barrow “–such a simple yet eloquent poem. Following this lesson plan, your students will be able to write their own simple yet eloquent poems and feel like accomplished writers.

Learn More: NYLearns

11. An Ode to…

Reluctant writers are often intimidated by complicated writing ideas. By using a template like the one pictured above, your students will all be able to feel like poets as they create their own odes about a person, place, or thing.

Learn More: Crafting Connections

12. Story Starters

Story starters are a great way to help students begin their stories. If you have a digital classroom, the Scholastic story starter page is great because it can formulate much different writing prompts, helping engage all students.

Learn More: Scholastic

13. My Time Machine Trip

What is everyday life like in 1902? How about in 2122? Have students write stories about their experiences traveling through time using the attached worksheet. For those that need a little extra help, allow them to research time periods so they have an idea of what life was like then.

Learn More: K12 Reader

14. Writing and Math

This is a great assignment for a math class! Using the provided instructions, students are to write a story that explains to their boss the math they used while delivering packages. Since this assignment asks them to cover specific math concepts, make sure you cover them in class first (or hand this assignment to a math teacher and let them have at it!).

Learn More: Dr. Hamblin

15. How to Bake Cookies for Santa

Seasonal writing activities are a great way to get kids excited around the holidays! One way to get descriptive paragraphs out of your students is through these instructions on how to bake cookies for Santa. The great thing about this assignment is all levels of writers can participate. Those that are more advanced can provide more details and struggling writers can still feel accomplished by explaining the cookie-making process!

Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers

16. Diary Entry of a Literary Character

Another favorite among creative writing ideas is having students write diary entries in the voice of a character from literature. This can be a character from a book you read as a class or from a book they read on their own. Either way, it will showcase their creative writing skills and their knowledge of the character!

Learn More: Banana Magic

17. Write a Rant

Writing a rant is a good assignment to use when you are trying to teach about the different voices we use when writing. When writing a rant, you are going to use an angrier, more aggressive voice than if you were writing a children’s story. This is a great warm-up to get students ready to write persuasive essays.

Learn More: Teachers and Writers Magazine

18. Write a Newspaper Story

After reading through some newspapers to get ideas on how newspaper articles are formatted, have each of your students write their own article. When they are all done, you can compile a classroom newspaper!

Learn More: Nie Online

19. Coat of Arms

Studying Shakespeare? Maybe European countries where it was common to have a Coat of Arms? If so, this assignment is perfect for your class. Have students create a coat of arms and then write a few paragraphs explaining their choices.

20. A Letter to Yourself

Have students write letters to their future selves. Give them specific questions to answer like “where do you see yourself in five years? Are you happy with your life? Is there anything you would change?” And then in five years, mail the letters to their parents!

Learn More: Ms. Carota

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300 Writing Prompts for Middle School Students

February 15, 2024 by Richard Leave a Comment

Here are 300 Writing Prompts for Middle School Students, when looking to engage middle school students in daily writing, it can be difficult to come up with enough creative yet educationally meaningful prompts to fill the school year. That’s why I was thrilled to uncover an incredible list of over 300 Writing Prompts for Middle School Students. With about 180 school days, this mega list of prompts could last nearly two school years without repeating! As a middle school teacher striving to make writing fun while also pushing my students to think deeper, stretch their perspectives, and grow their skills, I appreciate prompts tuned specifically to 11-14 year olds on topics that resonate with their developmental stage and experiences.

The list has prompts spanning popular middle school genres and themes ranging from relationships with friends, family, teachers, and community; to personal growth around emotions, hardships, ethics, and decision making; to navigating their changing identity and society around them. Examples that caught my eye include: “How can peers positively stand up to bullying?” and “What leadership lesson challenged you?” Imagine how students will light up responding to prompts that speak their language and tap into what they care about! With 300 on deck, I can target different skills and rotate in new prompts easily. This treasury of writing ideas unlocks an exciting year ahead!

These prompts are organized in the following categories:

On Relationships

On technology, on emotions.

• Issues in Schools
• Entertainment
• On Hero/Role Models
• Write about what being a good friend means to you.
• Describe your best friend and what makes your relationship special.
• Write about a time a friend disappointed you. What happened and how did you handle it?
• What is the best advice about friendship you have ever received? Who gave you the advice?
• Describe a time you and your friend had an argument. How did you resolve it? What did you learn?
• What qualities do you look for in choosing friends? Explain why those qualities are important.
• What is your favorite memory with your best friend? What happened that makes it so memorable?
• Should friends always agree with each other? Explain your opinion using an example from your life.
• Write about a person who has been a mentor for you. How have they impacted your life?
• Describe how you balance time between family and friends. Give examples.
• Do you find making new friends easy or hard? Discuss a time you made a new friend.
• Explain three qualities that make someone a good family member. Provide examples from your experiences.
• Describe your relationship with your siblings or extended family members. Use examples.
• Should family always come before friends? Discuss why or why not using examples from your experiences.
• Write about a family tradition or ritual you have. Why is it meaningful to you?
• How can families best support teenagers? What is something you wish your family understood better?
• Have you ever had a teacher that was an important mentor for you? If yes, describe how they supported you.
• Describe an adult aside from your family who has been a positive influence on you. Explain how they have helped you.
• Do teachers have lasting impacts on students? Describe one of your teachers who inspired you.
• Write about a figure you admire but do not personally know, like a celebrity, author, or athlete. Explain why you admire them.
• Describe a disagreement you witnessed between two people. How did each handle it? Who handled it better in your view?
• Think of someone you had a disagreement with in the past. Looking back, how could you have handled it better?
• Why is it important to admit when you are wrong? Describe a situation when you had to admit you were wrong. What was it like?
• Write about a time you compromised with someone who had an opposing view from yours. How did you find common ground? What did you learn?
• Do you find it easy or difficult to get along with people different from you? Explain using examples.
• How can people move past stereotypes? Share a time when you or someone else overcame a stereotype.
• Describe a situation where jealousy impacted a friendship or relationship. What damage did it cause? What did you learn?
• Why is trust so essential in relationships? Describe the building or breaking of trust in one of your relationships.
• What have you learned from both good and bad relationships? How have those lessons shaped how you interact with people?
• How do you define respect? Write about a time when respect was present or absent from a relationship.
• Describe a time when words were very hurtful or healing in a relationship. What impact did this have on you?
• Think about a relationship that is difficult. How could you act to improve it?
• Write about a stranger who did a kind deed for you or someone else. How did this small act of kindness make a difference?
• Should people give second chances? Share a story from your own life on second chances.
• For what reasons do conflicts happen between family or friends? Share a personal story.
• How can people prevent or resolve conflicts between each other? Share a time when conflict was prevented or resolved positively.
• Think about a relationship that recently improved. What specifically changed for the better? What can be learned?
• What does it mean to truly listen to someone? Why is listening skills important in relationships? Give an example.
• Choose one word to describe each member of your family and explain why you chose those words.
• What are fun ways for families to spend quality time together? What does your family do and what do you enjoy most? Explain.
• If you had the chance to give advice to a good friend right now, what would it be and why?
• What goals can people set to become better friends or family members? What’s one goal you have set for yourself?
• Who do you turn to when you have problems? Why have you chosen to talk to this person/people?
• Should we forgive friends or family who lie to us? Share your thoughts and experiences with forgiveness.
• Is it ever okay to keep secrets from friends or family? Explain why or why not.
• What does “being responsible” with friendships and family relationships mean to you? Give examples.
• Do you think rules should be different for friends than family? Explain your thoughts with examples.
• Describe a time you felt support from your friends or family during a difficult situation.
• For you, what is the difference between a close friend and an acquaintance? Give examples from your life.
• Explain why friendships and family relationships should be valued and prioritized. Use personal examples.
• Describe your extended family like grandparents, aunts/uncles, and cousins. How often do you see them? What do you enjoy about those relationships?
• What traditions or rituals does your family have? Why are they meaningful?
• Has a relative ever given you great advice? What was it and why was it helpful?
• How can families best support pre-teens and teenagers? What do you wish your parents understood better?
• What qualities make someone a good brother or sister? Do you think you have those qualities? Explain.
• Describe your mom, dad, or another caregiver’s personality. What are 3 great qualities they have?
• If you had magical abilities, what problem would you solve for a family member? Why?
• What does “unconditional love” mean to you? Describe how your family shows love.
• Should parents be friends with their kids? Explain your view using examples and reasons.
• How should parents handle teens who break rules or make poor choices? Discuss their responsibilities.
• Describe one of your favorite memories with your family. What happened that makes it extra special?
• For what reasons do conflicts happen in families? Share a story from your own family.
• How can families prevent or resolve conflicts positively? Share a time your family resolved a conflict well.
• If you could add a new family rule, what would it be and why? Would others agree it’s needed? Explain.
• What does being a good listener mean in your family? Provide a time when good listening skills were helpful at home.
• Describe one issue your parents had to compromise on while raising you and your siblings. Explain their perspectives.
• What is one clue that a family member needs extra support? Describe a time you or someone else needed support.
• How can trust be built, lost, or repaired in families? Provide a personal example.
• What does “respect” require inside families? Describe how your family shows respect or could improve.
• Share an example of how your family cooperates and supports one another. Why is this important?
• How can families balance personal interests with responsibilities to the family unit or household? Give examples.
• Have religious or spiritual beliefs impacted your family positively? Explain how.
• What does “forgiveness” require in families? Describe someone forgiving or being forgiven. What was the outcome?
• Is venting anger appropriately important in families? Share an example from your household.
• What is one problem you think many families struggle with? Explain ideas for how to address this issue.
• What is a rule that has helped create order or safety in your home? Why was it needed?
• How do parents model good behavior for their children without realizing it? Give examples you’ve observed.
• Write about an annoyance or frustration you have experienced with a parent, guardian, or sibling. How have you worked through this issue?
• Explain why keeping promises and commitments to family matters. Provide a related example.
• What are fun ways for families to spend quality time together? What does your family do that brings you together?
• Should families pray or perform spiritual rituals together? Explain why this can be meaningful or not needed.
• Is getting advice from elders important? Share an example of getting advice from your parents or grandparents.
• How can parents and kids better understand each other’s perspectives? Explain with a personal example.
• Describe one house rule you did not understand as a younger kid. Now that you are older, does it make more sense? Explain.
• How should parents educate kids about racism or discrimination? Discuss using personal examples or observations.
• Do you make friends easily outside your family? Explain how your family gives you confidence or holds you back socially.
• What quality about your parents inspires you to be like them? Explain using examples.
• What is one thing you wish you and your siblings would stop fighting about? Why does this issue cause problems? What could improve it?
• Describe one thing you argue about a lot with your sibling(s) and one thing you get along well doing together. Compare the two relationship dynamics.
• Explain one of your family’s funny little habits or traditions outsiders would find interesting or strange. Where did it originate?
• For what reasons are family relationships often complicated? Share an example from personal experience.
• If a new kid was joining your family as an adopted sibling, what advice would you give him or her about fitting into your established household?
• Should parents give kids advice about friendship or let them learn those skills independently? Discuss, backing your view with reasoning.
• Describe an ethical dilemma or complex problem your family faced together. How did working through it strengthen relationships? What did family members learn about each other?
• How can parents and kids respect each other’s privacy? Discuss setting boundaries while still providing guidance.
• How might experiencing hard times like illness, grief, job loss, etc. bring a family closer together? Describe a difficulty that ultimately strengthened bonds between your family members rather than weakening them.
• Even in difficult or complex family relationships, what makes the bond stronger than conflict? Explain why you think family ties still endure.
• Even if family relationships are challenging or imperfect, why work to understand versus give up on each other? Provide evidence that trying leads in a positive direction.
• When do you think parents should stop influencing adult children’s choices? Explain where the line should be drawn and why.
• What have you learned from your parents’ strengths and weaknesses? How will you carry these lessons into your future as an adult?
• What is your favorite app or website? Describe what you like about it.
• Explain 3 responsible ways you use the internet and social media.
• Should there be laws about how people your age use the internet? Why or why not?
• Describe when it’s okay or not okay to share information or photos online.
• Write about a time technology like GPS maps or the internet really helped you or someone you know.
• Explain why spending too much time on devices can be unhealthy. Provide evidence.
• Describe problems or distractions technology like cell phones can cause at school. Should policies be made to address this issue?
• How is communicating online and via text different from talking face-to-face? Include pros and cons of each.
• Stories are spreading about technology like virtual reality. Describe what you think virtual reality will be like someday based on current information.
• Do you think technology brings people together more than it isolates them? Use reasons and evidence to back your opinion.
• How does the internet make researching for school easier and harder at the same time? Explain with examples from experience.
• Write about a time technology failed to work properly. What problems did it cause? What was the backup plan to address needs?
• How have smart phones impacted how youth and adults spend leisure time? Explain pros and cons.
• Describe an app that helps make people’s lives easier somehow. Explain its standout features.
• What are ways social media connects people positively? Also discuss risks and how to use social media responsibly.
• Should everyone have access to affordable home internet? Explain pros and cons of internet access becoming an essential utility provided via programs for low income families.
• Discuss an innovative medical technology that improves healthcare. How exactly does it help doctors treat patients better?
• Would receiving instruction through technology at home some days help students learn? Explain the possibilities and challenges you envision.
• How have delivery drones and self-driving vehicles started changing the way people transport items? Describe what future possibilities exist to revolutionize transportation.
• Explain how smartphones both waste and make the best use of people’s time. Provide evidence.
• How do various communication methods impact trust and relationships between people both positively and negatively? Cite examples.
• Should schools invest in providing laptops or tablets to each student for learning? Explain reasoning using pros and cons.
• How does advancing technology like electric cars, solar power, etc. positively and negatively impact the environment now and in the foreseeable future?
• How have smartphones changed people’s behaviors for better or worse? Provide evidence from real world observations.
• Should youth be on social media? At what age is appropriate? Cite reasons.
• How does the online world impact body image perceptions? Discuss using observations or evidence. Provide solutions.
• Explain pros and cons you see regarding video games’ impacts on things like kids’ brains, creativity, social skills, and values.
• Discuss positive and concerning impacts highly advanced robotics may have on jobs, the economy, how people treat each other in relationships, self-worth and identity when more labor becomes automated.
• How can the internet and connected technology increase existing inequities? Offer ideas to responsibly address this concern.
• Explain why developing future technology sustainably matters. Provide examples like electric car batteries, solar panels, etc.
• Should tech CEOs or companies do more about issues like device addiction? What exactly should change?
• How does immediate access to so much information impact how people view issues? Explain how quality versus quantity of data impacts judgments made. Cite real world examples like politics, news stories, etc.
• Discuss ways technology harms or helps entertainment quality and enjoyment like movies, shows, music, etc. Compare changes you see over time as innovation progresses.
• How does the internet impact the spread of truth versus lies? Describe how credibility should be evaluated.
• What existing technology truly excites you? Explain what you find interesting and innovative about it.
• Share what harm has occurred when people use technology irresponsibly. Also discuss fixes to address concerns you see being neglected.
• Should schools better educate students about using technology safely and wisely? Explain importance.
• Discuss technology’s influence during an election. Consider media, voter engagement, political messaging, etc. Are changes mostly beneficial or concerning in your view? Explain.
• Explain why websites and apps should value user privacy and security. What should companies transparently share and responsibly protect?
• Has social media made peers kinder or less sensitive to each other? Explain your observations and solutions.
• How does always on the go device access impact family relationships? Provide positives and hints for avoiding pitfalls.
• How does being constantly plugged in emotionally impact people over time based on your observations?
• Discuss an existing technology that worries you. Explain problems it fuels. What regulations could responsibly and ethically decrease harm?
• How does social media impact mental health? Support your perspectives with observations, credible research sources, and possible solutions.
• Share why empathy remains important even as technology progresses. Provide real world evidence supporting your claim.
• Discuss how smartphones both hurt and help people fully live “in the moment.” Use personal examples and suggestions.
• Explain effective tactics for determining if online content and interactions are credible versus manipulative or false. Cite real world examples like clickbait ads. What tips do you recommend?
• Describe pros and cons of computers grading students’ writing versus teacher feedback. Which approach is better in your opinion? Support perspectives with reasoning.
• How does always on technology impact people’s sense of wonder, curiosity to learn new things the old fashioned way, and ability to have insight? Provide observations.
• What existing or emerging technology do you believe is getting too little or too much hype? Explain reasoning using evidence and examples.
• Describe a time when you felt really proud. Why did this accomplishment make you feel that way?
• When was the last time you felt grateful? What happened that made you appreciate something or someone?
• Write about a situation where your emotions felt out of control. How did you eventually handle them?
• What calms you down when feeling nervous or worried? Explain step-by-step what helps you.
• What does courage feel like to you? Describe a situation where facing your fears made you braver.
• Share about a hardship or failure after which you felt resilience. What gave you strength during the tough time?
• Describe a memory where curiosity led to a fun adventure, interesting discovery, or new understanding.
• What sparks your sense of joy or happiness most? Paint a picture with words sharing what that feels like.
• How can friends show kindness to classmates who feel left out or lonely at school?
• What should someone do when social media interactions stir up feelings like anger or envy? Explain smart strategies.
• How might words impact someone’s self-worth without the speaker realizing it? Provide examples.
• How can overcoming a challenge build grit to handle future tough situations emotionally? Recall a time this happened for you or someone else.
• What values guide your life choices? Where did those become important to you?
• How can students show more empathy and compassion at school? Provide examples.
• How do responsibilities like chores influence attitudes and maturity levels? Explain using personal experience.
• What action should people take if they witness bullying? Offer solutions.
• Should students notify an adult if a peer’s joke goes too far emotionally? Explain why or why not.
• How do colors impact someone’s mood? Describe colors that tend to make you feel peaceful, energized, cheerful, etc. and why.
• What makes someone feel understood? Describe mindsets and behaviors that convey acceptance of others’ feelings.
• Is letting anger out always required? Why or why not? Offer healthy strategies for processing anger.
• Which is more important – self-confidence or self-awareness? Support your choice with sound reasoning.
• How can students respect differences in learning abilities, cultures, beliefs, backgrounds, etc.? Provide positive examples.
• Describe mindsets kids should avoid like blaming others for disappointments vs. taking responsibility for choices.
• What advice would you offer someone who feels marginalized for being different like nationality, disability, etc?
• Is perfectionism about looks and grades harmful? Explain problems and smarter mindsets to feel good enough.
• How can families show members they matter through simple gestures like greeting questions, eye contact, etc?
• Should people give second chances? Share why this does or does not make sense in certain relationships or situations.
• When has a pet’s companionship lifted your spirits? Paint an upbeat picture sharing that memory.
• Recount a time laughter healed hurt feelings between family or friends. What humor techniques restore connection?
• Coach someone from your own past on building self-esteem despite mean kid behavior. Offer concrete empowering strategies.
• How can students incorporate more emotional intelligence on social media? Consider acts of exclusion, meanness, etc. and remedies.
• Provide examples of tone and body language that convey trust and acceptance of someone venting feelings. Offer additional tips.
• Share how music enriches your life emotionally. Pick a song that impacts your mood and explain why.
• Should people give compliments just to be nice? Explain pros and cons of this using personal examples.
• How can focusing on gratitude, blessings, self-care, etc. safeguard mental health when undergoing stress? Discuss research-backed techniques.
• Recount a time you put yourself in someone else’s shoes during a tense interaction. How did trying to understand them positively transform empathy?
• Coach a shy student on making a tough social situation better through small acts of kindness. Provide uplifting guidance.
• Suggest healthy emotional habits students should build to handle future challenges like first jobs, college, adulthood, etc.
• How can recess sports and games nurture social skills like teamwork, good sportsmanship, managing disappointment after losses, etc.? Use examples.
• Should students speak up about wrong assumptions peers make regarding diverse groups? Politely clarify truth to dispel stereotypes. Use examples.
• Pick an emotion like awe, angst, delight, despair, wrath, bliss, etc. and paint a vivid personal picture where you felt that way.
• How can social media interactions demonstrate more emotional intelligence? Consider exclusion, meanness, etc. and remedies.
• When is it acceptable to hide feelings to spare someone pain versus speak truth with compassion? Explain where lines should be drawn.
• How can focusing on society’s past moral progress fuel present optimism? Discuss using civil rights victories, democracy wins, etc.
• Recount a time swallowing pride strengthened a valuable relationship. What wisdom did you gain?
• How do fair leaders appeal to citizens’ highest ideals rather than stoke dark emotions like blame, fear, etc.? Share real examples like Lincoln.
• Paint an inspirational picture of society lifting up youth wired to live meaningfully versus seek fleeting thrills. What specifically makes their lives shine?
• How can rules promote ethical, wise digital community behavior versus thoughtless harm? Consider implementing guidelines for more supportive interactions.
• Paint an inspirational picture of people uniting across political divides to solve real problems jeopardizing emotional and physical health like addiction, poverty, human trafficking, etc.
• Recount a time you transformed hurt into helpfulness or comfort for someone else grappling with hardship. What emotional tools and insights can uplift both giver and receiver?

Issues in School 

• Describe a challenging project and how you completed it successfully.
• Explain why cheating on schoolwork is unethical. Have you dealt with a cheater? Discuss honestly.
• Share about a teacher who inspired you to work hard. Traits? Qualities? Teaching style? How were they excellent?
• Tell how you improved at something that was difficult at first like sports, music, math, etc. Hard work pays off!
• Pick an ethical dilemma at school and explore solutions. Consider rights, rules, safety, fairness.
• Discuss pros and cons of letter grades verses pass/fail evaluation systems. Which promotes actual learning?
• Describe obstacles when group projects frustrate and solutions teachers could try instead.
• How do pressures like getting into college impact student priorities? Reflect on whether the tradeoffs are worth it.
• Discuss technology’s impact on school both positively and concerningly. Consider distraction, behavior, values, etc. Share ideas.
• How can teachers and students unite when controversial real-world issues arise in class conversations? Explore respectful solutions.
• What should teachers say and allow regarding politics, religion, activism etc.? Explain appropriate policies and ethical reasoning.
• How can school sports best prevent injury? Consider health risks of head trauma, ACL tears, etc. Offer student perspective on rule changes, gear requirements, rest guidelines etc. needed to protect players.
• Describe an ethical way you used tech for schoolwork versus a rule you’d add to curb misconduct. Consider cheating potential, theft, privacy invasions, harmful uses, etc. and consequences.
• Discuss public school funding debates. Consider formulas, competing priorities, misperceptions, pros/cons of programs cut or supplemented by parent fundraising. Should policies shift? Why/why not?
• How should schools handle mental health crises? Consider stress, anxiety, depression, trauma’s impacts. Discuss counseling, staff training needs etc. Destigmatize struggles!
• How might school safety improve? Consider emergency protocols, building modifications, security roles, technology aids. Balance protection with warm environments.
• What extracurricular activities matter most to you? Explore their life lessons like teamwork, resilience, commitment. Fund programs empowering students.
• Discuss controversies around school uniforms and dress codes. Consider disciplinary fairness, cost factors, Pros? Cons? Alternatives?
• How can students improve school spirit? Consider event turnout, community service participation etc. Share fun ideas!
• Describe a great teacher. Traits? Qualities? Teaching Style? Why were they excellent? How did they inspire students?
• Share a time good writing instruction made ah-ha connections for you. What teaching approach finally demystified skills? How does this help adults see school positively?
• Discuss positive side effects when youth pitch service projects. Consider impacts on agency, purpose, skill-building.
• How can peers positively stand up to bullying? Consider strategies matching context like severity, ages, power imbalances, supervision etc. Apply compassion.
• What career discovery approach best serves students? Consider guest talks, job shadows, project relevance etc. How can exploration pair with current coursework?
• Should cash incentivize good grades? Consider pros, cons and alternative motivations.
• How might better nutrition improve school performance? Consider food quality, budget disconnects, health ripple effects.
• What advice would you give struggling peers? Consider perspectives affecting motivation like learning differences, attention challenges, skill gaps, emotional blocks. Share supportive guidance.
• What leadership lesson challenged you? Consider group projects, captain positions, committee roles. How can educators further grow student leadership?
• Should middle schoolers use social media? Explain appropriate usage, privacy, ethics. Explore impacts face-to-face versus online communication, identity-building.
• How do sports build character and community? Consider award/recognition systems also encouraging nonsport interests.
• Share a time good teaching eased subject struggles. Consider learning style pairings, tutoring, visuals etc. What finally made content click? How can teachers apply such insights schoolwide?
• How can students practice self-advocacy asking for help? Consider communication method pros/cons. Normalize speaking up!
• How should schools handle grief support? Consider student perspectives on memorials, counseling, handlings of loss. What sensitivity helps healing?
• Should cellphones be allowed in schools? Consider classroom complexities. How to responsibly integrate usage?
• What career skills should schools teach? Consider financial literacy, interview tactics, job applications, workplace ethics alongside math, literature etc. Blend knowledge fields.
• What homework policies best serve students and family lives? Consider hour limits, vacation blackout periods. How can schools support balance?
• Should middle schoolers have recess? Consider mental health benefits balancing packed academic schedules.
• How can dress codes embrace personal style without straying from professionalism? Consider flexibility for religious diversity.
• What grading system most accurately reflects learning? Consider test reliance, extra credit, participation, skill gains versus deficits.
• How young should career advising begin? Consider early goal-setting, age views of self/interests. What roles can teachers play?
• Should community service become a graduation requirement? Consider purpose, logistics.
• How can better school-parent communication occur? Consider platforms, frequency, accessibility etc. Building partnerships around the whole child matters!
• Should teachers incorporate art forms into standard subjects? Consider benefits of music, visual art etc. blending into math, literature, science etc. Explore cross-disciplinary learning pros.
• Pick a controversial real-world issue arising in class study. Outline respectful discussion ground rules enabling equitable idea sharing. Consider rule modification by grade.
• Should schools screen students for mental health needs? Consider care connectors, warning signs role in prevention. Destigmatize support.
• Should schools provide career counseling? If so, what issues should be addressed and what topics avoided? Consider student feelings discussing economic challenges.
• Describe an imaginative teacher capturing learning in creative ways you enjoyed. What did their innovations teach in terms of thinking differently?
• Should students evaluate teacher performance? Consider aspects like tone, control, care shown. Explore survey goals – accountability, improvement insights etc. Discuss complex power dynamics sensitively.
• Is starting school days later better for health and learning? Consider research on adolescent sleep needs.
• How can team and individual activities coexist in gym class Cooperatively rotating through stations enabling choices might help those loving and loathing competition. Discuss solutions valuing all skill preferences.

entertainment 

• What is your favorite movie and why?
• What is your favorite song and why does it make you happy?
• Who is your favorite singer or musical artist? Describe their music.
• What is your favorite TV show? Describe the characters and plot.
• If you could star in any TV show or movie, what would you choose? Why?
• What is the funniest video you’ve seen? Describe what happens in it.
• What is your favorite book? Describe the main character and plot.
• Who is your favorite author? What do you like about the stories they write?
• Describe your perfect day watching movies or TV shows. What would you watch all day?
• What is your favorite smartphone or tablet app for having fun? How do you use it?
• If you could attend any concert, who would you see perform live? Why?
• Describe the most entertaining YouTube video you’ve seen lately.
• What entertainer or celebrity would you most like to meet? What would you talk about?
• Describe a time when you laughed really hard at something funny. What happened?
• What is the funniest joke you’ve heard? Why did you find it so funny?
• Pick three famous people you’d invite to a dinner party. Why did you choose them? What would you talk about?
• Describe a time when you performed in front of an audience. How did it make you feel?
• What games or activities entertain your family when you’re all together? Why do you enjoy them?
• Imagine you could enter any fictional world from a book, TV show or movie. What would you choose and why?
• What local attractions or amusement parks have you visited for fun day trips? Describe what you did there.
• What teachers at your school make learning the most fun? Describe their teaching styles.
• Describe your ideal birthday party for entertainment. What would you do? Who would you invite?
• What is the best school play, concert or other performance you’ve seen? Describe it.
• What do you like doing on weekends for fun?
• What entertainer or celebrity do you think has the best job? Why?
• Describe your favorite hobby. How did you get started doing it? What do you like about it?
• What is your favorite holiday? What entertainment traditions does your family have for it?
• What outdoor activities entertain you? Describe one.
• If you opened your own entertainment business for kids your age, what would you offer?
• When you want to relax and destress, what TV shows, music or other things do you turn to? Why are they relaxing?
• How do reality talent competitions like American Idol or America’s Got Talent entertain you? Do you want to someday audition for one?
• Describe your perfect entertaining day off from school. What fun would you have?
• What were the best fireworks you ever saw? Describe the display.
• Write a short, imaginary dialogue between you and your favorite entertainer or fictional character. What do you talk about?
• What is the funniest joke you know by heart? Why can you remember this one?
• Describe an entertaining family tradition or celebration your family enjoys. What happens each time? What do you like about it?
• What is your favorite live event you’ve attended, like a concert, play, or sporting event? Describe it. What entertained you?
• Have you ever entered a talent show or performed for an audience? Describe your act and the performance. How did you feel?
• Pick three famous historical figures you’d invite to dinner and describe why you chose them and what you might talk about.
• What is the most beautiful place that you have visited that made you happy? Describe what you saw and did there.
• What music always makes you smile and dance? Why does it have that effect on you?
• Watching movies at home or going to the movie theater – which do you prefer and why? Describe your perfect movie experience.
• What were your favorite school subjects as a younger kid? What made learning fun then?
• Have you ever met someone famous? Who was it? Describe the experience.
• If you had the power to become a fictional character for just one day, who would you be and why? Describe some things you would do as that character.
• You can have superpowers for just one whole day. What powers would you choose and how would you use them for entertainment or to help yourself and other people?
• You just won front row concert tickets to see your favorite band perform live. Who is the band and how excited are you as you take your seat? Describe the incredible night.
• Describe your dream vacation – where would you go, who would you take, and what fun things would you make sure to do when you get there? Make your planning committee happy!
• What outdoor summer hobbies and activities do you most look forward to each year? Describe your favorites in vivid sensory detail so the reader feels like they are there with you.
• What do you find entertaining that most other people probably don’t? Describe or demonstrate it and try to convince readers to give it a try!

On Hero/role Model 

• Who is your personal hero? Describe why you admire this person.
• What qualities make someone a hero? Describe your idea of a hero.
• Who in your family do you look up to the most? Explain why.
• Describe a fictional character that you consider a hero. What do you admire about them?
• If you could spend a day with any hero (real or fictional), who would you choose and why? Describe what you would do together.
• Have you ever met someone you consider a hero? Tell about your experience.
• What does being a role model mean to you? Describe someone who is a good role model.
• Who is a positive role model in your community? What makes them a good role model?
• Describe a time when you helped someone. Do you think that made you a role model or hero to them?
• If you had a special power, how would you use it to be a hero in your town? Describe the ways you would help people.
• What central traits do all heroes share? Explain some key qualities heroes have.
• Explain why teachers can be everyday heroes. What makes a teacher a hero to students?
• Describe a fictional superhero origin story for yourself. How did you get your powers and decide to become a hero?
• Whose poster would you hang on your wall: a sports star, entertainer, historic leader, inventor, or someone else? Explain why you admire this person as a role model.
• Who do you think is a hero in your family’s history? Write about one of your ancestors who inspires you.
• When have you felt like a hero? Describe a time you helped someone in an important way.
• What song best describes the qualities of a hero? Explain your choice.
• What is the most heroic career , in your opinion? Describe why.
• Have you read about an inspirational figure who overcame difficulties? Write about why their life story is heroic.
• What fictional place would you want to live where you could train to become a hero? Describe your training.
• Which of your friends shows heroic qualities? Share why you think they are hero material.
• Describe a way you would like to help animals and become their hero.
• What career would you like to have one day where you could be a hero? Explain the ways you could help people in that career.
• Tell about a time you stood up for someone. Do you think that took strength or heroism?
• Describe a character in book who is a good role model for teens. Explain why.
• Who is your hero in sports? Why do you find them inspirational?
• Have you ever written a story featuring yourself as the hero? Share some details.
• What is the most courageous thing you have ever done? Why did it require courage?
• Describe a way you would protect others from bullies if you could.
• Explain why nurses, doctors and other medical professionals are everyday heroes.
• Who is a “hometown hero” where you live and why are they admired?
• What animal is your favorite hero from a movie? Explain why.
• What is more important for being viewed as a hero – talent or good character? Discuss why you think so.
• Describe someone at your school who you think behaves like a hero to others.
• Tell about a time you exercised wisdom in a difficult situation. Does that make you feel heroic?
• Design a new superhero. Describe their costume, superpowers, vehicle, mission and who they protect.
• Parents often tell kids – “Be careful climbing too high or you might get hurt!” Do you think a hero would be careful or bold? Discuss why.
• What 3 traits best describe a hero? Explain your choices.
• How can ordinary people become heroes? Give some examples of ways everyday people have been heroic.
• Pick two fictional mentors you have read about and would want to learn life lessons from about being a hero. Explain your choices.
• Should people think of themselves as heroes or is it best to be humble? Discuss this idea.
• What inspires you to want to make a positive difference in the world? How does this relate to being a hero?
• How are teachers and students heroes for each other? Describe their heroism.
• Tell about a historical hero who inspires you. Why do you look up to them?
• How can music and movies motivate people to be heroes? Give examples of inspirational songs and films.
• What will be the next great challenge that tomorrow’s heroes need to tackle and overcome? Speculate what that challenge might realistically be.
• How can young people reveal their “inner hero” more? What would help them develop heroism?
• How do images of heroes vary across different cultures? How might your idea of a hero change if you lived in another country?
• Do you think there will ever be a time period that doesn’t need any heroes? Explain why you think so.
• Imagine yourself at age 60 looking back – what do you hope young people say about your life that might inspire them or make them see you as a hero?

With over 300 thoughtful writing prompts for middle school students, the possibilities for sparking student engagement are endless. I’m energized imagining how students will dive into these age-appropriate topics and questions that resonate with their experiences and invite them to explore identity, relationships, responsibility, and more.

Whether it’s debating policies around technology in schools or opening up about a time they felt marginalized for being different, students will surely find prompts on this comprehensive list that interest them while also pushing their perspectives and building key literacy skills. Teachers can easily integrate these into warm-ups, journal entries, discussion springboards, and more activities.

Best of all, using so many prompts over a school year prevents repetition and boredom while allowing teachers to customize difficulty, vary formats to meet different learning styles, and scaffold writing skill development. With around 180 school days, weaving these 300 gems in daily exposes students to less redundant ideas so they sharpen a greater diversity of skills through unique responses rather than formulaic approaches. I foresee this prompting richer writing and deeper engagement that unlocks students’ potential. I can’t wait to incorporate these into my lesson planning and unit development this summer to start the year strong and set my young writers up for ongoing success! We have many more writing prompts on our site if you found these useful. 

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About Richard

Richard Everywriter (pen name) has worked for literary magazines and literary websites for the last 25 years. He holds degrees in Writing, Journalism, Technology and Education. Richard has headed many writing workshops and courses, and he has taught writing and literature for the last 20 years.  

In writing and publishing he has worked with independent, small, medium and large publishers for years connecting publishers to authors. He has also worked as a journalist and editor in both magazine, newspaper and trade publications as well as in the medical publishing industry.   Follow him on Twitter, and check out our Submissions page .

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The best writing prompts for middle school

Writing has a funny way of bringing the world around us to sharp contrast — which is why creative writing prompts might turn out to be just the trick to get the imaginations of your middle school students going! Whether you make it a journaling activity in the classroom or an interactive project to get your middle schoolers swapping ideas with friends, a writing prompt can do it all for kids: improve their writing skills, skyrocket their creativity, and broaden their perspective beyond the confines of school.

This directory is bursting with the best writing ideas about animals, people, and nature. Feel free to use any of these writing prompts for middle school to help turn your students into young writers with a story of their own.

If you're looking to cut to the chase, here's a list of top ten favorite writing prompts for middle schoolers:

• A character finds an old roll of film, and takes it to be developed. What do they find?
• A mundane ability suddenly becomes a superpower. Write about someone or something affected by this.
• End your story with someone finally conceding to another's point of view.
• Format your story in the style of diary entries.
• Set your story in a confectionery shop.
• Write a story about someone struggling to swallow some harsh (but fair) constructive criticism.
• Write a story in the form of a top-ten list.
• Write a story inspired by a piece of music (without using any lyrics).
• Write a story that focuses on the relationship between siblings.
• Write a story involving a character donating a box of clothes they have outgrown.

If you have a middle school student who's interested in becoming an author, check out our free resources on the topic:

Develop a Writing Routine (free course) — It’s never too early to start developing a writing routine! While creative writing prompts can give a student the spark of an idea for a story, it will take time, effort, and commitment to turn it into a novel. This course will show an author of any age how to develop the discipline that they will need to write a book.

Want to encourage your middle school students to start writing? Check out Reedsy’s weekly short story contest , for the chance of winning $250! You can also check out our list of writing contests or our directory of literary magazines for more opportunities to submit your story.

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120 Engaging Middle School Writing Prompts

Getting middle school students to write can be particularly challenging. However, if you provide your students with a fun, interesting, and engaging writing prompt, you’ll find that their creativity and enthusiasm for writing can be easily sparked.

Creative Writing Prompts for Middle School Students

These creative writing prompts are cues or scenarios that inspire imaginative storytelling and personal expression. These prompts will encourage middle school students to explore new ideas, develop their narrative skills, and express themselves in unique and creative ways. Here’s a list of creative writing prompts for middle school students:

Journal Writing Prompts for Middle School Students

Persuasive writing prompts for middle school students.

These persuasive writing prompts are designed to inspire middle school students to develop arguments and persuade readers about a particular viewpoint or idea. These prompts will encourage critical thinking and research skills and enable students to present and justify their opinions clearly. Here’s a list of persuasive writing prompts for middle school students:

Expository Writing Prompts for Middle School Students

Narrative writing prompts for middle school students.

These narrative writing prompts encourage middle school students to tell a story, either about themselves, someone else, or a completely fictional scenario. This type of writing helps students develop their storytelling skills, enhances their creativity, and allows them to express their thoughts and experiences in an engaging way. Here’s a list of narrative writing prompts for middle school students:

Story Starters for Middle School Students

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Home › Study Tips › Creative Writing Resources For Secondary School Students

Creative Writing Prompts For Middle School Students

• Published February 11, 2023

Creative Writing Prompts for middle school students is a fun list to help unmotivated and uninspired students use their imagination. Do you know one of the major reasons why students struggle with their writing growth is a lack of inspiration and guidance? This can result in low creative thinking leading to lower-quality work and poor confidence.

With these creative writing prompts specifically tailored to middle school students, you’ll have a starting point for your writing. There’s nothing like a spark of inspiration to get you going! Do you need more structured guidance from Oxbridge tutors to give you a massive boost in your creative writing skills? Check out our most in-demand  creative writing summer school !

Are you ready to dive in and feel inspired by exciting writing prompt ideas? Read on!

The Best Writing Prompts for Middle School

Before getting started, you may want to delve deeper into some creative writing examples to get into the swing of things. If you’ve done that, then here are a few of the best writing prompts for middle school students that help spark creativity:

• Who’s your favourite character in a book? Try journaling from the character’s perspective.
• What topic are you passionate about? Write a persuasive essay on the topic. 
• Think about your favourite place on Planet Earth. Write a descriptive essay about it.
• Write a story that begins with the sentence, “It was a dark and stormy night.”
• If you had a time machine, where you would go and what you would do.
• Recall a memorable emotion or experience. Write a poem about it. 
• Think about a current event you find interesting. Write a news article about it. 
• Who would you approach if you could ask for advice from anyone, living or dead? Write them a letter. 
• Imagine you’re an astronaut travelling through space. Write a journal entry about your experience.
• What’s one of the most memorable moments in your life? Write a personal narrative about it. 
• Write a short story about a character who overcomes a challenge or obstacle.
• What topic did you learn about recently? Write an informative essay about it.
• Write a fictional diary entry from the point of view of a historical figure.
• What specific animal do you find beautiful? Write a descriptive poem about it.
• Describe your hopes and dreams for the next five years via a letter to your future self. 
• Imagine that you are stranded on a deserted island. Write a story about your experience.
• Write a scene in a play in an unusual setting.
• What place would you like to visit? Write a descriptive paragraph about it. 
• Write a personal reflection about a significant event or experience and what you have learned from it.
• What’s your favourite animal? Write a fictional story from your fave animal’s perspective.

Creative Story Ideas: 34 Story Starters and Prompts for Middle Schoolers

• A magical pen that brings drawings to life
• A group of friends find a hidden treasure map.
• A world where animals can talk
• A robot who develops human emotions
• A strange creature is discovered in the depths of the ocean.
• A character who can see into the future
• A young detective solves a series of mysterious crimes.
• Teenage superhero navigates the challenges of middle school while saving the world.
• A group of middle school students stumble upon a secret government experiment.
• The magical kingdom is hidden in a scary forest.
• A vengeful ghost haunts the basketball court at a small school.
• Time-travel adventure to the Wild West 100 years ago. 
• Friends have to save their town from a massive alien invasion.
• A character who learns to communicate with animals to save them from illegal hunters.
• A future world where AI technology controls everything.
• A distraught character who can control time and tries to change their past.
• Four teenagers go on a survival camping trip that turns into a nightmare.
• The magical creature must find a way back home against the efforts of evil humans who want to use its powers for their own purposes.
• A young girl discovers she was born 500 years ago.
• An orphan wakes up with no memory of who they are until they accidentally stumble upon an oddly familiar house.
• Students accidentally open a portal to another dimension and try to find their way back home fast because their final exam is a week away.
• A terrifying monster lives beneath the city streets. So why did it start terrorising the city all of a sudden?
• A gamer gets stuck in a video game. How can said gamer get out? Do they even want to?
• A middle school student starts having foreboding dreams that come true. What is the universe trying to warn them?
• Students attend a school for monster-slaying magic. So what monsters are they fighting against?
• A group of kids discover a secret underground society they must fight to save modern civilisation.
• An old man saves his town from a natural disaster in 13 minutes. 
• The dragon wakes up from a century-long slumber. Only to discover it’s the only one left.
• The robot becomes self-aware and must navigate human emotions.
• A young inventor creates a machine that can read minds for a sinister purpose.
• A magical place where everyone has a special ability gets tangled up in a civil war.
• Supernatural mystery in an old, abandoned mansion that can save the world from a looming threat.
• A haunted amusement park contains secrets that can solve a criminal case.
• A young scientist creates a potion that can make people fly.
• An evil character can control the elements. How will the average human hero stop them?

Writing Prompts for Stories That Start with Dialogue for Middle Schoolers

• “I can’t believe you did that,” John says to his best friend. Write a story about what John’s best friend did. 
• “I wish I could go back in time and change everything,” laments Jane. Write a story about Jane’s regrets. What would she do differently if given a chance?
• “I found something bizarre in the backyard,” said Tom to his sister. Write a story about what Tom found. How did the discovery change their lives? 
• “I can’t do this anymore!” screamed Sarah to her parents. What is Sarah complaining about? How did her parents react?
• “I’m going to run away,” whispers Michael to his classmates. Why does Michael plan on running away? What happens when he does?
• “I knew you were hiding something,” said Jack to his friend. Write a story about Jack’s discovery and how it affects their friendship.
• Blake cries to her family, “I’m not who you think I am!” 
• Write a story about how Alex stands up for himself against a bully. Starting with this line: “I’m not going to take it anymore,” 
• “I think we might be lost,” whimpers Lucy to her friends. Where are Lucy and her friends? Why did they get lost in the first place?
• Ryan is grappling with a massive decision. Begin the story with “I think this is a sign.”
• The principal walks through the hallway, saying to Teacher Clare, “Help your students cope with the recent tragedy that plagued our halls.” What happened?

General Creative Writing Ideas for Middle School Students

Here is a list of prompts to get those creative juices flowing:

• Talk about a time you were so happy you wish the moment would last forever.
• You went to art class with a blind friend. How would you describe the painting to them? Use descriptive words.
• If you could go on your dream vacation today, what would it be like?
• Make a list of the most thought-provoking questions you can come up with.
• You’re about to meet your favourite celebrity. What interview questions would you ask them?
• If you could choose what happens next in your life until death, what will your story look like?
• Imagine how your favourite pet was created and use procedural writing to describe the process.
• If you were to insert yourself in a book you read, how would you change the story?

Want more fun writing prompts ? Check these out! Write a/an:

• Short story about reluctant writers whose writing changes the world.
• Acrostic poem about friendship or love.
• Science fiction story about a futuristic world where your favourite toy is a legendary weapon with fearsome power.
• Letter that will help inspire your past self when you were in a difficult part in your life.
• Personal narrative about a memorable event from your childhood.
• Descriptive paragraph about a person you admire.
• Write a horror science fiction story about a world where technology is advanced beyond our current understanding.
• Background story for your least favourite side character.
• List of the benefits of writing. Use persuasive writing
• Instructional essay on how to make a magical portal.
• Mystery story where the main character finds the missing heirloom of an ancient noble family.
• Story about a boy who became a millionaire because of a video game idea.
• Personal letter to a historical figure, asking questions or seeking advice.
• Descriptive poem about a specific season or weather.
• Story about time travel and the consequences of changing the past.
• Fun story about a cross-country road trip you would like to take.
• Story about a character who is an outsider and how they find a sense of belonging.
• Terrifying story about a person haunted by a past event and how they come to terms with it.
• Heroic story about a character who journeys to discover their true identity.
• Persuasive letter to a public figure expressing your thoughts on a current issue

Journaling Prompts for Middle School Writing

Here are journal prompts for middle school kids:

• Describe your hometown.
• What’s your favourite season, and why?
• What are your greatest fears? Do you want to overcome them? Why or why not?
• Where would you go if you could go anywhere?
• Write a descriptive paragraph about your favourite food and why you like it.
• What’s the meaning of your life? Use reflective writing.
• What’s your favourite food and what does it remind you of?
• If you won the lottery today, what would you buy?
• Do you have a pet dog? How do you feel about your furry friend?
• Choose one event in your life you wish didn’t happen. Why?
• What’s your dream dinner party?
• Would you rather become a normal person or a superhero? Why?
• Who would you call first when you’re in a dangerous situation?
• When was the time you felt most peaceful? Describe what was happening.
• Do you enjoy story writing? Why or why not?
• What are your top 3 greatest accomplishments so far?
• If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why?
• What’s the most embarrassing experience you’ve had?
• If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be? Why?
• What’s your dream job? Why?
• Describe your ideal friend.
• Imagine you are stranded on a deserted island, what three things would you want to have with you?
• Write about a time you tried something new and what you learned from the experience.
• What’s the most beautiful movie science you’ve seen? Describe it.
• If you could invent any item, what features would it have? And what is its purpose?

If you feel like challenging yourself then check out our high school creative writing prompts .

There you have it – a fun list of favourite writing prompts for middle schoolers to enjoy. What are your favourite ideas to write so far? And,

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100 Creative Writing Prompts for Middle and Grade School Students

Creative writing is an important activity for middle and grade school students, as it nurtures imagination, enhances writing skills, and promotes self-expression.

Here are 100 creative writing prompts designed specifically for middle and grade school students to inspire their creativity and help them develop their writing talents.

You can also download these from the link just below and at the end of the article

How to Use Creative Writing Prompts

Tips for using prompts:, benefits of creative writing prompts:.

We also have Creative writing prompts for high school students here on the site as well.

Fantasy and Imagination

Real-life scenarios, animals and nature, adventure and exploration, relationships and emotions, school and learning, holidays and celebrations, science and technology, mystery and thriller, diverse cultures and perspectives.

Creative writing prompts are an excellent way to inspire middle and grade school students to explore their imagination and improve their writing skills.

Encourage your students to use these prompts regularly, share their stories, and continue honing their creative writing abilities.

Happy writing!

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100 Writing prompts for Middle School Kids

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Looking for some inspiration to help you unleash your creativity? If yes, we’ve got you covered. In this post, we’ll share 100 writing prompts for middle school. So let the juices flow and the pen glide on the paper with a renewed energy and purpose.

For the sake of convenience, we have marked these writing prompts for middle school into the following categories.

Fun Writing Prompts for Middle School

Informative writing prompts for middle school, creative writing prompts for middle school, personal narrative prompts for middle school, reflective writing prompts for middle school, research writing prompts for middle school, procedural writing prompts for middle school, argument writing prompts for middle school, persuasive writing prompts for middle school.

Article Topics

• You’ve been asked to come up with a new holiday. What would you come up with and how will you celebrate it?
• If you’re granted three wishes, what would you choose? And why?
• Who’s your role model?
• Imagine your best friend has turned into a turtle? What would you do?
• If your dog could talk, what would you do? If you could say one thing to your pet, what would it be?
• What is your favorite animal? Why do you like it?
• If you could pick any place for your next holiday, which would it be? And why?
• What are the 5 things you want to accomplish in your life?
• If you are given a time machine, what year would you go to? And why?
•  Would you be rather a tiger or a shark?
• If you could help anyone in the entire world, who would you help? And why?
• If you could change one thing about the city you live in, what would it be and why?
• Imagine you woke up finding yourself stuck inside your favorite video game? What would you do?
• How was your first day of school like? What were you feeling? Were you scared or excited or both?
• If you could meet one celebrity, who would it be? What would you say to him or her?
• Explain how disappointments can also be a blessing in disguise
• Pen an essay explaining why someone you care deeply about is important to you
• Imagine you could give advice to someone—it could be someone you know personally or a famous person or anybody else. What advice you will give?
• What does the phrase “dress to success” mean to you?
• How have you changed after entering middle school? How has your journey been so far? Write an essay about it.
• Think about an invention that has impacted your life the most. Now write an essay about this invention and its impact on you.
• Pen an essay explaining why honesty is the most important thing in friendship
•  Who do you look up to most in your family? Why do you admire this person?
• Explain the plot of your favorite movie?
• What would be your advice to someone who’s just about to enter middle school?
• Which historical event in your opinion has the greatest impact on our lives? Write an essay about this event.
• Write a news article about an event from your life
• Which is your favorite song? Why do you like it so much?
• What are the most important qualities you look in a friend?
• Which is your favorite book? What’s so special about it? What can one learn from it?
• Today had all the makings of an ordinary, uneventful day, until…
• The moment you entered the school, you knew something was amiss. There was an eerie silence about the place.
• The aliens have landed. And they look like…
• I couldn’t believe washed-up on an isolated island. Luckily, I still had my…
• When I woke up, the first thing I noticed was in a different house.
•  No one was surprised when Frodo, my dog, started talking, as if everybody was expecting that to happen.
• John ran frantically from one block to another shouting, “It has happened…”
• I was shocked to discover that inside my gift there was a huge slimy thing that could talk…
• April watched as her friends left her one by one. She could hardly believe it would come to this. It all started when…
• The math teacher entered the class with a startled expression and said, “Today I won’t teach but would tell you about the time when something strange happened because it is soon going to happen again…”
• Write about a situation which you thought was worse than it really was
• Write about a time when you felt afraid
• Write about a challenge that you overcame? What did you learn from the experience?
• Write about one recent event that was etched in your memory? Describe the event in as much detail as possible?
• Describe your favorite memory with an animal. What makes this memory special?
• What does your most favorite smell remind of you?
• What does your least favorite smell remind of you?
• Write about a situation that didn’t turn out as you expected. Include how you felt during that time.
• What is your favorite place in the entire world? Why do you like it so much?
• Describe the best vacation you have had with your family? What made this holiday so special?
• Record your emotional reactions for last few weeks? Do you see a pattern in how you respond to things?
• Which was the busiest day last week? Did it actually feel that way?
• Start your next day with a goal. Write in the evening whether you were able to achieve it or not. If not, what would you do differently the next time?
• Write a recent conversation that you had with a friend as if it were dialogue in a story. If you could change your lines, what would you change?
• Maintain a journal to write about acts of kindness you perform each day. How did you help someone yesterday?
• List your goals for the week. At the end of the week, review whether you were able to meet them or not. If you couldn’t fulfill certain goals, reflect on what prevented you.
• What are the traits make you unique? Write about them.
• Do you often lose temper over little things? If yes, list a plan that could help you manage your temper better.
• Reflect on your relationship with your siblings or parents. Is there anything that you would like to change about your behavior? If so, what it is?
•  How do you react to criticism? Do you go into a shell or become angry or do you listen patiently? Is there anything about your reaction that you would like to change?
• Are teenagers of today heavily dependent on technology?
• Are smartphones addictive for teenagers?
• Which has been the most important development in the field of medicine so far? Describe it in detail.
• Pick a moment in your country’s history. Describe the events that led to it.
• How did dinosaurs become extinct?
• Interview a member of your community about their life and experiences?
• Why teens today are reading less?
• How are families today different from the past?
• How many hours of sleep teenagers needs?
• How has your school changed over the years?
• How does a spider create its web?
• How does a car engine work?
• Explain what steps one should take to protect their identity online
• What is your favorite meal? Share its recipe
• Write about a daily habit of yours, like chatting on your smartphone or playing a video game?
• Explain how to get from your house to your best friend’s?
• Explain how people can scam you online? What steps one should take to protect themselves from such frauds?
• What are the steps to create slime?
• Explain what happens when you mix soda and peppermint? Share the science behind it.
• How do computers communicate over a network?
• Who faces more peer pressure: girls or boys?
• How can we win the war against pollution?
• What it is the best solution for preventing bullying in schools?
• Should healthcare be free?
• What is the best way to control crime in the society?
• How can we stop road rage?
• At what age should children be given smartphones?
• Should the voting age be lowered?
• Are magazine covers damaging to the self-esteem of most teens?
• What is the biggest challenge in front of the teens today?
• Should students be given less homework?
• Should schools have a mandatory dress code?
• Should genetically modified food be banned?
• Should testing on animals be banned?
• Should users be allowed to download TV shows and movies for free?
• How important is music in life?
• Would you like to have several smaller breaks throughout the year instead of one long summer break?
• Should the government ban smoking?
• Should you get a higher weekly allowance?
• What is the best thing about being in middle school?

We really hope these writing prompts encourage you to come up with great stories. You can pick any story idea that you like and start writing. Remember, these are after all just writing prompts; what really matters is how you built on them.

You can also check out our general writing prompts for kids page or our fiction writing prompts for adults here. Get Third Grade Writing Prompts Here.

And in case you need a little help to boost your writing productivity, we have a great resource for you . So say goodbye to slow writing and let your pen effortlessly roll on the paper. Happy Storytelling!

Also, if you want some help outlining your next story , read this outlining guide.

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Fun Writing Activities for Middle School

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Does your middle schooler heave a sigh when it’s time for writing? 

Add some appeal to the subject of writing with these fun writing activities for middle school. 

Writing Activities for Middle School

The six types of writing are descriptive, expository, persuasive, technical, and poetic.  (I know, I know, your middle schooler is nodding off already.)

The truth is these writing types can be enjoyable if you have some fun topic ideas. 

Not only does it make writing fun, but it also gives students a chance to practice those dreaded middle school spelling words that they need to master.

Read on for some writing activities that are fun and (ssh! Don’t tell!) educational.

This article contains affiliate links to things that you might like.

Descriptive Writing Activities for MIddle School

As the name implies, descriptive writing describes something. 

You want to create mental pictures for your reader so they can see in their mind’s eye exactly what you are describing. 

This writing style can be a delight to compose if you like the topic, so pick one that resonates with your student.

Describe the car of the future  

Use your imagination to describe all the amazing features it will have.  What will it look like?  

Imagine an alien is your pen pal  

How would you describe yourself so your alien friend knows what you look like?

Describe the ideal pet

Some people love hamsters, and others love hounds. 

Some adore cats, while others keep chameleons. 

What is your ideal pet?  Describe it in detail. 

What does it feel like? Look like? Eat? How does it act?

Expository Writing Activities for Middle School 

Expository writing gives information, but it does so in a different way from descriptive writing. 

It is all about the facts and lacks flowery language. 

Like a newspaper article, it investigates an idea, subject, or event.  

Newspaper articles written by dogs  

Imagine there is a secret underground dog newspaper that dogs write and distribute that tells the news of the day from their perspective. 

Write an article for that paper as a doggie journalist. 

Consider possible titles like “Scuffle at the Dog Park,”  “Duck Befriends Dog,”  or “Frisbee Competition Wows All.” 

Compare and contrast the best and worst pizzas

Everyone has an opinion on pizza.  Compare your favorite pizza with your least favorite. 

Consider all the elements: size, crust, temperature, and toppings.

Write a how-to  

Topics could be how to be happy, how to play Minecraft, how to be a good friend, how to make perfect pancakes, or anything else you know how to do (or would like to think through how to be).

Persuasive Writing Activities for Middle School

Ah, middle schoolers, how they love to argue.  Channel that natural proclivity to argue into persuasive writing.

Whether children should have chores

Let them choose pro or con (can you imagine a child choosing pro?). 

Whether parents should limit their kids’ screen time 

Consider having them outline both pro and con and choose one to write about. 

It’s always good to think through both sides before you write about one.

Whether companies should market their products to kids

Aren’t you curious as to which side your student will pick?

Technical Writing Activities for Middle School

Some students say they are not good writers because they dislike creative writing, but your logical, detail-oriented students will shine doing technical writing. 

Although this writing style is, well, technical, you can introduce it in middle school.

Write a manual on how to use a certain phone app or device

My son has to show me how to manage the settings on my Roku, so he could write me a manual for that…

Create a sales pitch brochure 

Imagine a product you invented, and write a brochure convincing someone to buy it. 

Be informative and persuasive. You can include pictures!

Poetic Writing Activities for Middle School

Children were raised on poetry (think of Dr. Seuss), so although writing poetry may seem like a daunting task to some, they have already been steeped in it. 

Reawaken the poetic with these poetry activities. 

Think of a word or phrase like “SUMMER” and write it vertically down the page. 

Then compose a line that starts with each letter.  For example, “Sunny, unstructured, magazines at the beach, etc…”

Haikus are three-line poems that have 5 syllables in the first line, 7 in the second, and 5 in the third. 

They are traditionally about nature. 

These tiny poems can be fantastic first poems for the poetry intimidated.

Texting poem (or poem for two voices)

Write a poem that can read like a text conversation between two people

Middle School Writing Activities

Not every writing assignment has to be a five paragraph essay.  Writing should be fun and personal as well as educational and informative.  Keep it fun and fresh with these fun writing activities for middle school.

You May Also Like:

• Teaching Creative Writing
• Online Middle School Writing Program
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6 Fun Writing Activities For Middle School Kids

We’ve rounded up writing activities aimed at middle-school age kids to get them to practice writing and to channel their creativity. Try out a writing activity yourself too!

1. Practice your argumentative writing .

In an argumentative essay, the writer takes a stance on a debatable topic. This stance, and the claims to back it up, is the argument . An argumentative thesis statement allows the writer to take a position about a subject (e.g., the deeper meaning of a literary text, the best policy towards a social problem) and to convince readers of their stance. The body of the argumentative essay uses examples and other evidence to support the writer’s opinion.

For example: Shakespeares’s Taming of the Shrew uses humor, disguise, and social roles to criticize the lack of power women had in Elizabethan England.

Activity 1: Write an argumentative paragraph using these seven argumentative words:

• in conclusion
• for example

Already an expert at argumentative writing? You’ll find 10 alternatives to  in conclusion  here.

Activity 2: Write your own scary campfire story.

Then share it with other students or family. (Bonus: turn off the lights and use a flashlight while you read it!)

To learn how to write a great scary story, read this article !

2. Write about careers.

First, watch a video on unique careers you may have never heard of. Then watch another video specifically about people who write the definitions in a dictionary: lexicographers .

• Video 1: Did You Know The Names Of These Unique Careers? [Dictionary.com YouTube]
• Video 2: Did You Know Real People Write The Dictionary? [Dictionary.com YouTube]

Try one of these three activities:

• Write a paragraph about which unique career from the videos above you might like to do when you’re older. Why
• Practice creating your own resume using our template from this article: How Do I Write A Résumé?
• Watch a movie and write down all of the careers the characters in the movie have. Look up the careers in the dictionary if you’re unfamiliar with any of the career terms.

3. Practice taking notes.

Take notes while watching a video.

WATCH: Types Of Hooks

Activity 1: While watching the “Types of Hooks” video, use these guided notes [PDF] to take notes about it. If you don’t have a printer, copy down some of the prompts from the guided notes onto a piece of paper or computer document.

Activity 2: Take notes about the information in this video (using some of the guided notes prompts from above).

• Video: Where Did The Days Of The Week Get Their Names? [Dictionary.com YouTube]

Activity 3: Ask another student or family member about their favorite “ hooks ” in songs. Although a hook in a song may not come at the beginning, this is still what “hooks” the listener in and makes them want more. Listen to a couple of songs together, and see if you all can identify the hook together.

4. Find the main idea.

Find the main idea (or the author’s purpose) in some informational texts. Read these informational texts [PDF] and answer the close reading questions.

Then, complete the graphic organizers (in the link with the informational texts) on the main idea, author’s purpose, and compare/contrast that follow.

Activity 1: Read this article: “Introvert” vs. “Extrovert” . Answer the following close reading questions.

• What is the origin of the word introvert ?
• What does the word extrovert mean?
• Are these two words similar in meaning?
• What do these words typically describe?
• Are you an introvert or an extrovert ?

Activity 2: Watch a fun movie.

After the movie, discuss what you think the main idea and the author’s purpose of the movie was.

Activity 3: Think about your friends or family members and classify them as introverts or extroverts .

Then tell them what you think they are and see if they agree.

5. Practice nonfiction writing.

Activity 1: Respond to one of these prompts:

• The governments of the world have agreed to ban all vehicles and factories that produce air pollution. What is this new world like?
• Imagine you are an aluminum can. Describe your journey from the store to a home to a recycling center from the can’s point of view.
• Write an explanation of the water cycle for a 7-year-old child. Be sure to use simple vocabulary.

For more ideas, check out this page of writing prompts !

Activity 2: Read a nonfiction article or book about an environmental crusader, such as Rachel Carson, Al Gore, or Greta Thunberg .

Look up the meaning of any unfamiliar words on Dictionary.com , then write a report about what you learned.

6. Practice spelling.

Activity 1 : Have you ever wondered why words in English have so many different spelling rules?

• Read this article to find out why .
• Read this article to learn the most commonly misspelled words—and spelling tips for each one .

Consider these discussion or writing prompts:

• Is there a spelling rule that you just don’t agree with? Why?
• Have you or any friends ever sent an auto-correct error in a text?

Activity 2: Look over this article on how spell checking works in our technology .

Go through your text messages together with other students. Find out who has the most misspellings. Was it auto-correct or just a human error?

Watch these videos about typos and share funny stories about auto-correct.

• Video 1: We All Make Typos: What’s Your Worst One? [Dictionary.com YouTube]
• Video 2: What’s The Best Typo You’ve Ever Made? [Dictionary.com YouTube]

Ways To Say

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Department of English

M.f.a. creative writing.

English Department

Physical Address: 200 Brink Hall

Mailing Address: English Department University of Idaho 875 Perimeter Drive MS 1102 Moscow, Idaho 83844-1102

Phone: 208-885-6156

Email: [email protected]

Web: English

Thank you for your interest in the Creative Writing MFA Program at University of Idaho: the premier fully funded, three-year MFA program in the Northwest. Situated in the panhandle of Northern Idaho in the foothills of Moscow Mountain, we offer the time and support to train in the traditions, techniques, and practice of nonfiction, poetry, and fiction. Each student graduates as the author of a manuscript of publishable quality after undertaking a rigorous process of thesis preparation and a public defense. Spring in Moscow has come to mean cherry blossoms, snowmelt in Paradise Creek, and the head-turning accomplishments of our thesis-year students. Ours is a faculty of active, working writers who relish teaching and mentorship. We invite you in the following pages to learn about us, our curriculum, our community, and the town of Moscow. If the prospect of giving yourself three years with us to develop as a writer, teacher, and editor is appealing, we look forward to reading your application.

Pure Poetry

A Decade Working in a Smelter Is Topic of Alumnus Zach Eddy’s Poems

Ancestral Recognition

The region surrounding the University of Idaho is the ancestral land of both the Coeur d’Alene and Nez Perce peoples, and its campus in Moscow sits on unceded lands guaranteed to the Nez Perce people in the 1855 Treaty with the Nez Perce. As a land grant university, the University of Idaho also benefits from endowment lands that are the ancestral homes to many of the West’s Native peoples. The Department of English and Creative Writing Program acknowledge this history and share in the communal effort to ensure that the complexities and atrocities of the past remain in our discourse and are never lost to time. We invite you to think of the traditional “land acknowledgment” statement through our MFA alum CMarie Fuhrman’s words .

Degree Requirements

Three years to write.

Regardless of where you are in your artistic career, there is nothing more precious than time. A three-year program gives you time to generate, refine, and edit a body of original work. Typically, students have a light third year, which allows for dedicated time to complete and revise the Creative Thesis. (48 manuscript pages for those working in poetry, 100 pages for those working in prose.)

Our degree requirements are designed to reflect the real-world interests of a writer. Students are encouraged to focus their studies in ways that best reflect their artistic obsessions as well as their lines of intellectual and critical inquiry. In effect, students may be as genre-focused or as multi-genre as they please. Students must remain in-residence during their degrees. Typically, one class earns you 3 credits. The MFA requires a total of 54 earned credits in the following categories.

12 Credits : Graduate-level Workshop courses in Fiction, Poetry, and/or Nonfiction. 9 Credits: Techniques and Traditions courses in Fiction, Poetry, and/or Nonfiction 3 Credits : Internships: Fugue, Confluence Lab, and/or Pedagogy 9 Credits: Literature courses 12 Credits: Elective courses 10 Credits: Thesis

Flexible Degree Path

Students are admitted to our program in one of three genres, Poetry, Fiction, or Nonfiction. By design, our degree path offers ample opportunity to take Workshop, Techniques, Traditions, and Literature courses in any genre. Our faculty work and publish in multiple genres and value the slipperiness of categorization. We encourage students to write in as broad or focused a manner as they see fit. We are not at all interested in making writers “stay in their lanes,” and we encourage students to shape their degree paths in accordance with their passions. 

What You Study

During your degree, you will take Workshop, Techniques, Traditions, and Literature courses.

Our workshop classes are small by design (typically twelve students or fewer) and taught by core and visiting MFA faculty. No two workshop experiences look alike, but what they share are faculty members committed to the artistic and intellectual passions of their workshop participants.

Techniques studios are developed and taught by core and visiting MFA faculty. These popular courses are dedicated to the granular aspects of writing, from deep study of the poetic image to the cultivation of independent inquiry in nonfiction to the raptures of research in fiction. Such courses are heavy on generative writing and experimentation, offering students a dedicated space to hone their craft in a way that is complementary to their primary work.

Traditions seminars are developed and taught by core and visiting MFA faculty. These generative writing courses bring student writing into conversation with a specific trajectory or “tradition” of literature, from life writing to outlaw literature to the history of the short story, from prosody to postwar surrealism to genre-fluidity and beyond. These seminars offer students a dynamic space to position their work within the vast and varied trajectories of literature.

Literature courses are taught by core Literature and MFA faculty. Our department boasts field-leading scholars, interdisciplinary writers and thinkers, and theory-driven practitioners who value the intersection of scholarly study, research, humanism, and creative writing.

Award-Winning Faculty

We teach our classes first and foremost as practitioners of the art. Full stop. Though our styles and interests lie at divergent points on the literary landscape, our common pursuit is to foster the artistic and intellectual growth of our students, regardless of how or why they write. We value individual talent and challenge all students to write deep into their unique passions, identities, histories, aesthetics, and intellects. We view writing not as a marketplace endeavor but as an act of human subjectivity. We’ve authored or edited several books across the genres.

Learn more about Our People .

Thesis Defense

The MFA experience culminates with each student writing and defending a creative thesis. For prose writers, theses are 100 pages of creative work; for poets, 48 pages. Though theses often take the form of an excerpt from a book-in-progress, students have flexibility when it comes to determining the shape, form, and content of their creative projects. In their final year, each student works on envisioning and revising their thesis with three committee members, a Major Professor (core MFA faculty) and two additional Readers (core UI faculty). All students offer a public thesis defense. These events are attended by MFA students, faculty, community members, and other invitees. During a thesis defense, a candidate reads from their work for thirty minutes, answers artistic and critical questions from their Major Professor and two Readers for forty-five minutes, and then answer audience questions for thirty minutes. Though formally structured and rigorous, the thesis defense is ultimately a celebration of each student’s individual talent.

The Symposium Reading Series is a longstanding student-run initiative that offers every second-year MFA candidate an opportunity to read their works-in-progress in front of peers, colleagues, and community members. This reading and Q & A event prepares students for the third-year public thesis defense. These off-campus events are fun and casual, exemplifying our community centered culture and what matters most: the work we’re all here to do.

Teaching Assistantships

All students admitted to the MFA program are fully funded through Teaching Assistantships. All Assistantships come with a full tuition waiver and a stipend, which for the current academic year is roughly $15,000. Over the course of three years, MFA students teach a mix of composition courses, sections of Introduction to Creative Writing (ENGL 290), and additional writing courses, as departmental needs arise. Students may also apply to work in the Writing Center as positions become available. When you join the MFA program at Idaho, you receive teacher training prior to the beginning of your first semester. We value the role MFA students serve within the department and consider each graduate student as a working artist and colleague. Current teaching loads for Teaching Assistants are two courses per semester. Some members of the Fugue editorial staff receive course reductions to offset the demands of editorial work. We also award a variety of competitive and need-based scholarships to help offset general living costs. In addition, we offer three outstanding graduate student fellowships: The Hemingway Fellowship, Centrum Fellowship, and Writing in the Wild Fellowship. Finally, our Graduate and Professional Student Association offers extra-departmental funding in the form of research and travel grants to qualifying students throughout the academic year.

Distinguished Visiting Writers Series

Each year, we bring a Distinguished Visiting Writer to campus. DVWs interface with our writing community through public readings, on-stage craft conversations hosted by core MFA faculty, and small seminars geared toward MFA candidates. Recent DVWs include Maggie Nelson, Roger Reeves, Luis Alberto Urrea, Brian Evenson, Kate Zambreno, Dorianne Laux, Teju Cole, Tyehimba Jess, Claire Vaye Watkins, Naomi Shihab Nye, David Shields, Rebecca Solnit, Gabrielle Calvocoressi, Susan Orlean, Natasha Tretheway, Jo Ann Beard, William Logan, Aisha Sabatini Sloan, Gabino Iglesias, and Marcus Jackson, among several others.

Fugue Journal

Established in 1990 at the University of Idaho, Fugue publishes poetry, fiction, essays, hybrid work, and visual art from established and emerging writers and artists. Fugue is managed and edited entirely by University of Idaho graduate students, with help from graduate and undergraduate readers. We take pride in the work we print, the writers we publish, and the presentation of both print and digital content. We hold an annual contest in both prose and poetry, judged by two nationally recognized writers. Past judges include Pam Houston, Dorianne Laux, Rodney Jones, Mark Doty, Rick Moody, Ellen Bryant Voigt, Jo Ann Beard, Rebecca McClanahan, Patricia Hampl, Traci Brimhall, Edan Lepucki, Tony Hoagland, Chen Chen, Aisha Sabatini Sloan, sam sax, and Leni Zumas. The journal boasts a remarkable list of past contributors, including Steve Almond, Charles Baxter, Stephen Dobyns, Denise Duhamel, Stephen Dunn, B.H. Fairchild, Nick Flynn, Terrance Hayes, Campbell McGrath, W.S. Merwin, Sharon Olds, Jim Shepard, RT Smith, Virgil Suarez, Melanie Rae Thon, Natasha Trethewey, Philip Levine, Anthony Varallo, Robert Wrigley, and Dean Young, among many others.

Academy of American Poets University Prize

The Creative Writing Program is proud to partner with the Academy of American Poets to offer an annual Academy of American Poets University Prize to a student at the University of Idaho. The prize results in a small honorarium through the Academy as well as publication of the winning poem on the Academy website. The Prize was established in 2009 with a generous grant from Karen Trujillo and Don Burnett. Many of our nation’s most esteemed and celebrated poets won their first recognition through an Academy of American Poets Prize, including Diane Ackerman, Toi Derricotte, Mark Doty, Tess Gallagher, Louise Glück, Jorie Graham, Kimiko Hahn, Joy Harjo, Robert Hass, Li-Young Lee, Gregory Orr, Sylvia Plath, Mark Strand, and Charles Wright.

Fellowships

Centrum fellowships.

Those selected as Centrum Fellows attend the summer Port Townsend Writers’ Conference free of charge. Housed in Fort Worden (which is also home to Copper Canyon Press), Centrum is a nonprofit dedicated to fostering several artistic programs throughout the year. With a focus on rigorous attention to craft, the Writers’ Conference offers five full days of morning intensives, afternoon workshops, and craft lectures to eighty participants from across the nation. The cost of the conference, which includes tuition, lodging, and meals, is covered by the scholarship. These annual scholarship are open to all MFA candidates in all genres.

Hemingway Fellowships

This fellowship offers an MFA Fiction student full course releases in their final year. The selection of the Hemingway Fellow is based solely on the quality of an applicant’s writing. Each year, applicants have their work judged blind by a noted author who remains anonymous until the selection process has been completed. Through the process of blind selection, the Hemingway Fellowship Fund fulfills its mission of giving the Fellow the time they need to complete a substantial draft of a manuscript.

Writing in the Wild

This annual fellowship gives two MFA students the opportunity to work in Idaho’s iconic wilderness areas. The fellowship fully supports one week at either the McCall Outdoor Science School (MOSS), which borders Payette Lake and Ponderosa State Park, or the Taylor Wilderness Research Station, which lies in the heart of the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area. Both campuses offer year-round housing. These writing retreats allow students to concentrate solely on their writing. Because both locations often house researchers, writers will also have the opportunity to interface with foresters, geologists, biologists, and interdisciplinary scholars.

Program History

Idaho admitted its first class of seven MFA students in 1994 with a faculty of four: Mary Clearman Blew, Tina Foriyes, Ron McFarland (founder of Fugue), and Lance Olsen. From the beginning, the program was conceived as a three-year sequence of workshops and techniques classes. Along with offering concentrations in writing fiction and poetry, Idaho was one of the first in the nation to offer a full concentration in creative nonfiction. Also from its inception, Idaho not only allowed but encouraged its students to enroll in workshops outside their primary genres. Idaho has become one of the nation’s most respected three-year MFA programs, attracting both field-leading faculty and students. In addition to the founders of this program, notable distinguished faculty have included Kim Barnes, Robert Wrigley, Daniel Orozco, Joy Passanante, Tobias Wray, Brian Blanchfield, and Scott Slovic, whose collective vision, rigor, grit, and care have paved the way for future generations committed to the art of writing.

The Palouse

Situated in the foothills of Moscow Mountain amid the rolling terrain of the Palouse (the ancient silt beds unique to the region), our location in the vibrant community of Moscow, Idaho, boasts a lively and artistic local culture. Complete with independent bookstores, coffee shops, art galleries, restaurants and breweries, (not to mention a historic art house cinema, organic foods co-op, and renowned seasonal farmer’s market), Moscow is a friendly and affordable place to live. Outside of town, we’re lucky to have many opportunities for hiking, skiing, rafting, biking, camping, and general exploring—from nearby Idler’s Rest and Kamiak Butte to renowned destinations like Glacier National Park, the Snake River, the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area, and Nelson, BC. As for more urban getaways, Spokane, Washington, is only a ninety-minute drive, and our regional airline, Alaska, makes daily flights to and from Seattle that run just under an hour.

For upcoming events and program news, please visit our calendar .

For more information about the MFA program, please contact us at:  [email protected]

Department of English University of Idaho 875 Perimeter Drive MS 1102 Moscow, ID 83844-1102 208-885-6156