1. Think of a real experience you have had that would be hard to
forget. Think about what makes it so hard to forget. Tell what
happened.
2. Think about your best holiday celebration ever. Write an essay
to tell about this celebration and why it was your favorite.
3. Think about how you spend Saturdays during the school year.
Pick out a particularly memorable Saturday, and explain
exactly what you did that day and why it was especially
memorable.
4. Remember the best school assembly ever. Write an essay
telling what happened, how the audience responded, and why
the assembly was important.
5. Write a letter to an old classmate about an event in elementary
school that was the most memorable to you.
6. A flying saucer has been sighted over your town. You have
never believed in flying saucers, but then you see it for yourself
and... Write a science fiction story telling what happens next.
Does the saucer land? Do you meet the crew? How do you
communicate? What do they look like? Are they friendly?
Puzzled? Shy? Suspicious? What about sounds? Sights? Smells?
Make your story as interesting as you can for your reader.
Create characters and describe the setting. Make your plot
move along to a climax and a satisfying conclusion.
7. Pretend you were selected to receive a special award. Write the
article that would be in the newspaper to announce your
award.
8. Have you ever been stranded in a place you didn't want to be?
Maybe your parents forgot to pick you up after a ball game, and
you were left stranded long after everyone else had gone
home.
9. You won a school contest that allowed you to be teacher-for-aday. Write about your experience as teacher-for-a-day.
10. At an awards assembly you were surprised to hear your name
called for a certain award. Afterward, when your teacher asked
you to write in your journal, you decide to write about this
experience.
11. One April Fool's day you played a safe but terrific joke on your
best friend. Write about your April Fool's joke to your
classmates.
12. You and your family went on a camping trip during the
weekend. A friend of yours, who has never been camping,
wants to know what it was like. Write a letter to your friend
telling about one evening of your weekend camping trip.
13. Pretend your favorite book character or comic book character
came to life for a day. Write a story for your classmates about
the character that came to life for a day.
14. We all have memories connected to our experiences. Think
about an experience you feel you'll always remember. Try to
picture the time, the place, and the people involved. Try to
remember everything you can about this experience. Write
about the experience you remember. Be sure to include enough
details so that your reader can share your experience. Show
why this memory stands out for you.
15. Weather can affect your life. Think about a time in your life
when you have been affected by some kind of weather. Write
an article for a popular young people's magazine. Tell about
your experience so that other young people can understand
what it was like.
16. Choose something for show & tell, but rather than bringing
your object to class, your job is to write a short story or poem
that shows us the object and tells us why it's important to you.
You'll need to use lots of details to demonstrate the
significance of the object -- use your words to create images
that show readers the object and why it is important to you.
17. Write about a time you experienced or learned something for
the first time. It could be when you first rode a bike or learned
a new game. It could have been your first day of school, your
first train or plane ride, or your first trip to an amusement park.
First experiences are special for some reason. They may be
funny, scary, or exciting.
18. Write about a time when you were surprised. It could have
been a birthday party or when you got something you had not
expected. It could be when you planned something and it did
not turn out the way you thought it would. It could have been
when someone came for a surprise visit. Surprises can be
funny, scary, or exciting.
19. Write about a time when you did something that made you feel
good. It could be when you helped a team, sang, or played
music for others. It could be a time when you were nice or did
a special favor for someone. It could be when you did
something you had never done before. The important thing is
that you felt good about what you did.
20. Because you have been sick, out of town, or working on other
homework, you didn't have as much time to study for an
important test as you needed. Think of a specific test that you
took that you felt unprepared for and narrate the events. Your
paper should help readers understand what it felt like to be
unprepared.
21. Think of an experience when you realized that you suddenly
understood an idea, a skill, or a concept you had been
struggling with. Write a narrative that tells the story of your
movement toward understanding. Your paper should help
readers understand how you felt to struggle with the idea or
skill and then to understand.
22. Choose a vivid time from your childhood. Narrate the events
related to the childhood memory that you've chosen so that
your readers will understand why the event was important and
memorable.
23. Think of a time when you achieved a personal goal. Tell your
readers about the story of how you met your goal. Be sure that
your readers understand why the goal is important to you.
24. Think about an event in your life that seemed bad but turned
out to be good. Tell the story of the event that you experienced
and help your readers understand how an event that seemed
negative turned out to have valuable consequences.
25. Teaching someone else how to do something can be rewarding.
Think of a skill that you've taught someone else how to do.
Think about the events that made up the process of teaching
the skill, and narrate the story for your readers.
26. Think of a change to a place that you know well, and narrate
the events that occurred. Readers should know the details of
the change, and they should know how you feel about the
changes that occurred.
27. Choose a time when you did something that took a lot of nerve,
a time when you didn't follow the crowd or a time when you
stood up for your beliefs. Think about the details of the event
and write a story that tells about what happened. Your
narrative should show your readers why you decided to make a
stand or try something that took nerve, give specifics on the
events, and share how you felt after the event.
28. Think of a time when you disagreed with a decision that had
been made and did something about it. Write a paper that
narrates the events that occurred -- from the decision that was
made to your response. Be sure that your paper gives enough
details that your readers understand why you disagreed with
the decision and why you felt that your response was
appropriate.
29. Suppose aliens abducted you as you were walking to school.
Write a letter to your best friend on Earth telling him or her
about this experience.
30. Imagine yourself as a passenger on a bus. The bus driver
announces "We're here! Everyone off." As the bus pulls away,
you realize you don't know where you are. Describe to your
family the surroundings in which you found yourself and the
adventure you had trying to get home.
31. Think about either your first or last day of school. Write a story
to a friend telling about that day. Be sure to describe the
atmosphere and tell what impressed you most about your
experience.
32. To tell a story, we often take photographs or create paintings.
Imagine yourself dropped into the scene represented by this
(painting, photograph, or image).
33. Picture yourself awakened as (an animal, an object, a gas,
etc.). Write a story to tell a human friend what your new life is
like.
34. Imagine you are a newspaper reporter covering the
Revolutionary War. You find yourself pinned down by a wave of
enemy troops. Write a newspaper story telling readers what
your experience is like.
35. Suppose you woke up one morning to find that (everyone had
disappeared, there was no electricity, telephones stopped
working, the world had run out of gasoline, the Earth had left
its orbit, etc.) Write an account for future generations of what
life is like with this sudden change.
36. Tell a friend about an experience that you had involving an
animal. It might be an experience with your pet, someone
else's pet, or even a wild animal. Be sure to tell the story in a
way that shows why this experience was memorable to you.
37. Write a story with the title, "(insert relevant topic here)."
38. A travel agency is looking for exciting vacation destinations
that are a bit out of the ordinary. Imagine that the agency asks
you to explore (a particular country, city, or area). Write an
account for them that describes the interesting experiences
you had there.
39. Imagine that as you are taking a shortcut through the woods, a
tree topples pinning you underneath. Explain how you freed
yourself.
40. Imagine that you find a page torn from a short story that has
only two lines: "That's how I became known as 'Captain.' THE
END" For a friend, create another story that could still end with
this page.
41. Tell about a time when you were embarrassed.
42. Think of a friend you have, in or out of school. Tell one story
that comes to mind when you think of this friend.
43. Write about one day you will never forget. Tell what happened
and why it was special, memorable, or meaningful.
44. Write about an hour that you would like to live over again.
45. Retell a fairy tale from the villain's point of view.
46. Choose one of your favorite authors. Write a letter telling why
you like his/her work.
47. A home in the community has burned. Tell how you would help
the family recover from the loss.
48. Think about something that happened at school that you will
remember for a long time. Tell what happened.
49. Pretend you are not a person. You can be anything your mind
can think up. Make up a story about one thing that happens to
you.
50. Imagine that the time is late at night, you are at home when
the telephone rings. Create a story that includes this scene.
51. Pretend that you have superhuman powers. Think about all the
different types of super powers that you would have. Explain to
the reader of your paper about your superhuman powers and
how you use them.
52. All children have fun with their friends. Think about a friend
you have. This friend might be a classmate, neighbor, family
member or pet. Think about something fun you have done
together. Now tell about a time you had fun with your friend.
53. You are a letter in the alphabet on your classroom wall chart.
You are tired of being up on the classroom wall. Think about an
adventure you could have if you were down for one hour. Tell a
story about a letter set free in the classroom.
54. Sometimes we wonder what it would be like if we could fly.
Imagine that you woke up one morning and were able to fly.
Write a story about where you went and what you did.
55. Many of you have been in a situation that you did not think was
fair. It may have been something that happened to you or
someone else. Think about a time you thought, "It's not fair."
Write to tell the reader about something that happened to you
that was not fair.
56. We have all taken trips, even if it is to the library or grocery
store. Think about a trip you have taken. Where did you go?
Why did you go there? What was it like? Write about a trip you
have taken.
57. We have all had happy things happen to us that we will never
forget, like getting a good grade, being picked for a team or
winning an award. Think about some unforgettable thing that
has happened to you. What happened? How did you feel? Tell
about this memorable experience so that your reader can
picture it in his or her mind.
58. Have you ever thought of just the right thing to say or do after
an experience was over? Here is your chance to rewrite history.
For your literary school magazine, write a narrative about
something that happened to you - but make this story unfold
just the way you wish it had in real life.
59. A younger relative has just learned that he wasn't chosen to be
in his school talent show. Disappointed, he has come to you for
advice and support. What kind of story might you write to give
him hope, comfort, and encouragement? You might think back
over your own disappointments and successes. Then write a
story based on one of these experiences to share with your
relative.
60. The editors of your school literary magazine have decided to
devote one entire issue to heroic adventures and daring
rescues. Think about the rescues you have witnessed,
participated in, or read about. Then write a story based on one
of these rescues.
61. How would you like to be only two inches high or so tall that
some forests looked like clumps of broccoli? What would be
some of the advantages of being so tiny or so huge? What
would be some of the problems? Write a children's story about
a person of unusual size. In your story, show how this
character's size creates a problem or helps to solve one.
62. Imagine that the time is late at night, you are at home when
the telephone rings. Create a story that includes this scene.
63. Think of a day in your life when everything seemed to be going
wrong. Tell about it.
64. Tell about a time when you felt proud.
65. What is one of the funniest things that has ever happened to
you? Retell the event as completely as you can.
66. Recall a time when you felt really disappointed about
something. Tell about this experience.
67. Think of a day in your life when everything seemed to be going
in your favor. Tell about it.
68. Think about a really great vacation you took. Tell about one of
your best days there.
69. Think about a time when you felt you were treated unfairly. Tell
about it.
70. Think about a time when you felt scared about something. Tell
about it.
71. Think about a time when you felt important. Tell about it.
72. When you get to school, there's a sign on the door stating,
"School's Closed." What do you do?
73. Tell about a time you "saved the day." Your experience can
either be one that really happened or one that you imagine.
74. Suppose that one day you woke up and were grown up. Write a
story about the first day you were grown up.
75. Suppose you woke up one morning and had magical powers for
a day. Write a story about the day you had magic powers.
76. You and a friend find an empty building and decide to make it
your secret place. Now write a story for your teacher about
your secret place.
77. Yesterday at school, you discovered a giant hole in the middle
of the playground. Write a story about what happened next.
78. Think about a time when you felt special. Write a story about
this time that you felt special.
79. One day at school, your teacher comes into the classroom,
places a box on the floor, and leaves the room. Suddenly, the
box begins to move. Write a story about what happens next.
80. One day while you are sitting in your classroom, a creature
appears at the window. Write a story for your teacher about
what happens next.
81. One day on the playground at school, you see a large green
bag. Suddenly, the bag begins to shake. Write a story about
what happens next.
82. Think about a time you had an important responsibility. It may
have been a time when you were asked to something or help
someone. Write a store about this time when you had an
important responsibility.
83. If you could become any animal, what animal would you
choose to be? Why?
84. What is the best part of your day? Why?
85. If you could have any job/career you wanted, what would it
be? Why?
86. What is the best place to go for vacation? Why?
87. State your favorite animal and give reasons why.
88. Choose your favorite season. Name the season and explain why
it is your favorite.
89. Write a composition for your classmates, describing the most
interesting place you have ever visited, Describe in detail
where the place is, how you got there, what you saw, and how
you felt.
90. For a children's magazine, describe your first attempt at
playing a particular sport. The sport might be one that looked
easy but turned out to be a real challenge, or it might be one
that came quite naturally to you. Be sure to describe everything
you did and how you felt.
91. What are some of the more important or interesting
experiences you have had in your life? Have you moved, lost
something that was important to you, or overcome a big fear?
As you grow older your memory of the events is bound to fade.
So capture one of these experiences now in as much detail as
possible by writing a journal entry about it. Be sure to tell why
the event was important to you.
92. Enter a magazine contest by writing an essay about somebody
you admire. According to the contest rules, your hero should be
a person you know well or a historical figure - male or female,
living or dead - that you've heard or read about. Tell how you
feel about your hero, what qualities you admire, and the ways
in which you would like your life to be like your hero's.
93. Have you seen a particularly skillful feat or performance by an
athlete, a dancer, or an acrobat recently? Try to visualize the
physical movements of the person, and write a description of
the performance for the sports and entertainment section of
your local newspaper. Use concrete details and imaginative
comparisons to help your readers appreciate what you saw.
94. Is there a special object or family tradition that is important to
everyone in your family? For example, do you have an heirloom
that has been handed down through generations, a quilt your
grandmother made, or a special way of celebrating birthdays?
For a younger relative - perhaps even for someone who hasn't
been born yet - describe this family treasure or tradition in as
much detail as you can.
95. For an audience of your classmates, write a description of a
particular time and place that you know well, such as your
room on a rainy afternoon, the video arcade after school, or the
waiting area at your doctor's office on a busy day. Use as many
specific sensory details a you can. Try to capture the moment and share how you felt about it.
96. Think about a time you experienced or learned something for
the first time. It could be when you first rode a bike or learned
a new game. It could have been your first day of school, your
first train or plane ride, or your first trip to an amusement park.
First experiences are special for some reason. They may be
funny, scary, or exciting. Choose one time when you
experienced something or learned something for the first time.
Tell about the time by giving details about what you did, how
you felt, and why this experience was special or important for
you.
97. Choose a historical figure whom you know something about.
Choose one of the following sentence beginnings below, and
complete the sentence for your figure. Compose a short story in
first person, speaking as the historical figure where you explain
the figure's wish, dream, or fear.
98. The thing that I regret most about my life is
_____________________.
99. If I could accomplish one more thing, I would
___________________.
100.
The accomplishment that I am proudest of is
___________________.
101.
If I could live anywhere in the world, I would choose
______________.
102.
The saddest moment in life was when
________________________.
103.
My favorite childhood memory is
_____________________________.
104.
The thing that scares me the most is
_________________________.
105.
Think about something that happened at school that you
will remember for a long time. Tell what happened.
106.
Pretend you are not a person. You can be anything your
mind can think up. Make up a story about one thing that
happens.
107.
If you had to flee from your burning house, what would
you choose to save? Explain your choices.
108.
What do you do when you get bored?
109.
On Sunday, this is what my family does.
110.
Once I went on a trip to....
111.
One morning a child looks out the window and discovers
that a huge castle has appeared overnight. The child rushes
outside to the castle and hears strange sounds coming from it.
Someone is living in the castle! The castle door creaks open.
The child goes in. Write a story about who the child meets and
what happens inside the castle.
112.
A noise outside awakens you one night. You look out the
window and see a spaceship. The door of the spaceship opens,
and out walks a space creature. What does the creature look
like? What do you do? Write a story about what happens next.
113.
Write a story about something that has been recycled, like
a can, newspaper, or plastic bag, and its adventures along the
way.
114.
Write a story about a ride in a hot air balloon.