Discover fun, fabulous short story writing ideas for kids! Students can use the following writing prompts to write 30 individual short storiesβor they can combine several prompts together to create a longer piece. In each prompt, the studentβs character encounters a surprising situation or runs into a dilemma.
Informed by the traits and characteristics they developed in March, students can determine how their characters would react to each new event. The studentβs sense of his or her character will also influence how he or she reads the prompt, and each student is likely to create an entirely different scenario out of the same brief setup.
These short exercises are a good way for students to get to know their characters further. While each prompt leaves enough room for the student to write an entire story if he or she desires, students can also combine several prompts to create a longer story or short book.
In March, students got to know their characters through a series of prompts designed to bring out character traits and personalities. This month, students have the chance to take those same characters and put them into new and unexpected situations.
30 Short Story Writing Ideas
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- Your character is running late and has to take the bus instead of walking.
- At school or work, your character gets an unusual assignment.
- Your character finds something he or she had lost.
- Your character has to choose between two things that he or she loves.
- Your character is out talking a walk when he or she sees a dog thatβ¦
- Your character tries a new restaurant. The chef comes out and tells him or herβ¦
- Your character finally gets to take an exciting vacation to beach. On the shore, he or she findsβ¦
- During a thunderstorm, your character suddenly remembersβ¦
- Your character leaves in the morning but has to go back home after forgetting to bringβ¦
- Your character has an accident andβ¦
- At a basketball game, your character is surprised whenβ¦
- Your character gets an interesting offer from a friend. Does he or she take it?
- Your character has an argument with his or her best friend. They argued because your character saidβ¦
- Your character meets someone with the same name.
- On your characterβs favorite holiday, he or she is excited toβ¦
- Your character decides to take a new class or join a new club. All goes well until the teacher or club leader saysβ¦
- Your character gets a visit from an old friendβbut the friend has changed and doesnβt seem to be the same person.
- Your character has to give a speech. On the way up to the podiumβ¦
- Your character meets his or her favorite celebrity. When your character asks for a pictureβ¦
- Your character finds a wallet with a large wad of bills stuffed inside lying on the street. What does he or she do?
- Your character has the chance to move to a new town. Does he or she take it?
- At the grocery store, your character sees __________ in the produce section. He or she decides toβ¦
- Your character sits down to write a story. He or she is inspired byβ¦
- Your character receives a surprise package in the mail. Whatβs inside?
- Your character has an especially bad toothache and goes to the dentist. At the dentistβs office, your character is surprised to seeβ¦
- Your character goes to see a movie that he or she has been waiting to see for monthsβonly to be seated next to someone who is talking loudly the whole time.
- Your character wins a big prize from a local radio contest.
- When your characterβs birthday comes around, he or she is excited to enjoy a favorite slice of cake. Your character is surprised, however, when the cake turns out to beβ¦
- One night, your character wakes up from an especially realistic dream. In the dream, he or she wasβ¦
- Your character is out at the mall and sees a bunch of television cameras from the local news station. Suddenly, a reporter comes up to your character and wants to interview him or her becauseβ¦
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With endless possibilities and a whole world of new things to discover, itβs easy to see why stories are one of the best forms of creative writing for kids.
5 Bonus Story Writing Topics
- Your story begins with two students inside the school, a note from the principal and a fish bowl. You must incorporate all of these elements into your short story.
- You and your best friend go to the local diner after school for a milkshake. Once you arrive, you stumble upon a mysterious note from your teacher. In your story, include what the note from the teacher says, and create a tale about what happens after the note is discovered.
- You walk into the cafeteria one day for lunch, only to discover that your two best friends are in an argument. What is the argument about, and how are you going to help them solve it?
- Write a story from the perspective of an animal at the local shelter. What type of animal is your main character going to be? Will your character go home with a family, or make friends at the shelter? Discuss the animalβs experience and how the animal might be feeling.
- You are babysitting two kids after school, and itβs a spooky, stormy night. You hear a loud crashβ¦ and your story begins. Write about what happens throughout the evening, and create a story about your adventures as a responsible babysitter.
Short Story Writing Ideas Resources
- 55 Story Writing Prompts for Kids
- 17 Story Writing Prompts for Young Writers
- Short Story Writing Lesson Plan
Oh, and there are loads more story writing ideas on my blog, and even more to come so stay tuned. Until next time, keep on writing!
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journalbuddies.com
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