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Caroline Dennigan

Caroline Dennigan Blog Posts
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3 minutes reading time (605 words)

Short story ideas and writing prompts

 

Is your child often stuck for words and in need of some ideas? Sometimes it’s really difficult to start writing when you are faced with just a blank page.

Writing prompts are a great way to get the creative juices flowing again and even if they spend only 5 or 10 minutes on a prompt, it's often enough to divert their attention and get them back to working on their original piece again.

If they are using writing prompts, don't be too bothered about the direction in which they are heading or if what they have written is good or not. The whole idea is to get into the flow of creative writing.

Here are 5 writing prompts to stretch their imagination and help them put pencil to paper and write every day!

 

(These can be 'adjusted' depending on the child's age!)

At birth, everybody has the date they will die tattooed on their arm. You were supposed to die yesterday...

Think about this: Why did you live to see another day? Are the authorities after you? Where will you go? Do you feel safe? Can you get the tattoo removed?

 

I can hear them in the walls.....

Where are you? What noises can you hear? Are you afraid? Are you alone?

 

The man stood there staring at me.....

Why is he staring at you? Have you been in an accident? Are you still on the planet earth?

 

She had only gone into the shop to get out of the rain......

What type of shop is it? Is she in a city or village? What does she see there? Who does she meet inside the shop?

 

A sudden loud noise from outside woke him up.....

Describe the noise? Is it night time? Why was he sleeping? What did he do next?

 

 

Another neat trick is to use the lyrics of one of your favourite song as the basis for your short story.

Take a look at these Guns and Roses 'Sweet child of mine' lyrics and see if they inspire you to write a short story:


She's got a smile that it seems to me
Reminds me of childhood memories
Where everything
Was as fresh as the bright blue sky

Now and then when I see her face
She takes me away to that special place
And if I stared too long
I'd probably break down and cry

She's got eyes of the bluest skies
As if they thought of rain
I'd hate to look into those eyes
And see an ounce of pain

Her hair reminds me of a warm safe place
Whereas a child I'd hide
And pray for the thunder and the rain
To quietly pass me by

 

To finish off, let me introduce you to the plot generator! Basically, this generator will create random short storylines which you can then use for short stories.

The majority of the time, you will find the plotlines generated don't make any sense at all. That's okay because what the plot generator does is inspire writers to home in on their own creativity.

As well as being fun it does really work. Keep clicking to generate a plot and sooner or later the perfect idea for you will appear.

 

lady typing

 

Of course, writing is a multi-faceted skill that requires years to master properly - and in fact, you never stop learning and improving. Why not let one of our 'tried and tested' experts help your child to find their inner author?

Alternatively, just keep getting the free advice by signing up for our content at this link:

 

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