Writing Prompts

Daily Writing Prompts
Writing prompts for different types of writing and a range of ages, organized by month.

Daily Writing Prompt
This site, designed by a teacher, offers a wide variety of writing prompts, available by genre or as story starters. It also includes an opportunity to publish student work.

Journal Writing
Find links to lists of journal writing prompts here.

Language is a Virus
Click to generate a random writing prompt. Especially good for creative writing.

A Month of Writing Prompts
Writing prompts based on historical events with a suggestion for creative or analytical writing.

Prompted Writing
Pros, cons, models: it's all here. Access to this 79-page document requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. (Suggestion: download the entire file but print only the pages you want.)

SAT Essay Prep
A lesson plan for boosting scores on the SAT writing section. Includes handout.

Story Starters
Elementary students click through a fun interface to select a writing topic and format. They can print or download the finished story. Site includes teacher guide.

Writing Prompts
Writing prompts with a visual component. Most are designed for middle and high school students, but some may work with younger writers. Common Core standards indicated.

Writing Prompts
A generous list of topics for all ages.

Writing Prompts
A generous assortment of topics from Writers Digest. Most prompts are designed for high school and older and call for creative writing.

Writing Prompts for Middle School
Prompts for the following types of writing: expository/informative, persuasive, process, descriptive, narrative, writing about literature, writing about nonfiction. 3 pages; Adobe Reader required.

Writing Prompts
Topics for grades 1-12, organized by grade level. Follow links for student models.