resources by type
resources by grade
resources by subject
other resources

Classroom resources

Short Story Writing Prompts

Find short-story prompts that give students a character, situation, picture or story starter to develop into a complete narrative.

21 resources

Browse by lesson focus

Find your next lesson

Choose the topic or kind of practice you need.

Showing 1–21 of 21 resources

Most relevant
alt down
All File Types
alt down
Any Time
alt down
filter nav Show filters
Sort by: Most relevant
Flash Fiction: 24 Creative Writing Prompts for Students teaching resource preview
Story craft & viewpoint

Flash Fiction: 24 Creative Writing Prompts for Students

Choose from 24 prompt slides and write a very short story (no more than 1000 words, up to 3 characters, one setting, one conflict, one or two rising actions, and a resolution) within a timed writing session; optionally share stories in small groups for feedback.

File
Microsoft PowerPoint
Level
6–8
Download
The Unusual Present: Write An Imaginative Story (And More) (9-13 years) teaching resource preview
Picture & drawing prompts

The Unusual Present: Write An Imaginative Story (And More) (9-13 years)

Read a provided story opening (about receiving an unusual pair of trainers/shoes with hidden powers), write paragraph 3 using guiding questions, then plan and write an original three-paragraph imaginative story (fantasy, crime, or adventure genre) using paragraph-by-paragraph planning questions.

File
PDF
Level
3–6
Download
Creative Writing Prompt - Create Your Own Monster teaching resource preview
Fantasy & adventure

Creative Writing Prompt - Create Your Own Monster

Draw their monster and fill in a 'facts about my monster' sheet (name, age, type, favorite food, hobbies, fears, pet, personality traits, life motto), then individually or with a partner write a story (minimum one page) meeting listed requirements (monster as main character, a line of dialogue, an example each of direct and indirect…

File
PDF
Level
9–12
Download
Creative Narratives Writing Prompt Bundle teaching resource preview
Story craft & viewpoint

Creative Narratives Writing Prompt Bundle

For each of 12 prompt cards, write an original short story using the given characters, setting, and plot hook; use the do's/don'ts writing-hacks sheet and proofreading checklist (capital letters, punctuation, adjectives, spelling, sense-making) to plan and revise.

File
PDF
Level
2–5
Download
WRITING PROMPT | Your pet can talk! teaching resource preview Free download
Fantasy & adventure

WRITING PROMPT | Your pet can talk!

Write a short story answering guiding questions about a talking pet (what animal, what it says, where they go, what problem they solve, how it ends), then optionally draw a comic strip of the story.

File
PDF
Level
Pre-K
Download
14 Random Writing Prompts: Character, Situation, Prop, Setting, Phrase teaching resource preview
Story craft & viewpoint

14 Random Writing Prompts: Character, Situation, Prop, Setting, Phrase

Choose one or two prompt slides (each giving a character, situation, prop, setting, and phrase) and write a short story or flash-fiction piece incorporating those elements; teacher's suggested use is 25-30 minutes of writing on 3-4 slides at a time, later sharing drafts in small groups for feedback.

Editable
File
PDF
Level
7–10
Download
The Space Age Trainers: Write A Story (9-13 years) teaching resource preview
Picture & drawing promptsFantasy & adventure

The Space Age Trainers: Write A Story (9-13 years)

Study a story-planning framework, read the mentor short story ('The Space Age Bag'), then plan and write an original version of the story in paragraphs, developing characters, setting, and plot.

File
PDF
Level
5–7
Download
Art Fun Add It! Drawing and Writing Prompts teaching resource preview
Picture & drawing prompts

Art Fun Add It! Drawing and Writing Prompts

For each of 10 themed prompts (Under the Sea, At the Zoo, In the Forest, Art Class, At the Farm, In My Bedroom, Space Travel, Air Show, Underground, At Play), draw all listed items into a single picture, then write a short story about the drawing.

File
PDF
Level
Pre-K, 1–6
Download
The Art Gallery: Write A Story (9-13 years) teaching resource preview
Picture & drawing promptsCross-curricular stories

The Art Gallery: Write A Story (9-13 years)

Study writing-craft guidance on planning fiction (audience, genre, purpose, paragraph structure, connectives, person/point of view), read a complete model short story, then plan and write an original follow-up story about the clown character escaping the painting into the modern world, using a provided structure guide for…

File
PDF
Level
3–6
Download
Island Treasure Hunt Writing Activity | Problem Solving and Adventure teaching resource preview
Picture & drawing promptsFantasy & adventure

Island Treasure Hunt Writing Activity | Problem Solving and Adventure

Pick one option from each of four columns (Character, Setting, Problem, Solution) in a 4x4 story-planning matrix, then write a short story or paragraph combining those choices; use a checklist to edit/revise for capitalization, punctuation, and spelling.

File
PDF
Level
2–5
Download
Creative Writing on Food teaching resource preview
Picture & drawing promptsCross-curricular stories

Creative Writing on Food

Bring food items (vegetables, fruit, and/or snacks) to class, arrange them on a napkin to form a picture, draw the picture in the space provided, then write a short story or description about the picture on the lines on the next page.

File
PDF
Download
Roll a Story | Creative Writing | Narrative Genre | Quick Activity | No Prep teaching resource preview
Story craft & viewpoint

Roll a Story | Creative Writing | Narrative Genre | Quick Activity | No Prep

Students read the included story 'Three Free Wishes' for inspiration (optional), roll a die three times to pick a character/setting/problem from a chart, record their picks on a planning sheet at their level (key words and pictures, key words and sentences, or full sentences), then write a titled story using differentiated planning and…

File
PDF
Level
1–3
Download
The New Timetable: Lots Of Writing Tasks To Complete (9-13 years) teaching resource preview
Picture & drawing promptsCross-curricular stories

The New Timetable: Lots Of Writing Tasks To Complete (9-13 years)

Read a short story about a school's new timetable and a student's disorganized first day, then complete a series of writing tasks based on the narrative (implied by title 'Lots Of Writing Tasks To Complete'; specific tasks not visible in the sampled text).

File
PDF
Level
4–6
Download
Pirates Literacy and Math Activity Packet and Worksheets teaching resource preview
Picture & drawing promptsFantasy & adventure

Pirates Literacy and Math Activity Packet and Worksheets

Read informational passages about pirates and answer reading-response questions; define new vocabulary words; write descriptive sentences using the five senses; write a short story or complete a story-starter using pirate slang; write a 6-line acrostic poem using P-I-R-A-T-E; complete two pirate-themed word searches; read a two-level…

File
PDF
Level
1–3
Download
Little Bear's Visit Book Companion teaching resource preview
Fantasy & adventure

Little Bear's Visit Book Companion

Answer chapter comprehension questions for chapters 1, 2 and 4; write an original short story extension for chapter 3 (goblin story); complete favorite-part and 5-bear-rating reflections; identify author's purpose (inform/entertain/persuade); describe Little Bear's character traits; answer a 7-item true/false quiz.

File
PDF
Level
Pre-K, 1–2
Download
How to Write Book: A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing teaching resource preview
Story craft & viewpoint

How to Write Book: A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing

Work through 4 sequential 'Steps': Step 1 brainstorming/grouping ideas and building paragraphs (thought clusters, topic sentences); Step 2 following formats to write short reports, book reports, summaries, and news reports (including headlines); Step 3 writing a formal report (gathering/selecting information, building an outline,…

Answers included
File
PDF
Level
3–6
Download
To Build A Fire by Jack London (Alternate Ending Writing Project) teaching resource preview
Story craft & viewpoint

To Build A Fire by Jack London (Alternate Ending Writing Project)

Complete a plot diagram of the real story, identify one specific event/point where the story will diverge, answer planning questions (why this point, why it matters, how it affects the characters, what the theme is), create a new plot diagram for the altered version, and write a minimum 2-page alternate ending in 3rd person that keeps…

File
PDF
Level
6–8, 10–12
Download