Creative Writing Prompts

Use the prompt to start a short story in your reading journal. You can finish the sentence, or use the idea as the starting point for a short story. You can change the pronouns (he, she, it). Be as descriptive as possible! You should write for 10-15 minutes. Make sure to keep stories appropriate, especially if you want to share!

1. You are babysitting for your neighbors when you find a disturbing photograph... 2. The dream last night had seemed so real, but it was just a dream, right? 3. He ducked as the plate smashed against the wall behind him. 4. She SO did not want to be there. Especially when 5. Your luggage gets lost at the airport and you accidentally open the wrong bag. What you find inside thrills and terrifies you 6. Shadows quivered on the wall as the candle flickered, then fizzled to nothing. 7. I could just make out the windows, high in the castle wall. 8. He slammed forward as the brakes screeched and the car . . . 9. It was the strangest thing I had ever seen, with tubes and wires . . . 10. She stared at the credit card, numbers blurring in front of her eyes, wondering if 11. You hear an ad on the radio for a magic product that will 12. She hesitated at the post box, not knowing if she should really send the letter. 13. It was one of those days when everything seemed to go wrong. 14. My hand trembled as I punched the number into the phone. 15. She knelt on the tile floor, carefully picking up the shards of glass. Why did it have to be this one that broke?

16. Colors swooped and swirled behind his closed eyelids as the music soared, taking him back to . . . 17. The chattering birds made her smile, until she heard a growl. 18. The storm whipped the trees outside and she huddled into her quilt. 19. Sun, sand, seatotal relaxation. So why couldnt he let go? 20. She tore through the alley, ducked into a doorway, and tried to squeeze into nothingness. 21. It wasnt going to be easy, but somehow she had to confront her mother. 22. Trapped. A rat in a maze, a tiger in a cage, every clich he could think ofhe was trapped. 23. The building shook, lurching and jumping, and the little china horse fell off the mantel. 24. The prickles on his neck told him he was being watched. 25. The sun was soft and the boat rocked gently. It wasnt so bad running out of fuel, until . . .