Is your student a reluctant writer?
Many students in both middle school and high school struggle with their writing, which makes them even more reluctant to practice their writing on their own.
Some students also do not enjoy writing because they assume the only type of writing that exists is academic writing, since this is the main type of writing required in school. However, there are so many different styles of writing that students should be exposed to, including creative writing! If you have a reluctant writer, consider having them try their hand at creative writing. This will not only get them more interested in the writing process, but it will also help them develop their writing skills independently. The goal of encouraging your student to give creative writing a try is to encourage them to practice their writing on their own in a way that might be more engaging and interesting to them.
What should your student write about, you ask? Here are 7 creative writing prompts to get them started:
What would you do if you woke up one morning and looked at the calendar only to discover that the year is 2999? Write a short story where you explore a day in the life in the year 2999.
Imagine you are an extra in one of your favorite movies. Write a short story about what you and the other actors and actresses do behind the scenes one day, when the camera isn't rolling.
Write a poem describing your favorite element of nature (earth, air, water, or fire) without actually telling the reader which element you're writing about. (ie: Its breath forces me to flee / tears well up in my eyes --> In these two lines, I'm referring to fire without actually saying so)
Write a short story about your favorite vacation, but pretend your favorite celebrity came along for the trip! What would be different about it?
Imagine you wake up and you're stranded on a deserted island. Write a short story about exploring the island and how you attempt to find food and shelter. Also write about how you ultimately try to find your way off of the island.
If a typical day in your life were turned into a movie, what would it be called? Who should be included in it? Where would it take place? Write the beginning of a movie script that answers these questions and gives your audience a glimpse into your daily life.
Have you ever tried writing a letter to your future self? Consider writing one, but instead of simply telling your future self what you hope you will have accomplished in the next ten or fifteen years, try answering these questions: What do you hope will have changed about you in the future? What do you hope will have stayed the same? What are some things you're learning now that you want to take with you into the future?
Interested in more? Here are five story-starters that might interest your students as well:
Who would have thought a simple game of Monopoly could lead to such a heated argument?
It all started when Minnie missed the school bus and was stuck in the pouring rain.
When Garrett woke up, he was in a hospital bed and had no memory of how he had gotten there.
Based on the look on Jordan's face, Kara knew she wasn't going to like what he said next.
Chloe tried pinching herself awake but suddenly realized what she thought had simply been a nightmare wasn't a dream at all.
I hope these creative writing prompts will really encourage your student to explore another style of writing while putting their skills to practice on their own! If you would like more resources on creative writing or if you are interested in learning more about how I can help your student advance their writing skills, please fill out my contact form here or email me at racheltutorsonline@gmail.com. Happy writing!
