Here is a good collection of creative writing activities and prompts.
By Marcus Roskilly
1. Free writing
By Marcus Roskilly
At the start of the period I give the pupils 5 minutes, sometimes slightly more if it is going well, to write in any way they want on a ‘spark word’ with some visual stimulus. For example, freedom, space, ouch, etc. They pair and share and are invited to read out their work. Often, they come up with unique and surprising responses. I always find something to compliment and praise in their writing.
Get some light plastic balls - like the ones that you can find in a child’s ball tent – and write some opening sentences on them. Toss the first ball to one of your pupils who then needs to either continue the sentence using a suitable conjunction or come up with a new sentence. They then throw the ball to another pupil who needs to continue the story, and so on for five or six turns. This is great for getting them to think creatively about tone, character, plot, setting development as well as engaging with language on a general level.
3. Modelling
When asking them to write, I try to write something too which makes the exercise a truly collaborative experience. Explain what your word choice, punctuation, imagery, etc. Once again, pair, share and praise their work.
4. Character
I really labour the point that all good stories have strong characters that we can relate to in some way. At the start of a substantive piece of writing, I get them to answer prompt questions based on pictures of quirky people culled from the internet for use in their own stories.
5. Skills lessons
Chunk various aspects of the writer’s craft into sections that the pupils can manage. This could take the form of a discrete lesson on: dialogue; developing setting; conflict; narrative point of view etc.
2. Flying balls
Get some light plastic balls - like the ones that you can find in a child’s ball tent – and write some opening sentences on them. Toss the first ball to one of your pupils who then needs to either continue the sentence using a suitable conjunction or come up with a new sentence. They then throw the ball to another pupil who needs to continue the story, and so on for five or six turns. This is great for getting them to think creatively about tone, character, plot, setting development as well as engaging with language on a general level.
3. Modelling
When asking them to write, I try to write something too which makes the exercise a truly collaborative experience. Explain what your word choice, punctuation, imagery, etc. Once again, pair, share and praise their work.
4. Character
I really labour the point that all good stories have strong characters that we can relate to in some way. At the start of a substantive piece of writing, I get them to answer prompt questions based on pictures of quirky people culled from the internet for use in their own stories.
5. Skills lessons
Chunk various aspects of the writer’s craft into sections that the pupils can manage. This could take the form of a discrete lesson on: dialogue; developing setting; conflict; narrative point of view etc.
6. Music
You supply the atmospheric music – instrumental works best for this – while the pupils supply the words of wisdom.
You supply the atmospheric music – instrumental works best for this – while the pupils supply the words of wisdom.
7. Learning outcome and success criteria
Bit boring this one, but the pupils need to know exactly what is expected of them at various points in the creative process.
Here are also some creative college essay prompts
Bit boring this one, but the pupils need to know exactly what is expected of them at various points in the creative process.
Here are also some creative college essay prompts
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