Claudia Said:

What are some good creative writing ideas?

We Answered:

Below are 11 creative writing ideas that I would enjoy writing about. So good luck and enjoy...and let out your imagination...

ZOOM
Freeze a moment in time and describe in sensory vivid detail (5 senses).
First, have students write a paragraph about a memory in their life, “The First Day in America.” Now, focus in on a key moment- stepping off the plane. What did you hear, see, smell, feel, and/or taste?- …as I stepped off the plane the cold wind pinched my cheeks and a voice on the loud speaker sounded like he was telling everyone I had arrived… Relive that moment.

PAPER TREE
Students write a detailed description of a character, fiction or non-fiction. Tell the character’s likes and dislikes, where he lives, his habits, what he looks like, etc. Compile all the characters in a packet to give to each student. Together, go over the characters and write a story about how all the characters intertwine and cross paths, use this as an example. Now let them write their own story. Have the students read their stories in class. It’s interesting to see how the stories are all so different.

LIST POEM
Have students put one emotion on a piece of paper. Pass the paper around to the other students in the class and have them add a line to it.
Give the paper back to the original owner. Talk about prioritizing lines, rhythm, and the human condition. Change the last line by not using the emotion word. Examples to write about joy, anger, frustration, envy, etc.

FACT TO FICTION
Each student writes a plot or topic sentence on a piece of paper on an event that really happened to him or her. Give that plot to another student and have them write a believable story. Compare the fiction story to the facts.

I WAS THERE
Have student complete this sentence. Have them describe what was going on in their lives when an historic event occurred and/or something that impacted their society. This can involve current events, historic sports moments, political and social topics, etc.

REWIND TIME
If the student could rewind one moment in their lives, what would it be and how would you change it? An example would be when you got in trouble and how would change it.

BEHIND A PHOTO
Show your class a photo from a magazine and ask them to write a story based on the photo. Example: A teenage girl putting makeup on in from of the bathroom mirror. Student might write about the girl getting ready for her senior prom based on the other things in the photo.

WORD BOWL
Place random words in a hat. Students pick out words and construct a story around based on the words. Example: magnetic poetry game.

IN 2020
If you ran into someone from class in 2020, what would you tell them about your new life? Examples: family, job, hobbies, etc.

FOLKLORE
Students write about how an animal got its particular feature. Examples: How an elephant got his trunk, giraffe got his log neck, leopard got his spots, rabbit got long ears, and zebra got his stripes.

WALKING IN SOMEONE ELSE’S SHOES
Retell a well-known story from someone else’s point of view. Example: The Three Little Pigs- tell from the wolf’s perspective, Cinderella- tell from the three ugly sisters’ view, etc.

Gail Said:

Are any of you very creative w/ writing? Ideas for a book?

We Answered:

Write down your innermost thoughts in a diary or a journal, or just some random ramblings, and then go back and re-read it. Can you get any ideas from what you've written. Or try this - stare at the television for thirty minutes with it off, and pretend you are watching a show or movie that doesn't really exist. Then write down all the characters, events and action that you "saw." This should serve as motivation to get you started.

Nora Said:

what is more important to you when reading a book--good writing or creative ideas?

We Answered:

A really creative storyline can make up for a bit of not great writing while the best writing cannot save a bad story.

The best books are a somewhat balanced mix of the two.