Enrichment · Arts & Creativity

A character, a place,
a problem. Go.

Every prompt pairs someone interesting with a place and a problem, then adds a challenge sized to the writer. Pick genres, deal a set, swap anything that does not spark and start the timer.

Deal some promptsWhat you get

Deal a set of story prompts

The worked example is made up: a grade 6 class set and an adult writing group set. Saved on this device only.

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What you get

Enrichment · Arts & CreativityFree

What you finish with
A set of 3, 6 or 9 story prompts, each a character, a place and a problem with a challenge for the writer’s level, plus starred favorites, notes and a plan-and-write timer.
Who it is for
Students from grade 3 up, teachers running a free write or a writing club, homeschool families and adult writing groups.
Format
Browser prompt generator with saved sets and a timer. Prints the prompts to cut out or as a list; downloads a spreadsheet (.csv); exports and imports a file.
Access
Free. No account, no sign-in and nothing to install. Everything you type stays in this browser; nothing is sent to Caveat.
Where it lives
The Arts & Creativity space in Caveat Enrichment.
Support
Questions about access, an order or a correction: team@caveatacademic.com.

How to use it

  1. Choose the writer’s level and one or more genres.
  2. Read the set and swap any prompt that does not spark an idea.
  3. Open one prompt in the present view and start the plan-and-write timer.
  4. Plan for a few minutes: who wants what, and what stands in the way.
  5. Write without stopping, then note your best first line.

Deal some prompts

How a prompt gets a story moving

Three lists make one promptCharacterA dragon too small toflyA grandfather learningto textA robot built to foldlaundryPlace and timeIn a museum afterclosing timeOn a fishing boat in astormAt a lost-and-foundcounterProblemHears a knock frominside a wallHas to keep a promiseLoses the one key thatopens everythingThree lists make one promptCharacterA dragon too small to flyA grandfather learning to textA robot built to fold laundryPlace and timeIn a museum after closing timeOn a fishing boat in a stormAt a lost-and-found counterProblemHears a knock from inside a wallHas to keep a promiseLoses the one key that opens everything
Drawn for this page. With 18 of each, the lists make thousands of different prompts; the genre and level choices narrow them.

A problem, not just a topic

“Write about winter” gives a writer nothing to do. A character who wants something, in a specific place, with something in the way, is already the start of a plot. Each card is built that way on purpose.

Limits help

A challenge such as “start with dialogue” or “under 300 words” narrows the choices, which makes it easier to begin. Change the level to get challenges that fit younger or older writers.

Plan briefly, then write

A short plan before drafting (who, wants what, what is in the way, how it ends) helps most writers, and especially younger ones, write longer and better organized stories. Then the timer keeps the pen moving.

Sources

  1. Graham, S., & Perin, D. (2007). Writing Next: Effective strategies to improve writing of adolescents in middle and high schools. Alliance for Excellent Education. Planning and process writing among the recommended practices.
  2. Graham, S., et al. (2012). Teaching elementary school students to be effective writers (NCEE 2012-4058). Institute of Education Sciences, What Works Clearinghouse practice guide.
  3. Graham, S., & Harris, K. R. Self-Regulated Strategy Development for story writing (planning a story’s parts before writing), as summarized in the practice guide above.
  4. Burroway, J. Writing Fiction: A guide to narrative craft. Character, desire and conflict as the base of a story.

Prompts are combined from lists written for this page; the example sets are made up. Nothing you type is sent to Caveat. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.