Generating Word Count
Writing prompts are a great way to get past the blocks we find ourselves behind, unable to see our way to the story hiding on the blank page. Prompts are also a good way to generate word count! The nice thing about Nanowrimo is that it is a very long first draft. Writing prompts are perfect for first drafts. Scanning a list of prompts, for example, I might find something that relates to my story in a way I didn't expect.
Prompts are also good for creating characters.
Prompts are also good for creating characters.
Suggestions for Prompts
- While you might pass over prompt sites intended for teachers of elementary grades, consider the point-of-view of the children writing from the prompts. In my world, a collection of children's tales becomes the research material for a university professor. What might children's writing or writing for children inspire your characters to do?
- Journal prompts are also useful for character creation or development. Is your character stuck? Pull up a blog or journal prompt and get her to respond to it.
- Prompts are also good ways to develop your own prompts! Developing prompts for yourself is a good way to keep your attention on your craft. They act as quick sketches for the writer's mind, building confidence and facility the way a painter does with a sketchbook.
"Did you know there is a Nanowrimo event just for kids?"
Prompts for Elementary Grade Writers
Develop a beginner's mind and free your inner child.
These sites are intended for elementary school teachers, which means they have a particular audience in mind. I often use children's books for both learning and inspiration when I want to learn something new. The art of writing for children is precise and demanding. It requires precise control of language, content, and context. Responding to these prompts in either the child's voice or as a children's author will develop your own attention to your hidden child self.
- CITE Writing Prompts
- For elementary grades
- Bright Ideas
- More prompts for elementary grades
- Writing Fix
- Interactive writing prompts. Includes an interactive plot generator.
- J Holly - narrative
- What kind of story do you want to write?
- ABC Teach
- If you homeschool, how might this help?
- Writing Bugs
- More inspiration for children. Does your area participate in the children's Nanowrimo event?
- Teachers
- This one might also be useful to help develop a child's voice in your writing.
One Picture, How Many Words?
Images of and for children to inspire you.
When I walk around my neighborhood, I find myself wondering how this house or that image, or this location might contribute to the world of my story. Being a constructed world, this might sound like a waste of imagery. The source doesn't matter. It's what you do with it! Sometimes the most creative inspiration is figuring out how to fit somtheing that doesn't seem to fit.
can we talk?
Un regard d'enfant
Peanut and the horse...
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automatically generated by Flickr
Writing for Children
Like child's play, writing for children is not as simple as it seems.
Worlds of Childhood: The Art and Craft of Writing for Children
Amazon Price: $14.95 (as of 12/09/2009) 
The Art of Writing for Children: Skills and Techniques of the Craft
Amazon Price: (as of 12/09/2009)
Teach Yourself Writing for Children (Teach Yourself Creative Writing)
Amazon Price: (as of 12/09/2009)
Talent Is Not Enough: Mollie Hunter on Writing for Children
Amazon Price: (as of 12/09/2009)
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- Heinani Heinani Oct 22, 2008 @ 8:44 pm
- You have prompted me to write a story for children.
Mahalo for exploring new worlds.
Heinani
Next: Journal Writing Prompts
Giving characters a voice
What ideas might you generate from journal prompts?
Generating Your Own Prompts
Sometimes writing generates wrtiting
Once you get a feel for writing prompts in all their variety, you will be generating whole volumes of your own prompts.
by MeelaJoubert
I'm a shaman learning to be a storyteller. There is more than one way to change the world. And there is more than one world to do it from. I'm also... (more)
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