volcano creative writing prompt

33 Writing Prompts about Volcanoes

Mount St. Helens blew its top and captured the imagination and fear of Americans everywhere.

Of course, the destruction brought on by Mount St. Helens was nothing compared to the devastation of Krakatoa or the splendor of Vesuvius.

However, apart from being volcanoes, all of these events managed to capture the imagination of everyone who lived on the Earth to see their majesty and might.

Volcanoes still have that power in the classroom, from what students read to making paper mache volcanoes. So, letting them think more deeply upon volcanoes through these prompts will help spark a longer interest for them, as well as inspiring some wonderful writing along the way!

How to Use These Writing Prompts

There are a lot of ways to use these prompts.

You can use them over an extended period of time, or use them all in a day.

They can be used to jump into a discussion or as prompts to get students to think about volcanoes internally.

At any rate, the goal of these prompts is to spark curiosity in volcanoes and help students understand their importance in our lives and on Earth.

After all, volcanoes are responsible from everything from natural disasters to the formation of land as we know it today. 

The Writing Prompts About Volcanoes:

Here are thirty-three different writing prompts about volcanoes:

• What do you think it’s like to be near an erupting volcano?
• Are volcanoes scary? Why or why not?
• What are some potential after effects of a volcano?
• Is the initial eruption of a volcano worse than the after effects? Why or why not?
• What is volcanic rock, and how does it form?
• What is the Ring of Fire?
• If you could visit one volcano, which would it be?
• Would you want to see a volcano erupt in person?
• What type of impact do you think volcanic ash can have on the environment?
• How do volcanoes form islands?
• What are some famous volcanoes that you know? How do you know them?
• What does it mean for a volcano to blow its top?
• How long have volcanoes existed?
• Why are volcanoes important to how the Earth was formed?
• Some people think that it was volcanoes, and not a meteor, that killed the dinosaurs. Which do you think killed the dinosaurs? Why?
• Hot springs are considered to be a natural wonder that help you relax like a spa. They’re also a sign of a volcano. Would knowing this make it hard for you to relax? Why or why not?
• What do you think the worst volcanic eruption in American history is?
• What is a super volcano? 
• Yellowstone National Park is known as one of the most beautiful parks in the world. Underneath it is a super volcano. Would you still want to visit the park? Why or why not?
• Do you think any animals can live in a volcano? Which ones?
• What does it mean for a volcano to be dormant?
• What does it mean for a volcano to be extinct?
• Are active volcanoes always dangerous? Why or why not?
• A volcanologist is someone who studies volcanoes. Does this sound like an interesting job? Why or why not?
• Geologists study rocks and rock formations. How might this intersect with knowledge about volcanoes?
• How are volcanoes and earthquakes related?
• If you discovered a new volcano, what would you do?
• Pompeii was an ancient city that was destroyed by a volcano called Mt. Vesuvius. Today, it’s known for being incredibly well preserved due to the eruption, with people stuck in the middle of their everyday lives. What do you think when the people of Pompeii thought when Mt. Vesuvius erupted?
• Do all volcanoes have to be mountains?
• What is the difference between magma and lava?
• What are some different types of rocks that can be formed by a volcano?
• What are some cultures where volcanoes are significant?
• Do you know any books or movies where volcanoes are prominent? Do these depictions match reality?

Looking for More Information?

There are resources throughout our website that can help you and any colleagues or friends who may also have an interest in all our writing and teaching resources.

Take a look at our national park prompts , or if you’re wanting something completely different, don’t forget to try our fantasy story ideas .

If there is anything missing from our website, make sure you let us know ! Thanks.

Volcano Writing Prompts

These volcano writing prompts will provide your students with creative writing practice.

You can share these volcano writing prompts with your students.

They are written to get your students to recall what they have learned while creating a short story.

This is another free resource for teachers and home school families from The Curriculum Corner.

Volcano writing prompts

• Write a story about a group of explorers who stumble upon an undiscovered volcano. Describe the eruption and the explorers’ reaction to it.
• Imagine that you are a volcano that has just woken up after hundreds of years of dormancy. Write a first-person narrative describing your thoughts and feelings as you prepare to erupt.
• Write a letter to a friend describing the effects of a volcanic eruption on a nearby town. Use sensory language to vividly describe the sights, sounds, and smells of the aftermath.
• Create a dialogue between a group of scientists studying a volcano and a local resident who is skeptical of their findings. Use evidence and reasoning to convince the resident that the volcano poses a threat.
• Write a poem about the beauty and danger of volcanoes. Use imagery and figurative language to convey the power and majesty of these natural wonders.
• Write a diary entry from the perspective of a person living in a village that is in the path of a lava flow. Describe their feelings and actions as they try to evacuate and save their belongings.
• Write a news article about a volcanic eruption that recently occurred in a nearby town. Include quotes from eyewitnesses, local officials, and experts to provide a well-rounded account of the event.
• Create a persuasive essay arguing for or against the construction of a new hotel near a volcanic site. Consider the economic benefits, environmental impact, and potential risks involved.
• Imagine that you are a scientist studying a dormant volcano. Write a report explaining the signs that indicate that the volcano may become active soon, and what precautions should be taken.
• Write a short story from the point of view of a volcano. Describe the process of building up pressure and erupting, and how the volcano affects the landscape and the creatures around it.

You can download a printable version of these prompts by clicking on the green apples below. The first two pages contain the prompts on strips so that you can print and have students choose one. The last page contains a list of the prompts. Students can be given the whole page. Or, you can display the page on your screen.

As with all of our resources, The Curriculum Corner creates these for free classroom use. Our products may not be sold. You may print and copy for your personal classroom use. These are also great for home school families!

You may not modify and resell in any form. Please let us know if you have any questions.

25 Writing Prompts About Volcanoes

Those mountains that erupt with molten lava, ash, and rocks are pretty damn cool (and scary!). But they’re also way more than just troublemakers.

They’re like, super interesting to scientists, super important for the planet, and even inspiring stories and myths .

This post is all about these fiery giants.

Whether you’re a science geek, a writer wannabe, or just curious, we’ve got prompts to get your creative juices flowing.

We’ll imagine what it’s like to be in an eruption, explore volcano stories from different cultures , and even wonder what life would be like next to a sleeping volcano.

So grab your metaphorical pen and get ready to unleash your inner volcano storyteller!

It’s gonna be an epic adventure !

Writing Prompts About Volcanoes

• Explore the geological history and potential future of a dormant volcano that is a major feature in your hometown or a city you know well. Consider what might happen if it were to suddenly become active. How would it affect the local economy, the environment, and daily life? Use scientific facts about volcanic activity to lend realism to your story.
• Write a travelog for an adventure tourism company that organizes trips to active volcanoes. Discuss the thrilling and terrifying aspects of being near an active volcano, what precautions are needed, and how such an experience might change a person. Base your writing on real volcanoes and use vivid descriptions to enthrall potential travelers.
• Consider an historical event like the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD that wiped out the city of Pompeii. Write a fictionalized diary of a survivor of this disaster . The diary should include the survivor’s experiences before, during, and after the eruption. Make sure to research about the event to provide an accurate representation of the event.
• Write a series of letters between two lovers separated by a volcanic eruption. One person could be trapped in the city, while the other has managed to escape. Detail their fears , hopes, and determination to reunite. Use the volcano not just as a setting but also as a metaphor for the sudden and unpredictable challenges that can strain a relationship .
• Imagine a future where climate change has increased the activity of volcanoes worldwide. Write a speculative fiction story where scientists have found a way to use these eruptions to counteract global warming. How might this discovery change the world’s approach to climate change? What could be the unintended consequences?
• Write a children ’s story where the central character is a young, misunderstood volcano who doesn’t want to hurt anyone with his eruptions. This story can help teach children about natural phenomena like volcanoes and also impart lessons about empathy and understanding.
• Research an indigenous culture that lived or lives near a volcano, and consider the mythology they might have developed around it. Write a short story incorporating this mythology and its impact on the lives of the people. How does the volcano figure into their religious beliefs, and how does it affect their day-to-day decisions?
• Consider the experience of a wildlife photographer assigned to capture images of a rare species living on the slopes of an active volcano. Describe the challenges and dangers of such an assignment , as well as the excitement and wonder. Use this story to explore the themes of risk , passion, and the pursuit of a unique, potentially life-changing shot.
• Narrate the experience of a volcanologist who has been studying a particular volcano for years. Detail their emotional connection to the volcano, their excitement at each discovery, and their fears when they realize the volcano is about to erupt. Use your narrative to explore the human side of scientific research and the deep relationships scientists can form with their subjects.
• Picture a small coastal town with a beautiful but threatening volcano. The inhabitants live with the constant fear of an eruption. Write a screenplay where the volcano is a silent character influencing the lives and actions of the townsfolk. How does this looming threat shape their world view, their relationships, and their decisions?
• Write a poem from the perspective of a volcano. It could be about the loneliness of centuries of dormancy, the exhilaration of an eruption, or the guilt and regret it feels about the destruction it causes. Use rich, evocative language to bring this unusual perspective to life.
• Envision a post- apocalyptic world where volcanic eruptions have caused a ‘nuclear winter ’ effect . The protagonist is a young survivor who has never seen the sun . Write a short story about their quest to find a place where the sun still shines. Use this narrative to explore themes of hope , resilience, and longing.
• Imagine a world where volcanic eruptions can be predicted precisely. Write an essay on how such knowledge would impact our lives, our infrastructure, and our relationship with the environment. Would it remove the fear associated with volcanoes, or would it create new anxieties and problems?
• Write a science fiction story where volcanic activity on earth is controlled by an advanced civilization living in the core. Explore how they might react to human attempts to harness or suppress volcanic power . Use this premise to delve into themes of power, control, and the consequences of meddling with nature .
• Imagine an alien planet dominated by volcanic activity. Write a report as a space explorer documenting the unique flora and fauna that have adapted to live in such an environment. Incorporate real biological principles to make your report scientifically plausible.
• Recreate the story of Krakatoa’s 1883 eruption from the perspective of a sailor passing by when it happened. Describe their awe and terror as they witness one of the most catastrophic volcanic eruptions in history. Research the event to ensure your recreation is accurate and vivid.
• Construct a narrative about a team of miners who inadvertently dig into a dormant volcano , and have to quickly figure out a plan of escape as it shows signs of awakening. Explore themes of teamwork, survival , and man’s struggle against nature.
• Picture an ancient civilization that sacrifices to their god of volcanoes to prevent eruptions. Write a narrative from the viewpoint of a priest or priestess questioning these practices when they witness an eruption after a sacrifice. Discuss their inner turmoil, their conflict with societal norms, and their journey to truth.
• Explore the perspective of an indigenous tribe that reveres a local volcano as a deity . Write a series of short stories about the tribe’s rituals, myths, and customs, focusing on their connection to the volcano. Use this as a lens to explore concepts of faith, respect for nature, and community .
• Write a speculative fiction piece about a time when humans can harness the power of volcanoes for energy . Discuss the benefits and potential drawbacks of this energy source, the geopolitical implications, and how it could transform society.
• Imagine a world where volcanic ash has medicinal properties that can cure fatal diseases. Write a story about a doctor who goes on a dangerous mission to collect this ash from an active volcano, driven by the desperate hope to save a loved one.
• Write a series of news articles covering the events before, during, and after a major volcanic eruption. The stories should include interviews with locals, updates from authorities, and reports from scientists. Highlight the role of journalism in communicating crucial information during natural disasters.
• Write a historical fiction piece set during the eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980 . The protagonist is a park ranger tasked with evacuating the area. Explore their emotional journey as they face the danger, deal with uncooperative people, and grapple with the potential loss of the land they love.
• Compose a first-person narrative of a tourist visiting an island with an active volcano. Their thrill turns into a terrifying survival story when the volcano erupts unexpectedly. The story should be a gripping tale of survival, resilience, and human spirit amidst chaos.
• Write a piece from the perspective of an artist who draws inspiration from an active volcano near their home . The artist sees beauty in the volcano’s destructive power and tries to capture it in their work . Explore how this unique environment influences their artistic process and shapes their perspective on life and death .

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Writing Prompts About Volcanoes

Volcanoes stand as nature’s awe-inspiring wonders, evoking both fear and fascination. In the realm of writing, they offer a canvas for capturing the raw power of nature. With writing prompts about volcanoes embark on fiery adventures through descriptive, character-driven, adventurous, and historical narratives.

Descriptive Volcano Writing Prompts

Spark your creativity with these prompts to vividly describe volcanic eruptions, engaging your readers’ senses.

Imagine you’re witnessing a volcanic eruption firsthand. Describe the plumes of ash billowing skyward, the molten lava flowing down the mountainside, and the fiery explosions lighting up the night. How would you convey the awe-inspiring spectacle to your readers?

Close your eyes and listen to the sounds of a volcanic eruption. Describe the ominous rumbling preceding the eruption. Detail the sharp hissing of steam escaping from vents, and the thunderous booms shaking the earth. How would you recreate these sounds in your writing to evoke a sense of urgency and danger?

Inhale deeply and imagine the distinct smells of a volcanic eruption. Describe the pungent sulfuric odours hanging in the air, the scent of scorched earth and vegetation, and the faint hint of sweetness underlying the overpowering stench. How would you use these smells to set the scene and evoke a visceral reaction from your readers?

Sensations:

Visualise yourself standing amidst a volcanic eruption. Describe the trembling ground beneath your feet and the intense heat radiating from the lava flows. Write in detail about the gritty ash raining down like snowflakes. How would you convey the physical sensations of fear and awe in your writing, immersing your readers in the heart of the volcanic chaos?

Character-Driven Writing Prompts

A volcanologist’s daring expedition:.

Put yourself in the shoes of a seasoned volcanologist embarking on a daring expedition to study an active volcano. Describe the challenges faced, from navigating treacherous terrain to predicting unpredictable eruptions. Reflect on the discoveries made during the expedition, such as stumbling upon rare mineral formations or unearthing ancient artefacts buried beneath layers of ash.

Imagine you’re a novice volcanologist on your first field assignment to study an active volcano. Detail the personal growth experienced throughout the expedition, from overcoming fears of the unknown to developing resilience in the face of adversity. How does the journey transform you as a scientist and as an individual?

A local tribe’s spiritual connection:

Step into the world of a local tribe deeply connected to a sacred volcanic mountain. Explore the legends and myths surrounding the volcano, passed down through generations. Write about the rituals and ceremonies performed by the tribe to appease the fiery gods believed to reside within the mountain’s depths. How does this spiritual connection shape the tribe’s culture and traditions?

Adventure Volcano Writing Prompts

Embark on thrilling adventures set amidst the fiery chaos of volcanic eruptions with these prompts:

A thrilling rescue mission:

Put yourself in the shoes of a daring rescue team tasked with evacuating villagers from the path of an impending volcanic eruption. Write about the race against time as you navigate through remote settlements. Detail the obstacles you overcome such as ash clouds, lava flows, and collapsed bridges. Pause to reflect on the heroic acts of bravery and selflessness witnessed during the mission

Imagine you’re a survivor of a volcanic eruption, trapped amidst the devastation and awaiting rescue. Write about your experiences as you watch the rescue team approach. Detail the emotions of fear, hope, and gratitude that surge through you. How do you cope with the imminent danger and uncertainty of the situation?

A daring heist:

Step into the shoes of a mastermind orchestrating a daring heist to steal a priceless artefact from the crater of an active volcano. Describe the meticulous planning and preparation involved in executing the heist, from studying the volcano’s terrain to navigating treacherous lava tubes and vents. Detail the unexpected twists and narrow escapes encountered along the way.

With these prompts, writers are encouraged to craft gripping narratives of adventure and intrigue, immersing readers in high-stakes scenarios set against the backdrop of volcanic eruptions and their aftermath.

Historical Writing Prompts About Volcanoes

Explore the tumultuous history of volcanic eruptions through these prompts, inviting writers to delve into the past and weave tales of survival, tragedy, and resilience:

A first-hand account of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD:

Put yourself in the shoes of a witness to the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Write a detailed first-hand account of the eruption, vividly describing the sights, sounds, and sensations experienced during the disaster. Reflect on the impact of the eruption on the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, capturing the chaos and devastation wrought by nature’s fury.

Imagine you’re a survivor of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, recounting your harrowing escape from the ash and lava that engulfed the city. Write a personal narrative of survival, detailing the moments of terror, loss, and resilience amidst the chaos. How does the experience of the eruption shape your perspective on life and death?

A fictional tale set during the eruption of Krakatoa in 1883:

Step into the world of 1883 and imagine yourself amidst the global impact of the massive eruption of Krakatoa. Write a fictional tale set during the eruption, exploring the experiences of characters from different walks of life as they navigate the chaos and devastation unleashed by the volcano. How do their lives intersect amidst the unfolding tragedy, and what lessons are learned from the cataclysmic event?

Embrace Volcanic Writing Prompts

In the world of writing, volcanoes aren’t just geological marvels; they’re a source of inspiration. From vivid descriptions to character-driven narratives and historical reflections, volcanic landscapes offer endless possibilities for storytelling.

Whether you’re a seasoned or a beginner eager to explore, dive into the fiery depths of volcanic writing prompts. Let your imagination erupt with stories that captivate and inspire, transporting readers to the heart of nature’s fiery majesty. With writing prompts about volcanoes as your guide, your creativity knows no bounds. It’s time to unleash your inner writer and let your words flow like molten lava.

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Essays About Volcanoes: Top 5 Examples and 10 Prompts

Do you need to write essays about volcanoes but don’t know where to start? Check out our top essay examples and prompts to help you write a high-quality essay.

Considered the planet’s geologic architects, volcanoes are responsible for more than 80% of the Earth’s surface . The mountains, craters, and fertile soil from these eruptions give way to the very foundation of life itself, making it possible for humans to survive and thrive.  

Aside from the numerous ocean floor volcanoes, there are 161 active volcanoes in the US . However, these beautiful and unique landforms can instantly turn into a nightmare, like Mt. Tambora in Indonesia, which killed 92,000 people in 1815 .

Various writings are critical to understanding these openings in the Earth’s crust, especially for students studying volcanoes. It can be tricky to write this topic and will require a lot of research to ensure all the information gathered is accurate. 

To help you, read on to see our top essay examples and writing prompts to help you begin writing.

Top 5 Essay Examples

1. short essay on volcanoes by prasad nanda , 2. types of volcanoes by reena a , 3. shield volcano, one of the volcano types by anonymous on gradesfixer.com, 4. benefits and problems caused by volcanoes by anonymous on newyorkessays.com, 5. volcanoes paper by vanessa strickland, 1. volcanoes and their classifications, 2. a dormant volcano’s eruption, 3. volcanic eruptions in the movies, 4. the supervolcano: what is it, 5. the word’s ring of fire, 6. what is a lahar, 7. why does a volcano erupt, 8. my experience with volcanic eruptions, 9. effects of volcanic eruptions, 10. what to do during volcanic disasters.

“The name, “volcano” originates from the name Vulcan, a god of fire in Roman mythology.”

Nanda briefly defines volcanoes, stating they help release hot pressure that builds up deep within the planet. Then, he discusses each volcano classification, including lava and magma’s roles during a volcanic eruption. Besides interesting facts about volcanoes (like the Ojos del Salado as the world’s tallest volcano), Nanda talks about volcanic eruptions’ havoc. However, he also lays down their benefits, such as cooled magma turning to rich soil for crop cultivation.

“The size, style, and frequency of eruptions can differ greatly but all these elements are correlated to the shape of a volcano.”

In this essay, Reena identifies the three main types of volcanoes and compares them by shape, eruption style, and magma type and temperature. A shield volcano is a broad, flat domelike volcano with basaltic magma and gentle eruptions. The strato or composite volcano is the most violent because its explosive eruption results in a lava flow, pyroclastic flows, and lahar. Reena shares that a caldera volcano is rare and has sticky and cool lava, but it’s the most dangerous type. To make it easier for the readers to understand her essay, she adds figures describing the process of volcanic eruptions.

“All in all, shield volcanoes are the nicest of the three but don’t be fooled, it can still do damage.”

As the essay’s title suggests, the author focuses on the most prominent type of volcano with shallow slopes – the shield volcano. Countries like Iceland, New Zealand, and the US have this type of volcano, but it’s usually in the oceans, like the Mauna Loa in the Hawaiian Islands. Also, apart from its shape and magma type, a shield volcano has regular but calmer eruptions until water enters its vents.

“Volcanic eruptions bring both positive and negative impacts to man.”

The essay delves into the different conditions of volcanic eruptions, including their effects on a country and its people. Besides destroying crops, animals, and lives, they damage the economy and environment. However, these misfortunes also leave behind treasures, such as fertile soil from ash, minerals like copper, gold, and silver from magma, and clean and unlimited geothermal energy. After these incidents, a place’s historic eruptions also boost its tourism.

“Beautiful and powerful, awe-inspiring and deadly, they are spectacular reminders of the dynamic forces that shape our planet.”

Strickland’s essay centers on volcanic formations, types, and studies, specifically Krakatoa’s eruption in 1883. She explains that when two plates hit each other, the Earth melts rocks into magma and gases, forming a volcano. Strickland also mentions the pros and cons of living near a volcanic island. For example, even though a tsunami is possible, these islands are rich in marine life, giving fishermen a good living.

Are you looking for more topics like this? Check out our round-up of essay topics about nature .

10 Writing Prompts For Essays About Volcanoes

Do you need more inspiration for your essay? See our best essay prompts about volcanoes below:

Identify and discuss the three classifications of volcanoes according to how often they erupt: active, dormant or inactive, and extinct. Find the similarities and differences of each variety and give examples. At the end of your essay, tell your readers which volcano is the most dangerous and why.

Volcanoes that have not erupted for a very long time are considered inactive or dormant, but they can erupt anytime in the future. For this essay, look for an inactive volcano that suddenly woke up after years of sleeping. Then, find the cause of its sudden eruption and add the extent of its damage. To make your piece more interesting, include an interview with people living near dormant volcanoes and share their thoughts on the possibility of them exploding anytime.

Choose an on-screen depiction of how volcanoes work, like the documentary “ Krakatoa: Volcano of Destruction .” Next, briefly summarize the movie, then comment on how realistic the film’s effects, scenes, and dialogues are. Finally, conclude your essay by debating the characters’ decisions to save themselves.

The Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) criteria interpret danger based on intensity and magnitude. Explain how this scale recognizes a supervolcano. Talk about the world’s supervolcanoes, which are active, dormant, and extinct. Add the latest report on a supervolcano’s eruption and its destruction.

Identify the 15 countries in the Circum-Pacific belt and explore each territory’s risks to being a part of The Ring of Fire. Explain why it’s called The Ring of Fire and write its importance. You can also discuss the most dangerous volcano within the ring.

If talking about volcanoes as a whole seems too generic, focus on one aspect of it. Lahar is a mixture of water, pyroclastic materials, and rocky debris that rapidly flows down from the slopes of a volcano. First, briefly define a lahar in your essay and focus on how it forms. Then, consider its dangers to living things. You should also add lahar warning signs and the best way to escape it.

Use this prompt to learn and write the entire process of a volcanic eruption. Find out the equipment or operations professionals use to detect magma’s movement inside a volcano to signal that it’s about to blow up. Make your essay informative, and use data from reliable sources and documentaries to ensure you only present correct details.

If you don’t have any personal experience with volcanic eruptions, you can interview someone who does. To ensure you can collect all the critical points you need, create a questionnaire beforehand. Take care to ask about their feelings and thoughts on the situation.

Write about the common effects of volcanic eruptions at the beginning of your essay. Next, focus on discussing its psychological effects on the victims, such as those who have lost loved ones, livelihoods, and properties.

Help your readers prepare for disasters in an informative essay. List what should be done before, during, and after a volcanic eruption. Include relevant tips such as being observant to know where possible emergency shelters are. You can also add any assistance offered by the government to support the victims.Here’s a great tip: Proper grammar is critical for your essays. Grammarly is one of our top grammar checkers. Find out why in this  Grammarly review .

Maria Caballero is a freelance writer who has been writing since high school. She believes that to be a writer doesn't only refer to excellent syntax and semantics but also knowing how to weave words together to communicate to any reader effectively.

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Writing Prompt: Volcano

“the people in the village had heard strange noises in the night. when day broke they knew why. the nearby volcano was…” creative writing prompt with lined paper., resource tags, similar resources.

Acrostic Form: Volcano

/ Volcanoes

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Quiz: Volcanoes (elem/upper elem)

Comprehension: Volcanoes (primary/elem)

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Fiction Writing , Writing Prompts and Exercises

Volcano picture writing prompts, by lisa  •  march 5, 2015  •  1 comment.

When you look at a picture, do you just see the obvious? Or are you one of those people who dig beneath the surface to find out what is hidden underneath? Do you ask ‘what if’ questions about what is in the picture? Asking questions and digging beneath what is plainly seen is a great way to come up with ideas for stories.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but it is up to the author to write those thousand words. (Richard Petracca)

Below is a picture of an exploding volcano. I have never witnessed a volcanic eruption, but the picture is beautiful and offers so many different ideas for a story.

exploding volcano, imgkid.com

An exploding volcano would be an inspiring, yet terrifying, thing to see. The lava is shooting high into the air, running down the sides of the volcano, and traveling on until it cools. The sky around it has turned shades of purple, red, and orange.

What if you woke up one morning, looked out your bedroom window, and saw this happening? What would you do? Would you crawl back under the covers and go to sleep? I don’t think you would. My guess is that you would get out of your house and away from the volcano as fast as you could. What possessions would you grab to take with you? Would you take enough time to grab any of them at all? Or would you just run?

What if you had been kidnapped and dropped down into the volcano before it exploded? Were you intended to be a sacrifice to try and appease the gods? Or were you someone your kidnappers expected to receive a huge ransom for and their efforts were not successful?

What if you were on the top of the volcano while it was dormant, and your spouse/significant other pushed you down inside? You were knocked unconsciousness, and when you awoke the volcano was getting ready to explode. Could you have somehow found a place inside where the lava wouldn’t get to you and where the heat coming from it wouldn’t kill you? Do you succeed in escaping?

What if you are a member of a tribe of people who believe that the gods make the volcano erupt when they are made angry by one of the tribe? Would just one member of the community be guilty or would all of them be guilty? Would everyone select just one person to leave behind for the volcano to kill? Or would it be mandatory for all to just sit still and wait on their death.

What if the steaming hot lava ejected by the volcano forms into a lava creature?  Would he be angry? Would he go around killing others? Or maybe he is someone who was murdered by being thrown into the volcano years before. Now he has come back to seek revenge on those who killed him.

The Hawaiian Islands were formed from volcanic lava. What if the lava from this explosion forms a new chain of islands? Would you be willing to be one of its first citizens?

The Scream, wikimedia commons

What if you are in an airplane that just happens to be flying over the volcano when it explodes? Would the flight of the plane be disrupted? Would the passengers freak out?

What if you were in a hot air balloon overtop the volcano when it explodes? Would you be sucked down into the volcano’s fiery depths?

What if you were an artist? Would you stay and watch the explosion long enough to capture it on film or on canvas? How long would you put yourself at risk to get the perfect picture? And what kind of picture would it inspire you to paint? Think of  The Scream  painted by Edvard Munch. Could it have been inspired by a volcanic explosion?

Can you come up with any more writing prompts from the picture of the exploding volcano? If so, please feel free to leave them in the comments.

  1 comment for “ Volcano Picture Writing Prompts ”

Nice idea, can be taken up as a short writing challenge

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ThinkWritten

365 Creative Writing Prompts

Here are 365 Creative Writing Prompts to help inspire you to write every single day! Use them for journaling, story starters, poetry, and more!

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If you want to become a better writer, the best thing you can do is practice writing every single day. Writing prompts are useful because we know sometimes it can be hard to think of what to write about!

To help you brainstorm, we put together this list of 365 creative writing prompts to give you something to write about daily.

Want to Download these prompts?  I am super excited to announce due to popular demand we now have an ad-free printable version of this list of writing prompts available for just $5. The  printable version  includes a PDF as a list AND print-ready prompt cards. {And all the design source files you could ever need to customize any way you would like!}

Here are 365 Creative Writing Prompts to Inspire:

Whether you write short stories, poems, or like to keep a journal – these will stretch your imagination and give you some ideas for topics to write about!

1. Outside the Window : What’s the weather outside your window doing right now? If that’s not inspiring, what’s the weather like somewhere you wish you could be?

2. The Unrequited love poem: How do you feel when you love someone who does not love you back?

3. The Vessel: Write about a ship or other vehicle that can take you somewhere different from where you are now.

4. Dancing: Who’s dancing and why are they tapping those toes?

5. Food: What’s for breakfast? Dinner? Lunch? Or maybe you could write a poem about that time you met a friend at a cafe.

6. Eye Contact: Write about two people seeing each other for the first time.

7. The Rocket-ship: Write about a rocket-ship on its way to the moon or a distant galaxy far, far, away.

8. Dream-catcher : Write something inspired by a recent dream you had.

9. Animals: Choose an animal. Write about it!

10. Friendship: Write about being friends with someone.

11. Dragon : Envision a dragon. Do you battle him? Or is the dragon friendly? Use descriptive language.

12. Greeting : Write a story or poem that starts with the word “hello” or another greeting.

13. The Letter: Write a poem or story using words from a famous letter or inspired by a letter someone sent you.

14. The Found Poem : Read a book and circle some words on a page. Use those words to craft a poem. Alternatively, you can cut out words and phrases from magazines.

15. Eavesdropper : Create a poem, short story, or journal entry about a conversation you’ve overheard.

16. Addict: Everyone’s addicted to something in some shape or form. What are things you can’t go without?

17. Dictionary Definition : Open up a dictionary to a random word. Define what that word means to you.

18. Cleaning: Hey, even writers and creative artists have to do housework sometimes. Write about doing laundry, dishes, and other cleaning activities.

19. Great Minds: Write  about someone you admire and you thought to have had a beautiful mind.

20. Missed Connections: If you go to Craigslist, there is a “Missed Connections” section where you can find some interesting storylines to inspire your writing.

21. Foreclosure : Write a poem or short story about someone who has lost or is about to lose their home.

22. Smoke, Fog, and Haze: Write about not being able to see ahead of you.

23. Sugar: Write something so sweet, it makes your teeth hurt.

24. Numbers:  Write a poem or journal entry about numbers that have special meaning to you.

25. Dread: Write about doing something you don’t want to do.

26. Fear: What scares you a little? What do you feel when scared? How do you react?

27. Closed Doors: What’s behind the door? Why is it closed?

28. Shadow: Imagine you are someone’s shadow for a day.

29. Good Vibes: What makes you smile? What makes you happy?

30. Shopping:  Write about your shopping wishlist and how you like to spend money.

31. The Professor: Write about a teacher that has influenced you.

32. Rewrite : Take any poem or short story you enjoy. Rewrite it in your own words.

33. Jewelry: Write about a piece of jewelry. Who does it belong to?

34. Sounds : Sit outside for about an hour. Write down the sounds you hear.

35. War and Peace: Write about a recent conflict that you dealt with in your life.

36. Frame It: Write a poem or some phrases that would make for good wall art in your home.

37. Puzzle: Write about putting together the pieces of puzzles.

38. Fire-starters: Write about building a fire.

39. Coffee & Tea: Surely you drink one or the other or know someone who does- write about it!

40. Car Keys: Write about someone getting their driver’s license for the first time.

41. What You Don’t Know: Write about a secret you’ve kept from someone else or how you feel when you know someone is keeping a secret from you.

42. Warehouse : Write about being inside an old abandoned warehouse.

43. The Sound of Silence: Write about staying quiet when you feel like shouting.

44. Insult: Write about being insulted. How do you feel? Why do you think the other person insulted you?

45. Mirror, Mirror: What if you mirror started talking to you? What might the mirror say?

46. Dirty: Write a poem about getting covered in mud.

47. Light Switch : Write about coming out of the dark and seeing the light.

48. The Stars : Take inspiration from a night sky. Or, write about a time when “the stars aligned” in your horoscope.

49. Joke Poem : What did the wall say to the other wall? Meet you at the corner! Write something inspired by a favorite joke.

50. Just Say No : Write about the power you felt when you told someone no.

51: Sunrise/Sunset : The sun comes up, the sun goes down. It goes round and round. Write something inspiring about the sunrise or sunset.

52. Memory Lane : What does Memory Lane look like? How do you get there?

53. Tear-Jerker : Watch a movie that makes you cry. Write about that scene in the movie.

54. Dear Diary: Write a poem or short story about a diary entry you’ve read or imagined.

55. Holding Hands : The first time you held someone’s hand.

56. Photograph : Write a story or journal entry influenced by a photograph you see online or in a magazine.

57. Alarm Clock: Write about waking up.

58. Darkness: Write a poem or journal entry inspired by what you can’t see.

59. Refreshed: Write a poem about a time you really felt refreshed and renewed. Maybe it was a dip into a pool on a hot summer day, a drink of lemonade, or other situation that helped you relax and start again.

60. Handle With Care : Write about a very fragile or delicate object.

61. Drama: Write about a time when you got stuck in between two parties fighting with each other.

62. Slip Up: Write about making mistakes.

63. Spice: Write about flavors and tastes or a favorite spice of yours.

64. Sing a New Song: Take a popular song off the radio and rewrite it as a poem in your own words.

65. Telephone: Write about a phone call you recently received.

66. Name: Write a poem or short story using your name in some way or form.

67. Dollhouse: Write a poem or short story from the viewpoint of someone living in a doll house.

68. Random Wikipedia Article : Go to Wikipedia and click on Random Article . Write about whatever the page you get.

69. Silly Sports: Write about an extreme or silly sport. If none inspire you, make up the rules for your own game.

70. Recipe : Write about a recipe for something abstract, such as a feeling.

71. Famous Artwork: Choose a famous painting and write about it.

72. Where That Place Used to Be : Think of a place you went to when you were younger but it now no longer there or is something else. Capture your feelings about this in your writing.

73. Last Person You Talked to: Write a quick little poem or story about the last person you spoke with.

74. Caught Red-Handed: Write about being caught doing something embarrassing.

75. Interview: Write a list of questions you have for someone you would like to interview, real or fictional.

76. Missing You: Write about someone you miss dearly.

77. Geography: Pick a state or country you’ve never visited. Write about why you would or would not like to visit that place.

78. Random Song: Turn on the radio, use the shuffle feature on your music collection or your favorite streaming music service. Write something inspired by the first song you hear.

79. Hero: Write a tribute to someone you regard as a hero.

80. Ode to Strangers: Go people watching and write an ode to a stranger you see on the street.

81. Advertisement: Advertisements are everywhere, aren’t they? Write using the slogan or line from an ad.

82. Book Inspired: Think of your favorite book. Now write a poem that sums up the entire story in 10 lines.

83. Magic : Imagine you have a touch of magic, and can make impossible things happen. What would you do?

84. Fanciest Pen: Get out your favorite pen, pencils, or even colored markers and write using them!

85. A Day in the Life: Write about your daily habits and routine.

86. Your Muse: Write about your muse – what do they look like? What does your muse do to inspire you?

87. Convenience Store : Write about an experience you’ve had at a gas station or convenience store.

88. Natural Wonders of the World: Choose one of the natural wonders of the world. Write about it.

89. Status Update: Write a poem using the words from your latest status update or a friend’s status update. If you don’t use sites like Facebook or Twitter, you can often search online for some funny ones to use as inspiration.

90. Green Thumb: Write about growing something.

91. Family Heirloom: Write about an object that’s been passed through the generations in your family.

92. Bug Catcher: Write about insects.

93. Potion: Write about a magic potion. What is it made of? What does it do? What is the antidote?

94. Swinging & Sliding: Write something inspired by a playground or treehouse.

95. Adjectives: Make a list of the first 5 adjectives that pop into your head. Use these 5 words in your story, poem, or journal entry.

96. Fairy Tales: Rewrite a fairy tale. Give it a new ending or make it modern or write as a poem.

97. Whispers: Write about someone who has to whisper a secret to someone else.

98. Smile: Write a poem about the things that make you smile.

99. Seasonal: Write about your favorite season.

100.  Normal: What does normal mean to you? Is it good or bad to be normal?

101. Recycle : Take something you’ve written in the past and rewrite it into a completely different piece.

102. Wardrobe: Write about a fashion model or what’s currently in your closet or drawers.

103. Secret Message : Write something with a secret message hidden in between the words. For example, you could make an acrostic poem using the last letters of the word or use secret code words in the poem.

104. Vacation: Write about a vacation you took.

105. Heat: Write about being overheated and sweltering.

106. Spellbinding: Write a magic spell.

107. Collection : Write about collecting something, such as salt shakers, sea shells, or stamps.

108. Taking Chances: Everyone takes a risk at some point in their life. Write about a time when you took a chance and what the result was.

109. Carnival: Write a poem or story or journal entry inspired by a carnival or street fair.

110. Country Mouse: Write about someone who grew up in the country visiting the city for the first time.

111: Questions: Write about questions you have for the universe. Optional: include an answer key.

112. Rushing: Write about moving quickly and doing things fast.

113. Staircase : Use a photo of a staircase or the stairs in your home or a building you love to inspire you.

114. Neighbors: Make up a story or poem about your next door neighbor.

115. Black and Blue: Write about a time you’ve been physically hurt.

116. All Saints: Choose a saint and create a poem about his or her life.

117. Beach Inspired: What’s not to write about the beach?

118. Shoes: What kind of shoes do you wear? Where do they lead your feet?

119. The Ex: Write a poem to someone who is estranged from you.

120. My Point of View: Write in the first person point of view.

121. Stray Animal: Think of the life of a stray cat or dog and write about that.

122. Stop and Stare : Create a poem or story about something you could watch forever.

123. Your Bed: Describe where you sleep each night.

124. Fireworks : Do they inspire you or do you not like the noise and commotion? Write about it.

125. Frozen: Write about a moment in your life you wish you could freeze and preserve.

126. Alone : Do you like to be alone or do you like having company?

127. Know-it-all: Write about something you are very knowledgeable about, for example a favorite hobby or passion of yours.

128. The Promise: Write about a promise you’ve made to someone. Did you keep that promise?

129. Commotion: Write about being overstimulated by a lot of chaos.

130. Read the News Today : Construct a poem or story using a news headline for your first line.

131. Macro: Write a description of an object close-up.

132. Transportation : Write about taking your favorite (or least-favorite) form of transportation.

133. Gadgets: If you could invent a gadget, what would it do? Are there any gadgets that make your life easier?

134: Bring on the Cheese: Write a tacky love poem that is so cheesy, it belongs on top of a pizza.

135. Ladders: Write a story or poem that uses ladders as a symbol.

136. Bizarre Holiday : There is a bizarre holiday for any date! Look up a holiday for today’s date and create a poem in greeting card fashion or write a short story about the holiday to celebrate.

137. Blog-o-sphere : Visit your favorite blog or your feedreader and craft a story, journal entry, or poem based on the latest blog post you read.

138. Mailbox: Create a poem, short story, or journal entry based on a recent item of mail you’ve received.

139. Sharing : Write about sharing something with someone else.

140. Cactus: Write from the viewpoint of a cactus. What’s it like to live in the desert or have a prickly personality?

141. It’s a Sign : Have you seen any interesting road signs lately?

142. Furniture: Write about a piece of furniture in your home.

143. Failure: Write about a time you failed at something. Did you try again or give up completely?

144. Mystical Creatures: Angels or other mystical creatures – use them as inspiration.

145. Flying: Write about having wings and what you would do.

146. Clear and Transparent: Write a poem about being able to see-through something.

147. Break the Silence : Record yourself speaking, then write down what you spoke and revise into a short story or poem.

148. Beat: Listen to music with a strong rhythm or listen to drum loops. Write something that goes along with the beat you feel and hear.

149. Color Palette: Search online for color palettes and be inspired to write by one you resonate with.

150. Magazine: Randomly flip to a page in a magazine and write using the first few words you see as an opening line.

151. The Grass is Greener : Write about switching the place with someone or going to where it seems the “grass is greener”.

152. Mind & Body: Write something that would motivate others to workout and exercise.

153. Shaping Up : Write something that makes a shape on the page…ie: a circle, a heart, a square, etc.

154. Twenty-One: Write about your 21st birthday.

155. Aromatherapy: Write about scents you just absolutely love.

156. Swish, Buzz, Pop : Create a poem that uses Onomatopoeia .

157. What Time is It? Write about the time of day it is right now. What are people doing? What do you usually do at this time each day?

158. Party Animal: Have you ever gone to a party you didn’t want to leave? Or do you hate parties? Write about it!

159: Miss Manners : Use the words “please” and “thank you” in your writing.

160. Cliche: Choose a common cliche, then write something that says the same thing but without using the catch phrase.

161. Eco-friendly : Write about going green or an environmental concern you have.

162. Missing You: Write about someone you miss.

163. Set it Free: Think of a time when you had to let someone or something go to be free…did they come back?

164: Left Out : Write about a time when you’ve felt left out or you’ve noticed someone else feeling as if they didn’t belong.

165. Suitcase: Write about packing for a trip or unpacking from when you arrive home.

166. Fantasy : Write about fairies, gnomes, elves, or other mythical creatures.

167. Give and Receive : Write about giving and receiving.

168. Baker’s Dozen: Imagine the scents and sights of a bakery and write.

169. Treehouse: Write about your own secret treehouse hideaway.

170.  Risk: Write about taking a gamble on something.

171. Acrostic : Choose a word and write an acrostic poem where every line starts with a letter from the word.

172. Crossword Puzzle: Open up the newspaper or find a crossword puzzle online and choose one of the clues to use as inspiration for your writing.

173. Silver Lining : Write about the good that happens in a bad situation.

174. Gloves: Write about a pair of gloves – what kind of gloves are they? Who wears them and why?

175. All that Glitters: Write about a shiny object.

176. Jealousy: Write with a theme of envy and jealousy.

Want to Download these prompts?  I am super excited to announce due to popular demand we now have an ad-free printable version of this list of writing prompts available for just $5. The  printable version  includes a PDF as a list AND print-ready prompt cards. {And all the design source files you could ever need to customize any way you would like!}

177. How Does Your Garden Grow? Write about a flower that grows in an unusual place.

178. Jury Duty : Write a short story or poem that takes place in a courtroom.

179. Gifts: Write about a gift you have given or received.

180. Running: Write about running away from someone or something.

181. Discovery: Think of something you’ve recently discovered and use it as inspiration.

182. Complain:  Write about your complaints about something.

183. Gratitude: Write a poem or journal entry that is all about things you are thankful for.

184. Chemistry: Choose an element and write a poem or story that uses that word in one of the lines.

185. Applause: Write about giving someone a standing ovation.

186. Old Endings Into New Beginnings:  Take an old poem, story, or journal entry of yours and use the last line and make it the first line of your writing today.

187. Longing: Write  about something you very much want to do.

188. I Am: Write a motivational poem or journal entry about positive traits that make you who you are.

189. Rainbow : What is at the end of a rainbow? Or, take a cue from Kermit the Frog, and ask yourself, why are there so many songs about rainbows?

190. Museum: Take some time to visit a nearby museum with your journal. Write about one of the pieces that speaks to you.

191. Cartoon: Think of your favorite cartoon or comic. Write a poem or story that takes place in that setting.

192. Copycat: Borrow a line from a famous public domain poem to craft your own.

193. From the Roof-tops:  Imagine you could stand on a rooftop and broadcast a message to everyone below – what would you say?

194. Time Travel: If there was a time period you could visit for a day, where would you go? Write about traveling back in time to that day.

195. Changing Places: Imagine living the day as someone else.

196. Neighborhood: Write about your favorite place in your neighborhood to visit and hang out at.

197. Pirates: Write about a pirate ship.

198. Interview : Write based on a recent interview you’ve read or seen on TV or heard on the radio.

199.  Hiding Spaces : Write about places you like to hide things at. What was a favorite hiding spot for you as a child playing hide-and-seek?

200. Extreme Makeover: Imagine how life might be different if you could change your hair color or clothing into something completely opposite from your current style.

201. Empathy: Write about your feelings of empathy or compassion for another person.

202. Opposites: Write a poem or story that ties in together two opposites.

203. Boredom: Write about being bored or make a list of different ways to entertain yourself.

204. Strength : Think of a time when you’ve been physically or emotionally strong and use that as inspiration.

205. Hunger: Write from the perspective of someone with no money to buy food.

206. Greed: Write about someone who always wants more – whether it be money, power, etc. etc.

207. Volcano: Write about an eruption of a volcano.

208. Video Inspiration : Go to Vimeo.com or YouTube.com and watch one of the videos featured on the homepage. Write something based on what you watch.

209. Sneeze: Write about things that make you sneeze.

210. Footsteps on the Moon:  Write about the possibility of life in outer-space.

211: Star-crossed: Write a short modern version of the story of Romeo and Juliet or think of real-life examples of lovers who are not allowed to be together to use as inspiration for your writing.

212. Font-tastic: Choose a unique font and type out a poem, story or journal entry using that font.

213. Schedule: Take a look at your calendar and use the schedule for inspiration in writing.

214. Grandparents: Write about a moment in your grandparent’s life.

215. Collage: Go through a magazine and cut out words that grab your attention. Use these words to construct a poem or as a story starter or inspiration for your journal.

216. Oh so Lonely: Write a poem about what you do when you are alone – do you feel lonely or do you enjoy your own company?

217. Waterfall: Think of a waterfall you’ve seen in person or spend some time browsing photos of waterfalls online. Write about the movement, flow, and energy.

218. First Kiss: Write about your first kiss.

219. So Ironic: Write about an ironic situation you’ve been in throughout your life.

220. Limerick: Write a limerick today.

221. Grocery Shopping: Write about an experience at the grocery store.

222. Fashion : Go through a fashion magazine or browse fashion websites online and write about a style you love.

223. So Close: Write about coming close to reaching a goal.

224. Drinks on Me: Write a poem or short story that takes place at a bar.

225. Online Friends: Write an ode to someone online you’ve met and become friends with.

226. Admiration: Is there someone you admire? Write about those feelings.

227. Trash Day: Write from the perspective of a garbage collector.

228. Mailbox: Open your mailbox and write something inspired by one of the pieces of mail you received.

229. Fresh & Clean: Write about how you feel after you take a shower.

230. Energized: Write about how you feel when you’re either at a high or low energy level for the day.

231. Rhyme & No Reason: Make up a silly rhyming poem using made up words.

232. Tech Support: Use computers or a conversation with tech support you’ve had as inspiration.

233. Hotel: Write from the perspective of someone who works at a hotel or staying at a hotel.

234. Underwater: Write about sea creatures and under water life. What’s under the surface of the ocean? What adventures might be waiting?

235. Breathing: Take a few minutes to do some deep breathing relaxation techniques. Once your mind is clear, just write the first few things that you think of.

236. Liar, Liar: Make up a poem or story of complete lies about yourself or someone else.

237. Obituaries: Look at the recent obituaries online or in the newspaper and imagine the life of someone and write about that person.

238. Pocket: Rummage through your pockets and write about what you keep or find in your pockets.

239. Cinquain: Write a cinquain poem, which consists of 5 lines that do not rhyme.

240. Alphabetical: Write a poem that has every letter of the alphabet in it.

241.  Comedy Club: Write something inspired by a comedian.

242. Cheater: Write about someone who is unfaithful.

243. Sestina: Give a try to writing a sestina poem.

244. Fight: Write about witnessing two people get in an argument with each other.

245. Social Network : Visit your favorite Social Networking website (ie: Facebook, Pinterest, Google, Twitter, etc.) and write a about a post you see there.

246. Peaceful: Write about something peaceful and serene.

247. In the Clouds: Go cloud watching for the day and write about what you imagine in the clouds.

248. At the Park: Take some time to sit on a park bench and write about the sights, scenes, and senses and emotions you experience.

249. Sonnet: Write a sonnet today.

250. Should, Would, And Could: Write a poem or story using the words should, would, and could.

251. How to: Write directions on how to do something.

252. Alliteration: Use alliteration in your poem or in a sentence in a story.

253. Poker Face: Write about playing a card game.

254. Timer: Set a timer for 5 minutes and just write. Don’t worry about it making sense or being perfect.

255. Dance: Write about a dancer or a time you remember dancing.

256. Write for a Cause: Write a poem or essay that raises awareness for a cause you support.

257. Magic : Write about a magician or magic trick.

258. Out of the Box: Imagine finding a box. Write about opening it and what’s inside.

259. Under the Influence: What is something has impacted you positively in your life?

260. Forgotten Toy : Write from the perspective a forgotten or lost toy.

261. Rocks and Gems: Write about a rock or gemstone meaning.

262. Remote Control: Imagine you can fast forward and rewind your life with a remote control.

263. Symbolism: Think of objects, animals, etc. that have symbolic meaning to you. Write about it.

264. Light at the End of the Tunnel: Write about a time when you saw hope when it seemed like a hopeless situation.

265. Smoke and Fire : “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.” Use this saying as inspiration to write!

266. Railroad: Write about a train and its cargo or passengers.

267. Clipboard: Write about words you imagine on an office clipboard.

268. Shipwrecked: Write about being stranded somewhere – an island, a bus stop, etc.

269. Quotable: Use a popular quote from a speaker and use it as inspiration for your writing.

270. Mind   Map it Out: Create a mind map of words, phrases, and ideas that pop into your head or spend some time browsing the many mind maps online. Write a poem, story, or journal entry inspired by the mind map.

271. Patterns : Write about repeating patterns that occur in life.

272. Scrapbook : Write about finding a scrapbook and the memories it contains.

273. Cure: Write about finding a cure for an illness.

274. Email Subject Lines: Read your email today and look for subject lines that may be good starters for writing inspiration.

275. Wishful Thinking: Write about a wish you have.

276. Doodle : Spend some time today doodling for about 5-10 minutes. Write about the thoughts you had while doodling or create something inspired by your finished doodle.

277. Chalkboard: Imagine you are in a classroom. What does it say on the chalkboard?

278. Sticky: Imagine a situation that’s very sticky, maybe even covered in maple syrup, tape or glue. Write about it!

279. Flashlight : Imagine going somewhere very dark with only a flashlight to guide you.

280. A Far Away Place : Envision yourself traveling to a fictional place, what do you experience in your imaginary journey?

281. On the Farm : Write about being in a country or rural setting.

282. Promise to Yourself: Write about a promise you want to make to yourself and keep.

283. Brick Wall : Write a poem that is about a brick wall – whether literal or figurative.

284. Making a Choice: Write about a time when you had to make a difficult choice.

285.  Repeat: Write about a time when you’ve had to repeat yourself or a time when it felt like no one was listening.

286. Outcast : Write about someone who is not accepted by their peers. (for example, the Ugly Ducking)

287. Scary Monsters: Write about a scary (or not-so-scary) monster in your closet or under the bed.

288. Sacrifice: Write about something you’ve sacrificed doing to do something else or help another person.

289. Imperfection: Create a poem that highlights the beauty in being flawed.

290. Birthday Poem: Write a poem inspired by birthdays.

291. Title First : Make a list of potential poem or story titles and choose one to write from.

292. Job Interview : Write about going on a job interview.

293. Get Well : Write a poem that will help someone who is sick feel better quick!

294. Lost in the Crowd: Write about feeling lost in the crowd.

295. Apple a Day: Write about a health topic that interests you.

296. Cravings: Write about craving something.

297. Phobia: Research some common phobias, choose one, and write about it.

298. In the Moment: Write about living in the present moment.

299. Concrete : Write about walking down a sidewalk and what you see and experience.

300. Battle: Write about an epic battle, whether real, fictional or figurative.

301. This Old House : Write about an old house that is abandoned or being renovated.

302. Clutter: Is there a cluttered spot in your home? Go through some of that clutter today and write about what you find or the process of organizing.

303. Go Fly a Kite: Write about flying a kite.

304. On the TV: Flip to a random TV channel and write about the first thing that comes on – even if it is an infomercial!

305. Fruit: Write an ode to your favorite fruit.

306. Long Distance Love: Write about a couple that is separated by distance.

307. Glasses: Write about a pair of eyeglasses or someone wearing glasses.

308. Robotic : Write about a robot.

309. Cute as a Button: Write about something you think is just adorable.

310. Movie Conversation: Use a memorable conversation from a favorite movie to inspire your writing.

311. Easy-Peasy : Write  about doing something effortlessly.

312. Idiom: Choose from a list of idioms one that speaks to you and create a poem around that saying or phrase. (Ie: It is raining cats and dogs)

313. Playground: Whether it is the swings or the sandbox or the sliding boards, write about your memories of being on a playground.

314. Romance: Write about romantic things partners can do for each other.

315. Rock Star: Imagine you are a famous rock star. Write about the experience.

316. Come to Life: Imagine ordinary objects have come to life. Write about what they do and say.

317. Airplane: Write about meeting someone on an airplane and a conversation you might have.

318. Health & Beauty: Take some time to peruse your medicine cabinet or the health and beauty aisles at a local store. Write a poem, short story, or journal entry inspired by a product label.

319. Determination: Write about not giving up.

320. Instrumental Inspiration: Listen to some instrumental music and write a poem that matches the mood, beat, and style of the music.

321. Wait Your Turn: Write about having to wait in line.

322. Personality Type : Do you know your personality type? (There are many free quizzes online) – write about what type of personality traits you have.

323. Decade: Choose a favorite decade and write about it. (IE: 1980’s or 1950’s for example)

324. I Believe: Write your personal credo of things you believe in.

325. Lost and Found: Write about a lost object.

326. Say it: Write a poem or story that uses dialogue between two people.

327. The Unsent Letter: Write about a letter that never made it to its recipient.

328. The Windows of the Soul: Write a poem about the story that is told through someone’s eyes.

329. Trial and Error: Write about something you learned the hard way.

330. Escape : Write about where you like to go to escape from it all.

331. What’s Cooking: Write something inspired a favorite food or recipe.

332. Records : Go through your file box and pull out old receipts or records…write something inspired by what you find!

333. Banking: Write about visiting the bank.

334. Sweet Talk: Write about trying to convince someone of something.

335. Serendipity: Write about something that happened by chance in a positive way.

336. Distractions: Write about how it feels when you can’t focus.

337. Corporation: Write about big business.

338. Word of the Day: Go to a dictionary website that has a word of the day and use it in a poem, story or journal entry you write.

339. Pick Me Up:  What do you do when you need a pick me up?

340. Unfinished: Write about a project you started but never completed.

341. Forgiveness: Write about a time when someone forgave you or you forgave someone.

342. Weakness: Write about your greatest weakness.

343. Starting: Write about starting a project.

344. Mechanical: Think of gears, moving parts, machines.

345. Random Act of Kindness : Write about a random act of kindness you’ve done for someone or someone has done for you, no matter how small or insignificant it may have seemed.

346. Underground: Imagine living in a home underground and use that as inspiration for writing.

347. Classic Rock: Pick a classic rock love ballad and rewrite it into a story or poem with a similar theme.

348. Night Owl : Write about staying up late at night.

349. Magnetic : Write about attraction to something or someone.

350. Teamwork: Write about working with a team towards a common goal.

351. Roller-coaster : Write about the ups and downs in life.

352. Motivational Poster: Look at some motivational posters online and write a poem or journal entry inspired by your favorite one.

353. Games: Write about the games people play – figuratively or literally.

354. Turning Point: Write about a point in life where things turned for the better or worse.

355. Spellbound: Write about a witch’s spell.

356. Anniversary: Write about the anniversary of a special date.

357. Gamble:  Be inspired by a casino or lottery ticket.

358. Picnic: Write about going on a picnic.

359. Garage: Write about some random item you might find in a garage.

360. Review: Review your week, month, or year in a journal entry or poem format.

361. Detective: Write about a detective searching for clues or solving a mystery.

362. Camera: Take your camera for a walk and write based on one of the photographs you take.

363. Visiting : Write about visiting a family member or friend.

364. Trust: Write about putting trust in someone.

365. Congratulations : Did you write a poem, short story, or journal entry every day for a whole year? Write about what you’ve learned and celebrate your achievement!

We hope you enjoy these creative writing prompts! And of course, if you write anything using these prompts, we’d love to know about it! Tell us how you’ll use these everyday creative writing prompts in the comments section below!

And of course, if you’d like the printable ad-free version of these prompts to reference again and again or to use in your classroom, you can find them at our Etsy shop !

Chelle Stein wrote her first embarrassingly bad novel at the age of 14 and hasn't stopped writing since. As the founder of ThinkWritten, she enjoys encouraging writers and creatives of all types.

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Volcanoes Story Starters (Image Prompts)

Subject: Geography

Age range: 7-11

Resource type: Worksheet/Activity

Last updated

22 February 2018

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Writing About Volcanoes

Excerpted from

Geology Thematic Unit

Featured 5th grade resources.

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70 Volcano Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best volcano topic ideas & essay examples, 📌 most interesting volcano topics to write about, 👍 good research topics about volcano, ❓ essay questions about volcanoes.

• The Economic Impact of the Icelandic Volcano Eruptions on the International Economy So, it may be completed that even though the shutdown of the European airspace negatively affected the economics of the whole world and GDP level of the countries, there were the ways for solving the […]
• Eruption of Mount Saint Helen Volcano Helens volcano, looking at its history, the explosion, the immediate consequences of the eruption, and the historic impact on the climate and human life. We will write a custom essay specifically for you by our professional experts 808 writers online Learn More
• Haleakalā Volcano and Wai’anapanapa State Park Haleakal is a large shield volcano that is situated in the east of the Island of Maui and basically comprises this part of Maui.
• Hawaii – A Volcano in the Sea All the volcanoes in Hawaii are shield volcanoes. They are large and have shallow-sloping sides – almost like a warrior’s shield.
• Sparks Fly Over Theory That Volcano Caused Salmon Boom However, for the theory to be credible the volcanic ashes must be rich in iron and spread ashes to oceanic regions that have a limited concentration of iron.
• The Volcano and Aurora in Iceland In other words, the volcano Hekla was erupting from the surface of the earth while the natural light was shining from the sky.
• Review of Related Literature of Volcano Tourism in the Philippines
• The Human Response During a Calamity in A Living God by Lafcadio Hearn and The Volcano Next Door by Michael Finkel
• Investigating the Rate of Lava Flows Down the Side of a Volcano
• The Dangers of Living Too Close to a Volcano
• The Characteristics of Mount Vesuvius, the Only Active Volcano on the European Mainland
• Causes and Effect of Volcano Eruption
• The Most Famous Mount Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii
• The Devastation a Volcano Can Create Shown in In a Volcanoes Path
• What Fundamental Parameters Determine the Vigor or Violence with Which a Volcano Erupts
• The History and Possible Threats of Nyiragongo in The Volcano Next Door, a Book by Michael Finkel
• Volcano Eruptions Types
• Understanding How A Volcano Forms and Erupts
• Volcano: The Eruption and Healing of Mount St. Helens Critical
• The Mount Saint Helens and the Volcano Area in Washington State
• Planet and Live Erupting Volcano
• The Mount St. Helen and Mount Pinatubo Volcano Eruptionss
• The Most Active Volcano Of The Philippines
• An Active Super Volcano Lying Underneath Yellowstone Nation Park
• The Vesuvius Volcano Eruption and the Activities of the Cities Pompeii and Herculaneum
• Why This Volcano Eruption in the Philippines May Be Especially Deadly
• Sitting on a Volcano: Domestic Violence in Indonesia Following Two Volcano Eruptions
• Volcanoes: Volcano and Broad Domed Volcano
• The Lack of Volcano Physics in the Movies
• A Look at the Destructive Power of a Volcano
• An Analysis of the Destructive Power of a Volcano as One of the Most Violent and Deadly of All Natural Forces
• The Importance and Role of Hydrothermal Vents and Underwater Volcano
• Yellowstone: Volcano and Lieutenant Gustavus Doane
• The Devastating Effects of Volcano Eruptions in the U.S
• An Analysis of the Eruption of the Mount St. Helens Volcano on the 18th of May, 1980
• Volcanoes: Volcano and Eruptions Explosive Eruptions
• Volcanoes : The Volcano Of Tambora
• An Analysis of the Question Whether Germany Was Dancing on a Volcano
• The Three Systems to Faults Present in the Nevado del Ruiz Volcano Region
• An Analysis of the Soufriere Hills Volcano Eruption on Montserrat Island in 1997
• Why Can’t Toxic or Nuclear Waste Be Disposed of in Volcanoes?
• What Are the Four Basic Types of Volcanoes?
• What Exactly Are Super Volcanoes?
• Where Do Volcanoes Exist and How They Have Formed?
• Which Is the World’s Largest Volcano?
• What Causes Hotspot Volcanoes?
• What Are the Most Beautiful Volcanoes in the World?
• Which Are the Most Dangerous Volcanoes That Could End the World?
• Why Are Some Volcanoes More Hazardous Than Others?
• Are Volcanoes the Main Cause of Global Warming?
• What Would Be the Side Effects of Dumping Our Trash in Active Volcanoes?
• Is It Possible There Are Active Volcanoes on the Moon?
• Why Are There So Many Volcanoes in the Philippines?
• Is It Possible for Extinct Volcanoes to Ever Become Dormant or Active Again?
• Why Do Most Volcanoes and Earthquakes Occur at Plate Boundaries?
• What Are the Hazards Caused by Volcanoes?
• Why Are Plug Dome Volcanoes Considered Especially?
• What Are Most Dangerous Volcanoes in the US and Why?
• Why Can’t We Harvest Energy From Volcanoes?
• What Is the Most Interesting Thing About the Volcanoes?
• What Islands Have Volcanoes on Them?
• What Are the 3 Main Types of Volcanoes and Their Characteristics?
• Could the Earth Survive Without Volcanoes?
• Which Continent Does Not Have Volcanoes?
• Why Do Volcanoes Erupt on Mountains and Not on Flat Land?
• How Are Underwater Volcanoes Different From Land Volcanoes?
• How Often Do “Extinct” Volcanoes Become Active?
• Where Are the Most Active Volcanoes Located?
• What Is the Distribution of Volcanoes Around the World?
• How Do Volcanoes Influence Climate?
• Chicago (A-D)
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IvyPanda . "70 Volcano Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." October 26, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/volcano-essay-topics/.

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19,890 quotes, descriptions and writing prompts, 4,964 themes

volcano - quotes and descriptions to inspire creative writing

• mount olympus

The volcano has been simmering as long as I've been alive. The white wisps rise from the top like the fumes that give away a secret smoker. The sides are much like any other mountain, covered with old growth forests, the farmland below is fertile and around it are the very flammable homes we all live in. One day it will blow, of course it will, but for now the air is sweet and the fruits are good. It's a slice of heaven no-one else wants, so it's ours. Our days are long without the ticking clocks they have in the city, dividing time into ever smaller slices.

The volcano lies craggy against the bright blue sky, like a bomb in wonderland. There is no timer, no red wire or green, we live never knowing if it will rain lava and rock, if it will destroy us and all we have worked for. But like anyone who lives with a constant danger, you learn to put it out of your mind. Then one day a stranger comes and has that wide eyed look that lets you know that they think you're out of your mind completely.

The volcano has been dormant for living memory, but our stories tell of angry Gods casting the heavens charcoal for months. The rumbling anger was so loud that the sky fell down, almost kissing the earth that was starved of light and clean air. It's hard to imagine, if it weren't for the peak being a little sharper than most I'd just laugh it off. But according to the tales the death toll was high, taking everyone that couldn't flee on horseback. We pray that it never blows again, but what can we do? This is our home.

I thought I knew all about volcanos; I'd sat through geography class and flicked through National Geographic. I even watched a show on them once. The flow then had meandered black with vivid red cracks, lazy like treacle. I'd watched it while eating pizza and flicked the channel. I never knew they smelt so bad or were so loud when they blew. It could still be loud and I wouldn't know, I can't hear a thing. My lungs are full of rotten-egg smoke and I can't see through the constant streaming of my eyes. The late fall is as hot as summer, but not a pleasant heat, more like I've just been put in an oven to cook. Even if I could outrun the lava, my lungs are as dry as a seven day carcass. My head is light, dizzy, but I have to think, to get away...

The rock around the crater is ruched like a ball gown, but harder and more rough than the concrete on the road that leads to the base. The tourists come from far and wide, grins wide and wallets wider. So we take them up through the forest, scale the loose rocky screes to the crater and wait while they take selfies and group pictures. Then we sell them merchandise, meals and exclusive samples from the crater. Then they go, only to be replaced, adrenaline junkies after a fix. I'm not judging though, I love'em. Maybe if I was rich and bored I'd do it too. Hard to say.

Without warning the ground under-boot shakes and the cold November air is rent with a noise that leaves our ears feeling like they just exploded. Without a conscious decision to drop we are all on the chilled mud and rock, hands clasped over our ears tight. Julia is first to recover, and though all I can see is the profile of her face, I know it's bad. Her eyes are tilted upward and her unspeaking mouth is a perfect “o.” There is no colour to her face. She stands statue like before sinking to her knees. When I turn the sky that was blue just moments before is filled with black smoke, billowing upward in growing plumes. All that can be seen of the mountain though the dark veil is the lava that flows in thick rivers, burning a path as it goes. We can't out-run hot magma and it will burn everything in its path. Already Julia is digging a hole, not for herself but for the evidence we gathered on our mission. She's got it bundled with a GPS tracker and stuffed in tupperware. I get my shovel

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100 Creative Writing Prompts for Middle & High School – 2024

April 15, 2024

Some high school students dream of writing for a living, perhaps pursuing an English major in college, or even attending a creative writing MFA program later on. For other students, creative writing can be useful for school assignments, in English and other subjects, and also for preparing their Common App essays . In a less goal-oriented sense, daily freewriting in a journal can be a healthy life practice for many high schoolers. Not sure where to start? Continue reading for 100 creative writing prompts for middle school and high school students. These middle/high school writing prompts offer inspiration for getting started with writing in a number of genres and styles.

Click here to view the 35 Best Colleges for Creative Writing .

What are Creative Writing Prompts?

Similar to how an academic essay prompt provides a jumping-off point for forming and organizing an argument, creative writing prompts are points of initiation for writing a story, poem, or creative essay. Prompts can be useful for writers of all ages, helping many to get past writer’s block and just start (often one of the most difficult parts of a writing process).

Writing prompts come in a variety of forms. Sometimes they are phrases used to begin sentences. Other times they are questions, more like academic essay prompts Writing prompts can also involve objects such as photographs, or activities such as walking. Below, you will find high school writing prompts that use memories, objects, senses (smell/taste/touch), abstract ideas , and even songs as jumping-off points for creative writing. These prompts can be used to write in a variety of forms, from short stories to creative essays, to poems.

How to use Creative Writing Prompts

Before we get started with the list, are a few tips when using creative writing prompts:

Experiment with different formats : Prose is great, but there’s no need to limit yourself to full sentences, at least at first. A piece of creative writing can begin with a poem, or a dialogue, or even a list. You can always bring it back to prose later if needed.

Interpret the prompt broadly : The point of a creative writing prompt is not to answer it “correctly” or “precisely.” You might begin with the prompt, but then your ideas could take you in a completely different direction. The words in the prompt also don’t need to open your poem or essay, but could appear somewhere in the middle.

Switch up/pile up the prompts : Try using two or three prompts and combine them, or weave between them. Perhaps choose a main prompt, and a different “sub-prompt.” For example, your main prompt might be “write about being in transit from one place to another,” and within that prompt, you might use the prompt to “describe a physical sensation,” and/or one the dialogue prompts.  This could be a fun way to find complexity as you write.

Creative Writing Prompts for Middle School & High School Students (Continued)

Write first, edit later : While you’re first getting started with a prompt, leave the typos and bad grammar. Obsessing over details can take away from your flow of thoughts. You will inevitably make many fixes when you go back through to edit.

Write consistently : It often becomes easier to write when it’s a practice , rather than a once-in-a-while kind of activity. For some, it’s useful to write daily. Others find time to write every few days, or every weekend. Sometimes, a word-count goal can help (100 words a day, 2,000 words a month, etc.). If you set a goal, make sure it’s realistic. Start small and build from there, rather than starting with an unachievable goal and quickly giving up.

100 Creative Writing Prompts for Middle School & High School Teens

Here are some prompts for getting started with your creative writing. These are organized by method, rather than genre, so they can inspire writing in a variety of forms. Pick and choose the ones that work best for you, and enjoy!

Prompts using memories

• Begin each sentence or group of sentences with the phrase, “I remember…”
• Describe a family ritual.
• Choose an event in your life, and write about it from the perspective of someone else who was there.
• Pick a pathway you take on a regular basis (to school, or to a friend’s house). Describe five landmarks that you remember from this pathway.
• Write about your house or apartment using a memory from each room.
• Write an imaginary history of the previous people who lived in your house or apartment.
• Write about an ancestor based on stories you’ve heard from relatives.
• What’s your earliest memory?
• Who was your first friend?
• Write a letter to someone you haven’t seen since childhood.
• Write about yourself now from the perspective of yourself twenty, or eighty, years from now.
• Write about the best month of the year.
• Write about the worst day of the year.
• Rant about something that has always annoyed you.
• Write about the hottest or coldest day you can remember.
• Visualize a fleeting moment in your life and as though it’s a photograph, and time yourself 5 minutes to write every detail you can remember about the scene.
• Draw out a timeline of your life so far. Then choose three years to write about, as though you were writing for a history book.
• Write about a historical event in the first person, as though you remember it.
• Write about a memory of being in transit from one place to another.

Objects and photographs as creative writing prompts

• Describe the first object you see in the room. What importance does it have in your life? What memories do you have with this object? What might it symbolize?
• Pick up an object, and spend some time holding it/examining it. Write about how it looks, feels, and smells. Write about the material that it’s made from.
• Choose a favorite family photograph. What could someone know just by looking at the photograph? What’s secretly happening in the photograph?
• Choose a photograph and tell the story of this photograph from the perspective of someone or something in it.
• Write about a color by describing three objects that are that color.
• Tell the story of a piece of trash.
• Tell the story of a pair of shoes.
• Tell the story of your oldest piece of clothing.

Senses and observations as creative writing prompts

• Describe a sound you hear in the room or outside. Choose the first sound you notice. What are its qualities? It’s rhythms? What other sounds does it remind you of?
• Describe a physical sensation you feel right now, in as much detail as possible.
• Listen to a conversation and write down a phrase that you hear someone say. Start a free-write with this phrase.
• Write about a food by describing its qualities, but don’t say what it is.
• Describe a flavor (salty, sweet, bitter, etc.) to someone who has never tasted it before.
• Narrate your day through tastes you tasted.
• Narrate your day through sounds you heard.
• Narrate your day through physical sensations you felt.
• Describe in detail the physical process of doing an action you consider simple or mundane, like walking or lying down or chopping vegetables.
• Write about the sensation of doing an action you consider physically demanding or tiring, like running or lifting heavy boxes.
• Describe something that gives you goosebumps.
• Write a story that involves drinking a cold glass of water on a hot day.
• Write a story that involves entering a warm house from a cold snowy day.
• Describe someone’s facial features in as much detail as possible.

Songs, books, and other art

• Choose a song quote, write it down, and free-write from there.
• Choose a song, and write a story in which that song is playing in the car.
• Choose a song, and write to the rhythm of that song.
• Choose a character from a book, and describe an event in your life from the perspective of that character.
• Go to a library and write down 10 book titles that catch your eye. Free-write for 5 minutes beginning with each one.
• Go to a library and open to random book pages, and write down 5 sentences that catch your attention. Use those sentences as prompts and free-write for 5-minutes with each.
• Choose a piece of abstract artwork. Jot down 10 words that come to mind from the painting or drawing, and free-write for 2 minutes based on each word.
• Find a picture of a dramatic Renaissance painting online. Tell a story about what’s going on in the painting that has nothing to do with what the artist intended.
• Write about your day in five acts, like a Shakespearean play. If your day were a play, what would be the introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution?
• Narrate a complicated book or film plot using only short sentences.
• Read a short poem. Then write a poem that could be a “sister” or “cousin” of that poem.

Abstract ideas as creative writing prompts

• Write about an experience that demonstrates an abstract idea, such as “love” or “home” or “freedom” or “loss” without ever using the word itself.
• Write a list of ways to say “hello” without actually saying “hello.”
• Write a list of ways to say “I love you” without actually saying “I love you.”
• Do you believe in ghosts? Describe a ghost.
• Invent a mode of time travel.
• Glass half-full/half-empty: Write about an event or situation with a positive outlook. Then write about it with a miserable outlook.
• Free-write beginning with “my religion is…” (what comes next can have as much or as little to do with organized religion as you’d like).
• Free-write beginning with “my gender is…” (what comes next can have as much or as little to do with common ideas of gender as you’d like).
• Write about a person or character that is “good” and one that is “evil.” Then write about the “evil” in the good character and the “good” in the evil character.
• Write like you’re telling a secret.
• Describe a moment of beauty you witnessed. What makes something beautiful?

Prompts for playing with narrative and character

• Begin writing with the phrase, “It all started when…”
• Tell a story from the middle of the most dramatic part.
• Write a story that begins with the ending.
• Begin a story but give it 5 possible endings.
• Write a list of ways to dramatically quit a terrible job.
• Write about a character breaking a social rule or ritual (i.e., walking backwards, sitting on the floor of a restaurant, wearing a ballgown to the grocery store). What are the ramifications?
• You are sent to the principal’s office. Justify your bad behavior.
• Re-write a well-known fairytale but set it in your school.
• Write your own version of the TV show trope where someone gets stuck in an elevator with a stranger, or a secret love interest, or a nemesis.
• Imagine a day where you said everything you were thinking, and write about it.
• Write about a scenario in which you have too much of a good thing.
• Write about a scenario in which money can buy happiness.
• Invent a bank or museum heist.
• Invent a superhero, including an origin story.
• Write using the form of the scientific method (question, hypothesis, test, analyze data conclusion).
• Write using the form of a recipe.

Middle School & High School Creative writing prompts for playing with fact vs. fiction

• Write something you know for sure is true, and then, “but maybe it isn’t.” Then explain why that thing may not be true.
• Write a statement and contradict that statement. Then do it again.
• Draft an email with an outlandish excuse as to why you didn’t do your homework or why you need an extension.
• Write about your morning routine, and make it sound extravagant/luxurious (even if it isn’t).
• You’ve just won an award for doing a very mundane and simple task. Write your acceptance speech.
• Write about a non-athletic event as though it were a sports game.
• Write about the most complicated way to complete a simple task.
• Write a brief history of your life, and exaggerate everything.
• Write about your day, but lie about some things.
• Tell the story of your birth.
• Choose a historical event and write an alternative outcome.
• Write about a day in the life of a famous person in history.
• Read an instructional manual, and change three instructions to include some kind of magical or otherwise impossible element.

Prompts for starting with dialogue

• Write a texting conversation between two friends who haven’t spoken in years.
• Write a texting conversation between two friends who speak every day and know each other better than anyone.
• Watch two people on the street having a conversation, and imagine the conversation they’re having. Write it down.
• Write an overheard conversation behind a closed door that you shouldn’t be listening to.
• Write a conversation between two characters arguing about contradicting memories of what happened.
• You have a difficult decision to make. Write a conversation about it with yourself.
• Write a conversation with a total lack of communication.
• Write a job interview gone badly.

Final Thoughts – Creative Writing Prompts for Middle School & High School 

Hopefully you have found several of these creative writing prompts helpful. Remember that when writing creatively, especially on your own, you can mix, match, and change prompts. For more on writing for high school students, check out the following articles:

• College Application Essay Topics to Avoid
• 160 Good Argumentative Essay Topics
• 150 Good Persuasive Speech Topics
• Good Transition Words for Essays
• High School Success

Sarah Mininsohn

With a BA from Wesleyan University and an MFA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Sarah is a writer, educator, and artist. She served as a graduate instructor at the University of Illinois, a tutor at St Peter’s School in Philadelphia, and an academic writing tutor and thesis mentor at Wesleyan’s Writing Workshop.

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My Mouth is a Volcano Writing Prompt

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I use this activity at the beginning of the year after reading My Mouth is a Volcano to the class.

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Tsunami alert issued after volcano erupts in Indonesia, with thousands told to evacuate

Indonesian authorities issued a tsunami alert Wednesday after eruptions at Ruang mountain sent ash thousands of feet high. Officials ordered more than 11,000 people to leave the area.

The volcano on the northern side of Sulawesi island had at least five large eruptions in the past 24 hours, Indonesia’s Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation said. Authorities raised their volcano alert to its highest level.

At least 800 residents left the area earlier Wednesday.

Indonesia, an archipelago of 270 million people, has 120 active volcanoes. It is prone to volcanic activity because it sits along the “Ring of Fire,” a horseshoe-shaped series of seismic fault lines around the Pacific Ocean.

Authorities urged tourists and others to stay at least 3.7 miles from the 2,378-foot Ruang volcano.

Officials worry that part of the volcano could collapse into the sea and cause a tsunami, as in a 1871 eruption there.

Tagulandang island, to the volcano’s northeast, is again at risk, and its residents are among those being told to evacuate.

Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency said residents will be relocated to Manado, the nearest city, on Sulawesi island, a journey of six hours by boat.

In 2018, the eruption of Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau volcano caused a tsunami along the coasts of Sumatra and Java after parts of the mountain fell into the ocean, killing 430 people.