For Kids

Creative Writing Prompts for Young Authors

children writingEnjoy these prompts. Here are a few tips:

 

  • Don’t worry about being perfect
  • Let your imagination run wild
  • Write about things that excite you
  • Read your story out loud to catch fun details
  • Have fun with your writing!

 

Imagine…

  • You wake up one morning and discover you can talk to animals. What conversations do you have, and what adventures unfold?
  • You find a magical key that can open any lock in the world. What would you unlock, and what would you discover?
  • Write a story about a day in the life of your favorite toy when no one is looking.
  • You’ve been chosen to be the first kid to live on a space station. Describe your first week there.
  • A mysterious package arrives at your doorstep with no return address. What’s inside, and how does it change your day?

 

About You…

  • Describe your perfect day from start to finish. What makes it so special?
  • If you could have any superpower, what would it be? How would you use it to help others?
  • Write about a time when you felt proud of yourself and why.
  • Imagine you could trade places with an adult for a day. Who would you choose, and what would you do?
  • What is the most important lesson you’ve learned from a friend or family member?

 

Explore…

  • ]You discover a hidden door in your school that leads to a completely different world. What does this world look like?
  • Write a story about a friendship between two completely different creatures.
  • If trees could talk, what stories would they tell about the world they’ve seen?
  • Create a new invention that would make life easier for kids your age. How does it work?
  • Describe a magical creature that no one has ever seen before. What are its special abilities?

 

Connect with Others…

  • Write about a time when you helped someone and how it made you feel.
  • Imagine you could solve one problem in your community. What would it be, and how would you fix it?
  • Describe a moment when you acted brave, even though you were scared.
  • If you could send a message to kids around the world, what would you say?
  • Write about a time when you learned something new about yourself.

 

Have Fun…

  • You’ve been chosen to design a new holiday. What would it celebrate, and how would people celebrate it?
  • Write a story about what happens in your classroom after everyone goes home.
  • Imagine you can shrink to the size of an ant for a day. What adventures would you have?
  • If your favorite food could talk, what would it say about being eaten?
  • Create a story about a day when everything goes wrong but turns out amazing in the end.

 

Hope you enjoyed stretching your imagination and coming up with new ideas. Why not share your stories with a favorite teacher or some of your friends?

Do you have any suggestions for story prompts? Feel free to share them in the comments below.

The Spooky Season is Almost Here! (Let’s get ready)

As Halloween creeps closer, it’s the perfect time to gather some spooky middle-grade reads to get into the eerie spirit! Here’s a roundup of five novels that will have young readers on the edge of their seats—but not too scared to sleep!

The Ghost Rules by Adam Rosenbaum

Why: Rosenbaum expertly walks the line between hilarious and heartbreaking.

Twelve-year-old Elwood McGee has the rare ability to see ghosts, and while they’re more nosy than scary, he’s determined to use his power to reconnect with his late brother. With the help of two friends, Elwood embarks on a heartwarming and humorous journey (the world of ghosts is surprisingly funny!) through the ghostly realm, learning about grief and letting go.

Hart & Souls by Lisa Schmid

Why: No one captures the middle-grade voice better than Lisa Schmid!

Stix Hart just wants to fly under the radar in middle school, but things take a spooky turn when he discovers three ghostly students who need his help. Now, Stix must summon his courage to solve the mystery of their decades-long stay and help them move on—before time runs out.

The Inn Between by Marina Cohen

Why: Scary and thought-provoking in equal measure.

Eleven-year-old Quinn embarks on a trip with her best friend, Kara, and Kara’s family, only to find themselves stranded in a creepy Victorian hotel where strange disappearances and eerie happenings unfold. As Quinn and Kara search for Kara’s missing family, they must unravel the hotel’s dark secrets before it’s too late.

Midnight at the Barclay Hotel by Fleur Bradley

Why: Bradley is a masterful mystery writer.

When JJ Jacobson’s weekend ghost-hunting trip turns into a real-life murder mystery, he must team up with his new friends to clear his mother’s name. With a killer on the loose and the possibility of meeting ghosts, this is one getaway JJ will never forget.

The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier

Why: Auxier creates a creepy atmosphere that leaps right off the page.

Two abandoned Irish siblings find work at a decaying English manor, only to discover a haunting specter and an ancient curse that threatens their lives. This Victorian ghost story weaves a chilling tale of greed and the power of storytelling, delivering a mesmerizing, timeless read.

These five books will add just the right amount of spooky fun to any reader’s fall reading list, making them perfect companions for a thrilling Halloween season!

This is my last post for MUF! While I’ve had a blast sharing favorite titles with you over the years, I’ll be shifting my focus to writing (and finishing!) novels and book coaching. Hope to see you out in the real world sometime soon but in the meantime visit my linktree and let’s connect! Happy reading and writing, friends!

 

 

Dive Into Summer!

Summer is a magical time. As the weather warms up and the days grow longer, there’s nothing quite like diving into a great book that captures the good vibes of summer. Whether it’s the thrill of swimming, the magic of summer friendships, or the adventure of summer camp, middle grade novels have a special way of bringing these stories to life. Here are five recently published middle grade books that will make you want to grab your swimsuit and dive right in!

 

Flip Turns by Catherine Arguelles (2022)

Thirteen-year-old Maddie just wants her classmate Lucas to leave her alone. He keeps asking her out—as if she hasn’t already said no a thousand times! Focusing on her competitive swim team, the Electric Eels, Maddie tries to ignore him, hoping he’ll stop harassing her.

But then, when someone starts sabotaging Maddie’s family-owned pool—glass on the deck, ketchup in the pool, followed by a “code brown”—Maddie worries it’s her “admirer” trying to get even. After Maddie’s parents rule the problems at the pool just harmless pranks, Maddie and her best friend, Ez, decide to investigate on their own. Could it be Lucas? And how can Maddie get him to leave her alone once and for all? The future of the Electric Eels and Maddie’s family legacy are on the line.

 

Barely Floating by Lilliam Rivera (2023)

Natalia De La Cruz Rivera y Santiago, also known as Nat, was swimming neighborhood kids out of their money at the local Inglewood pool when her life changed. The LA Mermaids performed, emerging out of the water with matching sequined swimsuits, and it was then that synchronized swimming stole her heart.

The problem? Her activist mom and professor dad think it’s a sport with too much emphasis on looks–on being thin and white. Nat grew up the youngest in a house full of boys, so she knows how to fight for what she wants, often using her anger to fuel her. People often underestimate her swimming skills when they see her stomach rolls, but she knows better than to worry about what people think. Still, she feels more like a submarine than a mermaid, but she wonders if she might be both.

Barely Floating explores what it means to sparkle in your skin, build community with those who lift you up, and keep floating when waters get rough.

 

Camp QUILTBAG by Nicole Melleby & A. J. Sass (2023)

Twelve-year-old Abigail (she/her/hers) is so excited to spend her summer at Camp QUILTBAG, an inclusive retreat for queer and trans kids. She can’t wait to find a community where she can be herself—and, she hopes, admit her crush on that one hot older actress to kids who will understand.

Thirteen-year-old Kai (e/em/eir) is not as excited. E just wants to hang out with eir best friend and eir parkour team. And E definitely does not want to think about the incident that left eir arm in a sling—the incident that also made Kai’s parents determined to send em somewhere e can feel like emself.

After a bit of a rocky start at camp, Abigail and Kai make a pact: If Kai helps Abigail make new friends, Abigail will help Kai’s cabin with the all-camp competition. But as they navigate a summer full of crushes, queer identity exploration, and more, they learn what’s really important. Camp QUILTBAG is a heartfelt story full of the joy that comes from being and loving yourself.

 

The Firefly Summer by Morgan Matson (2024)

For as long as Ryanna Stuart can remember, her summers have been spent with her father and his new wife. Just the three of them, structured, planned, and quiet. But this summer is different. This summer, she’s received a letter from her grandparents—grandparents neither she nor her dad have spoken to since her mom’s death—inviting her to stay with them at an old summer camp in the Poconos.

Ryanna accepts. She wants to learn about her mom. She wants to uncover the mystery of why her father hasn’t spoken to her grandparents all these years. She’s even looking forward to a quiet summer by the lake. But what she finds are relatives…so many relatives! Aunts and uncles and cousins upon cousins—a motley, rambunctious crew of kids and eccentric, unconventional adults. People who have memories of her mom from when she was Ryanna’s age, clues to her past like a treasure map. Ryanna even finds an actual, real-life treasure map!

 

Camp Famous by Jennifer Blecher (2023)

Eleven-year-old Abby Herman is beyond excited that her parents are letting her go to summer camp for the first time ever. Maybe camp will be the place she’ll finally find what she’s always wanted: a best friend. But—surprise!—she’s not going to just any summer camp, she’s going to Camp Famous, the one exclusively for famous kids escaping the spotlight.

Desperate to fit in with the pop stars, princesses, and geniuses, Abby creates a fake identity as a famous author. Everything goes as planned: the other girls welcome her, she participates in camp activities, and she even inspires a pop star! But as camp comes to a close, Abby finds herself torn between who she has pretended to be and who she truly is.

These five middle grade novels beautifully capture the spirit of summer, the joy of swimming, and the importance of friendship. Whether you’re looking for adventure, inspiration, or just a good story to get lost in, these books are sure to make a splash! Happy reading!

 

Half Moon Summer by Elaine Vickers (2024)

Drew was never much of a runner. Until his dad’s unexpected diagnosis. Mia has nothing better to do. Until she realizes entering Half Moon Bay’s half-marathon could solve her family’s housing problems.

And just like that they decide to spend their entire summer training to run 13.1 miles. Drew and Mia have very different reasons for running, but these two twelve year olds have one crucial thing in common (besides sharing a birthday): Hope. For the future. For their families. And for each other.