Amra Pajalic
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Narrative Writing Prompts

As a high school English teacher and author I have spent most of my working life developing writing resources and am sharing my ideas to support any young people writing at home.

Prompt 1: Found Story

A found story is one where participants receive certain elements and they have to use them to write their own story. So participants receive a character, name and age, conflict and place, and they need to brainstorm what their story will be about.
For example:
  • Character-an emo boy or girl
  • Name and age-Shirley 13
  • Conflict: get revenge
  • Place: bridge

So my character is an emo girl named Shirley who is 13. She is constantly tormented by a bully, Angela, on a bridge who pretends to push her off as she goes goes home from school. She decides that she will get revenge on the bully by wagging school and hiding out next to the bridge. When the bully, Angela, goes to walk across she will ride her bike at high speed and hit into her. 

So now I have the makings of the story-and need to make decisions:
  • Will Shirley follow through on her plan?
  • Will something unexpected happen?
  • Will she be satisfied with revenge?

Use these templates to cut out the parts of conflict and have participants randomly choose their elements and plan and write a story.

Character
Name and age
Conflict
Place

Prompt 2: Six word short story

Week 2: Six word short story

A short story can be any length. Here are some examples of six word stories to inspire participants to write their own six word story.

Six word stories

Prompt 3: Found Crime Story

Participants use elements in order to brainstorm and write a crime story, just like a narrative version of Cluedo.
For example:
  • Character-TV Presenter
  • Name and Age-Sookie 17
  • Motive-Vendetta
  • Object-Screwdriver

Sookie is on work experience at a TV station. There she witnesses the murder of a TV presenter. The presenter is murdered with a screwdriver, a note left that this is a vendetta against her for writing an investigation story about the mob. Sookie must discover the murderer before they come after her.

Character
Name and Age
Motive
Object

Prompt 4: First Lines

Students receive the first line of a story and must continue it.

First lines

Prompt 5: Writing a story using your favourite object

Use this worksheet to write a short story about your favourite object
Favourite object examplar
Favourite object worksheet

Prompt 6: NAPLAN prompt

Use the attached NAPLAN prompt to write a story
​The Box

Prompt 7: Visual Narrative Writing Prompt

Go to this website and select a visual writing prompt and write a story about it.

Writing short story worksheet

Use the worksheet below to plan and write your short story.

Short story worksheet

Descriptive Writing Booklet

This booklet will take you through the process of developing a character, setting, conflict, and writing your story.
Descriptive Writing Booklet

Writing a Scary Story

This booklet will take you through the process of writing a scary story so that you incorporate suspense and spooky elements.
Scary Story Booklet

Writing a short story Booklet

This booklet will take you through the process of writing a short story.
Short Story Booklet
Copyright Amra Pajalic 2023
  • Home
  • Blog
  • About Me
    • My Newsletter
    • Press Kit >
      • Alma's Loyalty Media Kit
      • Sabiha's Dilemma Media Kit
      • The Climb Media Kit
      • The Cuckoo's Song Media Kit
    • Articles
    • Book Me >
      • Aspiring writers >
        • Six things writers should do
        • Young Adult Books
        • Writing tips for young people
    • News & Events
    • Za Bosance
    • Resources for Teachers >
      • Remote Learning >
        • Narrative Writing
        • Poetry Writing
        • Fun activities
        • Spelling activities
  • YA Books
    • Cuckoos Song
    • Sassy Saints Series >
      • Sabiha's Dilemma >
        • The Good Daughter
      • Alma's Loyalty
      • Jesse's Triumph
    • The Climb
  • Memoir
    • Things Nobody Knows But Me
    • Growing up Muslim in Australia
    • Meet Me at the Intersection
    • Rebellious Daughters
  • Contact
  • Pishukin Press