100 Creative Writing Prompts for Middle School Students
Creative writing opens up an entire world for middle school students to explore their imagination, sharpen their writing skills, and express themselves. Whether they’re into mysteries, sci-fi, personal reflections, or persuasive writing, having the right prompt can help kickstart the creative process. Here are 100 writing prompts to inspire middle school students to get started on their next masterpiece.
Story Starters and Dialogue Prompts for Middle School Students
1) John opened the door and picked up the brown package on the porch. Immediately, he knew something wasn’t right.
2) The aliens were all around us. They looked like…
3) “Five more minutes,” my dad grunted, as I tried to pull him out of bed. “Dad, they’re here–we have to go!”
4) I woke up yesterday in a tree, without even a sweater to keep me dry. The weird thing is…
5) “I think this is a sign,” Ryan said, standing at the crossroads. What decision did he have to make?
6) “I found something bizarre in the backyard,” said Tom to his sister. What did he find, and how did the discovery change their lives?
7) “Put me down!” I yelled as I was hoisted into the air by a giant. Who is the giant, and why is he lifting you up?
8) “I knew you were hiding something,” said Jack to his friend. What did Jack discover, and how did it affect their friendship?
9) “You don’t have to be afraid,” he whispered. “Come with me.” Who is this person, and where are they leading you?
10) “How could you?” I asked in disbelief. “After everything we’ve been through, I thought you were the one person I could trust. I can’t believe you…”
Personal Narrative and Reflective Prompts for Middle School Students
11) Write about the biggest surprise of your life.
12) Describe a time you felt afraid. What happened, and how did you overcome it?
13) Write about a time when you thought a situation was worse than it really was.
14) Think about a memorable event in your life. What did it teach you?
15) Have you ever done something you regret? Write about what happened and what you learned from it.
16) Write a letter to your future self. What advice would you give yourself?
17) Record your emotional reactions for several days in a row. Do you see a pattern? What can you do to change an emotional pattern?
18) Reflect on a time when you learned something new. How did it change you?
19) Describe a moment in your life that made you feel completely at peace. What was happening?
20 What are your greatest fears? Do you want to overcome them? Why or why not?
Mystery, Suspense, and Fantasy Prompts for Middle School Students
21) We were canoeing across the inlet when we noticed some unusual movement alongside the boat. Suddenly, our boat was being lifted out of the water…
22) The footprints in the snow were fresh. They veered off the path and into the woods. I had to make a choice. It was now or never.
23) I was about to enter my house when I saw a little dog running down the street toward the busy intersection. There was nobody with him. Without thinking, I took off after him and…
24) A magical pen that brings drawings to life.
25) A young inventor creates a machine that can read minds. How does this machine work, and what problems does it cause?
26) Time travel adventure: You go back to ancient Egypt and discover that their world was more modernized than ours.
27) A group of friends find a hidden treasure map. What challenges do they face while trying to uncover the treasure?
28) Imagine you’re an astronaut traveling through space. Write a journal entry about your experience.
29) A magical kingdom is hidden in a scary forest. What secrets does it hold, and why is it so dangerous?
30) What would happen if you discovered that the world you live in is actually a simulation?
Argumentative, Persuasive, and Expository Prompts for Middle School Students
31) Should your school do more to prevent bullying? Write an argumentative essay on why or why not.
32) What is the best solution to climate change? Argue your case with logical reasoning and examples.
33) Do you think the voting age should be lowered to 16 in the United States? Support your opinion with evidence.
34) Should students be allowed to eat in class? Write a persuasive essay about your stance.
35) Would you rather have a long summer break or more frequent breaks throughout the year? Write a persuasive essay supporting your choice.
36) Explain how to create your favorite slime. What ingredients are necessary, and what steps should be followed?
37) Write a step-by-step guide on how to prepare your favorite meal.
38) Describe how to get from your house to your best friend’s house using only public transportation.
39) What is the best way to prepare eggs? Persuade your readers that your method is the best.
40) Why should your school reduce the amount of homework? Use convincing arguments.
Creative Character and Imaginative Writing Prompts for Middle School Students
41) Write about a character who can see into the future. How does this gift affect their life?
42) A young detective solves a series of mysterious crimes. Who is the culprit, and what’s the motive?
43) A robot develops human emotions. What challenges does it face as it begins to understand feelings like love and fear?
44) A magical creature must find a way back home against the efforts of evil humans who want to use its powers for their own purposes.
45) A character wakes up on a deserted island. How do they survive, and what unexpected secrets does the island hold?
46) You’re walking down a deserted street when you see a mysterious building. What’s inside?
47) You’re stuck in a video game. How can you escape? Do you even want to?
48) A dragon wakes up from a century-long slumber and discovers it’s the only one left. What happens next?
49) Imagine a world where everyone can fly. What would life be like?
50) What would happen if you discovered that the world you live in is actually a simulation?
Fun, Suspenseful, and What-If Prompts for Middle School Students
51) “I think this is a sign,” Ryan said, standing at the crossroads. What decision did he have to make?
52) “I found something bizarre in the backyard,” said Tom to his sister. What did he find, and how did the discovery change their lives?
53) “Put me down!” I yelled as I was hoisted into the air by a giant. Who is the giant, and why is he lifting you up?
54) “How could you?” I asked in disbelief. “After everything we’ve been through, I thought you were the one person I could trust. I can’t believe you…”
55) You discover a book in your parent’s bedroom that describes everything you’ve ever said and done. But the book is a hundred years old, and you’re just twelve. Or so you thought.
56) I can talk to animals. It’s just something I’ve always been able to do. I didn’t even know it was weird until some kids at school saw me shooting the breeze with a murder of crows at recess one day. Now I have to keep it a secret. If anyone else finds out…
57) You’re walking home with your friends from school one day when your best friend vanishes down a manhole. You jump in without thinking and discover that in the sewer lives an entire species of…
58) You find out you can communicate with someone from the past. What advice do they have for you?
59) What if you woke up one day with the ability to speak every language in the world? How would you use your new skill?
60) What if your favorite pet was secretly a superhero in disguise?
Bonus: Suspense and Heroic Writing Prompts for Middle School Students
61) The answer is 49. I looked around the room. There was nobody else there except Quincey. Could it be?
62) It’s all over the news. Random events are taking place. What if someone discovers that it’s my dreams coming true, literally? What will they do to me? I have to find…
63) On Saturday morning I went out to the backyard in my slippers and robe to feed my pet rabbits. When I reached their hutch, I gasped. A large hole had been torn in the wire door and the hutch was empty. Fearing the worst, I scanned the yard for signs of their whereabouts, when suddenly I was tapped on the shoulder. “If you ever want to see your bunnies again,” he said, …
64) I walked through the market timidly, unsure of what I was looking for, but somehow feeling sure that I would find it here. A flash of light flickered almost imperceptibly to my right, and instinctively I turned toward the stall that I’d just passed, but it was gone. In its place…
65) Yesterday, my mother was turned into a rock. Yes, a rock. The kind that’s small enough to put in my pocket and carry around. In fact, that’s where she is right now. I have one week to figure out who did this and find them if I ever want to see her face again.
66) The shelves in the used bookstore climbed higher than I could see, I’d never seen so many books before in my life. I climbed the rolling ladder to get a better look. Just then, a woman approached and held out a thick, red leather-bound tome. “This is one you seek,” she called out to me. “Look no further. This one will…”
67) You’re walking down the street when you see an old, mysterious house. You can’t resist going in to explore, but the door slams behind you once you’re inside…
68) You find a forgotten letter from your future self. What does it say, and how do you feel after reading it?
69) What if the internet went down forever? Write a story about how the world changes and how you adapt.
70) You discover a new planet. What secrets does it hold, and what will you do there?
Best Writing Prompts for Middle School Students
71) Yesterday, my mother was turned into a rock. Yes, a rock. The kind that’s small enough to put in my pocket and carry around. In fact, that’s where she is right now. I have one week to figure out who did this and find them if I ever want to see her face again.
72) The shelves in the used bookstore climbed higher than I could see, I’d never seen so many books before in my life. I climbed the rolling ladder to get a better look. Just then, a woman approached and held out a thick, red leather-bound tome. “This is one you seek,” she called out to me. “Look no further. This one will…”
73) You’re walking down the street when you see an old, mysterious house. You can’t resist going in to explore, but the door slams behind you once you’re inside…
74) You find a forgotten letter from your future self. What does it say, and how do you feel after reading it?
75) What if the internet went down forever? Write a story about how the world changes and how you adapt.
76) You find out you can communicate with someone from the past. What advice do they have for you?
77) You’re walking home with your friends from school one day when your best friend vanishes down a manhole. You jump in without thinking and discover that in the sewer lives an entire species of…
78) You discover a book in your parent’s bedroom that describes everything you’ve ever said and done. But the book is a hundred years old, and you’re just twelve. Or so you thought.
79) You’re stuck in a video game. How can you escape? Do you even want to?
80) You wake up in an alternate reality where animals can talk and the world is completely different. How do you navigate this new world?
81) You’ve been tracking a dangerous criminal for weeks, but just as you’re about to catch them, you realize they know you’re after them. What happens next?
82) Imagine you’re a time traveler who has to stop a major historical event from happening. How do you prevent it, and what are the consequences?
83) Your town has just been taken over by a group of mysterious outsiders. They have an agenda, and it's up to you to stop them. How do you do it?
84) You discover a hidden room in your house with a strange, ancient artifact. What does it do, and how does it change your life?
85) You wake up with the ability to control the weather. How do you use your powers? Are there any consequences?
86) Your school is holding a talent show, and you have a unique talent no one knows about. What happens when you finally reveal it?
87) You have a dream where you meet a future version of yourself. What do they tell you, and how does it affect your current life?
88) You find an old map in a dusty bookshop, leading to a hidden treasure. But you’re not the only one looking for it. Who else is after the treasure, and what will you do to get there first?
89) You’ve just inherited a mansion from a relative you never knew existed. When you move in, strange things start happening. What’s the mystery behind the house?
90) You have the ability to talk to animals. What is the first animal you talk to, and what do they reveal to you?
91) You’re a detective in a futuristic city, solving crimes that involve advanced technology. What’s the most complex case you’ve worked on, and how do you solve it?
92) You’ve been hired by a secret organization to find a missing person, but the deeper you go, the more you realize the person is not who they seem. What’s the truth, and what do you do next?
93) You live in a world where everyone has a unique superpower. What’s yours, and how do you use it to navigate your daily life?
94) You receive a mysterious invitation to a party at an unknown location. Once you arrive, you find out it’s not an ordinary party. What’s really going on?
95) You’re selected to participate in a reality TV show where you must survive in a jungle full of dangerous creatures. What challenges do you face, and how do you overcome them?
96) A spaceship from another galaxy lands in your backyard. The aliens inside claim they need your help. What do they want, and what do you do?
97) Your life is turned upside down when you discover you’re a character in a book. How do you react, and what do you do about it?
98) You wake up to find that you’ve switched lives with your best friend. What do you learn about their life, and how do you navigate their world?
99) You’re part of a team of explorers traveling to a distant planet. When you arrive, you realize the planet is not as uninhabited as you thought. What happens next?
100) You come across a box filled with old, forgotten memories from your childhood. As you go through it, you discover a secret that changes everything you thought you knew about your past.
