Break through writer’s block and sharpen communication skills with this list of writing prompts for high school students. Use them for daily warm-ups, journal entries, creative writing, narrative essays, and so much more. Plus, we’ve partnered with secondary English teacher Krista Barbour (@whimsyandrigor) to bring you helpful tips to try in your own classroom!
Jump to:
- How to Use Writing Prompts
- Top 5 High School Writing Prompts
- Journal Writing Prompts
- Creative Writing Prompts
- Short 5-Minute Writing Prompts
- 10-Minute Writing Prompts
- Fun Writing Prompts
- Writing Prompts for High School Seniors
- Narrative Writing Prompts
- Challenging Essay Writing Prompts
How to Use Writing Prompts
Krista Barbour is a secondary English teacher with 17 years of experience in the classroom. Check out her tips throughout this article, then follow her on Instagram (@whimsyandrigor) for more ELA ideas and advice!
“Writing doesn’t have to be scary!” Krista promises. “I truly believe every kid is a writer with something valuable to share. Our job is to get them to see that in themselves and using engaging writing prompts is a wonderful step.”
How Krista Barbour Uses Writing Prompts in the Classroom
“I most often use writing prompts as fast writes, 5-7 minutes of writing time students do in their notebooks,” explains Krista. “Sometimes I ask them to try a grammar skill we are working on in their fast write but sometimes they just get to write and see where it takes them.”
Here’s one of her biggest tips: “You don’t have to assess every single thing kids write! I truly believe one of the reasons why my students see themselves as writers is because I just let them write, especially at the beginning of the year. I don’t judge their work, I say ‘Yes!’ all the time, and I let them go where the writing takes them.”
More ways to use writing prompts with high school students:
- Daily warm-ups or bell-ringers
- Journal writing
- Creative writing practice
- Discussion starters
- Standardized test prep
- Easy sub plans
- Exit tickets
Tips for Choosing High School Writing Prompts
Here’s how Krista finds good prompts to engage and inspire young writers in her classroom:
- Make them open-ended: “You don’t want kids to feel like they have to write something super specific but you also don’t want them to feel like they start with a blank page,” Krista notes. “It’s important to find the balance.” When you can, give students a choice of several prompts so they can pick one that really speaks to them.
- Be inclusive: Remember that not every student shares the same background or experiences. Do your prompts provide opportunities for every student to relate and share? When you’re offering creative writing prompts, Krista also recommends using a variety of pronouns: ” For example: She couldn’t believe that just happened. They walked into school and something seemed off. I also tell kids they can change the pronoun (or perspective) to better fit their story.”
- Just say “Yes!”: “When the point is to get kids writing, say ‘Yes!’ to whatever they ask,” Krista advises. “For example, if they ask ‘Can I write about a talking dog?’ Yes! ‘Can this be set on a different planet?’ Yes! Literally whatever they ask, just say ‘Yes!’ because you want them to write. If something different than you expected inspires them, go with it.”
How to Teach Writing in the AI Age
“Today’s students can ask a bot instead of a friend,” Krista recently noted in an Instagram post. So how can teachers keep teens from turning to AI for writing assignments? There are no sure-fire answers, but it’s not an impossible task. Try some of these ideas.
Use writing as a discussion springboard
“How often do you choose the human-free option?” asks Krista. “Luckily, as teachers, we have the power to force students into real-life human interactions. Being able to communicate clearly, make a point effectively, and back up your ideas logically is what makes living in a community so powerful.”
What does that mean for her students? “So “I am leaning into discussions as the end-of-unit assessment instead of the good ol’ essay,” she shares. “Will they still write? YES! But because I am deemphasizing the essay, my role as AI-detector also gets de-emphasized. Even if kids use AI for some (or all 😡) of their writing, they still have to clearly and effectively argue their points in a real-time conversation.”
Turn off the computer and handwrite instead
You can’t use AI without access to the tool itself! Require more handwritten assignments from your students, especially shorter pieces like quick writes or journal entries. Another benefit? No autocorrect! Students will have to rely on their own knowledge for spelling and grammar, or catch those mistakes later in editing.
Do more writing work in the classroom itself
Stop assigning writing as homework! Build time into your lessons so that students can write in your classroom, where you can monitor for AI-abuse—AND offer assistance and guidance while they work. Writers often need someone to bounce ideas off of or offer feedback on what they’ve written. Make writing interactive through peer editing, group brainstorming, and other group activities.
Be open about AI as a tool
“If we don’t want kids to be sneaky with AI usage, we shouldn’t be either,” Krista stated on Instagram. “Whenever I use an AI tool in my teaching, I announce it to kids and explain why. This opens up conversations, shows transparency, and is just honest.”
There truly are benefits to this technology, and today’s students will almost certainly be expected to use it in the workplace someday. Establish a realistic AI policy, and spend time actually teaching students how to use AI tools effectively and ethically.
Learn more: K-12 AI Literacy Guide: How to Teach AI, Plus Helpful Resources
Krista Barbour’s Top 5 High School Writing Prompts
The power goes out across the world. Write about what happens during the first 24 hours afterward.
“Students can explore some really cool ideas with this one—no internet, dead cell phone, no YouTube. So many students have said they need an outside force to get them to put their phones down, and a worldwide blackout would do just that. Plus, it could be a good connection to the short story collection Blackout by Clayton, Jackson, et al.”
Write about a day when every thought you have is visible to everyone around you.
“This can be a fun prompt to get kids to explore what a character (or themself) thinks versus what they say out loud. For one day, there would be no separation between the interiority a character exists with and the outward-facing words they share with others. This creates interesting tension that may help students see how sometimes our thoughts and words contradict each other, for better or worse.”
Choose a favorite song and describe how it makes you feel.
“Incorporating music into a high classroom is sure to bring in the most interesting conversations, and you get to curate a class playlist! Sometimes I have students create a playlist for a character in a novel and then analyze one of those songs. This could be a fun pre-writing prompt to get students to think about songs that are important in their life and why. Plus, it’s actually asking students to analyze the song lyrics, and that is a total win in the English classroom!”
Do you think your K-12 years have prepared you to be an adult? Why or why not?
“I currently teach seniors and this would be such a fun topic to pose to them as they are on the precipice of such a major change. I ask my students what it means to be a ‘real’ adult, and this writing prompt could come right after that discussion as they reflect on their experiences in school and what they predict is ahead. If students share any eye-opening insight about what was especially helpful and/or what was missing, you could bring them to your school’s attention. Getting real-life feedback is incredibly valuable and this writing prompt could do just that!”
Describe a time when you had to make a difficult decision.
“Every kid has had to make a tough decision, from what team to join and what date to take to the dance to which college to attend. Having students write about that process is not only a good way to have them reflect on their experience and how they have grown, but it could also serve as advice for younger students. Imagine if you had a collection of advice from students who recently graduated!”
If you’ve enjoyed Krista’s tips and top writing prompts, be sure to follow her on Instagram (@whimsyandrigor)!
Journal Writing Prompts for High School
- What do you value most in a friend?
- What’s one thing you’d like to improve about yourself, and how could you start?
- Write about a quality you admire in yourself.
- What are you most afraid of? How could you overcome that fear?
- Describe a place where you feel completely comfortable.
- Which subject is hardest for you, and how do you handle it?
- Write about a teacher who made a positive difference in your life.
- Do you prefer working alone or in groups? Why?
- What motivates you to keep going when life feels difficult?
- How do you feel about homework?
- Describe your ideal classroom environment.
- Who do you look up to and why?
- What makes someone trustworthy?
- What role does social media play in your friendships?
- How do you cope when you’re feeling anxious or worried?
- What’s a lesson you’ve learned from a relationship that didn’t go well?
- How do you show appreciation for others?
- What matters more, honesty or kindness?
- Do you think high school friendships can last a lifetime? Why or why not?
- What does happiness mean to you?
Creative Writing Prompts for High School
- The power goes out across the world. Write about what happens during the first 24 hours afterward.
- A character writes a letter but never sends it. What does it say, and who was it meant for?
- You discover an old photograph taken decades ago—and realize you’re in it.
- Write about a day in a world where emotions are sold in bottles.
- Describe a UFO landing in your backyard and who or what is inside.
- Write about a superhero with a silly superpower and how the “real” superheroes treat them.
- Write about a day when every thought you have is visible to everyone around you.
- Describe a world where music has magical powers.
- Today you realized your whole life is a reality TV show—and everyone else is actors. Now what?
- Imagine a day in the life of a pet (yours or someone else’s).
- Write about the first people to visit another planet and find life there.
- Write an episode of your favorite show with you as a guest star.
- Choose a book or story and write a different ending for it.
- Write a story set in a world where people age backward.
- What would happen if people could no longer see colors, only black, white, or shades of gray?
- Write the news article for this headline: Scientists Discover the Secret to Eternal Life.
- Write a story set in a world where people communicate through dance instead of spoken language.
- You’ve been accused of a terrible crime you didn’t commit. Write about your experiences.
- Write a story set on a spaceship that travels the galaxy but never lands anywhere.
- Write a conversation between two historical figures from different eras.
Short 5-Minute Writing Prompts for High School
- What’s one skill you’d like to learn that isn’t taught in school?
- Describe your mood right now using only weather words.
- What sound do you find particularly annoying?
- What’s one thing you’re grateful for today and why?
- Give today a movie title, and explain why you chose it.
- What’s one school rule you would change if you could?
- List five things you’d put in a time capsule being buried today and opened in 50 years.
- Write a complete story in five sentences or less.
- What’s something small that made you feel happy recently?
- What’s one small thing you could do today to make the world a better place?
10-Minute Writing Prompts for High School
- Write a letter to someone you love, telling them why you love them.
- Write about a smell you associate with a happy memory.
- Set a small goal for yourself, and explain how you’ll accomplish it.
- Write a text message exchange between two fictional characters.
- What’s going really well in your life right now, and what is most challenging?
- Choose a favorite song and describe how it makes you feel.
- How do you cheer yourself up on a bad day?
- If money were no issue, what career or job would you choose?
- List three new things you’ve learned recently, then explain which is the most important.
- If someone offered you the thing you want most, what would you be willing to give up for it in exchange?
Fun Writing Prompts for High School
- What’s the funniest joke you know? Why does it always make you laugh?
- Describe the perfect meal from start to finish.
- Would you rather be able to fly or be invisible?
- How would you fight a monster 50 times your size?
- Write a commercial for shoes that let you walk on the ceiling.
- Create a new holiday, and explain how it’s celebrated.
- List the five funniest excuses for being late to class.
- Make up a sport that could only exist on another planet.
- What if every time you sneezed, you switched bodies with the person closest to you?
- Write a letter to your personal hero, then imagine their response to you.
Writing Prompts for High School Seniors
- Which grade year of school has been your favorite?
- Which grade year of school was your least favorite?
- When you look back over your K-12 years, what do you wish you had done differently?
- What class do you wish you had been able to take (real or imaginary)?
- Do you think your K-12 years have prepared you to be an adult? Why or why not?
- Compare and contrast the friends you had when you were in elementary school and the friends you have now.
- List 10 things you hope to have accomplished 10 years from now. Which of these is most important to you?
- What teacher has had the greatest impact on your life over the years?
- What advice would you offer to kids just starting kindergarten?
- Fill in the blanks, then explain your answers: Graduation is the end of ____________ and the beginning of ____________.
Narrative Writing Prompts for High School
- Describe a time when you did something you later regretted.
- Write about your proudest moment.
- Describe your favorite field trip of all time.
- Write about the best party or celebration you’ve ever attended.
- Write about a time when you or someone you know displayed courage.
- If you could relive any day in your life, what would it be? Would you want it to be the same or different?
- Explore a time when you were treated unfairly.
- When was the last time you questioned something you had thought to be true?
- Choose one of the communities to which you belong and describe that community and your place within it.
- Describe a time when you had to make a difficult decision.
Get more engaging personal narrative topics here.
Challenging Essay Writing Prompts for High School
- What’s the difference between equality and equity?
- What responsibilities do wealthy people have to poorer people?
- Is artificial intelligence (AI) dangerous or helpful?
- Should terminally ill people be allowed to end their lives when and how they choose?
- Why does today’s society seem so divided and adversarial?
- Choose a person whom many consider to be a hero, and explore why you disagree.
- What’s more important, personal freedom or community safety?
- Should there be any limits on free speech?
- What are the benefits and drawbacks of standardized testing?
- If you could make one change to our system of government, what would it be and why?
Find more high school essay topics here.
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