Writing Prompt: Pixar’s “Story Spine”(If you’re stuck, try thinking of a character who wants to _____ more than anything but can’t because _______. Or some other conflict where the character wants or needs something or has a problem to solve.)

Once upon a time… (character/s and setting)

And every day… (what is usual?)

Until one day (what is different?)

And because of this…

And because of this…

Until finally…

And ever since that day…

Writing Prompt: Cumulative Picture BookExperiment with cumulative structure by telling a story about a trip, holiday, recipe or other event/instance where more and more things or characters are added. What twist can you put on this classic picture book structure?

Writing Prompt: Conceptual Picture BookThink about:

What things you loved as a kid.

Word play/playing with language. Onomatopoeia?

Everyday object/s or situation/s with a new twist.

Repetition and variation. (Same and different.)

Writing Prompt: Sensory MemoryThink back to moment from your childhood. It could be an event, like a family vacation or the first time you rode a bike without training wheels. It could be a routine, like getting ready for school or practicing piano. Or it could center on a place, like a tree fort, or the dentist’s office, or the swings on your school playground. Try to remember with your senses and describe how things looked, sounded, felt, smelled, or tasted. Try to use the present tense, as if it’s happening now.

Writing Prompt: POVTake the same sensory memory and change what you wrote to third person, using “s/he” instead of “I.” How does that change the feel of it? Is there another POV you could use? 2nd

person? 1st or 3rd person reflecting on the memory ten years later? Taking on the perspective of an object in the scene? Experiment with the same scene using different perspectives.

Writing Prompt: ConflictTry writing a brief synopsis/summary of a story that introduces the main character and sets up a conflict.

Think about:

Having the character wrestle with her/his flaw/s.

Putting the character in a hard situation.

Raising the stakes.

Introducing a ticking clock.