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Writing Prompts: Inspire New Ideas

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Author-Inspired Writing Prompts

Whether you’re back in the classroom, teaching virtually, or something in between, here are some ideas to get students in the “write” mood.  Take advantage of the voices of published authors and illustrators in these original source selections, designed to guide every writer through the creative process.

Explore other posts in this Writing Prompts Series!

Make it Flow
Play with Words
Consider Author Voice
Determine Character Voice
Put the Pieces Together

Inspire New Ideas

Spark imagination and find those ideas that are just waiting to be written. These authors share their own sources of inspiration. Learn what inspires them and go hunting for your own story beginnings.

Learn how author Cynthia Kadohata gets ideas for writing in this Guest Blog Post.
Write your own superhero based on someone in your life just as author Minh Lê does in Green Lantern: Legacy.
Listen to Words with Wings Meet-the-Author Recording with Nikki Grimes. Ask students to make a list of questions they still have about a picture book they’ve read. 
Explore other titles with Meet-the-Author Recordings for more inspiration.
What one thing inspired Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi? Ask students to locate a picture that inspires them to write. 
Ask ‘how does real life inspire stories?’ Listen to Jacqueline Woodson speak about writing realistic fiction and how her #OwnVoice impacts her writing. 
Consider how brainstorming integrates with writing, research, and storytelling. Listen as Jane Yolen and Heidi E.Y. Stemple share some of the backstory for creating  Eek, You Reek!: Poems about Animals That Stink, Stank, Stunk.

What’s working for you?

How are you using TeachingBooks to inspire and teach writing? Leave your ideas in a comment below!

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