80 Killer Writing Prompts for Middle School

Writing prompts help middle school students get creative and use their imagination. They make writing fun, build thinking skills, and improve communication. Whether students love writing or find it hard, prompts give them a starting point to create interesting stories, essays, or poems.

80 Creative and Thought-Provoking Writing Prompts for Middle School

Here are killer writing prompts to spark creativity and critical thinking in middle school students:

Creative & Imaginative Prompts

1. You wake up with a superpower—but it's completely useless. What is it, and how do you use it?
2. A mysterious box appears on your doorstep with your name on it. When you open it, you can’t believe what’s inside…
3. You are the last person on Earth. Describe your first day alone.
4. You find an old diary at a garage sale. Inside, it describes events that haven’t happened yet—but then they start coming true.
5. Rewrite a famous fairy tale, but change the setting to the future or another planet.

Spooky & Mysterious Prompts

1. You hear a whisper from your closet at night, but when you check, there’s nothing there…
2. A friend dares you to spend the night in an abandoned house. When you wake up, something is very different about you.
3. Your reflection in the mirror suddenly starts moving on its own. What does it say to you?
4. You discover an old key buried in your backyard. What does it unlock?
5. A new student at school never speaks—but strange things start happening when they’re around.

Funny & Lighthearted Prompts

1. Write a letter to your future self, warning them about something ridiculous.
2. If your pet could talk for one day, what would they say about you?
3. You have to invent a brand-new holiday. What is it called, and how do people celebrate it?
4. Write a break-up letter to your least favorite food.
5. You just got hired for your dream job—but when you arrive, you realize it’s not at all what you expected.

Real-World & Thought-Provoking Prompts

1. If you could switch places with any historical figure for one day, who would it be and why?
2. What is one rule you would change at school? Make your case!
3. What is the most important life lesson you’ve learned so far?
4. Write a story where two very different people become unlikely best friends.
5. Describe your perfect day from start to finish.