Story Writing Prompt Cards - Walking by the Way

Calling all creative writers, budding authors, young lovers of stories (or maybe even those who despise writing):

It’s your lucky day!

I’m offering a set of story writing prompt cards that will make it easy for your student to push his pencil and, most importantly, to write a great story!

The prompt cards provide guidance with the writing process. This is important for students who feel like they aren’t creative, or students who don’t know what to write. The prompt card includes a series of questions to help students generate gobs of writing ideas.

What’s Included in the Story Writing Prompt Cards?

This set of story writing prompt cards is all about hot air balloons. It includes six task cards and six pages of matching stationery.

Each task card includes a creative writing prompt with a story title on one side of the card and a series of questions on the other.

Instructions for how to use each prompt over a three-day writing process. This includes prewriting, drafting, and editing. I would recommend that you ask your student to write one (and only one) story per week.
6 task cards with writing ideas
6 stationery pieces to match the task cards
The stationery includes the same title prompts as the task cards

The questions are provided to cause the writer to think about his or her writing throughout the prewriting process.

Through the prewriting, the writer will generate ideas that include setting, character, and conflict. Including these three short story elements helps boost student writing to a new level.

How to Use the Story Writing Prompt Cards

Assembly: Print the cards. Cut out cards. Fold them in half on the dotted lines. Glue together. Repeat with all the cards. Laminate for durability, if desired.

Suggested Use:

Day One: Let your student choose one task card. If possible, read through the questions with your student and discuss ideas. Give the student a piece of paper to write all his or her ideas. This prewriting process can be called a “brain dump,” and it can be a place where the student writes short answers the questions on the chosen task card.
Day Two: Ask your student to write a draft of a story (or list—depending on the prompt).
Day Three: Review the draft with your student. Tell him what he has done well and give him a few suggestions. Have him write his final work on the stationery page provided (the one that matches the prompt card).

Note: If your student is not familiar with setting, conflict, or plot, I would review these short story elements before giving him his first story writing prompt card.

Story Writing Prompt Card Titles

These titles are included in this set of Hot Air Balloon Prompt Cards:

My Big Balloon Adventure
Rabbit Explores the World
The Hot Air Balloon Race
Ways You Can Travel
Mouse Gets Lost
Bear Builds a Balloon

Sample Story Writing Prompt Card

Here are the ideas and questions from a sample prompt card. Please remind your student that she can simply write short answers to the questions; no need to write complete sentences during the prewriting.

Title Idea: Bear Builds a Balloon

Writing Ideas and Questions:

Who is bear? What is he or she like? Hobbies? Favorite foods? Is he good at building things, or does he tend to make a disaster? Make sure bear’s personality shines through in your story.
Why is bear building a balloon? What does bear plan to do with it? Is anyone helping bear build? Will bear get to use the balloon?
What goes wrong in this story? What happens while bear is building? How will bear solve the problem?

Download Your Story Writing Prompt Cards

Are you ready to grab your set of free story writing prompt cards?

Hot Air Balloon Story Writing Prompt Cards

More Creative Writing Lessons and Resources

Are you looking for additional creative writing lessons and resources? Try some of these from my Tip-Top Printables Shop.