Writing Prompt: Flying Fish and Finished Stories

This writing exercise can be an interesting challenge for writers who need to have a little creative fun or for students hoping to hone their writing skills. The more we write, the better writers we become. 

Writing can be fun! Not every student agrees because sometimes we create stress for students by introducing them to academic writing before we teach them to write creatively. We ask them to write academic paragraphs that have perfect grammar and spelling on the first draft. Any mistakes bring down their grade. Instead, build writing skills with fun writing exercises that can be edited the next day (or the next week) without any negativity associated with the editing process. Even professional writers never produce a perfect first draft. 

Here’s a fun exercise: 

Finish this sentence: One day, fifty flying fish_________________________________.

Now use that sentence as the start of a short story that must be at least two paragraphs long (or six sentences for younger students). Writers or older students can add up to 750 words if you want to write a longer story. 

The next part of the of the challenge involves a little fun editing: 

  • First, add three adjectives somewhere in your story. 
  • Next, add two adverbs to your story. 
  • Finally, add one sentence anywhere in the story that starts with, “If someone had a camera, _________________. (Younger students may want to skip this finally part of the challenge.)

Now share your writing with someone! Edit as needed after you had fun with the writing process. 












Location: United States

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