The 2011-12 PROMPTS!

YWP Prompts for the 2011-2012 School Year

Teachers and students are encouraged to participate in Young Writers Project by submit­ting best work as a 'Newspaper Entry' (NOT as a blog) done in class or outside of school, or by responding to weekly prompts. This year’s prompts were gleaned from hundreds of ideas suggested by teachers, students and our staff at YWP. Post work by starting an account and creating a 'Newspaper Entry' on youngwritersproject.org. Deadlines are Friday evenings at midnight. Work is selected and published in your local newspaper or on vpr.net within several weeks. We will let you know if your work is selected.

PDF of prompts and downloadable copies of photos attached below.

Students are encouraged to send photos and scanned artwork as well. More info on young­writersproject.org under CREATE>Images.

PAST PROMPTS FOR 2011-12

The deadlines for the following prompts have passed. Please do not submit any work  in response to these prompts, unless you are posting a piece of "general writing" for consideration. Click on the prompts to read all submissions. Thank you, YWP writers!

1. General Writing. Have any great writing from the summer? Send us your best, in any genre. Due Sept. 16.
2. 

Photo #1. Write a story based on this picture. Alternate: A memorable first. Describe the first time you tried something new – a new food, sport, attitude – anything that stands out for you. Due Sept. 23.

3. Alternate ending. Write a different ending for a favorite story, book, TV show or movie. Provide the context of the story up to the point where you take over. Alternate: Teachings. Describe one of your most inspiring teachers – inside or outside of the classroom. What have you learned from this person? Due Sept. 30.

4. Cyberbullying. How does cyberbullying affect you

   or the people you know? What should be done about it? Alternate: General. Send us your best work in any genre. Due Oct. 7.

5. “Close your eyes…” Begin or end a tale with this phrase. Alternate: Grind your gears. What do you find really annoying? How do you react or cope with it? Due Oct. 14. SPECIAL PROMPT: Tropical Storm Irene.

6. Sounds of fall. Write a poem or other genre of writing that focuses on the sounds you hear during fall. Alternate: Basement Door. You’re all alone in your house, and you hear the basement door creak open...Due Oct. 21.

7. Photo #2. Write a story based on this picture. Alternate: Line of dialogue. Write one line of dialogue each for two characters that can tell a whole story, or capture the attention of the reader. Due Oct. 28.

8. Public speaking. Everyone experiences it, but you feel so alone. What’s it like to get up in front of the class and present? Write about any funny, frightening or revealing moments you’ve had in the spotlight. Alternate: Rainbow. What is at the end of the rainbow? Due on Nov. 4.

9. Photo essay. Take a photograph and write three or four paragraphs about it. Include the photograph in your blog. Alternate: General. Send us your best work in any genre. Due Nov. 11.

10. Slam poem. Submit your best slam poem. Finalists may have theirs recorded and published on vpr.net. Alternate: Pet talk. You’re sitting with your pet, and suddenly he/she begins talking to you. What do

es your pet have to say? Due Nov. 18.

11. Dreams. Write about the craziest dream you’ve ever had. Include lots of details. Alternate: Habits. What is a good or bad habit that you have? Due Dec. 2.

12. Comfort. Who do you go to or what do you do when you need comfort? Is there an item that you’ve held onto over the years that makes you feel just a little safer? Alternate: Under the bed. You take a peek and what do you see? Due Dec. 9.

13. Writing on writing. Describe the process, its challenges, high points, low points and opportunities for triumph. Alternate: Holiday. Write a story about your favorite holiday. Use a real event – or use your imagination. Due Dec. 16.

14. Photo#3. What’s going on in this photo? Describe it. Alternate: Endless Supply: If you could have a never-ending supply of something – just one item – what would it be? Due Jan. 6.

15. Mr. Smith. “There was something strange about our new teacher, Mr. Smith…” Finish the story.

Alternate: General. Send us your best writing in any genre. Due Jan. 13.

16. One wish. If you had just one wish, what would it be? Alternate: Wild animal. You come upon an injured wil

d animal in the woods. What do you do? What does the animal do? Due Jan. 20.

17. Mistake. What was your biggest or most memorable mistake and what did you learn from it? Alternate: Rhyming Poetry. Submit your best rhyming poem. Due Jan. 27.

18. My town. What do you like or dislike about your town? What would you like to change? What makes it special? Alternate: You win! Against the odds, you win the lottery – the big

one. What will you do with all that money? How will your life change? Or do you want it to stay the same? Due Feb. 3.

19. Anywhere. If you could go anywhere, where would it be? Write a story or poem about this place and why it is so special. Alternate:  General. Send us your best writing in any genre. Due Feb. 10.

20. Fishbowl. When you look in, the fish is looking out. What does he see and think? Alternate: Plugged in. An extraordinary and ever-growing amount of our time is spent on the Internet and other electronic devices. How does this affect our lives, minds and relationships? Due Feb. 24.
21. Fictional character. If you could spend one day with a favorite character from a book, who would it be? What would you do? Alternate: Sense of smell. Do you have a favorite aroma? Or is there a certain scent that brings back memories for you? Due Mar. 2.
22. Finish the story.  “I met Emily Bronte walking in the graveyard near her house…” Alternate: Color. What color means happiness to you? Due Mar. 9.
23. An extraordinary person. Write about someone who has deeply influenced you, whether it be a person close to you or someone you've never met. Alternate: General. Send us your best writing in any genre. Due Mar 16.

24. Photo #4. Write a poem about the photo below. Alternate: Famous. One day, you wake up and you are suddenly, inexplicably, famous. What would you do that day? Who would you call first? How would you deal with the attention? Due Mar 23.

25. Abandoned house. Covered in vines and cobwebs, this old house once sheltered a family. Who were they? Where did they go? How does the house look now, compared to then? Alternate: Perfect day. Describe it. Any season, all or part of the day. Due Mar 30.

26. Freedom. Write about what you do to get away from it all and to feel free. Alternate: Finish the thought. “I swear, I was going to get there on time when all of a sudden...” Due April 6.

27. Overheard. Write a conversation overheard in a crowded elevator or on the commuter train in a large cit y. Alternate: Family. Your family is invited to a big family reunion. Describe the anticipation, the event, the people, how you fit in with this family – or don’t fit in. Due April 13.

28. Photo #5. Write about this picture in any genre. Alternate: I know you. Have you ever met someone and felt to your core that you know this person – from another time, another life? Describe the experience. Due April 27.

29.  Alive. “I feel most alive when…” Finish the thought in two paragraphs. Alternate: General. Send us your best writing in any genre. Due May 4.

30. Beauty. Describe the most beautiful person in the world to you – real or imagined, physically or intellectually, using whatever definition of beauty you choose. Alternate: Non-Rhyming Poetry. Submit your best non-rhyming poetry. Due May 11.

31. Solutions: If you had the power to solve one problem in your town, the state of Vermont, the United States or the world, what would it be? Alternate: Green. Write a poem about the color green. Due May 18.

32. Photo # 6. What are they chatting about? Write the dialogue. Alternate: Just before. Write about the moment just before the game starts, the test begins, etc. What is going on in your head? Due May 25.

33. Saying goodbye. Provide the context. Set the scene. Help the reader understand why it’s so difficult. Alternate: Into the future. “In 10 years, I will…” You will what? Make a prediction in three paragraphs or less. Due June 1.