150 Inspiring Picture Writing Prompts (Free Google Slides)

Creative writing is a challenge for many students, often because they can’t come up with anything to write about. That’s why we love picture writing prompts. Each one sparks the imagination and helps young writers jump right into crafting a story to match. We rounded up a whole collection of intriguing images to help kids in grades K-12 along. Plus we designed a set of free Google Slides featuring all of the prompts so you can easily share them with students.

Tip: Start by showing students the picture (or let them choose from among several) without making any comment about what they’re seeing. For kids who still struggle to get started, suggest a potential title or opening sentence, like the examples included here.

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Elementary Picture Writing Prompts

When kids first see these picture writing prompts, they may or may not immediately feel inspired. Try asking general questions like these to get them started:

• What are the names of the people or animals in the picture?
• How do you think the people or animals in the picture are feeling?
• How would you describe the setting, including the weather, sounds, smells, etc.?
• What do you think the people or animals are saying or are about to say?
• What happened right before this picture was taken? What will happen next?

Included below are more questions for each image to boost creativity, along with potential titles and opening lines.

Puppy Love

Opening Line Idea: When Larry fell in love, he fell hard.

Jump-Start Questions: Where did the dog get the rose? Who or what is the dog bringing the rose to? Can the dog talk like a human?

Danger!

Opening Line Idea: Their first mistake was thinking the sign couldn’t possibly be serious.

Jump-Start Questions: If the sign is real, what could it mean? Where do you think this sign is posted? What could happen if you ignore this sign?

Snowy Footprints

Opening Line Idea: After that crazy day, all that was left to show for it was footprints in the snow.

Jump-Start Questions: How many different people made these prints? Is this snow, or could it be some other white substance? Were the people who made these prints walking or running?

Into the Mouth

Opening Line Idea: “Come on, it’s totally safe!” Ally assured her brother.

Jump-Start Questions: What creature is this the jaw of? Why are the children sticking their heads in its mouth? What do you think the creature is thinking?

Undersea Treasure

Opening Line Idea: For years, no one saw the locked treasure chest but the local fish, who wondered what it could contain.

Jump-Start Questions: Who left this treasure chest here, and when? What are three different things that could be inside? Do the bubbles mean there’s something alive inside the chest?

A Game of Fetch

Opening Line Idea: To Scout, it was a game, but to Mr. Freezy, it was much more.

Jump-Start Questions: Are the dog and snowperson friends? Who built the snowperson? Who does the dog belong to?

Ladybug Gossip

Opening Line Idea: The ladybug’s picnic was an excellent chance to meet up with old friends and hear all the latest gossip.

Jump-Start Questions: Are these ladybugs friends or enemies? Are the flowers very small, or are the ladybugs very big? Was this picture taken in a garden, a wild meadow, or some other place?

Peekaboo

Opening Line Idea: We met him when he peeked into our window, watching us as we watched cartoons.

Jump-Start Questions: Is this child looking into their own house or someone else’s? Do they want to come inside or would they rather stay outside? Who is looking at the child from the other side of the window?

King of the Jungle

Opening Line Idea: It wasn’t the crown that made Amari the king of all he surveyed.

Jump-Start Questions: Is this lion in the wild or in captivity like a zoo? Is the crown real, or is the lion imagining it? How does the person taking the photo feel about the lion?

The Final Pitch

Opening Line Idea: It all came down to this—the final pitch in a game that was tied 2-2.

Jump-Start Questions: Does the player hit the ball, and if so, do they make it to a base? What is the score of the game so far? Who is there to cheer the player on?

Free Hugs

Opening Line Idea: Every dog in the neighborhood knew that Rocky gave the best hugs and was always willing to lend an ear too.

Jump-Start Questions: Do these two dogs know each other, or did they just meet? Is the dog on the right feeling happy, annoyed, or something else? Give three different reasons why the dogs are sitting like this.

Skateboard Life

Opening Line Idea: When Charli got her first skateboard, she made herself a promise.

Jump-Start Questions: Where did this girl get her skateboard from? Who taught her how to skateboard? What does she feel like when she rides her skateboard?

In the Garden

Opening Line Idea: The woman walked in the garden every day, never saying a word.

Jump-Start Questions: Where and when does this garden grow? Who planted this garden and why? What is the woman thinking of as she stands in the garden?

Sunset Friends

Opening Line Idea: They met on the jungle gym every day at sunset, sharing everything about their day.

Jump-Start Questions: Was this photo taken in the morning or the evening? What time of year is it? Are the children playing on the jungle gym or just hanging out and talking?

Pink Umbrellas

Opening Line Idea: When the pink umbrellas first appeared, Toni thought they might be magic.

Jump-Start Questions: Where and when was this picture taken? Who hung the pink umbrellas? Are the umbrellas coming down or floating up?

Firefly Forest

Opening Line Idea: Olivia was surprised to discover that the fireflies didn’t just glow, they also sang.

Jump-Start Questions: Are all the lights in this picture fireflies, or is something else glowing? What does this forest sound and smell like? Would you want to be in this forest alone in the middle of the night?

Giant Insect

Opening Line Idea: Grandma says when she was little, ants were so small you could squash dozens at a time with your foot.

Jump-Start Questions: Was this giant insect built by humans, or does it come from another planet? Where is the insect now, and where is it going? Is the insect the villain, or is it just an innocent bystander?

Fallen House

Opening Line Idea: Staring at their house, which was now on its side, the whole family was in shock.

Jump-Start Questions: Who used to live in this house? Was anyone inside the house when it fell, and are they OK? What caused the house to fall but not be completely destroyed?

Red Riding Hood

Opening Line Idea: When she thought about it later, Red wasn’t entirely sure how she could possibly have thought the wolf looked like her grandmother.

Jump-Start Questions: Is this how you pictured the Wolf from “Little Red Riding Hood”? What is in the basket? What would you do if you were the girl in the picture?

Kangaroo Fall

Opening Line Idea: “Well, this is embarrassing,” thought Bouncer, as laughter filled the air around him.

Jump-Start Questions: Did this kangaroo fall over, or is it just lying down? Where does the kangaroo live? Is there anything in the picture to explain what the kangaroo is doing?

Lost Cat

Opening Line Idea: Daci’s big brother said her signs wouldn’t help them find their runaway cat, but he was wrong.

Jump-Start Questions: Who posted the sign? Where do you think the cat is now? What could the “substantial reward” be?

Penguin Chair

Opening Line Idea: Standing tall on The Blue Chair, Lord Bojangles prepared to make his big announcement.

Jump-Start Questions: Where did the blue chair come from? How did the penguin get up on the chair? Can any penguin stand on the chair or just this penguin?

Egg Family

Opening Line Idea: Of all the eggs in the carton, Ella was the one who could always crack you up.

Jump-Start Questions: Who drew on these these eggs? Are these real bird eggs or are they made of something else? Where are these eggs, and why are they there?

Sky Swings

Opening Line Idea: That was the year Min was finally tall enough to ride the Sky Swings, but now she wasn’t so sure.

Jump-Start Questions: How high are these swings? Would you want to ride the swings? How would you feel if you were soaring through the air?

Rubber Duck Parade

Opening Line Idea: It was truly an honor to be asked to lead the Spring Duck Parade.

Jump-Start Questions: Who put these ducks in the gutter? Are the ducks having fun, or are they being forced to be there? What would you do if you were walking along and saw these ducks?

Teddy Story Time

Opening Line Idea: Story time was the best time of the day for Mama and Baby Bear.

Jump-Start Questions: What book are the bears reading? Where did the bears get the book? Can humans understand these bears when they talk?

Puddle Reflection

Opening Line Idea: Her mom said it was just her reflection, but Nia was pretty sure that her twin was living in that puddle.

Jump-Start Questions: What is the child thinking about? Is it warm or cold outside? What is the child going to do next?

Happy Ball

Opening Line Idea: The day Amos started his journey down the river, the sun was shining brightly.

Jump-Start Questions: What body of water is the ball floating in? How did it get there? Who does the ball belong to?

Turtle Trouble

Opening Line Idea: “None shall pass,” growled the old sea turtle, blocking the way.

Jump-Start Questions: What body of water is the turtle swimming in? How old is the turtle? How did the person who took the picture get so close to the turtle?

Dinosaur Friend

Opening Line Idea: Luther was supposed to keep Balthazar on a leash, but once they reached the park, he let him run free.

Jump-Start Questions: Is the dinosaur wild or the child’s pet? Where are they standing? How does the dinosaur feel about the boy?

Bear Yoga

Opening Line Idea: Every morning, rain or shine, Max started the day with his yoga routine.

Jump-Start Questions: What is this bear doing? Where is this bear? What will the bear do next?

What?!?

Opening Line Idea: It takes a lot to surprise a monkey, but you don’t see something like this every day.

Jump-Start Questions: What are the monkeys looking at? How were the monkeys feeling at that moment? If there were a speech bubble coming out of one of the monkeys’ mouths, what would it say?

Not Coming Out

Opening Line Idea: The day started out normally enough, but by the end, Chris knew he was in over his head.

Jump-Start Questions: Is the child hiding, playing, or doing something else? Is the child at home or at someone else’s house? Is he happy, sad, or scared?

UFO Cow

Opening Line Idea: “Oh, boy,” Farmer Ted thought. “Here we go again.”

Jump-Start Questions: Is the cow being drawn up or set down? Is the cow scared? What happens to the cow inside the UFO?

Sunset Dreams

Opening Line Idea: It wasn’t the way Axel expected to spend the holiday, but it turned out to be pretty great in the end.

Jump-Start Questions: Where was this picture taken? Is it actually Christmas, or is the boy pretending? What will the boy do next?

Something To Celebrate

Opening Line Idea: Emmy wished she could freeze that moment in time and hang on to it forever.

Jump-Start Questions: What are these kids celebrating? How do these kids know each other? Where are these kids?

Fairy House

Opening Line Idea: When the fairies that lived in the garden invited her to stay with them for awhile, Maria wasn’t sure what to expect.

Jump-Start Questions: Who lives in the tree? How do they get inside? Are the mushrooms poisonous?

Loch Ness Mystery

Opening Line Idea: “There it is! I told you Nessie is real!” Angus whispered to Lee.

Jump-Start Questions: Is the creature in the picture real or a statue of some kind? If it’s a statue, who put it there and why? How was the person who took this picture feeling at this moment?

Lonely Bear

Opening Line Idea: It was hard to say who was lonelier that night, Amil or his lost stuffed bear, Jasper.

Jump-Start Questions: Who does the bear belong to? Is its owner nearby, or is the bear lost? How old is the bear?

Sometimes You Lose

Opening Line Idea: When his team lost the championship, Miguel was crushed, but it turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to him.

Jump-Start Questions: Why is the boy upset? What would the boy’s friends say to him? What would his parents say to him?

Beach Piggy

Opening Line Idea: The sea was as beautiful as Chester had dreamed, and he couldn’t wait to run into the waves.

Jump-Start Questions: Where is this piggy? Does he know that his coins are falling out? Does the pig need to put on sunscreen?

Sitting on the Dock

Opening Line Idea: The sunset signaled the end of the day, but the fun was just beginning.

Jump-Start Questions: Who are the people sitting on the dock? What have they spent their day doing? How are they feeling right now?

Sunny Day

Opening Line Idea: Even sunflowers find some days a little too bright.

Jump-Start Questions: Who put the sunglasses on the sunflower? What is reflected in the lenses of the sunglasses? What does the sunflower field smell like?

Winter Parade

Opening Line Idea: The day was chilly, but the sound of the marching band warmed everyone’s hearts.

Jump-Start Questions: What are these animals playing on their instruments? Is the polar bear the leader of the band? If you could join this band, what instrument would you play?

Flying Dreams

Opening Line Idea: Chris had always believed that life was nothing without dreams.

Jump-Start Questions: What is this child thinking about? Where was this picture taken? What’s inside the suitcase?

Elephant in the Room

Opening Line Idea: Tucker knew he was probably sitting on the remote, but he was too depressed to get up and find it.

Jump-Start Questions: What room is this? What is the elephant thinking about? Is the couch strong enough to support the elephant?

Meerkat Pals

Opening Line Idea: “Listen,” said Pongo. “I know you’re sad, but it’s all going to be OK.”

Jump-Start Questions: Where are these two meerkats? Who is taking the picture? What is the meerkat on the left feeling right now?

Summer Storm

Opening Line Idea: The palm trees were bending sideways, but the strange thing was that the wind wasn’t blowing at all.

Jump-Start Questions: Is the wind blowing in the trees warm or cold? If you were on this beach, how would you feel? What will these trees look like after the storm passes?

In the Stacks

Opening Line Idea: One of these books had the answer they so desperately needed. The problem was how to find it.

Jump-Start Questions: What kinds of books are on these shelves? Is this a library or some other kind of place? How would you feel in this room?

So Much Cheese

Opening Line Idea: Agatha hated to admit it, but she really didn’t even like cheese that much.

Jump-Start Questions: Where did these ants find the cheese? Where are they taking it? Are these ants friends?

Middle School Picture Writing Prompts

Middle school writing prompts can be a little more complex, with pictures that have a lot of potential interpretations. You can use the same questions to kick-start creative thinking as you would with elementary students (see above), plus deeper questions like these:

• How does the picture make you feel?
• Who took the picture and why?
• What incidents led up to the moment of the image?
• What are three different things that could happen next?
• Does this picture take place in the past, present, or future?

New Shoes

Opening Line Idea: Morgan was incredibly proud of those shoes, paid for entirely with money from after-school jobs.

Jump-Start Questions: Who is wearing the shoes? Would you like to have shoes like this? Imagine the shoes a year from now, dirty and worn—how did they get that way?

Only a Dream

Opening Line Idea: With his last bit of energy, Kai scrawled his message on the wall for whoever came after him.

Jump-Start Questions: Who wrote this message and why? Where is this message written? Who is “they”?

The New Key

Opening Line Idea: The town couldn’t believe it, but it turned out to be true—the letter J was being replaced with a smiley face.

Jump-Start Questions: Who created this keyboard? What would happen if you replaced a letter with an emoji? What other letters would you replace and with what symbols?

Piano Lessons

Opening Line Idea: Before she could even speak, Arya was drawn to the black and white keys.

Jump-Start Questions: Where is this piano, and who does it belong to? Will the child touch the keys gently or bang on them loudly? What song would you play on this piano?

Magic Land

Opening Line Idea: “Well,” said Lakshmi, “I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t this.”

Jump-Start Questions: What do the flowers in this world smell like? Could you use the mushrooms like trampolines? Where do the stairs lead?

Walked in Gum

Opening Line Idea: “This is the last straw!” Dionne exclaimed as she peeled the gum from the grimy bottom of her shoe.

Jump-Start Questions: Who left the gum on the sidewalk? Was it on purpose, or was it an accident? What is the girl thinking as she pulls off the gum?

Empty Chairs

Opening Line Idea: By sunset, all four chairs were empty, and the only signs of life were the gulls swooping down from above.

Jump-Start Questions: Are these chairs abandoned or just empty temporarily? Is the water warm or cold? Would you want to go for a swim here?

Mysterious Lane

Opening Line Idea: The air was still, but the trees seemed to be calling me forward.

Jump-Start Questions: Do you find this scene calming or spooky? Where does this lane lead? What would you hear and smell if you were standing there?

The Big Jump

Opening Line Idea: Like so many of Mr. Winston’s plans, this one had seemed like a better idea when his feet were still on the ground.

Jump-Start Questions: What would you name this cat? Where is the cat jumping from? What will the cat land on?

Letter and Key

Opening Line Idea: The day she turned 12, Vivi’s aunt handed her an envelope containing a key … and the family secret.

Jump-Start Questions: What would you hope to find in an old letter like this? How old is the key? Where has this letter been before now?

The Eye

Opening Line Idea: Onyx stared at the large glowing eye in silence.

Jump-Start Questions: Who is the person in this picture? What is the large thing in the background? What will happen if the person shoots it with an arrow?

Mermaid Mystery

Opening Line Idea: It was a mermaid—or was it?

Jump-Start Questions: Is this a mermaid or something else? What would you do if you woke up like this one day? How is the creature feeling at this moment?

Balloon Door

Opening Line Idea: Everyone had a different experience when they opened The Door.

Jump-Start Questions: Who blew up these balloons and why? Is there a person behind the balloons? Where is this door located?

Bee Standoff

Opening Line Idea: “This flower ain’t big enough for the both of us!” said Bianca.

Jump-Start Questions: Are the bees from the same colony or rival colonies? Why is this flower so special to the bees? Do you think the bees are cute or scary?

Solitary Seat

Opening Line Idea: For as long as anyone could remember, Angus McGee spent his evenings in the same chair next to the woodstove.

Jump-Start Questions: How long has it been since anyone sat in this chair? What happened to this house? Would you want to visit this place?

Best Friends

Opening Line Idea: When you decide to run away from home forever, you can’t possibly leave your best friend behind.

Jump-Start Questions: How is the child feeling? How far do you think they have already walked? If you were running away from home, what would you take with you?

Dinosaur Demise

Opening Line Idea: In retrospect, setting the time machine to randomly choose any day and time in the past might not have been such a good idea.

Jump-Start Questions: If you were standing here watching this scene, what would you do? Do these dinosaurs survive whatever happens next? Would you stop the asteroid from killing off the dinosaurs if you could?

Magic Lamps

Opening Line Idea: “Choose wisely,” said the old shopkeeper, “for only one of these lamps is truly magic.”

Jump-Start Questions: Are these lamps brand-new or very old and well cared for? Do you think a magic genie living in a lamp would be good or evil? What wishes would you make, and what would happen if they came true?

Message in a Bottle

Opening Line Idea: The message floated at sea for more than 50 years before the day we found it on the beach.

Jump-Start Questions: If you found a bottle like this, would you open it on your own or invite others to join you? What would you do with the letter inside? How far do you think this bottle has traveled?

Barrel Boat

Opening Line Idea: Of all the ways to impress someone, Jonah thought to himself, this had to be one of the most ridiculous.

Jump-Start Questions: Why is this person floating on a barrel ? Do you think this looks like fun, or would it be scary? What is in the barrels?

Dragon Guardian

Opening Line Idea: When your parents give you your own dragon guardian, your childhood is bound to be enchanted.

Jump-Start Questions: Is the dragon young or old? How does the person feel about the dragon? What will happen next?

Octopus’s Garden

Opening Line Idea: Wouldn’t you like to be under the sea, in an octopus’s garden in the shade?

Jump-Start Questions: Where was this picture taken? How much oxygen does the diver have left in their tank? What color will the octopus turn next?

Something New

Opening Line Idea: They’d been best friends for years, but lately they’d both secretly been wondering what the future might hold.

Jump-Start Questions: How do these kids know each other? Where are they going? What are they about to say to each other?

Beam Me Up!

Opening Line Idea: Milo’s earliest memory was of watching his brother float into the sky above him, clutching his bicycle and caught in a beam of light.

Jump-Start Questions: Is the person going up or coming down? Where is the light coming from? How does the person in the picture feel right now?

Poison Apple

Opening Line Idea: To join the club, all Aaron had to do was creep up and snatch the apple from the skeleton’s hand without being seen.

Jump-Start Questions: Whose skeleton is this? Is the apple safe to eat? Would you eat this apple?

Giraffe Council

Opening Line Idea: “It is now 3 p.m., and I call this meeting of the Mighty Council of Giraffes to order,” announced Imari.

Jump-Start Questions: Why are these giraffes gathered together? What do giraffes like to talk about? Would you like to be a giraffe?

Mystery Creature

Opening Line Idea: At first glance, it was hard to tell whether the little creature was friend or foe.

Jump-Start Questions: Is this creature big or small? Is it alone, or are there others like it? Would you keep this creature as a pet?

Onward

Opening Line Idea: As the sky turned orange, Ke’shan ran faster than ever and used their last bit of energy to push off and soar over the water below.

Jump-Start Questions: Why is this person running? Do they make the jump or fall into the water? Is this person jumping or floating?

The End of Days

Opening Line Idea: Despite their best efforts, they arrived too late—the battle had already begun.

Jump-Start Questions: When is this scene happening? Who is attacking and why? What would you do if you saw this scene taking place?

Out of the Book

Opening Line Idea: “Happily ever after” was about to take on a whole new meaning.

Jump-Start Questions: Does the girl know she’s a book character? Where did she come from? What happened right before this picture was taken?

Stopped Clock

Opening Line Idea: I was sure that the time on the broken clock was the clue to solving the mystery.

Jump-Start Questions: How long has this clock been stopped at 6:02? Does the clock still work? Who does the clock belong to?

Dawn Web

Opening Line Idea: Alina got up early, certain that this time she’d catch the fairies using the spiderweb as a trampoline.

Jump-Start Questions: How do spiderwebs and spiders make you feel? Would you knock down this web or leave it alone? What will happen to this web throughout the day?

Do Shoes Grow on Trees?

Opening Line Idea: The day I threw my own shoes into the tree was the day I really started to grow up.

Jump-Start Questions: Who threw the first pair of shoes into the tree and why? If you saw a nice pair of shoes, would you try to get them down? Would you throw your own shoes into the tree?

Abstract Art

Opening Line Idea: “So,” asked the art teacher, “what do you think this painting means?”

Jump-Start Questions: Is the paint wet or dry? Is this the whole painting or a small part of a larger one? Who chose these colors and why?

Two Robots

Opening Line Idea: Everything about NB-317 was made of cardboard except his heart—that was made of flesh and blood and very capable of being broken.

Jump-Start Questions: Who built this robot? Does the robot belong to someone, or is it an independent being? What happened to the other robot?

Dream Come True

Opening Line Idea: It all started when Quinn watched her favorite movie the night before they assigned partners for the 8th grade science fair project.

Jump-Start Questions: What is in the balloons to allow them to lift and carry a house? Is the house coming up or going down? Would you want to be inside the house right now?

Giant Citrus

Opening Line Idea: “James thinks his dumb peach is so special,” thought Mike. “What until he sees this!”

Jump-Start Questions: Where did the giant fruit come from? What does the air smell like? Would you taste these fruits?

Storm at Sea

Opening Line Idea: As the rain lashed his face and lightning tore apart the sky, Kiran had to admit he’d always thought it would be a lot more fun being a pirate.

Jump-Start Questions: Is anyone on the ship, or is it abandoned? If you were the captain, what would you be thinking right now? What would happen if the ship capsized or was struck by lightning?

Grasshopper Close-Up

Opening Line Idea: That’s when Javed realized it wasn’t that the grasshopper was too big—it was that he was suddenly very, very small.

Jump-Start Questions: Is this grasshopper cute or scary? What is the grasshopper looking at? Would you pick up this grasshopper or shoo it away?

Pigeon Attitude

Opening Line Idea: It’s true what they say—pigeons tend to have really bad attitudes.

Jump-Start Questions: Can this pigeon read the sign? Where is the sign hung? What is the pigeon looking at?

Freeze Dance

Opening Line Idea: It was an awkward position to be stuck in when time suddenly froze, that’s for sure.

Jump-Start Questions: What music is this girl listening to? Is she alone, or are others dancing with her? What does she feel like right now?

Mushroom Dog

Opening Line Idea: Otis sighed, thinking that this was the dumbest costume yet.

Jump-Start Questions: Who dressed up this dog, and why? What is the dog thinking? Do you think this is cute or just silly?

Abandoned Puppet

Opening Line Idea: The ventriloquist’s dummy sat abandoned on the sidewalk for weeks before anyone discovered its secret.

Jump-Start Questions: Who abandoned this doll and why? What would the doll say if it could talk? Do you find this intriguing or just creepy?

Mountain Air

Opening Line Idea: Standing there, Rihanna suddenly knew the meaning of the word “awestruck.”

Jump-Start Questions: What does the air smell like here? How did the woman get here? Is the scene silent, or is there noise in the background?

Hoop Dreams

Opening Line Idea: As the final seconds ticked down on the clock, everyone waited to see if Bella’s shot would go in.

Jump-Start Questions: What’s the current score in this basketball game? What are the girls thinking right now? Does the ball go in or bounce off the rim?

Temper Tantrum

Opening Line Idea: Ben knew he shouldn’t be throwing a tantrum in the ice cream aisle, but he just couldn’t seem to stop.

Jump-Start Questions: What caused this boy’s tantrum? What are his parents thinking? What will they say to him afterward?

Festival of Joy

Opening Line Idea: As the chiapanecas began their traditional dance, Rosalita felt her heart begin to soar.

Jump-Start Questions: What kind of music are the dancers dancing to? Who taught them this dance? Who made their costumes?

Tokyo Street

Opening Line Idea: The sights, the sounds, the smells … Denji was so glad to be back in his favorite city on Earth.

Jump-Start Questions: What is available in the various buildings along this road? What do the signs say? What does the air smell like here?

Two Grades

Opening Line Idea: As she prepared to pass back the graded tests, Ms. Fletcher knew two students were about to be very surprised.

Jump-Start Questions: How important was this test? How will the student who failed feel? What about the one who aced the test?

Serenity Now

Opening Line Idea: The scene couldn’t have been more peaceful, but Aiden felt all riled up inside.

Jump-Start Questions: How would you feel if you were here? Would you want to swim in the pool or the ocean? What sounds could you hear if you were standing here?

High School Picture Writing Prompts

High school writers are ready to dig deep, exploring character development and detailed plots. These pictures offer a jumping-off point to set their imaginations free. Try questions like these:

• What mood does the picture evoke?
• If your friend texted you this picture with no explanation, what would you think?
• What would you say to the person in the picture?
• Write five words for each of the five senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste) related to the picture.
• Is this picture the beginning, the middle, or the end of the story?

Cyborg Girl

Opening Line Idea: When she was 14, Tasha’s parents finally told her the truth about what she really was.

Jump-Start Questions: Who made this cyborg? Does the cyborg have emotions? Where does the cyborg live?

BBQ Cookout

Opening Line Idea: “So, I’m guessing no one told you I’m a vegetarian?” asked Sadie with a smile.

Jump-Start Questions: What would you do if you were invited to a meal where there was nothing you could eat? Does this meal look delicious or disgusting? Would you rather be the one grilling or the one cleaning up afterward?

The Accident

Opening Line Idea: We couldn’t help laughing, but when we learned what he was looking at on his phone, it didn’t seem so funny anymore.

Jump-Start Questions: What was the man doing on his phone? How did the little girl feel after running into the man? Will the man be angry?

Hopeless

Opening Line Idea: My dad said to ignore them, but I just couldn’t walk on by.

Jump-Start Questions: What’s the dog’s name? What is in this person’s cart? Where will this person sleep tonight?

Hippo Troubles

Opening Line Idea: Like all parents, hippos sometimes really need a break from their kids.

Jump-Start Questions: Where do these hippos live? Does the mother hippo feel love for her baby? What would happen if a bee flew into the baby hippo’s mouth?

Screen Time

Opening Line Idea: “Hello?” said Donna, staggering into the room. “Did anyone even hear me calling for help for the last 20 minutes?”

Jump-Start Questions: What is each person looking at on their device? Are they sitting in silence, or are they sharing what they’re doing? How long have they been sitting there?

Beach Music

Opening Line Idea: Kaleel played at the beach each evening at sunset, hoping that one day she’d return.

Jump-Start Questions: What kind of music is this man playing? Why is he playing at the beach? How do other people on the beach feel about the music?

Never-Ending Tunnel

Opening Line Idea: The tunnel seemed to stretch to infinity, but Jayma knew what was at the end, and it terrified her.

Jump-Start Questions: Does this tunnel scare you or intrigue you? Would you rather walk, run, Rollerblade, or ride a skateboard from one end to the other? If the lights suddenly went out, what would you do?

Carving Out Love

Opening Line Idea: For years, we wondered who “E” and “J” were and whether their love had lasted a lifetime.

Jump-Start Questions: Would you ever carve someone’s initials in a tree? Is carving initials in a tree the same as spray-painting graffiti? Would you feel bad if you had to cut this tree down and burn it for firewood?

Glowing Globe

Opening Line Idea: Just then, the globe began to glow, and Jaxson knew he was about to leap through space and time once again—destination unknown.

Jump-Start Questions: What causes the globe to glow? Is the globe of Earth or another celestial body? Is the globe hot or cold?

See No Evil

Opening Line Idea: It seemed like a funny joke to pose the skeletons in front of old Mrs. Petoski’s house, but then she turned up dead, and the police said it was murder.

Jump-Start Questions: Who put these skeletons here and why? Which is worse: seeing evil, hearing evil, or speaking evil? How would you feel if you knew these were actual human skeletons, not props?

Upside Down

Opening Line Idea: It’s an odd feeling to wake up one morning and find yourself able to walk on the ceiling.

Jump-Start Questions: What would the advantages and disadvantages of defying gravity be? Can this person go outside without floating away? What is the person thinking right now?

At the Fence

Opening Line Idea: So much depended on which side of the fence you were on.

Jump-Start Questions: Is this person on the outside looking in or the inside looking out? What might the fence be separating the person from? What would happen if the person tried to climb the fence?

Bicycle Race

Opening Line Idea: Finley had trained too hard for this race to come in third—it just wasn’t good enough.

Jump-Start Questions: Are these bikers competing, working as a team, or just biking for fun? Where are they riding? Is coming in second or third the same as losing?

Not So Merry

Opening Line Idea: Nothing makes a merry-go-round less magical than seeing it taken apart and laid out on the sidewalk.

Jump-Start Questions: What happened to this carousel? Who fixes broken merry-go-rounds? How old do you think this horse is?

Laundromat Antics

Opening Line Idea: I never expected to meet my first love feet first.

Jump-Start Questions: Is it safe for this person to be inside the machine? Have you ever used a Laundromat? What does this room smell like?

I’m Sorry

Opening Line Idea: Molly’s mom probably didn’t mean for her to be the one to find the note, but that’s how things turned out.

Jump-Start Questions: What would you do if you found this note and ring? What is the writer sorry for? Would you ever leave a note like this?

Through the Storm

Opening Line Idea: Javier knew it would have been smarter to stay put, but he had to make sure his mom was safe before the worst of the storm arrived.

Jump-Start Questions: Do you think it would be fun to be driving this car or too dangerous? What would make you drive around in a storm like this? What will the scene look like after the storm has passed?

Lifetime Friends

Opening Line Idea: They’d been friends for as long as they could remember—even longer, in fact.

Jump-Start Questions: Who is holding the babies, and how do they know each other? How old are the babies? Are either of the babies crying?

Stray Kitten

Opening Line Idea: “I am NOT taking you home with me,” Kai told the tiny mewling kitten firmly.

Jump-Start Questions: Would you pick this kitten up and take it home? Is the kitten’s mother nearby? Why is the kitten looking at the person?

Abandoned Greenhouse

Opening Line Idea: One hundred years ago, the duchess grew pineapples here in the middle of winter.

Jump-Start Questions: Who built this structure and when? What happened to it? Would you rather knock this structure down or renovate it?

Razor Wire

Opening Line Idea: Amani’s earliest memory was razor wire—miles and miles of it.

Jump-Start Questions: Does this fence make you feel safe or anxious? What does this fence separate? If you had to get past this fence, what would you do?

Church Graveyard

Opening Line Idea: Everyone feels differently in a graveyard, but for me, they’re very peaceful places.

Jump-Start Questions: Do you find this cemetery peaceful or creepy? Would you feel differently at night? Does anyone ever bring flowers to these graves?

Orb of Death

Opening Line Idea: “Do you really want to know?” Death asked. “Because once you know, you won’t be able to forget.”

Jump-Start Questions: If Death offered to reveal your future, would you accept? What does the orb represent? Does this image scare you or intrigue you?

The Shot

Opening Line Idea: Steve was sure his shot would make it, but it bounced off the rim just as the buzzer rang to end the game.

Jump-Start Questions: Will this player make his shot? Would you rather be playing in the game or watching the game? What’s the score of the game at this point?

First Contact

Opening Line Idea: This was it—the moment that would change what it meant to be human forever.

Jump-Start Questions: Where do the aliens come from? Will the aliens and the humans be able to communicate with each other? How would you feel if you were the first human to meet an alien?

One Life To Live

Opening Line Idea: His face said his life had been a hard one, but his eyes told a different tale.

Jump-Start Questions: If you could ask this man one question, what would it be? Why did this man decide to grow a mustache and beard? How old do you think this man is?

Winter Walk

Opening Line Idea: Snow fell, creating a blank canvas to record the story of that fateful walk.

Jump-Start Questions: How would you feel if you were walking in the snow in this scene? How would you find out what made the tracks? How far from civilization was this picture taken?

Train to Nowhere

Opening Line Idea: It certainly wasn’t the most luxurious way to travel, but then again, no one really wanted to make this trip in the first place.

Jump-Start Questions: What would it feel like to sit here? Why has this place been abandoned? If you looked through the windows, what would you see outside?

Modern Mary Poppins

Opening Line Idea: She dropped into our lives on a gray day in midwinter, a hint of the spring that was to come.

Jump-Start Questions: Why is this person in the field? What are they waiting for? Who made the tracks in this field?

All That Remains

Opening Line Idea: Dust motes filled the air of the abandoned classroom, replacing the voices once heard there.

Jump-Start Questions: Where is the light coming from? What would you hear if you were standing here? What was happening in this room 100 years ago?

Pocket Pal

Opening Line Idea: From the day he found the little creature, Luis refused to go anywhere without him.

Jump-Start Questions: How would you feel if you were talking to this person and the animal suddenly poked its head out? What will happen if the creature grows too big to fit in the pocket? Would you like a pocket-size pet?

The Question

Opening Line Idea: Their happily ever after began quietly, with a bouquet of flowers.

Jump-Start Questions: What is the person in front about to say to the other person? Did they pick the flowers themselves, and do they have any special meaning? What will the woman say in response?

Night Lights

Opening Line Idea: When they spotted it in the store window, they all knew their family had to have it.

Jump-Start Questions: What is the family looking at? Do they live in this town, or are they tourists? What will they do next?

Forest of Fear

Opening Line Idea: At first, Mateo thought it was a joke, but the screams that followed told him there was nothing remotely funny about it.

Jump-Start Questions: Is there a person behind the trees, or are the arms coming out of the tree itself? Would you investigate or run away? What does the forest smell like?

Eye Spy

Opening Line Idea: At the elite level, being a spy meant serious commitments.

Jump-Start Questions: Would you like a cybernetic eye? What would you do if you woke up and found yourself with one against your will? Is this a human with an artificial eye or a very human-like cyborg?

The Yellow Door

Opening Line Idea: On their 14th birthday, every resident of Fresnia was required to stand before the Wall of Doors and make a choice.

Jump-Start Questions: Would you have painted this door yellow or chosen a different color? Do all the doors lead to the same place? Would you open the yellow door first, last, or not at all?

Graffiti Palace

Opening Line Idea: To strangers, it seemed random, but every mark on those walls had deep meaning for us.

Jump-Start Questions: Do you see this graffiti as vandalism or art? If you found a can of spray paint here, would you add your own contribution? What did this building used to be?

Fossil Fish

Opening Line Idea: Millions of years ago, the fish gave one final flop before lying still in the deep mud.

Jump-Start Questions: How did this fish die? How was it different from modern fish? What other fossils do you think might be found nearby?

On the Rails

Opening Line Idea: Aliyah stood on the tracks, uncertain of where to go next.

Jump-Start Questions: Is it safe for this person to be walking along these railroad tracks? Is the person alone by choice? Is it sunrise or sunset?

Roller Coaster

Opening Line Idea: When they decided to build a town amusement park, nothing was going to stand in their way.

Jump-Start Questions: How do you feel about roller coasters? Is it scary to ride this through the hole in the wall? Does anyone live or work in this building?

The Interview

Opening Line Idea: Ramin never dreamed that his news interview would change the world.

Jump-Start Questions: Who is interviewing this man? Why is the woman behind him yelling? Where does this scene take place?

The Present

Opening Line Idea: It seemed like a small box to hold such an incredible gift.

Jump-Start Questions: What’s inside the box? Who gave it to the woman? How will she respond?

City of Light

Opening Line Idea: The view was incredible, but I often dreamed of hopping on one of those ships and traveling far, far away.

Jump-Start Questions: Where is this city? Who is flying the ships? Would you want to live here?

Whoops

Opening Line Idea: Parker was pretty sure their first day of work would also be their last.

Jump-Start Questions: Is this house being renovated or knocked down? Did the worker do this on purpose? Who used to live here?

Battle’s End

Opening Line Idea: It was truly a case of winning the battle but losing the war.

Jump-Start Questions: What was the knight fighting for? Who lives in the castle on the left? What will the knight do next?

Hat Shop

Opening Line Idea: “The perfect hat is somewhere in this store,” Quinn said, “and we’re not leaving until we find it.”

Jump-Start Questions: How much do the different hats cost? Who runs the store? Would you like to shop here?

You Don’t Get It

Opening Line Idea: Isla had heard this particular lecture so many times, she could recite it by heart.

Jump-Start Questions: What is the woman who is driving saying? Is she the girl’s mother? What would the girl listen to on her headphones?

Messy Locker

Opening Line Idea: Opening my locker the first day back after winter break was very depressing.

Jump-Start Questions: Whose locker is this? Can they really find anything they need in there? Does your own locker look like this?

Opening Night

Opening Line Idea: As she waited to make her entrance, Camila was so excited she could hardly breathe.

Jump-Start Questions: What kind of music is playing? Why are some feet facing a different direction in the background? How do the women’s feet feel right now?

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