Creative Writing – Tolentino Teaching https://briantolentino.com Fri, 13 Mar 2026 22:10:23 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 Microfiction Challenge #5 https://briantolentino.com/microfiction-challenge-5/ Fri, 13 Mar 2026 21:58:00 +0000 https://briantolentino.com/?p=13814 Write a piece of microfiction for each picture given.

Video:

Worksheet:

Microfiction Challenge #5Download
]]> Board Tales: Collaborative Storytelling https://briantolentino.com/board-tales-collaborative-storytelling/ Thu, 12 Mar 2026 16:29:12 +0000 https://briantolentino.com/?p=13789 The Sketch: Select 1–4 students to come to the board. They have 5 minutes to collaboratively create a scene (a landscape, character, monster, etc.)

The Prompt: Once finished, the rest of the class must use the drawing as the setting or subject for a creative writing piece. 

Worksheet:

Board Tales Collaborative StorytellingDownload

Here is an example drawing by a class of sixth graders:

]]> The 7-Adjective Story Challenge! https://briantolentino.com/the-7-adjective-story-challenge/ Wed, 11 Mar 2026 20:40:16 +0000 https://briantolentino.com/?p=13779 Your goal is to write a short story that creatively integrates the seven adjectives below. The objective is to practice incorporating new, descriptive words into your writing.

Worksheet:

The 7-Adjective Story Challenge-2Download
]]> The “10 Random Things” Story Challenge #2 https://briantolentino.com/the-10-random-things-story-challenge-2/ Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:28:10 +0000 https://briantolentino.com/?p=13772 Your challenge is to write a short story that naturally incorporates all 10 things below. Some of them may seem unrelated—but your job is to make them fit together in a creative way.

Worksheet:

The 10 Random Things Story Challenge #2Download
]]> The “10 Random Things” Story Challenge! https://briantolentino.com/the-10-random-things-story-challenge/ Mon, 09 Mar 2026 00:06:28 +0000 https://briantolentino.com/?p=13768 Your challenge is to write a short story that naturally incorporates all 10 things below. Some of them may seem unrelated—but your job is to make them fit together in a creative way.

Worksheet:

The 10 Random Things Story ChallengeDownload
]]> 20 Creative Writing Prompts for Middle School Students! https://briantolentino.com/20-creative-writing-prompts-for-middle-school-students/ Sat, 07 Mar 2026 13:53:19 +0000 https://briantolentino.com/?p=13718 These prompts work great as creative writing activities, quick class finishers, or even emergency sub plans when you need something engaging and meaningful for students.

  1. 10-Sentence Story Challenge: School Mystery Edition!

Video:

Worksheet:

10-Sentence-Story-Challenge-6-4Download

2) Creative Writing Prompt: The Day the ROBOTS Took Over! 

Video:

Worksheet:

The-Day-the-Robots-Took-OverDownload

3) Writing Challenge: My Life as a Metaphor!

Worksheet:

Writing-Challenge-My-Life-as-a-Metaphor-10-Sentence-StoryDownload

4) Write a Letter to a Fictional Character!

Video:

Worksheet:

Write-a-Letter-to-a-Fictional-CharacterDownload

5) The Ultimate Creative Writing Challenge (Vary Sentence Length)

Video:

Worksheet:

The-Ultimate-Writing-Challenge-Vary-Sentence-LengthsDownload

6) Write A Story Inspired by a Song!

Video:

Worksheet:

Write-a-Creative-Story-in-Response-to-a-Song-3Download

7) 10-Sentence Story Challenge: Messi vs. Ronaldo Showdown!

Video:

Worksheet:

10-Sentence-Story-Challenge-Messi-vs.-Ronaldo-Showdown-3Download

8) 10-Sentence Emoji Challenge!

Worksheet:

10-Sentence-EMOJI-STORY-Challenge-2Download

9) Argue why you should be on the “nice” list!

Video:

Worksheet:

Argue-Why-You-Should-Be-on-the-Nice-List-3Download

10) Write a Story that Includes a Monkey, a Manicure, a Mermaid, and a Mango!

Video:

Worksheet:

Write-a-Story-That-Includes-a-Monkey-a-Manicure-a-Mermaid-and-a-MangoDownload

11) Writing Prompt: The Town of 67

Worksheet:

The-Town-of-67-2Download

12) Writing Prompt: The Whispering Manor

Video:

Worksheet:

The-Whispering-ManorDownload

13) “About Me” TikTok Script: 10-Sentence Challenge!

Worksheet:

About-Me-TikTok-Script-2Download

14) Creative Writing Prompt: Lost in Space!

Worksheet:

Lost-in-Space-Creative-Writing-PromptDownload

15) Microfiction Challenge: Write 10 Short Stories!

Video:

Worksheet:

Microfiction-Challenge-2-5-2Download

16) 10-Sentence Onomatopoeia Challenge!

Worksheet:

10-Sentence-Onomatopoeia-ChallengeDownload

17: 20-Sentence Story Challenge (Plot Rollercoaster)

Video:

Worksheet:

20-Sentence-Story-Challenge-Plot-RollercoasterDownload

18: Writing Prompt: My Trip to PARIS!

Video:

Worksheet:

My-Trip-to-ParisDownload

19) Writing Challenge: My Life in Similes (10-Sentence Story)

Writing-Challenge-My-Life-in-SimilesDownload

20: Sentence Structure Challenge!

Worksheet:

Sentence-Structure-Challenge-2Download
]]> Power Verb Story Challenge! https://briantolentino.com/power-verb-story-challenge/ Mon, 02 Mar 2026 14:04:38 +0000 https://briantolentino.com/?p=13701 Worksheet:

Power Verb Story Challenge-2Download

More Power Verb Activities Here:

Power Verbs Activities
]]> Microfiction 50-Word Challenge! https://briantolentino.com/microfiction-50-word-challenge/ Thu, 26 Feb 2026 14:04:47 +0000 https://briantolentino.com/?p=13675 Worksheet:

Microfiction 50-Word ChallengeDownload
]]> Writing Technique: Drop the Reader Into the Action! https://briantolentino.com/writing-technique-drop-the-reader-into-the-action/ Tue, 17 Feb 2026 13:57:37 +0000 https://briantolentino.com/?p=13664 Strong writers often begin stories in the middle of the action. This technique grabs the reader’s attention immediately and pulls them into the story.

Today, you will write a short story that starts the exact moment something happens. Do not explain what happened before. Do not describe the setting first. Your job is to drop the reader into the action and let them figure things out as the story unfolds.

You are going to practice this technique by choosing ONE of the opening lines below. Then you are going to use this line as the starting point for your creative story.

  • I couldn’t believe my eyes.
  • The man locked eyes with mine and walked towards me.
  • I froze when I heard my name called.
  • I had ten seconds left, and the door still wouldn’t open.
  • My legs burned as footsteps echoed behind me.
  • This was not how the day was supposed to start.

Worksheet:

Writing Technique Drop the Reader Into the ActionDownload
]]> Emulate the Poem by Bessie Anderson Stanley! https://briantolentino.com/emulate-the-poem-by-bessie-anderson-stanley/ Sat, 14 Feb 2026 14:25:26 +0000 https://briantolentino.com/?p=13656 Emulate the Poem by Bessie Anderson Stanley-4Download ]]>