The Library Book Hunt
A high school student discovers a handwritten letter tucked inside a library book. The letter details a scavenger hunt across their town leading to an unexpected secret. Write about their adventure and the relationships they form along the way.
Suggested length: A short story: 1,500 to 5,000 words, or flash fiction under 1,000
Start the clock
Pick a sprint, press start and keep going until it stops. Momentum beats polish on a first draft.
Make it yours
Three ways to take this prompt somewhere nobody else will.
- Write in close first person, as if it's happening right now.
- Put a first in the story: a first job, kiss, loss or lie.
- Raise the stakes until the hero's identity is on the line.
Writing young adult books
Ages 12 to 18: firsts, identity and everything at stake.
Young adult fiction is written for teens, with protagonists usually 14 to 18. Every genre lives here, from fantasy to thrillers to romance. What makes it YA is the voice: immediate, intense and inside a teenager's head.
What readers expect
- A teen protagonist
- An immediate, close voice
- Identity and independence
- Big feelings, taken seriously
A tip before you start
Write from inside a teen's head, not from an adult looking back. That immediacy is what separates YA from an adult book with a young hero.
More YA Friendship and Relationship prompts
- The Grandparents' PodcastA group of teens starts a podcast to interview their grandparents and other elder relatives about their youth. Write about how hearing these stories…
- The Harmony ProjectAfter a heated argument at school, two sworn enemies are assigned to work together on the biggest class project of the year -- an exhibit representing…
- The Camping Trip Gone WrongThree teenagers from different backgrounds are stuck together during a week-long camping trip that goes awry, compelling them to overcome their…
- Rivals for the CommunityTwo rival high school students are forced to collaborate on a significant project that addresses social issues within their community. As they…
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