The Lost Backyard Bird
Imagine you find a talking bird in your backyard who has lost its way home. Write a story about the adventures you go through together to help find its family.
Suggested length: An early reader: 1,000 to 2,500 words
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.
- Let the child solve the problem, not a grown-up.
- Name the feeling the character has, simply and honestly.
- Read it out loud as you write. If it doesn't sound good, change it.
Writing children's
Ages 0 to 8: books made to be read aloud, again and again.
Children's books run from board books and picture books for the youngest to early readers and chapter books for kids reading on their own. Every word counts, and the adults reading aloud are an audience too.
What readers expect
- Simple, rhythmic language
- A child's point of view
- Room for the illustrations
- A satisfying, often gentle ending
A tip before you start
You don't need an illustrator. Publishers pair picture book writers with artists, so leave room in your text for the pictures to tell part of the story.
More Early Reader prompts
- Sammy's Missing AcornsA young squirrel named Sammy has forgotten where he hid his winter supply of acorns. Create a story about how Sammy, with the help of his forest…
- A Day as a FrogThink about what it would be like if you woke up and discovered you had turned into a frog. Describe your day from hopping around to meeting other…
- The Stars' Town ConcertTonight, the stars are singing! Each star has its own song, and together they create wonderful music. Write a story about a child who can hear the…
- The Silent Singing GardenCreate a story about a magical garden where the plants can sing and dance. One day, they go silent and it’s up to you, the gardener's helper, to solve…
Fifteen minutes in? Keep going.
Chapterly gives a draft somewhere to grow: chapters, daily word goals, and readers when you're ready.
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