The Cartographer's Stowaway
Imagine you're a young apprentice to a famed cartographer during the Age of Exploration. You stow away on a ship bound for uncharted territories, eager to map the unknown. Write about the adventures and the mythical creatures you encounter, and how they change your perception of the world.
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 Historical Fiction prompts
- The Apprentice's Lost Kingdom MapIn a bustling medieval market, a young apprentice discovers a mysterious map tucked inside an ancient scroll. The map points to a forgotten part of…
- The Teen Rocket BuilderDuring the tumultuous era of the 1960s in America, a teen becomes intensely involved in the space race. Inspired by the scientific developments, they…
- The Siblings' Civil War LettersImagine a tale set during the American Civil War, focusing on two teenage siblings separated by their allegiances. Explore how they maintain their…
- Teenagers on the Underground RailroadSet during the Civil War, a group of teenage friends from a small southern town secretly join the underground railroad efforts. Write about their…
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