The Apprentice's Lost Kingdom Map
In 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 kingdom, rumored to hold a powerful artifact. Write about the journey the apprentice embarks on to uncover the truth behind the artifact, facing bandits, mythical creatures, and royal conspiracies 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.
- Let your hero make a big mistake for a reason the reader understands.
- End with a choice only this hero would make.
- Make the adults well-meaning but wrong.
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 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…
- The Enemy Soldier in the BarnImagine a teenager during the American Civil War who finds a wounded soldier from the opposing side hiding in their barn. Explore the moral dilemmas…
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