Time at the Turning Point
Write a story about a teenager who discovers they can manipulate time but only during the most crucial moments of their life. Explore how this ability changes their relationships and future decisions.
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.
- Use the way your hero texts to show who they are.
- 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.
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 Drama prompts
- The Future Transfer StudentA small-town high school is turned upside down when a new student arrives, claiming to be from the future. Write about their trials in fitting in, the…
- The Rigged VictoryCraft a tale centered around a teenager who wins a prestigious competition, only to find out the victory was rigged. Explore their moral dilemma of…
- The Attic Diary MysteryWrite a story where a group of high school friends discovers a mysterious old diary in their school's attic, revealing secrets about a decades-old…
- Out of My Sibling’s ShadowWrite from the perspective of a teen who has always been overshadowed by a sibling's achievements. When an unexpected tragedy strikes, the main…
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