Out of My Sibling’s Shadow
Write from the perspective of a teen who has always been overshadowed by a sibling's achievements. When an unexpected tragedy strikes, the main character is suddenly thrust into the spotlight. How do they cope with the new-found attention and pressure, while dealing with their own grief and stepping out of their sibling’s shadow?
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.
- Raise the stakes until the hero's identity is on the line.
- Give your hero a secret they're keeping from their best friend.
- Let your hero make a big mistake for a reason the reader understands.
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
- Secrets on the Hidden WebsiteImagine a high school where every student's deepest secrets are anonymously posted on a hidden website. The protagonist stumbles upon this site and…
- Music After the InjuryDevelop a story about a young aspiring musician who faces a devastating injury that jeopardizes their future career. Explore their path to recovery…
- The Seniors' Farewell RitualDevelop a story about a high school where every year, the senior class performs a secret farewell ritual that no underclassman knows about. When a…
- Letters from a Secret FriendImagine a teen who starts receiving anonymous letters that contain advice to navigate difficult situations at school. As they try to uncover the…
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