Write a short story about a girl who has a positive impact on a person who originally was rude to her.

How do you feel about high places?  If you get nervous, how do you calm yourself down?

You've invented a new soft drink that not only tastes great, but also improves a person's ability to [fill in the blank]. Write an advertisement for your new soda.

Describe a marshmallow.  Tell about its taste, texture, shape, size, and color.  Tell what happens when you toast it.  How is it different when it is toasted?

You’re at your favorite department store buying a birthday present for a friend. As the cashier gives you change, you notice a message with specific instructions scribbled on one of the bills. What did the instructions say? Did you carry them out and, if so, how?

Pretend you are a bee. Tell how you make honey. What do you do when a bear tries to get into your hive?

The country is in dire need of another holiday that everyone can celebrate, and the government has given you the task of picking it. What event will you add to the holiday calendar and why?

Write about the color of hunger.

Your good friends at Merriam-Webster called and you've been asked to create five new words for inclusion in next year's dictionary. What are your five words? (Don't forget to include each word's definition.)

Close your eyes briefly. Think of one object that’s in the room and focus on it. Without opening your eyes, recall as many details as you can about it. After 3 minutes, open your eyes and write about that object without looking at it.

Hollywood producers are making a film based on your life and have put you in charge of casting. They want it as realistic as possible, so they ask that you pick actors and actresses who look the part. Who would you pick to play your family and friends, and, more importantly, who will play you?

Fairy tales often have happy endings. All of us know what happened in that mushy fairy tale, Cinderella. Yeah, it’s romantic, the prince actually finding Cinderella. They live happily ever after.  Sometimes happy endings can be, well….boring. So predictable. No zing! So…happy. What if the shoe fit one of the step-sisters? What happens then? Use your imagination here. Be funny if you like. Or be serious if you feel like it. Or be an Alfred Hitchcock or Steven King. Whatever you are into, writer your ending to the Cinderella story – but this time, make it so that the shoe fits one of the icky sisters. What does Prince Charming do? How does Cinderella cope with it? And what about the Fairy Godmother?

Imagine your life is now a book. In 100 words, write the blurb for the book. (It’s what people will read on the back cover).

List all of the clichés you can think of, then chose one you’re most familiar with, or the one that strikes your fancy and use it for the first line of a story or essay. (For help with clichés , visit http://utopia.knoware.nl/users/sybev/cliche/.)

You’re in a room full of people and you’re the only blind person there. Describe the room and the people in  your mind.

You’re sitting at home early one morning watching television and all of a sudden the power goes out. There’s no storm. The weather is not hot enough to cause a major problem. Think of ten things that you can do without electricity. (Oops, you forgot to charge your cell phone and handheld games.)

Use the following words in a story of essay: hypocrite, cookie jar, city, and telephone.

Write about your first toy.

Begin a story with, “The clock winked.”

Write a letter to the five year old child that you were.

Write an excuse for not completing a major project. This has to be convincing enough for the teacher to give you more time to complete the assignment. (“My dog ate it,” will not do.)