A story starter wheel for creative writing
Spin the wheel for an opening idea and give the class ten minutes to write. A random prompt takes away the blank-page worry, and because nobody chose it, everyone starts from the same place.
Try this wheel
Spin it here. Open it as your own wheel to rename wedges, change weights, save it and show it on a big screen.
A free RepBud account runs your own wheel. No card needed; guests join without an account or app.
What is on this wheel
Your wheel opens as “Story starters” with these 10 wedges. A higher weight means a bigger wedge and a proportionally higher chance; rename, add or remove any of them.
- A lost key
- A door that wasn’t there
- The last train home
- A letter with no name
- A talking animal
- The power goes out
- A map in the attic
- Waking up somewhere new
- A secret in the garden
- The wrong suitcase
Tips
- Spin twice, once for a setting and once for a problem, by keeping two saved draws.
- Read the prompt aloud and give the class one minute of silent thinking before they write.
- Ask students to suggest new prompts and add the best ones to the wheel.
- Use it for speaking too: each student adds one sentence to the story before you spin again.
Questions
Can I write my own prompts?
Yes. Rename or add wedges. Each label shows up to 24 characters on the wheel, so write a few words and expand on them aloud.
Can I use it with older students?
Yes. Replace the prompts with genre, character and conflict ideas that suit the age group.
Do I need to install anything?
No. The wheel runs in a web browser with an internet connection. You sign in with a free RepBud account.