50+ Orphans in Literature: Why Orphans Make the Best Stories

50+ Orphans in Literature: Why Orphans Make the Best Stories

What do JK Rowling, Christopher Paolini, David Eddings, and Terry Goodkind have in common? They all wrote bestselling novels starring orphans. And this isn’t unique to fantasy. Orphans in literature is a big theme!

Victor Hugo, Charles Dickens, and Mark Twain all used orphans as some of their most memorable characters.

And don’t forget Superman.

In this post, we’re looking at more than fifty fictional orphans, why authors love writing about them, and whether or not you should include them in your story. 

25 Hero’s Journey Story Ideas to Start an Epic Adventure

25 Hero’s Journey Story Ideas to Start an Epic Adventure

If you’ve watched any one of George Lucas’s Star Wars films, read or watched any of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings books or films then you’ve experienced the hero’s journey. I’ve walked my creative writing classes through these stories numerous times, helping them identify and emulate the story principles. 

Part of what makes these stories so compelling is that they follow a character from their ordinary life into an adventure they couldn’t have imagined, leading to personal transformation.
Try one of our 25 hero’s journey story ideas to write your own adventure!

20 End of School Year Writing Prompts

20 End of School Year Writing Prompts

We’re inching closer to the end of the school year for students (or maybe you’re already done, like my college students!). Major testing winds down, days are full of assemblies, field days, educational games, and the countdown to summer is on. These final weeks of school are the perfect time though to sneak in some fun writing. Here are some end of school year writing prompts to try!

20 Dialogue Writing Prompts to Level Up Your Story

20 Dialogue Writing Prompts to Level Up Your Story

Dialogue is an essential component for most stories, whether it’s for a narrative essay, memoir, or fiction. Even if you’re writing nonfiction, you’ll likely use stories to illustrate your point, and those stories will include dialogue. Today we have some dialogue writing prompts to help you write better dialogue while you develop some story ideas.  

14 Valentine’s Day Writing Prompts

14 Valentine’s Day Writing Prompts

Valentine’s Day has a complicated history depending on who you ask. It’s been called a celebration of a martyr, a festival heralding a coming spring, and a holiday for lovers. 

But you don’t have to frame it as a romantic holiday to have fun with one of these fun writing prompts today.