Notes from the Inkpot
Writing, teaching, creating - one ink-stained idea at a time.
The Shoe Lesson: A Simple, Powerful Creative Writing Activity
What if one ordinary object could unlock a thousand extraordinary stories? The Shoe Lesson is one of my favourite creative writing activities - a simple, unexpected way to spark imagination, build character depth, and turn even the most reluctant writers into storytellers. Here's how a single shoe can transform your classroom or writing group.
Why Creative Writing Boxes Aren’t Just for Kids (And Why You Might Need One Too)
Creative writing boxes aren’t just for kids—and the ones I’ve built were never meant to be. They’re for adults and older teens who want to reconnect with writing, rediscover their creativity, or get lost in a story built from fragments, mystery, and atmosphere. If you've ever needed a spark to write again, this might be it.
How to Use Picture Prompts to Inspire Powerful Creative Writing
If you’ve ever felt like “describe the picture” prompts were falling flat, this is for you. In this post, I break down how I use picture prompts in the classroom to move beyond surface-level writing, and into rich, imaginative storytelling that students actually want to create.
Velvet Shadows and Candlelight: Why Darkness Belongs in the Classroom
Why are teens drawn to dystopias, gothic settings, and grief-soaked poetry? The answer might be simpler than you think. In this post, we explore how darker stories offer emotional depth, powerful writing opportunities, and space for healing inside the classroom.
Inside the Victoriana Collection: A Writing Box of Mystery, History, and Creative Intrigue
The Victoriana Collection isn’t a set of writing prompts. It’s a mystery told through forgotten photographs, torn letters, and eerie clues from another time. If you’re the kind of writer who finds inspiration in texture, mood, and fragments, this box was made for you. Gothic, atmospheric, and open-ended - this is where your next story begins.
100 Creative Writing Prompts Sorted by Genre: A Go-To List for Students & Teachers
Struggling to get words on the page? These 100 creative writing prompts are here to help. Sorted by genre and perfect for teens, this list is your go-to resource for sparking ideas, building writing confidence, and banishing writer’s block—whether you're teaching, journaling, or working on your next big story.
Creative Writing Prompts Reimagined: A Story in a Box
Creative writing prompts don’t have to be flat. These immersive, tactile storytelling boxes are designed for writers who crave atmosphere, mystery, and a spark of the unexpected — whether you’re writing alone, in a group, or just starting to explore your voice.
Why I Still Teach Romeo and Juliet (Even Though I Hate It)
I’ve taught Romeo and Juliet for over a decade—and I still hate it. But that’s exactly why it works. Here’s how I use student debates, modern rewrites, and creative twists to turn eye-rolls into engagement (and yes, we watch the Leo version).
The Power of Daily Writing Prompts in the Classroom
What if your students didn’t freeze every time they had to write? Here’s how daily writing prompts helped mine go from “I don’t know what to write” to confident, creative thinkers - and how you can do the same.