November Writing Prompts
The month of November brings much inspiration to writers of all ages and backgrounds. Use these creative writing prompts, designed specifically for the month of November, to generate original responses about the last month of fall and the beginning of many
stomach-stuffing holiday gatherings. Responses to these prompts can vary in genre. Writers are encouraged to use rich detail and language, as well as all steps of the writing process (brainstorming, drafting, revising, and polishing), as best suited for their goals as a writer. Keep in mind that some prompts may demand contextualization depending on the learner’s age and needs.
November Writing Prompts
Category 1: Thanksgiving
It’s time to gobble until you wobble! The American tradition of Thanksgiving often begins the season of holiday family gatherings. This set of creative writing prompts offers writers an opportunity to write imaginative stories, posters, letters, essays, and reports.
Grades K-2:
- Write a story about a family’s Thanksgiving celebration, including details about what they eat and do.
- Draw a picture of your favorite Thanksgiving food and write about why you like it.
- Write about something you’re thankful for. Explain why you are grateful.
Grades 3+:
- Write a personal essay about how your sense of gratitude has transformed over time or how you expect it will change over time.
- Write a narrative about a character’s Thanksgiving adventure, exploring themes of family, friendship, and appreciation.
- Create a recipe that uses Thanksgiving meal leftovers and include a note about the importance and benefit of limiting food waste.
Category 2: Autumn Nature
Fall leaves float to the ground and the air cools to a sharper crisp. This set of creative writing prompts offers writers an opportunity to write imaginative stories, poems, letters, essays, and reports.
Grades K-2:
- Write a short poem about the beauty of autumn leaves.
- Write a short story about a bird who enjoys watching families visit a nearby apple orchard each day.
- Collect and create a small collage of 5 leaves. Write a short explanation about why you chose each leaf.
Grades 3+:
- Write a descriptive essay about a scenic mountain autumn landscape, using vivid language and sensory details to convey the sights, smells, and feelings of the season.
- Write a narrative about a character’s outdoor adventure hiking a trail during the autumn.
- Write and illustrate a children’s story about a pet indoor rabbit who goes outside for an adventure in crunchy fall leaves and meets an outdoor, wild rabbit. What do they teach each other?
Category 3: Veterans Day
November brings an important opportunity to honor veterans for their service. Gratitude is often expressed with large parades, gatherings, and ceremonies. This set of creative writing prompts offers writers an opportunity to express appreciation, as well as write imaginative stories, posters, letters, essays, and reports.
Grades K-2:
- Write a thank you letter to a veteran.
- Draw a picture of a veteran and write a sentence describing why you admire them.
- Create a poster about Veterans Day and write about how people can honor veterans when they see them.
Grades 3+:
- Write a personal essay about the importance of honoring and supporting veterans, reflecting on their contributions to our country in the past and present.
- Choose a female military veteran and write a short newspaper article about their experience and contributions.
- Write a persuasive piece advocating for ways that communities can support veterans. For example, consider employment and healthcare support options.
Category 4: Family Traditions
Family gatherings are a way to share traditions, support cultural diversity, and honor individuality. This set of creative writing prompts offers writers an opportunity to craft imaginative stories, reflect on personal traditions, and participate in the exploration of other cultures’ traditions.
Grade K-2:
- Write a story about a family’s unique and special tradition during the Thanksgiving season.
- Draw a picture of your favorite family tradition and write a sentence describing why it is special to you.
- Write a short poem that expresses gratitude to someone outside of your family.
Grade 3+:
- Write a reflective essay about the importance of family traditions, reflecting on how they bring families together, foster bonds, and create lasting memories.
- Write a short article about the history of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.
- Design a new balloon for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. Explain your design and what you feel it contributes to the parade.
Category 5: Gratitude:
Grades K-2:
- Write a thank you note to someone you are grateful for.
- Draw a picture of an object you are grateful for. Write about why you are grateful.
- Create a paper-based or digital collage that showcases things you are grateful for. Write short captions underneath each picture.
Grades 3+:
- Write an essay about the benefits of practicing gratitude.
- Imagine you are a character in a book or movie who learns the value of gratitude. Write a diary entry describing your transformation from being ungrateful to developing a grateful attitude.
- Research and write a persuasive speech that explains the relationship between gratitude and mental health. Provide evidence and statistics to support your argument.
Category 6: Fun with Turkeys
It’s Turkey Time! Use these clever writing prompts to imagine turkeys on wild adventures or to simply explore more about how turkeys live. This set of creative November writing prompts offers writers an opportunity to craft imaginative stories, comic strips, and more.
Grades K-2:
- Write a story about a turkey that goes on a wacky adventure during Thanksgiving.
- Draw a picture of a turkey and describe its features (parts) using specific language and detail.
- Create a comic strip that tells a funny story about a group of wild turkeys who are nervous about crossing a busy street.
Grades 3+:
- Write a narrative poem about a wild turkey in its natural habitat. Use vivid imagery and sensory language to bring the turkey and its surroundings to life.
- Imagine you are a turkey on Thanksgiving Day and you have a secret plan to escape from the farm prior to being prepared for sale. Write a journal entry detailing how you’ll escape.
- Create a flyer or sign for a local farm that sells turkeys. Be sure to include sizes, costs, and any other important information.
We hope you’ve enjoyed using our November writing prompts!