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Summer - quotes and descriptions to inspire creative writing

• first day of summer
• Hot weather
• late summer
• mild winter
• seasonal change
• Spring to summer
• summer days
• summer evening
• summer flowers
• summer rain
• summer season
• Summer to autumn
• tanned skin

There was a dance of summer light upon the blacktop that day.

Summer sits upon the hill as a great floral wedding hat.

That summer began with the warmth of a deep-emotion smile, yet become an oppression that raged into an inferno, chaotic and wild. Always it stays, the memory of flames, the scorching scars... yet what was once charred and blistered has been soothed by seasonal rains and nature has rebounded. It's not that one forgets, but that life has a way of finding a pathyway to healing, to a new way to thrive.

A newly radiant sun steps forth from the spring time, wrapping us in her warm and brilliant rays.

The echoes of our summer days remain as flowers immune to winter chills.

Come see me in the summer time, when the leaves are dark green and full, opened toward the sunlight and breathing in the hot aromatic air.

In the summertime I could close my eyes and feel that the meadow and floral blooms were as much within me as they were around me, supporting my body upon the warm earth.

Between the paving stones comes blooms so bold and tall, giving of their aroma to the summer-infused breeze. For these seeds of humble size and hue are the ninjas of the botanical world, born to shout loud of their graffiti-petaled beauty.

That hot sidewalk has me dancing along a little faster, but since my destination is assured that's all good. The sun is brilliant in cornflower-blue sky, as if one perfect petal was stretched so wide around all the world. As I go I'm dreaming up new graffiti, new vibrant mosaics to bring this neighbourhood to a higher rhythm, an exuberance we were born for. That's summer. That's the time when music, art and dance flow into one another as inseparable as any true friends should be.

In the late summer wind are the red flags of the poppy petals, a living masterpiece of nature. Though they grow unnoticed by so many, they are more to my eye than a monet or any artwork that brings their likeness in beautiful strokes of softest bristles.

Anya is watching the trees, how they sway in a warming breeze. It is that time when summer begins to blossom into something the body feels as much as the brain, when the emotions catch their thermal updrafts.

Summer comes fast, as music turned up to full volume. The sky blazes blue and the sun is a celebration of yellow, free and bright. The trees rise to the occasion, donning their best verdant hues, and everywhere are the flowers, the scattered rainbow that they are.

The flowers are a new masterpiece each day, changing the frameless scenery, gazing upward at the ever-present sky; they are the warmth of the land that give thanks to the warmth of the summer sun. They are the rainbow that arises from earth and water, yet can be nothing without those golden rays. Each day of these playful months will come in moments, the gift of the present, lived in barefoot dances, wind-tousled hair, laughter and song... the layers of winter left in some forgotten closet.

Summer comes in her own time, drifting in on a spring wind, wakening with the kind of warmth that flows to the core. Through the windows she sends light, spreading rainbows over the Victorian cream walls. Ted has become enchanted by a patch of blue and violet that slowly stretches out to show the gold and blushed orange. Then there comes a sound that has been absent for the cooler months, the steady buzz of young bees, ready to seek blooms just as pretty as they. I wonder how they'll fare when summer rests in a day or two, saving energy for her next encore, perhaps they will too.

Under the summer sun I feel the warmth of those brilliant rays, of light granting us new vibrant colours, softly brushing smiles upon faces and hearts. I see the jazz begin in the way folks walk, in the way their eyes dance upon meeting. Perhaps that's why the warmth comes from within just as much, why the playing begins from youngest to old. It's when the laughter get's dialed up and jokes run free; it's when hugs travel on the breeze as sweet as any summer bloom.

The birdsong drifts as well as any summertime pollen. It comes as magical as any flute, as improvised as deep south jazz, and as soulful as love's kiss. In that moment I am present, feet still and heart open.

All around the grey rock broke the blue skyline in craggy peaks. Even in a photograph you could tell it was summer, for this range was only naked of its snow June through early September. The rest of the year they were as white-peaked as any storybook mountains. In any other year, at any other time I would have stood here in awe, admiring the view, revelling in this land God gave us. But now all I see is despair ahead. I can't just sit here and paint them, I have to cross them before the snow comes. After that I can't come back until it's gone again, who knows where I'll stay, how I'll live or even if I'll get back in time. It could be pointless, and if it is I'll never see her again. But if I don't go she'll know I never tried, that I choose to cherish her end rather than fight for the future she deserves.

After the heat and itchiness of the hike the lake looked like a basin of balm. Its water was entirely without motion, no tide brought it up the man-made beach. Despite the relentless sunrays the green-tinged water would be cool, this basin would likely be as deep as the mountains around were tall. Like the ocean, such a large volume heats and cools slower than the land or the air. Lila walked to the edge and sat to remove her boots, but she didn't stop there. In just a few seconds she was skinny dipping and she didn't care who saw. The cool water moved over her skin like a potion, removing the irritation and replacing it with a meditative peace.

The same sun that sent new green leaves bursting from blackened buds now turns the wands of knee high grasses golden. These spindles of plants shooting through the sidewalk cracks are enough to tell the children that summer is drawing to a close, waning along with the hours of daylight. This long awaited for vacation, this echo of a bygone era when the young were needed to bring in the harvest, has only days left. Only now there is no more labour in yellow fields, the closest the kids come to it is sitting on the crumbling concrete walls pulling off the swollen seeds.

When the dandelion bloomed Frank had inwardly smiled, he was in no hurry to pluck it. Every day on his way in from work he would glance at the yellow flower, as yellow as his morning butter, before opening the door to rest on his couch. Then one evening, as the days waned and the temperature cooled, he noticed it had become a fluffy sphere and he stopped. Finally it was a dandelion clock. He picked it and took in a deep breath. With each puff from his lungs he counted forwards by an hour. By "five o'clock" the stalk was empty and the seeds were in the wind, delicately carried away in the late summer air.

Hopscotch, with stolen chalk and the sun beating down, was how we spent the last of each Indian summer. Without computers or television we drew the squares on the crumbling street and numbered them. Stones were easy to come by, along with the mud and the sticks it was pretty much all we had. We learned to be creative with our rhymes, and to be honest, they got ruder with each passing year. Our bodies grew, our minds expanded, the street crumbled some more; but always the chalk was stolen and the stones were free.

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How To Describe Summer Season In Writing (8 Important Steps)

The summer season is a symphony of warmth, a canvas painted with vibrant colors, and a chapter in the story of the year that beckons us to celebrate life in all its sun-soaked glory.

It’s a season that invites writers to wield their pens as paintbrushes, crafting descriptions that bring the sun’s caress, the laughter of children, and the fragrance of blooming flowers to life in the minds of their readers.

Describing summer in writing is an art, a pursuit that requires an adept use of words to convey the vivid emotions and sensory experiences that this season bestows upon us.

This guide delves into the techniques, nuances, and cultural variations of painting summer’s vivid portrait through the written word, embracing the power of language to evoke the spirit of a season where the world dances to the rhythm of the sun.

Table of Contents

How To Describe Summer Season In Writing

To describe the summer season in writing, focus on vividly portraying the warmth, vibrant colors, and leisurely atmosphere that define this time of year. Highlight the following aspects:

Mention the clear skies, intense sunlight, and rising temperatures. Describe the feeling of the sun’s warmth on your skin.

Emphasize the lushness of nature, with blooming flowers, green leaves, and vibrant landscapes. Mention the sounds of birds and insects.

Discuss the outdoor activities associated with summer, such as picnics, swimming, barbecues, and beach trips. Explain the joy of these activities and how they bring people together.

Describe the change in wardrobe, with light, breathable clothing like shorts, sundresses, and flip-flops.

Talk about seasonal fruits and vegetables, like watermelon, strawberries, and corn on the cob. Also, mention the ice cream and cold drinks that are so popular in the summer.

Address the scent of freshly cut grass, flowers in bloom, and the unmistakable aroma of sunscreen.

Holidays and Festivals

If applicable, mention any summer holidays or festivals that are significant in your region. Describe the traditions and celebrations associated with them.

Convey the idea of a relaxed, slower pace of life during summer, with longer days and a feeling of freedom.

Incorporate sensory details, emotions, and personal experiences to create a vivid and engaging portrayal of the summer season in your writing.

Understanding the Summer Season

Understanding the summer season is like sifting through a treasure chest of sensory riches. It’s a symphony of sunshine, a canvas painted with hues of endless blue, and a tantalizing fusion of nature’s fragrant masterpieces.

Summer is a fleeting love affair with warmth that dances on your skin, conjuring the irresistible aroma of barbecues, the hypnotic lull of crashing waves, and the jubilant laughter of children playing under the sun’s benevolent gaze.

It’s a season that urges you to taste life to the fullest, to dive headfirst into pools of adventure, and to pen tales of unforgettable escapades.

In the grand opera of the year, summer takes center stage, and understanding it is an art of capturing the purest essence of life’s vivacious chapters.

Seasonal characteristics

Seasonal characteristics define the very essence of the summer season. As the Earth tilts towards the sun, we’re enveloped in a warm embrace that ushers in clear skies and balmy breezes.

The weather takes on a celebratory note, with longer daylight hours and the sun casting its golden glow over landscapes.

Nature herself undergoes a miraculous transformation, adorning the world with vibrant blossoms, lush greenery, and a symphony of birdsong.

Meanwhile, human activities shift to the great outdoors, as beaches come alive with laughter, picnics are spread on emerald lawns, and the sizzle of barbecues fills the air.

These seasonal characteristics blend together to create an intoxicating elixir of joy and relaxation, making summer a time when life itself seems to be in full bloom.

Emotional and sensory experiences

The summer season unfurls a tapestry of emotional and sensory experiences that are nothing short of enchanting.

It’s a time of unbridled joy and relaxation, as the radiant sunbeams gently caress your skin, warming your soul. The air is filled with the fragrant symphony of blooming flowers, and the taste of succulent fruits and cool ice creams dances on your palate.

Visual beauty surrounds you, with sunsets painting the sky in a riot of oranges and pinks, while the shimmering ocean stretches to meet the horizon.

The resonant sound of children’s laughter and the soothing rhythm of ocean waves create an auditory backdrop that lulls you into a tranquil reverie.

Summer is a sensory banquet where every touch, sight, sound, taste, and smell conspire to create an unforgettable, multisensory journey through the most delightful season of the year.

Descriptive Writing Techniques

Descriptive writing techniques are the secret alchemy of wordsmiths, the magic spells that transform mere sentences into vivid, living tapestries of the imagination.

They’re the artist’s palette, where sensory imagery becomes an opulent brushstroke, painting the world with colors, sounds, scents, textures, and tastes.

Like a master illusionist, these techniques conjure sights so vivid you can feel the warmth of the sun on your skin, the laughter of children playing, the scent of wildflowers in the breeze, and the taste of an ice-cold, juicy watermelon.

They breathe life into the mundane, turning a simple summer day into a sensory symphony that resonates in the reader’s soul.

Descriptive writing techniques are the gateway to immersion, where the written word transcends mere information and becomes a transcendental experience that leaves you utterly spellbound.

Sensory Imagery

Sensory imagery in writing is the conduit to a world woven with the vibrant threads of human perception. It invites readers to not only visualize but to taste, touch, smell, and hear the words on the page.

Through sensory imagery, we can feel the golden warmth of the sun on our skin as if it were our own, hear the whisper of leaves in the wind, or savor the salty tang of sea air.

It’s the poetry of words, evoking the symphony of senses, transporting us from mere observation to full immersion.

Sensory imagery doesn’t just describe; it beckons us to step inside the narrative, to become one with the story’s rich tapestry, and to experience the world in a way that transcends the limits of mere sight and sound, making reading a sensory adventure.

Personification

Personification is the literary magic that bestows human qualities and characteristics upon the inanimate, the natural, and the abstract.

It breathes life into the lifeless, inviting readers to relate to the world in an entirely new way . It’s the wind that whispers secrets, the sun that smiles upon us, and the waves that embrace the shore with open arms.

Personification turns everyday elements into vibrant characters in the narrative, infusing stories with a sense of kinship, as if the world itself is speaking to us in a language we can understand.

Through personification, the world becomes a lively and relatable companion, transcending its physical form to convey deeper emotions, thoughts, and a unique form of storytelling that resonates with our human experience.

Seasons Within Summer

Within the grand theater of the summer season, there are captivating acts, each as distinct as chapters in a well-worn book.

Early summer, the prologue to this sun-soaked tale, ushers in the vibrant spirit of youth with its blooming flowers and glistening dew.

Midsummer takes center stage, a climactic crescendo of heat and growth, where the world is alive with boundless energy and adventure.

Then, as the season gracefully wanes, late summer approaches like a bittersweet epilogue, its golden days reminiscent of a fading sunset, and the harvest of memories ready for preservation.

These seasons within summer unfold as intricate narratives in a story written by the cosmos, each offering its own unique blend of emotions and experiences that we, as eager readers, savor with each turn of the seasonal page.

Early summer

Early summer, like the opening stanza of a sweet serenade, graces our world with a burst of life and energy. It is a time when nature awakens from its slumber, and the landscape is painted in hues of green and vibrant blooms.

The air carries the heady scent of freshly cut grass and the symphony of chirping birds, while the sun stretches its warm fingers across the earth.

In early summer, there is a palpable sense of anticipation and possibility in the air, as if the world itself is taking a deep, contented breath.

It’s a season of youthful exuberance, where the days grow longer, and every moment is an invitation to celebrate life in all its lush, unbridled beauty.

Early summer beckons us to shed the cocoon of spring and step into the full embrace of the sun’s affectionate warmth, promising a season filled with joy and endless adventures.

Midsummer, the zenith of the summer solstice, is a resplendent interlude when the world basks in the full glory of the sun’s fervent embrace.

During this peak season, the air shimmers with heat, and nature is a kaleidoscope of flourishing abundance. Fields sway with wildflowers, and the trees rustle with the secrets of ancient forests.

Days stretch languorously, inviting sun-kissed adventures and outdoor revelry, as families gather for picnics and friends head to the beach to savor the salty tang of the sea.

In the warm evenings, the sky hosts a mesmerizing dance of fireflies, and the world seems to hold its breath in the enchanting twilight.

Midsummer is a time when life flourishes at an exhilarating pace, and the world is a symphony of growth and vitality, making it the heart-pounding crescendo in the symphony of the summer season.

Regional and Cultural Variations

In the grand tapestry of summer, regional and cultural variations are the kaleidoscopic threads that infuse this beloved season with a rich and diverse spectrum of experiences.

From the tropical paradises where palm trees sway to the rhythm of the ocean’s lullaby, to the Mediterranean coastlines where ancient history collides with modern leisure, and even the Arctic circles where the midnight sun reigns supreme, each corner of the world dons its own unique summertime attire.

The cultural traditions, festivals, and celebrations that punctuate the season are like glittering jewels in a global crown, from the raucous beach parties of Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival to the serene and introspective Midsummer Eve celebrations in Scandinavia.

Regional and cultural variations are the vibrant brushstrokes that paint the world in a myriad of different summer colors, reminding us that while the season is universal, its beauty is woven from an intricate tapestry of diversity.

Different experiences around the world

Around the world, summer unfolds as a multi-faceted jewel, reflecting diverse experiences that capture the essence of each unique locale.

In tropical havens, the sun becomes an omnipresent companion, casting its relentless glow upon pristine beaches where azure waters beckon.

Mediterranean shores offer a more tempered, yet equally enchanting affair, with historic towns perched on cliffs overlooking the sparkling sea.

In the Arctic, summer brings an extraordinary spectacle of the midnight sun, illuminating landscapes of unparalleled beauty.

Across continents, cultural festivities come alive, from the boisterous street carnivals of Latin America to the tranquil solstice celebrations in Northern Europe.

Each corner of the globe shares its own interpretation of summer’s splendor, weaving a global narrative that reminds us of the wondrous kaleidoscope of human experiences during this cherished season.

Cultural festivals and traditions

Cultural festivals and traditions are the vibrant heartbeats of our shared human tapestry, each a unique chapter that tells the story of a community’s values, beliefs, and heritage.

Summer is a time when these traditions come to life with a burst of color, music, and meaning.

Whether it’s the mesmerizing rhythms of samba echoing through the streets of Rio de Janeiro during Carnival, the enchanting dances of the Obon Festival in Japan that honor ancestors, or the colorful bonfires and flower crowns of Sweden’s Midsummer celebrations, these cultural events serve as a collective memory and a source of pride.

They bring communities together in a symphony of dance, song, and feasts, offering a window into the past and a vision of the future. Cultural festivals and traditions enrich the global mosaic of experiences, reminding us of the beauty and diversity of our shared human story.

The Passage of Time

The passage of time is the elusive river upon which we all embark, a journey marked by the ever-turning pages of the calendar.

In the context of summer, time takes on a magical quality, as it slips through our fingers like grains of sand. Each day, each sunlit hour, becomes a precious gem in the necklace of our memories.

As we revel in the warmth, the laughter, and the adventures that define this season, we become acutely aware of its fleeting nature.

It’s a poignant reminder that life’s tapestry is woven from moments, and summer, with its transient splendor, serves as a timeless reminder that our most cherished experiences are often the most ephemeral.

Yet, as the season yields to autumn, it leaves behind an indelible mark on our hearts, promising that the cycle of life will bring another summer, and with it, another chance to savor the joy of existence.

Reflection on the fleeting nature of summer

Reflection on the fleeting nature of summer is like gazing into a mirror that captures the ephemeral beauty of life itself.

As the season unfurls its vibrant tapestry, we are both entranced and sobered by the knowledge that this momentary enchantment will soon be relegated to memory.

The sunlit days and balmy nights, the laughter and adventures, all drift away like grains of sand carried by the wind.

Yet, in the reflection of summer’s impermanence, we find a profound lesson. It teaches us the value of seizing the present, of savoring each moment, and of embracing the warmth and joy of the here and now.

It urges us to make the most of the fleeting seasons of our lives, to cherish the memories they offer, and to recognize that even in their evanescent nature, they leave behind a legacy of sunsets painted in our hearts.

Nostalgia and memories

Nostalgia and memories are the twin lanterns that illuminate the pathways of our past, casting a warm and sentimental glow on the stories of our lives.

Nostalgia is the sweet melancholy that washes over us, like the embrace of an old friend, as we revisit moments that have slipped through the fingers of time.

Memories are the fragments of our existence, like a mosaic of emotions and experiences, each piece holding a story of its own.

Both nostalgia and memories are the keys to our personal time machines, capable of transporting us to moments of laughter, tears, and profound meaning.

They anchor us to our roots, reminding us of who we were, who we’ve become, and the beautiful tapestry of life that connects us to the people and places we’ve known.

Together, they are the essence of our humanity, reminding us that, in the grand symphony of existence, it is the echoes of our past that create the music of our present and future.

Frequently Asked Questions about How To Describe Summer Season In Writing

What is the purpose of describing the summer season in writing.

The purpose of describing the summer season in writing is to evoke vivid imagery and create a sensory experience for readers. It helps set the scene, convey emotions, and immerse the audience in the atmosphere of summer.

What elements should I focus on when describing the summer season?

When describing the summer season, focus on the weather, nature, activities, clothing, food, aromas, holidays or festivals, and the leisurely pace of life that characterizes this season.

How can I make my description of summer more engaging and relatable?

To make your description engaging and relatable, use sensory details to create a multisensory experience for the reader. Share personal anecdotes or memories related to summer to evoke emotions and connections.

Are there any specific literary devices or techniques I should use when describing summer in writing?

You can use various literary devices such as similes, metaphors, personification, and onomatopoeia to add depth and creativity to your description. Additionally, employ figurative language and descriptive adjectives to paint a vivid picture.

What are some common mistakes to avoid when describing the summer season in writing?

Avoid clichés and overused descriptions. Instead, strive for originality and authenticity. Also, be mindful of balance; don’t overwhelm your readers with excessive details or descriptions.

Can I use my personal experiences and memories in my summer descriptions?

Absolutely! Incorporating personal experiences and memories can make your writing more authentic and relatable. It adds a unique perspective and emotional depth to your descriptions.

How can I capture the essence of summer in a short piece of writing, such as a poem or a short story?

In shorter pieces, focus on the most striking and essential elements of summer. Use concise, evocative language and powerful imagery to convey the feeling of the season within a limited word count.

Should I consider the cultural or regional aspects of summer when describing it in writing?

Yes, considering cultural and regional aspects can add richness to your description. Different cultures and regions may have unique traditions, holidays, and symbols associated with summer that you can incorporate into your writing.

Can I blend the positive and negative aspects of summer in my description?

Yes, you can create a well-rounded description by including both the positive and challenging aspects of summer. This can provide a more realistic and relatable portrayal of the season.

Are there any recommended resources or examples I can refer to for inspiration in describing the summer season in writing?

You can read works of literature, poems, and essays that beautifully describe summer to gain inspiration. Additionally, observing nature and people during the summer season can provide firsthand inspiration for your writing.

Conclusion:

In the realm of descriptive writing, capturing the essence of the summer season is like weaving a tapestry of sensory delights and emotional resonance.

The art of describing summer in writing is not merely an exercise in painting picturesque landscapes with words, but a powerful means of inviting readers to step into the radiant world of the season.

From sensory imagery that evokes the feel of sun-warmed sand to the personification that turns nature into a character in its own right, the techniques explored in this guide offer the keys to unlocking the boundless creativity of storytelling.

The seasons within summer, regional and cultural variations, and the passage of time add layers of depth and complexity to the canvas, enriching the narrative with cultural diversity and human experience.

Ultimately, the journey to describe the summer season in writing is a quest to infuse words with the vivid vibrancy of the season itself, reminding us of the magic that lies in the simple act of turning words into a world where readers can bask in the sun’s warmth and dance with the breeze on a hot summer day.

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BEST SUMMER WRITING PROMPTS

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What was meant to be a great bonding vacation turns sour when an uninvited guest tags along., write a story about a character who returns home changed by someone they met on a trip., the cicadas came early this summer. little did everyone know that it was actually an omen., write a story about a character whose favorite season has switched from winter to summer. why, it just hit 110 degrees fahrenheit, and your air conditioning unit just broke..

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Write a story titled "It Happened One Summer."

Write a story about a summer fling., write a story about a family summer vacation to europe that… does not go to plan..

• Set your story in the woods or on a campground.

End your story with someone saying: “What a day.”

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Write a story about a tea party that your character is reluctant to go to.

Write a story about characters going on a summer road trip..

• Write a story about somebody reminiscing on an event that happened many summers ago.
• End your story with somebody stepping out into the sunshine.
• Write about the longest day of the year, or a day that never seems to end.

Write about a character who thinks they have a sun allergy.

• Write about a community that worships Mother Nature.

Write a story set in the summer, when suddenly it starts to snow.

• Write a story about another day in a heatwave.

Write a story that begins with someone's popsicle melting.

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The best summer writing prompts

Fun at the beach, an awe-inspiring trip in nature, exploring and camping on long, sunny days — summer is many perople's favorite season for good reason. The possibilities seem endless, and there are therefore an endless number of summer stories to tell. Luckily for you, we've got plenty of ideas for thosewith our summer writing prompts.

Whether your characters are enjoying the final days of a golden summer with friends before returning to school, hanging out at the neighborhood pool, or about to travel on the vacation of a lifetime filled with sun, sea, and sand — and perhaps a summer romance — there's adventure around every corner.

Here are our top ten summer writing prompts:

• Write about characters going on a summer road trip.
• Write a story about a family summer vacation to Europe that… does not go to plan. 
• Write a story about a summer fling. 
• Write a story that begins with someone's popsicle melting.

Looking for more tips for your writing? Check out the free resource below:

• How to Master the 'Show, Don't Tell' Rule (free course)  — Summer is a season of the senses — the stickiness of ice cream, the crashing of waves, heat radiating off the sidewalk, and the smoky smell of bbq. And that means you're going to want to get your descriptions spot on. To brush up your skills, try out our free course.

Want more help learning how to write a summer short story? Check out  How to Write a Short Story That Gets Published  — a free, ten day course guiding you through the process of short story writing by Laura Mae Isaacman, a full-time editor who runs a book editing company in Brooklyn.

Ready to start writing? Check out Reedsy’s weekly  short story contest , for the chance of winning $250! You can also check out our list of  writing contests  or our directory of  literary magazines  for more opportunities to submit your story.

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Summer Writing Prompts: 100 Ideas to Write All Summer Long

by Sue Weems | 0 comments

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Summer is the perfect time and season to practice writing and let it feel more like play than work. Today, I've collected a list of summer writing prompts: enough to write one per day of the season! 

A few summers ago, I led summer writing camps for kids called Write Camp. It was a blast helping kids of all ages get their fantastical ideas down on paper. My sister signed up my nephew, even though he was a reluctant third grade writer at the time. She wasn't sure he'd even participate.

I assured her that the no-pressure, fun environment would help him imagine writing in a new way, and that he would finish the summer with a story or two and a new understanding of writing.

I'm happy to report I was right! He and his fellow write campers all finished stories and left feeling more confident in their writing skills. 

Sometimes we spend so much time trying to get students to write correctly that we drain all the fun out of it. We forget that the first step to becoming a strong writer is to actually write. Try these summer writing prompts to help you (or a young writer in your life!) have some writing fun.

Summer journal prompts

If you keep a journal like me, try one of these prompts for some quick summer journaling. 

1. Describe the perfect summer day from beginning to end. What activities would you engage in and why?

2. Write about a memorable vacation or summer road trip. What made it special and why do you still remember it?

3. Share your favorite summer recipe. Include the ingredients and step-by-step instructions. How does it remind you of summer?

4. Write about a summer adventure you would like to experience. It could be something daring or out of your comfort zone. Why does it intrigue you?

5. Describe a summer tradition or ritual that you and your family or friends have. What makes it meaningful and how does it enhance your summer experience?

6. Write about a time when you felt completely relaxed during the summer.

7. Share your favorite summer read or book recommendation.

8. Write about a summer hobby or activity that brings you joy. How did you discover this hobby, and how does it make your summer more fulfilling?

9. Describe a summer sunset or sunrise that left a lasting impression on you. What were the colors like, and how did the scene make you feel?

10. Write about a summer project or goal you have set for yourself. How do you plan to accomplish it, and what impact do you hope it will have on your summer?

11. Share a list of your favorite summer songs or a summer playlist. Why do these songs resonate with you, and how do they enhance your summer vibe?

12. Write about a summer friendship that has played a significant role in your life. How did you meet, and what makes this friendship special?

Summer story starters

Use one of these sentence starters to get your own story off and running!

13. The sun-drenched beach was bustling with laughter and the sound of crashing waves until…

14. In the sleepy seaside town, 

15. As the ice cream truck jingled its way down the neighborhood streets, a group of friends suddenly noticed…

16. The sweltering heat seemed unbearable until…

17. Deep in the forest, a group of campers stumbled upon a hidden waterfall, sparking…

18. In a small coastal village, a young girl discovered a message in a bottle, and…

19. The couple stood in the field of sunflowers when they noticed…

20. At the annual summer fair, a shy teenager accepts a dare to visit a fortune teller who…

21. The fireflies danced in the warm night air, illuminating the path leading to…

22. On a remote island, a group of siblings stumbled upon an old map that led them to…

23. As the summer storm unleashed its fury, a group of teenagers sought refuge in an abandoned mansion, only to discover…

Summer travel prompts

24. Imagine you're on a tropical island paradise. Describe the crystal-clear waters, palm trees swaying in the breeze, and the sensation of warm sand between your toes.

25. Create a travel itinerary for a road trip along the scenic coastal highway, complete with stops at charming seaside towns and breathtaking viewpoints.

26. You've just arrived in a bustling city known for its vibrant street markets and cultural landmarks. Write about your first impressions and the unique experiences you encounter.

27. Picture yourself hiking through a majestic national park, surrounded by towering mountains, cascading waterfalls, and abundant wildlife. Describe the awe-inspiring beauty of nature.

28. You've decided to embark on a backpacking adventure across Europe. Write about the different cities you visit, the diverse cultures you experience, and the unforgettable people you meet along the way.

29. Imagine exploring a historical city filled with ancient ruins and architectural wonders. Describe the rich history and cultural significance of the landmarks you encounter.

30. You're on a gastronomic journey, discovering the flavors and culinary delights of a foreign country. Write about the mouthwatering dishes, local specialties, and the joy of indulging in new tastes.

31. Picture yourself lounging on a luxurious cruise ship, sailing through turquoise waters and visiting exotic islands. Describe it!

32. You've decided to embark on a backpacking trip through a dense rainforest. Write about the vibrant biodiversity, the sounds of exotic creatures, and the sense of adventure as you navigate through the wilderness.

33. Imagine staying at a cozy mountain lodge, surrounded by mountain peaks and alpine meadows in full summer bloom.

34. You've chosen to visit a remote village tucked away in the countryside. Write about it!

35. Picture yourself on a safari in the African savannah, surrounded by majestic wildlife. Describe all you see.

Summer setting prompts

While some of these overlap with other prompts, use these to practice sensory details and setting. 

36. Describe the feeling of sinking your toes into warm, soft sand on a sunny beach during the peak of summer.

37. Paint a vivid picture of a vibrant summer sunset, capturing the hues of orange, pink, and purple that streak across the sky.

38. Describe the refreshing sensation of jumping into a crystal-clear pool or lake on a scorching summer day, highlighting the coolness against your skin.

39. Depict the sights, sounds, and scents of a bustling farmers' market in the summertime, with rows of colorful fruits and vegetables, the chatter of vendors, and the aroma of freshly baked goods.

40. Portray the atmosphere of a lively summer festival, showcasing the lively music, energetic crowds, and a kaleidoscope of vibrant decorations and food stalls.

41. Describe the lush greenery and delicate blossoms of a summer garden, emphasizing the fragrance of blooming flowers and the buzzing of bees among the petals.

42. Paint a picture of a tranquil summer morning in the countryside, capturing the mist rising from the fields, the chirping of birds, and the gentle rustle of leaves in the breeze.

43. Depict the scene of a family picnic in a park.

44. Describe the exhilaration of a thrilling roller coaster ride at a busy theme park, conveying the anticipation, adrenaline rush, and exhilarating twists and turns.

45. Portray the charm of a quaint seaside town, highlighting the pastel-colored houses, the aroma of freshly caught seafood, and the sound of seagulls soaring overhead.

Childhood summer prompts

46. Recall a favorite childhood summer memory and describe it in vivid detail, from the sights and sounds to the emotions you felt.

47. Write about your most treasured summer toy or activity from your childhood. What made it special, and why did you enjoy it so much?

48. Describe a fun summer activity you did with your friends (or family) when you were younger. What did you do, and how did it strengthen your bond?

49. Write about the excitement and anticipation you felt as summer vacation approached each year. What were some of the activities you looked forward to the most?

50. Recall a summer camp experience from your childhood. Describe the camp setting, the activities you participated in, and the friendships you formed.

51. Write about a summer tradition that was unique to your family when you were a child. What made it special, and how did it create lasting memories?

52. Describe a magical summer night from your childhood. Were there fireflies lighting up the sky or a mesmerizing display of stars? How did it make you feel?

53. Recall a day of summer when you discovered something new and exciting, whether it was a hidden spot in your neighborhood or a fascinating creature in nature. Describe the moment of discovery.

54. Write about a summer project or hobby you pursued as a child. How did it ignite your creativity?

55. Describe a favorite summer treat from your childhood, whether it was a refreshing ice cream flavor or a homemade dessert. 

56. Recall a summer book or story that captivated your imagination as a child. Describe the characters, the setting, and the emotions it evoked.

57. Write about a summer family vacation you took as a child. Describe the experience.

Summer poetry prompts

Maybe you want to try your hand at poetry this summer! Remember that poetry thrives on precise word choices that convey concrete images and emotion. Practice playing with specificity! 

58. Write an acrostic poem capturing the essence of summer, one word or phrase per letter S-U-M-M-M-E-R.

59. Craft a poem that explores the energy of a beach on a hot summer day.

60. Write a poem inspired by the scent of freshly cut grass and the feeling of bare feet on the lawn.

61. Reflect on the beauty of a blooming flower in the summer heat.

62. Create a poem that embodies the freedom and exhilaration of riding a bicycle through winding country roads.

63. Write a poem that paints a vivid picture of a summer storm.

64. Craft a poem that explores the enchantment of a starlit sky on a clear summer night, evoking a sense of wonder and awe.

65. Reflect on the simple pleasure of enjoying a juicy slice of watermelon or peach on a hot summer day.

66. Write a poem inspired by the sound of children's laughter echoing through a park.

67. Capture the serenity and tranquility of a lazy afternoon spent swinging in a hammock, embracing the leisurely pace of summer.

68. Create a sonnet about your favorite flavor of ice pop.

69. Reflect on the feel of running through a sprinkler or a summer rain.

70. Write a poem inspired by the rhythm and energy of a summer music festival.

71. Craft a poem that explores the nostalgia of chasing fireflies in the twilight.

72. Reflect on the passage of time and the bittersweet feeling of summer's end.

73. Write a poem inspired by the sand on a beach towel.

74. Build a haiku about something that reminds you of summer in nature. (For haiku help, go here .)

75. Write a poem about missing out on a treasured summer tradition and what you had to do instead. 

Summer adventure story ideas

76. Two best friends embark on a sailing adventure, exploring remote islands, encountering marine wildlife, and discovering the true meaning of friendship.

77. In a sleepy beach town, a young artist finds inspiration in the local community and stages an unforgettable summer art exhibition.

78. During a summer internship at a renowned museum, a curious teenager stumbles upon a secret society dedicated to preserving the city's forgotten history, and becomes entangled in a dangerous adventure to protect its secrets from falling into the wrong hands.

79. A group of adventurous kids forms a secret club and embarks on a mission to solve a series of mysterious events plaguing their neighborhood during summer break.

80. A teenager moves to a new town at the end of the school year, and gets a summer job, but they had no idea what they were in for.

81. A retired rock-climber and expedition leader ventures into the wilderness on a solo expedition, testing their survival skills, and hoping to prove their fitness. 

82. A mischievous pair of siblings embark on a mission to solve a local legend, leading them to uncover a hidden treasure and restore the town's forgotten history.

83. Two best friends stumble upon a time-traveling device during a summer camping trip, taking them on an extraordinary journey through different historical eras.

84. A young street performer with extraordinary talents finds herself caught up in a whirlwind adventure when she catches the attention of a mysterious talent scout, leading her on a journey through the city's vibrant arts scene and unexpected encounters.

85. A group of neighbors form a detective club and set out to solve a series of mysterious disappearances in their city during the sweltering summer days, uncovering a hidden criminal network.

Fun summer lists

For this final set of summer writing prompts, I challenge you to make a quick list on each prompt and see what ideas emerge. 

86. Make a list of the top ten best (or worst!) things about visiting a water park.

87. Outline the most essential qualities needed for a summer camp counselor. (Consider how this might be different if kids made the list? HA!)

88. List the ten most fun outdoor games to play during summer.

89. What are the best treats to have during hot summer months? Ice cream? Ice pops? Mojitos? (for those of age, of course!)

90. Essential wardrobe staples for summer. (Again, this would be interesting to compile for different types and ages of people!)

91. Make a list of the top ten best or worst places to visit in the summer.

92. Best movies to watch during the summer. 

93. A deserted island packing list.

94. Best or worst things to ride/ eat/ play at an amusement park or state fair. 

95. Favorite summer swimming holes.

96. List your top ten songs about summer. (Put on a few for inspiration!)

97. Favorite summer snack foods for road trips. 

98. Summer holidays ranked. (Challenge level: look up the summer holidays in a different country!)

99. List the ten essential components of a dream summer break.

100. Ten must-see hikes or waterfalls or parks in your area—perfect for a summer outing!

Summer writing prompts: now you try! 

Give these summer-themed writing prompts a try and see if you don't find yourself enjoying these warm summer days even more!

Which prompt above brings back summer memories for you? Share in the comments . 

Choose one of the prompts above and set your timer for 15 minutes . Write as quickly as you can, playing with the ideas and language. Don't overthink it. 

When finished, share your practice in the Pro Practice Workshop here . And take a look at few other writers' work too, leaving an encouraging word. Not a member? We'd love to have you along this summer! Check it out here . 

Join 100 Day Book

Enrollment closes May 14 at midnight!

Sue Weems is a writer, teacher, and traveler with an advanced degree in (mostly fictional) revenge. When she’s not rationalizing her love for parentheses (and dramatic asides), she follows a sailor around the globe with their four children, two dogs, and an impossibly tall stack of books to read. You can read more of her writing tips on her website .

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100 Summer Writing Prompts

by Holly Riddle

Itching for summer to arrive? Dreaming of warmer days? Or, maybe, you find yourself already in the heat of summer and you’ve got some extra time on your hands. Maybe you’re lounging by the swimming pool or you’re bored at your job. Maybe you’re trying to brush up on your creative writing skills before school starts.

If you’re trying to get some writing done this summer, but you’re not sure what you want to write about, you’ve come to the right place. Below, you’ll find a whopping 100 summer writing prompts to kickstart your creativity ranging from journaling prompts to poetry prompts, creative writing prompts to fiction and short story prompts. Whatever your preferred style, you’ll find something to inspire.

Summer journal prompts

1. What are your goals for this summer? Write them down and, more specifically, write down why those are your goals. What do you hope they give you? What inspired them? See where your words take you.

2. What is your all-time favorite summer memory from summers past? Write it down in as much detail as possible.

3. How do you imagine the beginning of your summer and the end of your summer will differ? Write it down and then look back later to see how right or wrong you were.

4. How does your life change during the summer? Do you live in a new location, change jobs, have more fun with friends, or just get outside more? How do these changes impact you on an emotional or mental level?

5. What is your favorite thing about summer? How could you take that fun thing you love and extend it forward to last the whole year? Brainstorm and write it down.

Summer poetry prompts

6. Explore a new-to-you form of poetry this summer. Find a poem in that style and then try writing your own version on the same topic.

7. Love setting writing goals or writing challenges for yourself? Challenge yourself to write one poem each day or week, with the poem reflecting something that happened that day or week.

8. How can you best bottle the feeling of summer in a poem? See what happens when you limit yourself to fewer words.

9. Personify summer as person in a poem.

10. Grab a piece of summer-related ephemera (think newspaper clippings, event flyers, etcetera) and make erasure poetry, blacking out text on the page to create a whole new work of art.

Summer holiday and event prompts

11. Memorial Day kicks off the summer season for many. Think about the meaning of Memorial Day and who you might remember. Write about them in a poem, short story, or essay.

12. Write a story that takes place at a July 4 event. Think a fireworks show, parade, beach festival, or baseball game.

13. Labor Day is the unofficial end of the summer season. What else in your life is ending at this time of year? Write about it.

14. Many families use the summer season to plan family reunions. Write about a family reunion that goes terribly, terribly wrong.

15. Now’s also the time for fairs and festivals. Write a short story that takes place at one of these events and make the setting crucial to the story, so that the plot couldn’t take place anywhere else.

Summer writing prompts about summer jobs

16. Even if you don’t have one right now, you likely had summer jobs at one point. Write a story set at your job, or a creative essay about an experience you had there.

17. One popular seasonal job? Working at a camp. Write a story set at a summer camp, but make it the coolest ever. Think a camp for royalty, for spies in training, or for cryptids.

18. Write a short story about someone who works at an ice cream parlor and why they either love or hate their job.

19. Write a short story about someone who wants a seasonal job, but can’t get one. What dramatic lengths will they go to in order to snag that interview or prove themselves worthy?

20. Write about what happens to summer workers in the winter. Where do the carnival workers go? What about the lifeguards?

Favorite summer memory prompts

21. Take your favorite seasonal memory and turn it into a short story, but make the main character absolutely hate everything you loved about that memory.

22. Remember your favorite place, favorite song, or favorite road trip from summers past? Write about it.

23. Write about your favorite seasonal memory but set it in the distant past. How would that memory have differed/looked if you’d lived in the 1800s or 1700s?

24. Take your memory and flip it on its head. Take the same cast of characters and events and make them the worst you could possibly imagine.

25. Imagine a favorite memory of the future. Pretend you’re writing as a 90-year-old. What might be your favorite memory then?

Summer destination prompts

26. Set a story at the ocean, sea, or a lake. Add in a sea monster if you want to get really creative.

27. Set a story at a campground filled with the most obnoxious tourists you’ve ever seen.

28. Write a story about someone trying desperately to get to a summer destination. Do they really need a vacation or are they fleeing something?

29. Write a story about a destination that no one would want to visit for summer vacation.

30. Imagine what your favorite summer destination might look like after the apocalypse and write about it.

School’s out writing prompts

31. Write a story from the point of view of a parent whose kids are out for the summer. Do they love it or hate it?

32. Write a story about a teacher who switches jobs during summer vacation—and they can never let any of their kids, parents or coworkers know what their summer job is.

33. Write a story about summer vacation from the point of view of a child’s bedroom. How is that space impacted?

34. Write about how you often felt as a child on the last day of the school year.

35. Write a letter to your children or future children about your favorite days with them over summer break.

Summer five senses writing prompts

36. Write a poem or personal essay about your favorite taste of summer.

37. Write a poem or personal essay about your favorite smell of summer.

38. Write a poem or personal essay about your favorite feeling or texture of summer.

39. Write a poem or personal essay about your favorite sight of summer.

40. Write a poem or personal essay about your favorite sound of summer.

Summer wildlife prompts

41. Write a scene about your least-favorite summer bug and what you might do if it invaded your house.

42. Write a story about what might happen to the summer wildlife and nature if summer never came.

43. Write a short story from the point of view of a bug that knows summer’s almost run its course. How do they spend their time?

44. Write a story about an animal with a summer job (think horses at a summer camp or petting zoo animals at the fair).

45. Write a poem about the sounds of summer wildlife that you might hear (ie, crickets chirping, deer munching grass in the morning, gulls at the ocean, etc.)

Summer plant life prompts

46. Write an ode to your favorite summer flower.

47. Write a story about mowing the grass, but from the point of view of the grass.

48. Write a story about gardening and make the normally low stakes of growing household produce incredibly high for your main character.

49. Write a scene about what the summer plant life would look like if humans weren’t around.

50. Write a personal essay about your own experiences with gardening. Are they good, bad, disastrous?

Summer hobbies writing prompts

51. Write a story about riding your bike and finding something life-changing along the way.

52. Write a story about swimming and finding something unusual in the water.

53. Write a story about a character who goes for a hike and gets lost.

54. Write a story about a parent who wants to get their children involved in their favorite hobbies over summer break. How successful are they?

55. Write a poem that tells your reader how to perform your favorite summer hobby.

Summer sports writing prompts

56. Describe a date that takes place at a baseball game, but neither of the people on the date like baseball.

57. Write a short story from the point of view of a character who’s decided to streak across the field at a baseball game.

58. Write a poem about a summer sport that you know nothing about. Try to describe it using your limited knowledge.

59. Write a story about a sailing team that gets blown off course.

60. Write a story about a fall or winter professional sports team that wants to play in the summer. What challenges do they come up against and are they successful?

Summer weather prompts

61. Write a poem about the summertime heat. How does it make you feel?

62. Write a personal essay about how the summer weather has changed since you were a child.

63. Write a scene or story that takes place in a house where the air conditioning just kicked the bucket on the hottest day of the year.

64. Write a short story that takes place in the middle of a hurricane—but the hurricane isn’t the most dangerous thing that your characters face.

65. Write a story about two tornado chasers that hate each other.

Summer foods writing prompts

66. Write a poem about the best summer meal that you ever ate.

67. Write a personal essay about how you might go about cooking a summer meal for your family and the significance of the foods you choose, the setting, etc.

68. Write a short story about a picnic that goes wrong.

69. Describe the ideal ice cream cone.

70. Write a story set in the future, about post-apocalyptic humans scavenging for food to create the perfect summer feast.

Wedding season writing prompts

71. Write a story from the point of view of a wedding officiant or planner working during the height of wedding season.

72. Compose a poem about the worst wedding you’ve ever been to.

73. Write a story about a wedding where none of the guests show up.

74. Describe a wedding from the point of view of the flower girl or the ring bearer.

75. Write a story about a wedding where the maid of honor loves the groom and the best man loves the bride, and the two team up together to ruin the wedding.

Summer wear writing prompts

76. Compose a poem about your favorite or least favorite summer outfit.

77. Write a short essay about your feelings surrounding summer wear. Do you feel confident in your swimsuit? Why or why not? Do you hate your legs in shorts? Do you love ditching your winter coat for the season?

78. Write a story about someone who accidentally glues their sunglasses onto their face.

79. Design a character who can’t feel temperature, so they’re not restricted to a normal seasonal wardrobe.

80. Write a story about someone who’s shopping for a swimsuit and falls in love in the process.

Summer nights prompts

81. Think about how your life changes with the lengthening days. Write a short essay about what you do with your extra daylight and how it does (or doesn’t) impact your life.

82. Write about the best summer night you’ve ever had.

83. Compose a poem that captures the feeling of a summer night right after the sun has set.

84. Write a story about a character who works nights during the summer. How do they view summer differently than the average person?

85. Write a story from the point of view of a character trying to sleep on an extremely hot night. Why are they frustrated beyond just being sweaty?

Dog days of summer writing prompts

86. Write a story from the point of view of a dog at a picnic or barbecue.

87. Write a story about a dog walker who loses a prized pooch in the park during their first day on the job.

88. Compose a poem about spending a summer day with your favorite dog.

89. Compose a poem or short story from the point of view of a dog cowering during Independence Day fireworks.

90. Think about how you might spend your summer days differently if you were a dog. Write about it.

Summer reading prompts

91. Did you ever participate in your library’s summer reading program as a kid? Write about the experience.

92. What’s the best beach book you’ve ever read? Journal about what made it stand out.

93. Think about your favorite book or movie. How might the plot be different if it was set in the dead of summer? Write some fan fiction showing how that might play out.

94. Write a story about someone reading a library book on the beach or a cruise ship and finds a secret message inside. What does it say?

95. Your character dropped their spouse’s prized original edition of their favorite book in the pool. What do they do now?

End of summer writing prompts

96. Reflect on how your summer went. Journal about what you wish you would have done differently, as well as your summertime successes.

97. Write a story about a character reflecting back on the best summer ever and their dread at the impending fall months.

98. Write from the point of view of a tree that’s starting to change as summer ends.

99. Compose a poem about the bittersweet end of summer.

100. Look ahead to the fall. What are your writing goals for the fall and winter? How will you use what you learned from the summer to achieve those goals? Journal about it.

Get into your writing groove this summer with one of these 100 summer writing prompts

Summer is the perfect time to get in some extra writing, so hopefully some of the above summer writing prompts have sparked your imagination.

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Home / Book Writing / Summer Writing Prompts: 35+ Ideas to Get You Started

Summer Writing Prompts: 35+ Ideas to Get You Started

One of the worst things about being an adult is you can't take summers off from work (unless you're a teacher, I suppose). The last day of school before summer vacation was always brimming with possibilities. The seemingly endless days of summer stretched out before you like a sparkling river under a tire swing.

But even for adults, there's plenty of fun to be had in summer. And it's some of that magic we're tapping into with the summer writing prompts below. 

• How to make the most of the writing prompts.
• A list of writing prompts to choose from.
• Tips for vetting your story idea.

Table of contents

• Choose a Writing Skill to Strengthen
• Form a Writing Habit
• Disassemble Writer's Block
• Summer Writing Prompts
• Will Your Story Sell?

Tips for Using the Writing Prompts Below

Writing prompts have a great many uses. But like any tool, it helps to know how to use them for whatever it is you want to accomplish. The quick tips below are by no means mandatory, but they may be able to help you get the most out of these summer writing prompts. 

In On Writing by Stephen King, the Master of Horror talks about how the various aspects of writing are like tools in the writer's toolbox. Some you will naturally be proficient with, while others will require a bit more practice before you can master them. This is where writing prompts can be incredibly helpful. Choose one or more “tools” from the list below and then focus on it (or them) with a writing prompt.  

• Character Development – There's an art to crafting round characters and satisfying character arcs. By focusing on these aspects, you can strengthen these skills. 
• Action – Action scenes can be hard to write without confusing the reader. That's why practice makes perfect. 
• Point of View – There are nuances to understand when it comes to POV, so choosing one you're not necessarily comfortable with can help improve your use of POV. 
• Dialogue – Compelling dialogue is one of the hardest things to pull off. But if you work at it, you'll get better. 
• Show, Don't Tell – Showing how a character is feeling through their actions, mannerisms, dialogue, and the use of subtext can be hard to master, but it's certainly not impossible. 

It can be hard to write every day on a large project like a novel or a nonfiction book. But if there's one thing professional writers have in common, it's that they write every day—or at least regularly. Unfortunately, creating a writing habit is easier said than done. But by using writing prompts to get you excited to sit down at the computer every day, you can ingrain the habit in a matter of weeks. 

This is also a good way of getting warmed up to tackle your work in progress. By writing a few hundred words (or even just a paragraph) on a writing prompt, you can get the words flowing before moving on to your current work in progress. 

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If the words just don't want to come, a writing prompt could be the ticket through writer's block . By starting on a story that you're not as invested in, you can unleash your creativity and get back on track. 

The key here is to really let yourself get creative with the prompt. You may even want to go so far as to write in a completely different genre than your work in progress. If you're writing a romance, try instead doing a horror short story. If you're writing a gritty thriller, try a goofy mystery. Or forget all about genre and just go with stream-of-consciousness writing!

Boost your creative writing skills with these summer story prompts. 

1. Write about a whirlwind romance that only takes place over the summer months. 

2. Write a story in which a group of teenagers working at an amusement park must solve the murder of a mysterious Jane Doe that wound up dead in the food court. 

3. Write about a character who experiences a summer that's both the best and worst of their life. 

4. The world is about to end, and humanity collectively agrees to take the last summer off. What happens during the last months before the apocalypse?

5. Start your story with a child going missing from a summer camp. 

6. Set your story at a summer camp for adults. 

7. Write about a small group of students dreading summer break. Why do they fear it? What happens in their town during summer that is so frightful?

8. Explore the origins of a strange summer tradition one family practices every year. 

9. Think of your favorite summer memory and write a story in which a character experiences that for the first time. 

10. Write about a group of kids who have summer activities planned but they keep getting interrupted before they can enjoy them. 

11. Write about a character whose favorite thing about summer is the heat. 

12. It's the first day of summer vacation and a group of friends decides to run away from home to live in the woods. Explore this from the point of view of both the kids and their parents. 

13. Write about a crime that happens on July 4th during the fireworks display. The town's only detective—brand new to the area—has to solve the case. 

14. Write about a second-grade teacher who decides to hitchhike to Woodstock in the summer of 1969. 

15. Write a thriller story about a family on summer vacation when they're held hostage by two desperate criminals. 

16. Write a horror story about a hot summer day that just keeps getting hotter and hotter. How would people survive? What could they do to escape the heat?

17. Start your story with a young writer for the school newspaper witnessing a crime committed by the principal on the last day of the school year. 

18. See if you can convey the magic of summer fun with a story about kids without a care in the world trying to make the most out of their summer in small-town America. 

19. Begin your story with a character getting an anonymous note that says, “Contact me when summer starts.”

20. Write a story that takes place exclusively on the three major summer holidays: Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day. 

21. Start your story with a water balloon fight that soon gets out of control. 

22. Write about a character who sets out to do 100 random acts of kindness during her summer. 

23. Pick a summer activity you love and write about characters doing that activity when they're interrupted by something completely unexpected. 

24. Write an acrostic poem about the joys of summer. These types of poems are great for creative thinking and expanding your vocabulary.  

25. Tell the story of a character's summer vacation through a series of their blog posts. This type of epistolary story is great for character development!

26. Set your story on a beach near a bonfire. A fight breaks out, and one of the fighters is your protagonist!

27. Write about two groups of kids with rival lemonade stands trying to outdo each other. 

28. Your protagonist gets a summer job at a local resort. But he soon finds out that something shady is going on at the resort, and he may have seen too much. 

29. A small town's summer festival goes awry when nearly all the attendees are drugged. When the dust settles, someone's dead. But who's to blame?

30. A group of once-tight-knit friends gets together after many years apart. The idea is to reconnect over the summer, but one member of the group has an ulterior motive. And it's not a nice one.

31. A group of strangers boards a small boat for a trip to a secluded island resort. But a summer storm lands these vacationing strangers on a deserted island. They must learn to work together—or pay the ultimate price.  

32. Your protagonist is a camp counselor at a summer camp that has been closed since some awful murders happened there. It soon becomes clear that something strange is happening again. . .

33. Write about three competitive friends who participate in a summer scavenger hunt that sends them all over New England. 

34. Write about a family staying at a cabin when the high temperatures and low moisture cause a forest fire. They must escape, but that's easier said than done. 

35. When a young girl is upended and moved across the country during the summer, she befriends an old woman who has been shunned by the town. What does she learn about herself and the world by starting this friendship?

I hope these writing prompts are to your liking! Whether you use one of the creative writing prompts as a story starter or a creative writing activity, the important thing is getting the words down. 

That said, I encourage you to use them however you like. While not every writer wants to sell their work, there are plenty who do. And if you're one of them, then it's a good idea to see if there's a niche audience for your story. This is easily done with Publisher Rocket . 

This tool can compress what would otherwise take hours of research on Amazon into just minutes, helping you identify ideal markets for your book. Once you find a niche market, it can help you position your book for success when you do publish. With Publisher Rocket, you get insights directly from Amazon on:

• Keywords – Metadata to position your book on Amazon.
• Competition – Allowing you to see what's selling and how stiff the competition is.
• Categories – So you know where people who are looking for books like yours go to find them.
• Amazon Ads – Helps you quickly configure a list of profitable keywords for running ads for your novel, novella, or short story collection.

Best of all, it’s easy to use and comes with quick little videos to get you started. Check out Publisher Rocket here .

Dave Chesson

When I’m not sipping tea with princesses or lightsaber dueling with little Jedi, I’m a book marketing nut. Having consulted multiple publishing companies and NYT best-selling authors, I created Kindlepreneur to help authors sell more books. I’ve even been called “The Kindlepreneur” by Amazon publicly, and I’m here to help you with your author journey.

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Writing Prompts for Summer: Ignite Seasonal Creativity

My name is Debbie, and I am passionate about developing a love for the written word and planting a seed that will grow into a powerful voice that can inspire many.

1.⁣ Embrace ⁣the Vibrant ⁤Energy of Summer:​ Unlock Your Creative Potential with Seasonal ⁤Writing⁣ Prompts

2. from sunny adventures to ⁤warm nights: discover engaging summer⁢ writing prompts to ⁢fuel your imagination, 3. dive into the depths of summer memories: crafting ​compelling ‍stories from personal experiences, 4. escape to paradise: unleashing​ your writing skills with idyllic summer destinations, 5. exploring the wonders​ of ⁤nature: encouraging reflection⁢ and‌ inspiration⁣ through outdoor writing prompts, 6. spicing up your writing​ routine:⁤ unconventional ⁣summer prompts‌ to ⁣challenge ‌your creativity, 7. capturing the essence of summertime: exploring ⁣vivid ‌descriptions ⁤and sensory details in your writing, 8.⁣ embracing ⁤change ‌and growth: ​inspiring⁢ personal development through ⁤reflective ​summer⁤ writing prompts, frequently asked ​questions, final thoughts.

⁢ Summer is a season ​filled with warmth, excitement,​ and an abundance of inspiration. It‌ is a⁣ time when nature flourishes, ⁢and so too can ⁣your​ creativity! As the sun shines brighter ‌and days become‌ longer, allow ⁣yourself to‌ indulge in the vibrant ⁢energy of this season and harness it ⁣to unlock ‌your writing potential. To⁢ assist you in this creative ‌journey, we’ve curated a collection​ of captivating seasonal writing‍ prompts ⁣that will ignite your ‍imagination and ​transport you to new ​literary horizons. ⁢

1. Explore⁣ the wonders ‌of⁣ nature: Venture outdoors and immerse yourself in ‌the beauty of the natural‍ world. ​Observe​ the‍ blooming‍ flowers,​ listen to bird songs, or simply⁣ marvel at the golden sunset.​ Let these experiences fuel your writing as ‌you describe a‍ serene summer ⁤landscape‌ or ‌compose ‌a poem ‍inspired⁤ by⁤ the sounds of a forest. ‍ ⁣ 2. Capture the essence of​ summertime‌ adventures: Make a list of‌ your cherished summer activities such as camping, beach trips, or picnics in ‍the park. Choose one⁢ memory to dive into, recounting the ⁣details,​ emotions, and sensations that made it special. By ⁢reliving these moments through your writing, you’ll⁢ be​ able to share the joy and‍ excitement of⁤ your ⁢experience⁣ with your readers. ⁣

Summer is a time of ​warmth,‍ relaxation, and endless possibilities. Whether you’re a​ professional writer ⁢or just love to dabble in creative expression, summer⁤ provides ⁣the ​perfect backdrop ⁣for⁤ inspiration. So, grab your pen⁤ and⁢ paper or open up your favorite‌ writing app ⁤because we’ve compiled a ‍list of exciting summer​ writing prompts to spark your​ imagination and help you embark on a creative⁢ journey like no other.

1. **Lost in ⁢Paradise**: Imagine you ‍stumble ⁢upon ‍a‌ hidden island ⁣paradise during ‍your summer vacation. ​Describe your surroundings in vivid ‍detail and share your encounters with the unique flora and ⁣fauna that inhabit ⁢this mesmerizing ‍place.

• What are ⁣the sounds and smells‌ that ‍surround you?
• Create colorful characters you⁤ might encounter on ⁣the island.
• What adventures⁣ await you?

2. ‍**The Summer of Endless Friendship**: ‌Recount⁤ a heartwarming⁢ story of a lifelong friendship ‌that blossomed during⁢ a summer ‌vacation. Describe​ the bond between the two⁢ friends, the adventures they embark on together, and the challenges they overcome.

• Detail the summer activities that strengthen their ⁢bond.
• Explore‌ the conflicts or ‍obstacles ​they⁢ face ‌and how⁤ they tackle ‌them.
• Highlight the emotions and memories that make this friendship unforgettable.

In‌ this section, we will explore the art of crafting compelling stories from our personal summer‍ memories.​ These memories are like hidden treasures, waiting to be unraveled and shared with the world. By diving ​into the depths of our ⁣experiences, we​ can create engaging narratives that capture the essence of summer.

1. Reflect ⁣on Your Memories: ⁢ ‍

• Take a moment to sit​ back ⁤and reflect on your past summer adventures.
• Recall vivid details,​ emotions, and​ even the smallest of moments that made a lasting impact ⁤on you.
• Consider the different aspects of summer⁣ that stood out​ to ⁤you ‍such ⁤as travel, food, or activities.
• Remember to ​focus on experiences‍ that‍ resonate⁢ with you the most, as these will form the foundation of‍ your ‍compelling​ story.

2. Craft⁣ a⁤ Captivating Narrative: ⁢ ⁢

• Start by creating ⁣a strong ⁤opening that grabs your readers’ attention, perhaps‍ with⁢ a powerful description‍ or an intriguing‌ question.
• Ensure your ⁤story has a⁢ clear‍ beginning, ​middle, and ‌end,‍ allowing your readers⁣ to follow ​along effortlessly.
• Include sensory details⁤ to transport ​your readers to ⁣the‌ very moment ⁣you experienced the summer memory.
• Incorporate dialogue or personal reflections to‍ give your​ story a human⁤ twist and connect with your audience on a deeper level.
• Emphasize the emotional⁤ impact of‌ your ⁢experience, whether it was ‍joy, ‍nostalgia,‌ or even heartache ​- this will ⁤help create a relatable and memorable story for your readers.

Unleash your creativity and ​let​ your summer ‌memories come ⁣alive through the‌ power of storytelling. ⁣With ⁢a little⁤ imagination and the guidance provided here, you’ll have⁣ no trouble crafting​ compelling ⁤narratives that transport your readers to the depths of your‌ vibrant summer experiences.

Summer is​ the perfect season to embrace your ⁢wanderlust ‌and let your writing skills ​flourish. Imagine yourself soaking‌ up the sun, surrounded by picturesque beauty, and finding inspiration in ⁢the most ⁣idyllic summer destinations. Whether you fancy a tropical getaway, a serene mountain‍ retreat, or ​an enchanting coastal hideaway, these paradisiacal locations are sure to ignite your creativity and ⁢take your writing to new heights.

When it comes to ⁣writing, our⁢ surroundings can ‌greatly‍ influence ‌our creativity and ability to craft​ compelling stories. What better ​way to tap into‍ your inner wordsmith ⁢than by immersing ⁣yourself in the breathtaking ⁢majesty of nature’s ⁤wonders? From the crystal-clear‍ turquoise ‍waters​ of the Maldives ⁢to the​ awe-inspiring landscapes of ⁢the⁤ Swiss Alps, ​these enchanting destinations offer⁢ an abundance of sensory experiences that can​ breathe ‍life⁣ into‌ your prose, poetry, or any form of ⁢writing you desire. Below, we⁤ have curated a list of idyllic summer⁢ destinations that are bound⁣ to⁢ invigorate your ​writing journey:

• The Maldives: Explore​ the pristine white-sand beaches , vibrant coral reefs, and luxurious overwater bungalows that characterize this tropical paradise.
• Swiss ‍Alps: Find inspiration in the snow-capped peaks, ‌lush green ‍meadows, ⁤and charming villages nestled ⁤amidst the magnificent Swiss Alps.
• Santorini,⁤ Greece: Get lost in the cobblestone streets, iconic​ blue-domed churches, and awe-inspiring sunsets that ​make this Greek island a writer’s dream.
• Maui, Hawaii: Immerse yourself in ⁤the Aloha spirit while⁣ writing⁣ on the golden beaches, exploring ⁢lush rainforests, and discovering stunning⁤ waterfalls.
• Amalfi Coast,‌ Italy: ⁣ Allow⁢ the⁣ beauty of the Mediterranean ‌Sea, cliffside ⁤towns, and ⁤lemon-scented air to ignite​ your creativity and transport you⁤ to⁤ another ​time.

Escape the mundane​ and embark⁢ on a transformative ​journey to these idyllic summer destinations. Fuel your⁢ writing skills, pen ⁤stories that capture⁢ the essence ‌of these breathtaking locations, and let ⁤the beauty ⁢of paradise‌ seep into every word you‍ write. It’s time ‌to unleash your creativity and make your writing dreams ⁣come⁢ true amidst the⁣ alluring charm of these stunning summer getaways.

Immerse yourself in the ⁢untamed beauty of nature and let your thoughts wander as you embark on a‍ journey of self-discovery through outdoor writing prompts. When surrounded ​by the‌ wonders of ​the natural world,‌ our senses awaken, paving the way ‍for profound reflection and inspiration.⁣ Whether you find ​solace in‌ a dense forest, by a ‍trickling stream,‍ or on a windswept mountaintop, these writing ‍prompts will help uncover ‍your ‌unique ​connection with the environment,‍ allowing you ​to⁢ capture its essence‍ in words.

Unleash your creativity as ​you embark on ‍this literary ‍adventure, where the ⁢boundaries of your ​imagination merge seamlessly ⁣with ⁣the ⁤awe-inspiring landscapes around⁢ you. To aid you on your ‌writing journey, we ⁢have compiled‌ a collection of diverse prompts that will evoke deep contemplation,‍ vivid descriptions, and ‌personal anecdotes. ⁤From capturing the​ vibrant ⁢colors ⁢of a sunset to exploring the​ hidden secrets‍ of a mystical woodland, each prompt is designed to stimulate your senses⁢ and inspire ⁤the literary genius⁢ within you.

• Describe a moment of tranquility‍ you experienced in nature, where time seemed to stand still.
• Reflect on ⁢a time when you felt a⁤ deep sense of⁣ connection⁢ with ​a particular natural element, whether it ⁤be⁢ a towering mountain or‌ a⁤ delicate flower.
• Imagine encountering a mythical creature during⁣ a hike. Describe its appearance and the ⁤emotions it evokes within you.
• Compose a poem that celebrates the exuberance ‍of ​life in⁤ a meadow teeming with wildflowers.
• Write a short story ⁢inspired by ⁤the mesmerizing ​patterns etched ‌in the bark of an ancient tree.

Uncover‌ the power of​ nature and its ⁣ability to​ unleash your creative ​potential. Use these writing prompts as‍ a tool to⁤ connect ​with the ⁣world around you, reflect⁤ on your⁤ relationship‌ with nature, ​and ⁤find solace⁤ in the‍ profound inspiration that lies within.

Are you feeling‍ stuck ⁢in your​ writing‌ routine? Looking for ​some fresh inspiration to boost‌ your creativity? Look ⁢no further! We ‌have compiled⁤ a list of unconventional‌ summer‌ prompts that ⁢will ​challenge your writing skills⁢ and help you break the‍ monotony.

1.‌ Burst of Colors: Take a walk outside and ⁤immerse ‌yourself in the vibrant ‍hues of summer. Choose a color that catches‍ your eye⁣ and let it​ inspire ‌your writing. Describe ⁢how it makes you feel, weave ​a story around it, or incorporate it‍ into a poem.

2. Unexpected Encounters: Step out of your comfort zone and engage in conversations with‌ strangers. Observe their mannerisms, ​listen ‌to⁤ their stories, and ⁣jot down memorable interactions. Use these‍ encounters as a starting point for a short story or as inspiration ⁢for developing‍ intriguing characters.

In ⁤the midst​ of‍ sunny⁢ days and warm temperatures, summertime brings a⁢ burst of ⁣vibrant energy and a kaleidoscope of‌ colors. ⁤To truly capture ⁢the essence ⁢of‌ this lively season in your ⁢writing, exploring vivid descriptions and sensory details is crucial. Paint ⁣a vivid picture ‌in your readers’ ​minds by incorporating ⁢the following⁤ techniques ‍into⁢ your prose:

1. Utilize colorful‍ language:⁢ Choose⁢ words that evoke the‌ vibrant hues ⁤of summertime.⁤ Whether it’s the⁢ brilliant orange glow of a ⁤setting⁤ sun, the azure ⁤blue​ of a⁤ cloudless sky, or the⁤ lush green of a ‍flourishing‍ garden, ‍allow⁢ your readers to ⁤experience the ⁤world through your vivid descriptions.

2. Engage the senses: ​Summertime⁢ is a ⁤feast ⁤for the‍ senses, so don’t be afraid to ⁣indulge in the sights, sounds, smells, ‌tastes, and⁣ textures ‍of the season. Describe the‌ feel of cool ⁤grass beneath bare feet, the⁢ taste of ‍juicy watermelon⁢ on a⁤ hot day, ⁢the scent of fresh flowers ⁤perfuming the air, or the sound of waves crashing upon the shore. By incorporating sensory details, you invite your readers to immerse themselves ⁢fully in your writing‍ and experience the ​essence⁢ of summertime ‍firsthand.

Breathe⁤ life ⁣into your writing by harnessing ⁤the power of vivid descriptions‌ and sensory details. Whether you’re crafting​ a narrative, a poem, ‌or ⁢even a‌ travelogue, these techniques will transport​ your readers to the sun-drenched landscapes and vibrant experiences of summer. So,‍ grab your ⁢figurative pen and let your‍ words ⁤dance with ⁢the colors, sounds, and sensations of ‍this magical season.

Summer⁢ is​ a time of rejuvenation and self-discovery, ​and what better way to embrace ⁤change and⁣ foster personal growth ⁢than through reflective ⁣writing prompts? Whether you’re​ a⁣ seasoned writer or just beginning your journey, ​these prompts ​will provide a platform for⁤ self-expression, introspection,⁤ and creative exploration. By⁤ engaging in the‍ practice of⁣ reflective writing, you can unlock hidden potential,‌ uncover new perspectives, and gain⁤ valuable insights into​ your own personal ​development.

Imagine delving into thought-provoking ⁤themes like “Lessons Learned and Lessons ‌Yet to ⁤Discover,” “Embracing⁢ Uncomfortable Moments: A ‌Pathway to Growth,” or “Exploring Self-Compassion and Self-Love.” Each prompt serves as a gateway to delve deep within yourself, unearthing personal ​experiences ‍and emotions ​that ‍may have ⁢remained dormant or​ unexamined. Through this process,​ you will cultivate a deeper understanding of ⁣yourself, enhancing self-awareness and allowing for⁣ a transformative summer experience.

• Unlock hidden potential through self-expression and introspection.
• Gain valuable insights into your personal development.
• Delve⁢ deep within ​yourself to uncover unexamined emotions ⁣and experiences.
• Cultivate self-awareness and enhance ⁣your understanding of yourself.
• Explore‍ thought-provoking themes that inspire personal ⁣growth.

So, grab your‌ journal, find a cozy spot under ‍a⁣ shady tree, and let the summer sun ignite your creativity and inner growth. ⁤These reflective‌ writing ⁢prompts are your companions on this⁢ journey of embracing change ⁣and ⁤nurturing personal development. In ⁢the process, you may⁢ discover newfound passions, untapped strengths, and a ‍greater ‌appreciation for the ⁤beauty of self-discovery.

Q:⁤ What are⁢ writing ‌prompts? A: Writing prompts are thought-provoking statements or questions that help‍ inspire creativity and stimulate⁢ the process of writing. They provide a starting ‌point ⁢or ⁣a focus for your writing, ​helping you overcome ‍writer’s block and explore new‌ ideas.

Q: Why ⁤are writing prompts useful for summer? A: Writing prompts for summer allow you to tap into the vibrant‌ energy ‍and unique experiences associated with ‍this⁢ season. They ‌help you⁣ capture the essence of summer and infuse it into your writing, ⁤whether it’s a story, poem, or personal reflection.

Q: How can writing ‍prompts ignite seasonal creativity? A:‌ Writing⁤ prompts act as sparks that⁣ ignite‌ your⁣ imagination, ‌making it easier to delve into summer-themed topics. They⁢ encourage you to ‍explore‍ the⁣ sights, ⁣sounds, and⁣ feelings associated with summer, enabling you to create ‌vivid and ​engaging written pieces.

Q: Where can ⁢I find⁣ summer-themed writing prompts ? A: You can ⁣find summer-themed writing prompts ⁣in various places,‍ including writing‍ websites, blogs, or social media ​platforms dedicated to creative ‌writing. Additionally, ‍you can easily search ⁤for “summer ⁤writing prompts”⁣ online to discover‍ an abundance of ideas.

Q: Can you give me some examples of‌ summer writing prompts? A: ⁣Sure! Here​ are a few examples⁤ to ‍get you⁣ started: 1. ​Write about your most⁢ memorable summer vacation and why​ it stands out. 2.​ Imagine you can transform into any summer creature for a day. What would‍ you choose ‌and why? 3. Create a ⁢short story based‌ on the sounds of ​a summer thunderstorm. 4. Describe⁣ a perfect summer ‍day from the perspective of an ice ⁤cream ​cone. 5. Write a​ poem about ⁢the ⁤sensation ‍of walking⁣ barefoot on a beach.

Q: How ​should I ‍approach‌ using​ these​ writing ‍prompts? A:​ Approach these prompts⁤ with an ⁤open‌ mind and let your ​imagination ⁢run wild. Take ‌a moment to reflect on each prompt before you start writing,⁢ considering ‌the emotions, memories, or specific details ⁣that‍ come to​ mind. Don’t‌ worry about grammar or spelling mistakes; just focus on expressing yourself ⁣freely.

Q:‍ Can writing⁤ prompts be used for‍ different forms‍ of writing? A: Absolutely! ⁣Writing prompts can be used for‌ a wide range of⁣ writing forms such as short stories, poems, personal essays, or even for practice‌ in building descriptive skills. The flexibility of writing prompts makes them suitable for ⁣any type of writing you want to‍ explore this summer.

Q: ‍What are the ​benefits of using ⁣writing prompts ⁢for summer writing? A: Writing prompts help you overcome the initial hurdle of ⁣starting a⁤ writing session by providing a specific⁢ topic or theme. They encourage regular writing practice‍ and help you develop‍ your creativity ⁢while capturing the essence of summer. They also inspire you to explore new ideas ⁢and expand your writing repertoire.

Q:‌ Can I share or‌ collaborate⁢ with ‌others using writing prompts? A:​ Absolutely! Writing prompts ⁣can be a great tool for fostering creativity within groups or communities. You can share your responses with friends, participate in writing ⁤workshops, or join ‌online forums⁣ where writers discuss and⁤ provide feedback on each other’s work. ⁢Collaborating with others can⁤ enhance your writing experience‌ and​ provide valuable ​insights.

Q: How can I make the ⁤most of summer-themed writing prompts? A: To make the‍ most of summer-themed writing prompts, set aside dedicated time each day ​or week​ for ⁢writing. Create​ a comfortable and inspiring writing environment, whether it’s at a beach, park, or your ‍favorite spot ⁤indoors. Additionally,‍ keep your mind open ‍to new experiences‍ and maintain a journal to capture summer moments⁣ that‍ may inspire future prompts.

In conclusion,⁣ these ⁤summer writing ⁤prompts are a great way ⁣to unleash your creativity and⁢ explore new ideas. So grab your pen, head outdoors, and let the words flow!

February Writing Prompts: Dive into Creative Exploration

Apple Writing Prompts: Embrace Themes of Harvest and Growth

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How to Describe a Beach in Writing (21 Best Tips & Examples)

The gentle ebb and flow of waves, the warmth of golden sands, and the melodies of seagulls overhead – beaches captivate the senses.

I’ve described beaches many times in my own short stories and novels.

Here’s how to describe a beach in writing :

Describe a beach in writing by focusing on its unique size, climate, sand color, and location. Explore sensory details such as the sound of waves, the scent of saltwater, and the feel of the sand. Highlight cultural elements, marine life, vegetation, seasonal shifts, and local activities.

In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know to describe a beach in writing.

1. Unearth the Sands of Time

Table of Contents

Every beach tells a story.

Some are age-old resting spots for local fishermen, while others have seen shipwrecks, invasions, or have been silent witnesses to lovers’ tales.

Before diving into descriptions, research the history of the beach you’re writing about.

This will not only add depth to your narrative but also connect readers to a bygone era.

Plus, if you love beaches as much as I do, then this will be pure heaven for you.

While some beaches have preserved their old-world charm with untouched landscapes, others boast modern-day beach shacks, surfing schools, or yoga retreats.

Distinguishing between the ancient sands and modernized coasts can set the mood for your description.

2. Palette of the Sands

Not all beaches are golden.

Some have white, powdery sands, while others flaunt a rare black, pink, or even green hue.

The color of the sand can significantly influence the ambiance of the beach.

Dive into the specifics – is the sand fine or coarse? Is it cool to the touch or sun-baked and warm?

Often, the sand isn’t just sand. It’s interspersed with shells, pebbles, seaweed, and sometimes even fragments of corals. Highlight these unique elements as they add character to the beach and provide sensory details for readers.

3. Dance of the Tides

Some beaches are known for their calm, lapping waves, making them ideal for relaxation.

In contrast, others are marked by powerful, crashing waves perfect for adventurous activities like surfing.

Describe the rhythm, sound, and sight of the waves to convey the beach’s spirit.

Understanding the tidal patterns can greatly enhance your description.

Low tides might expose hidden tidal pools, while high tides might bring with them a sense of mystery and anticipation.

This also affects the beach’s width and appearance at different times.

4. Symphony of the Shore

The beach isn’t silent.

From the cries of the seagulls to the whispers of the winds and the rhythmic sound of waves, nature creates a symphony.

Use auditory descriptions to transport readers to the shore.

On popular beaches, the sound of children’s laughter, chatter from nearby cafes, or tunes from a distant radio can add layers to the auditory experience.

Decide whether your beach is serene and untouched or bustling with activity.

5. Coastal Climate Chronicles

Is the beach sun-drenched, making it ideal for sunbathing? Or is it frequently cloaked in mist, giving it a mysterious aura?

The weather plays a crucial role in setting the scene and can influence activities, moods, and narratives.

Beaches transform with seasons.

While summer brings in crowds and vibrant energy, winter might render the beach desolate, with only the bravest souls venturing out.

Describe these shifts to add depth to your narrative.

6. Sunlit Spectacles

The magic of a beach often unfolds during the golden hours.

Narrate the transformation of the horizon as the sun rises, casting a delicate pink and gold hue, or as it sets, engulfing the world in fiery reds and deep purples.

The changing colors reflect not only in the sky but also in the water and sand.

While sunrise and sunset are dramatic, the midday sun brings out the vibrancy of beach activities, and nighttime might unveil a sky full of stars or even bioluminescent waves on certain beaches.

7. Flora’s Flourish

Many beaches are lined with specific vegetation, from towering palm trees to delicate dune flowers.

Describe the flora’s color, shape, and how it dances in the breeze, adding life to the coastal landscape.

Floral aromas mixed with the salty sea air can create a heady combination.

Bring out the varied fragrances one might encounter while taking a leisurely stroll.

8. Fauna Features

Tidal pools might house starfish, crabs, or tiny fishes.

Coral beaches might be teeming with colorful marine life. Delve into the beauty of the creatures that call the beach their home.

From seagulls to pelicans and sandpipers, the avian world adds movement and sound to the beach.

Their behaviors, from hunting for fish to playful chases, can be delightful to describe.

9. Activity Avenues

Be it children building sandcastles, surfers riding waves, or yoga enthusiasts greeting the sun, beaches often become hubs of activities.

Depicting these can give readers a sense of the beach’s energy.

Not all beachgoers seek company.

Some look for solitude – a quiet corner to read, meditate, or just gaze at the horizon.

Highlighting these moments adds depth and contrast.

10. Textures and Touch

Beyond visuals, the feel of the beach is vital.

Is the sand powdery soft, or is it grainy and rough? Does the water feel icy cold or pleasantly warm?

Engaging the sense of touch can make descriptions palpable.

How does the beach make one feel? Tranquil, exhilarated, nostalgic?

Tapping into emotions can resonate deeply with readers.

11. Tastes of the Tides

A trip to the beach is incomplete without the taste of salt on your lips from the sea spray.

For many beaches, nearby stalls serve fresh seafood.

Describing the tantalizing flavors of the ocean’s bounty can make readers’ mouths water.

Beach destinations often have signature beverages – from coconut water to adult drinks.

Highlighting these drinks can set the tone and mood of the beach scene.

12. Auditory Adventures

Every beach has its unique sound of waves – from gentle lapping to roaring surfs.

These sounds are soothing and rhythmic, making them integral to a beach description.

Include the distant laughter of beachgoers, the chirping of coastal birds, or the playful shout of children.

Such sounds breathe life into the scene.

13. Historical Hints

Many beaches have rich histories, from pirate tales to ancient civilizations.

Weaving in some historical elements can give depth to the beach’s narrative.

Statues, forts, or old lighthouses can stand as silent witnesses to the past. Mentioning these can make a beach scene more vivid and layered.

14. Moods of the Sea

The mood of the sea changes with weather and tides.

While a calm sea can be serene and inviting, a stormy sea can be wild and dramatic. Depicting these moods can influence the story’s atmosphere.

Low tide might reveal hidden treasures like shells or ancient shipwrecks, while high tide brings in waves and fresh mysteries.

The ebb and flow of tides can be metaphorical and descriptive.

15. Colorful Canvases

Describing the varying shades of blues, greens, and golds of the sea, sky, and sand can paint a vivid picture.

Sunlight plays a role in these changing hues, so consider the time of day.

Beaches at night transform into a world of silvery moonlight, shadows, and possibly bioluminescent creatures.

Using a palette of darker shades can set a contrasting and mystical scene.

16. Human Imprints

From lone footprints in the sand to majestic sandcastles, human touch is evident on many beaches.

Describing these imprints can suggest recent activity or age-old legacies.

Sadly, not all human imprints are poetic (or positive).

Describing signs of pollution, like plastic waste, can serve as a stark reminder and add an environmental angle to your narrative.

17. Unique Underwater Worlds

Many beaches are gateways to underwater paradises.

Vividly describing the diverse, colorful corals can transport readers into a magical realm.

Each coral formation has its own charm, from brain corals’ intricate patterns to the elegant sway of sea fans.

Beaches often harbor rich marine ecosystems.

Describing encounters with playful dolphins, curious turtles, or schools of shimmering fish can add depth and wonder to your narrative.

18. Local Life and Culture

Many coastal communities have age-old traditions linked to the sea.

Highlighting local festivals, rituals, or even daily activities like fish markets can provide readers with a cultural immersion.

Local handicrafts or special beachside dishes can offer a sensory feast.

Be it a description of intricate seashell jewelry or the tantalizing aroma of grilled seafood, integrating local flavors can enrich your beach description.

19. Dynamic Dunes and Vegetation

Sand dunes, shaped by the wind, can change forms and create mesmerizing patterns.

Describing these dynamic landscapes can add an element of nature’s artistry to your narrative.

Coastal vegetation, from tall palm trees to dense mangroves, not only adds to the beach’s visual appeal but also plays a crucial role in maintaining coastal ecology.

Diving into descriptions of these can add both beauty and educational value.

20. Seasonal Shifts

While summer might bring in sunbathers, winter could wrap the beach in misty allure. Capturing these seasonal nuances can create varied and engaging settings.

Monsoon or hurricane seasons can drastically change beach atmospheres.

Describing the sheer power of nature during such times can infuse drama and tension into your story.

21. Adventure and Activities

From surfing monstrous waves to peaceful kayaking sessions, beaches offer numerous adventure opportunities.

Describing the thrill and challenges of these activities can inject action into your beach scenes.

Leisurely activities like beachcombing can be therapeutic and rewarding.

Detailed descriptions of discovering seashells, driftwood, or even messages in bottles can add mystery and intrigue.

Here is my video that I made about how to describe a beach in writing:

30 Best Words to Describe a Beach in Writing

I’ve collected some of the best words to describe beaches.

Feel free to use these words to bring beaches to life in your own stories:

• Sun-drenched
• Crystal-clear
• Picturesque

30 Best Phrases to Describe a Beach in Writing

Consider using these phrases to describe the beaches in your stories:

• Waves lapping at the shore
• Blanket of golden sands
• Palm trees swaying gently
• Horizon stretching endlessly
• Colors of the setting sun
• Children building sandcastles
• Echo of distant seagulls
• Soft whisper of the ocean breeze
• Shells scattered like treasures
• Footprints washed away
• Secrets of the deep blue
• Calm before the storm
• A dance of playful dolphins
• Reflection of a crimson sky
• Nature’s perfect canvas
• Dunes shaped by the wind
• Taste of salt on the lips
• Shadows growing longer
• Aromas of beachside grills
• Moonlit silver waters
• Mystery of tidal patterns
• Laughter and beach games
• Sway of coastal grasses
• Rhythms of the coastal life
• Stories the tide brings in
• Gentle embrace of the sea
• Paradise found and lost
• Hideaway for dreamers
• Dance of light on waves
• Sands of time standing still

3 Examples of How to Describe a Beach

Let’s look at three imaginative depictions of beaches, each resonating with the unique essence of its respective genre.

• Romance : The serene beach under the moon’s embrace seemed to whisper tales of ageless romances. The moonlight cast a silvery glow on the quiet beach, where waves serenaded the shores. The sands, cool beneath their feet, became their dance floor. Their hearts resonated with the rhythm of the waves, as they lost themselves in each other’s embrace, amidst the vastness of the ocean.
• Mystery/Thriller : A heavy atmosphere weighed down on the beach, with secrets buried as deep as its oceanic abyss. The beach was eerily silent, save for the relentless pounding of the waves. A thick fog hung low, concealing much of the shore. As Detective Adams approached, the beam from his flashlight revealed a set of footprints, leading into the mysterious abyss of the night.
• Fantasy : To the common eye, it’s a beach. But for those with the sight, The Golden Sands of Elaria were gateways to otherworldly adventures. As dawn broke, the sands sparkled with magic. Mermaids emerged from the turquoise depths, dragons soared above the azure skies, and ancient runes appeared, guiding brave adventurers to hidden realms beneath.

Final Thoughts: How to Describe a Beach in Writing

Describing beaches is truly an ocean of opportunities.

Dive into more treasures by exploring other articles on our site – you never know what pearls of wisdom you’ll unearth!

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Beach Description Essay

Looking for simple and beautiful descriptive writing about a beach in summer? The beach description essay below is just what you need! Get inspired for your own creative writing with us.

Introduction

Description of a beach.

Summer is the perfect time for individuals to visit and enjoy the marvelous scenes along the coast. In addition, the feelings and experiences felt on the beach during the summer are always fantastic. Several sceneries and experiences are seen and felt at the beach during summer. These include; the plantation along the beach and inside the sea, the animals, the waters, and the people found on the beach.

The beach appears to be alive and joyful with the presence of the natural vegetation. There are evergreen plantations both along and inside the beach. Images of buoyant seaweeds can be seen along the shore. Palms trees are seen to stand tall along the beach, dancing to the tune of the breeze emanating from the waters of the sea.

The sea grapes and the sea oats are also observed gathered in clusters in the sea next to the shore. Their colored flowers are splendid and brighten at the shining of the summer sun. The sweet scent of the flower grapes sends a signal to the world about the hope brought by nature.

The atmosphere is fully intensified by the aroma produced by the buoyant sea flowers. In addition, from afar, images of leafless trees are also observed. The perfect combination of the vegetation along the beach and inside the sea displays the beauty of nature to the highest peak.

It mesmerizes the eyes to gaze at the beautiful creatures that hover all over the beach and on the deep-sea waters. There are sights of beautiful birds that fly all over the dry shoreland and over the seawaters. Their colored feathers brightened the sea with a marvelous appearance at their illumination by the sun’s rays.

There are varieties of birds that are in the vicinity. For instance, there are pelicans and seagulls. Pelicans are seen hovering over the sand, singing sweet melodies that make the atmosphere at the beach vibrant. The seagulls are also observed to be flying over the seawater in small groups. Some of the birds are gathered in groups spreading the wings that cloaked a soft shadow on the gentle water ripples.

Next to the shore, there are sea turtles that seem to enjoy the summer heat from the sun. Their eggs are also seen to be exposed on the sand by the children that play on the shoreline. Bees are seen flying from one flower to another over the sea grapes. The humming of the bees as they gather nectar from the sea flowers attracts insect-eating birds.

Large crowds are observed all over the seashore. These people come to enjoy themselves on the beach at this period of the year. In the sea, people of all ages and sexes are seen swimming and playing with the cool seawater. The scorching heat from the summer sun is felt on the forehead of all individuals.

This makes the people chill themselves in the cool waters of the sea. The children are seen playing beach ball on the shoreline. Some children are also seen pelt each other with sand on the shoreline. Besides, young boys are observed climbing tall palm trees to gather fruits.

What is more, several activities take place along and inside the shoreline. Vendors are seen carrying ice creams and soft drinks all over the shoreline. Views of homes, hotels, and other buildings that run along the peak of the beach are also seen. On the sand where children play, pieces of shells are scattered.

In most cases, children collect the shells for fun. In the shades built along the shoreline, people are seen reading books, journals, and magazines. Some are seen idling on the sand, while few adults are observed playing football.

However, there is a disgusting scene of plastic bags, cigarette butts, food wrappers, and beer bottles along the beach. These items seem to pollute the entire shoreline and the seawater.

Anglers are also observed far into the sea casting large nets into the waters to have a bulk catch of their prey. Some of the anglers are also observed perching on the edge of the shore carrying sticks in their hands. Their faces displayed the anticipation that they had for their prey.

The deep waters of the sea produce a marvelous view for anyone who gazes at the sea. The water is seen to be slowly running low on the shore. Small waves are also observed crashing on the shoreline. The surface of the sea is seen to appear blue in color.

However, some portions are also seen to have the spectrum that results from the sun’s refracted rays. Deep inside the sea, there are high waves that lift boats up and down mightily. The shimmering waves of the sea that are clear and blue mirror the rays of the hot sun. The refreshing breeze that emanates from the seawater is enjoyable.

In conclusion, the beach has a perfect view and activities that are delightful to experience during the summer. It is a place that everyone would love to be at all times.

• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2019, April 17). Beach Description Essay. https://ivypanda.com/essays/description-of-the-beach-scene-in-summer/

"Beach Description Essay." IvyPanda , 17 Apr. 2019, ivypanda.com/essays/description-of-the-beach-scene-in-summer/.

IvyPanda . (2019) 'Beach Description Essay'. 17 April.

IvyPanda . 2019. "Beach Description Essay." April 17, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/description-of-the-beach-scene-in-summer/.

1. IvyPanda . "Beach Description Essay." April 17, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/description-of-the-beach-scene-in-summer/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Beach Description Essay." April 17, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/description-of-the-beach-scene-in-summer/.

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• Writing Prompts

12 Summer Creative Writing Prompts To Get Your Kids Writing Over Summer

Summer holidays can be so exciting at first, with so many things to do and so many places to go. But as the weeks go by or even after a few days they can get a little boring! If you find your child getting bored, take a look at these 12 summer creative writing prompts to get your kids writing this summer. It is important to keep your child’s mind busy over the holidays with quick writing tasks to develop their creativity and writing skills. It is even more important to create a nice balance between work and time to relax. We don’t want to bore them with long writing assignments and we don’t want them sitting at their desks all day long. Therefore we encourage the child to go outside with a clipboard when trying out these summer creative writing prompts. And to work with their friends and family members to develop ideas and to write together.

Why not take part in our online summer writing challenge – New summer-related prompts are added daily!

Summer Creative Writing Prompts for Kids

• You find a messenge in a bottle washed up on a shore. What do you do?
• Create a bucket list of everything you want to achieve this summer holiday.
• We all heard the legend of mermaids and the loch ness monster. But can you write your own legend about a mysterious sea creature? Does this creature still exist? How did it once live? What happened to it?
• If summer was a person, who would it be? Describe their appearance, their personality and what would they like to do?
• You’re on the beach collecting seashells. You then hear a calm whisper from one of the seashells. It whispers, “Come, find me…” What do you do next?
• Keep a journal of everything you have done during your summer holidays. You can write in your journal daily or weekly. And write about your feelings, what you did, what made you happy, what made you sad and anything else. You can even include drawings and photographs.
• Write a limerick about the summer sun. Remember a limerick is a funny poem, which normally ends with a surprising ending. See our post on how to write a limerick.
• Feeling bored? Create a word cloud with as many words relating to summer. See the example of a summer word cloud below.
• Write a shape poem about the summer. Take a look at our Alice in the Wonderland inspired shape poetry for inspiration.
• Did you read anything interesting over the summer? Write a book review. What did you like about the book? What would you change? And out of 5 stars and how much would you rate it?
• Create your own newspaper company. Pretend you are the top reporter at this company and write articles about anything interesting you heard and saw around your town, on the TV or in a magazine. You can even release a new issue of your newspaper every week or every day!
• Start your own comic. Think of your main character and start designing away. Take a look at our tips for creating your first comic strip here .

For more summer writing ideas, see our mega list of over 72 summer writing prompts !

What are your thoughts on these summer prompts?

We hope these summer creative writing prompts encourage your children to get writing over the summer holidays. Do you have any more ideas for writing prompts for kids? Let us know your thoughts in the comment below.

Marty the wizard is the master of Imagine Forest. When he's not reading a ton of books or writing some of his own tales, he loves to be surrounded by the magical creatures that live in Imagine Forest. While living in his tree house he has devoted his time to helping children around the world with their writing skills and creativity.

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BRYN DONOVAN

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Master List for Describing Weather

A lot of writers struggle with describing settings. I’ve written before about how to describe settings and why it matters , but a few people have told me they’d like me to do some of my master lists for writers to help them out!

I have a weird love for creating lists like this, so I’m happy to do it. “How to describe weather” seemed like a good place to start. This way, you won’t get stuck trying to figure out how to describe nice weather, or thinking up ways to describe rain. Hopefully, this will make your writing go faster.

I always include simple as well as more creative ways to describe or write about weather. Sometimes, the simple word is the one you want! I included dryness and humidity in a few of the categories because it felt weird for them to get their own.

As always, this is not a comprehensive list, and I might add to it. My list will probably make you think of other possibilities, too. Bookmark or pin it for future writing reference!

HOT WEATHER 

blazing sunshine

glaring sun

baking in the sun

sun-drenched

scorching heat

extravagant heat

relentless sun

like a suana

dense tropical heat

radiating heat

blistering heat

oppressive heat

insufferable heat

suffocating heat

heat pressing down

searing sun

shimmering heat

like an oven

like a furnace

WARM / PLEASANT WEATHER

(“Pleasant” is a matter of opinion, of course.)

a beautiful day

a clear day

a temperate day

a golden day

a glorious day

heavenly weather

bright and sunny

a gorgeous spring day

a dazzling summer day

a brilliant autumn day

a vivid blue sky

a cloudless sky

fluffy white clouds

gentle sunshine

lazy sunshine

kind sunshine

filtered sunlight

dappled sunlight

welcome warmth

one of those rare, perfect days

the kind of day that made people forget to worry

the kind of day that lifted people’s moods

COOL WEATHER

refreshing air

stimulating cool air

invigorating cool air

bracing cool air

a nip in the air

a brisk day

a chilly day

weak sunshine

GRAY / OVERCAST WEATHER

(Most people don’t like gray days, so most of these descriptions are negative. I love them, so I had to add a few positive descriptions.)

colorless sky

a soft gray sky

a dove-gray sky

a gray day made for books and tea

steel-gray sky

granite sky

cement-gray sky

threatening clouds

foreboding clouds

COLD WEATHER

glacial air

bitter cold

brutal cold

bone-chilling cold

penetrating cold

devastating cold

numbing cold

punishing cold

dangerous cold

unforgiving cold

too cold to talk

so cold it burned one’s lungs

so cold it took one’s breath away

like a blast from a hair dryer

a gust of wind

insistent winds

heavy winds

strong winds

cutting wind

whipping winds

biting wind

wintry squall

violent gale

howling wind

shifting winds

restless wind

fresh breeze

soft breeze

balmy breeze

perfumed breeze

slight breeze

hint of a breeze

stirring breeze

wind rustling through the trees

fine drizzle

gray drizzle

pebbles of falling rain

spitting rain

stinging rain

steady rain

rain falling in torrents

cascades of rain

rain beating down

shower of rain

sheets of rain

hard-driving rain

pelting rain

lashing rain

slashing rain

THUNDER AND LIGHTNING

rumbling in the distance

a roll of distant thunder

crash of thunder

crackle of thunder

crack of thunder

clap of thunder

bang of thunder

booming thunder

rattled with thunder

earth-shaking thunder

tempestuous

a furious storm

flash of lightning

streaks of lightning

SNOW AND ICE

flurries of snow

dancing flakes

snowflakes floating down

snowflakes wafting down

swirling snow

falling thick and fast

big flakes falling like petals

blinding snowstorm

raging blizzard

sparkling expanses

blankets of white

caked with snow

boulders of snow

branches coated in ice

glittering ice

crystallized by frost

silvered with frost

clouds of mist

swirling mist

billowing fog

cloaked in mist

cocooned in fog

shrouded in fog

enveloped by fog

smothered by fog

made mysterious by fog

the fog rolled in

the fog was burning off

the fog was lifting

the fog was clearing

the fog was dissipating

I have many lists like this in my book  Master Lists for Writers: Thesauruses, Plots, Character Traits, Names, and More . Check it out!

Do you describe weather conditions in your writing? Do you have a favorite example of a weather description? Let me know in the comments! Thanks for reading, and happy writing!

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21 thoughts on “ master list for describing weather ”.

In my current WIP, weather is a crucial element. Not only is the woman in the romance a professional photographer — of weather — but it is a weather phenomenon, namely a tornado, that brings them together. So the description of the sky and the weather is quite detailed in places (specially as the supercell storm roars down on them).

On another angle, the phrase “gloriously sunny” is one that despite having that horrible “ly” adverb (shudder) is so evocative of the type of weather and the POV character’s attitude (and possibly even the type of weather that has gone before), that it’s powerful. It says a huge amount with only two words.

Hi Chris! Oh, wow…that’s a lot more detailed than most of us ever get in writing about the weather. It sounds like a great premise!

I will need this list as I begin edits next month on my WIP. I currently live in Hawaii, but am writing a story at Christmas time in Vermont. 🙂 Thank you!

Aw, nice! That’s some very different weather from what you’re used to. 🙂

It really is! And traveling to the climate I need isn’t ideal right now. So, off to the freezer I go! 🙂

Wow! This is fantastic. Thanks. You ARE a master at this.

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This is comprehensive! It’s bookmarked for future use. Thanks!

Thanks, Steve, I’m glad you liked it!

Amazing list that goes beyond the words that I struggle with – especially describing the rain-painted setting of Snowdonia.

Love your lists. You don’t have one for beaches by any chance? Would this, including the weather be another book by any chance??

Hi, Nicole! It’s funny you should ask. 🙂 I am going to release a second, more expanded version of MASTER LISTS FOR WRITERS . It’s going to have several setting descriptions in there (including a whole list for beaches!), and the weather list will be in there, too! I’m hoping to get it done before November of this year, but we’ll see. Thanks for asking!

That’s awesome and look forward to it’s release.

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I am in Chinan. I happened to enter this web-link and want to learn more about writing, I wonder if there are any descriptive passages. I can only find some words and expressions…

That was really useful. Thank you!

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This list is fabulous. Thank you for sharing it. I will be consulting it when incorporating weather elements into writing my next picture book.

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10 Words to Describe a Summer Morning

By Ali Dixon

Your novel will no doubt have some scenes set in the morning. Do you need some help in illustrating this part of the day? We’ve included 10 words to describe a summer morning for you below.

Giving out a moderate amount of heat ; having a tone or color that imparts heat.

“The morning was  warm  and welcoming, and as the sun rose over the hill, it cast an orange glow on everything around them.”

“They set out for their hike early in the  warm  morning so that they would be back by late afternoon.”

How It Adds Description

Summer mornings tend to be warm, making this a good word to describe the morning in your story. Warmth is usually pleasant, so this is a good way to set up that your characters are about to have an equally pleasant day.

Radiating light ; beautiful; sunny.

“It was a clear,  bright  morning that promised a beautiful day.”

“She’d had a bad sleep, but as she looked out at the  bright  morning, she couldn’t help but feel hopeful about what was to come next.”

As the sun rises over the world in your story, it’s going to make everything look bright. This brightness can reflect an overall positive feeling in your story, which is something that can bring your character peace or that you can subvert later.

Reflecting beams of light .

“It was a  radiant  summer morning with the sun casting orange light upon everything in the town.”

“As he gazed out at the  radiant  morning that summer day, he knew that something amazing was sure to happen.”

If you want to emphasize just how beautiful the summer morning in your story is, this is a great word to use . Something that is radiant can be literally radiating light, or it can be a word that’s used to show how vivid or glowing something is.

4. Cheerful

Marked by happiness ; full of good spirit; likely to get rid of gloom or worry.

“Even though the day before had been long and hard, the bright and  cheerful  sunny morning lifted everyone’s spirits.”

“Eventually, the stars began to disappear, revealing a lovely and  cheerful  summer morning.”

While the morning itself can’t feel any happiness, using the word cheerful to describe it can show how it might make a character in your story feel. If your character had a rough time the day before, a cheerful summer morning can help to get rid of any sadness they may be feeling.

5. Pleasant

Having qualities that provide pleasure ; having a pleasing appearance or manner.

“The family woke up early that  pleasant  summer morning so that they could watch the sunrise and get the most out of their day.”

“The morning was a  pleasant  one, and she felt confident that the rest of the day would be a good one too.”

A sunny, summer morning is rarely not a pleasant thing. The word pleasant implies a contentedness, and describing the morning as pleasant in your story can also be a way to reflect any inner peace your characters may have.

Having no clouds ; luminous or bright; serene and without trouble.

“The sun rose in the  clear , cloudless sky.”

“Still in bed, he looked out the window at the  clear  summer morning that was waiting for him to get out and enjoy it.”

A cloudless and clear summer morning can be a beautiful thing, especially if there have been a lot of clouds in the sky recently. A morning that is clear is also one that is peaceful and serene, which could be particularly desirable to your character.

7. Tranquil

Free from agitation ; quiet and peaceful; having no turmoil.

“He woke up early on a  tranquil  summer morning so he could go for a walk through the garden without having to worry about being disturbed.”

“Birds chirped in the  tranquil  morning and brought her a kind of peace that she hadn’t felt in a very long time.”

Summer mornings can be filled with a lot of movement and activity, but they can also be quite calm and pleasant. Use the word tranquil to describe a quiet summer morning that brings about a lot of peace.

Having no noise ; free of sound or uproar; having no or very little motion or activity.

“Aside from the sound of birds, the early summer morning was completely  quiet .”

“She stepped out of the door and into the  quiet  summer morning, ready to begin her exploration.”

Using the word quiet to describe the morning in your story can help emphasize any peaceful feelings. The word quiet can also help add tension. If the morning is a little too quiet, this can set both your characters and your readers on edge.

Lacking in motion ; subdued or calmed.

“The morning was so  still  and quiet, she almost didn’t hear the footsteps coming up behind her.”

“The summer morning air was peaceful and  still , and for the first time in a while, he felt completely relaxed.”

If there is not a lot of activity on the summer morning in question and you want to impart that to readers, this is a good word to use. Much like the word quiet, you can also use it as a way to build unease, as the morning may feel too still.

Alert and energetic ; full of movement or life; brilliant or fresh.

“Although it was still early, the summer morning was turning out to be a  lively  one, and everyone wanted to get started on their activities as soon as possible.”

“The morning was a  lively  one, and soon the sound of laughter and chatter filled the air.”

Is the morning in your story a super energetic one? A beautiful summer morning can inspire a lot of activity and fun. Use the word lively to impart to your readers just how much fun your characters are having.

Introduction to Creative Writing

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Online Course. Introduction to the writing of fiction, poetry, and drama. Development of the basic skills used to create imaginative literature. Fundamentals of craft and composition; the distinct but related techniques used in the three genres. Story, scene, and character in fiction; sound, line, image, and voice in poetry; monologue, dialogue, and action in drama. Enrollment limited to 14 students. 1 Credit. Session A: May 27 – June 28. Tuition: $5070. Technology Fee: $85. ( View syllabus )

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In-person Course. An introduction to music-theory analysis of commercial and popular song (with a focus on American and British music of the past 50 years, across multiple genres). Coursework involves study of harmony, voice leading and text setting...

Introduction to Interactive Design

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Yale Summer Conservatory for Actors

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Courses & Programs

• 2024 Course Syllabi
• Independent Research in the Summer
• Yale Summer Online
• The English Language Institute
• Conservatory for Actors
• Yale Writers' Workshop
• Yale Young Writers' Workshop
• Programs Abroad

• Program Overview
• Course Options
• Admission, Tuition & Fees
• International Students
• Residential & Commuter Experience
• Cybersecurity
• Digital Marketing
• Entrepreneurship
• Environmental Studies
• Lifespan Development
• Media & Social Change
• Political Science
• Screenwriting

CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOP

This workshop is designed for those with little or no experience in creative writing but eager to give it a try! During our four weeks together, we’ll fully immerse ourselves in the art and craft of creative writing, working collaboratively and doing activities designed to ignite our imaginations. Each week will offer the opportunity to experiment with four genres: the personal essay (also known as the “college application essay”), creative nonfiction, flash fiction, and the short story, respectively. In the process, we’ll learn about the literary techniques of accomplished writers, learn to “read like a writer” and “write like a reader,” and even take a field trip or two to find our inspiration in the city of Los Angeles. You’ll also receive constructive feedback from peers and your instructors to help you to discover your own writing voice. Let’s write!

PROGRAM DATES June 16 – July 13, 2024

PREREQUISITES None

RECOMMENDED International students who are non-native English speakers need meet the program’s English Requirement

DAILY SCHEDULE & ACTIVITIES MONDAY – FRIDAY 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Classes in session 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Lunch 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Classes in session

COURSE OVERVIEW

• Produce a portfolio of your own work, including a polished personal essay suitable for college applications
• Meet other writers and share your work in a collaborative workshop environment
• Learn the benefits of revision and see the evolution of your writing
• Take creativity-inspiring field trips to artistic venues in L.A.
• Gain skills and craft approaches you can carry into your future writing life

Topic of Study

• Personal essay
• Creative nonfiction
• Flash fiction
• Short story
• Literary techniques of accomplished authors

HEAR FROM OUR FORMER STUDENTS

Course details

Creative writing summer school.

The intermediate-level strand of the summer school is currently full, with an extensive waiting list, and we are no longer accepting applications.

Immerse yourself in your writing over three intensive weeks spent in Oxford. 

This unique summer school offers opportunities for writers at both intermediate and advanced levels to work under the guidance of experienced tutors.

You will write, develop your technique, sharpen your critical faculties and discuss your work in small, focused seminars. Each weekday you will attend a talk given by an author, publisher, agent, or editor. You will live and work in beautiful Exeter College, the environment that nurtured J R R Tolkien, Philip Pullman, Martin Amis, William Morris, and many others.

At the end of your three weeks, you will have acquired new skills, made new friends, and developed a fresh portfolio of creative writing.

• A three-week residential summer school.
• Take part in interactive seminars featuring writing exercises and group discussion.
• Benefit from guidance by tutors who are both published authors and experienced teachers.
• Attend daily talks given by established authors, agents, editors and others.

Participate in open mic nights and peer-led workshop sessions.

• Study and live at Exeter College, founded 1314 - one of Oxford University's oldest colleges.
• Enjoy a range of social events, including walking tours and excursions.

What is meant by intermediate and advanced?

The intermediate strand of the summer school is open access; it is for keen readers aged 18 and over who have written regularly and read widely over a sustained period. Students on the intermediate programme take two seminars, one in fiction and one in creative non-fiction. Applications for the intermediate strand do not require samples of written work.

The advanced strand of the summer school is an intensive programme which is suitable for writers who have completed or nearly completed a single-honours degree in Creative Writing or English Literature, or who have taken a significant number of courses in creative writing or English literature. Students on the advanced strand are likely to have developed specialisms in their work; they choose two from seven available seminars: creative non-fiction, fiction (two options), middle-grade and teen/young adult fiction, poetry, scriptwriting, and short story. Applications for the advanced strand include a statement of purpose and samples of written work.

Both strands live and work in beautiful Exeter College, socialising, dining and attending plenary lectures together.

All of the seminars involve writing exercises, group discussion, and the development of a portfolio of creative writing.

Each seminar has two two-hour meetings per week. Classes typically contain no more than 15 students.

(See "Programme details", below, for seminar descriptions.)

Contact hours

The programme provides you with a minimum of 46.5 contact hours, comprising:

• 24 hours of seminar meetings (12 hours per seminar); and
• 22.5 hours of talks (15 sessions, each lasting 1.5 hours).

Social programme

You can enjoy optional social events throughout the summer school. These may include a walking tour of Oxford, after-dinner talks and weekend excursions to sites of literary and/or historical interest. Most of these activities incur additional costs.

You will have an opportunity to share ideas and work with your fellow students at open mic nights (one per week) and informal peer-led workshop sessions (two per week).

Beyond the summer school, Oxford is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city with a busy cultural and social scene offering a wide variety of plays and shows, concerts, films and exhibitions.

Programme details

Intermediate-level seminars.

Click here to download the intermediate-level seminar timetable .

Creative Non-Fiction

Writing about real lives and experiences – your own, or someone else’s – is rewarding but also daunting. What if you have too much information, or your story involves other people? How do you fill the gaps? How do you keep the reader reading? What if your core purpose is to write creatively not about a life, but about a specific place or time, journey or sickness, idea or vocation? And when does storytelling tip over into fiction? In this course we will use practical exercises, examples, discussion and the sharing of writing to explore ways of imagining, researching, developing, shaping and voicing real-life material to form a narrative.

Tutor: Dr Emma Darwin’s memoir,  This is Not a Book About Charles Darwin  (Holland House Books, 2019), explores her disastrous attempt to write a novel about her family. Her debut novel,  The Mathematics of Love  (Headline Review, 2006), was nominated for the Commonwealth Writers’ and other awards; her second,  A Secret Alchemy  (Headline Review, 2009), was a  Sunday Times  bestseller;  Get Started in Writing Historical Fiction  (John Murray Learning) was published in 2016. She has a PhD in Creative Writing (London) and was an Associate Lecturer at the Open University; she blogs at  This Itch of Writing .

In this course you will explore who you are as a writer, reflecting on the stories that you see and hear in the stuff of everyday life and thinking about what you, uniquely, can bring to those stories that you choose to tell. We will discover how to depict fictional worlds, characters, relationships, situations and sequences of events so that they seem ‘real’ but at the same time sing on the page and make for compelling reading. To this end, we will be spending our time on writing exercises and discussion - sharing our work, ideas and experiences as and when we are comfortable to do so.

Tutor: Suzannah Dunn has published two collections of short fiction and twelve novels, seven of them historical, one of which,  The Confession of Katherine Howard,  was a Richard and Judy Pick. Her thirteenth novel,  Levitation for Beginners , will be published by Little, Brown in 2024. She has decades of experience as a tutor of creative writing in all kinds of settings with writers of all levels of confidence and skills. For five years she was Director of Manchester University’s MA in Novel Writing, and is now a tutor and mentor at Curtis Brown Creative.

Advanced-level seminar options

Click here to view the advanced-level seminar timetable .

We tell stories about ourselves and others every day. Taking a close look at autobiography, memoir, and biography, we will discuss how these stories are told and the extent to which this influences what we think we know about our own lives and those of others. The course will focus on narrative prose. It will provide an opportunity for students to work on an idea for a life story or an existing project. Students will be encouraged to work on their own writing during the course. We will discuss the challenges we all face as writers and how to address them. There will be opportunities to explore contemporary examples of life-writing that challenge traditional autobiographical and biographical narratives and the boundaries between fiction and non-fiction. We will address questions about form and style that help us to decide what kind of narrative we want to write, whether it be a book, an article, or a short life story.

Tutor: Rebecca Abrams is the author of Touching Distance , which won the MJA Open Book Award for Fiction and was shortlisted for the McKitterick Prize for Literature, The Playful Self ,   Woman in a Man's World , and Licoricia of Winchester: Power and Prejudice in Medieval England .  She is the editor of Out of Exodus , two anthologies of new fiction, and Jewish Treasures of Oxford Libraries , which was long-listed for the 2021 Wingate Literary Prize.  A journalist of many years standing, Rebecca is a regular literary critic for the Financial Times , a former columnist for the Daily Telegraph , and the recipient of an Amnesty International Press Award for Journalism.

Fiction: Turning Ideas Into Narratives

This course is aimed at those who are starting to write prose but do not yet feel fully confident. Using a variety of exercises and some examples from literature, we shall investigate the formation of character, and develop character arcs. Then we shall develop story and plot outlines together, planning scenes. Finally, we shall attempt to identify and discuss your unique strengths and preferences with a view to finding your USP - unique selling point.

Tutor: Dr Rachel Bentham has been Royal Literary Fellow at Bath University, and teaches for both Bristol and Bath Spa Universities. Her plays and short stories have been regularly broadcast on BBC Radio 4, and her poetry is internationally published. She has recently completed a novel set in nineteenth-century Tahiti. A recent collection of haiku was called  Let All Tongues Flower  (Firewater Press, 2013); and her most recent collection, also of haiku, is titled  Other Roads North  (2019) and reached number one on Amazon.

Fiction: Fine-Tuning Your Writing

This course is designed to help you hone your craft as a writer and see your project through to its completion. We shall start by examining your aims and motivation, troubleshooting any problems you are having in maintaining commitment and progress. We shall explore how to give your writing maximum resonance and power, analysing how you can use voice and point of view, give your characters extra depth and weave together story strands, themes and images. Finally, we shall look at sending your work out into the world, with workshopping and advice on editing and pitching.

Tutor: Lorna Fergusson is a writing coach, editor and speaker. She runs Fictionfire Literary Consultancy and has taught on various Oxford University writing programmes since 2002. She is the author of The Chase and An Oxford Vengeance . Her stories have won an Ian St James Award and the Historical Novel Society’s Short Story Award, as well as being shortlisted for the Bridport Prize and Pan Macmillan’s Write Now prize. In both 2021 and 2022 she was runner-up for the Mogford Prize. She is developing one of the Mogford stories into a novel, and is working on poetry, a collection of short stories and a book on mindset for writers.

Middle-Grade and Teen/Young Adult Fiction

The middle grade and teen/young adult fiction markets are exciting, and rewarding, areas of publishing. This course, run by an established novelist, will look at the way successful writers have chosen subjects and themes, explored fantasy and/or social realism, and found exactly the right voice to appeal to younger readers. It will also explore such key topics as planning, plot development and perspective. Students will be guided in the development of a story of their own, and there will be plenty of opportunities to workshop ideas and get feedback on stories as they progress.

Tutor: Julie Hearn is the critically acclaimed author of a number of novels for young adults, all published by Oxford University Press. Included are:  Follow Me Down,  shortlisted for the Branford Boase First Novel Award , The Merrybegot,  shortlisted for the  Guardian  Children’s Fiction Prize and the Highland Children’s Book Award ,  and  Rowan the Strange,  shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal and described by  The Guardian  as “nothing short of extraordinary”. Her eighth novel,  I am NOT adorable,  written for younger children, was published by Jolly Heron in 2018 and a collection of short stories,  The Princess Thing,  is in the pipeline.

Poetry may well be 'a pheasant disappearing in the brush', as Wallace Stevens quipped, but on this course we will carefully and cunningly follow that pheasant into the underwood. In this series of workshops, we will go in deep and examine new and old examples of poetry, to figure out how it can be made. You can write poetry in so many ways these days, and you will experiment with traditional and avant-garde methods of writing poems, learning not only how to write different kinds of metrical lines but also accomplished free verse, among other things. Ben Jonson knew that 'a good poet's made, as well as born', and on this course you will be made into one through continual practice, innovative imitation, and workshop discussion.

Tutor: Dr Edward Clarke teaches English literature and art history at various colleges and the Department for Continuing Education, Oxford University. He is the author of two books of criticism, The Later Affluence of W. B. Yeats and Wallace Stevens and The Vagabond Spirit of Poetry , and he has edited a selection of poems by Henry Vaughan and George Herbert, Divine Themes and Celestial Praise . His collection of poems, A Book of Psalms , was published 2020. ‘Clarke’s Psalter’, the documentary he presented about writing these poems, was broadcast on BBC Radio 4. His latest collection of poems is called Cherubims . A selection of his poems, The Voice inside Our Home , was recently published.

Scriptwriting

This course is based on the study and creation of scripts for stage, screen and radio and on helping aspiring dramatists to develop a practice to engage with a golden age of script writing. Convincing characters in coherent plots, with a keen awareness of genre, is the basis of all good fiction. We shall explore such core elements, culminating in the submission of a short script. In the third week, students can workshop a script begun outside the course. Dramaturgy will be strictly focused to help writers to develop individual writing for performance projects, using processes that are ‘industry standard’.

Tutor: Shaun McCarthy has had over a dozen stage plays professionally produced and a range of radio dramas broadcast. His adaptations include J.M. Synge’s  The Aran Islands  (BBC R4 Classic Serial), a stage version of  A Christmas Carol  that was a critique of David Cameron’s ‘big society’ and had a happy, unexpected ending; and a re-set of Strindberg’s  Miss Julie  to Oxford 1963. He teaches a range of creative writing courses for OUDCE, runs Hooligan Theatre Productions to develop his new plays and co-runs the writing events and residential writers’ retreats company ‘Stage and Page' in the UK and Italy.

The Short Story

This course encourages you to become a braver, more vital writer by experimenting with the short story form. As close to poetry as it is to prose, the short story is ideal for testing uncommon characters and situations, innovative structures and syntax. Unlock voices and creative techniques that will transform your writing practise. In the final week we will focus on intensive self-editing and how to transform a saggy, weak story into a powerful, shapely narrative, through close examination of language, rhythm, energy and pace. Perfecting short fiction is a great way to build your track record through publication in literary journals and entry to awards judged by agents and publishers.

Tutor: Susannah Rickards' collection of short fiction,  Hot Kitchen Snow,  drawn from experiences of growing up in North East England and working in East Africa, won the international Scott Prize in for best debut fiction collection in 2010, and is published by Salt. Her writing regularly appears in journals and anthologies and has been broadcast on BBC radio. She read English at Oxford University and now lives in Surrey, UK, where she writes and mentors new and established authors.

Recommended reading

Each seminar has its own requirements for preparatory reading.

Students will be enrolled as readers at Oxford University's main reference library, the Bodleian. They will also have access to the Continuing Education Library.

Certification

All students who complete the programme will receive an attendance certificate.

Those seeking credit at their home institution may request a detailed certificate which lists contact hours (for seminars and talks), an assessment of their contribution to seminar discussions, grades achieved for written work, and the number of private study hours required. Certificates will usually be sent to students' home institutions within a month of the end of the summer school.

As Oxford University does not offer credit for this summer school, those wishing to obtain credit from their home institution for attending this programme must make appropriate arrangements with that institution in advance.

Residential: Standard (shared bathroom) - £4,380; Residential: En suite (private bathroom facilities) - £4,765; Non-residential (no accommodation; limited meals) - £2,255

Programme fees

Residential: Standard (shared bathroom facilities) - £4,380 Fees include tuition (2 seminars and the daily programme of talks); access to IT facilities and libraries; accommodation in a standard single room with shared bathroom facilities for the nights of Sunday 21 July to Friday 9 August 2024 inclusive; meals in hall from dinner on Sunday 21 July to breakfast on Saturday 10 August 2024 (except lunch on Saturdays and Sundays).

Residential: En suite (private bathroom facilities) - £4,765 Fees include tuition (2 seminars and the daily programme of talks); access to IT facilities and libraries; accommodation in a single en suite room with private shower and toilet for the nights of Sunday 21 July to Friday 9 August 2024 inclusive; meals in hall from dinner on Sunday 21 July to breakfast on Saturday 10 August 2024 (except lunch on Saturdays and Sundays).

Non-residential - £2,255 Fees include tuition (2 seminars and the daily programme of talks); access to IT facilities and libraries; no accommodation; lunch Monday-Friday, and the programme`s formal opening and closing dinners on Sunday 21 July and Friday 9 August 2024, respectively.

There are no sources of funding (scholarships, bursaries, etc) available for applicants.

Invoicing and payment

Successful applicants who accept their offer of a place on the summer school will be invoiced for the appropriate programme fee once they have been formally enrolled on the programme.

Invoices will be emailed to students together with full instructions for payment. Fees may be paid online with a credit or debit card, or by bank transfer.

Students are required to pay the full fee within 30 days of the date on which their invoice was issued. Late applicants (see "Apply for this course", below) are required to pay the full fee within 7 days of their invoice date.

Please note that:

• students need to purchase travel insurance to cover the programme fee, travel costs, and any other expenses incurred (see "Cancellations", below);
• a student's place on the summer school is not confirmed until their fees have been paid in full;
• places will not be held for students whose fees are not paid in full by the due date; and
• in no circumstances will students be admitted to the summer school unless all fees have been paid in full.

When you have paid your fees

Your place on the summer school is confirmed as soon as your payment is received by OUDCE.

You will receive a receipt for your payment: an automated email from [email protected] if paid online, or via email from [email protected] if paid by bank transfer.

The Programme Administrator will provide all non-UK/Irish nationals enrolled on the summer school with a standard format pdf letter by email confirming enrolment and course details (see "Level and demands", below).

Cancellations

Intermediate-level strand

All enrolments are subject to OUDCE's Open Access Terms and Conditions .

You will enter into your contract with the University when you pay the course fees in full.

You have the right to cancel your contract at any time within 14 days, beginning on the day you paid your fees. You will receive a full refund of any payments you have made.

Advanced-level strand

All enrolments are subject to OUDCE's Short Selective Course Terms and Conditions .

By accepting your offer of a place on the summer school you enter into your contract with the University.

You have the right to cancel your contract at any time within 14 days, beginning on the day you accepted the offer. You will receive a full refund of any payments you have made within those 14 days.

Both strands

If you cancel your place at any time after the expiry of the 14-day period you will not be entitled to a refund.

You need to purchase travel insurance to cover the programme fee, travel costs, and any other expenses incurred.

If you wish to cancel your place on the summer school you must inform the Programme Administrator by email at [email protected]

OUDCE reserves the right to alter details of any course should illness or any other emergency prevent a tutor from teaching, and to cancel a course or individual seminar if exceptionally low enrolment would make it educationally unviable.

Course aims

Each seminar has its own course aim and objectives.

Teaching methods

Students will attend a programme of talks and readings.

Elements of seminar teaching will normally include:

• mini lectures by tutors;
• tutor-led class discussions;
• writing exercises;
• small group activities; and
• individual student presentations.

Students will attend short (10-minute) one-to-ones with their tutors to receive feedback on their written work.

Learning outcomes

Each seminar has its own learning outcomes.

Assessment methods

Tutors will monitor and assess students’ contribution to class discussions.

Students are expected to submit an assignment of 2,500 words in length for assessment for each seminar taken.

Application

Before you submit your application.

• ensure you meet the admissions requirements (see "Selection criteria", below);
• check the seminar timetable  carefully to ensure that your first and second choice courses do not run at the same time (advanced-level applicants only);
• make sure you have all the required supporting documents listed below;
• ensure you are familiar with the terms and conditions of enrolment on the summer school, especially those relating to payment of fees and cancellations (see "Payment", above); and
• read the 'Important information regarding immigration and visa requirements' (see "Level and demands", below).

The application process - intermediate strand

Complete the application form (intermediate) .

Please ensure all sections are completed fully, clearly, and in BLOCK CAPITALS.

The form must be accompanied by:

In the case of non-native speakers of English, official evidence of English language proficiency.

A portrait photograph (JPEG format).

Applications should be emailed to: [email protected]

Application deadline

Applications for the intermediate strand will be processed on a first come, first served or rolling basis until 1 May 2024.

Subject to the availability of places, late applications may be accepted until 1 June 2024.

After you have submitted your application

Applicants will normally be offered a place by email from [email protected] within 14 days of their application having been received.

Applicants who are offered a place on the summer school must respond in writing within 14 days to accept or decline the offer. In accepting an offer of a place applicants are committing to paying their programme fees in full by the due date.

Late applicants will normally be offered a place within 7 days of their application having been received, and will then have 7 days in which to accept or decline the offer.

The application process - advanced strand

Complete the application form (advanced) .

The form must be accompanied by the following documents as PDF files unless otherwise indicated:

• A brief statement of purpose (250-300 words) detailing your academic reasons for wishing to attend the summer school. This should include what you feel the programme would offer you and your writing, and what you feel you could bring to the summer school. This may include details of creative writing courses you have previously taken, or the relevance of the summer school to your present course of study or professional development. It is essential that you clearly state your reasons for wishing to enrol on specific seminars.
• Please provide samples of your work relevant to your first and second choice courses and ensure that the name of the seminar is printed at the top of each sample. As a guideline prose fiction, creative non-fiction and dramatic dialogue samples should be no more than 1,000 words in length (please provide an extract of a longer piece of work if appropriate); applicants for the poetry seminar should provide five short poems.

You will receive an email from [email protected] confirming receipt of your application materials, and informing you when your application will be reviewed by the admissions panel.

Application deadlines

The advanced strand of the summer school operates a gathered field closing date system by which applications are reviewed fairly and equally in batches at specific dates throughout the admissions period rather than on a first come, first served or rolling basis.

There is a limited number of places available on every seminar within each gathered field, and in assigning successful applicants to seminar groups the admissions panel will pay particular attention to applicants' personal statements.

There are three deadlines for applications to the advanced strand of the programme:

• Gathered field 1 - 1 March 2024
• Gathered field 2 - 1 April 2024
• Gathered field 3 – 1 May 2024

Subject to the availability of places, late applications may be considered on a first come, first served basis until 1 June 2024.

Notification of the admission panel's decision

Applicants will normally be notified of the panel's decision by email from [email protected] within 14 days of the relevant gathered field deadline.

Late applicants will be notified within 7 days of their materials having been received, and successful applicants will then have 7 days in which to accept or decline the offer of a place.

Enrolment - both strands

Students will be formally enrolled on the summer school once they have accepted their offer of a place.

The enrolment process includes the issuing of invoices, which will be emailed to students together with full instructions for payment (see "Payment", above).

Any queries?

Please contact the Programme Administrator by email at [email protected]

Level and demands

Participants are expected to.

• undertake preparatory reading in advance of the programme;
• attend all seminar sessions and talks and readings;
• be actively engaged with their seminar topics;
• submit an assignment of 2,500 words in length for each seminar taken; and
• undertake approximately 96 hours of private study during the programme (elements of private study will include: reading, writing and other preparation between seminar meetings, work in the library, writing papers, etc).

Important information regarding immigration and visa requirements

OUDCE welcomes international students on all its courses. However, it is the responsibility of successful applicants to ensure that they conform to UK immigration law.

If you are not a UK or Irish national, you might need to apply for a Standard Visitor visa to study in the UK. We strongly recommend that you establish whether you will require a visa before submitting your application.

Information regarding visiting the UK to study is available on the UK Government’s website  as well as Oxford University’s Student Immigration website .

If you will require a visa, you should ensure your summer school application is submitted as early as possible to allow yourself sufficient time to complete the visa application process (see current visa processing times ).

The Programme Administrator will provide all non-UK/Irish nationals enrolled on the summer school with a standard format pdf letter by email confirming enrolment and course details once their fees have been paid in full.

For legal reasons the Programme Administrator is not permitted to provide any visa advice to applicants; any queries should be addressed to [email protected] .

The University takes no responsibility for a visa being denied at any point before or during a course.

Please note that the standard cancellation policy applies in all cases. (See "Cancellations", above.

Support for students with disabilities

OUDCE welcomes applications from students with disabilities or learning difficulties. Individual student needs are taken into account, and adaptations and assistance provided within the resources available. We ask that students advise us in advance where any special provision might be needed. Further information is available at www.conted.ox.ac.uk/about/students-with-disabilities .

Selection criteria

This is an intensive programme of study taught to an informed international audience. Applicants should be confident that they are academically and linguistically prepared for such a programme.

Academic requirements for the intermediate strand

We welcome applications from all aspiring writers aged 18 and over.

You should be a keen reader who brings an open-minded, questioning approach to both reading and writing; you should also have written regularly and read widely over a sustained period.

Academic requirements for the advanced strand

Applications are welcomed from those who have completed or nearly completed a single honours university degree programme in creative writing or English literature, or a combined honours university degree programme in creative writing and English literature.

If your degree is in a different, but related, subject, the admissions panel will look for evidence that you have taken a significant number of courses in creative writing or English literature, namely the equivalent of two years’ worth of credits.

The summer school is not appropriate for those who have already achieved commercial publication.

English language requirements

As students are expected to participate fully in seminar discussions and are required to produce written work, it is important that applicants can demonstrate an appropriate level of proficiency in the four language skills - listening, reading, writing and speaking.

If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence of your proficiency in the form of an original certificate or a certified copy that is not more than two years old on the date the summer school starts. You must satisfy one of the following requirements:

IELTS Academic - minimum overall score of 7.5, with not less than 7.0 in each of the four components

TOEFL iBT - minimum overall score of 110, with not less than 22 for listening, 24 for reading, 25 for speaking and 24 for writing

C1 Advanced (formerly known as Cambridge English: Advanced or CAE) - minimum overall score of 191, with not less 185 in each of the four components.

For further information on English language qualifications:

Click here for IELTS

Click here for TOEFL

• Click here for Cambridge English

The requirement to provide English language test scores may be waived in either of the following circumstances:

• If you have completed a full-time degree-level programme at a recognised institution where teaching and assessment throughout the course was undertaken entirely in English, and the programme was completed with a gap of no more than two academic years to the course to which you are applying. If you studied this course in a country that is not majority English speaking, you will need to provide evidence that the course was taught in English. This can either take the form of a link to the appropriate page of the institution’s website or a statement from the institution confirming this.
• If you have worked for a minimum of two years in a majority English speaking country where the main language for the role was English, and your role involved daily professional use of each of the four language components (reading, writing, listening and speaking).

Accommodation

Founded in 1314, Exeter College is one of Oxford University`s oldest colleges and is situated in a prime city centre location.

Bedrooms and meals

Students who choose to attend the summer school on a residential basis will have a single study bedroom.

Bedrooms are located up the four to nine floors of a staircase; bath and/or shower and toilet facilities on each staircase are shared. A limited number of rooms have private bathroom facilities (shower and toilet) and these are available for a higher fee. Early application for these rooms is essential.

Students cannot be accommodated at Exeter College either prior to or beyond their programme dates. Family members and/or friends who are not enrolled on this summer school cannot be accommodated in college.

Residential students will take meals in the college's dining hall. All meals are self-service with a range of options available. The only exceptions are the summer school's opening and closing dinners, which are formal served set menu meals. Should applicants have any dietary requirements (eg vegetarian, gluten-free) they are required to complete the relevant section on the application form.

Please be aware that accommodation at Exeter College is limited and may not be available for those who submit their applications towards the end of the admissions period.

Non-residential students

Students who choose to attend the summer school on a non-residential basis are responsible for finding their own accommodation. Information on accommodation in Oxford is available at:

• Conference Oxford
• Experience Oxfordshire
• University Rooms Oxford

Lunch is provided for non-residential students Monday-Friday, and the summer school's opening and closing dinners are also included in the non-residential programme fee.

IT requirements

Although it is not required, most students bring a laptop to Oxford to assist them with their studies.

For residential students, wireless internet access is available in all bedrooms; for all students, wireless access is available in communal spaces of the college.

All students will be eligible to use the computers and printer in Exeter College's computer room.

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support

Creative writing ideas and topics for summer

Our guide on creative writing over the summer holidays is full of fun writing ideas and activities for children. Get stuck into  descriptive summer writing !

While many parents may worry about their child’s reading or maths skills over summer, are you considering their writing? Writing is an equally important part of  summer learning , so let’s take a look at ways you can make writing fun and accessible for your child over the summer. 

Be sure to take a look at our  free resources  to get more tips for keeping up your child’s learning during the summer break. 

Why children should do creative writing over the summer holidays

Summer writing is one of the many ways you can prevent the ‘ summer slide ’, the loss of skill children can experience when they don’t practice any of the things they’ve learned in school over the summer. So encouraging your child to do some summer writing is a valuable gift in their education journey.

There are a lot of fun  things to learn in summer  for children, and writing about them is a good way for them to keep up their spelling and grammar skills. 

The importance of creative writing over the summer holidays 

Summer creative writing is a brilliant way for children to keep on practising their spelling, grammar and sentence structure skills during their break. As essential skills, it’s important to encourage children to keep on top of their writing as much as their reading. 

Creative writing for children is also an amazing outlet, making for a great stress buster and helping them to calm down and focus. So particularly on days when you might need a little peace and quiet, it’s good to encourage them to write a story or write about their summer holidays. 

Creative writing ideas to use this summer

Anyone that’s ever tried to do some creative writing knows that it can be tricky to just sit down and write something. So let’s take a look at some ways to get started with writing in the summer:

Reading – Now, we’ve already talked about how writing is just as important as reading over the summer, but reading can be a great source of inspiration. In turn, your children will also be keeping on top of their  summer reading  by looking for inspiration in books. 

Keeping a diary  – For a lot of children a diary might be their first opportunity to write something that’s entirely their own. It can be a great way to boost their confidence in their writing, as it’s something just for them that doesn’t have to be marked by a teacher or fit into any kind of writing brief set by their teacher. It’s also really easy for them to get started with, they just have to write about their day in as much or as little detail as they like. 

Write about their surroundings  – Even if writing is purely descriptive, that’s still good practice. So, if your children are completely stumped for something to write, why not ask them to write about where they are? That could be at home, or you could get outside and take them somewhere exciting to write about. If you’re going away this summer why not ask them to write about the place you’re going to? 

Worksheets  – If all else fails, it’s okay to get out a  writing worksheet  on a rainy day. These are really helpful if your child needs some writing prompts to help them get ideas flowing. Of course, you don’t want them to feel like they’re at school over the summer, so don’t overload your children with worksheets. A few here and there will be fine though. 

What to write about during the summer

Choosing something to write about for the summer holidays can be the most difficult part for some children. Writing a short story needs some inspiration, so that’s why we’ve come up with a list of summer writing prompts for children to work with. 

Summer writing prompts

Any of these concepts could make a great starting point for writing a summer short story, a descriptive essay or any kind of creative writing. 

The last week of school before summer

Write a summer poem

A summer bucket list of things to do before school starts

Your favourite summer memory

Write about a rainy summer’s day and what you did

A journey through the forest

A day at the beach

Write a letter to a friend

Make up a recipe for a magic potion

Write a scary story

Think of a mysterious, magical forest and write about what you’d see there

The last day of summer

Write about something new you tried this summer

Write a letter to your favourite author about your favourite book

Write a song about your summer holidays

Write about a long walk you took and what you saw

Write about what you want to accomplish in school next year.

Summer writing ideas for children

While the above are a great starting point for many children wanting to do some summer creative writing, some children might need help deciding how to format their ideas. Not every piece of summer writing needs to be a short story, maybe your child wants to try something different? Let’s take a look at what they can do. 

Essay writing about the summer holidays

An essay might sound like the last thing your child wants to do over their summer break, but you might also be surprised by how eager they are to write about something that excites them. An essay is amazing fuel for their  summer learning  as it not only helps them keep practising their  spelling and grammar , it also helps them practice their  academic writing skills . Knowing how to write a good essay is a must as your children continue their education journey. 

Remember, you don’t need to insist or pressure your child into writing a summer essay. They’ll get plenty of practice in essay writing as they go through school. If they do want to write a summer essay though, you can give them a helping hand. 

A summer essay  doesn’t need to be stressful either. It’s just something for your child to do for themselves. They can write about the whole summer and what they’ve done (keeping a diary would be great for that), just one fun summer experience or something new they learned about over the summer. 

Summer creative writing ideas

Creative writing is a fun way to keep children’s brains engaged and ensure they’re still practicing their spelling and grammar. Of course, even with all the story prompts in the world it can be a little tricky to figure out what to write, or how to write it. 

Writing doesn’t have to be done alone. You can either sit down together and  write a story  with your child, or you can see they want to invite their friends over and all  write something together . You never know what children might come up with when they put their heads together, so you might even be in for a fun surprise!

They could also express their artistic talent by  drawing a comic book . That could be about an idea they came up with themselves, or a comic about their summer holiday, or something about one of the prompts we listed earlier. 

They could even try  rewriting the ending to their favourite book . See how they’d tell the story if they were in charge. 

Be sure to also take a look at these  tips for young authors ! 

Summer descriptive writing ideas

Descriptive writing isn’t too unlike creative writing, but rather than writing entirely from their imagination children are encouraged to take in their surroundings or a situation. It’s a really important comprehensive skill to have, and can be a great little boredom buster if they’re stuck in on a rainy day, or they’re maybe not enjoying sunbathing on the beach as much as you are. 

The summer holidays can be a great source of inspiration for descriptive writing. You can take your children to the  park  or a  local nature reserve  to write about what they can see (not to mention  their other senses  too!). They could even try  writing a review about a place  they’ve been to over the summer or a  film they’ve seen .

A  summer journal or diary  can be a great way for children to practice their descriptive writing. They can take down notes throughout the day and expand on them later, a very handy essay writing technique, or write everything from memory at the end of the day. Having their own journal or diary also gives children a sense of independence which can really boost their writing confidence. 

Fun summer writing activities 

The most important thing you can do to encourage your children to write over the summer is to make it fun! Isn’t that always the best way to get children to do something that’ll benefit them in the long run? 

Try asking them to do something like  write a letter to a friend . That gives them something to look forward to because eventually, they’ll be able to give that letter to their friend. They could be summer pen pals, both working on their reading and writing while having fun doing it. 

Changing up the scenery that children write in can be fun and exciting too. If you want to work on their descriptive writing, as we mentioned above, you can  take them somewhere exciting to write about .

Get confident with creative writing

If you want to help your child get a head start with their creative writing over the summer,  English tuition  might be the way forward. They’ll be able to practice their English skills online either by learning independently or with a tutor, and they’ll still have plenty of time to get out and enjoy the summer. 

Our  English tutors  will work together with your child to identify the areas they want to improve in, whether that’s spelling, grammar or coming up with ideas for their writing. Why not see if your child wants to improve their creative writing this summer? 

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Creative Writing Academy

• How to Apply

Most High School Academies are full. For availability, visit each program’s Schedule page.

Summer College housing is nearing or at capacity.

For more questions, email [email protected].

Transform your dreams, ideas, and stories into organized, compelling, creative written works with dynamic lectures in craft topics, workshop sessions with graduate student instructors, and insightful, productive feedback from your peers. This combination of instructional approaches will help you generate and polish a wealth of new poems, stories, and essays, and allow you to experiment with innovative forms in the field of creative writing. The Academy will also focus on the publishing and professionalization aspects of the industry, exploring what markets are available for your writing, what jobs are available to creative writers, funding opportunities for your work, undergraduate and graduate programs in writing, and how to get published. Topics for discussion will include literary form and targeted craft points, often in relation to social, political, and environmental themes. In addition, this week-long program will feature excursions to sites around Washington, D.C., including an exercise in ekphrastic writing at the National Gallery of Art and the chance to read your work aloud at Busboys and Poets, a famous D.C. literary hub.

Estimated Tuition:

Price includes tuition, housing, and meals. Commuter Student tuition is $2,625.

How You'll Benefit

• Participate in writing workshops
• Awaken your powers of observation, imagination, and description
• Learn concrete elements of the craft of writing in daily workshops
• Attend readings from published authors, who will lead interactive classes and conduct group discussions
• Work with Georgetown's expert creative writing faculty to bring out your most creative ideas
• Read excerpts from award-winning works and use them to develop your own original works
• Visit local monuments, world-renowned theaters, museums, and literary organizations
• Take part in peer critiques and learn how to revise and refine your writing

Program Format & Subject Areas

As a student in the Creative Writing Academy, you'll spend your day immersed in a blend of classroom lectures, field trips, hands-on activities, and group discussions. Throughout the week, you'll have the opportunity to explore the following subject areas:

• Personal prose
• Literary history
• Technique (story structure, character development, theme, description, dialogue)
• Finding good ideas and turning them into polished pieces
• Using great literature and art for inspiration

All in all, I fell in love with the program. I got to meet so many amazing people not only from the D.C. area but all around the country.

Having the chance to experience once in a lifetime opportunities and getting to meet people from around the world made it so I got to really experience what college life was like.

My #SummerHoya experience was enriching, inspiring, and rewarding; if I could turn back the clock, I’d do it all over again.

It was amazing to be surrounded by such high caliber students and staff who were all encouraging and fabulous to work with. I took away many positive things from my week as a Summer Hoya.

As I am filling out my college applications, I am able to think back to my memories from the summer and I am reassured that I am pursuing the right educational path.

The program offers so much–from the off-site visits to the daily lectures and the on campus activities. The lectures were interesting, meeting new people was great and the off-site visits were interactive and intriguing.

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• Summer 2024

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DISCUSSION SECTION FOR "INTRODUCTION TO CREATIVE WRITING FOR NON-MAJORS"

• Kara Mae Brown

Course Description

Discussion Section for W&L CSW 15, Section 1