creative writing bullying stories

How to Write Bullying Scenes (Ultimate Guide + 17 Examples)

As a writer who has experience with being bullied, writing bullying scenes is both a personal and visceral challenge.

Here’s how to write bullying scenes:

Write a bullying scene in fiction by knowing the major types: physical, verbal, emotional, digital, and group bullying. Mirror real-world dynamics, use subtlety, and showcase consequences. Consider the viewpoints of both victim and bully, use body language, and approach the topic sensitively.

In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about how to write bullying scenes.

What Is a Bullying Scene?

Table of Contents

In fiction, a bullying scene is an event where one or more characters exert dominance, power, or influence over another character in a harmful or derogatory manner.

These scenes can be physical, verbal, or emotional in nature.

They usually serve to heighten drama, reveal character flaws or virtues, and propel the plot forward.

Bullying scenes are challenging to write because they need to be sensitive to the topic while also fitting into the larger narrative.

Poorly handled bullying scenes can feel gratuitous, unrealistic, or disrespectful to those who have experienced bullying.

Like me (I suffered intense bullying in middle school).

However, when done well, they can offer powerful social commentary and deepen the reader’s engagement with the story.

Types of Bullying Scenes

There are many different types of bullying scenes you can write in your story.

Check out the list (and explanations) below to see which one fits best in your narrative.

Physical Bullying

Physical bullying scenes involve explicit acts of violence or intimidation.

In these scenes, the bully might fictionally push, punch, or otherwise physically harm the victim.

These instances are visceral and can quickly engage the reader’s emotions.

When writing a physical bullying scene, it’s essential to be explicit about the consequences.

Don’t glorify the violence.

Instead, use the characters’ reactions and the subsequent fallout to explore the emotional and physical repercussions.

This will lend your scene realism and ethical weight.

Verbal Bullying

In verbal bullying scenes, the aggression is in the words.

Taunts, jeers, or cruel jokes directed at the victim can be just as damaging as physical blows.

Verbal bullying can occur anywhere: in a school hallway, over social media, or during a confrontation between characters.

When crafting a verbal bullying scene, pay close attention to the dialogue.

Each word should be chosen carefully to reflect the characters involved and the severity of the bullying.

Again, make sure to portray the impact on the victim in the story, and possibly on bystanders, to give the scene depth and gravity.

Digital Bullying

Digital bullying or cyberbullying has become increasingly common.

This type of bullying occurs through digital platforms like social media, email, or messaging apps.

Digital bullying scenes often involve public humiliation, spread of rumors, or direct harassment through messages.

Writing a digital bullying scene may require a different approach, as much of the action happens behind screens.

You may choose to include screenshots, texts, or even describe video content to convey the action.

However, it’s essential to capture the emotional toll on the victim through internal dialogue or by showing the real-world consequences of the online harassment.

Group Bullying

Group bullying involves multiple people targeting a single victim.

This form amplifies the sense of isolation and powerlessness for the victim.

Often, group dynamics and peer pressure can make this form of bullying particularly intense.

When portraying group bullying, make sure to differentiate between the individuals in the group.

Not everyone will have the same motivations or levels of involvement, and some might be participating due to peer pressure or fear of becoming the next target.

The complexity of group dynamics can add layers to your scene and story.

13 Expert Tips for Crafting a Compelling Bullying Scene

Here is the crux, the meat and potatoes, the brass tacks of the guide.

This is where you learn the techniques of bestselling authors for how to write bullying scenes.

1. “The Gut Punch”: Create Immediate Emotional Impact

You want readers to feel the emotional weight of the scene right from the start.

Use vivid language and strong verbs to give the bullying action a visceral quality that strikes the reader’s emotions immediately.

Example : Instead of saying “He was scared,” show his trembling hands and stuttering speech to make the reader feel his fear.

2. “The Mirror Effect”: Reflect Real-world Dynamics

Base your scene on real-world bullying dynamics, considering factors like age, setting, and societal norms.

This adds an authentic touch, making your scene more relatable and impactful.

Example : If your scene is set in a school, research typical schoolyard bullying tactics or language for that age group.

3. “The Domino Effect”: Show Consequences

Bullying doesn’t happen in a vacuum.

Show the ripple effects on the victim, the bully, and even bystanders.

This makes your scene multi-dimensional and realistic.

Example : After the bullying incident, show how the victim becomes withdrawn and how bystanders who didn’t intervene wrestle with guilt.

4. “Dialogue Dynamics”: Master the Art of Conversation

Pay special attention to the dialogue.

Natural, realistic dialogue can make or break your scene. Make sure it’s age-appropriate and fits the setting.

Example : Teenage bullies will use different slang or phrases than adult bullies in a workplace.

5. “The Hidden Hand”: Subtlety is Key

Not all bullying is overt.

Sometimes it’s subtle digs, backhanded compliments, or passive-aggressive actions.

Capture these nuances to add depth.

Example : Instead of a physical shove, a bully might deliberately call the victim by a derogatory nickname in front of others.

6. “The Perspective Pivot”: Use Multiple Points of View

Consider switching perspectives to get inside the heads of both the victim and the bully.

This adds complexity and can provide insight into the motivations and consequences for both characters.

Example : One paragraph from the victim’s viewpoint might be followed by a paragraph from the bully’s perspective, revealing insecurities that drive their actions.

7. “The Unspoken Word”: Leverage Body Language

Communicate volumes through facial expressions, posture, or even lack of eye contact.

Describing these can create a vivid and emotional scene without a word being spoken.

Example : The victim may avoid eye contact, signaling their submission or fear, while the bully could stand tall and imposing, trying to dominate the space.

8. “Chronicle of a Scene Foretold”: Foreshadowing

Plant subtle hints or symbols earlier in the story that pay off during the bullying scene.

This builds tension and makes the scene feel more integral to the narrative.

Example : Mention earlier that the victim dreads gym class, then have the bullying incident occur in the gym.

9. “The Echo Chamber”: Revisit the Scene Later

Refer back to the bullying scene later in the story to show its lasting effects.

This could be through character development or as a pivotal point in the plot.

Example : The victim could confront the bully in a later scene, showing growth and resolution.

10. “The Spectator’s Gaze”: Include Bystanders

Don’t forget about bystanders—they can serve as a moral compass, showing the wider societal reaction to bullying.

Example : Describe a bystander who chooses to walk away, and later shows regret for not intervening.

11. “The Reality Check”: Consult Real Experiences

There’s no substitute for real-world experience.

Trust me. I know the terrible trauma of bullying and how the damage can linger long into adulthood.

Consult firsthand accounts or experts to portray bullying authentically.

Example : Read interviews or articles by bullying victims to understand the emotional toll.

12. “The Ethical Compass”: Handle with Care

Bullying is a sensitive issue.

Make sure your scene serves a purpose in your narrative and isn’t just gratuitous drama.

Example : If you include a bullying scene to develop a character’s backstory, make sure to show the long-term effects on their personality or behavior.

13. “The Balanced Scale”: Be Fair but Firm

While it’s crucial to handle the subject with sensitivity, don’t dilute the severity of bullying.

Strive for a balance between realism and narrative need.

Example : While it may be tempting to resolve everything neatly, remember that real-life bullying often has messy, unresolved outcomes. Your story could reflect this complexity.

Here is a video about research that will help you understand how to write bullying scenes:

Crafting a Believable Bully Character

Creating a compelling bully character involves more than just making them mean or aggressive.

A well-written bully is multidimensional and serves a purpose in the narrative.

That purpose can be either as a catalyst for the victim’s growth, a mirror reflecting societal issues, or even as a character capable of change and redemption.

In fiction, a bully can be anyone: the high school jock, the jealous coworker, or even a controlling family member.

The key is to make the character believable, not a caricature.

Give them motivations, however flawed, and consider how their backstory contributes to their bullying behavior.

This adds depth and can make your story more engaging and thought-provoking.

Traits of a Bully Character

• Dominating Personality : They like to be in control and will use various methods to maintain power.
• Lack of Empathy : They have difficulty understanding or sharing the feelings of others.
• Insecure : Many bullies have insecurities that they project onto their victims.
• Manipulative : They’re skilled at influencing people to do what they want, often for their own benefit.
• Short-Tempered : Quick to anger, especially when things don’t go their way.
• Jealous or Envious : They often target those who have something—physical, emotional, or material—that they covet.
• Attention-Seeking : Desires to be the center of attention and will act out to achieve this.
• Intelligent but Cunning : They might be smart, but they use their intelligence to deceive or control others rather than help.
• Narcissistic : Possesses an inflated sense of their own importance and a deep need for excessive attention and admiration.
• Unapologetic : Rarely feels remorse or guilt for their actions, often rationalizing them instead.
• Cruel Sense of Humor : Takes pleasure in others’ pain or discomfort and often uses humor as a weapon.
• Isolationist : May isolate themselves or their victims from a larger social group to exert control.
• Deceptive : Capable of lying or distorting the truth to suit their needs.
• Ruthless Ambition : Willing to step on others to achieve their own goals.
• Poor Coping Skills : Often resorts to bullying as a way to cope with their own stress or emotional upheaval.

Bullying Scene Example

Consider this example of how to write a bullying scene:

In a dimly lit school hallway, Maria clutched her books to her chest as Mark and his friends cornered her. “Where are you going in such a hurry?” Mark sneered, snatching a textbook from her arms and tossing it to one of his buddies. “I need that back, please,” Maria stammered, her eyes darting to the scattered bystanders who pretended not to notice. “Oh, she needs it back,” Mark mimicked, laughing as his friend threw the book into a nearby trash can. “Guess you’ll have to get it yourself.” Tears welled up in Maria’s eyes as she made her way to the trash can. Her hands trembled as she retrieved her soiled textbook, acutely aware of the eyes burning into her back. When she finally walked away, her footsteps were heavy with the weight of humiliation, and her mind raced with questions that had no answers.

Final Thoughts: How to Write Bullying Scenes

To bring this guide full-circle, it’s important to treat bullying scenes with additional care and diplomacy.

As a storyteller, you want to create a visceral but not triggering experience for your readers.

Related Posts:

• How to Write Awkward Scenes (Ultimate Guide + Examples)
• 35 Tips for Writing Fight Scenes (Ultimate Guide + Examples)
• How to Describe Fear in Writing (21 Best Tips + Examples)
• How To Write a Funeral Scene (Ultimate Guide + 20 Examples)

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) American Psychological Association (Research on Bullying)

1001 Writing Prompts About Bullying

March 10, 2021

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Everyone has been bullied at least once in their life, as bullying can take place everywhere and can come in many forms. It can be considered as a major epidemic, as it has been affecting plenty of people for centuries and causing psychological and physical harm.  

There is nothing positive that could come from a bullying experience. But, one thing you could do about it is use your experience to create original pieces of writing, like short stories, self-help books, and essays, to bring awareness. 

If you are interested in writing about bullying but does not have any idea where to begin, check out the writing prompts below for some inspiration:  

• Write about a time when a friend stood up to a bully.
• A friend is being bullied, how do you help him/her?
• Write about who experienced their most heartbreaking moment in life.
• A bully changes his/her ways.
• How should children react if victims of bullying
• A bully gets away in something they have done.
• The bullies are also being bullied.
• A child learns to avoid bullying.
• Write about bullying someone in school.
• How to deal with bullies.
• A bully feels bad and wants to change.
• Write about a child who likes being part of a group, even if his or her own personal talents aren’t being discovered.
• A bully realizes the pain he has caused others and makes things right.
• Something happens that helps someone who’s being bullied.
• An attempt is made to befriend the bully.
• One day a person stood up to a bully.
• Someone who’s being bullied decides to stand up for themselves.
• A teacher helps a child being bullied by another child at school.
• A bully is really sad for bullying a child.
• Write about a bully who learned to be nice.
• The main character is a bully and it is their story.
• A character in your writing feels lonely. Write about why they feel lonely.
• Write about getting picked on for no reason.
• I bet you can come up with a bunch of others.
• Write about the feeling when bullies do something or say something.
• One person gets bullied, but they have some pretty loyal friends.
• A bully realizes that what she/he is doing to others is not right.
• A mother and daughter have a fight when the daughter starts to wear the same outfit as her mother.
• Write about the moment a bully realized he or she is also being bullied.
• Dan needs to avoid the bully otherwise he would get injured or killed.
• Does modern technology cause disrespect?
• Write about how to deal with bullying.
• Everybody at school is bullying somebody at school.
• Write about an imaginary bully.
• Write about the effects of bullying.
• Write about a teacher who believes in you.
• The friends who never bully anybody.
• Make up a persuasive text to stop bullying.
• The bully learns a lesson from bullying.
• Other than the bully, who really started the problem?
• A boy bully got bullied one day.
• Bullying goes in a small village.
• Bullies don’t run away fast enough.
• Write about how bullying affects the bully’s family.
• Her/his confidence tells her/him that everything is going to be okay.
• What are some alternatives to bullying?
• The bully is bullied back.
• Bullying happens at middle school
• write about bullying on a bus.
• A child bullies somebody at school.
• A person interrupts a bullying situation by acting brave.
• Somebody is being bullied. Is there anybody who can help?
• Another child helps the person who is being bullied.
• A child tells a parent the secret of being bullied.
• An adult tries to run away from his/her past.
• A bully apologizes to a person he/she bullied.
• Write about a time you felt bullied.
• Write about how you have overcome bullying.
• A teacher is ignoring the
• Someone is bullied at a place the child will not go to
• A teacher is being bullied by students.
• Someone decides to drop out of school.
• A girl makes enemies during a volleyball game.
• A person confesses to being a bully.
• A child is being bullied at home.
• Someone finds a creative way to stop somebody from being bullied.
• A child pretends to get bullied so somebody will be nice to him.
• Write about how you feel when a close friend gets bullied.
• An illness makes the victim feel bullied
• A bullied person and a friend find an escape for their own safety.
• What did a bully act like when he was a little?
• Everything about bullying in highschool.
• Write about a time you bullied other kids.
• A teenager steals his best friend’s girlfriend and then he is being bullied for that.
• Write about dealing with bullying.
• Write about bullying at school.
• Write about somebody who always stands up for the victim of the bully.
• Write about a time when you were the bully.
• What do you do if someone bullies you or your friends?
• Someone tries to become a bully, but can’t.
• A child who is bullied understands how the other person feels.
• A school is being bullied by another school.
• Someone who gets bullied makes amends.
• The people around the child feel so bad that they don’t want to know that he/she is being bullied.
• Somebody is being bullied because of their race or sexual identity.
• Write about a twosome or trio of bullies who learn how making fun of others is wrong.
• A kid is suffering from bullying.
• Someone gets bullied at school.
• A bullied person draws a comic of their situation.
• A child has a special talent.
• A female victim overcomes her fears.
• Write about how to cope with bullying at school.
• A student knows a bully.
• Many schools have zero tolerance for bullying. Write about a case where the bully did not get in trouble for his crime.
• The parents of the bully stand up for their child.
• A kid gets bullied for being afraid.
• Write about a child who was bullied one day, but survived and decided that if necessary, the next time something like that happened, s/he would give the bully a taste of his/her own medicine.
• A student who finally stood up to a bully because of a teacher’s encouragement.
• A good friend bullies somebody else.
• Describe a piece of writing you admire that would encourage somebody who is being bullied.
• A friend does not stand up for a friend.
• Over the summer, someone stopped bullying.
• What would you do if someone was bullying your friend, or sibling?
• Bullying makes a child feel sorry for themselves and leads to pain.
• Write about a child who is bullying others.
• A teacher gets beat up by his students, and nobody cares.
• Write about the characters’ ways to deal with a bully.
• Write about getting bullied at school.
• Write about something you would do if you were the teacher, is it something different than what you would do if you were the pupil?
• Describe a person who had been bullied or how the person feels about being bullied.
• What has happened to your childhood if you have been bullied.
• People continued bullying to follow directions without thinking.
• You find the bully’s diary.
• Write about when you got bullied.
• Write about the importance of good friends.
• Ways to tell if your child is being bullied.
• A bullied person erases all the mean comments written on the back of his hands.
• A kid is bullied about their height.
• You have discovered that the bully is being bullied.
• A person learns their dog is being bullied.
• Write about the bullying behaviors over the years.
• A person who was bullied tries to do something to change their life.
• A friend saves someone from a bully.
• A child is bullying others at school.
• It gives one a lot of Idea’s for
• An adult who was once bullied wants to pay their bullies back.
• A story about how a bully eventually apologies.
• Bullying is when someone forces another person to do something that they don’t want to do.
• Write about a parent who is bullied.
• Write about Person A that got bullied by Person B but Person B didn’t know person A was being bullied.
• You get bullied at school.
• A child witnesses a bullying incident in person or on the internet.
• A bully who became a good friend told everyone that the victim was going to beat him up. At the end of the day, the bully came to the victim for help.
• The world would be a nicer place without bullying.
• Write about a person who was being bullied because of a disability or a special attribute.
• A child is bullying at school.
• Don’t let something stay in the past. Love your scars and don’t worry about what others might say because what is really important is to be useful to others. If you have a big scar on your face or body and you will pretend that it doesn’t exist, others simply might have ignored you, something that you will regret having done.
• Write about an important piece of advice that somebody gave you to cope with bullying.
• A woman was bullied so much it made her life miserable.
• Discuss a bully realizing they are being such.
• A bully finds out that the victim’s family is going through financial hardship.
• How does the character feel about being laughed at?
• Mom wonders if she should tell the children on her bus to stop bullying.
• A bully is bullying somebody and somebody knows it.
• Write about somebody being bullied.
• Write about when to stand up for somebody who is being bullied.
• An adult helps someone who is being bullied.
• A kid put a stop to bullying at their school.
• Why do we bully other children?
• Write about what you would do if you were being bullied.
• Write about a bully who has been bullied in the past.
• Write about a bully in history.
• A person gets bullied by another person.
• A student who is being bullied turns the situation around.
• Write about how to handle bullying.
• Write a story about a bully who reforms.
• But action from school changed the life of a child.
• A student wrote a poem about being bullied.
• Victims of bullying try to make friends with bullies.
• A girl is in conflict with herself.
• A bully backs off from the person.
• There was something that made you feel bad when you saw a bully in the field.
• A bully gets bullied in school.
• A child has been bullied at school and now he/she is trying to commit suicide.
• Write about being picked on by your big brother or sister.
• A boy and his brother get bullied.
• A bully who just doesn’t get it.
• Write about a sad childhood.
• A person will stop bullying when they realize the damage it does.
• A parent throws his/her child to the school bus because his/her family doesn’t have money to pay transport fees.
• Someone that you respect stands up to a bully one-on-one.
• You are being bullied but no one believes you.
• Write about a best friend of someone who got bullied.
• Somebody stands up to a bully.
• A boy deals with his fathers death from bullying
• About a child that helped another child who was being bullied.
• The father doesn’t care about his children’s behavior which caused bullying in secondary school and he ‘s threatening from police and is wanting to lock up his children which made bullying.
• Summarize how you would respond to a bully that bothers your non-existing friend.
• Write about someone using the internet to bully.
• Write about when a school gets sued because somebody got injured.
• Write about standing up to a bully.
• Write about a bully who got out of prison.
• Convince somebody they are a bully.
• A child is bullying others and nobody stops him.
• A child being bullied learns to stand up for her/himself.
• A person is always lagging behind in everything she is doing.
• Write about a good solution for bullying.
• A person leaving their boss is being bullied by their ex-boss.
• Bullying in the Media
• Write about a bully who gets bullied.
• A bad friend is bullying someone and how the friend feels.
• A good friend has just been bullied and needs some advice.
• Bullying becomes a problem online, in chat rooms.
• You are afraid because you got bullied.
• A child is being bullied at school. What does a parent do? What does the parent of the child do? What does the school do?
• A child is being bullied at school. A child is being bullied, but nobody believes him/her.
• A friend sympathizes with someone who is being bullied.
• How do you think some people bully others?
• A bully in your school got bullied and now they’re nicer.
• It is the money that is found possibly or the things you lose when you’re bullied. Your values and your point of view about life can be hurt and you carry it everywhere for the rest of your life and they find it in you. You’re like a walking store. And you build up walls. Sometimes your walls get cracked. Other times there are holes in them. But the point of all this is that the silent ones will find a way to fight back even if it’s a fake apology you will hate the bully forever. Maybe they’ll be nicer next time. Kids have a weird way of saying sorry. They put you off and try to hurt you one more time. Bullying is when somebody hurts someone to be the better person. It also comes with rumors and gossip. Always being honest is the best bet. Always there and always understood when you’re picked on. Never leave somebody. Gossip is like a knife. It breaks friendships. and makes you vulnerable. Even if you have a
• A frenemy turns evil.
• A bully changes his or her behavior because of a friend’s actions.
• A bully teaches another child respect.
• A person wants to make bullying stop.
• Write about what happens if the parents become bullies.
• Write a poem about the topic of bullying.
• Bullying pushes people away from other people.
• Why do kids bully other kids?
• A mother is upset because her child is bullying others at school.
• A child is bullied at school because of a physical feature.
• Write about a bully who is punished
• Write about this girl’s thoughts when someone she met from Facebook came to school.
• A teacher is being bullied by a student.
• Write about how someone got bullied in high school.
• A person is claiming they are being bullied when, in reality, they disguised what was really happening.
• A bully only wants to help, and in the end, people are helped.
• A person who is bullying at school has changed.
• A writer falls in love with bullying.
• One child is being bullied for having special needs and not being as good at sports as her brother.……
• Things you do not want to hear if your friend is being victimized by a bully.
• A student’s heart is filled with revenge after being bullied.
• The bully changes, and they become nice.
• Write about how important friendship is.
• A child gets a letter from a bully.
• Write about bullying done online with smart phones and computers.
• Bullying is a crime.
• A child finds out that bullies can also get bullied.
• A bully preys on a weaker person.
• A teenager gets pushed around by older people.
• A student stands up against a bully.
• A little girl or boy or older
• Write about bullying from the position of someone who is bullied any time by somebody else.
• Write about the worst bully you ever saw or heard.
• Two kids are fighting.
• A boy just gets beat up by fighting a bully.
• A person takes a stand with bullying.
• People bully others to make them feel less about themselves.
• Describe a time when you were bullied.
• The bully isn’t a villain.
• Write about the bullying someone did to you.
• My son is being bullied at school because his father is in prison.
• Overcoming bullying.
• How does it feel to get bullied?
• A person outgrows bullying.
• A kid starts to bully in school when nothing was done about it.
• A peer is being bullied.
• A man remembers being bullied.
• People are going to do bad things, are those things when being slow at math?
• Three people talk about bullying each other.
• A mean boy asks a girl to be his girlfriend, but she refuses and he/she starts to beat her up.
• Write about a bully who is punished for bullying.
• People bully because they are cowards.
• A teacher is the bully
• Describe the reactions of kids who witness bullying.
• Do you have to know someone being bullied to help them?
• Write a story about bullying.
• A student’s friend gets bullied.
• A kid gets bullied and he finds courage in a book, music or in nature.
• Write a page about bullying.
• A school encourages students to be nice to each other.
• A bullied child thinks about bullying.
• People bullies after school when no one is watching.
• You have witnessed somebody getting bullied.
• A child videotapes the bullying.
• A bully apologizes for their actions.
• Someone is running a band in the school.
• Write a story about different people getting bullied.
• Someone has a nice time with a kind person in a new country.
• How would you feel if you were the bully?
• Write a letter to an adult you’ve known for a long time and let them know how they helped you out  when you were bullied.
• Write about a bully who became a kind person.
• Someone who gets bullied in school tries to make herself better.
• Someone is covering the fact that they’re being bullied.
• Write about a story when someone bullied you.
• A bully who befriends a girl who he once tormented.
• The bully realizes he/she made a mistake.
• Write about a friend who was bullying someone else.
• Your family rescued a dog you named Courage.
• A friend tells somebody to be nice.
• A parent discovers that their child is being bullied by another.
• A bully tells the people who they were bullying that they are wrong.
• A man is beaten up by students for giving them notes.
• Write about someone who got bullied by someone younger.
• A teacher tries to stop a bully.
• Bullying happens at times.
• Someone realizes that they are bullying someone else.
• Someone encourages his/her friend who was bullied.
• Write about a fictional bully.
• Write about a good friend who supports someone who got bullied.
• A child gets bullied home because at school they are the bully.
• Write about how to destroy bullying at school.
• Write about a child who is being bullied for his appearance.
• A piece is written about a town where bullying happens and the problems that are faced by the people living there.
• Write about a time when you were able to stand up to a bully.
• Write about how bullying will never make someone feel good.
• A person who is being bullied finds a way to overcome the problem.
• The decision to stop bullying
• Write about a child who bullied another kid or was mean to someone.
• What would it be like if you were a criminal and got bullied?
• A group of teens decide to help a kid being bullied.
• A bully tries being nice.
• A person peers at you from behind a tree and you don’t see her/him. It’s impossible to run away because the trees are too green and large. When the person steps out of the bushes, s/he’s a better-looking version of you with cool clothes.Make a leaf.
• A bullying victim feels very lonely.
• A friend gets bullied because she doesn’t get the latest fashion.
• You have been trying all your life to get yourself over the bullying that was done to you.
• Bullying is nowadays a very common problem in schools and on the internet too.
• Someone really very naughty is an example of a big bully .
• A hippo is being bullied by a lion.
• Write about being bullied and being that kid who stands up for others and tries to help.
• A school cop stops a bully.
• Write about the moment when a character helped your main character to overcome his/her bullying.
• Write about what David did to solve his bully problem.
• Bullies get bullied during games at school.
• A really neat invention.
• Do you know someone who got bullied?
• What would you feel if you were bullied?
• Write about how a child being bullied can get help.
• One day, a child finally got a chance to bully someone.
• At times words batter a person down.
• A bully is being bullied.
• People tell the child being bullied to commit suicide.
• The point of view of someone who bullies.
• Write about someone who’s scared to tell their parents that they’re being bullied.
• A bully crosses a line.
• When somebody is being bullied they try to solve the problem by appeasing the bully.
• Write about a child who got bullied by different people on the Internet.
• Someone bullied you but then realized the wrong thing about bullying.
• People who are bullied try harder to change their appearance or to improve themselves.
• Write about a child who wants to stop bullying.
• A school got rid of their bullies.
• Write about your best bullying or anti-bullying advice.
• Write about a person who bullied you.
• Write about a symbol that would symbolize that bullying is wrong.
• Write about a kid who has been bullied in the school or online.
• Write about when somebody is belittled to another.
• A boy being bullied.
• A friend stands up to defend a child who is being bullied.
• A bully tries to make friends with the one he or she is bullying.
• Write about a childhood bully you knew.
• Kirsten finds a new friend.
• A student has been left out of a party.
• A bully has no friends at school.
• A child who is being bullied asks their parents for advice.
• A character is a bully.
• A child is hiding their own feelings of being bullied at school.
• A parent feels bad about bullying someone at a younger age or as a child.
• Write about a time that you were bullied or you witnessed somebody else be bullied.
• A kid is bullying other kids in order to fit in.
• Bullying affected my life.
• Someone gets grounded for using magic.
• Whether you’re in the school district of …
• Write about what you would do to a bully.
• A group of kids in a confined space tease somebody else.
• Someone tries to interfere with a bully’s job.
• A child’s dream is working hard to be better than anyone.
• Write about a time you got bullied.
• Write about the worst/angriest bullying situation.
• Someone doing something kind for someone getting bullied.
• Someone being called “gay” because he and his friend are dressed in the same clothes.
• Someone is moving to a new school, the new school is bad.
• Write about what happens when one person stands up for a friend who is being bullied.
• Another child kills a bully to protect somebody.
• A child is the bully and another one is suffering.
• A kid ignores somebody who is lonely and bullied.
• To avoid teasing, a child stays home from school and eats too much chocolate.
• Write about why bullies comfort those who have caused bullying.
• What motivates someone to write about bullying experiences?
• Do bad things happen to everyone?
• A girl remains friends with a bully even when the group has rejected her.
• A mean girl finds an excuse to bully somebody.
• A cool person who is always with his or her friends even being pulled into bullying by his or her friends.
• A homeless person is being bullied.
• A bully apologizes to his victim.
• Write a note from a kid to a parent about being bullied at school.
• Write about a quiet child who got bullied.
• Describe a day in the life of a bully.
• Bullying is a bad thing to do to others.
• It’s okay to be an outcast if you’re popular somewhere else.
• Describe someone who decided not to see bullying.
• A poster on a wall.
• Write about the word bully.
• A close friend of someone who bullied a bully.
• Write about what you do when someone is being bullied.
• A group of friends get in trouble and they have to go see the principle.
• A bully apologises for the way they treated someone.
• A grown-up tells her/himself the importance of kindness while others are being bullied
• If you could make a wish for anyone who got bullied, what would it be?
• What is it like being there with the person getting bullied?
• How to help or support someone who was bullied.
• Write about a man who was bullied as a child.
• A boy has a brother that was bullied at school. They do not get along well.
• A child who was bullied goes and seeks revenge.
• While most of your descriptions focus on empathy, you may want to return to the emotions of the bully, the bullied or third party observers.
• The main character is a bully and decides to change.
• A bully regrets bullying someone.
• Write about a time the person was bullying somebody.
• Write about being or knowing a bully.
• A student stands up against bullying.
• A kid wants to know why someone is being bullied.
• A child who bullies another child is punished by his dad.
• A kid bullies another kid for drawing.
• A bully is horrible to you.
• You want somebody to get hurt because of what he/she did.
• Write about someone who is treated unfairly.
• Write about something that happened to you that you never told anyone.
• A bully regrets hurting another.
• Write about a secret bully.
• It is hard to make friends, when all he does is fist fight with people.
• Young children are bullying each other.
• Write about how school bullies try to hide their true feelings.
• Describe something you did to stop bullies.
• A flock of birds bully a lone bird.
• Write about what happens when people learn how to stand up against it.
• Write about a time that you got bullied.
• A girl is bullied because she has red hair.
• Someone is trying to build up a person’s confidence after a person feels bad about themself.
• Someone who is being bullied doesn’t want to go to school anymore.
• Write about what it feels like to be bullied.
• Write your own idea of bullying.
• How would one handle bullying?
• A child who hears other children doing badly when others talk about the particular kind of bullying.
• A child is being bullied at the playground.
• The bully is getting bullied.
• Write about why a bully should stop bullying.
• Professional bully’s story.
• Write about a typical day at work.
• Write about what a friend would do when a friend is being bullied.
• Write about two people who are being bullied by the same person or people.
• A person apologizes for being a bully .
• Bullying at school for two people
• Bullying leads to bullying.
• People that look alike tend to bully each other.
• A family gets bullied and wants to move.
• It is about time for someone who has bullied others to understand what bullying feels like.
• Bullying is everywhere.
• A new student tries bullying.
• Write about when someone bullied you.
• Write about being bullied at school when you were a kid.
• A story about a time an adult helped you.
• Write about how someone has bullied you.
• Your child is bullied at school, write a diary entry.
• Write about how a bully tried to make up with somebody they had bullied, but got turned down.
• What a child actually has to say about being bullied.
• A bully hurts himself to scare his victims.
• People who are bullied also experience bullying at home.
• A single girl is being bullied at school.
• What will the school do?
• Write about a place you feel uncomfortable.
• How a school bully learns that they need to set a better example.
• Write about how a parent deals with a child who has been bullying.
• Write a letter encouraging a child who is being bullied.
• Why does the neighborhood bully your friend?
• A child becomes a bully due to his or her environment.
• Write about a group of friends who are all being bullied.
• A kid gets bullied by a parent.
• When a person bullies others, it is because he or she has issues.
• A hot girlfriend dumps a guy because he was abused when he was a child.
• Make a list of physical and emotional symptoms of being bullied.
• Someone picks on a person of a different nationality.
• Somebody stands up for a person being bullied.
• An adult at work bullies another employee.
• Someone who is being bullied can’t tell anyone.
• A boy and his girlfriend have fought.
• Write about why people bully.
• Somebody discovers that they are psychic. Use the word ‘Hope’.
• A bully gets their comeuppance.
• Write about a bully and someone they teased.
• A special day for somebody who got bullied.
• What happens when people bully each other? People should not bully others or pick on them.
• A student gets revenge on the bully.
• Write about someone who was a bully but now regrets their actions.
• Bullies use Facebook/ texting to bully.
• Bullying against a player on a sports team.
• A teenager is being bullied by their parents.
• Discuss ways in which parents can support their bullied child.
• Write about being the new kid in school and being bullied.
• Write about a kid who is bullied for being different.
• What would you do if you got bullied?
• When someone says sorry for bullying you, how do you feel?
• A parent is being bullied at work.
• Write about how bullying can sometimes happen in a nice way.
• A kind kid stands up to the kid who is bullying.
• A child gets caught being a bully.
• A parent tries to rewrite their relationship with their child after bullying happened to the child.
• Someone who is being bullied is not going to school.
• A girl is being bullied at school.
• Write about the effect bullying has on how a person grows.
• A person no longer wants to be a bully.
• The truth to why they were being bullied.
• A child is being bullied at school.
• A girl is being bullied because she is not as popular as the other girls.
• Write about a bully who changed.
• Someone is being bullied at the workplace.
• Write about a nighttime meeting.
• A former bully helped a child understand what they did wrong.
• A child doesn’t tell anyone at all about being bullied.
• A person tries to help someone else who is being bullied.
• Your own inner bully wants to take the place on the stage of the talent show.
• A bully joins a group of people and does something good for them.
• A group of bullies are all nice to their significant other one day.
• Write about someone who is bullying but later apologizes.
• The boy/girl who coined the term “Bully” feels sorry because bullies lie, cheat, and steal.
• A child is the target of bullying.
• Write about bullying through different forms of technology.
• How should one react when being bullied?
• A bully befriends someone on the bus.
• Write about a bully who doesn’t want to be a bully anymore.
• A child who gets killed or shot by drunk drivers got bullied.
• A parent writes their child a note to cheer them up because they are being bullied.
• Write about another way you could handle a bully.
• Talk about what it’s like being bullied.
• A child learns to stop bullying.
• A bully at school causes a lot of damage.
• Write what bullies are and how they find their victims.
• A child bullies a child.
• Write about a bully who learned the true meaning of a bully.
• Write about a bully who learns to feel guilty.
• A child acts as a bully at school.
• People who are being bullied get supported but do not handle it.
• Bullying in “Roald Dahl’s Matilda”.
• Bullying a child will have terrible consequences.
• A kid witnesses a bully.
• A child finally stands up to a bully.
• Because of being bullied, a person makes friends with a bully.
• Someone feels like ending it all because he or she is being bullied.
• A child used to be bullied, but uses kindness to change a bully’s behavior.
• A kid might lose his best friend because of something bad the kid did.
• Write about a senior citizen who bullied others when he was young.
• A parent being bullied at work.
• A girl’s friend takes part in bullying and then apologizes.
• Write about bravery.
• A bully has a bad day at school.
• Write about someone who has been bullied, what happens to him/er and why he/she should not be bullied at all.
• A friend is having a problem with that bully.
• A child has stopped bullying others.
• Listen to what a friend had to say about being bullied.
• A boy bullies a girl over the Internet. How does the girl react?
• Write about a person who has been bullied and became famous/successful.
• An adult is being bullied at work.
• If your child gets bullied, how will you react?
• A person experienced bullying.
• A child and an adult who has the problem of being bullied speaks about how to stop a bully.
• Write the story of a person who bullied somebody.
• Bullying is no longer tolerated.
• A student is copying work from another student and they are both being bullied.
• A bully has no friends, but nobody tried to help him.
• When you see two people bullying each other.
• Write about how you react to bullies and bullying.
• A child makes friends with a popular child and finds out s/he is being bullied.
• A person is making fun of a bully.
• Write about how to care for coward bully friends.
• A bully tried to make friends with her victim.
• Write about a friend who bullies somebody else to act tough but got gropt instead.
• A bully uses somebody else to do their tasks.
• An adopted dog dreams about the time she mistreated her dog before he was adopted.
• A student spreads a rumor for fun that somebody is being bullied
• How does the world treat “bullies”?
• People treat someone differently because he or she is different.
• What a person can do when being teased.
• Write about a bully who chooses to be nice instead of mean.
• A bully is really sorry.
• Write about a child who got bullied once and never was again.
• Why are some people more popular than others?
• You are delighted that you made friends with someone who is being bullied.
• Recount how a child was killed as a result of bullying.
• Write about the schoolyard bully.
• Write a poem about bullying.
• Write about someone going through a rough time after being bullied.
• A parent or guardian is being bullied.
• Editors argue over trigger warnings.
• The scene where somebody got bullied.
• Why don’t people stop when someone is being bullied?
• A girl is being bullied at school. A boy is being bullied at home.
• Write about what others could have done to help his or her friend.
• Someone is bullied because of something they can’t help, e.g. being born into a poor family.
• A friend saw his best friend get bullied. Write about his feelings.
• A bully changes his behavior.
• A child dies from being bullied.
• Write about someone who got bullied and came back.
• Write about someone bullying a person who is mentally retarded.
• A community stands up to a bully.
• Bullying is tough not just for the one who gets bullied but also for the one who controls the bullying. Because it drains out their energy. Their strengths. And also their smile.
• A child sees someone being bullied and does something about it.
• Someone is going on chat, and gets bullied on there by people saying bad things that are not true. The person at home is crying badly. The person at home logs off and goes and talks to his sister and tells her about the bullies on there.
• A bully apologizes to someone they have hurt.
• Write about what people are doing in order to stop bullying.
• Write about the reasons somebody bullies others.
• A child stands up to a bully.
• When somebody is being bullied in school,what is being done?
• Another child does stop the bullying and helps out the victim who rebuffed, ignored, or was afraid to talk.
• A person decides to no longer be a bully or quit bullying others.
• A child finally confronts the person who bullies him or her.
• People are being cyberbullied, but can take different stands on it.
• Write about what the child thinks about bullying.
• Describe a child that’s very anti-bullying.
• A bully threatened to hurt someone, and the person went to the principal and reported it.
• Write about a bully that only rhymes with good stuff.
• If two people love each other, they can get over their differences. What about bullying?
• A parent chooses not to protect their child from being bullied.
• The biggest question bullies and victims ask is why?
• Think of a time that you knew somebody was being bullied but you could not stop it.
• Someone stands up for somebody who got bullied.
• A BIG bully bullies a smaller child.
• A person who bullies other people learns how to become nice to others.
• You agree to help because you know someone is being bullied.
• A friend stops a bully from being mean.
• Write about what you would do if you saw someone being bullied.
• A person tells another person that they are going to get beat up by a bully.
• A kid is being bullied at school.
• A king is an excellent ruler.
• What happens when children are bullied at school?
• When strangers bully you.
• A bully decides to be nice to someone who is being hurt by the other kids.
• There are four types of child bullies. Pick one and write about them.
• A kid is never bullied.
• Write about what can happen when someone teases someone else.
• A character says “Boys Will Be Boys” after seeing bullying.
• When dealing with a bully, it is best to remain calm.
• A teacher is being bullied by her students.
• How do you deal with bullying?
• A dream to survive with bullying.
• Bully students at school learn about character and kindness.
• A father steps in to help stop bullying
• Describe your teachers at school.
• Write about a character that is getting bullied.
• Write about a time when you were bullied.
• A child is being bullied in a public place.
• A rapper is bullied by another rapper.
• A sister beats up her brother after he takes her bike.
• A popular boy/girl abuses his/her power over people who are more low profile.
• Bullying rumors are spread around a school.
• A kid gets bullied in school
• You get bullied in middle school.
• A girlfriend convinces a boy to stop bullying.
• Write about what a person can do if they’re getting bullied.
• Read complaints by or excuses from those who confess to bullying.
• The bully changes.
• Write about a teacher who is being bullied by students at school.
• Write a short poem about bullying.
• Somebody uses social media to respond to bullying.
• Write about what someone who got bullied did.
• A father goes to the school because his child is being bullied.
• People who are being bullied have a lot in common.
• Bullying shouldn’t exist anymore! Write a story about bullying in the past.
• Write about just starting a school year and you are a bully or get bullied.
• About someone who wants to be a bully.
• Someone that appears cruel is actually nice.
• Another child becomes friends with the kid who’s bullied.
• A teacher deals with a child who is a bully.
• Write about someone who bullies and someone who gets bullied.
• Write about what a bully looks like.
• Write about a day when you were bullied.
• A child gets a bully at school.
• A person becomes a counselor for a victim of bullying.
• A child acts as a bully.
• Bullying in school story.
• High school students need advice about what to do if they’re being bullied.
• A bully is teased because they cry.
• Write from the bully’s point of view.
• What if a student befriends the bully?
• Another person acts badly because of someone else that bullied them.
• The format is written from a first-person point of view and it includes sentence structure. People should also include emotions and feelings in their work. The text is flexible.
• Write about a recent incident of bullying.
• How do people get bullied?
• Compare a bully and a kind person.
• People just don’t understand the bully’s situation.
• An experience of a bullied child.
• Do you know somebody who got bullied? Describe this person.
• A child deserves to be bullied because they are mean to others.
• Write about someone who stands up to a bully on the playground.
• A bully understands his actions and realizes that he is wrong.
• Write about how the world will get better for people who were bullied.
• Write about when you helped someone who was being bullied.
• Bullying can be stopped in schools.
• Be descriptive of a bully who tried being nice, but his act of kindness seemed fake and weird?
• A bully who is rich finally got what he deserves, but not before he got another bully to do his dirty work.
• Describe the best gift someone gave you.
• What happens if a child has an interest that the school bullies also have an interest in?
• Describe what a bully yearns for.
• Write how somebody stood up to a bully.
• What do people say when they are being bullied?
• Write about a bully who wasn’t aware that he bullied people.
• Write about a child who has experienced being bullied.
• Write about how someone stops being a bully.
• Write about your bully experience.
• What does their parents do to stop it?
• A child decides to commit suicide after being bullied by their peers again.
• Write a story about what life is like being bullied.
• Someone gets bullied about their clothes.
• Someone is crowned to be the king/queen of the troublemakers. Many people admire him/her, however he/she doesn’t want to be bullied.
• Bullies find ways to get people’s attention.
• A child watched a big bully getting arrested.
• Bullying happens at games.
• Write about how your character changes after being bullied.
• Are you being bullied? Has someone that you know destroyed your day. Write about it.
• Write about getting back in the school hierarchy after being bullied.
• A child fears being bullied.
• Write about a person who is taking or has taken revenge on a bully.
• Write about a parent that cares if his or her child gets bullied.
• Write about a school that has lots of bullying.
• Write about the life of people who bully.
• Write about a bully who is a hero in disguise.
• A bully is getting picked on.
• Two siblings that are very different have to work together to accomplish a goal.
• A parent gives their child advice on how to deal with bullying.
• A friend is bullying somebody else.
• Someone who was called mean names in childhood tries to make amends.
• Bullying at school.
• A person is being bullied for their looks.
• A man/woman can’t stand someone and feels humiliated just by the thought of him/her.
• Another child cheers them up.
• A parent is on Facebook bullying a child.
• A bully becomes friends with his victim.
• A child wants somebody to play with.
• Write about what could be the consequence when someone is bullying another kid.
• Think about why a person would start bullying.
• How does bullying affect children?
• Do you think bullying is good or bad?
• Write what you think the bully is like.
• Write about a bully who learned to not be a bully.
• A parent tries to protect her child who is being picked on.
• Write about someone who was hurt by bullying.
• Write about bullying from the bully’s point of view.
• Write about the person who started bullying.
• When you see people being bullied, don’t turn away.
• Write about when bullying happens.
• Write about a child being overprotected by the grownups in their life. The child has a day of fun and freedom from this overprotection.
• A child is friends with a bully.
• A bully learns to stop bullying.
• A child turns into a bully when he’s being bullied.
• A parent is treated like a child.
• A child tattle-tell on another for bullying.
• Write about a person who ends up becoming bullied.
• Make a list about the difference between boys and girls.
• Bullied children can grow up to become bullies.
• Write about when you encountered a bully.
• Write about a bully who was bullied.
• They tell somebody about the bully and get help to deal with it.
• Write about a time you were bullied and how it made you feel.
• The problem of bullying is starting to be solved.
• Write about a bully who is nice to a child.
• Write about a cheerful person.
• A young child gets bullied on the bus.
• A bully gets revenge on the person who bullied them.
• A boy and a girl who are bullies become best friends after they find out they are siblings.
• A parent is being abused by a person that they knew a long time ago.
• A child is horribly bullied.
• Why is somebody getting used to it?
• A person gets bullied at their job.
• A kid being bullied at school wanted his parents to know and ask you about how to deal with it and how to avoid it from now on.
• A story about someone who tries to stop bullying.
• A missing child is rescued from a cruel biological parent.
• A bully is helping the children to raise their self-esteem.
• A person thinks that she/he is better than the others.
• Write about being bullied at school and the hopes and dreams of the child.
• Write about a conflict between 2 students who are bullying each other.
• A bully will get bullied meaner.
• A girl is being bullied on the playground.
• Bullying affects the person who is being bullied physically.
• A parent is bullying their child.
• Somebody gets bullied at school.
• Write about making friends with a bully.
• Write about a child being mentally abused.
• A mean kid is not allowed to act mean around a certain adult.
• A bully is trying to figure out the problems in bullying somebody else.
• Bullying is not good.
• A child is also being bullied in school, but by family.
• A girl blames herself for the bullying happening to her friend.
• Write a letter to a friend who is being bullied.
• A mother helps her daughter get a new start.
• You’re a friend to a friend who lives with the effects of bullying.
• How to Stop Bullying.
• A girl whose friend is bullying her.
• It is possible that one child is feeling like a bully.
• A bully is bullied.
• A man is bullying a woman.
• A child sacrifices himself for someone else who gets bullied.
• How would you reach your depressed friend who is being bullied?
• Why do people gang up on others?
• Write about a bully who realizes being mean was wrong and tries to apologize to the person they insulted.
• If you don’t choose your words carefully, you can be a bully, too.
• A cruel person that is bullying will learn how to act nice.
• A boy and a girl bully the same person.
• Someone ended up being more serious and kind or just acting friendly.
• A teacher is teaching his/her students not to bully or make fun of others.
• Write about a student defending a girl being bullied.
• What do you do when you are being bullied?
• Someone tries to survey people about bullying.
• Things done to the cause the person to be bullied
• Write about a kid who stands up to a bully.
• Someone’s being bullied and he doesn’t know what to do.
• Describe someone who is really nice to everyone.
• Does traditional bullying differ from cyber bullying?
• A kid pays pranks to those who bullied him.
• You bully your siblings.
• A bully gets teased about something he/she can’t change.
• Write about someone who tells a bully to stop bullying.
• A person is being bullied.
• A father bullies his son.
• How can you help if somebody is being bullied?
• A bully has a secret.
• A bully ends up in jail because of what they did.
• A child gets bullied but the teachers do nothing to help.
• Someone is being bullied because they are a vegetarian.
• A child is bullied at home.
• A bully doesn’t know he/she is one.
• Bullying is usually seen in school, but sometimes it can happen in the office.
• A bully tells some lies to somebody but then these lies are revealed.
• A struggling new student is constantly being bullied.
• Write about the emotions a person would have if they got bullied.
• A timid child puts up a fight against a bully.
• Write about times you have been bullied.
• 2 children are bullied at school.
• Who do you go to when you feel like you are getting bullied?
• A student watches a bullying scene.
• A child has been bullying the wrong person.
• Both kids and parents can help stop bullying.
• How does a child feel being called a nerd?
• I get a bully off my back.
• Write about an event that you will never forget, or when your work will later shine.
• Your friend gets bullied for being in the band and drummer.
• Someone you know is being bullied and you don’t do anything.
• A parent knows his/her child is an effective bully.
• Write about a girl who was the bully.
• Write about bullying that happened on your street.
• A person does something different or something that nobody has ever done before.
• Someone hurt your feelings, so you acted like a bully.
• A child who gets bullied is beat up one day.
• Seeing someone being bullied.
• A bully apologizes to a victim.
• A person has an unusual way to avoid being bullied.
• A child is being bullied at junior school.
• A bully shows kindness by giving books to the person who’s being bullied.
• Report about a child who confides to a school bully.
• A young person struggling to cope with bullying.
• How does a bully become such a horrible person?
• A teacher stops the bullying.
• Have you ever been bullied?
• Bullying causes anger that cannot be controlled.
• Write about the bully who worked hard to change.
• A character was a victim being bullied and then he became the bully.
• Describe a scene where someone got bullied like mistreated.
• A bully wants themself to stop bullying people.
• Write about a kid that wanted to be friends with a bully.
• A friend is a victim of bullying, what they do.
• Bullying is a problem in my school.
• A famous person has been bullied throughout childhood.
• Why do you think the world is so terrible?
• Write about what you would say to someone who is being bullied.
• Bullying is wrong. Name some effects of bullying.
• A kid who bullied a lot is sad when his own child bullies others.
• A grown-up got bullied.
• Write about the way to deal with a bully.
• A person who bullies overcomes being a bully.
• A child comes to school and threatens to beat up the bully.
• How would you handle it if your children are being bullied?
• When somebody supports somebody who got bullied.
• Write about a kid being bullied.
• I understand my parents sometimes bullied me, but what if they give advice to me while playing the game?
• A father has his son who was being bullied.
• Writing about a child who was being bullied makes a new friend after six weeks.
• Describe a bullying incident, including the bully and victim.
• A child refuses to help a bully.
• A boy or girl bullies a peer or bullies a teacher.
• Write about what scares you.
• As a child, you get bullied at school.
• Bullying is not nice. Be nice to others!
• What is the opinion of another kid towards bullying?
• A person handles being bullied badly.
• Write about a bully who transformed.
• Bullying at work.
• Students stop bullying by having them overfeed on unhealthy food.
• A bully realizes his faults and learns to become a nice person.
• Hear the main character’s response to a friend about a bully at school.
• Write about a grandparent who shows love to your character that bullies you.
• Someone who sees another being bullied.
• a bully is having a bad day and is looking for something to break such as a window and stones, but he accidentally breaks something he cares a lot about.
• A boy is exploding with anger.
• About a girl that is always picked on.
• Write about a person who has been through bullying stuff, getting back at the bully, and feeling better.
• Writing about a person positive to someone who is being bullied.
• A parent protects their child from the bully’s threat.
• An adult who has been bullied in the past tries to help a new victim.
• The best way to avoid bullying is to be respectful.
• Write about someone who stands up for someone else getting bullied.
• A child or woman with bad clothes or hair gets bullied.
• A bully gets bullied.
• Write about a time someone bullied someone on the Internet.
• Write about a bully who is forgiven or punished.
• Tell about a time you got bullied.
• A very smart person is bullied, and nobody sees it.
• A bully feels guilty about his/hers actions.
• A bully wants to prove that he is wrong.
• A person who bullies others tries to change their ways.
• Does being a bully make you feel sad?
• A child gets bullied while playing soccer.
• After seeing a nasty comment that someone told you, what can you do to deal with the problem?
• Write about a bully who became friends with everybody.
• Write about your experience of being bullied.
• Tell about somebody who bullied everybody.
• You Bullied somebody
• Write about how you felt when you got bullied.
• A little girl gets her mom to change her bullying nickname.
• A bully is left on an island forever.
• Write about what happens when two bullying friends become enemies.
• The teacher was bullied.
• Write about when you first started being bullied.
• How to stand up for a kid who gets bullied.
• Write about someone you know who was bullied.
• A child hears a nasty rumor at school.
• Write about your view about bullying.
• There is a person who is very sad because of t/rude people.
• Write about the bully’s feelings.
• A bully has been crying after being bullied.
• Write about a bully who got bullied back.
• A teacher who was bullied struggles through it.
• Write about a situation in which somebody felt alone.
• Author interviews three school kids’ parents about bullying.
• What if you believe somebody is bullying’ but you didn’t know?
• someone writes about how teachers can prevent bullying.
• Bullies getting bullied themselves.
• Someone’s allies are bullied.
• A bully gets his life changed and turns into a good person.
• Write about how friends help each other.
• A kid who bullies another for being different is feeling regretful.
• A peer is being bullied by a teacher.
• Write about what would help a bully to change their behavior.
• When somebody is being bullied somebody else defends them.
• A good friend stands up to a bully in the cafeteria.
• Imagine a day when everybody is nice to you.
• Bullying can remove someone from work.
• Write about one or even two bullying cases you experienced.
• A bullied child stops the bullying.
• I get into a fight every two weeks.
• Write about a person who got friends by helping another person.
• Write about a bully trying to befriend somebody.
• A child is at the library after school attempting to ride out the pain of bullying.
• A story is written about a kid who nobody liked.
• Ask someone who is/was being bullied how it feels like.
• Someone gets bullied who doesn’t deserve it.
• 6.  A character who bullies others discovers that he is being bullied by a parent.
• A person who is feeling depressed knows that his family will help him with his sadness.
• Write a letter to a teacher about someone else who is being bullied.
• What do you do if someone gets bullied?
• A person gets angry over getting bullied.
• Write about a kind form of bullying.
• Write about a character who is changing their opinions about bullying.
• Write about you being a friend to a friend who got bullied.
• Write about why it is wrong to bully others.
• A child who is bullied respects/admires the bully.
• Write about a bully who cares deep down about others.
• Someone called his friend, they both went and helped the one who was being bullied.
• Someone thinks that bullying is cool.
• Write about a bully who learns to be nice.
• A teacher helps stop bullying.
• Write about how you reacted to being bullied at school.
• A child moves away from the place he used to live.
• A bully has a family member with some physical or mental difference.
• People who are bullied have a lot to offer and should not be underestimated .
• Why does someone bully someone else?
• A friend tells their friend to stand up for yourself.
• Write about somebody who was bullied.
• People bully others on the internet.
• Someone is cruel to your child and you do nothing about it.
• A famous author writes a book about bullying that sells a billion copies.
• A child gets bullied because of the way he delivers the speech.
• A person being bullied, writes to their favorite author asking for help.
• You get a letter to write a eulogy for someone who got bullied.
• A bully discovers he or she cannot bully his or her mother.
• A child questions things and finds the answer.
• Did the bullied child do anything to enrage the bullies?
• Someone who is being bullied can sometimes do something to stop it.
• Write about a school bully who was afraid to be bullied.
• How do you think the bully feels about the situation?
• There is a bully at a school. Write about the bully and the person he/she bullies.
• Someone settles a conflict between two people who are bullying each other.
• Bullying is when someone says mean things to someone else, when people insult each other.
• A single parent deals with their kid getting bullied.
• All the people make fun of a person for the results of his grades.
• A kid takes a side in a bullying incident.
• A child dies because of bullying.
• A character faces bullying because of his special talents.
• A bully apologizes to his/her victim.
• Everybody is falling over when a kid yells “he smells!”.
• Write about a bully who regrets what they did.
• Write about avoiding bullying.

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Greater Good Science Center • Magazine • In Action • In Education

How Creative Writing Can Increase Students’ Resilience

Many of my seventh-grade students do not arrive at school ready to learn. Their families often face financial hardship and live in cramped quarters, which makes it difficult to focus on homework. The responsibility for cooking and taking care of younger siblings while parents work often falls on these twelve year olds’ small shoulders. Domestic violence and abuse are also not uncommon.

To help traumatized students overcome their personal and academic challenges, one of our first jobs as teachers is to build a sense of community. We need to communicate that we care and that we welcome them into the classroom just as they are. One of the best ways I’ve found to connect with my students, while also nurturing their reading and writing skills, is through creative writing.

For the past three years, I’ve invited students in my English Language Development (ELD) classes to observe their thoughts, sit with their emotions, and offer themselves and each other compassion through writing and sharing about their struggles. Creating a safe, respectful environment in which students’ stories matter invites the disengaged, the hopeless, and the numb to open up. Students realize that nobody is perfect and nobody’s life is perfect. In this kind of classroom community, they can take the necessary risks in order to learn, and they become more resilient when they stumble.

Fostering a growth mindset

One of the ways students can boost their academic performance and develop resilience is by building a growth mindset. Carol Dweck, Stanford University professor of psychology and author of the book Mindset , explains that people with a growth mindset focus on learning from mistakes and welcoming challenges rather than thinking they’re doomed to be dumb or unskillful. A growth mindset goes hand in hand with self-compassion: recognizing that everyone struggles and treating ourselves with kindness when we trip up.

One exercise I find very useful is to have students write a story about a time when they persevered when faced with a challenge—in class, sports, or a relationship. Some of the themes students explore include finally solving math problems, learning how to defend themselves, or having difficult conversations with parents.

I primed the pump by telling my students about something I struggled with—feeling left behind in staff meetings as my colleagues clicked their way through various computer applications. I confided that PowerPoint and Google Slides—tools (one might assume) that any teacher worth a paperweight has mastered—still eluded me. By admitting my deficiency to my students, asking for their help, and choosing to see the opportunity to remedy it every day in the classroom, I aimed to level the playing field with them. They may have been reading three or four grade levels behind, but they could slap a PowerPoint presentation together in their sleep.

For students, sharing their own stories of bravery, resilience, and determination brings these qualities to the forefront of their minds and helps solidify the belief that underlies a growth mindset: I can improve and grow . We know from research in neuroplasticity that when students take baby steps to achieve a goal and take pride in their accomplishments, they change their brains, growing new neural networks and fortifying existing ones. Neurons in the brain release the feel-good chemical dopamine, which plays a major role in motivating behavior toward rewards.

After writing about a few different personal topics, students choose one they want to publish on the bulletin boards at the back of the classroom. They learn to include the juicy details of their stories (who, what, when, where, why, and how), and they get help from their peers, who ask follow-up questions to prompt them to include more information. This peer editing builds their resilience in more ways than one—they make connections with each other by learning about each other’s lives, and they feel empowered by lending a hand.

In my experience, students are motivated to do this assignment because it helps them feel that their personal stories and emotions truly matter, despite how their other academics are going. One student named Alejandro chose to reflect on basketball and the persistence and time it took him to learn:

Hoops By Alejandro Gonzalez Being good takes time. One time my sister took me to a park and I saw people playing basketball. I noticed how good they were and decided I wanted to be like them. Still I told my sister that basketball looked hard and that I thought I couldn’t do it. She said,“You could do it if you tried. You’ll get the hang of it.” My dad bought me a backboard and hoop to play with. I was really happy, but the ball wasn’t making it in. Every time I got home from school, I would go straight to the backyard to play. I did that almost every day until little by little I was getting the hang of it. I also played with my friends. Every day after lunch we would meet at the basketball court to have a game. … I learned that you need to be patient and to practice a lot to get the hang of things. With a little bit of practice, patience, and hard work, anything is possible.

Originally, Alejandro wasn’t sure why he was in school and often lacked the motivation to learn. But writing about something he was passionate about and recalling the steps that led to his success reminded him of the determination and perseverance he had demonstrated in the past, nurturing a positive view of himself. It gave him a renewed sense of investment in learning English and eventually helped him succeed in his ELD class, as well.

Maintaining a hopeful outlook

Another way to build resilience in the face of external challenges is to shore up our inner reserves of hope —and I’ve found that poetry can serve as inspiration for this.

For the writing portion of the lesson, I invite students to “get inside” poems by replicating the underlying structure and trying their hand at writing their own verses. I create poem templates, where students fill in relevant blanks with their own ideas. 

One poem I like to share is “So Much Happiness” by Naomi Shihab Nye. Its lines “Even the fact that you once lived in a peaceful tree house / and now live over a quarry of noise and dust / cannot make you unhappy” remind us that, despite the unpleasant events that occur in our lives, it’s our choice whether to allow them to interfere with our happiness. The speaker, who “love[s] even the floor which needs to be swept, the soiled linens, and scratched records,” has a persistently sunny outlook.

It’s unrealistic for students who hear gunshots at night to be bubbling over with happiness the next morning. Still, the routine of the school day and the sense of community—jokes with friends, a shared bag of hot chips for breakfast, and a creative outlet—do bolster these kids. They have an unmistakable drive to keep going, a life force that may even burn brighter because they take nothing for granted—not even the breath in their bodies, life itself. 

Itzayana was one of those students who, due to the adversity in her life, seemed too old for her years. She rarely smiled and started the school year with a defiant approach to me and school in general, cursing frequently in the classroom. Itzayana’s version of “So Much Happiness” hinted at some of the challenges I had suspected she had in her home life:

It is difficult to know what to do with so much happiness. Even the fact that you once heard your family laughing and now hear them yelling at each other cannot make you unhappy. Everything has a life of its own, it too could wake up filled with possibilities of tamales and horchata and love even scrubbing the floor, washing dishes, and cleaning your room. Since there is no place large enough to contain so much happiness, help people in need, help your family, and take care of yourself.   —Itzayana C.

Her ending lines, “Since there is no place large enough to contain so much happiness, / help people in need, help your family, and take care of yourself,” showed her growing awareness of the need for self-care as she continued to support her family and others around her. This is a clear sign of her developing resilience.

Poetry is packed with emotion, and writing their own poems allows students to grapple with their own often-turbulent inner lives. One student commented on the process, saying, “By writing poems, I’ve learned to be calm and patient, especially when I get mad about something dumb.” Another student showed pride in having her writing published; she reflected, “I feel good because other kids can use it for calming down when they’re angry.”

To ease students into the creative process, sometimes we also write poems together as a class. We brainstorm lines to include, inviting the silly as well as the poignant and creating something that represents our community.

Practicing kindness

Besides offering my students new ways of thinking about themselves, I also invite them to take kind actions toward themselves and others.

In the music video for “Give a Little Love” by Noah and the Whale, one young African American boy—who witnesses bullying at school and neglect in his neighborhood —decides to take positive action and whitewash a wall of graffiti. Throughout the video, people witness others’ random acts of kindness, and then go on to do their own bit.

“My love is my whole being / And I’ve shared what I could,” the lyrics say—a reminder that our actions speak louder than our words and do have an incredible impact. The final refrain in the song—“Well if you are (what you love) / And you do (what you love) /...What you share with the world is what it keeps of you”—urges the students to contribute in a positive way to the classroom, the school campus, and their larger community.

After watching the video, I ask students to reflect upon what kind of community they would like to be part of and what makes them feel safe at school. They write their answers—for example, not being laughed at by their peers and being listened to—on Post-it notes. These notes are used to create classroom rules. This activity sends a message early on that we are co-creating our communal experience together. Students also write their own versions of the lyrics, reflecting on different things you can give and receive—like kindness, peace, love, and ice cream.

Reaping the benefits

To see how creative writing impacts students, I invite them to rate their resilience through a self-compassion survey at the start of the school year and again in the spring. Last year, two-thirds of students surveyed increased in self-compassion; Alejandro grew his self-compassion by 20 percent. The program seems to work at developing their reading and writing skills, as well: At the middle of the school year, 40 percent of my students moved up to the next level of ELD, compared to 20 percent the previous year. 

As a teacher, my goal is to meet students where they’re at and learn about their whole lives. Through creative writing activities, we create a community of compassionate and expressive learners who bear witness to the impact of trauma in each others’ experiences and together build resilience.

As a symbol of community and strength, I had a poster in my classroom of a boat at sea with hundreds of refugees standing shoulder to shoulder looking skyward. It’s a hauntingly beautiful image of our ability to risk it all for a better life, as many of my ELD students do. Recognizing our common humanity and being able to share about our struggles not only leads to some beautiful writing, but also some brave hearts.

About the Author

Laura Bean, M.F.A. , executive director of Mindful Literacy, consults with school communities to implement mindfulness and creative writing programs. She has an M.F.A. in Creative Writing and presented a mindful writing workshop at Bridging the Hearts and Minds of Youth Conference in San Diego in 2016.

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11 awesome anti-bullying writing ideas

• by: Anna from Pobble
• On: 12, Nov 2020
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We've searched our extensive writing bank for the best anti-bullying writing ideas. As usual, our teaching community did not disappoint! Teachers like you, from around the world have shared some brilliant examples of anti-bullying writing ideas on Pobble. If you're looking for inspiration for your own class to enable them to discuss this important topic and explore emotions and feelings around it then check these out:

Agony Aunts and Uncles ✏️ 

How are your class at giving advice? Can they become agony aunts/uncles to help others who have experienced bullying? This is a wonderful writing activity to teach children how to write with empathy. Here's an example.  

Comic-book superheroes ✏️

A superhero that defends against bullying! Can your class create their own and turn them into a comic book superhero? A great opportunity for some fun writing that highlights the issues around bullying. You can see lots of examples here.  

Saying positive things ✏️

Learning how to talk about each other kindly is an important part of combatting bullying. Ask your class to write positive sentences about themselves or someone else and then share these kind words with everyone. Here's an example.  

Recipes for a good friend ✏️

What ingredients do you need to make a good friend? Ask your class to write the perfect recipe! What will they think is important to add? See lots of ideas here.

Humpty Dumpty's tale ✏️

What if Humpty Dumpty was pushed from the wall? How would he feel? This twist on the classic nursery rhyme will get your class exploring emotions. Here's a nice example.  

Diary entry ✏️

Ask your class to imagine themselves as someone that is being bullied and write a diary entry to explain their feelings. Writing from the viewpoint of a bullying victim will allow them to develop empathy. You can see an example here.  

Telling hand ✏️

Here's a fun and simple idea. Get the children to draw around their hand and then write on each finger who they can tell if they're worried or upset. It's important they know where to go and who to tell if they have concerns. Here's an example.

Poster design ✏️

Can your pupils create a striking poster that shares an important message? Ask them to include advice on what to do if someone is being bullied. You could then display these around the school or classroom. Check out this great example.  

Bullying reports ✏️

Get the important facts about bullying down in a clearly structure report. Your class could cover the types of bullying, what to do if you're being bullied, and where to get help. See an example here.

Kindness Kennings ✏️

Poems are always a good way to share ideas on an important topic and there are so many types of poetry you could try! We particularly like these kindness kennings or you could try some free verse poetry . You can find lots of examples here.

Friendship potions ✏️

Magic away bullying! What are the essential ingredients you'd need to create a potion to do that? Your class will enjoy choosing what to add in order to create a good friend. Here's a lovely example.

Did you know? On Pobble you can also find over 250 ready-made, themed based lessons, as well as starters and quick writes. Get started for free here.

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Josh’s story: getting bullied at school

by: Lisa Modifica | Updated: February 27, 2024

Print article

In my first year of middle school, kids taunted me and spit on me in hallways. It didn’t occur to me to tell my parents or teachers that I was being bullied at school. Finally, when a group of 20 kids threatened to beat me up at the carwash the next day, I told my older brother, who in turn informed my parents. My dad looked up my main tormentor’s phone number in the phone book and told her dad to make his daughter stop or he’d contact the police. It worked.

Twenty years later, when my 11-year-old stepson, who I’ll call Josh, came home with a sprained wrist and a head injury as a result of bullying, nothing seemed so simple. A true contemporary family — three parents with radically different parenting styles — we were all busy working and parenting other children, too. Who had the time to slow down, figure out what was happening, research solutions, decide what to do, call the school, and demand action? It was the beginning of Josh’s sixth grade at a new school, so we didn’t know anyone. Every night, as we listened to his stories of getting insulted and roughed up in hallways, we wondered: is this the new normal?

Bully pulpit

Since the days when I was bullied, there have been campaigns, dozens of books, a bumper crop of bullying experts, a presidential initiative, a feature-length documentary, and thousands of heartbreaking stories about kids whose bullying allegedly led to terrible consequences : suicide, mental illness, prison sentences. But the sad fact is that the very definition of bullying remains somewhat in dispute.

“We are all against bullying until we have to define it,” writes bullying expert Deborah Temkin . “The division between ‘normal’ childhood conflict, joking around, and bullying is a very thin, ever-changing line.”

Definitions of bullying vary, but the most commonly cited one comes from Dan Olweus, a Norweigan psychology professor who began studying bullying in the 1970s . He defines bullying as being “exposed, repeatedly and over time, to negative actions on the part of one or more other persons, and he or she has difficulty defending himself or herself.” Olweus found that repeated abuse is what really affects kids. But Temkin warns against strict definitions. “[I]n bullying, as in any human rights violation, dismissing a person’s reported trauma based on too strict a threshold can inflict further damage.” In other words, it’s the child’s experience that matters.

Adding abuse to injury

Given my background of facing a leering mob in my middle school hallways, you might think I would have had the clarity of mind to be proactive when it came to Josh. But I hesitated. Josh had been excited to start middle school, so excited that the first Saturday after school started, he was disappointed to stay home. But then he started coming home with injuries from kids hurting him on the basketball court during lunch. Kids insulted him, he said, and after recess he’d find notes on his back saying, “kick me” or “loser.” After being pelted with fruit in the cafeteria, he started eating lunch alone in the hallway. The third week of school, Josh came home with a broken foot. He said he slipped on the stairs, but his mom suspected he’d been pushed. Then Josh told us kids were trying to step on his broken foot or saying, “When that one heals, I’m gonna break the other one.”

Like most of us living in this knowledge-obsessed Internet age, I tried to combat my fear with information. I learned that instead of focusing on punishing the kids who were bullying him, I should figure out how to help Josh and understand what the school could and could not do. I learned that schools can’t disclose how they deal with other kids involved, and we should help Josh get involved in activities where he felt safe and could make new friends.

We tried to follow these directives. Josh’s mom enrolled him in martial arts to build his confidence and teach him self-defense. Once his foot healed, he started playing soccer again. I told Josh about my bullying experiences. At times, he seemed happy to hear he wasn’t alone. But other times he responded that there must be something wrong with him. I could see his confidence wither as abuse fueled his doubts.

According to statistics, approximately 77 percent of students have been physically or verbally bullied . But it was hard to tell if Josh was being targeted, exaggerating, or if this aggressive behavior was normal for sixth grade boys.

A sensitive kid who is intelligent, handsome, and has always been a head taller than his classmates, Josh is often timid with other youths. He constantly asked for advice on how to feel. Sometimes he seemed to stick with kids who were mean to him, waiting for acceptance that would never come. I wondered if Josh was too comfortable in the victim role. Part of me was angry at him for being bullied and wondered why he couldn’t just stand up for himself. I survived being bullied, I’d think; and then, I’d feel guilty. Even if only part of what he told us was true, it was awful.

I know now that certain kids are more likely to be bullied . Victims of bullying tend to have high levels of insecurity, depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem (all feelings I saw in Josh), but it’s nearly impossible to tell if these feelings are the cause or the effect of bullying. The irony is that kids who bully often experience the same emotions and some 20 percent of kids who are bullied also bully others. Not surprisingly, these aggressor/victims have the highest rates of depression and anxiety.

Just make it stop

Josh’s mother and father called the principal, vice principal, and school counselor repeatedly, but it took weeks to get them on the phone and schedule meetings. Josh’s mom showed up at the counselor’s office unannounced one day to discover that he had just put Josh and the boy who had given Josh a black eye the day before in mediation, asking them both to apologize — a tactic that took a high-minded “nobody’s to blame” approach but left Josh even more demoralized. Josh started eating lunch with a group of eighth graders, doing their homework, and giving them his lunch in exchange for protection.

One afternoon in our kitchen, Josh described lying on the hall floor and being repeatedly kicked while other kids watched. We called the vice-principal, who apologized but said he didn’t have footage of the beating on their video cameras and no other kids would corroborate Josh’s story. According to statistics, more than half of the time, bullying stops if another kid intervenes , but no one stepped in to help Josh.

We weren’t helping either. I was angry with Josh’s dad (my partner) for not doing enough. Since I wasn’t a biological parent, I was legally powerless to call the school. As a stepparent, I also felt I should take a back seat to Josh’s mom and dad. We were all angry with the school, and our frustration seeped into our relationships with each other. Should we threaten these kids, tell Josh to fight, go to the police? At the end of a long day of working and parenting, my partner and I worriedly compared notes, decided who to call and what to ask for. Deep down, we all just wanted it to go away. Also, we felt bad about ourselves as parents. Had we raised Josh badly? Why did he seem to be everyone’s punching bag? Every morning, it felt like we were sending him into a war zone with no protection.

One day, Josh said a boy called Omar knocked him down and started punching and kicking him in the face and body. A crowd of kids gathered and screamed at Omar, aggressively egging him on. “I was scared to fight back and get suspended,” Josh told me. The next day, he told me he had fantasies about stabbing his bullies.

At almost 6 feet tall, Josh was far bigger than these kids. Though I knew it contradicted every piece of expert advice I’d read, I told him to defend himself. I was afraid for him, afraid of him being hurt, but even more afraid of what he was internalizing about himself. Josh would ask me if he was ugly or stupid, and when I said no, he’d ask why all the kids said so. When Emily Bazelon, author of Sticks and Stones: Defeating the Culture of Bullying and Rediscovering the Power of Character and Empathy , interviewed adults who had been bullied, she found their experiences were still raw and painful, even years later. I didn’t want Josh to have these memories.

In early March, a kid punched Josh in the face in gym class. The teacher separated the kids and told them to go back to “playing.” Instead, the boy punched Josh again. The school expelled the boy — who had a history of violence and clearly needed support — from Josh’s class. The vice principal and counselor met with Josh, developed safety plans and places for him during lunch, but the verbal and physical abuse continued. Two weeks later, two friends of the expelled boy cornered Josh in a stairwell and attacked him.

I had finally had enough. I sat down and wrote up a timeline of all the abuse Josh had experienced since September and our attempts to get support from the school. I sent the list to Josh’s mom who filled in more detail. Josh’s dad filed an official police report against Josh’s primary tormentor, emailed the timeline to the superintendent of schools, and removed Josh from school citing physical assault. We were finally united as a team with the single goal of protecting Josh. We met with the superintendent, who was shocked by the abuse and lack of response we described, and requested an emergency safety transfer to a new middle school, which was granted.

Lessons learned

Two years later, I’m ashamed of how long it took me to take the abuse seriously, get the police involved, and pull Josh from that school. We learned that every school has a police officer assigned to it, and that those officers exist to help in these sorts of situations. Our fear of authority, concerns that Josh was lying or should toughen up, and lack of knowledge about his school life all contributed to our delay. We waited too long to intervene and allowed our own insecurities, poor communication, and confusion to get in the way.

I know now that Josh’s experience is atypical. These days, many schools have systems and regulations in place that demand they act quickly, especially when bullying is physical. States and local lawmakers have enacted laws, usually through the education code, to protect children . In general, in-person bullying seems to be decreasing although other forms of harassment, such as cyberbullying, may be increasing . Josh’s experience has changed all of us. I try to listen to Josh and his experiences without judgment, and now, with his dad’s blessing, I am empowered to intervene on Josh’s behalf. Josh, now 6’3” and weighing in at 200 pounds, just finished up at his new middle school and is excited for high school next year. Of course, rude, abusive kids haven’t evaporated from Josh’s life. Last week, he told us about a kid taunting him, making obscene remarks about what Josh and a friend liked to do with each other.

Josh’s friend told Josh to “deal with the situation.” Josh told his taunter to shut up, but the kid retaliated physically.

“He was punching me in the stomach, but it didn’t hurt since he’s tiny,” Josh said.

“What did you do?” I asked.

“I told him to stop, but when he wouldn’t, I hook punched him in the back of his head with medium force, but he fell on his ass anyway,” Josh said.

“You should never hit someone on the head!” I exclaimed, horrified, realizing that my urging him to defend himself, and that he was taking his cues from a questionable friend, may have led to this.

“You could have killed him! You should have reacted defensively.”

Josh shot me stricken look and stormed out.

Lines of communication

His dad watched him go, then turned to me: “If you react like that, he’s going to stop confiding in us .”

I sought Josh out and found him sitting on his bed.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I was really scared when you told me you punched that kid in the back of the head. My mind went to the worst case scenario.”

“Everyone gives me different advice,” Josh responded. “I told him to stop. If I ran away, everyone would have laughed at me because the kid is over a foot shorter than me.”

Josh’s actions made me nervous. The physically aggressive behavior worried me, and I didn’t want Josh to be comfortable resorting to violence. Was this what Josh learned from being bullied? I wanted to control Josh’s school experience: delete the meanness and make it all peaceful and happy. But even I know that isn’t realistic. I could tell Josh to never to raise a hand, but is that truly the right answer for him? I don’t know. And it isn’t my fight. Josh’s life will be full of tough decisions like the one he described.

“It’s so hard to decide what to do on the spot like that. Do you think you made the right choice?”

“I do,” he said.

I took a deep breath … and kept silent. Real parenting is messy and doesn’t follow textbook lines. I don’t want Josh to learn to protect his honor with his fists. But this is his experience, not mine. Isn’t my job to help him weigh his options, make a decision, and handle the consequences for himself?

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Recovering from Bullying

SafeKidsStories

Safe Kids Stories

By Syra Ortiz-Blanes

I switched schools in the 4th grade. It was my mother’s decision, and it was one I resisted. I loved my old school, La Academia. I was friends with everyone. I excelled in my courses. I ate hot dogs every single day for lunch — life was simple, and it was good. Waking up at 6:30 am was not a challenge because of how happy I was every single day to attend classes. This change made no sense to me.

But my school was losing teachers, quality and students. Mama believed that if I did not move then, I would be emotionally tied to a place that would not exploit my academic capacities. I now know that she was just trying to do what was best for me. I agree with her reasoning, even. By placing me at a school which was much more rigorous and academically oriented, I would learn more. I would be pushed harder to work in school. What happened, however, was that I was also pushed physically and emotionally — every single day for two years.

I was so, so excited my first day at my new school. I had recently just watched The Clubhouse , a movie about a group of children who build a tree house out of pure wit and spare parts. My immediate thought was that I would become best friends with the other kids sitting next to me. We’d build our clubhouse up and above the tops of the f lamboyanes near our school. The fantasy bubble I wrapped around myself In was soon popped by the verbal jabs of other students.

I was la nueva. the new one. Pote de leche , because I was also white as milk. Sida, because according to them, my name, Syra, sounded like the Spanish word for AIDS. Nerda, because I loved to learn and participate in class. They’d pick on me for being extroverted, for being a good student, for being blonde and blue- eyed, for the way I played, for who I played with, for the way I might look at someone, for the way I’d say something, for saying something, for caring too much, for being different.

Any illusion of safety I had had with my peers and within myself crumbled. In my other school, I had played with everyone. I knew everyone. As a leader in the classroom, I had always made sure that everyone was included — at the lunch table and in the game of hide and seek.

In my new school, however, I felt so much spite, and hurt, and anger in children. I’m not sure what made them that way, but I know that I did nothing to make them behave that way. And for a while it made me feel that it was my fault. For being too tall, and talking too much, and caring too much, for being too blonde. For wanting to make friends with everyone. It was my fault for being myself.

I came into this already categorized and labeled world, supported by hierarchical classroom seating arrangements and defensive clans of precocious fourth graders who protected their territory fearlessly. Tribes had been formed as early as in kindergarten. Cliques had been formed when the kids were in the uterus and their mothers were at baby showers reminiscing about high school as they sipped virgin piña coladas. I was a target because I wasn’t part of this universe that I did not understand — and still struggle with to this day. Because of the social dynamics, it was easy for someone to crack a mean joke on the new kid. It was easy to make fun of me because I was different — I was a target because I challenged the carefully defined chaos, the unspoken rules for “ knowing my place.” My new school was an Ikea armoire, and I just didn’t have the instructions.

I once read that being bullied built character like nuclear waste creates superheroes. Yet for me, being bullied created more damage than empowerment. Being bullied changed me. It stripped the innocence from an otherwise incredibly happy childhood. It took a toll on me. It made me fearful of going to class everyday. Of learning, of loving myself, of learning to love myself. It took me years until I felt comfortable in my own, pink pote de leche skin.

It’s been a long time since then. I’m a junior at Penn, in the U.S. mid-Atlantic, studying English and History. I’m continuously surrounded by people who love, support, and appreciate me. I haven’t been an object of bullying in a long, long time. I love myself, and I believe in myself as never before. Yet, I cannot deny that sometimes, I am a 4th grader again. I second guess myself. I worry that people won’t like me. I worry that people won’t like that I like to learn; that I’ll never be good enough if I am just me. Whenever I feel that way, I close my eyes and breathe. And I remind myself about where I am, who I am, and how lucky I am. Because I, indeed, am one of the lucky ones. I’ve come a long way since. I was, with time, able to get through the the insecurities and the anxieties of being bullied; I have been surrounded by supportive and loving people. I am one of the lucky ones because it’s over, and I was victorious.

But right now, as you are reading this, one out of every four students is a victim of peer-abuse and bullying in the United States. Some say this figure is as high as one in three. More than 160,000 kids are staying away from school everyday to avoid being bullied. And not only are the effects of bullying severe and long-lasting, but children are taking their lives as a result of peer-abuse. According to a Yale University report , victims of bullying are 7% to 9% more likely to consider suicide — girls between the ages of 10 and 14 are at risk. Studies conducted in UK schools also linked at least half of youth suicides to bullying.

If you are being bullied, find help, and find support. Surround yourself with people who love you. I know that it’s hard to talk about it and come forward — even to this day, I feel shame. And I feel ashamed because deep down, a small part of me thinks that I deserved it, that. if I had acted differently, maybe I wouldn’t have suffered so much. But that is so, so false. There is no reason you should feel shame, and most importantly — there is no reason that you should stay silent. You do not deserve to be bullied. You do not deserve to be pushed around. Bullying is not normal. It is not cool. It is not “a rite of passage”. Call it what it is — abusive. It is cruel. It is unfair, and it is inhumane.

I promise you that it will get better. It is hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel — but it is there. You are wonderful, you are loved, and you are special. Don’t let anyone else tell you any different.

Syra Ortiz-Blanes is a junior from Puerto Rico studying Intellectual History and Creative Writing. She loves to read, write, and drink coffee. Though her main genre is poetry, she also enjoys nonfiction and fiction. She is a firm believer in literature as an agent of social change- and that’s why she’s so excited about the SafeKidsStories Initiative.

Written by SafeKidsStories

Writing our way toward more cultural protections for children and youth

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Creative Writing/Short story Task- Bullying

Subject: English

Age range: 5 - 16

Resource type: Worksheet/Activity

Last updated

22 February 2018

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4th Grade Writing Prompts #3: Bullying

One of the scariest experiences for a 4th grader can be a bully. This collection of 10 4th grade writing prompts deals with the subjects of bullying and violence at school. Perhaps by having children at this age learn more about the problem, it can prevent such a problem from occurring.

You may notice that the numbers on this page do not start at 1 and work their way up. This is because these 10 writing prompts are an excerpt from my book,  500 Writing Prompts for Kids: First Grade through Fifth Grade . If you like these free samples, the full version is available in both  digital  and  paperback  form.  4th Grade Writing Prompts #3: Bullying

371. One of the big problems of bullying is that bullies will make fun of every way that you are different from “normal" people. List five reasons why it’s awesome to be different, so that the next time someone makes fun of you, it’s a compliment and not an insult.

372. Even though it doesn’t seem like it, people who say mean things and bully other kids around, they tend to feel bad about themselves. This is the main reason that the bullies act the way they do. Think of a bully in your life or make up a bully and come up with a few reasons the person might be having a tough time.

373. Imagine that you have decided to become an “anti-bully," a person who says nice things to build people up instead of mean things to beat people down. Pick three random people in the room and think of a few nice things that you could say to them to build up their self-esteem.

374. Think about a time where you said something mean, or where you didn’t stop a mean thing from happening to another kid. How could you have acted differently to make the situation better?

375. Create a story about a bully who decides to change his ways. Determine what it is that made the bully want to change and detail how his life is different after switching “mean" to “serene."

376. One of the reasons that people are mean is in an effort to be more popular. Imagine that popularity was completely different and it was based on how nice kids could be to one another. If that were to happen, who would be the popular kids in your school? If the meanest people were the least popular, who would be the least popular kids?

377. Instead of singling out people and making them feel bad (one term for that is called “ostracizing" a person) we should celebrate our differences and learn things from people that are different from us. Think of a few people in your school who are different who you might be able to learn something from and write a little story about meeting with them.

378. Making a joke at a person’s expense is one way of being mean. An example of this is saying that someone is weird or that they look funny so that your friends will laugh. This makes the person feel bad. Try to come up with a few jokes you could use in a situation that wouldn’t make anybody feel bad, but would include everybody in the enjoyment.

379. It is not a good idea to fight a bully with your fists and if the bully has a lot of friends and you’re all alone, you might get into serious trouble. What are five things you could do in this situation to stand up for yourself without violence?

380. Becoming a nicer, happier person is not like flipping a light switch. There are certain things you may have to learn in order to stop yourself from being a full-time or part-time bully. What are some of the traits you think you might have to learn and how would you learn them?  Related Articles to 4th Grade Writing Prompts

• Fourth Grade Writing Prompts #4: Nature
• Fourth Grade Writing Prompts #7: Grab Bag #1
• Fourth Grade Writing Prompts #5: The World

Done with 4th Grade Writing Prompts? Go back to Creative Writing Prompts.

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Grade 5 Creative Writing Prompt “Bullying” with sample answers

These Grade 5 Grammar and Creative Writing Worksheets are for understanding and practice purpose.

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150+ Creative Story Starters

Here is a list of good sentences to start a story with:

• I’ve read about a million stories about princesses but never thought I could ever be one.
• There was once a man who was very old, but he was wise. He lived for a very long time, and he was very happy.
• What is the difference between a man and a cat? A cat has nine lives.
• In the middle of the night, a boy is running through the woods.
• It is the end of the world.
• He knew he was not allowed to look into the eyes of the princess, but he couldn’t help himself.
• The year is 1893. A young boy was running away from home.
• What if the Forest was actually a magical portal to another dimension, the Forest was a portal to the Otherworld?
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• “It was a terrible day,” said the old man in a raspy voice.
• A cat is flying through the air, higher and higher, when it happens, and the cat doesn’t know how it got there, how it got to be in the sky.
• I was lying in the woods, and I was daydreaming.
• The Earth is a world of wonders. 
• The fairy is the most amazing creature I have ever met.
• A young girl was sitting on a tree stump at the edge of a river when she noticed a magical tree growing in the water.
• My dancing rat is dressed in a jacket, a tie and glasses, which make him look like a person. 
• In the darkness of the night, I am alone, but I know that I am not. 
• Owls are the oldest, and most intelligent, of all birds.
• My name is Reyna, and I am a fox. 
• The woman was drowning.
• One day, he was walking in the forest.
• It was a dark and stormy night…
• There was a young girl who could not sleep…
• A boy in a black cape rode on a white horse…
• A crazy old man in a black cloak was sitting in the middle of the street…
• The sun was setting on a beautiful summer day…
• The dog was restless…”
• There was a young boy in a brown coat…
• I met a young man in the woods…
• In the middle of a dark forest…
• The young girl was at home with her family…
• There was a young man who was sitting on a …
• A young man came into a bar with a horse…
• I have had a lot of bad dreams…
• He was a man who wanted to be king…
• It was the summer of 1969, and there were no cell phones.
• I know what you’re thinking. But no, I don’t want to be a vegetarian. The worst part is I don’t like the taste.
• She looked at the boy and decided to ask him why he wasn’t eating. She didn’t want to look mean, but she was going to ask him anyway.
• The song played on the radio, as Samual wiped away his tears.
• This was the part when everything was about to go downhill. But it didn’t…
• “Why make life harder for yourself?” asked Claire, as she bit into her apple.
• She made a promise to herself that she would never do it.
• I was able to escape.
• I was reading a book when the accident happened.
• “I can’t stand up for people who lie and cheat.” I cried.
• You look at me and I feel beautiful.
• I know what I want to be when I grow up.
• We didn’t have much money. But we knew how to throw a good party.
• The wind blew on the silent streets of London.
• What do you get when you cross an angry bee and my sister?
• The flight was slow and bumpy. I was half asleep when the captain announced we were going down.
• At the far end of the city was a river that was overgrown with weeds. 
• It was a quiet night in the middle of a busy week.
• One afternoon, I was eating a sandwich in the park when I spotted a stranger.
• In the late afternoon, a few students sat on the lawn reading.
• The fireflies were dancing in the twilight as the sunset.
• In the early evening, the children played in the park.
• The sun was setting and the moon was rising.
• A crowd gathered in the square as the band played.
• The top of the water tower shone in the moonlight.
• The light in the living room was on, but the light in the kitchen was off.
•  When I was a little boy, I used to make up stories about the adventures of these amazing animals, creatures, and so on. 
• All of the sudden, I realized I was standing in the middle of an open field surrounded by nothing but wildflowers, and the only thing I remembered about it was that I’d never seen a tree before.
• It’s the kind of thing that’s only happened to me once before in my life, but it’s so cool to see it.
• They gave him a little wave as they drove away.
• The car had left the parking lot, and a few hours later we arrived home.
• They were going to play a game of bingo.
• He’d made up his mind to do it. He’d have to tell her soon, though. He was waiting for a moment when they were alone and he could say it without feeling like an idiot. But when that moment came, he couldn’t think of anything to say.
• Jamie always wanted to own a plane, but his parents were a little tight on the budget. So he’d been saving up to buy one of his own. 
• The night was getting colder, and the wind was blowing in from the west.
• The doctor stared down at the small, withered corpse.
• She’d never been in the woods before, but she wasn’t afraid.
• The kids were having a great time in the playground.
• The police caught the thieves red-handed.
• The world needs a hero more than ever.
• Mother always said, “Be good and nice things will happen…”
• There is a difference between what you see and what you think you see.
• The sun was low in the sky and the air was warm.
• “It’s time to go home,” she said, “I’m getting a headache.”
• It was a cold winter’s day, and the snow had come early.
• I found a wounded bird in my garden.
• “You should have seen the look on my face.”
• He opened the door and stepped back.
• My father used to say, “All good things come to an end.”
• The problem with fast cars is that they break so easily.
• “What do you think of this one?” asked Mindy.
• “If I asked you to do something, would you do it?” asked Jacob.
• I was surprised to see her on the bus.
• I was never the most popular one in my class.
• We had a bad fight that day.
• The coffee machine had stopped working, so I went to the kitchen to make myself a cup of tea.
• It was a muggy night, and the air-conditioning unit was so loud it hurt my ears.
• I had a sleepless night because I couldn’t get my head to turn off.
• I woke up at dawn and heard a horrible noise.
• I was so tired I didn’t know if I’d be able to sleep that night.
• I put on the light and looked at myself in the mirror.
• I decided to go in, but the door was locked.
• A man in a red sweater stood staring at a little kitten as if it was on fire.
• “It’s so beautiful,” he said, “I’m going to take a picture.”
• “I think we’re lost,” he said, “It’s all your fault.”
• It’s hard to imagine what a better life might be like
• He was a tall, lanky man, with a long face, a nose like a pin, and a thin, sandy moustache.
• He had a face like a lion’s and an eye like a hawk’s.
• The man was so broad and strong that it was as if a mountain had been folded up and carried in his belly.
• I opened the door. I didn’t see her, but I knew she was there.
• I walked down the street. I couldn’t help feeling a little guilty.
• I arrived at my parents’ home at 8:00 AM.
• The nurse had been very helpful.
• On the table was an array of desserts.
• I had just finished putting the last of my books in the trunk.
• A car horn honked, startling me.
• The kitchen was full of pots and pans.
• There are too many things to remember.
• The world was my oyster. I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth.
•  “My grandfather was a World War II veteran. He was a decorated hero who’d earned himself a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, and a Purple Heart.
• Beneath the menacing, skeletal shadow of the mountain, a hermit sat on his ledge. His gnarled hands folded on his gnarled knees. His eyes stared blankly into the fog. 
• I heard a story about a dragon, who was said to be the size of a house, that lived on the top of the tallest mountain in the world.
•  I was told a story about a man who found a golden treasure, which was buried in this very park.
• He stood alone in the middle of a dark and silent room, his head cocked to one side, the brown locks of his hair, which were parted in the middle, falling down over his eyes.
•  Growing up, I was the black sheep of the family. I had my father’s eyes, but my mother’s smile.
• Once upon a time, there was a woman named Miss Muffett, and she lived in a big house with many rooms.
• When I was a child, my mother told me that the water looked so bright because the sun was shining on it. I did not understand what she meant at the time.    
•  The man in the boat took the water bottle and drank from it as he paddled away.
• The man looked at the child with a mixture of pity and contempt.
• An old man and his grandson sat in their garden. The old man told his grandson to dig a hole. 
• An old woman was taking a walk on the beach. The tide was high and she had to wade through the water to get to the other side.
• She looked up at the clock and saw that it was five minutes past seven.
• The man looked up from the map he was studying. “How’s it going, mate?”
• I was in my room on the third floor, staring out of the window.
• A dark silhouette of a woman stood in the doorway.
• The church bells began to ring.
• The moon rose above the horizon.
• A bright light shone over the road.
• The night sky began to glow.
• I could hear my mother cooking in the kitchen.
• The fog began to roll in.
• He came in late to the class and sat at the back.
• A young boy picked up a penny and put it in his pocket.
• He went to the bathroom and looked at his face in the mirror.
• It was the age of wisdom and the age of foolishness. We once had everything and now we have nothing.
• A young man died yesterday, and no one knows why.
• The boy was a little boy. He was not yet a man. He lived in a house in a big city.
• They had just returned from the theatre when the phone rang.
• I walked up to the front of the store and noticed the neon sign was out.
• I always wondered what happened to Mary.
• I stopped to say hello and then walked on.
• The boy’s mother didn’t want him to play outside…
• The lights suddenly went out…
• After 10 years in prison, he was finally out.
• The raindrops pelted the window, which was set high up on the wall, and I could see it was a clear day outside.
• My friend and I had just finished a large pizza, and we were about to open our second.
• I love the smell of the ocean, but it never smells as good as it does when the waves are crashing.
• They just stood there, staring at each other.
• A party was in full swing until the music stopped.

For more ideas on how to start your story, check out these first-line writing prompts . Did you find this list of creative story starters useful? Let us know in the comments 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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Building a ‘culture worth fighting for’ after Oct. 7, one writing workshop at a time

“Writing on the Wall” is a new creative writing community founded to ‘make something of our desolation’ following the Hamas attack

It was the cans of tuna that author Gila Green hoarded in her safe room that finally unlocked her case of writer’s block after the trauma of Oct. 7.

Green took part in a workshop earlier this month that is part of “Writing on the Wall,” an online community aimed at producing art that reflects the complexities of Jewish and Israeli life at this time.

The workshop led by Bar-Ilan University English professor William Kolbrener and novelist and Ph.D. student Ronit Eitan was titled “Haven’t the Jewish People Suffered Enough” — how humor “transforms tragedy into laughter.” 

Humor, Kolbrener told attendees, “is a long Jewish tradition. That’s how Jews deal with tragedy.” 

The workshop began with a reading, a selection from a David Foster Wallace essay in Rolling Stone about life in Bloomington, Ill. after 9/11. A summary that does not do the selection justice: Everyone had American flags up, Wallace wanted one, too, but the stores were sold out. A sympathetic convenience store owner saw his distress and gave him construction paper and markers to draw his own flag.

The writing prompt was to take an ordinary object and use it to say something personal, and something related to Oct. 7. Attendees were given 15 minutes to write, and those who wished read their work aloud.

A woman based in New York wrote about the hostage posters and her response to their defacement – she had never shouted at a stranger before, she said.

Objects collected in safe rooms – water bottles, cans of tuna – took center stage. 

After Green read her piece on collecting canned tuna fish, some of which she gave to her daughter who was living in a building without a safe room, one response was that it showed her love for her daughter.

“This insight was valuable and unexpected,” Green told Jewish Insider . “Perhaps, unknowingly, I have been more worried about her than I was willing to express.” 

After Oct. 7, Kolbrener, who was academic director of the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy, recounted that the idea of publishing another paper on antisemitism did not feel sufficient to him: “I thought, ‘the house is burning down.’”

Kolbrener, who has taught English literature and creative writing at Bar-Ilan University for nearly 30 years, led “an impromptu writing workshop” on Oct. 17, for students who would not be able to return to classes for over two months.

“Writers were on fire,” Kolbrener later wrote about that workshop. “Their stories: a grad student home with four young children, her husband ‘somewhere’ in Gaza; a writer, her son-in-law, identifying the still burning bodies of Kibbutz Beeri; the undergrad who stayed home from the [Nova] rave, but whose friend did not. But they found words, and images – to transmute the horror into art.”

Kolbrener and Eitan were then inspired to start Writing on the Wall, which has held a series of workshops and publishes essays, poems and visual art on its website .

The idea, Kolbrener wrote, is “to make something of our desolation, of that day ,” citing precedents in Jewish history: “The desolation caused by the sin of the Golden Calf led to the second tablets, and human creativity. The destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem led to the creation at Yavne of the Oral Law, the beginning of the Mishnah and Talmud and Midrash, the inspired poetry of the rabbis.”

Kolbrener wanted to create “a different kind of community,” a post-Oct. 7 creative outlet. 

“I live very close to Mt. Herzl, the military cemetery [in Jerusalem],” he recalled. “At the beginning of the war, there were funerals, day after day…thousands of people came and there was absolute quiet and silence… You felt the resilience of mourning.”

Yet Kolbrener and Eitan felt that they could not remain silent.

Eitan compared the situation to the Eurovision Song Contest, in which Israeli singer Eden Golan’s first submission, “October Rain,” was rejected on the grounds that it was too political, so she had to sing a neutered version of the song, “Hurricane.” After that, Golan was bullied by other participants and forced to stay in her room while she wasn’t performing due to security concerns.

“We cannot take ourselves out of the game,” Eitan said. “Even if we’re booed, we need to be there. It’s a metaphor. We cannot be silent; we cannot be afraid; we need our voices out there.”

Doing so is “really urgent,” Kolbrener said. “We cannot fight on the front, but we can build a culture that is worth saving, worth fighting for.”

Kolbrener, who is religious and lives in Jerusalem, and Eitan, who is secular and lives in Tel Aviv, highlighted the importance of sharing different voices at this time.

Eitan said that she “didn’t see [herself] as a collective, but I have no choice. I was pushed into that. I had to reconstruct my identity, everything I thought I was after Oct. 7. The rules have changed.”

“This is an opportunity for us to find our voices again. We’re very different,” she added.

Kolbrener said that “no matter how bad it seems in the newspapers in terms of internal rifts, when you walk in the streets you feel 100% unity.”

Still, he said: “We don’t want false unity – that’s dangerous… We are a growing community of people who may not share the same lifestyle or values, but notwithstanding our differences, we all have what to say about this experience.”

Green told Jewish Insider after the workshop that she came into it with the idea that it would help her “regulate and cope with difficult times” as someone who often uses writing to process thoughts and feelings. 

“Since Oct. 7, I’ve found myself unable to write,” she lamented. “It might simply be because we are still living through these events. It’s ongoing and there isn’t enough psychological space to write about it yet. Just when you start to process the chaos…something else hits you hard. The pace and enormity of it all can be overwhelming.” 

Erica Landis, who began writing professionally after the death of her son in a swimming pool accident, said that “writing has always been how I process my experience in the world… I had no trouble pouring my heart out in my own personal horror.” 

Oct. 7, however, “was a bigger horror.” Landis found herself “distracted in a way I’d never experienced before… I found myself having trouble concentrating on my work. It all felt frivolous… I felt that coping mechanism has been taken away from me. I was unable to put this all into words… I was truly afraid I’d never be able to write again.”

Landis said she felt she “simply had to” sign up for the workshop.

“I was hoping for and expecting some ‘writerly tricks,’ I guess, on how to break down the million moving parts of this pain and anger,” she said, “but I think so far I’ve learned that there are no tricks.”

Still, Landis appreciated that the workshop was about the craft of writing, leaving the participants to work through their emotions themselves before putting them on the page.

Green said she was “pleasantly surprised” to be able to write something during the session, and that it was a “significant step forward” for her.

She found the piece about torn-down hostage posters resonant, despite living in Israel where the posters are mostly left intact.

“It’s reassuring to know that others are experiencing similar things and value writing as an outlet,” Green said.

Landis said that the experience “validated the difficulties I was having as a writer … that this is a pivotal horror.”

She was also “thankful to have this virtual room full of safe people (Jews or not) who don’t want to kill me,” Landis said.

“While Oct 7 hurts me down to my DNA, I am terrified of the fact that people – no matter their beliefs – are not horrified and angered by the pure evil and brutality. So, I guess the answer to how the workshop has helped me process is by validating the impossibility of Oct. 7 and the world response not making sense. And from there, we will do our best to bear witness … by recording it all the best we can. Breaking it all down into writing exercises that may spur an idea, a connection, or simply a sentence is very helpful,” Landis said.

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Practical Creative Writing

Welcome to practical creative writing.

My name is Grace Jolliffe. I am a writer and live in Galway Bay on the beautiful Wild Atlantic Way route in Ireland.

I have been writing stories since I remember how. I love to write and I created this site because I want to encourage other people to write as well.

I believe everyone can write a story – if they are willing to apply themselves to the work.

I am not offering magic tricks but I am offering some practical, creative solutions to the problems that we writers face.

I have over twenty years experience, in writing and teaching, and I want to share that with you.

You can find out more about my writing career here .

If you are a beginner writer you will find lots of practical creative writing tips, suggestions and information to help get you focused in on your writing.

Many people say they always wanted to write – if you are one of them why not start right now?

It’s never too late to have a creative life so what are you waiting for?

This  writing for beginners   section has lots of easy ways to kick-start your writing career.

CREATIVE WRITING EXERCISES

Stay right here if you are looking for some original creative writing exercises to trigger fresh ideas.

I have tried and tested my exercises with writing students of all ages – with great success. You can try some of these free creative writing exercises here.  

These exercises have proved so popular that I have been inspired to write a book: Practical Creative Exercises.

The book is a practical work-book for writers who genuinely want to write but need help finding and focusing in on their story.

There are no empty promises,   like most things in life your success is down to the work you put in.

Practical Creative Exercises book is designed for writers who are serious and who want to get really immersed in their writing.

If you are someone who is willing to work regularly towards developing your creativity and achieving your writing goals then this is the book for you.

Maybe you are serious, and willing to start work, but just don’t know where to start.

Sometimes the blank page can be off-putting and most writers face a few false starts before they begin to experience the full rhythm and flow of the writing journey.

If you have already been trying the free exercises on the site then the book can help you progress to the next level.

CREATIVE WRITING TIPS

The day you stop learning, or trying to improve, is the day you stop writing and start typing.

So, even if you are an experienced writer there is always something useful you can learn.

Every time we read, or write, we learn something new and that feeds our writing and I have gathered together some really useful  creative writing tips here.  

WRITERS BLOCK

If the dreaded writer’s block is an issue for you then I can help.

I have personally gone through some difficult periods when I felt I couldn’t, or even shouldn’t write. We all experience difficult times.

I wrote myself out of my problems using writing exercises and other methods and I am rarely stuck for words now – at least not the written kind.

I have great tips on how to crush any type of  writer’s block   so whatever the reason for your problem, you’ll soon be a productive writer again.

You will find this site a creative, encouraging and friendly place to visit.

If you have any problems, or questions, just write them in the comments box and I will do my very best to help you.

Best wishes and the best of luck with your writing.

‘Everyone has talent. What is rare is the courage to follow the talent to the dark place where it leads.’

© grace jolliffe, share this:, 4 responses to practical creative writing.

Fab site – very timely as I am planning my first fiction book 🙂

I will certainly be back for some inspiration as I progress!

Kind regards,

Hi Michelle, thanks for visiting. It’s great to find you again 🙂 If you have any questions I can help you with please don’t hesitate. Best of luck with your first fiction book!

All the best Grace

Hi Grace – I’m really enjoyingthe exercises and leaving writer’s block behind!

That’s great news, Jo, keep going! Best wishes Grace