Story starter wheel
Each slice is a first line. Spin, copy it to the top of the page, and keep going: the hardest part of writing, starting, is already done.
SpacespinCtrl+Enterspin while typingFfull screen
One entry per line. Add *3 after a name to give it three times the chance.
Winners show up here, newest first.
Colors
Ready-made list. Edit it to make it yours: changes stay on this device, and Reset brings the original back.Open in the main spinner →
A 20-minute writing routine
- Spin on the projector and read the line aloud twice. Everyone writes it at the top of the page.
- Two minutes of talk: with a partner, students say who the main character is and what problem the line causes.
- Twelve to fifteen minutes of silent writing. The goal is a beginning, a middle and some kind of ending, not a polished piece.
- Three volunteers read their first paragraph. The same line will have gone in very different directions, which is the best lesson about voice you can give.
Adjust for the grade
- Grades 2–3: five to eight sentences. If stamina is low, draw first, label the picture, then write.
- Grades 4–5: a full paragraph or a one-page story, with one requirement such as dialogue or a sensory detail.
- Grades 6–8: the line must appear somewhere other than the start, or the story is told by an unexpected narrator.
Variations
- Double spin: spin the story setting wheel too, and the story has to happen there.
- Round robin: groups of four pass the page every 4 minutes, and each writer continues from the last sentence.
- Student lines: everyone writes a first line on a sticky note, and you type the best ones into the entry box. Students try harder when the wheel might pick a classmate’s line.
Questions and answers
What if a student says they can’t think of anything?
Ask two questions: who is saying this line, and what do they do next? The answers are the second and third sentences. If the line really doesn’t work for them, allow one more spin.
Are these story starters fine for younger kids?
Yes. They lean toward mystery and fantasy, with nothing scarier than a stopped clock or a phone ringing in an empty house. Remove any line you’d rather not use with your group.
Can I set this as homework?
Yes. Spin in class and write the line on the board, or send families the Share link so the wheel opens with your edited lines.