When we talk about writing, or any creative activity for that matter, the word spark is often used, not least when it comes to finding inspiration. For example, we look for that special spark to launch us, rocket-style, on a creative journey. We hope flashes of inspiration will fire us up to write that story, craft that poem, or create that comic strip.

So, with that in mind, and with this being the month of fireworks, sparklers and all things sizzling, this Get Creative feature shares some fire-themed activities to spark sizzling stories and poems.

For more activities and tips, check out the rest of our Get Creative series.

Fire-starting story-starters!
Use these first lines to inspire your own original short stories. Choose whichever one sparks your imagination and makes you wonder things like “what’s going on?”, “why did that happen?”, and “what will happen next?”

As his rocket approached Planet Ignis, the captain of Inferno Craft IV could not believe his eyes. “Milton Keynes, we have a problem,” he confirmed, his voice crackling into the communication transmitter. “Ignis appears to be a great ball of fire, and it’s spinning right towards us…”

Unusually, no smoke billowed from Mother Moon’s chimney. Her cottage was in darkness, surrounded by swirling mists and twisted branches. Where was Mother Moon? Tillie had to find out. She took a deep breath and knocked on the door…

Max’s boss at his Saturday job in the pet shop was fuming. Really fuming. Max could practically see flames of anger blasting from his ears. “You’re fired! I can’t believe you just…

Ignite your imagination with acrostic poems
Write an acrostic poem about fire. An acrostic poem is a poem in which the first letter of each line spells out the word the poem is about. Here’s an example:

Flames feast on leaves on the forest floor,
Igniting fast, hungry for more.
Rising and roaring, crackling sparks,
Embers fade fast as the sky turns dark.

First up, write your own acrostic poem using the word “fire”. Then do the same using these words:

Spark
Sizzle
Flash

Joanne Owen is a writer and publishing professional with over twenty years’ experience of the book industry, and the author of a how-to children’s guide to creative writing, You Can Write Awesome Stories. Alongside writing and reviewing books, she hosts writing workshops and is an Editorial Expert for LoveReading.