Creative Writing and Critical Thinking: Unlocking Student Potential in the Best Way

Let’s be real for a second—sometimes getting students to think critically about literature feels like trying to get a cat to take a bath. They resist, we push, and no one walks away happy. But what if there was a way to make critical thinking feel… fun? Like, actually fun.

Enter: creative writing.

Now, before you roll your eyes and think "Not another essay assignment," hear me out. Creative writing is so much more than just putting pen to paper—it’s a secret weapon that gets students deeply engaged with what they’re reading. It lets them play with character, theme, and plot while developing the kind of critical thinking skills they need to crush literary analysis (and life).

Why Creative Writing Works Like Magic

When students write creatively, they’re not just retelling a story—they’re stepping into the shoes of the author, making decisions about character motivation, exploring alternate plotlines, and considering why things happen the way they do in the text. They’re actively thinking about the how and why behind the author’s choices, without even realizing they’re doing hard work. It's sneaky like that!

And the best part? They get to have fun with it. Want your students to really understand the complexity of a character’s motivations? Ask them to write a journal entry from that character’s perspective. Need them to dig deeper into a book’s theme? Have them rewrite a key scene from the novel, but in a totally new setting (think Hamlet in space or The Great Gatsby as a noir film). Suddenly, critical thinking becomes something they’re excited to do, not something to check off a list.

Simple, Creative Ideas to Try This Week

Here are a few easy, low-prep ideas to get your students creating and thinking critically—without adding to your workload.

1. Character Rewrites with a Twist
   Take any character from the novel you're reading and ask students to place them in an entirely new scenario. What if Katniss from The Hunger Games suddenly found herself in 1920s New York? How would her skills translate? This gives students a way to think about character development, context, and plot dynamics—all while having fun with their imaginations.

2. Fan Fiction for Deeper Analysis
   Okay, I know—fan fiction sounds cringe. But when used thoughtfully, it’s an incredible tool for getting students to engage with themes and character arcs. Have them expand on a side plot or explore a what-if scenario that forces them to analyze the text more deeply. Trust me, they’ll geek out over this one.

3. Dialogue Debates
   Pair two characters with conflicting views and ask your students to write a dialogue where they argue about an issue in the book—or something totally unrelated! Not only does this teach perspective-taking and argumentation, but it also brings out the underlying tensions in the text in a really fun way.

4. World Building Meets Research
   This one’s for those students who love diving into the details. Ask them to research an aspect of the world in the book—political systems, economic structures, cultural norms—and then write their own version, imagining how it would function in today’s society or in a completely new world. This taps into both their research skills and their ability to think critically about the text’s themes.

5. Alternate Endings with a Purpose
   Ask students to rewrite the ending of a story with a different focus. Maybe this time the villain wins, or the protagonist makes a different choice at the last minute. As they write, have them consider how this new ending changes the themes and overall message of the story. It’s a fantastic way to get students thinking about authorial intent in a way that feels fresh and exciting.

Why Now?

With the world they’re facing, we need students who can leave our classroom with thinking skills they can apply throughout their lives and use for the betterment of all of us. Whether they’re analyzing literature or solving real-world problems, critical thinking is everything. And the beauty of creative writing is that it builds those skills while keeping your students engaged and excited.

Plus, you don’t have to stress about finding time to fit these activities into your already-packed schedule. These ideas are designed to work with what you’re already teaching, adding a creative boost to any novel, short story, or text you’re working on right now.

And if you’re thinking, "This all sounds great, but where do I start?"—don’t worry, I’ve got you. Try out any of the prompts here or get my favorite fan fiction prompts (with detailed activity ideas) here. I have a whole unit on fan fiction writing for any text coming soon :) Let me know what you think!

6 Free Fan Fiction Prompts | Flexible and Fun!

And as a bonus, I have a blog post all about creating the peer editing day of your dreams so that you can sit back and relax while your students admire each others’ work!

Teaching doesn’t have to be all hard work and no fun. When we get students thinking creatively, they naturally start thinking critically—and that’s the sweet spot where magic happens. So go ahead, sprinkle a little creative magic into your classroom this week and watch your students light up.