Mystery Story Starters | 12 Illustrated Writing Prompt Cards for Creative Writing

Bring the excitement of a mystery novel into your classroom!
Story Starters: Mystery Edition includes 12 beautifully illustrated writing prompt cards designed to look like classic book covers. Each card presents a mysterious title and engaging scene that invites students to imagine the story hidden inside.

Perfect for:

• Writing centers
• Quick writes & journal prompts
• Whole-class writing activities
• Small group storytelling
• Early finishers

Each card features:

• A vivid, book-cover style illustration that sparks curiosity
• A mystery title to guide narrative thinking (e.g., The Case of the Missing Dog, The Secret of the Winter Cabin)
• Flexible use: print as 3.5x5 cards or full-page prompts

✨ What’s Included:

• 12 printable mystery story starter cards (PDF format)
• Teacher instructions with classroom ideas
• Cover page & teaser for upcoming editions (Fantasy & Adventure!)

Your students will love solving these “mystery cases” through their own creative writing. These prompts encourage narrative skills, problem-solving, and imagination while making writing fun.

👉 Pair this with other Story Starter Editions to build a collection that keeps kids excited to write all year long!