20 prompts in Non-Fiction

Home and Garden writing prompts

Rooms, gardens, repairs and the slow work of making a place your own.

All 20 Home and Garden prompts

Showing 1 to 10
  1. Create a guidebook entry for an imaginary yet ideal garden. Describe the types of plants, the layout, and any unique features or decorations that make it unlike any other garden in the world.

  2. Reflect on the history of your home from when it was built to the present day. Research its past owners, architectural changes, and any historical events that took place there. How does this history influence your feelings about your home?

  3. Narrate the story of a piece of furniture that has been passed down through generations in your family. Describe its journey, the changes it has undergone, and what it symbolizes for each generation.

  4. Write an article debating the pros and cons of DIY home improvement versus hiring professionals. Use personal anecdotes to illustrate points and provide practical advice for someone standing at this crossroad.

  5. Dive into an instructional post about urban gardening in small spaces, including challenges like lack of light or space and overcoming these with creative solutions. Introduce your readers to the concept of a "living wall" or balcony herb gardens, coupled with personal success stories or learning experiences.

  6. Write about the most challenging plant you've ever cared for in your garden. Describe the trials and errors, what you learned about gardening and yourself through the process, and any tips for fellow gardeners facing similar challenges.

  7. Chronicle a particular DIY home improvement project you undertook, focusing on why you chose to do it yourself, the resources you used to learn the necessary skills, and the outcome. Make it a narrative that both instructs and entertains.

  8. Discuss the psychological and emotional benefits of maintaining a home that reflects your personality and values. Use personal anecdotes, scientific research, and quotes from experts to explore how our living spaces impact our mood and mental health.

  9. Detail the transformation of a specific room in your house from its original state when you first moved in to its current condition. Discuss your design choices, obstacles you faced, and how the room's evolution has influenced the feel of your home.

  10. Explore the concept of "home" through different lenses—physical, emotional, cultural. Interview family members or friends about what home means to them and weave these perspectives together with your own insights.

Good to know

Writing home and garden, answered.

How long should a home and garden piece be?

For a first draft, aim for an essay or article: 800 to 2,500 words. That's a draft you can finish in a sitting or two. If the idea keeps growing, let it: plenty of books started as a fifteen-minute sprint.

What do readers expect from essays?

A mind at work, one subject at a time. Most readers come looking for a distinctive voice; personal stakes; surprising connections; pieces that stand alone. Follow a question, not a thesis. The pleasure of an essay is watching someone think.

Which home and garden prompt should I start with?

Read down the list until one makes you want to argue, or remember something. That's the one. Can't choose? Press "Pick one at random" and write whatever comes up.

How do I make a home and garden prompt my own?

Change one thing the prompt takes for granted. Three ideas that suit home and garden: include a counterargument and answer it fairly; cut every sentence that only repeats the one before it; find one surprising fact and build around it.

A prompt is a door. Walk through it.

When a sprint turns into something, give it a home: chapters, daily word goals, and readers when you're ready.

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