The Northern Lights
Choose a specific natural phenomenon that fascinates you (such as bioluminescence, migration patterns, or the northern lights). Research and explain the science behind it while intertwining personal anecdotes or local myths associated with this phenomenon.
Suggested length: An essay or article: 800 to 2,500 words
Start the clock
Pick a sprint, press start and keep going until it stops. Momentum beats polish on a first draft.
Make it yours
Three ways to take this prompt somewhere nobody else will.
- State your main point in one sentence before you start.
- Include a counterargument and answer it fairly.
- Cut every sentence that only repeats the one before it.
Writing essays
A mind at work, one subject at a time.
An essay collection gathers short nonfiction pieces: personal, critical, funny or all three. What ties them together is the writer's voice and way of seeing.
What readers expect
- A distinctive voice
- Personal stakes
- Surprising connections
- Pieces that stand alone
A tip before you start
Follow a question, not a thesis. The pleasure of an essay is watching someone think.
More Nature prompts
- The Old Tree's MemoriesWrite an essay from the perspective of a century-old tree in a bustling city park. Reflect on the changes the tree has observed over the decades, from…
- An Ancient Natural LandmarkReflect on an ancient natural landmark you have visited (like a volcano, canyon, or ocean). Discuss its history and the sense of continuity or…
- A Letter from Tomorrow's OceansWrite a letter from the future describing the state of the world's oceans. Use current data and trends to predict the future, and offer advice to…
- Saving the Endangered SpeciesChoose an endangered species and write a detailed profile on it, including its habitat, challenges for survival, and what can be done to protect it.…
Fifteen minutes in? Keep going.
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