City and Countryside
Craft a piece where you compare and contrast two destinations you visited that are polar opposites—for example, a bustling city and a quiet, rural area. Explore not only the physical differences but also the different impacts each location had on your emotions and outlook.
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 travel books
Somewhere else, seen through someone's eyes.
Travel writing takes readers somewhere they may never go, through the eyes of someone who did. Guidebooks tell you where to eat; travel narratives tell you what the journey did to the traveler.
What readers expect
- A strong sense of place
- A curious, personal narrator
- Encounters with local people
- A journey with a shape
A tip before you start
The trip is the frame; the traveler's change is the story. A list of places isn't a book.
More Travel prompts
- The Trip That Changed My MindWrite a personal essay about a journey that changed your perspective on life. Highlight the places, the people you met, and the unexpected lessons…
- One Street Through the CityDive into a travel narrative centered on a single street in a city of your choice. Explore its history, the diverse characters you meet, the cafes and…
- Finding Home Away from HomeCraft a narrative exploring the theme of "finding home away from home." Tell the story of a place you visited where, against all expectations, you…
- A Guide to the Ancient SiteCreate a detailed travel guide for visiting a historical site, making sure to weave in personal anecdotes, historical facts, and practical advice for…
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