The Hardest Day of Parenthood
Describe the most challenging moment you've faced as a parent and how it transformed your understanding of what it means to raise another human being.
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 Parenting and Family prompts
- The Day Our Family ChangedRecall a significant event that brought about change or revelation in your family dynamics. Describe the event, the challenges faced, and the lessons…
- Raising Children Across CulturesExplore the unique challenges and joys of raising children in a multicultural family. Discuss how you incorporate different cultural beliefs, customs…
- The Heirloom Through GenerationsChoose an heirloom or family keepsake that has been passed down through generations. Tell its story through the eyes of different family members who…
- The Keepsake Our Family CherishesChoose an object that holds sentimental value in your family's history. Narrate its story, including where it came from, its journey through the…
Fifteen minutes in? Keep going.
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