The Moment I Became a Parent
Dive deep into the moment you first realized what it truly means to be a parent. Describe the situation, your feelings, challenges, and revelations. How did this moment change your relationship with your own parents?
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.
- Write for a curious friend, not an expert.
- End with something the reader can do or think about today.
- State your main point in one sentence before you start.
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
- Brothers and SistersExplore the dynamics of sibling relationships in your family through anecdotal stories. Highlight the challenges and triumphs that define these bonds…
- A Letter for Every AgeWrite a heartfelt letter to your child at different stages of their life, describing what you hope for them at each stage—from infancy through…
- The Family's Difficult ChoiceShare a story about a time when your family had to make a tough decision together. Detail everyone's roles, the dialogue around the decision-making…
- Parenting Beyond My Own ParentsDescribe the moment you realized your parenting style differs significantly from that of your own parents. Reflect on the impacts of this realization…
Fifteen minutes in? Keep going.
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