Brothers and Sisters
Explore the dynamics of sibling relationships in your family through anecdotal stories. Highlight the challenges and triumphs that define these bonds and what they reveal about the nature of family.
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.
- Open with a specific story, then widen out to the big idea.
- Write for a curious friend, not an expert.
- End with something the reader can do or think about today.
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
- 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…
- A Childhood Tradition Passed DownReflect on a tradition from your own childhood that you have passed on to your children. Describe the origins of this tradition, why it holds…
Fifteen minutes in? Keep going.
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