A Tree Through Four Seasons
Explore the life of a single tree in your neighborhood or a local park over the course of four seasons. Document and reflect on the changes it undergoes and how these mirror changes in your own life or community.
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.
- Include a counterargument and answer it fairly.
- Cut every sentence that only repeats the one before it.
- Find one surprising fact and build around 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 Moment Nature Changed EverythingWrite a personal essay about a moment in nature that profoundly changed your perspective on life. Describe the setting, your initial expectations, and…
- The City Green SpacePen a reflective piece on the importance of urban green spaces. Include personal observations, benefits to the community, challenges in maintenance…
- The Northern LightsChoose a specific natural phenomenon that fascinates you (such as bioluminescence, migration patterns, or the northern lights). Research and explain…
- 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…
Fifteen minutes in? Keep going.
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