Opening Night at the Climate Film Festival
Imagine you are a journalist assigned to cover a film festival. Choose a theme for the festival (e.g., independent horror, feminist cinema, documentaries on climate change) and write an article describing the opening night, including the atmosphere, the films shown, and interviews with filmmakers and attendees.
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.
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- The Scene That SingsConduct an analysis of a famous musical or theatrical scene from a film or TV show. Discuss the components—from the script, to the music, to the…
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