A Community Leader's Work
Interview a local community leader or activist. Write about their journey, focusing on the specific challenges they've faced and the impacts of their efforts on the community. Incorporate their views on the current political climate and how it affects their work.
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.
- Cut every sentence that only repeats the one before it.
- Find one surprising fact and build around it.
- Use one example from your own life.
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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- Politics Twenty Years From NowWrite a piece forecasting the political landscape in 20 years. Incorporate current trends, recent events, and your own predictions to create a…
- Social Media and DemocracyWrite an essay discussing the impact of social media platforms on public opinion and democracy. Explore both the positive aspects, such as increased…
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