The Heirloom Chair
Narrate the story of a piece of furniture that has been passed down through generations in your family. Describe its journey, the changes it has undergone, and what it symbolizes for each generation.
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.
- Use one example from your own life.
- Open with a specific story, then widen out to the big idea.
- Write for a curious friend, not an expert.
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 Garden's Toughest PlantWrite about the most challenging plant you've ever cared for in your garden. Describe the trials and errors, what you learned about gardening and…
- My Weekend RenovationChronicle a particular DIY home improvement project you undertook, focusing on why you chose to do it yourself, the resources you used to learn the…
Fifteen minutes in? Keep going.
Chapterly gives a draft somewhere to grow: chapters, daily word goals, and readers when you're ready.
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