The History in My House
Reflect on the history of your home from when it was built to the present day. Research its past owners, architectural changes, and any historical events that took place there. How does this history influence your feelings about your home?
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.
More Home and Garden prompts
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- Gardens on Walls and BalconiesDive into an instructional post about urban gardening in small spaces, including challenges like lack of light or space and overcoming these with…
- 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…
Fifteen minutes in? Keep going.
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