Forgotten Photographers
Research and compose a piece on a lesser-known photographer whose work has impacted the evolution of photography. Explore their style, the themes they used, the innovations they might have brought to the field, and why they deserve more recognition.
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.
More Art, Architecture and Photography prompts
- Making the Perfect PhotographDocument the process of creating a photograph that you consider your best work. Describe everything from the planning stages, the technical settings…
- A Street Through the LensCompose a photographic essay on a day in the life of a street in your town or city. Accompany your photos with captions that capture not just actions…
- The Eiffel Tower RemembersWrite a narrative from the perspective of a building. Choose a well-known architectural structure, such as the Eiffel Tower or the Colosseum, and tell…
- The Art Movement That StayedExplore an art movement that has always captivated you, such as Impressionism, Surrealism, or Abstract Expressionism. Describe its origins, key…
Fifteen minutes in? Keep going.
Chapterly gives a draft somewhere to grow: chapters, daily word goals, and readers when you're ready.
Plans from $9.99 a month. Cancel any time. Your words are always yours.