A Letter to My Child
Write a letter to your child on what you wish you knew at their age, reflecting on your own experiences and the lessons you've learned that you want to pass on.
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.
- State your main point in one sentence before you start.
- Include a counterargument and answer it fairly.
- Cut every sentence that only repeats the one before it.
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 Parenting and Family prompts
- The Hardest Day of ParenthoodDescribe the most challenging moment you've faced as a parent and how it transformed your understanding of what it means to raise another human being.
- The Day Our Family ChangedRecall a significant event that brought about change or revelation in your family dynamics. Describe the event, the challenges faced, and the lessons…
- Raising Children Across CulturesExplore the unique challenges and joys of raising children in a multicultural family. Discuss how you incorporate different cultural beliefs, customs…
- The Heirloom Through GenerationsChoose an heirloom or family keepsake that has been passed down through generations. Tell its story through the eyes of different family members who…
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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