The Garden's Toughest Plant
Write about the most challenging plant you've ever cared for in your garden. Describe the trials and errors, what you learned about gardening and yourself through the process, and any tips for fellow gardeners facing similar challenges.
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.
- Write for a curious friend, not an expert.
- End with something the reader can do or think about today.
- State your main point in one sentence before you start.
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
- 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…
- A Home That Feels Like YouDiscuss the psychological and emotional benefits of maintaining a home that reflects your personality and values. Use personal anecdotes, scientific…
- The Room We RemadeDetail the transformation of a specific room in your house from its original state when you first moved in to its current condition. Discuss your…
- What Home MeansExplore the concept of "home" through different lenses—physical, emotional, cultural. Interview family members or friends about what home means to…
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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