Blue Through the Ages
Write an essay detailing the influence of a single color on art throughout history. Choose a color like blue, and trace its significance and use from ancient artifacts to modern abstract paintings. Discuss how the meaning and perception of this color have evolved across different cultures and artistic periods.
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.
- Cut every sentence that only repeats the one before it.
- Find one surprising fact and build around it.
- Use one example from your own life.
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
- The Art on My Daily WalkReflect on a piece of public art that you encounter regularly. Describe the artwork in detail, its history, and its significance to the community…
- The Artwork That Moved MeWrite a personal essay on the first piece of art or architecture that truly moved you. Describe the experience and analyze why it had such a profound…
- The Architect Who Shaped a CityWrite about the life and works of an underrated architect whose designs have significantly impacted a city or region, yet remains relatively unknown…
- The Photograph That Changed EverythingDraft a piece that narrates the life of a fictional photographer who revolutionized the world of photography with a single, iconic shot. Explore the…
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.