The Musician Behind the Genre
Write an essay exploring the life and career of a lesser-known musician who has had a significant impact on a specific music genre. Research their background, key contributions, and lasting influence on the music industry, and speculate on why they remain underappreciated in mainstream narratives.
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.
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- Opening Night at the Climate Film FestivalImagine you are a journalist assigned to cover a film festival. Choose a theme for the festival (e.g., independent horror, feminist cinema…
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