20 prompts in Non-Fiction

Sports writing prompts

Games, athletes, rivalries and the thrill of watching or playing.

All 20 Sports prompts

Showing 1 to 10

  1. The Game I Still Remember

    Write a detailed account of your most memorable sporting event as a spectator. Dive into the atmosphere, the emotion, and the impact this event had on you or the community around you.

  2. Sports in the Classroom

    Write a feature about the role sports play in education. Consider both the physical and psychological benefits and the controversies or challenges related to sports in schools. Incorporate perspectives from students, teachers, and coaches.

  3. Beyond the Mainstream Field

    Interview a local athlete from a lesser-known sport in your community. Share their journey, challenges, and what drives their passion. Highlight how this sport contributes uniquely to sports culture.

  4. The Injured Athlete

    Explore the psychological impact of sports on individuals. Write from the perspective of a sports psychologist working with an athlete dealing with a career-threatening injury.

  5. The Game I Never Forgot

    Write a personal essay about the most significant sports game you've attended. Describe the atmosphere, the emotions, and how the outcome affected you.

  6. Sports and National Identity

    Analyze the role of sports in shaping national identity in a country other than your own. Research a specific historical event involving sports that had a significant impact on that nation's global image or internal unity.

  7. The Desert Marathon Interview

    Interview someone who has completed an extreme sports challenge, like climbing Mount Everest or running a marathon in the desert. Explore their motivations, the physical and mental preparations they underwent, and the challenges they faced during and after the event.

  8. The Lesson Sports Taught Me

    Reflect on a time when sports taught you a life-changing lesson. Describe the circumstances, the lesson learned, and how it has since influenced different aspects of your life.

  9. The Game Few People Know

    Develop a piece focusing on a less popular or virtually unknown sport. Delve into its history, rules, and why it remains obscure. Consider attending a local game or practice session to get an authentic feel.

  10. A Sport Finds Its Community

    Document the rise of a lesser-known sport in your community. Detail its history, key players, and what makes it unique. Consider what it says about the culture and community where it's popular.

Good to know

Writing sports, answered.

How long should a sports piece be?

For a first draft, aim for an essay or article: 800 to 2,500 words. That's a draft you can finish in a sitting or two. If the idea keeps growing, let it: plenty of books started as a fifteen-minute sprint.

What do readers expect from essays?

A mind at work, one subject at a time. Most readers come looking for a distinctive voice; personal stakes; surprising connections; pieces that stand alone. Follow a question, not a thesis. The pleasure of an essay is watching someone think.

Which sports prompt should I start with?

Read down the list until one makes you want to argue, or remember something. That's the one. Can't choose? Press "Pick one at random" and write whatever comes up.

How do I make a sports prompt my own?

Change one thing the prompt takes for granted. Three ideas that suit sports: end with something the reader can do or think about today; state your main point in one sentence before you start; include a counterargument and answer it fairly.

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