41. Write a personal essay about what you would do with your own personal robot.
42. Think of a book that was a page-turner. What were the hooks or cliffhangers that made you want to keep reading? How did the author build tension?
43. Do you believe in a supreme being or higher power? Are you atheist or agnostic? How did you arrive at your beliefs? Have you always held the same beliefs on this issue, or has your perspective changed over time?
44. Many of us have experienced a terrifying moment in which we thought we were going to die. If you’ve ever experienced a moment like that, write about it.
45. Here’s what sells: sex, money, and articles on how to look your best. Write a splashy article on one of these topics.
46. Write a manifesto: a mission statement that includes your personal and professional goals and philosophies.
47. Music makes the world go round. Listen to your old favorites or explore some brand-new music. Choose a song or album that you have a visceral response to. Maybe it makes you want to dance, laugh, or cry. Write a descriptive essay about it. Is it soft and tender? Hard and brash? Hip and groovy? What moves you? The lyrics? The melody? The rhythm?
48. Fate or free will? Do you believe in destiny, or do you believe that life’s out- come is strictly the result of choice and circumstance? What experiences or evidence has led you to your position on fate versus free will?
49. Tell the story of an important long-term goal you have accomplished.
50. Write a critical review of your favorite television show. What made it so good? Could it have been better? Provide a detailed analysis of its strengths and weaknesses.
51. Write a personal essay about a time when you wanted to escape or run. Maybe you actually did it!
52. Write about nonfiction. Do you read memoir, biographies, or reference books? Which ones are your favorites and what do you get out of them?
53. Think of something you wish you were good at but aren’t. Write a narrative about your attempts to do this thing and how you coped with failure.
54. Write an article about your favorite musician. What makes this musician so special? Looks? Talent? The sheer number of fans? Awards and critical acclaim? Sales? Quality of craftsmanship?
55. Go through your photos and choose one that is special to you. Write a personal essay about it. You can also use a series of photos from a single event.
56. What is your favorite genre of books? Why? What makes that genre so special or interesting?
57. Do you believe in absolute good and evil? Are good and evil counterpoints that are constantly striving to balance each other out? Do good and evil both have to exist, or can one eliminate the other for once and for all? Are good and evil nothing more than human-made concepts?
58. Tell the story of a difficult or harrowing period in your life that helped you be- come a better person.
59. Choose something you’re good at— the thing you are better at than anything else. Then write an article including ten to twenty five tips on the subject.
60. Write a personal essay about your proudest moment in life so far, and don’t leave out the events leading up to it!