61. Choose one of your favorite stories. What was uniquely likable about the protagonist? What made the antagonist bothersome or despicable?
62. Are your morals and ethics circumstantial or static? For example, if you believe it’s wrong to kill someone, is it always wrong, or are there exceptions? Is it unethical to kill a mass murderer or someone who is attacking you? What other moral beliefs do you hold and what are some exceptions that would cause you to put those morals aside?
63. Think of something important you’ve learned about human relationships, and write an article describing what you learned, how you learned it, and how it could benefit others.
64. We’ve all had bad days. But there’s probably a day for you that stands out as the worst. Write a personal essay about it.
65. E. B. White said, “All that I hope to say in books, all that I ever hope to say, is that I love the world.” What do you hope to say through your writing?
66. Dystopia is an imagined world in which humanity is living in the worst possible (or most unfavorable) conditions. One person’s dystopia is another person’s utopia. What would the world look like in your version of dystopia?
67. Identify a key theme from your childhood and write about it. For example, perhaps your family spent a lot of time camping. Write a series of stories from the trail.
68. Write a top-ten article listing your favorite films with short explanations of why each film earned a spot on your list.
69. Most of us have had an aha moment, an instant in which we reached an epiphany about something. Write a personal essay about one of your aha moments.
70. Throughout history, books have been banned by governments, schools, and churches. To this day, people will launch campaigns to ban a book. What do you think about book banning? Do you believe in freedom of speech? Who has the right to decide what other people can and can’t read?
71. What happens when we die? This is a question many people don’t like to think about even though it’s the only certainty in life and the one thing that happens to every single living thing. Do you believe in an afterlife? Is the jury still out? Where did you get your ideas about what happens at death?
72. Write a narrative about how fear has shaped your life—steering you away from some things and toward others.
73. Think about something you were good at or enjoyed when you were a kid: for example, sports, drawing, or academics. Write an article for kids about it.
74. Write a descriptive essay about a gadget, device, or other new technology that you wish someone would invent.
75. Write about your earliest memory. Include as much detail as you can remember.
76. Think of something you’re good at— something you taught yourself. For example: cooking, working on cars, gardening, or caring for animals. Write a narrative about how and why you developed these skills.
77. Write an article about your top-ten favorite books highlighting the strengths of each one.
78. Write a personal essay about someone or something that gave you hope when you really needed it.
79. What is your greatest goal in life? Have you started working toward it yet? What is your plan for achieving it?
80. Tell the story of your early childhood up until kindergarten. Recollect stories your family has told you. Interview relatives if necessary.