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Sometimes it can be spirit-crushingly difficult to keep up with writing. For example, I spent a lot of early September learning the fastest routes to various emergency rooms, both human and veterinary. After a series of fiascos, I wanted to jump back into regular publishing with something comfortable: the literary equivalent of Earl Grey tea. So rather than wrapping up my intense pieces on the war in Afghanistan, cultural appropriation, or the meaning of friendship, I decided to write a light, audience-engaging piece.
Over my many years of being a columnist, I have realized that from newbies to seasoned NYT op-ed writers, we all hit a block like this at some point. If you’re out of ideas, tired of your usual fare, or just want some quick stories to turn around in less than a day, here are some unique, fun, and easy prompts to get you started:
1. Share a butterfly effect moment — when you made a decision that changed the course of your life, even if you didn’t know it at the time.
For a three-act structure, start with a description of the events that led up to your decision. In the second section, describe the outcomes…
