Another student author believes that picking a topic isn’t such a big deal. “I don’t think the topic is as important as the tone of the essay. It’s like two people can say the same thing, but you’ll be attracted to the person whose personality shines even when they say a simple ‘hello’” (Essay 59). Even if there are many topics that could work, you still must pick one, or at least a way to open your essay.
One of our contributors made a list of fifteen possible essay topics, then gradually eliminated choices until she had her topic (Essay 17). Another writes that she “reflected on what was important to me, and what aspects of my personality I felt were those most worth knowing” (Essay 51). Yet another student suggests a stream of consciousness. “Write down things that make you happy, or random things that cross your mind, or that one weird thing that happened that one time,” she says. “Get any and all ideas down on paper somewhere, and if one of them stirs your imagination, go with it” (Essay 70).
If you have plenty of time, consider beginning a journal to test out ideas. If you put down one hundred words a night, or at least every few days, the odds are good that you will hit on something interesting. For those without a topic or any notion of where to begin, we offer the following five ideas to get you unstuck. Try writing about:
- An article of clothing—Many people have an item such as a favorite sweater, a beloved T-shirt, or a well-worn pair of shoes. One student author in this book writes about all the shoes in her closet, and how each pair reflects different facets of her personality (Essay 15). It is often possible to spin stories around an item that has been with you through many experiences, or that can be made to represent truths in your life.
- The groups in your school and where you fit in—Every school has groups of people who associate together based on common interests or traits—jocks, musicians, Goths, skaters, cheerleaders, “smart” kids, and everything in between. Not that you want to reduce anyone to a stereotype, but some perceptive comments about social life at your school can be very effective. Have you tried to bridge the groups? Ever gotten caught in a test of loyalty between them? One of our authors wrote a superb essay about how his mind was opened when some of the toughest football players in the school joined the choir (Essay 39). Another, a football player himself, writes about joining a drama group and expanding his circle of friends (Essay 33).
- A family gathering or tradition—You could pick anything from your family at the dinner table to an annual trip to the beach. You may decide to write about an extended family gathering, and thereby give yourself more characters and interactions to describe. One of our authors writes about the morning cup of coffee with her family (Essay 69). Another writes about family vacations, and the lessons she draws are not the ones a reader—or her mother—might have predicted (Essay 98).
- Your walk or ride to school—Any trip that you take on familiar ground, day after day, is a good possibility. A walk through your neighborhood would allow you to reflect on experiences that you have had at each place you pass. Essay 65 is a classic in this genre. If you are a runner, another idea would be to describe a course that you have run many times, and your thoughts along the way. If you’ve lived in your house a long time, a look around the backyard could bring to mind good times with family or friends that might come together in an essay.
- Your favorite things—One of our authors writes about “Seven Wonders”—ranging from potter’s clay to the dualdensity midsoles on his shoes—and tells how each is meaningful to him. Another student describes herself via twelve items on her desk, from a piece of cheesecake to a copy of Stephen Hawking’s A Brief History of Time (Essay 22).
Read More : Essays Writing: Brainstorming for a Topic
