This week, my students asked me for prompts for essays to help generate more material. I thought some of y’all might want some ideas too.

Here Are Some Ideas For Essays You Could Write

Did you miss me? I missed me.

oooh! thank you for this!

I'm picturing a progression in the footnotes, where at first it seems like they're written by an editor who doesn't much care for the original author, but then it gradually becomes clear it's the author, in conversation with himself.

Aw this is genuinely so helpful

You might know this already, but if not, I thought you'd like it, given your substack tagline.

Right now, dozens, hundreds, thousands, more? are wrapping their imaginations around these and that feels good. It’s a beautiful possibility to hold today. Thank you.

Thank you! I JUST got a new journal because I've been feeling verbose. Not in the Mike Dyson way, please God no lol. More in the way that I know my English teachers would be proud that I still have writing as one of my creative outlets.

📌

Your comment on footnotes taking on a life of their own reminded me of this thread bsky.app/profile/gari...

JBgarius.bsky.socialJan 5, 2024 11:17am

If you ask someone today to name the builder of Hadrian's Wall, they would give you a funny look. But historical memory is odd, and right up to the 1800s we forgot who built it. Until in 1840 John Hodgson, an obscure Northumbrian clergyman, published the LONGEST footnote in history... 1/22

Wow, this is a great list of prompts. Thank you!

I love this, I hope you might share more from your teaching this year.