NIBB.

Talent or effort — which do we actually believe? — a ten-minute writing prompt

Find a case where what people called talent was really time.

What a child is asked afterwards

Talent or effort — which do we actually believe?

What did you get good at by practising? How long did it take?

Everyone gets the same subject. What differs is the follow-up: one question for children, two for teens, three for adults. Only the children's wording is simplified.

Where people usually get stuck on this one

When excuses keep creeping in

Cut every “well, but”. The sentence stands up straight without them.

When sentences run long

Cut at the conjunction. Where “and” or “so” appears, a period belongs.

When you can't be honest

Write as if no one will read it. You can choose what to show after you finish.

Today's constraints on this prompt

Every sentence under 12 words

One long sentence can sink the whole piece.

No 'and' or 'so'

If it still flows without them, the flow was already there.

No 'thing'

'Thing' hides the real word. Name it.

Write on this prompt now →

Other prompts

are we buying the thing or the imagewe ask for honesty and take comfortmore options less satisfiedwhen modesty sounds like a boastwhy we ask for advice and ignore itwhy first impressions stick