NIBB.

How 'own less' became something to buy — a ten-minute writing prompt

One thing you bought in order to own less.

What a child is asked afterwards

How 'own less' became something to buy

What did you feel while clearing out things you don't use?

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 you have too much to say

Pick one. A single idea taken all the way beats ten touched lightly.

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.

Today's constraints on this prompt

Include one number

'Three years' always beats 'a long time'.

Open in 5 words or fewer

Lose them in line one and the rest never happens.

Vary how sentences end

The same ending three times in a row puts readers to sleep.

Write on this prompt now →

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