Hot Ink Summer 6/29/25
Reflecting on "Patriotism"
Welcome to the June 22nd installment of our weekly Hot Ink Summer writing prompt series! Each Sunday morning we will send you a writing prompt to help you set your intention for the busy week ahead. Check out our introduction post for more information and writing process tips!
Reflecting on Patriotism
It's Independence Day week here in the U.S., which means it's the week you're going to see a million American flags everywhere—on swimsuits, beach towels, cakes, and more!
It's also a week where those of us in Scribente have increasingly felt a sense of dissonance about this unadulterated patriotic display given the founding of our country was built on enslavement of Black people and the extermination of Indigenous peoples.
Yet, there's a beauty in the way modern Americans have reframed patriotism and American values to befitting values of equity and justice. Especially in the desire to see this country be a better place and thus having patriotism show through our criticism.
Not everyone reading this is American and a person’s reaction to the idea of patriotism is as varied as the people on the planet. That’s why we thought patriotism would be an excellent prompt focus for this week.
In your essay, story, poem, journal-entry (what-have-you), What does patriotism mean to you? What feelings does the idea of patriotism bring up? Or write a story that is centered around the idea of patriotism.
And, as always, post any of your writing, inspiration, and reflections on your process in the comments.
Until next week!