Photography, Collections | Sandi’s October Prompt

Collections: October Prompt

October Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Collections”

Additions to my Christmas tree, 2022.

My six word story needs to come with a disclaimer — these are my Christmas tree additions for 2022 so far. After all, it’s only October, and weeks of pre-Christmas shopping remain.

My Christmas tree has some strict rules. In a nutshell, all my decorations hail from pop culture — but they all have something Christmassy going on. Otherwise, it couldn’t really be called a Christmas tree … it would just be a random tree with toys.

I’ve been collecting pop culture Christmas decorations since 1999. Bluey, Bingo, and (yet another) Grinch join my hoard this year.

Small confession — this year I have to buy a new tree. The old one is starting to show its age and looking a bit straggly, which also means it’s running out of room. Any excuse for shopping will do, right?

The October Challenge is “Collections” brought to you by me— Sandi Parsons

The concept is to take a photo that somehow captures the meaning of “Collections,” whether abstract or concrete, figurative or literal, physical or mental. The possibilities are endless — we’re looking for submissions with different perspectives, unusual stories, and brilliant photographs.

Please read below the Definition, Purpose & Rules of the “Collections” Challenge.

Possible Definitions of How to Use “Collections” in Your Six Word Photo Story

There are countless ways we collect in our lives. Collections bring joy, make us happy, serve a purpose, or have become a quirky part of our personality sometimes for no particular reason!

1. “Collections” can refer to something emotional, mental, spiritual, or physical. Do you collect positive affirmations? Do you collect food or goods for other people? Do you collect litter other people leave behind? Is your house a recycling collection point? Are your collections valuable, or do they have more sentimental reasons?
2. “Collections” can refer to something material. Perhaps you collect items from the ten most common collectibles list, or maybe you're into collecting teeny, tiny things. Perhaps plants, greeting cards, or maybe dust bunnies are more your style (it’s dog hair in my house!)
3. “Collections” can refer to something accidental or deliberate. Maybe it’s a collection of pretty plants flowering together or a favorite jumper that continuously collects pet hair. Perhaps your collection of owl ornaments started because someone gave you one as a joke, then everyone thought you loved owls, and now your house is full of owls.
4. “Collections” is YOU and your perspective. It’s something that represents the meaning of “Collections” in some way or form, from your individual viewpoint — that connects to your photo and story.

What’s your “Collections” story?

The Purpose of “Collections”

1. The “Collections” Challenge is an intuitive self-challenge to explore what you collect — either by design or accidentally.
2. The “Collections” Challenge is an investigative challenge to observe and figure out what things in your life can capture the meaning of “collections” through photography, contemplation, and six words.
3. The “Collections” Challenge is designed for YOU and your perspective.

Can you take a photo that represents “Collections” and tell a story about it in six words?

“Collections” Challenge Rules

Please read thoroughly! The editors are particular about formatting.

1. The photo must be taken by yourself (ORIGINAL & UNPUBLISHED) and please include a photo credit.
2. Title: Choose your own title.
3. For your subtitle: Please use October Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Collections” (like the subtitle used in this article.) Once you have written your subtitle, remember to highlight it and click on the small “T” to format it correctly. Note: This challenge will run from October 1, 2022, and close at NOON, Pacific Standard Time, October 31, 2022.
4. Please tag your story using this tag: Monthly Challenge.
5. Only ONE PHOTO can be featured in your story, and it must be placed ABOVE the title and subtitle. Your photo must be the first thing our editors see when we review your submission.
6. The photo must be connected to your story and concept of “Collections” in some way. The connection to “Collections” should be made clear either in the photo, six word story, or back story. If you want to be included in the photo with “Collections!” the only person that can be featured in the photo is YOURSELF. If you’re in the photo, it can be taken by someone else (please include the photo credit.) Photos of people other than yourself are NOT ALLOWED. See this article for legal reasons why.
7. The story must only be six words. Once you write your six word story, highlight it and click on the small “T” to format the six words. This is so your six words stand out; it’s a formatting guideline that is unique to this publication.
8. OPTIONAL: IF you include a backstory, it can be 1–2 minutes.
9. The 3 dots (like in this story) should appear directly below your six word story AND your backstory (IF you included a backstory.) If you don’t know how to do this, view the formatting guidelines linked below.
10. The entire reading time of your story must be no longer than 2 minutes! This includes the photo, six word story, any tags, links, or promotion of yourself or other stories. This is the only thing we check for when we review submissions. We don’t do word counts. It will be unread and rejected if your submission comes in as a 3-minute read or more. We accept up to 2-minute reads for submissions to this short-form publication.
11. Submit unpublished drafts only. Previously published stories (self-published or published elsewhere) will be unread and rejected.
12. If you have any questions about the rules or need further clarification about the “Collections” Challenge, please leave a comment on this story.

For formatting step-by-step instructions (these are unique to this publication), see Formatting Your Six Word Photo Story.

The “Collections” challenge is open for submissions from Saturday, October 1, 2022, and closes Monday, October 31, 2022, at NOON, PACIFIC STANDARD TIME.

NOTE: Stories not formatted correctly, don’t follow rules, or that require edits will delay publication or may not be accepted. Formatting guidelines are unique to this publication — please read them thoroughly. If you’d like to be added as a writer and submit to Six Word Photo Story Challenge publication, please read and follow the submission guidelines.

It’s time to explore the meaning of “Collections”

Grab those cameras or dig into your archives — you may be empowered and surprised to see what you come up with. Embrace the power of “Collections!”

Note: You also have the option to write a six-word photo story featuring a photo and topic of your choosing — as long as the photo and story are connected in some way. The story doesn’t need to be related to the monthly challenge prompt. For your subtitle: Please use your own subtitle followed by the word: Freestyle, OR use Six Word Photo Story: Freestyle. Please tag your story using this tag: Freestyle.

Submissions are always open for Freestyle stories.

— Village hugs from the editorial team, Sandi Parsons, Ellie Jacobson, Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles, and Mary Chang Story Writer — creator & editor of SWPSC. If you don’t want to miss any future Six Word Photo Story Challenges, please follow us, this publication, and subscribe to our stories by hitting the “green envelope” button next to our profiles.

About the Writer

Sandi Parsons lives and breathes stories as a reader, writer, and storyteller. She lives with her favorite husband, two problem puppies, and a very expensive Christmas tree.