Rambling River in Farmington, Minnesota. Photo by Ellie Jacobson.

Photography, Comfort | Ellie’s September Prompt

Falling Into Comfort: September Prompt

September Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Comfort”

Falling back into comfort in September.

I know it’s not officially Fall yet, but something about the start of September signals Autumn to me — my favorite season of the year.

No, it’s not about the pumpkin spice lattes (sorry, not a fan of those but love pumpkin spice in pies LOL), but it’s the coziness of the season. A time when temperatures dip, so you have to pull out sweaters and sweatshirts again. A time for s’mores with a side of laughs with family and friends around a bonfire. Football games and back to school. A sense of routine again.

My greatest Fall memories stem from my childhood, taking walks around St. Paul with my mom as the sun was setting. She was a single mom with a full-time career. Those one-on-one memories of strolling through our close-knit neighborhood are the dearest. She told me once, “I love to peek in people’s windows to see how they decorate for Autumn and Halloween.”

This time of the year is when communities come back together after a season of road trips and vacations away. Time to get the kids back to school and decorate for the upcoming holidays.

It’s about falling back into comfort.

The September Challenge is “Comfort!” brought to you by me — Ellie Jacobson

The concept is to take a photo that somehow captures the meaning of comfort in some way, 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 “Falling into Comfort” Challenge.

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

“Comfort” can refer to something emotional, mental, spiritual, or physical. What makes you feel a sense of comfort? How, why, where, or when do you feel that sense of comfort? What brings you a sense of peace? Maybe it’s when you bake banana bread. Maybe it’s when you go for a long walk, looking at the trees changing. Maybe it’s curling up in bed and reading or watching a good movie. Maybe it’s spending the day as a family, away from devices, playing board games, and making pizza.
“Comfort” can refer to something material. Maybe it’s a handmade blanket from your grandmother or made with your own hands. A favorite book you must read before bed. A keepsake given to you on an important day.
“Comfort” can refer to something in nature, the universe, or the life cycle. Maybe it’s trees, the sky, the ocean, or a favorite season.
“Comfort” can refer to food or drink. Maybe it’s that first cup of pumpkin spice latte or baked pumpkin pie. The first harvest of apples or tomatoes to make a favorite dessert or meal.

What’s your “comfort” story?

The Purpose of “Comfort”

The “Comfort” Challenge is an intuitive self-challenge to explore what makes you feel a sense of comfort— maybe it’s internal or external or both.
The “Comfort” Challenge is an investigative challenge to observe and figure out what things in your life can capture the “meaning of comfort” through photography, contemplation, and six words.
The “Comfort” Challenge is designed for YOU and your perspective.

Can you take a photo representing “Comfort” and tell a story about it in six words?

“Comfort” Challenge Rules

Please read thoroughly! The editors are particular about formatting.

The photo must be taken by yourself (ORIGINAL & UNPUBLISHED), and please include a photo credit.
Title: Choose your own title.
For your subtitle: Please use September Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Comfort” (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 September 5 and close at NOON, Pacific Standard Time, September 30, 2022.
Please tag your story using this tag: Monthly Challenge.
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.
The photo must be connected to your story and concept of “Comfort” in some way. The connection to “Comfort” should be made clear in either the photo, six word story, or back story. If you want to be included in the photo with “Comfort!” 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.
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 unique to this publication.
OPTIONAL: IF you include a backstory, it can be 1–2 minutes.
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.
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. If your submission comes in as a 3-minute read or more, it will be unread and rejected. We accept up to 2-minute reads for submissions to this short-form publication.
Submit unpublished drafts only. Previously published stories (self-published or published elsewhere) will be unread and rejected.
If you have any questions about the rules or need further clarification about the “Comfort!” 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 “Comfort” challenge is open for submissions from Mon, Sept 5, and closes Friday, September 30, 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 “Comfort”

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 “Comfort.”

Note: You also have the option to write a six-word photo story featuring a photo and topic of your own 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, Ellie Jacobson, Sandi Parsons, 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

Ellie is a freelance writer and editor from Minnesota. She is writing her first novel, a psychological suspense novel while finishing her MFA at SNHU.

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