Photography | Fun | Sandi’s January Prompt

Fun: January Prompt

January Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Fun”

Aussie Christmas, pavlova frappe — liquid fun!

Everyone in my family knows about my lack of cooking skills. My ability to hunt pavlova in the supermarket is, however, legendary. There is a permanent bagsy that I will bring the pavlova to Christmas lunch.

Not only are pavlovas tricky to hunt, but they’re difficult to keep in captivity; they just don't last long. As soon as they are caged and put on top of the fridge for safekeeping, they start calling, “Eat me, eat me.”

I’m very obliging. I WILL eat the pavlova. On my own. In a ridiculously small timeframe. To ensure there is still a pavlova to bring to Christmas lunch, I have to brave the shops on Christmas Eve.

Masked in my pavlova hunting clothes, I sit patiently in the car park, waiting for a space to become available; then I pounce. Once parked, I dash inside the supermarket, dodging trollies and fellow hunters with ninja-like skills until I have a pavlova tucked under my arm. Then I make a hasty getaway.

So, given my pavlova-loving taste buds, there was no way I was going to leave the cafe without trying this liquid pavlova. Which, rather than raw egg whites, was a smoothie dressed like a pavlova with cream, strawberry slices, and a meringue kiss on top. And yes, it was as fun to drink as it looks!

The January Challenge is “Fun” brought to you by me — Sandi Parsons

The concept is to take a photo that somehow captures the meaning of “Fun” in some way, whether it’s 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 about the Definition, Purpose & Rules of the “Fun” Challenge below.

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

There are countless ways to find fun in our lives. Fun brings joy, lights up your brain, or satisfies you in some way.

1. “Fun” can refer to something emotional, mental, spiritual, or physical. What activity, or person, gives you the giggling gerties? What boring chore have you turned into a game? Do you dance like no one is watching in public? Pop googly eyes on the fruit and veg at the shops?
2. “Fun” can refer to something material, from board games to cooking. We do “stuff’ we enjoy in our free time because it’s fun.
3. “Fun” can refer to something in nature, the universe, or the life cycle. Mary has a lot of fun with her nature art, while Vidya has fun spotting hearts wherever she goes. Fun is everywhere!
4. “Fun” can refer to food or drink, from liquid fun, which sets your taste buds alight to melt-in-your-mouth goodness. Tomato sauce on toast is fun, or maybe that’s just me … and let’s not forget Fruit Tingles — they are ABSOLUTELY fun to eat. (What’s not as much fun is confessing to the dentist that the large chunk of tooth now missing from your left molar fell out while you were chomping down on a Fruit Tingle.) For the non-Aussies, Fruit Tingles are candy that fizzles in your mouth.
5. “Fun” can be reversed. There are many things that are no fun! Like Brussels sprouts — who thought they were a good idea? Personally, I’d rather eat an entire pavlova than a single Brussels sprout.
6. “Fun” is YOU and your perspective. It’s something that represents the meaning of “Fun” in some way or form, from your individual viewpoint — that connects to your photo and story.

What’s your “Fun” story?

The Purpose of “Fun”

1. The “Fun” Challenge is an intuitive self-challenge to explore what gives you pleasure — maybe it’s internal or external or both.
2. The “Fun” Challenge is an investigative challenge to observe and figure out what things in your life can capture the meaning of “fun” through photography, contemplation, and six words.
3. The “Fun” Challenge is designed for YOU and your perspective.

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

“Fun” Challenge Rules

Guidelines, Formatting & How to Submit

Note: These apply to ALL stories in this publication. I know it may seem like a lot, but once you’ve submitted your first story to our pub, it’s easy to duplicate the formatting style!

Note: This challenge will run from January 1 until NOON, Pacific Standard Time, January 31, 2024.

The Photo

1. The photo must be taken by yourself (ORIGINAL & UNPUBLISHED elsewhere), and please include a photo credit.
2. 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.
3. 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.

The Title, Subtitle & Tags

1. Title: Choose your own title.
2. For your subtitle: Please use January Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Fun” (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.
3. Please Tag your story using this tag: Monthly Challenge

The Six Word Photo Story

1. The photo must be connected to your story and concept of “Fun” in some way. The connection to “Fun” should be made clear either in the photo, six word story, or (optional) backstory.
2. All six word stories and optional backstories must also abide by Medium’s rules. Note: Any stories that the editors may view as disrespectful, inappropriate, or that fall into a grey area will be reviewed at the discretion of the editors and may be rejected.
3. The story must be six words only. 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.
4. The 3 dots (like in this story) should appear directly below your six word story. If you don’t know how to do this, view the formatting guidelines.

The Backstory (OPTIONAL) & 2-Minute Maximum Read per story!

1. IF you include a backstory, it can be 1–2 minutes.
2. The 3 dots (like in this story) should appear directly below your backstory.
3. 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. It will be unread and rejected if your submission comes in as a 3-minute read or more.

How to Submit Your Story

1. Submit unpublished drafts only. Previously published stories (self-published or published elsewhere) will be unread and rejected.
2. To submit your unpublished draft: a) Click on the three dots at the top right corner of the screen b) Click “Add to publication” c) select “Six Word Photo Story Challenge” d) Click on “Select and continue.” e) Click “Submit.”
3. WHAT NOT TO DO! When submitting your unpublished draft, DO NOT CLICK “Publish” first. If you click “Publish” first — your story will be automatically self-published to your own profile page, and we will NOT accept it if you then attempt to submit your self-published story to our publication.

“Fun” is open for submissions from January 1 until NOON, January 31, 2024, PACIFIC STANDARD TIME.

If you have any questions about the rules or need further clarification about the Monthly 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.

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. 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 “Fun”

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 “Fun”

Freestyle stories

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, 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 and two problem puppies. She hasn’t grown up yet, she’s too busy having fun.