AUTHOR TOOLS | MASH-UP
Monday Mash-Up #23
Story writing prompts to spark your creativity with a challenge

Welcome Kraken Crew to another Monday Mash-Up! Last two times, our prompts touched on changes in the environment around our characters, and their physical characteristics.
This time, let’s dive into some less concrete parts of our stories.
But first, let’s recap:
Tally of Points Earned From Mash-Up #22:
Jay C Wells has finally caught up to the Mashups with his latest ringer for 14 suspenseful points!
Rayne Sanning took on our machine overlords and came out with 14 points!
Diana Thorland went on a heroic quest and returned with 12 points!
Jonathon Sawyer tried to create an Inception moment for 14 points!
Well, I hope everyone is happy with their points, because I’m not giving out any more!
Main Theme (Worth 2 points; pick one or flip a coin!)
Prompt #1 (Heads):
Explore a character’s phobia
Is the character debilitated by their fear, or can they overcome it?
Prompt #2 (Tails):
Your hero must recall a vital memory.
What memory, and are they successful?
Constraints: Worth 1 point each (Choose 4 or roll 4 6-sided dice):
- A unique writing method (quill, blood, high-tech)
- The color ORANGE (Pick another color for each roll!)
- A tired animal
- An unlikely sidekick
- A makeshift comb
- The tide
Hardcore Constraint: Worth 2 points (Flip a coin or choose one):
- A moment of childlike innocence
- Seething rage
Literary Device: Worth 5 points (Flip a coin or choose one):
- An example of Exaggeration or Hyperbole
- An internal monologue

Seedling Challenge:
If you are brave, work your Mashup submission into Bradan Writes Stories’ Seedling Challenge! For the extra credit, tag both of us so we can follow your story’s journey. This incorporation is worth 10 Extra points!
Rules:
- Write a story based on one of the two main prompts.
- Include as many of the constraints in your story as possible.
- Keep your story between 100–1000 words. Dribble length (50 words) will be excepted for this challenge.
- Use the tag “Mashups” so we can easily find your story.
- Tag Bradan Writes Stories and me Jonathon Sawyer so that we may read it and credit you for points in the next Mash-Up!
- Challenge your fellow writers! I challenge FJCMontenegro and Jacinta Palmer to answer this challenge. I hope you’ll also consider the Seedling Challenge too!
- Publish wherever you want but consider The Kraken Lore.
- Add a section that tallies up your points at the end of your story. You can look here for an example. (Worth 1 BONUS point)
See you in 2 weeks, Kraken Crew! Look out for the next Mashup by Bradan Writes Stories!





