Photography, Shine, July & August Prompt

Shine! Sexy Summer Challenge

Summer Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Shine!”

Finding my sunshine, inside and out.

Summer is the hottest, sexiest season — the time of year I feel the most vibrant. It opens up opportunities to shine in different ways. For me, it’s jumping into the river for a swim on a hot day, savoring the lick of a strawberry ice cream cone, or baring my shoulders in the sun while meditating at the beach. These simple things give me shivers, delight me, or make my soul shine.

The universe works in mysterious ways. From the moment I figured out the topic to use for the summer prompt, I started seeing submissions that coincidentally fit the expectations of the challenge, or maybe it triggered my brain to take notice.

It may not be summertime where you live, but I’m inviting writers to show us your SHINE — whatever that means to you! Opportunities are wide open and this challenge is about YOU.

The Summer (July & August) Challenge is “Shine!”

The concept is to take a photo that somehow captures the meaning of “Shine!” 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 “Shine!” Challenge below.

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

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

1. “Shine!” can refer to something emotional, mental, spiritual, or physical. What makes you shine (light up) as a person? How, why, where or when do you feel like the “real you?” What sparks your fire and makes you happy? Maybe it’s when you’re singing along with the radio when a good song comes on, splashing in the ocean, or when you’re writing your heart out. Maybe it’s when you’re working up a sweat climbing up a mountain, mastering a new yoga pose, or running your first-ever race. Maybe the beach, your garden, or your cozy chair is your bright, happy place. Maybe it’s checking off a bucket list item, visiting a place for the first time, dancing onstage, or trying something new. Or maybe it’s embracing family time, laughing with your best friend, or being alone with your thoughts.
2. “Shine!” can refer to something material. Maybe it’s a diamond ring, fancy bling, a sports car, bicycle, favorite pair of shoes, glittery eyeshadow, or a disco light.
3. “Shine!” can refer to something in nature, the universe, or the life cycle. Maybe it’s the sunlight, stars, icicles, rainbows, snow, ocean, or the metamorphosis of a butterfly, human being, or yourself.
4. “Shine!” can refer to food or drink. Maybe it’s your favorite home-cooked meal your mother makes that triggers nostalgia whenever you taste it or the first sip of an icy cocktail on a Friday night, or simply that first chomp of a shiny red apple that gives you satisfaction and brightens your morning.
5. “Shine!” is YOU and your perspective. It’s something that represents the meaning of “Shine!” in some way or form, from your individual viewpoint— that connects to your photo and story.

What’s your “Shine!” story?

The Purpose of “Shine!”

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

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

“Shine!” Challenge Rules

Please read thoroughly! I’m 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 Summer Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Shine!” (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 in July and August 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 “Shine!” in some way. The connection to “Shine!” should be made clear either in the photo, six word story, or back story. If you want to be included in the photo with “Shine!” 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. 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.
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 “Shine!” 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 “Shine!” challenge is open for submissions from Saturday, July 2, and closes Wednesday, August 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 “Shine!”

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 “Shine!”

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.

About the Writer

Mary Chang is an award-winning short story fiction writer, memoir writer, blogger, and editor of the Six Word Photo Story Challenge publication — inspired by her original 6-Word Photo Story Summer Challenge writing prompt (2021) on Medium.

She’s also a parent, fitness, and photography enthusiast — and loves creating monthly challenges.

Fueled by cartwheels, laughter, and encouraging people to shine. Read her blog at www.marychangstorywriter.com