Sparks №2-Writing Prompts & Challenges
Weekly writing inspiration newsletter from Flint & Steel
“Get it down. Take chances. It may be bad, but it’s the only way you can do anything really good.” — William Faulkner
Do you need inspiration? You will find sparks all around the Medium platform. I’ve collected a handful for you to check out and, as always, follow the guidelines outlined by each publication. Some have firm deadlines and some do not. Watch for word counts and tag requests.
Tip: Add this article to your Medium list (found at the beginning of the article) to keep on hand when you need inspiration.
Attention Medium publication editors
Have a writing prompt, challenge, or a call for submission you want included in an upcoming Sparks Newsletter? Feel free to leave a comment in the Latest Newsletter (link found on main page at Fleet & Steel) or email me at [email protected]. Newsletters go out early Tuesday morning.
Please include a link to the article that summarizes the prompt/challenge/call for submission and if there is a deadline. I will link to the article and to your publication in the newsletter. I also tweet the newsletter throughout the week for added exposure.
Flint & Steel writing prompts
Writing Accountability challenge: Plan and write up your writing goals for September. Publish to Flint & Steel and pin to your page as a reminder of what your focus is for the next month. This is an ongoing challenge.
https://readmedium.com/september-writing-accountability-challenge-f756c9a8f033
What is your story behind the story? Write a poem or nonfiction piece about the story behind one of your stories. This is an ongoing prompt, join in anytime. Publish to Flint & Steel or another publication.
https://readmedium.com/the-story-behind-the-window-b01a1cb3cabe
Lighthouse writing prompt. Write a fiction or nonfiction story inspired by a the guiding light of a lighthouse. This is an ongoing prompt. Publish to Flint & Steel or another publication.
https://readmedium.com/lighthouse-creative-writing-prompt-91e9ba92348d
Nonfiction
Trista Signe Ainsworth, with Thank You Notes, asks you to share a story or a poem about a day you took just for yourself. What did you do? What did you experience? Make sure to tag Trista in your response post.
https://readmedium.com/a-day-just-for-you-3efb704d63fa
Rambling Rose, with Meld of Minds, asks in her September call for submission, “How does writing online affect your mental health?”
https://readmedium.com/september-2021-call-for-submissions-897af8a055d8
Tre L. Loadholt is challenging writers to think about what love means to you or how you show love to others or what you love most about love, but do so using five words only. You could pair your words with one of your own photos.
A Shayens Abran, with Be Open, is looking for your story about your mother. Click here for more information.
Poetry
Sahil Patel, with Lifeline, asks you to write about the lesson you learned from being patient.
AND Sahil is hosting a September poetry contest. Write a poem about defining your character, personality, values, beliefs, and who you are as a person. For all the details, click here.
https://readmedium.com/a-surprise-filled-with-creativity-for-all-lifeline-writers-8c1bded30bd1
J.D. Harms, with Scrittura, asks does time of day matter to you? Can you write all over, or just in certain blocks? Make sure to tag J.D. in your response post.
https://readmedium.com/morning-f3d684eb5093
Fiction
J.A. Taylor, with Centina Pentina, is looking for your flash fiction. You must use the following words: gravity, pressure, thrust, contaminate, sex. For all the deets click here.
https://readmedium.com/weekly-prompt-a-sci-fi-writing-pentathlon-32681509ed55
Marla Bishop, with Bad Influence, is looking for your 50 or 100 word flash fiction based on numbers. Click here for the submission details.
https://readmedium.com/two-plus-seven-is-my-number-8da2ff30f815
Zane Dickens, with Microcosm, is looking for your flash fiction story about a character struggling with their own fate. Word count minimum is 50 to a max of 1000 words.
https://readmedium.com/weekly-prompt-character-vs-fate-70a4df45954f
Welcome New Writers
Sahil Patel, Shirley Jones Luke
Thank you to All Writers
Samantha Jensen, MA, MAEd, Trista Signe Ainsworth
Would you like to join Fleet & Steel as a writer?
Click here to read more about being a writer. I would love to read your sparks!
Ta-ta for now. . .
— Ellie Jacobson, editor