Active Steemit Writing Prompts, Challenges, and Contests

an article by A.E. Jackson

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As a writer, it can often be difficult to get your creative juices flowing again, once you take a break. Some time ago I discovered a website which helped me to get the day started with writing. It was a great way to galvanize my morning by clearing out the cobwebs and freeing the rest of the day for productive creative writing.

The idea behind the website was inspired by something called morning pages, found in the work The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. Morning pages are simply three pages of "long hand" writing done each morning. If one prefers to type, then the consensus is that three pages equates to about seven hundred and fifty words. The key to the exercise is that morning pages can be about anything that comes to mind.

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The free write process helps you get everything out of your head - uncensored, unedited, and unorganized. When we get into the habit of writing every day, we are able to clear our mind and allow ideas to flow later in the day. I have personally found that the habit actually works, with benefits that overflowed into my graphic design, marketing strategy, and analytics duties.

But every day? For a while there was nothing to it. Wake up. Write. Go on with your day. Then SOMETHING happens. Illness. Late night, early morning. Travel. A break in routine. Reading great content on Steemit for hours... And just like that I am off my regular schedule and my writing suffers.

There is an old Chinese proverb which teaches - "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now."

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The same proverb is true of your writing. The best time to write that short story was when inspiration struck. But we tend to mull over the idea, get mired down in research, and delay with myriad excuses.

Which is why I was thrilled to discover such a rich writer's community on Steemit!

Here then are several active daily writing prompts, writing challenges, writing contests, and writing groups to spark your creativity. If none of these communities is able to encourage you to start writing more... then contact @aejackson directly and I will send you a writing prompt.

Steemit is alive and changes everyday! If you know of any other writing prompts, writing challenges, writing contests, or writing groups which I've missed - I would love to learn about them. Please leave a comment below, contact me on Steem.chat via @aejackson, or send a direct email to [email protected] - Thanks!

5 Minute Freewrite Daily Prompt -

Challenge posted: Daily
Due: Daily
Run by: @mariannewest and @improv
Get started at: https://steemit.com/freewrite/@mariannewest/writers-or-wanna-be-writers-wanted-be-free-freewrite
About: 5-Minute Freewrite is a prompt driven, post sharing, exercise to help you start writing more consistently. Side benefit - the support and encouragement of a great writing community! Set a timer for five minutes, and write based on the daily prompt. Post to your own Steemit Blog. Grab the web address of your post and share the link as a Comment on the Daily Prompt post.

We-Write Daily Prompt -

Challenge posted: Every other week, but find a Writing Partner
Due: Every other week
Run by: @freewritehouse
Get started at: https://steemit.com/freewrite/@freewritehouse/i8ntw-we-write-partner-up
About: Do you like to collaborate? Do you like prompts coming at you from every angle? Then this is the daily writing exercise for you - and a partner. Be sure to wrangle another writing buddy into this fun way of writing a story. One of you starts writing toward the prompt for a set amount of time - usually only one minute. Then the next person starts writing where the first author left off. After one minute, writing switches back to the first author. And so on until your writing session time limit has ended. Typically this is no more than ten minutes. Post the completed work to your blog, share the link, and enjoy reading that day’s we-write submissions!
BONUS TIP: The We-Write is sponsored which means that one pair of authors will win 2 SBI shares each! Thanks @curie!

Twenty-Four Hour Short Story Contest -

Challenge posted: Weekly on Mondays
Due: Tuesdays by 9 PM EST
Run by: @mctiller
Get started at: https://steemit.com/trending/twentyfourhourshortstory
About: Contest organizer @mctiller was fascinated by science fiction writer Harlan Ellison's method of writing short stories in a book store window based on suggestions from people watching. The premise is simple - you can write a short story in a short amount of time. When you do submit a short story no longer than 2,000 words, based on the topic phrase, you could win up to 5 Steem. Each week a summary of contest submissions is also sent out to over 2,000 followers. Not a bad way to get your name out there.

Finish The Story Contest -

Challenge posted: Weekly on Wednesdays
Due: Monday by 12:00 PM Noon GMT
Run by: @f3nix (and his supreme potassiumness, the @bananafish)
Get started at: https://steemit.com/trending/finishthestory
About: Some stories start well, but end badly. You saw the characters heading off in a completely different direction than the author took them, and it broke your heart. Well - you now have complete control of the lives and outcomes of fresh scenarios each week. Finish The Story Contest is long running and well followed. The story prompt is posted each Wednesday, with submissions requested early - and before the deadline on Monday at Noon GMT. Read the start of a fun short story, and then carry on where you see the story leading. Post your completed story with the #finishthestory tag. Stick to a 500 word limit. Along with a community of reader-writers, you upvote the conclusions you enjoy, and comment on each other's work to help sustain the contest. If the short story conclusion you wrote is chosen, you could win 8 @steembasicincome shares!

OriginalWorks Weekly Writing Contests -

Challenge posted: Weekly on Saturdays
Due: as posted for each contest
Run by: @originalworks
Get started at: https://steemit.com/@originalworks
About: OriginalWorks sponsors writing contests on a variety of topics - but mainly on the introduction of new cryptocurrency technologies. The organization posts details about each writing contest on their main Steemit Blog. Details include the Status, Accepted Languages, as well as the Start and End Times for each contest.
BONUS TIP: Comment @originalworks on your original writing posted on Steemit to be automatically upvoted by the @OriginalWorks bot and then upvote the bot's comment to enter your post into a daily RESTEEM contest! The user with the most upvotes on their @OriginalWorks comment will win. For more information on the @OriginalWorks bot, Click Here!

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© 2018, A.E. Jackson. All rights reserved

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