Writing can get type of lonely typically.
Not solely that, however it could actually get stale. Generally we fall right into a formulation once we write books, or we will’t get ourselves previous the primary few chapters of an concept, or we’re caught within the dreaded center part of our novel for what seems like perpetually. It could actually really feel just a little like getting stranded, and it’s no marvel some writers leap ship on their initiatives.
Nevertheless it doesn’t must be so lonely, nor does it must be boring! Collaborating in a writing problem could be your ticket out of that sticky spot.
What are Writing Challenges?
Writing challenges are precisely what they sound like. They’re challenges created for writers with the intent of getting writers to, nicely, write! These aren’t writing contests—there typically isn’t a money prize or publication prize for individuals who take part in writing challenges.
If there isn’t a prize, why must you trouble?
Why Ought to I Attempt a Writing Problem?
Writing challenges do just a few wonderful issues for his or her contributors. At the beginning, they join a participant to a group of writers collaborating in the identical problem. This sense of group helps writers amp one another up—it’s a crew dynamic we don’t typically get to expertise as writers, and it could actually make the world of distinction powering by a primary draft or a troublesome spherical of revisions.
Writing challenges additionally encourage writers to follow, typically each day. After all, you don’t want to write down each single day to be a “actual” author, however similar to athletes do marathons, writers can get so much out of a superb problem. You may flex your writing muscular tissues, perhaps strive one thing new, and have some fellow contributors to commiserate with. What extra might you want?
For me, personally, writing challenges typically really feel just a little bit like writing camp. You get to remain within the consolation of your individual residence, however you’re assembly individuals on-line, you’re engaged on a brand new venture, and the entire enterprise has that enjoyable, novel feeling you get at summer season camp. The momentum won’t final perpetually, however you don’t want it to! The purpose is to have enjoyable and make one thing.
In the event you’re trying to strive one thing new, energy by a troublesome draft, or simply crank out phrases, writing challenges could be value testing. And fortunate for you, we’ve compiled an inventory of some writing challenges you possibly can take part in!
Listed here are Sixteen Writing Challenges to Enter:
1. NaNoWriMo
“Nationwide Novel Writing Month started in 1999 as a frightening however easy problem: to write down 50,000 phrases of a novel in thirty days. Now, every year on November 1, a whole lot of 1000’s of individuals world wide start to write down, decided to finish the month with 50,000 phrases of a model new novel. They enter the month as elementary college lecturers, mechanics, or stay-at-home mother and father. They depart novelists.”
NaNoWriMo is maybe the best-known writing problem, and it’s a doozy. Opposite to in style perception, the problem isn’t actually to write down a whole novel in a month—it’s to write down 50,000 phrases of a novel, which isn’t an entire lot more easy. It’s bought a built-in social media system to attach with different writers working in comparable genres, a phrase rely tracker that measures your progress, and rewards you with badges as you full milestones all through the month. Listed here are another methods to set your self up for fulfillment, too.
If NaNoWriMo occurs at a foul time of 12 months for you (for instance, I might barely do that problem in school, because it was precisely when my lessons began heating up), verify the website for Camp NaNo and different challenges that occur all year long.
2. Write NonFiction in November Problem (WNFIN)
“Throughout the Write Nonfiction in November (WNFIN) Problem, also called Nationwide Nonfiction Writing Month (NaNonFiWriMo), you might be personally challenged to begin and full a piece of nonfiction in 30 days. This may be an article, an essay, a e book, a e book proposal, a white paper, or a manifesto.”
This problem is meant as a substitute for NaNoWriMo for Nonfiction writers. As an alternative of utilizing a phrase rely and phrase purpose to maintain monitor, this problem encourages the honour system, and the intent is to finish any work of nonfiction.
3. EBookWriMo
“Your mission (must you select to just accept it): Write an e-book on your viewers in 30 days, from November 1 to November 30.”
This problem encourages its contributors to finish a cultured e-book in thirty days. The premise is straightforward: novels are large, and ebooks are usually smaller. This problem takes you thru actionable steps to write down and polish an e-book, with the purpose being to have a totally completed e-book on your viewers by the tip.
4. StoryADay
“StoryADay is a creativity problem:
Write (and end) a brief story each day throughout Could and/or September.
(or by yourself schedule!)
StoryADay exists to advertise creativity, to not educate you tips on how to ‘be a printed author’.
(And typically we do it another time in September.)”
If novels aren’t your bag, or the considered engaged on a single venture for a month feels too daunting, StoryADay could be for you! StoryADay challenges you to write down a narrative each day throughout Could or September—you don’t must put up or publish it, they usually provide you with prompts every day to maintain your gears turning. There are a handful of ways in which writing tales could make you a greater author, so don’t sleep on this one.
5. 12 x 12 Problem
“12 x 12 is a year-long writing problem the place members purpose to write down 12 full image e book drafts, one monthly, for every 12 months of the 12 months.
A draft means a narrative with a starting, center, and finish—NOT a submission-ready piece. Based by image e book creator Julie Hedlund, 12 x 12 has been supporting, encouraging, and educating writers since 2012.”
12×12 is a superb useful resource for image e book authors. One of many largest perks of this problem is its group—collaborating on this will join you to numerous different authors, in addition to assets for writing, revising, and submitting your work.
6. Chapter Guide Problem
“The Chapter Guide Problem, in any other case often known as ‘ChaBooCha,’ was created by Rebecca Fyfe and first ran in 2012. It runs yearly within the month of March. The problem is to write down one accomplished first draft of an early reader, chapter e book, center grade e book or YA novel within the month of March, beginning on the first of March and ending on the thirty first of March.”
Throughout the month, you’ll discover a useful group to interact with, authentic articles from printed authors and profitable brokers, and giveaways all through.
7. Yeah Write Tremendous Problem
“The Tremendous Problem is usually run in two rounds. Throughout every spherical, we’ll launch the immediate on Friday at 10pm US Jap time. That’s proper—you don’t have to remain up all evening to get your immediate! Writers then have 48 hours to write down a narrative or essay aware of that immediate.
As soon as the writing section is full, our judges go to work. Every bit is scored and given constructive and significant suggestions by every choose. Writers will obtain their suggestions 12-24 hours earlier than we announce who will advance to the subsequent spherical. For extra details about this section of the problem, take a look at our FAQ.
Roughly ten writers from the primary spherical of competitors advance to the second spherical to compete for first, second and third place prizes.”
In the event you’re in search of a writing problem with just a little incentive, look no additional! This problem makes use of prompts to get writers in quite a lot of totally different genres competing for money. This takes place as soon as 1 / 4 and lasts for six weeks, so verify in each on occasion to see in the event that they’re operating a problem that appears prefer it’s for you!
8. 365 Writing Problem
“What’s 365 Writing Problem? It’s an organized group of writers who encourages and helps one another as they attempt to write constantly for a calendar 12 months.”
This problem is a subgroup of the ten Minute Novelists group—simply hyperlink up with their Fb web page to hitch! For this one, you and your fellow novelists can cheer one another on as you’re employed just a little each day in your novel. Momentum can actually construct after some time, and this problem can have you ever cranking out a whole lot of 1000’s of phrases by the tip of the 12 months.
9. Author’s Video games 2024
“The Author’s Video games is a two-month, challenge-based competitors that may appear daunting till you dive in. It’s not your bizarre writing competitors for a number of causes. First, all contributors should register prematurely to take part. Second, competitors writing begins solely after Occasions are introduced. Third, Occasions are stored secret till the beginning of the Occasion. Fourth, each entry submitted on time receives sincere, unbiased suggestions from a crew of future editors, professors, and literary brokers, no matter placement!”
In order for you a problem with just a little pizzazz, right here’s your decide! That is one other prize-winning choice. Discover the immediate on their website, check out the core ideas, and reply with a brief story inside their parameters (750-6,000 phrases) for an opportunity to win!
10. Scribophile
Scribophile is a vibrant on-line writing group that gives a plethora of writing challenges and alternatives for writers of all ranges to hone their craft. With a user-friendly platform designed for constructive suggestions and collaboration, Scribophile hosts numerous writing challenges all year long, catering to numerous genres and writing types.
Writers can take part in themed contests, flash fiction challenges, and even set private writing targets throughout the supportive setting of Scribophile’s group. These challenges not solely encourage writers to discover new concepts and strategies but in addition foster connections with fellow writers, offering invaluable assist and encouragement on the journey towards literary excellence.
Whether or not you’re trying to flex your artistic muscular tissues, obtain suggestions in your work, or just join with like-minded writers, Scribophile provides a dynamic area the place writers can develop and thrive.
11. The Author’s Exercise
The Writers’ Exercise is a fascinating on-line platform that gives a spread of writing challenges and competitions tailor-made to writers looking for to reinforce their abilities and creativity.
With month-to-month challenges designed to immediate writers to discover totally different genres, types, and themes, The Writers’ Exercise provides a supportive setting the place contributors can push their boundaries and experiment with new strategies. From flash fiction contests to poetry challenges and all the pieces in between, writers can discover quite a lot of prompts and workout routines to spark their creativeness and encourage their subsequent literary masterpiece.
With alternatives to obtain suggestions from friends {and professional} writers, The Writers’ Exercise encourages writers to develop their craft, construct confidence, and finally turn into more adept storytellers.
12. The Poetry Marathon
The Poetry Marathon is an exhilarating annual occasion that invitations poets from world wide to embark on a difficult but rewarding journey of creativity and expression.
Held over the course of 24 hours, contributors endeavor to write down 24 poems, every inside a delegated hour, pushing the boundaries of their creativeness and poetic prowess.
With prompts supplied all through the marathon and a supportive on-line group rallying behind them, poets have the chance to discover numerous themes, experiment with numerous types and types, and delve deep into the artwork of poetry.
The Poetry Marathon not solely fosters a way of camaraderie amongst poets but in addition encourages private progress, resilience, and the celebration of the written phrase.
13. Author’s Digest
Author’s Digest is a famend useful resource for writers of all ranges, providing a wealth of data, recommendation, and inspiration to assist them navigate the world of writing and publishing. Along with its complete assortment of articles, workshops, and writing guides, Author’s Digest additionally hosts numerous writing challenges and competitions all year long.
These challenges cowl a variety of genres and codecs, together with brief tales, poetry, memoirs, and extra, offering writers with alternatives to showcase their expertise, obtain suggestions from trade professionals, and even win prizes. Whether or not it’s the annual Author’s Digest Annual Writing Competitors, themed contests, or prompt-driven challenges, Author’s Digest provides a supportive platform for writers to hone their abilities, achieve recognition for his or her work, and join with a vibrant group of fellow writers.
With its longstanding status as a trusted useful resource for writers, Author’s Digest continues to encourage and empower writers to pursue their literary aspirations and obtain their writing targets.
14. Reedsy
Reedsy is a dynamic on-line platform devoted to supporting writers on their artistic journey, providing a spread of assets, instruments, and alternatives to assist them thrive on this planet of writing.
Amongst its choices, Reedsy hosts a weekly sequence of writing prompts and challenges designed to spark creativity and encourage writers to discover new concepts and types. These prompts cowl numerous genres and themes, offering writers with a gentle stream of inspiration and alternatives to flex their artistic muscular tissues.
With a supportive group of writers and editors, Reedsy’s writing challenges supply an area for writers to experiment, enhance their craft, and join with fellow creatives.
15. Jerico Writers
Jericho Writers is a complete on-line platform devoted to empowering writers with the instruments, assets, and assist they want to reach their writing journey.
Amongst this, Jericho Writers hosts month-to-month writing challenges designed to encourage writers, encourage creativity, and supply alternatives for progress.
These challenges cowl a variety of genres, types, and themes, permitting writers to discover new concepts, experiment with totally different strategies, and hone their craft in a supportive and collaborative setting.
Jericho Writers’ writing challenges supply writers the prospect to attach with friends, obtain constructive criticism, and push themselves to new heights of creativity and excellence.
16. NYC Midnight
NYC Midnight provides an amazing platform for writers to interact in artistic challenges and showcase their storytelling prowess.
Via their writing challenges, contributors are assigned prompts inside particular genres and have a restricted time body to craft compelling tales or screenplays.
These challenges present a beautiful alternative for writers to check their abilities beneath stress, discover numerous genres, and obtain suggestions from friends and judges.