Writing can get sort of lonely generally.
Not solely that, however it could actually get stale. Generally we fall right into a method after 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 eternally. It may really feel a bit of like getting stranded, and it’s no marvel some writers leap ship on their initiatives.
However it doesn’t must be so lonely, nor does it must be boring! Taking part in a writing problem is perhaps 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 do you have to trouble?
Why Ought to I Attempt a Writing Problem?
Writing challenges do a number of glorious issues for his or her contributors. Firstly, they join a participant to a neighborhood of writers collaborating in the identical problem. This sense of neighborhood helps writers amp one another up—it’s a workforce dynamic we don’t typically get to expertise as writers, and it could actually make the world of distinction powering by way of a primary draft or a troublesome spherical of revisions.
Writing challenges additionally encourage writers to follow, typically each day. After all, you don’t must write each single day to be a “actual” author, however identical to athletes do marathons, writers can get quite a bit out of a very good problem. You may flex your writing muscle mass, possibly 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 a bit of bit like writing camp. You get to remain within the consolation of your personal house, however you’re assembly individuals on-line, you’re engaged on a brand new mission, and the entire enterprise has that enjoyable, novel feeling you get at summer time camp. The momentum may not final eternally, however you don’t want it to! The aim is to have enjoyable and make one thing.
If you happen to’re seeking to strive one thing new, energy by way of a troublesome draft, or simply crank out phrases, writing challenges is perhaps value testing. And fortunate for you, we’ve compiled a listing of some writing challenges you may take part in!
Listed here are Sixteen Writing Challenges to Enter:
1. NaNoWriMo
“Nationwide Novel Writing Month started in 1999 as a frightening however simple problem: to put in writing 50,000 phrases of a novel in thirty days. Now, annually on November 1, lots of of hundreds of individuals around the globe start to put in writing, decided to finish the month with 50,000 phrases of a model new novel. They enter the month as elementary faculty lecturers, mechanics, or stay-at-home mother and father. They depart novelists.”
NaNoWriMo is probably the best-known writing problem, and it’s a doozy. Opposite to widespread perception, the problem isn’t actually to put in writing a whole novel in a month—it’s to put in writing 50,000 phrases of a novel, which isn’t a complete lot more easy. It’s acquired a built-in social media system to attach with different writers working in related 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 achievement, 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 web site 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 an alternative choice to NaNoWriMo for Nonfiction writers. As an alternative of utilizing a phrase rely and phrase aim to maintain monitor, this problem encourages the consideration system, and the intent is to finish any work of nonfiction.
3. EBookWriMo
“Your mission (do you have to select to simply accept it): Write an e book to your viewers in 30 days, from November 1 to November 30.”
This problem encourages its contributors to finish a refined e book in thirty days. The premise is easy: novels are large, and ebooks are typically smaller. This problem takes you thru actionable steps to put in writing and polish an e book, with the aim being to have a very completed e book to your viewers by the top.
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 how you can ‘be a printed author’.
(And generally we do it over again in September.)”
If novels aren’t your bag, or the considered engaged on a single mission for a month feels too daunting, StoryADay is perhaps for you! StoryADay challenges you to put in writing a narrative each day throughout Could or September—you don’t should 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 intention to put in writing 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 writer Julie Hedlund, 12 x 12 has been supporting, encouraging, and educating writers since 2012.”
12×12 is a good useful resource for image e book authors. One of many greatest perks of this problem is its neighborhood—collaborating on this will join you to a lot of different authors, in addition to assets for writing, revising, and submitting your work.
6. Chapter E book Problem
“The Chapter E book 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 put in writing 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 1st of March and ending on the 31st of March.”
Throughout the month, you’ll discover a useful neighborhood to interact with, authentic articles from revealed 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 put in writing a narrative or essay attentive to that immediate.
As soon as the writing part is full, our judges go to work. Every bit is scored and given optimistic and demanding suggestions by every decide. Writers will obtain their suggestions 12-24 hours earlier than we announce who will advance to the subsequent spherical. For extra details about this part 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.”
If you happen to’re in search of a writing problem with a bit of incentive, look no additional! This problem makes use of prompts to get writers in quite a lot of completely different genres competing for money. This takes place as soon as 1 / 4 and lasts for six weeks, so verify in each every so often 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 persistently for a calendar 12 months.”
This problem is a subgroup of the 10 Minute Novelists group—simply hyperlink up with their Fb web page to affix! For this one, you and your fellow novelists can cheer one another on as you’re employed a bit of each day in your novel. Momentum can actually construct after some time, and this problem can have you ever cranking out lots of of hundreds of phrases by the top 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 extraordinary writing competitors for a number of causes. First, all contributors should register upfront 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 trustworthy, unbiased suggestions from a workforce of future editors, professors, and literary brokers, no matter placement!”
If you need a problem with a bit of pizzazz, right here’s your choose! That is one other prize-winning possibility. 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 neighborhood 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 various genres and writing kinds.
Writers can take part in themed contests, flash fiction challenges, and even set private writing targets throughout the supportive atmosphere of Scribophile’s neighborhood. These challenges not solely encourage writers to discover new concepts and methods but additionally foster connections with fellow writers, offering invaluable assist and encouragement on the journey towards literary excellence.
Whether or not you’re seeking to flex your artistic muscle mass, obtain suggestions in your work, or just join with like-minded writers, Scribophile affords 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 variety of writing challenges and competitions tailor-made to writers in search of to boost their abilities and creativity.
With month-to-month challenges designed to immediate writers to discover completely different genres, kinds, and themes, The Writers’ Exercise affords a supportive atmosphere the place contributors can push their boundaries and experiment with new methods. From flash fiction contests to poetry challenges and all the things 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 grow to be more adept storytellers.
12. The Poetry Marathon
The Poetry Marathon is an exhilarating annual occasion that invitations poets from around the globe to embark on a difficult but rewarding journey of creativity and expression.
Held over the course of 24 hours, contributors endeavor to put in writing 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 neighborhood rallying behind them, poets have the chance to discover various themes, experiment with numerous kinds and kinds, and delve deep into the artwork of poetry.
The Poetry Marathon not solely fosters a way of camaraderie amongst poets but additionally encourages private development, 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 quick tales, poetry, memoirs, and extra, offering writers with alternatives to showcase their expertise, obtain suggestions from business 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 affords a supportive platform for writers to hone their abilities, achieve recognition for his or her work, and join with a vibrant neighborhood of fellow writers.
With its longstanding fame 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 variety of assets, instruments, and alternatives to assist them thrive on the earth 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 kinds. These prompts cowl numerous genres and themes, offering writers with a gentle stream of inspiration and alternatives to flex their artistic muscle mass.
With a supportive neighborhood 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 achieve their writing journey.
Amongst this, Jericho Writers hosts month-to-month writing challenges designed to encourage writers, encourage creativity, and supply alternatives for development.
These challenges cowl a variety of genres, kinds, and themes, permitting writers to discover new concepts, experiment with completely different methods, and hone their craft in a supportive and collaborative atmosphere.
Jericho Writers’ writing challenges supply writers the possibility to attach with friends, obtain constructive criticism, and push themselves to new heights of creativity and excellence.
16. NYC Midnight
NYC Midnight affords an excellent 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 timeframe to craft compelling tales or screenplays.
These challenges present an exquisite alternative for writers to check their abilities beneath stress, discover various genres, and obtain suggestions from friends and judges.