Sometimes, as writers, we find ourselves between projects, or between paragraphs, or between words, really, lacking in inspiration, ready to go crazy, because the words are THERE, dangit, even if we can’t get them out onto paper. Sometimes it isn’t even writers block, it’s just being between projects, nothing pressing, but still with the desire to hone our craft and not allow our writing muscles to atrophy.
So what is a writer to do? How can we practice our writing when there is simply no inspiration or work in progress?
ENTER THE INTERNET!
All over this beautiful web of interconnectivity are writing challenges, chock-full of prompts to help inspire and stretch your writing skills. Some even offer opportunities for promotion through their blogs. We’ve compiled a few here.
Formal Writing Challenges
YeahWrite offers four weekly writing challenges, based on an “Ultimate Question” to help get your creativity flowing. Categories are Non-fiction, Fiction/Poetry, Microfiction, and the very compelling Moonshine challenge, which accepts all lengths and genres.
The Daily Post Writing Challenge is technically no longer “running” in that they are no longer posting new prompts every Tuesday. However, there are still tons of prompts on their blog just waiting to be tackled.
Thirty Day Challenges
The 30 Day Challenge Archive has a pretty awesome Thirty Day Writing Challenge. Pretty self-explanatory, with one challenge each day for thirty days. Take longer or shorter if you like. I won’t tell.
My Creative Writing Challenge has TONS of time-based prompts. The site hasn’t been updated since Christmas, but there are several 25 and 30 day lists ready to get your fingers tapping on the keyboard
Apps
Because we live in a fast paced world and don’t always have the time to seek out challenges, what if your prompts could come to you?
Literautas has a frankly amazing app to help inspire your stories. The prompts are incremental and help you build a story, rather than simply giving you a prompt and letting you run with it. The app is $1.89 on both Google Play and The App Store. Even if you don’t want to buy the app, the site has lots of resources to help you with your writing.
Appcrawlr has a few writing prompt apps available as well, though none look quite as promising as the Literautas app.
So, it’s not technically an app, but Pinterest can be an unexpected wealth of writing prompts to get your started. If you use Pinterest, just follow the Writing Challenges category to make sure they show up in your feed.
Every writer knows that the best way to get better at writing is to write. And write. And write. And these are some really great places to get started, whether you are a veteran, multiple-times-published author or just starting out on your writing journey. If you end up using any of these resources, we would love to see what you come up with! Leave a comment below linking us to some of your creations!
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