writing ideas
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For those of you looking for a new market for your short stories, why not try The Writer’s ‘Two Roads Diverge’ Short Story Contest? They have this to say about it: ‘Write a 2,000-word short story responding to one or both quotes by novelist and short story writer Colum McCann (and perhaps keep in mind…
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Last week a few of you contacted me to say how helpful you found the opening lines in my Monday Motivations slot. So this week, I’ll give you two more – firstly for a short story and secondly, for a poem. Story: Matty knew he shouldn’t have taken it. Poem: She was always there for…
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My ten-word story challenge from last week proved to be a great hit with you, so I thought I’d set another one. This time, you need to choose four from the following list: Epiphany Susurrous Tintinnabulation Scintillating Umbrella Unravel Ratatouille Corbyn If last week’s results were anything to go by, I can’t wait to read…
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To motivate you and to help kick-start your writing week, I’m going to give you a single line to open a story with. Hopefully, it’ll set your mind thinking about all sorts of possibilities and threads of a story. And I haven’t neglected the poets amongst you so there’s also an opening line for you…
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This week’s challenge is short and sweet. I’m looking for a ten-word story, using four of the following words: Serendipity Illicit Dollop Hullabaloo Shrubbery Squelch Priministerial Gargantuan I think they’ll be some interesting results! Last week, I gave you a single word for your challenge: Fear. Here are the results: Keith Channing sent in a…
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Sometimes all you need is a word to get your creativity going and for threads of a story or poem to start to weave together. Here are some words to start you on your way: Surprise Affair Shatter Angels Terror Cafe Accident Alleyway Poison Rejection Last week, I gave you two short story openings to…
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I owe the wonderful Sacha Black a big thank you for this week’s market: Mash Competitions. These flash fiction competitions are run every quarter. They’re looking for stories of up to 500 words and have this to say: ‘Our competition rules are simple. Every three months, three random objects are selected from a randomly gathered…
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Writing ideas to kick-start your week This week, I’m giving you two short story openings to stimulate those creative juices. Use them as a writing excercise or turn them into a full story. If any of you would like to send them to me, I’d love to read them and will post them here next…
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My Monday motivation for you is a reminder to enter my weekly writing challenge . For this, you two have choices: Option A: I’ll give you a story opening and the challenge is to continue the story from that point. Option B: For this choice, I have a story ending for you and your challenge…
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This week, to get your writing week kick-started, I’m going to give you the beginning of a story. What happens next is up to you. Lizzie had known it was going to happen one day. But that didn’t make it any easier. She looked out the window and peered through the rain splattered glass. It…
Esther Chilton 