Monday's Minute Challenge: Writing Prompt Contest for Teens & Up

A quick writing challenge (and contest) to help get your creative juices flowing for the new week.

1. The entry must be between 150 - 300 words. Otherwise, your entry will not be accepted. (In order to see how many words your entry is, write it in Microsoft Word, or you can copy and paste it here.)
2. The deadline for the contest will be the following Friday. 
3. You do not have to be a teen to enter the contest.
4. The same person cannot win first place two weeks in a row. 
5. If there is at least 5 entries, the panel of judges will select a 2nd and 1st place. If there is at least 10 entries, the judges will select a 3rd, 2nd, and 1st place. However, if there is under 5 entries, the panel of judges will only select one winner.
6. If there are at least 10 entries, there will be a few Honorable Recognitions, which are the next highest winners. They will receive a badge, as well as 3 points.
7. The winners will receive a badge for their blog, as well as extra points (see the point system below).
8. The winner will be chosen based on the judges's preferences, as well as the following questions: Does this entry capture my attention immediately? Does it make me want to continue reading? Is the writing clear? They will also take into consideration the writer's voice and style--not necessarily technical issues, such as grammar, punctuation, etc. 
9. If you have entered at least 3 contests and have yet to place, send me an email and I will be happy to give you a critique of your last entry, which will include tips and suggestions.
10. This is only for fun and to stretch your writing muscles--not necessarily to be taken too seriously. =)

Prizes:
More prizes to come!

• 30 points: You will be able to create your own prompt that will be used in Monday's Minute Challenge!
• 40 points: You will receive a critique based on your current week's entry.
• 50 points: You will receive a free blog critique and helpful suggestions.
• 75 points: You will receive an 800 word critique on your novel, short story, article, etc.
• 90 points: You can help judge one of the contests!
• 100 points: You will receive a free ebook of PURPLE MOON. =)
• 150 points: You will receive a personalized handmade notepad. 

Earning Points:

• 5 points: If you post a review of Purple Moon on Amazon and/or Goodreads. (Let me know in the comments if you do!)
• 5 points: If you join the Purple Moon Publicity Group on Facebook. (You will have the chance to participate in monthly giveaways!)
• 3 points: If you post your entry on your blog, linking back to this post
• 2 points: If you post a tweet about Monday's Minute Challenge, with hashtag #MondaysMinute (You may tweet more than once in a week, however the points will only count for one tweet.)
• 2 points: If you follow this blog via Google Friend Connect. (Let me know in the comments if you do!)
• 2 points: If you "like" my Facebook page. (Let me know in the comments if you do!)
• 2 points: If you follow my Twitter account. (Let me know in the comments if you do!)
• 2 points: Become a "fan" of me on Goodreads. (Let me know in the comments if you do!)
• 2 points: Follow me on Pinterest. (Let me know in the comments if you do!)
• 2 points: If you respond to another person's entry. (Positive feedback only! You may respond more than once, however the points will only count for one response per week.)
• 10 points: If you win 1st place in the writing prompt contest.
• 7 points: If you win 2nd place in the writing prompt contest.
• 5 points: If you win 3rd place in the writing prompt contest.
• 3 points: You receive an Honorable Recognition. 

Points Tracker:

• TW Wright: 23
• Mary B: 14
• Elisabeth: 19
• Funto: 9
• Benj. Evans: 10
• S. Brightly: 34
• Jacqueline: 33
• Rebekah B: 10
• Anna: 3
• His Princess: 14
• Tara T: 22

*Points are updated every Monday.

*When you request to use your points for a prize, the points you use will be taken away from your total. In other words, when you reach 30 points, you can claim the prize for 30 points--but it will cost you all of your points. Or you can continue to try and earn points so you can claim a bigger prize.

 

Keep in mind that you cannot win first place two weeks in a row.

If you have entered at least 3 contests and have yet to win, please send me an email and I will be happy to give you a critique of your last entry and offer suggestions.

The judge panel chooses these winners based on a point system (not to be confused with the point system mentioned above!) 

Since there were two entries that had the same amount of points for 1st place, we have decided that they both deserved to place. 

The entries that the judges thought was the most intriguing (based on rule #4) is ... 

Third place winner: 

I threw myself on my bed, sobbing for what I knew I could not get back. She was gone... forever. I couldn't ever get her back.

The memories came flooding into my mind, causing me to cry even harder: the time she convinced me to jump off the diving board for the first time... the days when we camped on the meadow in midsummer, with the lightning bugs flitting away from our grasp... the times we laughed and cried together...

If only she could cry with me now; right now when I need her most, she's gone. I only wish we hadn't had that argument. Why did I have to be so pushy and quarrelsome? Why didn't I help her when she needed it? Why?

I didn't deserve a friend like her. She was always an angel, while I was just a loud, clumsy, callous fool who recognized too late what truly matters.

I'm so tired of existing; my heart is broken and aching and my life doesn't seem to have any meaning left. I feel old, like I'm weary of life and ready to go home. It's like I'm an old glove that is so worn it's not fit for anything but the trash.

I rolled over onto my stomach and picked up the picture of us off of my bedside table. We were so little then. Gap-toothed grins and muddy clothes, hugging each other like we wouldn't ever let go. Why did she have to leave me here? I don't have anyone else to go to now.

I cried myself to sleep, exhausted and worn.

Congratulations, Elisabeth! Send me an email at christiswrite (at) gmail (dot) com so I can have your badge sent to you. =) 

Second place winner: 

I knew it wasn’t the truth as soon as he uttered the words. How he could possibly think to fool me, I had no idea. His stuttering, his pauses, his darting eyes – they were dead giveaways.

Besides, he would never do such a thing. I knew him well enough. He had a sharp conscience and a loving heart. For him to be guilty of … of … of … murder … it couldn’t be! It just couldn’t be.

The tough part was finding out why, why, he would accuse himself like that. I knew he hated himself but to make out that he was this bad? It didn’t make sense!

I shook myself and looked up at him, “Sorry … I was just … digesting what you said.”

“I’m sorry – really sorry – I – didn’t tell you before.”

“No problem!” I forced myself to stay calm though my heart was pounding furiously. “Look here, what do you mean by saying this?”

“What do I mean?”

“You hate yourself. Sure. But to go this far?”

“No. I love myself too much. That’s why I went that far.”

“What do you possibly hope to gain by this?”

He paused, “I hope … to gain the comfort of knowing I told you the truth.”

“You’re lying! You’re lying and I know it!” I sobbed.

Congratulations, Tara! Send me an email at christiswrite (at) gmail (dot) com so I can have your badge and ebook sent to you. =)

First place winner (#1): 

I knew it wasn't the truth as soon as he uttered the words. I crossed my arms and looked him in the eye. He quickly glanced down, his curly mop of hair covering his face.
“Let’s try this again.” I tapped my foot impatiently. “Do you like my daughter?”
He glanced up, then stared at his feet. “Yes sir,” he mumbled quietly.
I smirked. “Speak up, son.”
“Yes sir,” he said, more confident this time. He finally looked up and brushed that insufferable mess of hair out of his eyes.
“So what are you going to do about it?” I asked. It was going to be hilarious to watch him try to ask her on a date. He was shaking in his boots just talking to me.
He breathed in deep. “I’m going to tell her.” He nodded to himself and started to walk in the direction of the house.
I cleared my throat. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”
He stopped, obviously confused. After a moment, it dawned on him. “Do I have your permission to date your daughter?”
I waited for a long moment, watching him fidget nervously. I wonder how long he’ll be able to stand my silence.

Congratulations, Jacqueline! Send me an email at christiswrite (at) gmail (dot) com so I can have your badge sent to you. =)

First place winner (#2): 

Usually the warmth of my brother's arm around my shoulder brought me comfort in a way nothing else could. But not tonight. Tonight I felt colder than the fifty-degree air called for, and not even the brilliant stars shining above my head could bolster me. Tonight the darkness pressed in on me far more than the tiny pinpricks to Heaven.

I shivered, and felt him wrap his arm more tightly around me. "Cold?"

I shook my head. "No." I knew he'd forgotten to bring any blankets, and right now I would rather freeze to death than have him take me home.

Silence again filled the space between us as we kept our heads tilted toward the sky, searching out our favorite constellations. The stars were breathtaking tonight, more so than I'd ever seen them before. But that wasn't why I couldn't breathe.

He read my thoughts as adeptly as he always did, almost before I'd finished thinking them. We'd always had that connection.

"Hannah, don't look so down." He pushed me back so he could look into my eyes. "You're not losing me. You could never lose me."

I knew it was a lie as soon as he uttered the words. I dropped my gaze as the hollowness in my chest deepened. I'd heard all the empty explanations for weeks now, but nothing could disguise the truth from my eyes; I was about to lose my best friend, my brother, to a girl that had it much more together than me.

"Hannah..."

I leaned my head into his shoulder so he wouldn't see my tears. "Yes, I know." I made my voice light. "I'm not losing you; I'm gaining a sister."

But not even a sky full of stars could thaw the numbness that overcame me at the thought.

Congratulations, S. Brightly! Send me an email at christiswrite (at) gmail (dot) com so I can have your badge sent to you. =) 

Honorable Recognitions: 

*NEW* Since some of you may be considerably younger than the winners, I have decided to award the next highest winners with an Honorable Recognition. These winners will receive a badge, as well as 3 extra points. 

1. AristotleGreekFreak
2. Tawnie
3. His Princess

Congratulations! Send me an email at christiswrite (at) gmail (dot) com so I can have your badge sent to you. =) 

Thanks so much to everyone who participated!

• Submit your response in the comments below. 
• Your response should range between 150 - 300 words. 
• The deadline for the contest will be this Friday. 
• Let me know which prompt you have chosen.
• (Optional) If you submit your response on your blog and link back to this post, I will add your link to the list of participants at the end of this post.
• If you'd rather not submit your post in the comments, you may email it to me instead.

CATEGORY ONE:

Please note that I have added two new rules this week:

1) Your response should range between 150 - 300 words, otherwise it will not be accepted. (Copy and paste your entry here to count the words, or you could write it on Microsoft Word.)
2) The deadline for the contest is this Friday.

Choose at least one:

• Write a passage using these objects: photo album, tea, ring
• Write a passage based on this picture. 
• Write a passage using this dialogue: "There is nothing you could say that would make me change my mind."

CATEGORY TWO:

Pinterest Writing Challenge:

This category will have its own set of winner(s) -- but only if there are at least 3 participants. Keep in mind that you can participate in both categories. (If there are less than 3 participants, then your entry will compete in category one.)

• Create a new board on Pinterest. Title it: Monday's Minute Challenge.
• Pin the above Monday's Minute Challenge picture.
• Then, pin 3 different things: 1) A picture of a setting (beach, mountains, school, etc.), 2) A quote or song lyrics, 3) A photograph of someone (or multiple people). Choose these at complete random.
• Now, write a passage based on these 3 pictures.
• When you submit your entry, be sure to give the link of your Pinterest board.
• Good luck!

Current Judge Panel: 

• Laura Anderson Kurk: YA Christian fiction author
• Sarah Holman: Christian fiction author
• Penny Tritt: Freelance writer 
• Tessa Emily Hall (me): YA Christian fiction author

*NOTE: 

Are you hoping to become an author one day, but have no idea where to begin? If so, check out my new Writing Mentoring Program for Beginners! In this program, you will:

• Receive critiques on your writing
• Receive lessons especially designed to fit your writing needs
• Have the opportunity to receive feedback on your current novel
• Set reasonable goals for your writing
• Be personally mentored step-by-step through your writing journey, for however long you wish! 
• And more!

Beginning your writing journey can become a bit overwhelming and confusing. By enrolling in this Writing Mentoring Program for Beginners, I will break down the process for you and mentor you throughout the process.

And for a limited time only, a one-month subscription is only $15! Click here for details. =)