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. (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 Thursday after next. 
3. The winners will receive a badge for their blog, as well as extra points (see the point system below).
4. 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. 
5. This is only for fun and to stretch your writing muscles--not necessarily to be taken too seriously. =)

Prizes:

• 40 points: You will receive a critique based on your current week's entry.
• 60 points: You will receive a free blog critique and helpful suggestions.
• 90 points: You will receive an 700 word critique on your novel, short story, article, etc.
• 110 points: You can help judge one of the contests.
• 120 points: You will receive a free ebook of PURPLE MOON. 
• 150 points: You will receive a special surprise in the mail. 

Earning Points:

• 20 points: If you sign up for a month of my Write Now Mentoring Program!
• 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!)
• 5 points: If your writing prompt is selected for Monday's Minute Challenge.
• 3 points: If you cast your vote! (See the end of this post.)
• 3 points: If you post your entry on your blog via ILink, 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!)
• 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:

• Ana I.: 46
• Angela: 29
• Anna S.: 59
• AnnaMarie: 22
• Armina: 52
• Ashley: 7
• Benj. Evans: 40
• Brittney: 3
• Brooke: 20
• CeCe: 28
• Christine: 22
• Elisabeth: 137
• Emily F: 45
• Emily S: 6
• Evan: 10
• FlyGirl: 54
• Francesca: 10
• Funto: 9
• His Princess: 121
• Jacqueline: 59
• Jillian: 10
• Kaira Anne: 58
• Kaity: 15
• Karina: 23
• Katheline: 32
• Kaity: 9
• Katie Grace: 91
• Kendra: 67
• Lace: 6
• Laura: 9
• Lottie Le: 39
• Naomi: 10
• Maddie Jay: 20
• Mary B: 127
• Marsh: 20
• Michael: 26
• Mickayla: 34
• Rcubed: 75
• Rebekah B: 53
• Russian Pianist: 38
• Samantha: 16
• Sarah: 126
• S. Brightly: 113
• SK Lupu: 35
• Sofia Marie: 16
• Story Weaver: 3
• Tara T: 104
• TW Wright: 202
• Victoria: 38

*Points are updated every other 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.

 

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

In honor of the 1-year-anniversary of Monday's Minute Challenge, there will be a slight yet fun change to the contest in two weeks. =) (It was supposed to be posted today, however I have been having technical difficulties with my laptop this past week.) (PS placing an open water bottle too close to your laptop is never a great idea...) 

Keep in mind that the judges are not aware of which entry belongs to which participant until after the judging is complete.

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

Third place winner: 

Sometimes you plan things too far in advance. And sometimes you don’t plan at all.

It was only a week since the kingdom had fallen. Only a week since life had turned into an endless game of hide and seek. Only a week since that star had died.

And still our lives were a mess.

We knew no one. We knew nothing, apart from that everyone was against our clan. We had to keep moving, had to keep on our feet, never stopping to sleep. It was a necessity, made all the more tiring by my brothers low muttering. He was plotting his revenge. But that would never do. They were cunning, as cunning as the foxes that they had originally sent in. As cunning as their queen.

Oh, I had never seen her, sure, but she was the one thing that had haunted every child’s bedtime stories. She would not leave them, hanging at the edge of their every decision.If you’re not good, the queen will get you. Watch your step or the queen will get you. She was the sole reason they were running, trying to reach the very place that had cost them so much. Trying to run towards the very reason they were running in the first place.

The birds stopped their rhythmic calls. Our footsteps faltering. A heavy thud. I blinked, sure I was imagining this. But she was still here. This could not be happening. Why would they send her after me? Why would they send the leader of the hunt? 

Congratulations, Samantha! Click here for your badge. =)

Second place winner: 

Blank pages, begging to be filled with all sorts of stories and fables. Anything my heart desired. I had finally found my life book, nearly half full already. Was I going to die young? Why was it so full? I shrugged it off, trying to stay on the same note of glee I had felt when I found it. I was the fifth person to ever find their life book. That’s exciting! I squirmed on my stomach and stretched my legs. Too bad this was the only place I could get any privacy. Let’s see… what’s something I’ve always wanted to do? Travel to Gigasoet? Nah. Already done that. Catch a wish? Maybe... I needed to think about it.

As I considered different possibilities, I glanced at the book. The page I had opened it to was the time when I had tried to climb the tallest tree around to impress Aaron. Cheeks flaming, I flipped to the next page. How embarrassing. Especially since I didn’t fall until he was underneath me. My hands trembled slightly as I turned to the last written page; words were quickly appearing as I watched. My face paled to the same tint as the pages. Maybe if I wrote what I wanted to do, it would happen. That’s what the rumor was, anyway.

I hesitated, pencil poised over the little book. Why were the words coming so quickly? Wait… with less than half the book left and the words spilling out so fast, the book would be finished in a month! Cold fear snaked its way into my heart. Was I going to die? 

Should I erase some of the early pages? It would take away pieces of my past! But… maybe it was the only way to keep surviving.

Congratulations, Elisabeth! Click here for your badge. =)

First place winner: 

It has been five months since the first case of infection was reported. Panic ensued, and anarchy was rife. Those bitten in the early days got lucky and were put down, others were not so fortunate. The ones that are outside now; they’re trying to get a piece of me. All that separates us is a wall of fencing and barbed wire.
I can’t see them, but I can hear their cries and footsteps beneath the snow. The dead are persistent; they never give up until you’re cornered with nowhere left to run.

As I pull out a cigarette, light it, and take one long drag, I can’t help but look to the sky. Winter is here, and the stars are shining as though nothing is going on. It is Christmas, and there is a blanket of snow on the ground.
Earlier on that day, a small snowflake landed on my nose.
But none of that matters anymore. Not when you have a billion un-dead cannibals trying to eat you at every waking moment. Stuff like Christmas just goes out the window. Well, as long as you board it back up again.

Extinguishing it, the snow crunched beneath my boot.
Looking out into the darkness, something caught my attention.
I blinked, sure I was imagining this. But she was still here. This could not be happening.
It had been several days since my wife went out on a supply run with other members of our group. Yet there she was; among the dead. Her right arm had been torn off, and her neck was red with dried blood.
No longer am I her husband; I’m her meal.

Congratulations, Francesca! Click here for your badge. =)

Thanks so much to everyone who participated!

• Submit your response in the comments below, or post it on your blog via InLink (below -- you will receive 3 extra points!). 
• Your response should range between 150 - 300 words. 
• The deadline for the contest will be the Thursday after next. 
• If you'd rather not submit your post in the comments or on your blog, you may email it to me instead.

Choose at least one:

Note: You can always combine the prompts into one entry.

(Optional) Write a passage continuing your entry from last week week (or whichever week you'd prefer). If you can, try to continue it using one of the following prompts.

• Write a passage using these items: telescope, coin, mirror (submitted by Lace)
• Write a passage based on this picture (submitted by Victoria)
• Write a passage incorporating this phrase:  
  My life seemed to last forever. Hers lasted for only a moment. (submitted by Ana)

Post your entry on your blog!:

If you're posting your entry on your blog (+3 points), please add your link below rather than in the comments:

Submit your prompt idea!:

The prompts that are used for Monday's Minute Challenge are submitted by the participants. Here's how this works:

• You will be able to submit 3 prompts each week in the same format as above: three objects, one picture, and a piece of dialogue or phrase.
• On Mondays, I will choose 3 prompts that have been submitted by 3 different people.
• If your prompt is selected, you will receive 5 points!
• You may submit in the comments below, Monday through Sunday.

Current Judge Panel:

• Tessa Emily Hall (me)
• Kate Petty