Monday's Minute Challenge: Writing prompt challenge for teens & up!

A quick writing prompt challenge (and contest) for teens to get their 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. =)

Since the point system has caused a bit of confusion recently, I have decided to take a different approach.
From now on, I will host a monthly giveaway, and one winner will be announced every four weeks.  Keep in mind that you are in charge of your points from now on. If you win a contest, the only way that you will receive your points is by clicking the entry below. 
Also, if you have already liked my Facebook page, followed me on Twitter, etc. then make sure to click those entries as well in order to receive your points. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

There will be one randomly-selected winner chosen from the above raffle each month. They will have the choice of receiving one of the following prizes:

• A critique on of one of their MMC entries
• A blog critique
• A 300 - 600 word critique on your novel, short story, blog post, etc
• The opportunity to judge one of the contests
• A free ebook of PURPLE MOON
• A special surprise sent to your mailbox (snail mail, not email)

 

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

*Update 12/14: Due to the small amount of entries, the next MMC will be posted Monday, 12/21.

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 were the most intriguing (based on rule #4) are ... 

“I thought you were always going to stay!” she shouted, her voice breaking. She turned away, hugging herself against the crisp night air. Looking up, trying to focus on anything other than what was happening to her, she noticed that somehow, the stars seemed dimmer. Withered fall leaves twirled down from the dark fingers of the tree branches. 
A gentle hand rested on her shoulder, as his voice said,” But I will be with you.”
“No!” she yelled, spinning around to face him. Her hazel eyes glimmered with unshed tears as she went on in a strangely calm tone, as if trying to contain the rage of emotion bubbling inside, “You said…..you would always stay.” Her voice shook as she whispered,” Why would you leave now?”
He put his arms around her, trying to soothe her trembling, but she pushed him away, saying in a hushed tone,”You promised.”
He didn't know what else to say, so he said in just as hushed of a tone as she,”I know.”
Then he held out a slightly trembling hand to her. “Will you come with me?”
Her wet eyes lifted to his. “Where are you going?”
“I will show you the way.” She put her hand into his, and he gently pulled her after him. “You just have to trust me.”

Congratulations, Ariel P! Click here for your badge, and don't forget to claim your points here. =) 

Aubrey walked through the overgrown brush with vigor. Her ankles were grabbed at by curly-cue vines and angry thistles, but she kept moving straight ahead toward the old ferris wheel. Her sacred spot was still untouched and she sat in the niche that was molded by her body. She looked up to the sky and the squeaky iron seats while her shaky hands tried to light a cigarette. 
“One last time right?” she asked the sky. “One more time today. Perfect day right? Same day you did it? Same day you gave up?” she coughed harshly. “Better get it over with before winter comes. Before the leaves fall off this place—everything dies. Better hurry before autumn comes. Be the first thing to fall…” she trailed off in her delusional murmering. Her unsteady hands couldn’t seem to work the lighter, and Aubrey retaliated, shouting curse words. 
Another sound echoed among the iron bars and foliage. A barking golden retriever ran underneath the leaves, whining and whimpering at the girl with curls tucked under a grey hoodie. “No, Maxwell…no! Go away! –don’t want you here…go…” he hung his head. “before winter comes, finish it.” Aubrey shook her head, unsteady and dizzy. “give up. Easy. Like mother like…” 
“Excuse me?” Aubrey looked up and saw a tall man far along in years looking down at her. She immediately stood to scare him off, but her shaky legs couldn’t hold the weight. The man steadied her, “I’m sorry, I know I probably shouldn’t intrude, but I couldn’t help overhearing.”
Aubrey looked at him, wanting to cut him off, but she didn’t have anything to say. 
“Listen Aubrey.” She was startled to hear her name. “I think we should talk about this first…about your mother.” 
“H-how did you…?”
“Let’s go inside.” He said.

Congratulations, Lace! Click here for your badge, and don't forget to claim your points here. =)

“Promise me, Christine. Promise me that you will never enter Myerbreck forest. There are dangers there … that you will never imagine …” 
Those had been her dying words. I can still remember my mother’s feeble, gnarled hand gripping mine as she fought to whisper the words. And I had promised her that I would obey. 
If I had known this would happen, would I have given her my word? I wasn’t so sure anymore.
I now stood gazing into the shadowy black of Myerbreck, my stomach sick with nerves, my legs ready to buckle beneath me. If I went in, I certainly wouldn’t return. But I couldn’t leave Lilla in there, I couldn’t! 
The dark-leafed trees blurred as my eyes swam with tears. Sweet, innocent Lilla. How could I have let her be taken? My mind jumped back to one horrific memory, to see her terrified face as her black-cloaked captor dragged her away into the deep of the woods. 
“Christy!” She had screamed, struggling against the ropes that bound her. “Christy, help me! Please Christy, don’t let him take me, don’t let him!”
My breath caught as I replayed the scene. Why hadn’t I done something? Why hadn’t I ran after them? She was my only sister! 
The reality of it made me feel even worse. I had been too afraid. Afraid of the forest and what lay within. 
I steeled myself as I blinked away the tears and stared resolutely ahead. It was my fault she was gone. And it was my responsibility to bring her back. Alive. No matter what the cost, no matter what fear I had. 
Gathering my skirts in my hands, I prayed a silent prayer of protection and rushed into the tangle of trees. 
Sometimes promises need to be broken.

Congratulations, Savannah P! Click here for your badge, and don't forget to claim your points here. =)

Honorable Recognitions: 

These winners will receive a badge, as well as 2 extra points:

1. Elisabeth
2. Esther

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 2 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: rusty spoons, ripped book pages, sandals (submitted by Elisabeth)
• Write a passage based on this picture (submitted by Lace)
• Write a passage either incorporating this phrase OR based on this phrase:  
  
  

  "Meet me at midnight. Your life depends on it." (submitted by Savannah P)

*If your prompt was selected, be sure to claim your points here. 

Post your entry on your blog!:

If you're posting your entry on your blog (+2 points), please add your link in the comments. Don't forget to claim your points here!

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 2 points!
• You may submit in the comments below.