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

A quick writing prompt challenge (and contest) for teens to get their creative juices flowing for the new week. A new prompt is posted, and winners are announced, every other Monday.

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.
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. =)

 

The judge panel chooses these winners based on a point system. Keep in mind that the judges are not aware of which entry belongs to which participant until after the judging is complete.

What is the point of my thoughts
if they stay
inside my head?
What good is my writing
when there is no one
to read it?
What sense is there in thinking
or dreaming?
It is all a waste, anyway.
Because me, I don't matter.
who would want to know
my feelings or ideas?
I'm just a little nobody,
Living on this earth and questioning
why.
And then I see it.
I look up to the
gray skies that
surround me,
feel the breath
which rolls off the sea,
hear the waters
crawl desperately to the
shore and collapse,
taking their rest.
I see how
You see it.
And I know
that
I am made
to share
my thoughts and feelings,
my dreams and writings,
and my little opinions
about the big wide world.
Because
if I've been touched by someone
then maybe someone is
waiting to be touched by
me.

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

My footsteps barely make any sound on the polished floors of the castle halls as I run. Where are the servants, the royals? Everything feels deserted. The silence is eerie, and I’m reminded once again that I’m not supposed to be in here. 

I stop at a corner and glance around, trying to recall which way to go. I used to know this palace so well, but being banished for nine years has dimmed my remembrance of it. 

Biting the inside of my cheek, I choose to trust my instincts and dash right. Hurrying up a spiraling staircase, I begin to recognize things. Yes, this is the right way, a little higher and I would be near the princess’ chambers. I just have to get there undetected, or I would be one of the ones with my head in a noose at the execution tomorrow. 

I climb up the last steps and run left, not caring to quiet my footsteps, there doesn’t seem to be anyone to hear me.

Then I stop, panting, in front of the door to my destination. My fingers hover just above the doorknob. I really shouldn’t be doing this. But if I don’t Asher would be hanged tomorrow. My best friend would die. 

Gritting my teeth, I fling the door open. And freeze. 

Three guards stand in the room. Three guards I recognize well. Three guards that I had been so close to before I was banished. 

The nearest one turns to me. “Calvin.” His voice is without emotion. “Now do you think that was a good idea? Sneaking into the princess’ chambers unaware …” he tsked. “Did you really think that would happen?” 

No. I just had to try. But now it looks like both Asher and I will be meeting our Maker tomorrow.

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

My display flickers to life. "Hello, Wren." The cursor flashes at the end of the sentence, as though someone will be sending me even more words to read. "You may be wondering what happened to you." I was right. "Don’t worry, we won’t hurt you. Once you get used to your new body, we will leave you alone. Write what you want to say on a piece of paper, then look at it. We can see what you see.” I swing my legs to the floor, as I had done many times with my prosthetics. I fall to the floor. "Yes, you may want to take it slow, darling. It can be difficult to use your legs at first." I pause. My legs… are these just new prosthetics? I look down, seeing a pair of shiny legs laying on the floor, attached to me at the mid-thigh. Scar tissue rings the edge of the metallic limbs where they meet my skin. I scan my room in the old cabin. The bunk bed is still here, and my paper is still in the same spot. I pull myself over. Reaching my left arm up I see more metal - connecting to me at the elbow. My fingers are bare, my beloved ring gone.I grab a pen and paper. "What happened to me?" I scrawl.

"You were caught in an explosion at the ward. We had to give you new legs, a new arm, and we added some new circuitry to your brain."
I pause. ”So I’m a cyborg now?""No you’re a mechanically modified citizen (MMC).""So a cyborg?"The cursor blinks a few more times, as if the person is hesitating on what to say. Then I finally get an answer-three letters that send me into panic.“Yes."

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

Honorable Recognitions: 

1. Lace
2. Esther
3. Mary B

Thanks so much to everyone who participated!

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• Submit your response in the comments below, or post it on your blog via InLink (below).
• 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: mask, wings, cage (submitted by Olivia)
• Write a passage based on this picture (submitted by Maddie)
• Write a passage either incorporating this phrase OR based on this phrase:  
  
  

  "Sun? In July? You've got to be kidding me!" (submitted by Esther)

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Post your entry on your blog!:

If you're posting your entry on your blog, please add your link below:

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.
• You must only submit prompt ideas if you have participated in this week's contest. Otherwise, your prompts will not be considered.