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. (Some exceptions may apply.)
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.
• 70 points: You will receive an 700 word critique on your novel, short story, article, etc.
• 80 points: You can help judge one of the contests!
• 90 points: You will receive two weeks free in my Write Now Mentoring Program!
• 100 points: You will receive a free ebook of PURPLE MOON. =)
• 150 points: You will receive a personalized handmade notepad. 

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!)
• 3 points: If you cast your vote! (See the end of this post.)
• 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!)
• 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: 98
• Mary B: 68
• Elisabeth: 56
• Angela: 10
• Funto: 9
• Benj. Evans: 30
• S. Brightly: 12
• Jacqueline: 59
• Rebekah B: 38
• Anna: 27
• His Princess: 55
• Tara T: 58
• Evan: 10
• Rcubed: 60
• Sarah: 76
• Jillian: 10
• Brooke: 12
• Kaley: 2
• Karina: 23
• Kaira Anne: 42
• Katheline: 16
• Kendra: 6
• Lottie Le: 6
• CeCe: 10
• Katie: 5
• Marsh: 20

*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.

 

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!) 

Thanks so much to everyone who voted! It helped the judge panel tremendously.

Also, please don't get discouraged if you have yet to place (or haven't in a few weeks)! The competition is very tough, but the judges still think every one of your entries are impressive. So keep it up! =)

(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: 

My balance wavered as a young girl bumped into me, face turned upward with a worried expression.
“I’m sorry, are you okay?” The girl bit her lip and pulled her dark cloak around her. A flash of blue protruded near her feet, but she hid it before I could ask any questions. 
“It’s fine.” I shook my head. “I’m Derrik, and you are?”
She didn’t answer me. The girl’s attention was caught by something else as she stood on her toes, peering out into the massive crowd that was milling around the town square. Something was different about her. She seemed anxious and jittery. A terrified expression became painted on her face; she gave me one last glance before darting into an alleyway. Her cloak became unpinned with this action; it cascaded to the ground revealing an extravagant, bright blue ball dress. 
I stood frozen in place, watching her streak across alley with thudding footsteps on the stone pavement. My body finally obeying, I sprinted after her, but stopped short after I saw a strange sight. The girl had paused by a square opening in the brick alley wall. I hid in the shadows, hoping they would cover my presence. She took a step towards the tunnel, glancing behind her every so often. Her shoulder’s rose and fell with a forced breath. Shouts called out from the street before turning sharply into the alleyway. The girl turned frantically towards the direction of the yelling. Her footing slipped, sending her flying onto the stone pavement beneath her. A jagged scrape appeared on her leg, a small trickle of blood flowing from it. The girl let out a whimper before fleeing into the tunnel. Who was this girl? What was her story? Where was she going?

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

Second place winner: 

They were coming. And I had to run; I had to run far, far, away. “Go Catherine. Quickly!” Mother shoved me away from the ballroom, into the flood of people desperately trying to leave alive. Without hesitating, I merged into the frantic bodies of our guests. Stay with the crowd until you get to the second to last painting of the Gallery. Mother’s instructions, drilled into my memory since I was a toddler, played in my head. Turn into the dark hallway. Feel your way to the door. I heard a scream and a crash as the raiders tore through the front doors. The painting I needed to get to was on my right. I pushed against the crush and leapt into the hidden corridor. Running the palms of both my hands on the wall, I slid down the corridor. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see the bright pastel colors of the ladies’ dresses and the ruffled cravats of the gentlemen. Their extravagant outfits would be ruined with blood tonight. Finally, I felt the knob of a door dig into my thigh. Pressed against the wall, I turned the knob with my hand, willing it not to make a sound. The door opened outward, towards the courtyard. Once you are through the door, run to the third brick nook on your left and hurry through until you get to the Underground. Then, follow the trolls. Whatever you do, don’t look back. I arched my back through the small doorway and emerged outside. Third nook on the left, I chanted in my head. There. Remembering Mother’s instructions, I ran through the hollow. Don’t look back, Catherine. Don’t look back. You can't ever go back. 

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

First place winner: 

I'd always been weirdly obsessed with keys. The mystery, the promise: but the one I held in my hands was like no other before. It was heavy in my hand, ancient--holding tales of worlds and lands and time.

The old grandfather clock chimed three; a harmony to the church bells. No one would be awake. I had to go.

Gripping the key, I tiptoed down the street, the brisk air dancing over darkened cobblestone streets. I inched my way, hugging the wall, I had to be close. The castle loomed above me, but I tried to ignore it's foreboding presence.

I felt my way to the gate, wincing at the squeaking of the rusty iron. I ran across the courtyard, and put my key into the cell door lock.

"Anna?" I whispered through the door.

She ran to the door, which I unlocked, "You came!"

"I told you I'd come." I took her hand and ran with her back to the gate.
That was when the knife sailed over my head. I pulled Anna down, then pushed her towards the door, and stood to face my foe.

"I knew you'd come," the laugh made the night air colder. "Your rescue mission, it's pie in the sky." Then the speaker saw the open cell door, and turned on me with a cry of rage. I ducked the knife, but didn't see the third one coming.

Pain exploded through my chest and body, I felt myself crumpling to the ground. Then everything faded, the laugh, the terror, my own screams.

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

Honorable Recognitions: 

These winners will receive a badge, as well as 3 extra points:

1. Mary B.
2. Kendra
3. Sarah

Congratulations! Click here for your badge. =)

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.
• If you'd rather not submit your post in the comments, you may email it to me instead.

Remember:

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:

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

• 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: basket, skateboard, and hammer. 
• Write a passage based on this picture. 
• Write a passage using this phrase: I'd told myself I would never come back here again ... yet here I am. 

Cast Your Vote!

We're going to try something new at Monday's Minute Challenge.

Since choosing the winners is such a time-consuming process for the judges, and since you already read each others responses, we have decided to give you the opportunity to take part in the judging process. =)

Here's how it works:

• You can vote for 3 entries per week, but you may not vote for yourself.
• You can only click "submit" once per week, so be sure to wait until you have selected your top 3 entries before casting your vote.
• Please do not vote until at least 7 entries have been submitted. (If you do before then, your vote will not count.)
• Only the participants of Monday's Minute Challenge may vote.
• Voting will only take place from Monday - Thursday.
• We will choose the 3 people with the highest amount of votes, then select another 3 or 4 that we think deserve to win as well.
• From those 6 or 7 entries, we will then select the winners (including the Honorable Recognitions.)

You will also receive 3 points for voting. So when you are done, please post a comment below saying that you have casted your vote.  

To vote, please enter the names of the 1 - 3 writers you are voting for below (or click here instead):

Current Judge Panel:

• Sarah Holman
• Tessa Emily Hall (me)
• Kate Petty

♡ ♡ ♡

Would you like to start a Purple Moon party?!

If you get together with at least four of your friends to read my book, let me know and we can put together a Purple Moon party! 

Pin It!

For this party, I will . . .

• Send you a free autographed book for you or your friend
• Email you a free PDF which will instruct you on how to throw a Purple Moon party by providing certain snacks, coffee, and chocolate. It will also include fun activities you can do with your friends at the party, such as creating a prediction of how you think the rest of the series will go, creating your own dream school or coffee shop, instructions on how to make a Luna Bonita Latte and a sleeping mask, etc.!
• ​I will also be willing to chat with you girls via Skype! In this session, we will discuss the Reader's Group Guide which can be found in the back of the book. You will then have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have.

Interested? Email me at christiswrite (at) gmail (dot) com. =)

{Click here for more Reader Fun opportunities!}