Monday, September 14, 2015

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.



  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!).

Time for another giveaway!

This month's random giveaway winner is . . . 




Congratulations! Be sure to respond to the email I sent to claim your prize.   


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 ... 


 (Tie)

The Lily, the Lily
On his silver chest
Bled with strength unwanted.
Beautiful, beautiful was the color,
But a life it stunted:
His own.

The sword, the sword,
In his limp grasp
Glistened with the same hue;
He had, he had slain many
Others, and had
Stained them likewise, too,
During war.

And the key, the key
Around his neck
Consoled its flower friend.
Hush, hush, it said,
He has kept his promise to her
Until the very end.
Be glad.

And the fog, the fog,
It lifted,
Just long enough
To see, to see how
These young lives had
Met an end so rough:
By men.

Her heart, her heart
Would break for those
Who shared in his same fate.
And she, she would praise
Those fallen who
Would not live to a longer date:
Their sacrifice.

They lay, they lay
There: Lily,
Key, and steel,
And aided, aided the
Fallen to obtain
A life more real
Than this.
Congratulations, Maddie! Click here for your badgeand don't forget to claim your points here. =) 
 (Tie)

The fog lifted for a moment, just long enough to see. Just long enough for us all to see. For us all to see our parents die. I wish in the moment I had know what was going to happen, so that I could have shielded my little sister from the sight. But I didn’t know, and she saw.
At first she had no idea what she had saw, but when she was older, she remembered and then she knew. There was no way that she could not understand what had happened that night. Not when it was clear that our parents had died, that they were dead.
Just like I wasn’t prepared for her to see them die, I was prepared for how she would react to realizing it.
Her mind was too young, too innocent to handle the way our parents had died. To handle the truth of it all. It was too harsh, too cold. And it hit her in the stomach knocking her down, where no one could reach her.
Especially me.
It was my fault really. I should have never admitted that it was my fault that our parents died. Even when she pushed me into telling her. I admitted it all.
I admitted that in order to save myself and her that I sold my parents over to the king, knowing that they would die.
That was the biggest mistake of my life. One that I will never forget…or stop regretting.
I would give up everything I had now, the power, the wealthy, my home…everything to have my parents back.
Congratulations, Mary B.! Click here for your badgeand don't forget to claim your points here. =) 





   A shiver crawled up his spine. Perhaps it could have been due to the frigid atmosphere, proving itself in icy wisps of what was remaining of his shallow breath. For any onlooker, it could certainly have been so, but he knew that it were the deathly silence of such a place. The only sound which could be heard was the echoing clomps of his shoes as they struck the stone-hard ground.
   He briefly glanced at the lily he had slipped into his belt in order to remind him of the outside world. Its wilting form reminded him of how long he’d been in here. It had been hours since he’d first ventured into this frosty, uninviting place.
   He drew his polished sword, as though summoning courage. A thick fog inhabited itself in the atmosphere, obscuring his vision. The fog lifted for a moment, just long enough to see. There, in view, was the door that he’d been waiting for. He hastily quickened his steps, taking advantage of his temporal sight.
   Finally reaching the heavily bolted door, he lifted a trembling hand to his side, grasping tightly the key. Lifting the key to the lock, he endeavored to unlock the latch.  Since the lock had rusted, the key did not slip into it as easily as he had hoped, though it was with an effort of endurance that he finally managed to alter the lock. The bulky chains began falling fast to the ground with a smash. His white hand clung to the door, fearing to venture forward into the unknown.

   With a firm shove, the wooden door came unloose, revealing another fog-filled room of darkness. He took several terrified steps inside. Suddenly, a terrible growl permeated the room. It was too late to turn back now.
Congratulations, Sarah T.Click here for your badge, and don't forget to claim your points here. =)







I couldn’t remember who I was. Or why I was slumped on the ground of an ethereal throne room, my head throbbing painfully. 
A woman loomed over me, a lily-of-the-valley crown perched upon her brow, but it did nothing to soften her features. It was as if she tried to be beautiful, but beauty fled from her in fear, leaving only harshness. 
“The key, you useless girl!” She hissed. 
I scrambled frantically to stand. “Who are you?” 
“Do you think me daft?” She snarled. “Give me the key.”
My breathing quickened, and my hand tightened unconsciously around the hilt of the sword I held. I wished I could remember how to use it. I shifted nervously, and felt something sway around my neck. Reaching for it, my fingers made contact with warm silver. A key. 
If only I could regain my memories! Should I give her the key? Was it of importance? 
Was I of importance? 
I stared uneasily into the woman‘s eyes. “And what will you give me?” 
“You dare to barter with me?!” She screeched. “You insolent creature!” 
She lunged forward, fingers grasping thin air as I lurched away, gasping at the pain that filled my head. My vision flickered, and I fell, slamming against a wall. The lady lifted her arm, dagger in hand, poised to kill. 
“Wait!” I shouted. “Wait.” 
I yanked the key off my neck. “I’ll give it to you, if you will tell me who I am … and who you are.” 
The woman clicked her tongue. “Rosalynn, I should think you would recognize your own mother.” 
Seizing the key from my hand, she spoke coldly to someone I couldn‘t see. “Take her away. She is no longer of use to me.” 
A sharp pain rent my thoughts, and everything went black. 
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. Shelby
  2. Mia
  3. Simi

    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: bus, phone booth, calendar (submitted by S. Brightly)
    • Write a passage based on this picture (submitted by Maddie)
    • Write a passage either incorporating this phrase OR based on this phrase:  
       She was afraid of what she might see when she lifted her hand from her eyes. (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 below rather than in the comments. And 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.





    post signature

    13 comments:

    1. I won first place?? What a wonderful surprise!
      Also, I'm still not entirely sure how to claim my points (or what they are for). Any help with that would be appreciated :).
      ~Savannah Perran

      ReplyDelete
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      1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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      2. Oops! Sorry, I didn't see that you had replied to my previous comment, I understand it now :). Thanks, Tessa! ~Savannah Perran

        Delete
    2. Hello! I haven't done one of these in a while, but I decided to come back! Here is my entry. It is x words long and is based off the picture prompt.

      By the way, I used to do this by my alias FlyGirl. I'm now using my name.

      I lean my head back on the wall, closing my brown eyes and listening to the steady drip, drip, drip of the water coming from the leaky faucet in my cell. "Anthony." I mutter.
      "What?" He answers, his voice muffled by the layers of brick that separate us.
      "Do you think we'll ever get out of here."
      "No." Even though I already knew that we'd be stuck here until we die, the word was like the final nail in my coffin. It hit me through the heart. I slip down the wall, so I am sitting on the floor. If only we hadn't tried to get the evidence without a warrant. If only we had planned it out better. If only we had allowed for every eventuality. If only, if only, if only. If only I hadn't agreed to search for my sister. If only I hadn't missed when I tried to shoot her attacker. If only. A bright light flashes and buzzed above me, suddenly breaking me from my trance. Scrambling to my feet, I press my face to the bars to see who is coming. A woman walks up to Anthony and hands him a package. Then she turns and walks away without showing me her face. The light shuts off, and I press my face to the wall between us. "What is it? Anthony, what's going on?" I see a lock of his hair as he presses his face to the wall and the bars as well. A light chuckle rises from his throat. It's a sound I haven't heard for a while. "Anthony?" I whisper, making sure the other prisoners don't hear me.
      "Luna." He whispers, excitement and nervousness coat his voice. "Someone is breaking us out."

      ReplyDelete
      Replies
      1. Oh sorry I forgot to say how long it was it is 291 words long

        Delete
    3. Items: Lantern, Dragon, Rose
      Picture: http://wallpaperswa.com/thumbnails/detail/20120826/women%20fantasy%20dark%20forest%201680x1050%20wallpaper_wallpaperswa.com_6.jpg
      Sentence: Something was watching me, I was sure of it.

      ~Savannah Perran

      ReplyDelete
    4. Items: bureau, globe, satchel
      Picture: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/264656915578189642/
      Sentence: "Whatever you do, do not turn around."

      ReplyDelete
    5. Okay, so here are my prompt entries.

      Sentence: I have always been told these stories. I just never thought they were real.
      Photo: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/356628864220894484/
      Items: phone, plants, polaroid camera

      ReplyDelete
    6. My writing prompt entries

      Picture:https://www.pinterest.com/pin/ATRDiO3mvfwtXCGuMBlIkylpY7D_XhxwMLznwDY8gI7IYxVNhIwa_Kw/

      Sentence: "Personally, I think you're going insane."

      Items: flask, sandpaper, lemon

      ReplyDelete
    7. Here's my entry, it's 300 words long, and I built it off my piece I entered last time (the one with Rosalynn), and based it off the picture prompt.

      I woke up on something cold and damp that smelled terrible. The minute I opened my eyes, I knew where I was. A prison cell. Curling up into a shivering ball in the corner, I wrapped my arms around my legs as quiet sobs escaped me.
      I heard scuffling in the cell next to mine, and a male voice called. “Rosalynn?”
      I looked up. “Who are you?”
      “Stop messing around Rosalynn, its Jordan,” His voice lowered. “Did everything go as planned?”
      I shook my head, though he couldn’t see it. “I’m not messing around, I don’t remember anything. All I know is my name. I’m sorry.”
      I could hear him take a sharp breath. “You really don’t?” He must have taken my silence for an answer. “Well,” he spat, “then things really are messed up, aren’t they?”
      “Guess so.” I mumbled, though I doubted he could hear me, and laid my head back on my knees.
      “How could you blow up something like that?!” He ranted.
      “Look, Jordan, or whoever you are,” I snapped, getting annoyed despite my fear. “It’s not like I meant to lose my memory.”
      I could hear his heavy sigh. “I know. But you were the last, the best, plan we had. Ah, Kora’s going to kill me for telling you all this.”
      I groaned. “I guess I failed, didn’t I?” It was quiet for a moment, until I tentatively asked. “… Who’s Kora?”
      “I am.” The owner of the chilling voice slowly walked towards us.
      I shuddered as I looked up into malice filled eyes. I could feel Jordan’s scorn for her when he spoke.
      “Rosalynn, meet your sister, Princess Kora Emeline.”
      The girl smiled icily and gave a mocking curtesy. “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” she purred, “let’s see how long you last.”

      ~Savannah Perran

      ReplyDelete
    8. My prompts:
      1) https://www.pinterest.com/pin/295196950554315532/
      2) "Oh, dear, another one?"
      3) knuckles, handlebars, telephone poles

      -Maddie

      ReplyDelete
    9. Here's my story entry. It is based off the picture and the sentence prompt. Its 281 words.

      He scowled at the cell, fighting the fear that weighed him down. Then his scowl disappeared and he turned to the jail keeper.
      "Simply put, there are things I can put up with and there are things I can't. And this cell is my limit."
      "You haven't seen the inside. Yet." The jail keeper pushed him forward.
      Hahn noticed a girl in the cell by his, just before he was shoved into his cell. Her hands were pressed to her eyes as if she was afraid of what she might see if she lifted her hands from her eyes.
      "But it's wet!" He protested, turning back to his problems and trying to believe that what he said was important. "And anyways, you know who I am. The worse condition the cell is in the faster I'm out of it. Now you don't want to see our positions reversed, do you?" The jail keeper slammed the door and locked it, grinning at his prisoner.
      "That's funny, 'cause I heard that you spent five years in Steclom's prison." He shuffled away muttering to himself.
      Hahn slumped against the wall and scanned his cell. It was easily the strongest cell he had been.
      "I'm not going to able..." he muttered.
      There came a slight sound from the cell beside his. He straightened up and putting his hand through the bars, he whacked her cell.
      "Sorry to disturb you, but..." No answer. He pulled his stinging hand back in and leaned forward to get a closer look at the padlock, hoping that the rust he saw was not deceptive.
      "So, are you coming with me?" He gave a short laugh. "Because I'm going to escape."




      ReplyDelete
    10. Item prompts: picture frame, basket, apple
      Picture prompt: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/449867450254365529/
      Sentence prompt: Silly girl, he never loved you!

      ReplyDelete

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