Saturday, December 19, 2020

Holiday Writing Inspiration

 


The holidays are here at last! This is a wonderful time for writers to reflect on the past year and look ahead to the joys of new projects in the upcoming year. It can also be a time for gathering new supplies (hopefully we’ll find those much-needed pens and notebooks under the tree), reading our favorite holiday novels, and finding writing inspiration in the magic of the holidays. To that end, Our Writing Garden wanted to post a few ideas for holiday writing inspiration. We hope these prompts help with your current works-in-process and your future projects as well! Happy Holidays!



  • What are your main character’s favorite holiday treats to eat or bake?

  • What are three holiday presents that your main character might receive?

  • Describe the holiday decorations around your home

  • Take a long walk in the snowfall and jot down your observations

  • Journal about your holiday memories and emotions

  • Analyze your favorite holiday books and stories — how is the plot structured?

  • What is your antagonist longing for this Christmas?

  • Describe how you feel seeing the season’s first snowfall

  • Is there a gift your protagonist knows they cannot receive?

  • What holiday traditions do your characters enjoy?

  • Are there any holiday traditions your characters would change?


As always, we’d love to see your answers in the comments!

Tuesday, November 3, 2020

Fall Harvest Writing Prompts

 

By: Our Writing Garden Team
Welcome, fall!

This time of year, we turn toward quiet reflection, which often leads to wonderful writing sessions. The air is cold and crisp, frost glitters on the grass, and the leaves are falling from their branches. With so much natural inspiration around us, Our Writing Garden wanted to help your pens and typing fingers along this month with Fall Harvest Writing Prompts. Below, please find a list of prompts for your autumn writing sessions, and as always, feel free to share your work in the comments. 


  • Write a short story about getting lost in a corn maze.

  • Craft a story where the main character's Fall garden grows out of control.

  • Write from the perspective of an animal eager to gather as much of the Autumn harvest as possible before the season changes.

  • Write about a pumpkin-picking adventure that goes very wrong.

  • Create a short story where apples, squash, and pumpkins compete to be the best in their farm.

  • Tell a tale from the perspective of a scarecrow watching over the Fall harvest.

  • Write a poem from the viewpoint of the last pumpkin left in the pumpkin patch.

  • Write a short story about a tree that comes alive during apple picking.

  • Construct a work of flash fiction about a child who is frightened of sunflowers.

  • Write a poem about the scents of fall harvest. 

  • Write a short story about a unique way of cooking up apples from the orchard.

  • Write a poem about a strange harvest world where apples grow on vines and pumpkins grow on trees.

Sunday, September 13, 2020

Summer's Last Blast Writing Prompts


Hello, readers!

The last days of summer are winding down, but rays of sun still hang on for many of us. Let's have one last fling with summer with a few summer garden writing prompts! Below, please find some fun prompts that will help jumpstart your writing. As always, we'd love to see your work! Please post your writing in the comments. 


  • Write a short story from the perspective of a flower that only blooms once a decade.
  • Develop a short screenplay about children who become lost in a fantastical garden.    
  • Create a poem that describes your fondest gardening memory.
  • In 100 words, write a story about the last summer harvest.
  • Write a short story about a magical garden that the main character finds in the most unlikely of places.
  • Create a poem about the sunflowers in a neighbor's yard.
  • Craft a story where the protagonist discovers a race of tiny creatures living in her family's garden.
  • In ten words or less, describe the world's most beautiful garden.
  • Create a flash fiction work where flowers deliver advice to your protagonist.
  • Write a short story where a flower, sent as a gift, causes quite a disturbance for an entire town.

Saturday, April 18, 2020

Spring and Summer Writing Competitions



By: Emrald Sethna

Hello, dear writers!

Below, you will find a list of national and international writing competitions taking place over the next few months. Submissions are free and the prizes range from publishing deals to cash and institute fellowships!

Chance Encounters Travel Writing Competition
Maximum word count: 1,500
Prize: $100 & publication
Deadline: April 15

The Bulwer Lytton Fiction Contest
Maximum word count: 50-60
Prize: $250
Deadline: April 15

Soundwork Short Story Competition
Maximum word count: 2,500
Prize: Work is narrated by a professional actor and published on Soundcloud
Deadline: April 20

Science-Me a Story
Maximum word count: 4 pages
Prize: 150 Pounds
Deadline: April 20

Habinteg Prize: An Essay Competition
Maximum word count: 2,000
Prize: 2,500 Pounds
Deadline: April 27

Words From the King: Book Publishing Contest
Maximum word count: Full manuscript
Prize: Publishing contract
Deadline: April 30

The Writer's Games
Maximum word count: None
Prize: Publication
Deadline: April 30

Mavis Batey Essay Prize
Maximum word count: 6,000
Prize: 250 Pounds & potential publication
Deadline: May 3

The Nick Darke Award
Maximum word count: Full manuscript
Prize: 6,000 Pounds
Deadline: May 4

Sick Cruising - Anthology Call
Maximum word count: 10,000
Prize: $20
Deadline: May 20

Thanet Writers Short Story Competition
Maximum word count: 5,000
Prize: 1,000 Pounds
Deadline: May 31

First Edition Kate O'Brien Award
Maximum word count: Full manuscript
Prize: 1,200 Euros
Deadline: June 13

John Locke Institute Essay Competition
Maximum word count: 2,000
Prize: 100 Pounds & fellowship
Deadline: July 15

Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award
Maximum word count: None
Prize: Publication
Deadline: July 31

For more contests, with and without entry fees, visit this website: https://blog.reedsy.com/writing-contests/

We wish you all the best on your writing projects and hope you are all staying safe.

Happy Writing!

Saturday, March 21, 2020

Charting your Growth as a Writer

By: Carla Trueheart 

Looking back on our early writing projects is difficult for many of us. We might tend to feel embarrassed of our first attempts at writing, or we might cringe at word choices and vocabulary. For me, I overused adverbs and had no idea about proper punctuation, especially when writing dialogue. But honestly, we should look back at these early attempts and be pleased with ourselves on how far we’ve come as writers. If your writing differs drastically from then to now, that means you’re doing something right. And in thinking about that—how good does our future writing look? I’d like for you to take a moment to consider growth and some questions you may ask yourself to gauge your success.

How have you grown?
When you look back at your early writing, what do you notice? There might be certain habits you fell back on as a new writer, or scenes might have been overwritten or sparse. Is there something you’ve learned along the way? Was it a book or writing classes or just keeping at it that helped you grow as a writer? This is important to look at so you know how to keep growing in your craft!

What do you Know Now? 
Make a list, mentally or on the computer, of all the things you feel you’ve learned about the art of writing and storytelling. Do you feel like you know how to develop characters better now? Are you sketching out scenes and making settings jump into the minds of your readers? Did you learn about climaxes and ending a story? Was there a trial and error process with writing your first short story or novel? Taking note of what you know now as a writer will help you find your weaknesses and strengths. Figure out what’s left to learn, and fill in those holes as best you can!

What will the Future Bring?
In measuring your growth as a writer, what goals do you have right now that stemmed from your early writing years? Maybe you still haven’t published that novel and would like to do that, or maybe you’d like to incorporate poetry or literary fiction conventions into your work. Your goals could range from honing your craft to becoming a bestselling author in a year or two. It’s important to set realistic goals as you continue to chart your growth in the writing world. Keep aiming high, and never give up. 

What Resources did you use to Learn Writing?
Think back on everything you pulled from when learning about writing. Surround yourself with those early notebooks, books on writing, workshop critiques, and even rejection letters with feedback included. Looking back on what you used to master your craft will help you as you continue on to your next publishing goal. 

Do you Consider that the term “published” means you’re a Writer? Or is there a Different Definition?
What do you think about your writing? Does it please you? Do you write for others or for yourself? Do you feel like the only way to gauge your success is to list your publishing credits? For each writer, the answer is something different. Some write for money, some write for fame, some want to see their name on a book cover as proof of their hard work, some want to spread a message or share their vision, and some just write to release the demons. It’s up to you how you feel about being a writer, but remember that charting your growth as a writer often means facing the true reason you write. 

Let us know any comments you have as you chart your growth as a writer!

Thursday, February 13, 2020

Valentine's Day Writing Prompts: Cozy Winter




By: Our Writing Garden Team

Poems

Write a poem about a fireside Valentine's Day after a huge power outage 

Write a poem about a walk in the park on a snowy Valentine's Day

Create a poem that describes the comfort of snuggling up with one's significant other

Describe the perfect Valentine's Day gift

Short Story

Write a story where a character embarks on a scavenger hunt through a snowy forest to discover a Valentine's Day surprise

Write a short story where the protagonist and their love interest get stuck inside during a snowstorm

Write a short story about a "Galentine's" Day ski trip where one member of the group falls in love with the ski instructor

Create a short story where a character confesses their love to the protagonist using the snowy landscape around them

Write a humorous short story about a man bringing balloons to his Valentine on Valentine's Day, but the balloons accidentally fly away in a snowstorm

Flash Fiction

Craft a piece of flash fiction where a character is taught to skate by their long-time crush

Screenplay

Craft a scene where a character contemplates the identity of the anonymous sender of a beautiful Winter bouquet

Write a short play about a magical winter retreat for couples 

Monday, February 10, 2020



Announcing . . .
Our Name Change!


In moving forward in 2020, The Steps to Getting Published Team has decided to change our name to Our Writing Garden to better reflect the many areas of writing and publishing we cover with our monthly blog. We're excited for this change and hope to bring you even MORE writing prompts, articles, and publishing opportunities!

Thank you so much for reading our posts, commenting, and following us. We hope you will continue to grow as a writer!

Writing Prompts for Writers Struggling with Writer's Block







By: Emrald Sethna

Writing Prompt Ideas

If you're stuck on certain ideas or you don't yet understand elements of the story:

- Create a journal entry from the POV of your protagonist, detailing an average day in their life.

- Alternatively, create a journal entry from the POV of your antagonist, discussing their motivations and plans for the future.

- Set a timer for ten minutes, and in that time, write as much as you can about the protagonist, antagonist, setting, and or plot of your story.

- Craft a short dialogue scene where your characters interact. This can help you test out their differing voices and decide which suits each character best.

- Stuck on what kind of POV to use? Write a chapter or scene from a first person viewpoint, then rewrite it in third person. Which one are you more comfortable with and which suits the story you wish to tell?

- Take the time to prepare a description for each of your potential characters, including their physical looks and personality traits or quirks.