Words of Redemption

Next week, I am rolling out a monthly writing challenge. My hope is that it will be a way for writers and non-writers alike to flex their creative muscles once a month in a separate stream from their work–be it your day job or that novel, story or article in-progress that is starting to feel a little too much like work.

If you’re a fan of PENSIEVE’s Poetic license, you’ll understand what I’m going for here: A challenge to stretch yourself creatively. Even if you don’t consider yourself a writer, I encourage you to participate. Often, a creative exercise completely out of my comfort zone and normal modes of thinking is just the “Whack on the Side of the Head” I need.

Trust me, I don’t consider myself a poet by any stretch, but PPL has become something I look forward to each month.

So I’m stealing Robin’s great idea and throwing a new challenge out there for all of us.

I give you:

Write what you see - The Monthly Micro-Fiction Challenge

Aimed at shamelessly driving more traffic to my blog providing another fun, creative outlet for writers and non-writers alike, WWYS is a chance for you to create a story from a picture.

How does it work, Professor?

I’m glad you asked, Billy. Each month, on a Monday morning, I’ll post a picture and some framing details to my blog, Words of Redemption. The details will be things like setting, point of view to use or perhaps an important item to include in the story. I may provide a lot of detail, or I may allow the picture to speak for itself.

Once I’ve posted the picture and the details, I’ll give you until Friday that same week to compose a short story (see the next section) using the picture and any details I’ve provided. You’ll post the story on your blog, link back here, and then add your entry to the Mr. Linky form I’ll be placing on the Friday morning post for that month.

Once you’ve posted your story, you can view and comment on the entries of others and see the vastly different spin we’ve all put on the same picture.

Oh, and if you don’t have a blog, you can send me your entries and I’ll post them here on your behalf.

What–in the name of Cap’n Crunch–is Micro-Fiction?

Micro-Fiction is an ultra-short story. Simple as that. You could call it Flash Fiction if you wanted to. But the key–as far as I’m concerned–is to create a full story (with a beginning, middle and end) in less than 1000 words. The sweet spot is around 400 words, depending on who you ask. Since this is my football, I’ll say you can write anything from 100 words to 1000 words and have it count. We’re not about rules here, anyway.

If you want more info on Micro-Fiction, click here for a good breakdown. Don’t get too hung up on the technicalities, though.

Why are you telling me this now?

Because I need you to tell your friends. Stumble this, or blog it, or tweet it. Or print it up and post it around town.

Whatever, just spread the word. The more people we have in this log ride, the better.

All clear? Drop me a line in the comment section if you’re in.

Okay then, see you on Monday with the first challenge:

The Naked Newsreader

Photo “Me, Myself and Eye” by Clearly Ambiguous on Flickr.

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