Happy Friday! The weekend is almost here; I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Speaking of “light,” I have an interesting contest to tell you about that also serves as a writing prompt. It’s a contest presented by The Writer magazine called “Let There Be Light.”
I first learned about the contest from an ad in the August 2017 edition of the magazine. Information about the contest is also available on their website.
For now, here’s the basic rundown:
- The short story you enter must be based on this prompt
- “Write a 2,000-word fictional short story using any nuance, definition, or understanding of the word ‘light’.”
- Some examples from the magazine include “I saw the light,” “Lighten the load,” and “Give the green light.”
- Stories must be 2,000 words or less.
- Entry fee: $25
- Deadline is midnight Eastern Standard Time on August 21st, 2017.
- Entries are only accepted through their entry form (see the link provided above).
- First place prize: $1,000 and publication in The Writer
- Second place prize: $500 and publication on their website
- Third place prize: $250 and publication on their website
- International (non-US) writers are allowed to enter.
The prompt sounds easy enough, right? Open-ended and leaves room for creativity?
Just be careful not to trick yourself into thinking it’s too easy. Writers are notorious procrastinators. While some of us thrive under pressure, not leaving ourselves enough time because we think something will be easy can kill our writing.
You should also remember that the most open-ended prompts are often the hardest. Without strict parameters, the imagination may try and wander down several different paths, leading to a story which is scatter-brained, incoherent, poorly-executed, and incomplete.
Don’t be deterred, though. Any one of you could submit a story and win. I’m looking forward to seeing a familiar name printed in The Writer.
Good luck to all who enter.
