2026 Summer Writing Challenge
This year it’s a bit different – we will be posting up some new prompts each week using a mix of written and visual prompts. You don’t need to use all of the prompts (although kudos for trying!) just chose want you need to get inspired and do some free writing – set the timer for 10 mins and see what you come up with.
Remember the rules for free writing….
  • Start your timer and don’t stop writing until the timer dings.
  • No editing. There are no errors, don’t fix mistakes – this is free form writing – let it flow, don’t worry about spelling mistakes, grammar, or punctuation this is about getting the ideas out.
  • Contradiction is okay, don’t question your ideas (you’ll scare them away)  things will change as the ideas form, everything is worthy!
  • Writing "I don’t know what to write here", leaving a space, or writing nonsense (my go to is “monkey pants” because it makes me laugh and that seems to free up my ideas”) are all valid.
  • Don’t get smart “keep it simple”, trying to think of the cleverest idea will kill your creativity and is the fastest way to writer’s block
If you come up with something that inspires you, you can always edit it into a 2nd draft, that’s when you can make things make sense, use story structure, sort out spelling, grammar and punctuation. The best ideas come when you give them space to form true to your story.
Week 1
Prompt:                An impulse buy leads to an intergalactic warfare
Genre:                  Realistic
Item:                     Bread
Where:                 Museum            
Who:                     A soap opera writer      
Line to include:    “The floor tastes like…”               
Week 2
Prompt:                Someone goes to extreme lengths to return something “borrowed”
Genre:                  Supernatural
Item:                     Pen
Where:                 A language class for Aliens
Who:                     A loner forced to work with someone
Line to include:    “You’re wrong as usual, it was the clown”
Week 3
Prompt:                A story entitled “The Fate of the Historian”
Genre:                  Sci-Fi
Item:                     Tomato
Where:                 A tent
Who:                     Someone like you          
Line to include:    “Please shut the…”
Week 4
Prompt:               Someone’s life take on new meaning after they discover a….
Genre:                  Western
Item:                     Poisoned Candy
Where:                 Ship/cruise
Who:                     A Dragon
Line to include:    “The colour of her blood is the least of my worries"
Week 5
Prompt:                A Story that begins and ends on a bicycle
Genre:                  Dystopian
Item:                     a possessed wig
Where:                 Vets
Who:                     Someone who moved back to their home town
Line to include:    “Sleep… if you think they won’t find you!”    
Week 6
Prompt:                An unfinished work of art causes foreboding
Genre:                  Horror
Item:                     Mind control wallpaper
Where:                 A Farm
Who:                     Waitress
Line to include:    “This could save us all… but probably just me!”
Week 7
Prompt:                A Mysterious extended family member dies
Genre:                  Historical Fiction
Item:                     Spoon
Where:                 A desert
Who:                     Someone can’t keep secrets
Line to include:    “Tell no one!”