Tag: Writing Community

Call For Prompt Submissions

On By C. L. BlackeIn Writing Prompts and ExercisesLeave a comment

In case you haven’t checked it out, I’ve got a page set up specifically for writing prompts.

I used to hate spending time on prompts because 1) they never seemed like anything I wanted to write about, and 2) I didn’t want to waste my time working from a prompt when I could be working on my novel.

Well, setting a time limit to work on a prompt actually forces me to make story decisions without deliberation, to write without constant self-editing or revising, to simplify the elements of story into a character with a singular goal, obstacle, resolution, and to habitualize (if this isn’t a word, it should be) the practice of writing.

One day I decided to practice writing by working from a prompt five days a week for 30 minutes at a time. I looked online for prompts that interested me and found one on Writersdigest.com that basically said to take a line from a text message as a writing prompt.

So that’s what I did. I scoured my texts and PMs and came up with the random prompts found on the Writing Prompts page.

If you would like to be featured as a contributing Prompt Person, send me a random sentence from your texts or private messages.

Email them to me at blackcattales@gmail.com with the word “Prompt” in the subject line.

I hope this goes without saying, but explicitly sexual, discriminatory, or offensive language will not be tolerated.

Chosen prompts will be posted every Wednesday (because Writing Prompt Wednesday, people!).

What do you get out of it? The prestigious honor of having your name appear on my site as the prompt contributor and a pingback to your site if you have one.

How can you beat that?

Can’t wait to see the wacky convos you guys have!

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Summer Camp Writing Challenge

On By C. L. BlackeIn Writing ChallengesLeave a comment
conifer daylight environment evergreen
Photo by eberhard grossgasteiger on Pexels.com

Ah, nothing says summer better than sweaty armpits and chafed inner thighs.

And here in Massachusetts, we’re in for a long stretch of hot, humid weather over the next 10 days.

If you’re crazy like me, you probably can’t wait to step outside into a swamp. But if you’re not, this might be a good time to go camping.

Camp NaNoWriMo, that is.

For anyone who is new to the challenge, as I was, it is “An idyllic writer’s retreat, smack-dab in the middle of your crazy life.” And it takes place during the month of July.

Unlike November’s NaNo, you get to choose the type of project you want to work on and how your progress will be calculated.

Want to write a screenplay or a poem? No problem. What about a series of short stories or a piece of non-fiction? You can do that too. You can even set up a revision project.

You also get the option to track your progress by word count, hours, minutes, lines, or pages.

No longer are you constrained to writing a 50,000 word novel in 30 days because this is summer, and in the United States, July is synonymous with freedom and independence.

boy field grass green
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I signed up for Camp and entered my project to finish a work-in-progress novel. It remains to be seen if that’s actually the piece I’m going to work on–I kind of want to write a fun murder mystery beach read (because nothing says fun quite like a murder in a beach resort town) or finish my World of Warcraft fanfiction serial. But it would be really nice to finally have this novel finished.

If you’re thinking maybe you should jump start your own prolific writing career or need a little motivation to try a new medium or genre, I encourage you to sign up too.

Another great feature of Camp is that you can choose to join a cabin of 19 other like- or maybe-not-so-like-minded writers for inspiration.

I’m planning to create a private cabin, so if you want to be bunk mates, send a request to clblacke for an invitation through the Camp NaNo message system and be sure to let me know you’re responding to this post.

Writers of all genres and mediums are welcome. You don’t need to be a mystery or young adult writer to join my cabin.

So grab your marshmallows and bug spray and meet me at Camp!

man wearing black crew neck
Photo by Jass Sama on Pexels.com