IntShoWriMo 2016: Round Up & Winners' Badge

IntShoWriMo 2016 Winners' Medallion

We’re on the other side of 30 days of adrenalin rush. It’s been four whole weeks of tempting the muse and the word ‘fun’ just grew a whole new meaning of its own.

So, long story short, this month’s theme has been about celebrating, at least for me, five years of crafting 30 stories in 30 days. I didn’t know exactly how this gig was going to turn out when I dipped my toes in that strange waters of the short tale. But heck, here I stand today worth over a hundred and fifty stories of roughly 250,000 word count.

I just might post the summaries of those stories sometime this July but for everybody who took part in this year’s challenge, the winners’ golden badge is all yours for the taking. I’ll be seeing you yet again the coming year.

Until that time, write feverishly and keep your pen bleeding!

Akpan

IntShoWriMo 2016 Prompts: Day 30

Two moons rise over a darkened field. — Writing.Com

A frantic 7-year-old kid appears at your door, cursing like a sailor. He has nothing on him but a wallet of a 24-year-old man who looks like him. He needs your help and a shot of whiskey. — Reddit

Write a scene in a short story in which a character with creative inclinations feels like he’s not being a helpful member of society. How does he shake himself out of it? Does his chosen course of action help his productivity as an artist? What does this change reveal about his place in the world of the story? — PW.Org

Write a story where you propose a convincing reason why vampires express a strong aversion to sunlight. Your explanation may be comic but it must be original. — Akpan

IntShoWriMo 2016 Prompts: Day 29

Write a story about a father looking for his son. The child was one of the passengers in a plane that crashed earlier that day. — creativewritingprompts.com

Tromping through the Korean jungle wasn't his idea of a good time, but he wasn't there for himself. He was there for her; she needed him. — Writing.Com

In Lauren Groff’s novel Fates and Furies (Riverhead Books, 2015), which President Barack Obama named his favorite book of 2015, a marriage is detailed first through the husband’s perspective, then the wife’s. His memories are fond, but hers, not so much. Take on that old adage about two sides to every story and pick a supporting character from a novel, film, or short piece, and rewrite a story from his or her point of view. You could even invent a character related to a famous one, as Sena Jeter Naslund did in her novel Ahab’s Wife (William Morrow, 1999). Experiment with how a scene or plot can be completely transformed just by a change of perspective. — PW.Org

You come home to find your split image sitting on your couch. Just as you’re about to conclude this might be your long-lost twin, the stranger speaks and dispels your doubt. “I need you to be me for one day,” s/he says. “My life depends on it.” What does s/he want you to do and do you agree? What are the consequences if you dis/agree? Write your story. — Akpan

IntShoWriMo 2016 Prompts: Day 28

Write about the smallest insect you've ever seen. — Writing.Com

The year is 1491 and you are a famous world explorer. You set out to sail around the globe, but your crew is apprehensive about sailing around the Bermuda triangle. You dismiss their superstitions and demand to hold course. Sure enough, as you approach the Triangle you get caught in a horrible storm. What happens next? — Writer’s Digest

You know a walk in the park in the dark is the craziest move you can make especially with rumors of a vicious serial killer going the rounds. But your car breaks down just outside the perimeter of the park with no person or vehicle within earshot. Do you forget everything and run or do you wait it out until help comes along? Write your story. — Akpan

Write for 10 minutes using "I used to think..." as your starter. — creativewritingprompts.com

IntShoWriMo 2016 Prompts: Day 27

The copier wasn't working again and I was on my last nerve when suddenly... — Writing.Com

You wake up one morning and find yourself inside a Looney Tunes cartoon with a burning desire to hunt down a certain Bugs Bunny, no matter the cost. What happens next? — Writer’s Digest

Melinda Alcott and Dwayne Modderman meet in a bank. One of them is a loner. Describe how they meet. — creativewritingprompts.com

A crew of astronauts departs on a voyage to colonize a planet, first time ever. They go into hibernation only to be awakened somewhere mid-trip by a more advanced and faster ship, by far more advanced humans, technologically and biologically enhanced, who departed years after them. — Reddit

IntShoWriMo 2016 Prompts: Day 26

You heard rumors of a zombie attack on your way to the club with your buddies and waved it off like another urban legend. You came home late at night totally knocked out and went straight to bed only to be awakened in the dead of night by unearthly sounds. You peep through your keyhole and can hardly believe your eyes; there are white-faced, living corpses filling your corridor and one of them is heading straight for your bedroom door. Write the story. — Akpan

“I wasn’t planning on this. Falling in love with you was the last thing I wanted. Because I know our time would have to come to end. Yet, here I am, begging you not to turn the page.” Who is the speaker and who is the speaker talking to? Finish the scene. — Writer’s Digest

It turns out that a common vaccine lying dormant inside everyone is what turns everyone into zombies, except for the anti-vaxxers. — Reddit

A vacuum cleaner is invented that generates life from dust... — Writing.Com

IntShoWriMo 2016 Prompts: Day 25

The human race has finally settled in space in large colonies. Now citizens of this outer space world seek to cut off all ties with mother earth and become a unique planet even if it means incurring the wrath of the head council on earth. — Akpan

Bonnie Steinweg and Louie Cunningham meet while he is waiting for his date. One of them works two jobs. Write their story. — creativewritingprompts.com

Write about getting lost and finding an alternative way - it can be literal or metaphorical. — Writing.Com

Science always changes with new info. Today you found something that not only changes everything we know, but proves it all wrong. — Reddit

IntShoWriMo 2016 Prompts: Day 24

Write a zombie story where the hunger for flesh has been taken out of the flesh-eaters but a powerful science-oriented organization is trying their best to change that for reasons best known to them. Do they succeed? What happens if things spin out of control? How do the people of that world co-exist with the zombies? — Akpan

After a freak accident, you've split into two versions of yourself. One good, the other evil. For some reason you two are able to cooperate quite easily. — Reddit

Use this mixed personification to spark a poem or story: sorrow croons as love begs. — creativewritingprompts.com

Create a character that might live in a park or recreation area near you. Why do they live there and how do they interact with visitors? — Writing.Com

IntShoWriMo 2016 Prompts: Day 23

Everyone is fighting an unseen battle, yours happens to be the ghost of an ancient Spartan king who can occasionally possess your body. — Reddit

Write a short story that gives love a "bad name," first plotting the blossoming and struggle of a relationship in your story arc, and then its ultimate dissolution. What's the primary obstacle for your characters? Are your lovers hindered by geographic distance, opposing political viewpoints, or financial woes? Does the tale involve online dating and mistaken identity? Or is it finally the characters' own emotional histories that provide the biggest conflict? Perhaps at love's peak your characters will catch a hopeful glimpse of “full possession.” — PW.Org

Write about someone you would love to see put in jail. — creativewritingprompts.com

You are an 18-year-old adoptee. You have your birth mother's name and phone number in your hand. — Writing.Com

IntShoWriMo 2016 Prompts: Day 22

Write a story revolving around these words, “The world seemed to stand still.” — From Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart”

What’s your idea of a perfect vacation? — creativewritingprompts.com

Write a seemingly normal story, except for the last sentence, which makes the entire story creepy. — Reddit

You've graduated from clown college and have been named valedictorian of your class. You must give an inspirational speech to all the other bozos in the crowd and, after weeks of writing, you finally think you've nailed it. Show us you delivering your speech. — Writer’s Digest