#267: Overcoming Obstacles with Writers Ink
This week’s contest, "Overcoming Obstacles," is hosted by our friends over at Writers Ink, the online mentoring and coaching wing of award-winning magazine website www.writing.ie that’s run by Writing.ie’s founder, bestselling author Sam Blake, and business and mindset coach, journalist Maria McHale. Sam and Maria’s mission at Writers Ink is to help you say goodbye to limiting beliefs about your writing, and give you the training, tools, and support you need to get everything you want as a writer. Members of the Writers Ink community are getting publishing deals and hitting the bestseller lists, and Writers Ink’s free writing challenges have resulted in whole novels coming together. Here’s what they have to say about their chosen theme for this takeover:
Writers Ink is delighted to partner with Reedsy to present this week’s contest! As mentors, we encourage writers to develop their creativity muscles. Muscles are built through exercise; so is writing! One of the main issues we see writers struggle with is mindset. They often have all of the tools to nail a great story — EXCEPT they get hobbled by limiting beliefs like a fear of failure or a fear of success — obstacles!
Most great stories contain obstacles that challenge heroes, but the best characters always overcome them. Share yours using the prompts below...
Special Update: The Results
Writers Ink's top three picks for this takeover were: 1) "One-Mississippi, Two-Mississippi" 2) "The Rag-Man" and 3) "You're Not Even Happy"
Here's what they had to say about the winning story, "One-Mississippi, Two-Mississippi": "We believe this story works on both a metaphorical and literal level. It's an engaging and clever response to the prompt — we get a clear sense of the character, and the use of interior monologue works really well."
Congratulations to contest winner Fi Riley and the runners-up, Richard Stickann and Anna W!
This week's prompts
Write a story with two characters who meet for the first time — and one of them has a secret.
Short Story – 83 stories
Your character overhears something that changes their path.
Short Story – 38 stories
There’s been an accident — what happens next?
Short Story – 70 stories
Write a story set against the backdrop of a storm.
Dramatic – 106 stories
Your character wants something very badly — will they get it?
Short Story – 60 stories
Stories
“The Accident ” by Molly Milsom
Submitted to Contest #267
“The Bride of Brexton Stag” by Mark Bastable
Submitted to Contest #267
“Sagonige and the End” by Yvonne Dennis
Submitted to Contest #267
“A Legend Returns / A Storm Delay” by Douglas Maxson
Submitted to Contest #267
“Coincidental Storm” by Ginger M Crabb
Submitted to Contest #267
“The Gangs of Barnam” by Logan Goodrum
Submitted to Contest #267
“Storm” by Stephanie Canaway
Submitted to Contest #267
“Racing the Storm” by Hannah Foust
Submitted to Contest #267
“Fathers Sword” by Dane Haylett
Submitted to Contest #267
“The End of the World is as Good a Time to Change as Ever” by Samuel Teaches
Submitted to Contest #267
“A Noise in the Forest ” by Dagny Gunnar
Submitted to Contest #267
“A Storm of Secrets” by David Dean
Submitted to Contest #267
“The S-Bend ” by Darcy Hay
Submitted to Contest #267
“April, 1974” by Renee Yancey
Submitted to Contest #267
$250
Prize money
357
Contest entries
127
Stories
Ended on 23:59 - Sep 13, 2024 EST
Won by Fi Riley 🏆
Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.
Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!