#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."
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 – 85 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.
Short Story – 108 stories
Your character wants something very badly — will they get it?
Short Story – 61 stories
Stories
“To all the days we were together.” by Medina Karim
Submitted to Contest #267
“The Mirror” by Franklin Stein
Submitted to Contest #267
“Leaning In” by Teresa Stepp
Submitted to Contest #267
“Mind Games” by Ruth O’Leary
Submitted to Contest #267
“The Way Home” by Lee B
Submitted to Contest #267
“A Rocky Path” by Marcus Martin
Submitted to Contest #267
“Dressed for success” by Joan Earley
Submitted to Contest #267
“The Man in the Alley” by Gary R. Beebe Jr.
Submitted to Contest #267
“The Greater Good” by Jerry Tang
Submitted to Contest #267
“Sunsets and Tears” by Danny Konczynski
Submitted to Contest #267
“Victim to Hero” by George Abel
Submitted to Contest #267
“On a particular Thursday in March” by Cynthia Schmidt
Submitted to Contest #267
“The Almost Crash” by Helen Broderick
Submitted to Contest #267
“Hold On” by Breanna Aguiar
Submitted to Contest #267
“Who did it? ” by Hailee Paul
Submitted to Contest #267
$250
Prize money
362
Contest entries
129
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!