#323 Rituals with the London Writers’ Salon

This week, we’re running a takeover in collaboration with our friends over at the London Writers’ Salon (LWS). In addition to receiving the usual Prompts top prize of $250, the winner of this takeover will also be given a special bonus prize: a 3-month LWS Gold membership! Meanwhile, our runners-up will receive a 3-month LWS Silver membership! Find out more below...

Hello, writers, we’re Matt & Parul, co-founders of the London Writers’ Salon and Writers’ Hour, a daily silent writing practice that gathers over 1,000 writers a day.

This week’s contest is about something at the heart of many writers’ lives: Daily Ritual. In today’s world, so much changes so quickly. But rituals — those small, repeated acts we return to — have been part of human life since the beginning of time.

A ritual can be creative, grounding, and quietly transformative. Or it can introduce tension, difficulty, even division. It all depends on how it is held, whether we have free will with our ritual, and what happens when it’s disrupted.

This week’s theme is about the power of a daily ritual: the ordinary act that becomes extraordinary over time, shaping who we are and what we create.

As you approach this week’s theme, consider the ways that rituals have played a role in your life and for those around you. What meanings have they held for you? Where did you learn them from? In what ways have those rituals enhanced, restricted, or transformed you? In what ways have rituals revealed truths about you or the people around you?

We can’t wait to see what you come up with!

Special Update: The Results 🏆

London Writers' Salon's top pick for their takeover was "The Left Shoe First" by Sonia Yousaf. Here's what Parul from LWS had to say about it:

I found this to be an emotionally resonant and accomplished piece. The specificity within the scene really stood out, I felt that I was present with the character, seeing and sensing the world through their eyes. The descriptions are vivid and alive, at times almost personifying the world and objects around them. There’s also a satisfying narrative arc, which is impressive in such a short form. What struck me most was the way the piece holds both loss and hope — the sense of loss is visceral, yet there’s a quiet hope that shimmers around the edges. Overall, this was a wonderful read: emotionally evocative, well-crafted, and it has stayed with me long after reading.

Congratulations to contest winner Sonia Yousaf and the runners-up, James Scott and Sabrina Lee!