More Contests, You Say?

Happy to oblige. Here is one for those who love photos as writing prompts (as well as for those who squirm when presented with something like this, such as I.) This is a wonderful opportunity to exercise those creativity links between pictures and imagination and stories and feelings. This is the Three Minute Fiction organized by NPR. Here is the photo:


The deal: write a story no longer than 600 words, the approximate number of words that fill up three minutes of airtime. Why airtime? Because the winning story will be read on NPR, The judge for the final round: Alan Cheuse.

Has the photo stirred up some emotions yet? Is there a story bubbling up inside waiting to be captured? Or are you still squinting at the photo like I am doing, pointedly ignoring the emotions that are indeed being stirred up? I do this because it's a lot easier to squint than to capture that first swirl of an idea, when everything is still unformed and elusive.

Onto two other contests, similar to the ones I've announced on this blog, in which the prizes include critiques by published authors and agents.

Elana Johnson has a Pay It Forward Contest. Read the deets here.

Shelli has a week long contest at her blog, Market My Words. Read the deets here.

Good luck, everyone!