writing contest: a great way to hone your writing skills

Let's start May with a writing contest!

What do you know about beginnings and endings? A great story might begin with a brilliant thought, random line, or quirky character, but at some point you'll need to get organized. In the meantime, just write. Regurgitate those ideas swimming about your head. Splatter every thought on the page. When you're ready, when the well's dry, step back and begin that plan. Mold the pieces together into a beautiful tale.

Writing challenges are a great way to practice your writing skills. This week, we take an opening and closing and craft a short tale. Call it flash fiction, mini tale, bitesize story, or whatever.

Below, you'll find three beginnings and three endings. You mix and match. Fill in the middle with a compelling story (as compelling as a few hundred words can be). Have fun!

Rules: choose one beginning and one ending, fill in the rest; keep it to 300 words or less.

Beginnings:
1. (Landscape) The summer sun faded and night set in...
2. (Dialogue) "Stop it, Josh! You never listen."
3. (Meet the hero/heroine) She never loved winter, but it was different now since the events of the past summer.

Endings:
1. "I know. It's not really what I expected at all, but I sure am glad you're here."
2. A single apple tree stood on the burnt hillside.
3.  He took a deep breath, exhaled, and walked out the door.

Open to all ages!

This site is filled with many ideas. Feel free to search through my Blog for tips. Try these ones about sensory writing.

You have until May 15 to submit your entry. Paste it in the comments below or add a link with the entry on your own site.

The winner will be featured on this site and receive acclaim on Twitter and Facebook. 

Good luck!
Write on!

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