I received a subscription to the magazine Writer’s Digest for Christmas this last year, and I get really excited when it arrives–even more excited when I have time to read it.  It has interviews with authors and lots of information on perfecting the writing craft, as well as the business side of things.  I especially have enjoyed the features that discuss ways to fit writing into an already jam-packed schedule.  And there are contests.  Loads of contests to enter.  It’s overwhelming in a sense. 

     What’s not overwhelming, and is actually kind of fun is the prompt contest that appears in every issue.  This is the perfect low-key contest to enter and get your writing feet wet.  This issue’s prompt is “A woman is given the ability to go back in time and change one event in her life.”  There is a 750 word limit, and submissions are to be emailed.  What could be easier?  The deadline is July 10.  The winner receives publication of his story in an issue of the magazine.

     A “prompt” contest like this is disarming.  Prompts are just to play–just to try new things and see where you end up.  It’s a good way to get your creative juices flowing and find a story where you didn’t expect one.  There is less pressure with a prompt than say writing a twenty page short story or a collection of sonnets.  It’s short.  It may seem silly, but it is fun to try.

     I played with this prompt last night when I was feeling “at loose ends.”  I worked on it for about an hour and ended up with a fun story that is about 200 words over the limit.  I will revise and delete those extra words and get it emailed soon.  It wasn’t a big time committment, but it was a small step toward fulfilling my goal to be more committed to my writing.  And, even if nothing comes of it, a creative exercise like this definitely adds novely to an otherwise ordinary day.