A new year is a great time to re-evaluate where you stand in every aspect of life. Of course, here we are most interested in how to keep learning and growing as writers. In 2021, we issued the Read like a Writer Challenge to help writers learn to read broadly and carefully for how to improve their own narratives.
This year, we’d like to issue a new challenge. A writing challenge! Each month, you’ve been assigned a scene for the purpose of building out a more complex and well-rounded narrative. Write separate stories for each of these prompts, and you’ll have a short story collection in no time. Or you can string them all together to build a framework for a novel. No matter what you do, this is an opportunity to focus on trying new skills in 2022. Good luck!
January: Write a Scene Where Someone Says No
Conflict is the backbone of every plot, and disagreement is the backbone of every conflict. So, start off strong with a simple scene that involves a conflict. It’s likely to make waves in your story as it grows. Also, this was the first ever writing prompt I was given in my first creative writing course. So, props to you, Mr. Robisch. I learned something after all.
February: Write a Scene Where Someone Gives Advice
Whether it’s good advice or bad, whether it’s taken or ignored really doesn’t matter. Advice is a great way to kick off a story with thematic bookends. If you choose advice carefully for your character’s journey, bring it in early, and then circle back to that advice in the end, you can quickly show the change that has come to your character over the life of the piece by showing how they interact with it differently. Plus, it’s so human to offer advice in a huge variety of situations whether it’s warranted or not. It doesn’t feel forced even in the most avant-garde stories.
March: Write a Scene with a Significant Object
You want a story with symbolism? We’ll give you an opportunity for symbolism. Or you can use your object to move the plot forward. Or you can have one that gives more information about a character. There are many ways you can use props in your story to make it more meaningful. What’s yours going to be?
April: Write a Scene where Plans Go Awry
Many writers love to make plans. It’s the nature of the beast. This is particularly true for outliners. You make your plans and then display them for all to see. They’re so well thought out and intricate and tie back in at just the right moments. What happens when a character takes over your narrative and won’t give it back?
May: Write a Scene with Three or More Characters Talking at Once
Life doesn’t happen in groups of two, though many writers would make you believe that’s true. The writing mechanics of managing three characters with distinct voices and motivations can be hard. Many would agree this skill takes practice, but it’s a great way to build in tension and give a good dose of reality to your story. So, spend some time this month striking the right balance while writing a scene that turns.
June: Write a Scene in a New Setting
Most stories have a sort of home base where most of the action happens. This builds the mood and setting while lulling readers into a sense of comfort so we can surprise them with our plot points. But a character can grow immensely from a small side venture within the constraints of your story. Is your home base a party being hosted in a home? Take two characters to a side room or closet. Is it happening worldwide? Find a chance to bring them home. What they take from that change of pace can help teach what they need to confront the climax more effectively.
July: Write a Scene where Someone Makes a Mistake
Characters are human. Well, most of them are. And probably all of your readers will be human. So, it makes sense that your characters won’t be perfect specimens. They’re going to make mistakes. How they handle their mistakes will tell readers a lot. Plus, if you allow them to make a big mistake early in your narrative, you could offer an option for redemption later in your story. But first, they’re going to have to give something up for it.
August: Write a Scene with a Bit of Luck
No one has overcome their biggest obstacles purely through hard work. There’s always a bit of luck, whether you’re born into it or stumble upon it at random. Your story deserves that as well. You don’t need to go all JKR on us and get your characters high on luck, but what would happen if they had the odds slightly tilted in their favor?
September: Write a Scene that Raises the Stakes
Anybody who decides to write a book has a great inciting incident. You go in with the question: What would happen if an infant could read minds? What if a dog could learn to talk? The ideas just come and it creates a great hook for your audience. But in every story, there’s a moment where the readers grow tired of that narrative. You can’t expect to run all the way through a novel on that one conceit. To keep them interested, you’re going to have to find a way to raise the stakes and bring tension back into the narrative. Now Is the time.
October: Write a Scene with a Sudden Realization
From the beginning, your character has been trying to solve a problem. They’ve run into many barriers and learned small pieces of information along the way. But finding a solution to a conflict as complex as your primary plot line happens slowly and then all at once. At some point, your character has to put it all together and then take action. Hopefully the solution will both satisfy and surprise your readers. What do you have up your sleeve?
November: Write a Scene Where Multiple Conflicts Interact
In a novel-length story, it’s uncommon to have a focus on the primary plotline alone. So, a great way to build tension is by having one plot line that complicates the other. Ultimately, you want as many plots to interact as possible in the climax of your novel to heighten the drama and bring forth a resolution that satisfies reader questions, but other anchor scenes lend themselves to this treatment as well. So, consider this a test run for your climax scene.
December: Write a Scene that Applies Previous Lessons
The resolution of your story gives readers a chance to reflect upon everything that has happened since the beginning of your story and how your characters have changed as a result. A great way to do this is by creating a similar situation to your opening scene. Another is giving characters a chance to display their new attributes. Maybe they can right some wrongs or at least help others avoid their own mistakes.
As you may have noticed, these suggested scenes come together to form a loose narrative curve. So if you stay on track with your twelve scenes, you’ll have the skeleton of a novel to build from. If you’re having trouble getting there, these kinds of writing exercises and more can be provided by a book coach to keep you on track. But there’s also a chance you’ll have a novella or novel if you are inspired to add on as you go. Then, it’s likely you’re ready to work with an editor or beta reader.
Even if it’s just for fun, these kinds of writing challenges can help you hone your craft and prepare for your next, more serious piece. Or maybe one solitary scene will inspire a bigger narrative. You’ll never know until you dive in. Happy writing!
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