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Choose one (or more) of the prompts below as a jumping off point for a free-write about you.
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Write about a time when you rely on an animal for comfort. Does the animal just know that you need help? What does it do? (Can be real or fiction.)
[YWP photo library, photo by Abigail Kirby]
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Take a moment to interpret the meaning of the sign in this photo by (Carter Devenney, Essex High School). Does it apply to your own life, reminding you of something you’ve always intended to try? Or does it apply to the state of the world? Climate change? What does the sign make you think of?
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Write about a person who has to make a choice — they are at a fork in the road somehow. Why do they choose one thing, and leave the other behind?
[Photo credit: YWP Media Library, illustration by Tess LaLonde]
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Write about a person who is shy, and how they decide one day that they are OK with that.
[Photo credit: YWP Media Library, photo by Delaney Harrison]
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One of the keys to happiness is to nurture feelings of gratitude. Write a poem or short essay about a person, place or thing that makes you especially grateful.
[Unsplash, photo by Simon Maage]
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Tell a story in which the wind, or maybe just a breeze, plays a critical role.
[Photo credit: YWP Media Library, photo by Fiona Goodman]
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Where do you see the greatest opportunity to create peace in your community or the world? Write an essay or poem about what you can do to promote peace. This challenge is from the YWP archive, so you might see some responses from past years. Sprout from any of these if they move you!
[Photo credit: YWP Photo Library, photo by Jonathan Palmer]
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What is the happiest you’ve ever been? How did it feel to be in that moment? Reflect and try to describe the sensation and the experience.
[YWP photo library, illustration by mythicalquill]
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Collect a few nearby household/everyday objects you frequently use or find interesting in some way, and arrange them for a photo or drawing (inspired by YWP's Kitkat). What do the objects you choose say about you and your life, or a new character’s? Post the photo or drawing. Write an accompanying poem, story or personal essay if you're inspired!
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Write about a friendship that begins in a unique or unusual setting and tell how the setting helps bind the two people together, i.e. near the pineapple display in the grocery store, on a leaky boat in the lake, flying in a hot air balloon...
[Photo credit: YWP Media Library, illustration by Connor Byam]
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Mystique is defined as "a fascinating aura of mystery, awe, and power surrounding someone or something." Write about a person, place, object, building, sports team, work of art — anything that seems to have a mystique.
[Photo credit: YWP Media Library, photo by Bri Lancaster]
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Describe yourself in exactly 15 words — no more, no less. A sentence or list.
[Unsplash, photo by K. Mitch Hodge]
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The Challenge: "YWP is ..." what? Finish the sentence. Tell us how YWP affects your life, what you like about it, what it means to you. Thanks!
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Write a poem about the ferocity of a thunderstorm. Use onomatopoeia sounds to convey the thunder, lightning, and rain.
[Unsplash, photo by Lucien Kolly]
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Look at the photo examples in this challenge. Each one evokes a setting. Take your own photo of an inspiring setting -- so inspiring that writers will want to write about it! Post your photo(s).
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Write a short story or poem inspired by one or both of these paintings — Portrait of a Young Woman (attributed to Jean-Étienne Liotard, c. late 1700s) and/or Girl with a Pearl Earring (Johannes Vermeer, c. 1665). What are they about to say? Who are they?
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In some schools it’s a tradition to leave behind hidden messages (stashed in library books, for example) for the next generation of students. What advice would you give to the students coming up behind you?
[Unsplash, photo by Noemi Macavei-Katocz]
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Sit still in a quiet place with your eyes closed for five minutes, and try to empty your mind of any thoughts. Does one thought keep pushing its way through? Vent about it or use it as inspiration to write.
[Photo credit: YWP Media Library, photo by Marina Sprague]
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Imagine for a moment, if you can, that our society was without speech. Using inspiration from dance or pantomime, write a story or poem about a “conversation” between two people expressed solely through the movements of face or body.
[Unsplash, photo by Kirstina Flour]
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Ken Cuccinelli, acting director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, said in an interview that Emma Lazarus’s words on the Statue of Liberty should read, “Give me your tired and your poor who can stand on their own two feet and who will not become a public charge.” If you could respond directly to Cuccinelli, what would you say?
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Write about a time when you loved and hated someone or something at the same time. Describe the conflicting emotions you felt in this confusing situation.
[YWP photo library, photo by Elizabeth Goodrich]
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Is justice blind? What influences come into play in the justice system? How could the system be made more fair?
[Photo by Claire Anderson on Unsplash]
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Do you live near mountains (like Lincoln Peak by YWP's Love to write)? Or maybe you've had a chance to travel to mountains. Write a story that involves mountains, your experience in them, or as a setting for a tale. If possible, take photos of the mountains and post them with your writing.
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A sunshower is a meteorological event in which rain falls while the sun is shining. Cultures around the world refer to this event by remarkably similar names, many of them related to folklore of trickster animals getting married. Write your own folk tale that place during a sunshower.
[Unsplash, photo by Loren Gu]
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A small carnival rolls into town unexpectedly, causing an excited stir in the student body – but something doesn’t feel right to you. What’s going on behind the scenes?
[Photo credit: YWP Media Library, photo by Sam Aikman]
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These days, especially, the everyday potential for miscommunication is high. Write a humorous piece about a major misunderstanding that occurs over text or email, and include the moment both parties realize their error.
[Unsplash, photo by Pongsawat Pasom]
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Do you love an item that is typically considered “junk” like an old tire or a rusty wagon? Why do you find meaning in this item?
[YWP photo library, photo by Brooke Fontaine]
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Within a poem or short story, personify a character as a natural disaster (think mudslides, tornados, hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, etc.). How does this geographical/climatic event reflect their worst traits, or even their whole personality?
[Unsplash, photo by NASA]
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School has ended for the summer, and a good friend invites you on a spontaneous road trip. Where do you two head, and why? What problems or surprises do you encounter along the way?
[Photo credit: YWP Media Library, photo by Kaidin Aviles]
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You've been planning a surprise party for someone special for months, and so far, you've been able to keep the secret. But on the morning of the party, something unexpected happens to threaten the surprise. Try to tell the story through dialogue. [Challenge by Kittykatruff]
[Unsplash, photo by Eliott Reyna]
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What are you hungry for? It could be a favorite food or a dream job or a change in your life. What is the thing that bites at the inside of your stomach and you can’t stop thinking about?
[YWP photo library, photo by Riley Allen]
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One of the most universal human experiences, across all cultures and times, is the sense of being lost. Write about your own experience of being lost (how it happened, what it felt like, and how you found your way out) or from the perspective of the person in this photo by YWP's lia.chien.
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Imagine that you have built a small raft, and decide to float down a river one day. Describe the people you come across, what you see around you, what insights you gain by the end of the day.
[Unsplash, photo by Bill Anderson-Blough]
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Write a poem or story that features a starry night and a surprising discovery.
[Photo credit: YWP Media Library, illustration by Katelyn Brown]
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Describe a character who feels like they are carrying a heavy burden of some kind, but then they figure out a way forward that will ease their journey.
[Unsplash, photo by Mantas Heasthaven]
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Is there something special or unusual about your family? Do you have a kooky aunt or a famous cousin? Do you have a favorite spot where you gather in the summer? Funny family traditions and rituals?
[Unsplash, photo by Mike Scheid]
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Tell the story of a character who is forced to be their own support system. Write from their perspective before, during, or after the pivotal event.
[Unsplash, photo by Stefan Spassov]
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You have three wishes and they will all come true in sequence — tomorrow, and on your 25th and 50th birthdays. What do you wish for?
[Photo credit: YWP Media Library, photo by Carmella Clark]
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Reverence is defined as "deep respect for someone or something." Write about something that you regard with reverence.
[Unsplash, photo by Tiago Felipe Ferreria]
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Sometimes you get a feeling in the pit of your stomach about a person or situation. Was there ever a time when your intuition was right? What happened? What about a time when you were wrong?
[YWP photo library, photo by Shawn Baker]
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What is the best tip about writing that you have ever heard? Add your response to some gems we found from past YWPers. And here's one from "The Elements of Style:" Be clear, brief and bold.
Back story: In 1919, E.B. White was a student at Cornell University where he took an English class that had a huge influence on him. The class was with William Strunk, Jr., and required reading for the course was the professor's self-published book, "The Elements of Style." ...
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New classes, new classmates – it can be hard to introduce yourself to someone for the first time. Describe some ways to "break the ice" with people that can begin a beautiful friendship.
[Photo credit: YWP Media Library]
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Using the Shakespearian form, write a sonnet (abab cdcd efef gg). If you feel so called, write in Old English or start with a line from one of Shakespeare's sonnets. Examples: A woman’s face with Nature’s own hand painted; Farewell! Thou art too dear for my possessing; Some glory in their birth, some in their skill; OR, the most famous: Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? [Challenge by LadyMidnight]
...
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Describe a place that feels like home, but isn’t what you would consider your actual home. In what ways does this safe/special setting bring you comfort?
[Photo credit: YWP Media Library, photo by Charlotte Hughes]
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It feels good to help others. Write about a time you helped someone — who they were, why you did it, and how it all turned out. Fiction or real.
[Photo by Jeniffer Araújo on Unsplash]
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Author Seth Godin says, “Art is a personal act of courage.” With art -- either in words or images -- show your own personal act of courage.
[YWP photo library, photo by Jaylin Seaman]
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Join Igniting Writing in the UK, and other young writers from Ireland and Ohio for this fun, international writing contest. The theme is Explore. Take it wherever you want. But it must be fiction, it must be original, and it must be submitted by Sept. 1.
Read all the details here.
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Have you ever taken a risk and found it paid off? Often, just by trying and not being afraid to try, we find success. Write a story that explores this theme, real or fictional.
[Photo credit: YWP Media Library, photo by Katelyn Turner]
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Write in the style of a writer you admire — just the opening paragraph of a short story or the first stanza of a poem. Be sure to state the name of the author at the bottom of your piece.
[Unsplash, photo by Nicile Honeywill]
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Writing about music is an art in itself, often challenging writers to translate sounds into colorful turns of phrase and rich metaphors. Music critic Tim Rutherford-Johnson, for instance, once compared a rugged piece of music to "granite in November rain." Find a piece of music that appeals to you, and try to describe it to someone who has never heard it.
[Photo credit: YWP Media Library, photo by David Wrenner]...
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You are granted the gift of one do-over from your past. What would it be? Why?
[Unsplash, photo by Khadeeja Yasser]
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One of the most effective elements in storytelling is to write about change — the fact that something has shifted, for the better or for the worse, or perhaps that it is just different now and things cannot go back to the way they were. Write about a situation, an emotion, a perception, a sequence of events, anything that results in a permanent change.
[Unsplash, photo by Ross Findon]
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In great detail, describe the best sandwich you’ve ever had. What was on this incredible sandwich? Who made it? Where were you?
[Unsplash, photo by Eiliv Sonas Aceron]
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In the book "Night," Holocaust survivor and Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel writes about his experiences as a Jewish prisoner in the Auschwitz and Buchenwald concentration camps during the Second World War. Respond to Wiesel's story in words or images.
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Join Igniting Writing in the UK, and other young writers from Ireland and Ohio for this fun, international writing contest. The theme is Explore. Take it wherever you want. But it must be fiction, it must be original, and it must be submitted by Sept. 1.
Read all the details here.
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Write about yourself in a way that is positive. Express an appreciation for your own best qualities, talents, ideas, activities, and hopes and dreams.
[Photo credot: YWP Media Library, photo by Ella Staats]
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Have you ever met someone and felt you’ve known them your entire life, or perhaps in another life? Describe the experience.
[Unsplash, photo by Remi Walle]
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We all talk, but how well do we listen? Create a situation that turns on the ability of a character to really hear what someone else is saying.
[YWP Media Library, photo by Elizabeth Goodrich]
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Write a story that takes place over the course of just one day, where something very important happens.
[Unsplash, photo by Gabriel Santiago]
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What do you want your legacy to be? What is the one thing or personal characteristic you would like to be remembered for?
[Unsplash, photo by Laura Fuhrman]
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Is there a house you pass by on the way to school that always gives you the creeps, or a stretch of woods nearby that you would never set foot in? Write the PG-rated tale of a haunted location, either from your imagination or by researching local/regional urban legends.
[Photo credit: YWP Media Library, photo by Cassidy Mancuso]
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Have you ever thought to yourself, “Wait a minute… why isn’t that a thing already?” Explain your product or idea to the world.
[Unsplash, photo by Raul Varzar]
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Sometimes our mood can turn wistful, defined as "full of yearning or desire tinged with melancholy." Write a poem or story that conveys this feeling through tone and careful word choice.
[Photo credit: YWP Media Library, photo by Rachel Ahokas]
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Read through recently posted content on youngwritersproject.org until you find a piece that inspires you. Sprout from that piece to write a related poem or story that is distinctly your own, and remember to credit the writer who sparked your interest.
[Unsplash, photo by Maryna Bohucharska]
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Write about someone who has the ability to change shape. Can they take the shape of a wolf, another human, a virus, a plant, a chair, a speck of dust? What are the limits of their power, if any? What do they use them for?
[Photo credit: YWP Media Library, illustrstion by Abrie Howe]
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The writer Clive James said, "Common sense and a sense of humor are the same thing, moving at different speeds. A sense of humor is just common sense, dancing." How would you describe humor?
[Unsplash, photo by Lidya Nada]
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You have a chance to move to this planet, but you have to convince the rest of your family that it’s a good idea. Maybe real estate’s cheap. Maybe it’s a chance for adventure and a brand new start. Write a persuasive argument.
[Photo credit: YWP Media Library, collage by Anna Forsythe]
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Warren G. Harding, the 29th president of the United States, once said: "There's good in everybody. Boost. Don't knock." Write about how this has meaning for your own daily life at school.
[Unsplash, photo by Nicolas Gras]
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Respond to one or all of these prompts for potential inclusion in VT filmmaker Bess O'Brien's Listen Up Project.
1. People always tell me ...
2. What parents need to know ....
3. If I was in charge...
4. Write whatever's on your mind ...
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Find an interesting place where you can sit and observe, uninterrupted. Focus on a tiny, detail -- a color, a texture, a movement. Create a haiku by describing (...
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Muse magazine once asked kids to name the colors in an imaginary box of crayons, and instead of the usual colors, they came up with inventive names like Scary Movie Popcorn Yellow and Cat's Eye Nebula Red. What would you rename an array of colors (like those in the photo by YWP's Dancer)?
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Winter is coming soon. Write a short, descriptive poem or story about this distinctive season. Avoid cliches, and complaints. Express what is satisfying, beautiful and amazing about it. The best works will be selected for presentation by the Vermont Stage Company at its annual production of Winter Tales in Burlington in December.
[Photo credit: YWP Media Library, photo by Vivien Sorce]
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If you could break any world record, what would it be and how would you do it?
[Unsplash, photo by Sam Sabourin]
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Enter the mind of a character in an interesting, difficult, funny, or odd situation and describe what they are thinking over the course of one minute. Match your story to "real time," so that it only takes about one minute to read.
[Photo credit: YWP Media Library, photo by Ella Staats]
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Begin a poem or story with the words, “Tomorrow, I hope...”
[Photo credit: YWP Media Library, photo by Swantje Stein]
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The Senate majority leader has agreed to read one letter from one student in the U.S., and take action based on what the letter says. Your letter has been chosen. The letter has to be 250 words or less. Write the letter.
[Unsplash, photo by Alvaro Serrano]
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Imagine you are the eyes behind this photograph by YWP's Selena Bulan. Have you just stumbled across a way out of the forest, with intense relief – or have you just ventured in? Tell the story.
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There is no anticipation quite like the days counting down to Christmas morning or another holiday that is meaningful to you and your family. Write about how that felt for you as a young child — or how it still feels today.
[Photo credit: YWP Media Library, photo by Katelyn MacEsker]
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The end of the rainbow is a myth, right? Through poetry or prose, write about someone who happens upon that great meeting of earth and color (literally or figuratively). What do they see, what do they feel?
[Unsplash, photo by Jason Leung]
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Sometimes when positive/negative emotions peak at unexpected moments, our bodies have instant, visible reactions. Goosebumps, blushing, chills, twitching, and hives are all examples of this. Write about a memorable time you experienced one of these exterior changes in great excitement or duress. What was going on?
[Photo credit: YWP Media Library, photo by Shawn Baker]
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A journalist needs:
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Think about your daily life. What is one thing you could start doing today to help ease climate change?
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Qasem Soleimani, a top general in Iran, was killed by a US airstrike in Baghdad on Friday, Jan. 3. His successor has vowed retribution for his death. Crowds have flooded the streets to honor Soleimani and to protest against the US, which is sending additional troops to the Middle East. Read about this conflict. Write.
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“Put yourself in my shoes,” the saying goes, often spoken by someone asking another to see things from their perspective. Whose shoes (like these sneakers of YWP's NiñaEstrella) would you like to try on, in order to get a better understanding of their life experiences?
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Complete the thought, “I feel alive when…” in just two paragraphs.
[Photo credit: YWP Media Library, photo by Charlotte Hughes]
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Begin or end a story or poem with, “If only I could reach a little farther ...”
[Unsplash, photo by Marc-Oliver Jodoin]
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Everybody has their idea of a perfect day, when everything falls into place just right. Write about "my kind of day," starting when you wake up, moving through the day, and ending in the evening. Make your day come alive for the reader so they can share your experience.
[Photo credit: YWP Media Library, illustration by Katherine Moran]
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The candidate with the most votes does not necessarily win the presidential election, because the Electoral College system is designed to provide a voice for low-population states. Is this fair? Still realistic today?
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Choose an issue that really matters to you -- and write it! Don't stop to fix spelling or grammar. Get all your thoughts out. Shout it as you write. Who's your audience? Tell them exactly what you think! Record it and post it here.
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It has been said that, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Think of something big you would like to accomplish, and write about the first step.
[Photo credit: YWP Media Library, photo by Fiona Goodman
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Your character is angry, or beset by some other negative emotion, but then manages to defuse the situation by looking at it from a new angle. This technique, called reframing, allows a person to pull out of downward spirals and create positive alternatives and outcomes. Write the story.
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Write as a person trapped in the form of an animal. How did this happen and how do they react? Do they manage to undo the transformation, and if so, how?
[YWP Photo Library, photo by Tyler Poulin]
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Write the story of someone with extraordinarily good luck or excruciatingly bad luck. What is everyday life like for them? Were they born with this luck, enchanted, or does it come from an object? What experiences and emotions result from it? Show the character in action.
[Photo credit: Alain Pham, Unsplash]
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The pet store is closing in five minutes and you have to make a choice -- which pet to take home and which to leave behind. What do you do?
[YWP Photo Library, photo by Madi Cohen]
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You’ve been commissioned to illustrate the cover of a new edition of your favorite book from your childhood. Submit the illustration to your YWP blog (and tell us the title of the book).
[YWP Photo Library, photo by Madi Cohen]
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YWP is looking for your visual art -- photographs and scanned art -- to be featured in our monthly magazine, The Voice, on the front page of the site, the newspaper series, and the Anthology! Respond to this challenge and post your best photos and art!
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You wake up slowly, your eyes gradually adjusting. Suddenly, you're on your feet, looking frantically in every direction. You don't recognize a thing. Where are you? How did you get here and what happens next?
[YWP Photo Library, photo by Kevin Huang]
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Good titles introduce, describe and catch interest. Deciding on one can be a complex process. Pick one of your pieces that you think has a perfect title -- or rename the piece after giving it some more thought. In a short essay, explain how the title relates to the piece it introduces. Is there a separate story about the title itself?
[YWP Photo Library, photo by Abigail Harkness, challenge submitted by Hazel Civalier, YWP]
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An official phone alert wakes you up from a deep sleep. It says, "We are under attack. Lock your doors and bar your windows." Hundreds of random numbers are sending, "Let me in." Write a short, fast-paced story to match the urgency of the situation.
[YWP Photo Library, photo by Samantha Aikman]
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Begin or end a poem or story with the phrase, “She was beautiful, but in a different sort of way.”
[YWP Photo Library, photo by Shannon Ripp]
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A two-part challenge. 1. Write a story of 500 characters. 2. Copy your best and post them here as a blog response. Details:
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Write about a character who realizes their perception of reality is completely different from that of most people, including those closest to the character. How does your character react upon discovering this? Why do they see things differently?
[YWP Photo Library, photo by Kevin Huang]
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For the avids:
Describe anyone or anything around you. Just remember: only 15.
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Facebook is slumping, hit by accusations that it has been sloppy with users' data and manipulated by foreign adversaries. Do you like Facebook?
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(This challenge idea comes from irishjayne, who used the word "fog.")
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You adopt a cat that you think is pretty ordinary … but when you bring it home and start talking to it absentmindedly, it responds to you -- and only you -- with the most expressive facial expressions. Describe your interactions.
[YWP Photo Library, photo by Abigail Harkness]
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What happens at your house when no one is home? What’s the first thing the inanimate objects do? Have a party? Hop into the hot tub? Play tricks on the absent humans? Write a whimsical tale.
[YWP Photo Library, photo by Madi Cohen]
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Imagine a talking forest where the trees’ dialogue reflects their characteristics: sweet-talking maples, cool but prickly spruce? What do the trees say? Write their dialogue.
[YWP Photo Library, photo by Shannon Ripp]
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Write about a family experiencing a hurricane. What do they say to each other while they’re huddled in the basement, listening to their house being battered and torn apart?
[Photo by noaa.gov]
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Write a story that leads your readers to believe it’s about one thing, but it turns out to be about something else entirely. Make it wacky and surprising!
[YWP Photo Library]
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Write about the relationship between a child and an imaginary friend from the perspective of the child or the friend. What’s the personality of this invisible character, and why does the child take such comfort in their company?
[YWP Photo Library, photo by Holly Margulius]
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This challenge has $$$ prizes! DUE: March 15. More details here.
1. Write a persuasive essay urging people to take action against the invasive insect, emerald ash borer (EAB). Present a fact-based argument. You might include why this matters, how communities and homeowners can respond to EAB, and why a response is needed.
OR
2. In poetry or prose, tell the story of an ash tree that is threatened by EAB. You might stretch back to the ash...
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You’ve always wanted to dye your hair a gorgeous new color, and when you finally get up the nerve to do it, something goes terribly wrong. You didn’t read the fine print on the bottle. Now what?
[YWP Photo Library, photo by Madi Cohen]
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When you go to wake your child one morning, you immediately sense that the baby in the crib is not yours. While they look the same, you know in your heart your own child has been replaced. Does anyone believe you? How do you rescue your child?
[YWP Photo Library, photo by Kevin Huang; challenge submitted by Rowan Potzler]
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Classic stories and myths are full of prophecies. Write about a character who is warned about a future event. Do they listen? What’s the source of the messages? Is the oracle thing legit or is it made up?
[YWP Photo Library, photo by Alexandra Contreras-Montesano]
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Where is your home? Far away in another land? Or here, where you live today? Read this poem "Home" by Balkisa Omar, a member of the Vermont slam poetry group Muslim Girls Making Change. Write about your own experience of home.
[YWP Photo Library, photo by Alexandra Contreras-Montesano]
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“They were almost ready to leave, but now there was a problem.” Using this phrase as inspiration, what happens next?
[YWP Photo Library, photo by Tess LaLonde]
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What are the dynamics in this group of friends? Do they all get along? Is there tension between some but not others? Imagine their dialogue as they swing. What are they saying to each other?
[YWP Photo Library, photo by Alexandra Contreras-Montesano]
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Spring is a time of rebirth and nature kicking in for its big show. Write a poem or story about a plant, animal or creature, real or imagined, coming to life.
[YWP Photo Library, illustration by Ada Shookenhuff]
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Listen to a favorite song and either write your interpretation of the lyrics or use them as inspiration for a poem, story or another song. What mental images do the lyrics evoke? Remember to list the song title and credit the artist.
[YWP Photo Library, photo by Abigail Harkness, challenge submitted by Hazel Civalier, YWP]
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Listen to the sound file and write the opening scene for a play, inspired by what the sounds make you feel: suspense, discomfort, anticipation?
[YWP Photo Library, photo by Sophia Cannizzaro, sound by freesound.org]
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Write a story as a series of letters or diary entries. Popular books that use this method include The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Dear Mr. Henshaw, Letters from Rifka, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
[YWP Photo Library, photo by Kevin Huang]
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You’ve just won a dream vacation, and you can pick the location and one traveling companion. Where do you go and with whom do you travel? Describe the sensation of being lifted from your everyday life into a paradise of your choosing.
[YWP Photo Library, photo by Rebecca Orten]
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Take a walk in your neighborhood, on a farm, in a city, down a school hallway. Stop for a moment and use as many senses as you can to describe what you see, hear, touch, smell -- and maybe even taste. Write a poem about your discoveries.
[YWP Photo Library, photo by Kevin Huang]
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VERMONT WRITES DAY!
You've walked past this sign for years. One day, it seems to be calling you inside -- and the adventure begins. Tell the story.
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VERMONT WRITES DAY!
Describe a time, real or fictional, when you have to summon up your courage. Focus on the actual "moment of truth," when time slows down and you have to commit to breaking through. What happens and how do you feel afterward?
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VERMONT WRITES DAY!
You have just been put in charge of the world, but you can only make one rule. What is it and what events or experiences led you to it?
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VERMONT WRITES DAY!
Some people believe that forests are enchanted places, with elves living there. Write a story or poem about the forest elves. Or tell the tale of a person who doesn't believe this, but then something happens to make them less certain.
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VERMONT WRITES DAY!
Thomas Jefferson said, "I am a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it." Write about a situation in which you, or a character you create, put a lot of work into something, and then luck seems to follow.
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VERMONT WRITES DAY!
Two strangers happen upon a bag of money while they're waiting for a train. Who are they? What do they do?
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VERMONT WRITES DAY!
Choose one of the photos in the slideshow and write a story or poem about it.
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Use sensory details to make the story pop.
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Notes on Lighting:
Lighting plays a major role in how...
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Some school years have a distinct aroma -- kindergarten might smell like glue sticks, second grade like lunchtime in the cafeteria, maybe eighth grade smells like a new book. These aromas can take you back to that place and time. Write about your own experience with certain years having their own special scent.
[Unsplash, photo by Pawan Kawan]
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Write to one or all of these Climate Change challenges created by YWP's Hazel Civalier and Sophie Dauerman for their special SoundCheck on Climate Change on Thursday, Nov. 15 at Burlington City Arts, 135 Church St., Burlington, VT, from 6-8 pm!
FIVE CHALLENGES
Oasis - Artistically portray a place in nature that you believe we should protect: Is it favorite park or hike where you relax? Does it contain a national monument? A...
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You’re babysitting two rambunctious children who have finally gone to bed. You’re exhausted and start drifting off to sleep on the couch, when you hear this sound. What is it? What do you do? https://freesound.org/people/tim.kahn/sounds/435490/
[YWP Photo Library, photo by Tess LaLonde]
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Try your hand at satiric comics such as this one from Burlington YWPer Connor Byam. Tap into your artistic side. Throw in some humor -- and voila!
[YWP Photo Library, illustration by Connor Byam]
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Addie Card was 12 and working as a spinner in a mill in North Pownal, VT, when photographer Lewis Hine took this photo in 1910. Find out more about America’s child laborers by researching Hine’s photos. Write a poem or story based on this photo or others you find.
[Photo credit: Lewis Hine, Library of Congress]
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Write about someone who tastes words, sees music and voices and/or hears colors. How do they use their mixed-up senses to their advantage, and what struggles do they face because of them?
[YWP Photo Library, photo by Kevin Huang]
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Write about a world in which trees can talk and/or move on their own. How would trees be treated if they could speak for themselves? What would they say to each other -- and to us?
[YWP Photo Library, photo by Kevin Huang]
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The fourth wall is the conceptual barrier between any fictional work and readers. Write a piece that breaks the fourth wall with a character who is aware of being fictional, and directly communicates to the reader.
[YWP Photo Library, photo by Jessica Belliveau]
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There is a new sport that’s growing in popularity: people fly kites that joust with each other in the air. Are the kites alive, enchanted, or built with advanced technology? What are the prizes for winning, and the consequences of losing?
[YWP Photo Library, photo by Creative Commons]
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A higher power decides to grant a superpower to all 7.6 billion people on planet Earth. But there’s a catch — if any two people name the same power, it becomes ineffective. What unique power do you choose, and what do you do with it?
[YWP Photo Library, photo by Lia Chien]
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Vermont winters can be brutal and beautiful at the same time. Using descriptive language, write a story or poem that takes place in the dead of winter. Illustrate it with photos or drawings if you like.
[YWP Photo Library, illustration by Ada Shookenhuff]
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Your character is immersed in an unsettling and unfamiliar setting — a claustrophobic character in a cave, a first-time skier on top of a steep mountain, a city where no one speaks the character's language. Describe the environment and the character's reaction to it in a short scene.
[YWP Photo Library, photo by Kevin Huang]
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You’re a terrifying creature — everyone is afraid of you — but you feel completely misunderstood. How did the world come to perceive you this way? Can you change their perception? Tell the story.
[YWP Photo Library]
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Pick a word and give it your own personal definition. Perhaps to you, “friendship” means the secrets that are whispered at 3 AM in the dark, “pineapple” brings to mind an infamous childhood prank and "flower" is a sunny afternoon in your grandmother's garden.
[YWP Photo Library, photo by Hazel Civalier]
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Write a story leading up to a major event or holiday and end it before it actually happens. Try to leave your readers wondering by playing around with ambiguity and cliffhangers.
[YWP Photo Library, photo by Abigail Harkness]
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Fall is a time of transition in nature. What if it were for humans as well? Using elements of the season as your inspiration, write a poem about someone who undergoes a biological transition every autumn, .
[YWP Photo Library, illustration by Callie Cox]
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What's the story behind these two friends?
[YWP Photo Library, illustration by Ada Shookenhuff]
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Write a story or poem starting with the line, “It had been a long time, but now he was here.”
[YWP Photo Library, photo by Ada Shookenhuff]
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Delicious meals are universally regarded as a labor of love. Tell the story of a recipe from start to finish: harvesting blackberries to make jam, foraging for mushrooms, roasting marshmallows—and how the experience affects the people who prepare and eat the meal.
[YWP Photo Library, painting by Ada Shookenhuff]
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Psychologists tell us our earliest memories typically form between the ages of 3 and 4. What is your earliest memory, and how old were you? Are the details hazy, or do you see and feel it clearly?
[YWP Photo Library, Photo by Kevin Huang]
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The first day at school, camp, a new job can be nerve-wracking. Write about a memorable first day experience of your own or make one up, whether funny, mortifying or sad.
[YWP Photo Library, Educational Technology Clearinghouse - University of South Florida]
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Your character is having an argument with someone. They begin hurling insults at each other, but without the use of profanity, slurs or comments about appearance. Maybe they end up laughing at the absurdity. Maybe they part in anger. Tell the story through their dialogue, showing the most creative fighting words they exchange.
[YWP Photo Library, photo by Antonia Armstrong-Laird]
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Imagine if 70° Fahrenheit weather — that pleasant, almost perfect temperature— were a person. How would the characteristics of 70°F weather be represented in a person? What would an interaction with them be like?
[YWP Photo Library, photo by Kevin Huang]
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Your character wanders off to this dock to watch the sunset. Something important has just happened and they need time alone. Tell the story.
[YWP Photo Library, photo by Nora Wootten]
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You have been invited to join a club that you’ve only heard wild rumors about. If you decide to join, what do you find out? What is the club really about? Are there bizarre initiation rituals and secret handshakes? Or if you take a pass, how do you come to your decision -- and live with that decision?
[YWP Photo Library, photo by Abigail Harkness]
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Use this photo, taken at Shelburne Museum, as inspiration to write a story about a circus or carnival with dazzling acts touring the country.
[YWP Photo Library, photo by Hazel Civalier]
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Don’t ignore me! Write from the perspective of a character that you wish you would see more often or more accurately in the media, TV and movies.
[YWP Photo Library, photo by Kevin Huang]
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Write about someone who is ruler of something very strange or very silly. How did they become the leader? What “laws” do they pass? Who are their subjects and enemies, and how do they cope with this empire?
[YWP Photo Library, photo by Kevin Huang]
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Use your best persuasive skills to convince your teacher or another adult to do something or believe something. What is the conversation in which you urge, coax or demand, and how does it turn out?
[Photo credit: Lewis Hine, Library of Congress]
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Write a poem or story that ends with a greeting. What is the backstory? Lead the reader along with you up to the point of the greeting, which might be a surprise (“Oh, hello!”), or a test of will (“Hi, my friends made me do this…”) or a coincidence (“Joe?! What are you doing here?”).
[YWP Photo Library, photo by Amanda Seavers]
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What improvements would you like to see at your school this year? Longer lunches? Later start time? More play, less work? Write a persuasive letter to your school officials, making a case for positive changes.
[YWP Photo Library, photo by Tess LaLonde]
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Write about people in an unconventional afterlife. Maybe people are grouped for eternity by how often they laugh and they party, maybe they are immediately assigned a job position to help influence life back on Earth, maybe they have to drift around outer space together ... Let your creativity flow! What is life like for the dead?
[YWP Photo Library, photo by Tess LaLonde]
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The midterm elections are approaching -- Nov. 6, 2018 -- and whether or not you are old enough to vote, your voice matters. Prompted by today's Daily Read, "Midterms," persuade people to vote. The midterms mark the middle of Republican President Trump's term, and all 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 seats in the U.S. Senate are being contested.
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Write a description of yourself or someone you love. Include as many details of appearance, personality, habits and behavior as you can. If you like, use figurative or metaphorical language along with more concrete details.
[YWP Photo Library, photo by Alexis Donna]
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“The scene in front of her was almost perfect. Almost.” Finish the story.
[YWP Photo Library, photo by Rebecca Orten]
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The man strumming his guitar says to you, “You’re a different soul, aren’t you?” What sets you apart from the crowd?
[YWP Photo Library, photo by Holly Margulius; challenge submitted by Rowan Potzler, YWP.]
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What is this girl thinking? Write her internal dialogue. Is she looking at you as she thinks? Or is she focused on something or someone else?
[YWP Photo Library, illustration by Zoe Maxwell]
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Tell a story about your experience of winter in short, descriptive poetry or prose. Be original. Avoid clichés. The best will be selected for presentation by the Vermont Stage Company at its annual Winter Tales production in Burlington in December.
[YWP Photo Library, photo by Lia Chien]
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Overnight, your character shrinks to the size of a Tic Tac. What dangers await this...
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Young Writers Project writers attend Kinetic Light's DESCENT at the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts on Oct. 30 and write a 500-word (max) review of the show.
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Greta Thunberg, 16, the Swedish environmental activist who has inspired people around the world to fight climate change, is Time magazine's Person of the Year for 2019, the youngest ever to receive the honor. If you're inspired, write a letter to Greta congratulating her and share your thoughts on climate change. Read the story in The Washington Post.
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Civil Rights Leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. sought to guide us to a more just America. Respond to Dr. King's message of love and equality as it relates to America in 2020: "Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that." (Strength to Love, 1963)
Me
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Choose one (or more) of the prompts below as a jumping off point for a free-write about you. - I am the one who...
- This I believe...
- Myself, when I am real...
- I like...
CJP-Home
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[Credit: Kevin Huang, YWP Photo Archive]
Write about your community. It could be a straight descriptive piece, a personal reflection, or an opinionated commentary. What do you like about it? What works; what doesn't? What would make you want to stay or leave?
CJP-Climate-Resources
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The climate IS changing. Take a look at this remarkable movie for glacial evidence: Chasing Ice. And from Medium.com's magazine Matter: City of Ash by Paolo Bacigalupi, Table of Contents by Choire Sicha, and...
Comfort
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Write about a time when you rely on an animal for comfort. Does the animal just know that you need help? What does it do? (Can be real or fiction.)[YWP photo library, photo by Abigail Kirby]
CJP-Guns
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[Photo credit: Samantha Sophia, Unsplash]
America has seen an alarming rise in mass shootings, but efforts at gun control frequently run into strong opposition. What is the way forward? Is there a way to break through this impasse?
Photo-Tonal
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[Photos and challenge by Erin Bundock, YWP alumna]
Tonal contrast -- the difference between the brightest highlight and the darkest low-light -- can make dramatic photos. Try taking photos of objects using high contrast lighting -- the whitest whites and the darkest blacks all contained in one space. Post at least four photos in a slideshow. Need some tips?...
HOME-Contest
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[Illustration credit: Vivien Sorce, YWP]
Describe what feels like "home" to you. What do you appreciate about it? What makes it yours? This could be a favorite place, such as your house, a natural setting, your town, rural road, your state, or it could be the people in your life – your family, friends, community, team.
When?
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Take a moment to interpret the meaning of the sign in this photo by (Carter Devenney, Essex High School). Does it apply to your own life, reminding you of something you’ve always intended to try? Or does it apply to the state of the world? Climate change? What does the sign make you think of?
Choice
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Write about a person who has to make a choice — they are at a fork in the road somehow. Why do they choose one thing, and leave the other behind?[Photo credit: YWP Media Library, illustration by Tess LaLonde]
Shy
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Write about a person who is shy, and how they decide one day that they are OK with that.[Photo credit: YWP Media Library, photo by Delaney Harrison]
Gratitude
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One of the keys to happiness is to nurture feelings of gratitude. Write a poem or short essay about a person, place or thing that makes you especially grateful.[Unsplash, photo by Simon Maage]
Wind
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Tell a story in which the wind, or maybe just a breeze, plays a critical role.[Photo credit: YWP Media Library, photo by Fiona Goodman]
CJP-Photo Essay2
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[An artist's workspace, by YWP's cedar]
Create a photo essay of a specific place either in your community or your home that is meaningful to you. Along with the photos, write a short commentary that identifies the place and explains why it matters.
Peace
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Where do you see the greatest opportunity to create peace in your community or the world? Write an essay or poem about what you can do to promote peace. This challenge is from the YWP archive, so you might see some responses from past years. Sprout from any of these if they move you![Photo credit: YWP Photo Library, photo by Jonathan Palmer]
Moment.
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What is the happiest you’ve ever been? How did it feel to be in that moment? Reflect and try to describe the sensation and the experience.[YWP photo library, illustration by mythicalquill]
CJP-Health
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[Photo by Frank Albrecht on Unsplash]
Is health care a human right, as many argue, or is it more of an individual responsibility that each person should figure out on their own?
Photo-LowKey
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[Photos and challenge by Erin Bundock, YWP alumna]
Set the mood with low-key lighting. Post your photos in a slideshow or post one photo and write a short story or poem inspired by the photo. Need tips? Check out this article.ISSUE-Contest
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[Photo credit: Lia Chien, YWP]
What is one issue that really matters to you, globally, nationally or locally? What keeps you up at night? How does this issue affect your vision of the future? What message would you like to send to decision-makers? What do they need to know? How could this issue be solved? Topics could include climate change; social justice issues of race, gender, economic disparity; a divided nation; gun...
Still LIfe
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Collect a few nearby household/everyday objects you frequently use or find interesting in some way, and arrange them for a photo or drawing (inspired by YWP's Kitkat). What do the objects you choose say about you and your life, or a new character’s? Post the photo or drawing. Write an accompanying poem, story or personal essay if you're inspired!Unusual
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Write about a friendship that begins in a unique or unusual setting and tell how the setting helps bind the two people together, i.e. near the pineapple display in the grocery store, on a leaky boat in the lake, flying in a hot air balloon...[Photo credit: YWP Media Library, illustration by Connor Byam]
Mystique
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Mystique is defined as "a fascinating aura of mystery, awe, and power surrounding someone or something." Write about a person, place, object, building, sports team, work of art — anything that seems to have a mystique.[Photo credit: YWP Media Library, photo by Bri Lancaster]
Fifteen
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Describe yourself in exactly 15 words — no more, no less. A sentence or list.[Unsplash, photo by K. Mitch Hodge]
CJP-Climate1
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[Credit: Kevin Huang, YWP Photo Archive]
Is anyone listening? Send an urgent message about climate change so people will sit up and pay attention.
YWP is...
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The Challenge: "YWP is ..." what? Finish the sentence. Tell us how YWP affects your life, what you like about it, what it means to you. Thanks!
Ferocity
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Write a poem about the ferocity of a thunderstorm. Use onomatopoeia sounds to convey the thunder, lightning, and rain.[Unsplash, photo by Lucien Kolly]
CJP-Asylum
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President Trump wants to repeal the asylum law, which allows immigrants to come to the United States, seek asylum, and wait for their case to be heard. Is he right? Or should the law stand?
CJP-Photo-Setting
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Look at the photo examples in this challenge. Each one evokes a setting. Take your own photo of an inspiring setting -- so inspiring that writers will want to write about it! Post your photo(s).
CJP-Society
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[Photo by Ryoji Iwata on Unsplash]
Society's expectations can be overwhelming at times. What has been your experience? Any suggestions for lifting this weight?
Paintings
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Write a short story or poem inspired by one or both of these paintings — Portrait of a Young Woman (attributed to Jean-Étienne Liotard, c. late 1700s) and/or Girl with a Pearl Earring (Johannes Vermeer, c. 1665). What are they about to say? Who are they?
Stashed
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In some schools it’s a tradition to leave behind hidden messages (stashed in library books, for example) for the next generation of students. What advice would you give to the students coming up behind you? [Unsplash, photo by Noemi Macavei-Katocz]
Meditation
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Sit still in a quiet place with your eyes closed for five minutes, and try to empty your mind of any thoughts. Does one thought keep pushing its way through? Vent about it or use it as inspiration to write. [Photo credit: YWP Media Library, photo by Marina Sprague]
Nonverbal
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Imagine for a moment, if you can, that our society was without speech. Using inspiration from dance or pantomime, write a story or poem about a “conversation” between two people expressed solely through the movements of face or body.[Unsplash, photo by Kirstina Flour]
CJP-Immigrant
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Ken Cuccinelli, acting director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, said in an interview that Emma Lazarus’s words on the Statue of Liberty should read, “Give me your tired and your poor who can stand on their own two feet and who will not become a public charge.” If you could respond directly to Cuccinelli, what would you say?
Dear America
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[Illustration credit: sophie.d]
To mark the Fourth of July, write a letter, a poem, a song, a rant, a plea to this land. Begin with Dear America ... (This challenge was first published on this site last year. See the responses from 2018, and sprout from them or start your own 2019 version.)Clash
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Write about a time when you loved and hated someone or something at the same time. Describe the conflicting emotions you felt in this confusing situation.[YWP photo library, photo by Elizabeth Goodrich]
CJP-Law
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Is justice blind? What influences come into play in the justice system? How could the system be made more fair?[Photo by Claire Anderson on Unsplash]
Photo-Depth
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[Challenge by Erin Bundock, YWP alumna]
Depth of field describes how much of a picture is in focus. With shallow depth of field, only a small portion of space is in focus. Wide depth of field involves a larger in-focus space. Experiment with both and post your favorites.
Mountains
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Do you live near mountains (like Lincoln Peak by YWP's Love to write)? Or maybe you've had a chance to travel to mountains. Write a story that involves mountains, your experience in them, or as a setting for a tale. If possible, take photos of the mountains and post them with your writing.
Sunshower
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A sunshower is a meteorological event in which rain falls while the sun is shining. Cultures around the world refer to this event by remarkably similar names, many of them related to folklore of trickster animals getting married. Write your own folk tale that place during a sunshower.[Unsplash, photo by Loren Gu]
Carnival
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A small carnival rolls into town unexpectedly, causing an excited stir in the student body – but something doesn’t feel right to you. What’s going on behind the scenes?[Photo credit: YWP Media Library, photo by Sam Aikman]
Oops
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These days, especially, the everyday potential for miscommunication is high. Write a humorous piece about a major misunderstanding that occurs over text or email, and include the moment both parties realize their error.[Unsplash, photo by Pongsawat Pasom]
CJP-Morrison
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[Photo credit: Damon Winter/The New York Times]
Toni Morrison, the first African-American woman to win the Nobel in Literature, once said, “In this country American means white. Everybody else has to hyphenate.” Expand on Morrison's thought.Junk
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Do you love an item that is typically considered “junk” like an old tire or a rusty wagon? Why do you find meaning in this item?[YWP photo library, photo by Brooke Fontaine]
CJP-Presidential
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[Photo credit: Daniel Foster on Unsplash]
Looking at potential candidates for the November 2020 presidential election, which one are you most impressed with? Why?
Photo-Negative
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[Challenge created by Erin Bundock, YWP alumna; photos from Photograhpy Mad]
With photos, it's important not only to think about what your subject is, but how it interacts with the space around it visually. Is there something in the background, or is it a solid color? What's the shape of the space surrounding your subject? In the simplest terms, positive space is your subject, and the...
Disaster
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Within a poem or short story, personify a character as a natural disaster (think mudslides, tornados, hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, etc.). How does this geographical/climatic event reflect their worst traits, or even their whole personality?[Unsplash, photo by NASA]
RoadTrip
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School has ended for the summer, and a good friend invites you on a spontaneous road trip. Where do you two head, and why? What problems or surprises do you encounter along the way?[Photo credit: YWP Media Library, photo by Kaidin Aviles]
Surprise
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You've been planning a surprise party for someone special for months, and so far, you've been able to keep the secret. But on the morning of the party, something unexpected happens to threaten the surprise. Try to tell the story through dialogue. [Challenge by Kittykatruff][Unsplash, photo by Eliott Reyna]
CJP-Rural
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[Photo credit: Abriatis, YWP Photo Archive]
Many of America's rural areas are struggling with such issues as economic decline and loss of population. Is this happening in your community? What can be done?
Hungry
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What are you hungry for? It could be a favorite food or a dream job or a change in your life. What is the thing that bites at the inside of your stomach and you can’t stop thinking about?[YWP photo library, photo by Riley Allen]
CJP-Minimum
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Imagine that you are in charge of campaigning for a fair minimum wage. What hourly wage would you seek and how would you persuade people to support it?
Photo-Proportion
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[Challenge created by Erin Bundock, YWP alumna]
Proportion is the size relationship between different elements and how they work together. Proportion in photography is based on camera placement as well as the placement of the elements within the shot. In the examples above, see how placing a hand in different places in the shot changes its proportion to the subject's face? Sometimes it is helpful to play with the...
Lost
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One of the most universal human experiences, across all cultures and times, is the sense of being lost. Write about your own experience of being lost (how it happened, what it felt like, and how you found your way out) or from the perspective of the person in this photo by YWP's lia.chien. Raft
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Imagine that you have built a small raft, and decide to float down a river one day. Describe the people you come across, what you see around you, what insights you gain by the end of the day.[Unsplash, photo by Bill Anderson-Blough]
Starry
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Write a poem or story that features a starry night and a surprising discovery. [Photo credit: YWP Media Library, illustration by Katelyn Brown]
Burden
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Describe a character who feels like they are carrying a heavy burden of some kind, but then they figure out a way forward that will ease their journey.[Unsplash, photo by Mantas Heasthaven]
CJP-Vote
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[YWP Photo Archive]
At what age should Americans be allowed to vote? In Canada, the New Democratic Party supports lowering the voting age in federal elections to 16. In the U.S., this idea is also gaining some traction, including from U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, a Democrat from Massachusetts. What do you think?
Ties
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Is there something special or unusual about your family? Do you have a kooky aunt or a famous cousin? Do you have a favorite spot where you gather in the summer? Funny family traditions and rituals?[Unsplash, photo by Mike Scheid]
CJP-Debt
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[Photo by Ruth Enyedi on Unsplash]
Student debt has become an issue in the presidential campaign. Some people say it is burdening an entire generation and needs to be written off by the government. Others say it favors those who already have the advantage of a college education. What do you think?
Support
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Tell the story of a character who is forced to be their own support system. Write from their perspective before, during, or after the pivotal event. [Unsplash, photo by Stefan Spassov]
Wishes
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You have three wishes and they will all come true in sequence — tomorrow, and on your 25th and 50th birthdays. What do you wish for?[Photo credit: YWP Media Library, photo by Carmella Clark]
Reverence
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Reverence is defined as "deep respect for someone or something." Write about something that you regard with reverence.[Unsplash, photo by Tiago Felipe Ferreria]
Intuition
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Sometimes you get a feeling in the pit of your stomach about a person or situation. Was there ever a time when your intuition was right? What happened? What about a time when you were wrong?[YWP photo library, photo by Shawn Baker]
CJP-Homeless
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Photo by Matt Collamer on Unsplash
There were more than 550,000 homeless people in the United States on any given night in 2018. Imagine yourself in that place, and write.
Writing Tips
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What is the best tip about writing that you have ever heard? Add your response to some gems we found from past YWPers. And here's one from "The Elements of Style:" Be clear, brief and bold.Back story: In 1919, E.B. White was a student at Cornell University where he took an English class that had a huge influence on him. The class was with William Strunk, Jr., and required reading for the course was the professor's self-published book, "The Elements of Style." ...
Icebreakers
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New classes, new classmates – it can be hard to introduce yourself to someone for the first time. Describe some ways to "break the ice" with people that can begin a beautiful friendship.[Photo credit: YWP Media Library]
Shakespeare
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Using the Shakespearian form, write a sonnet (abab cdcd efef gg). If you feel so called, write in Old English or start with a line from one of Shakespeare's sonnets. Examples: A woman’s face with Nature’s own hand painted; Farewell! Thou art too dear for my possessing; Some glory in their birth, some in their skill; OR, the most famous: Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? [Challenge by LadyMidnight]...
Home-ish
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Describe a place that feels like home, but isn’t what you would consider your actual home. In what ways does this safe/special setting bring you comfort?[Photo credit: YWP Media Library, photo by Charlotte Hughes]
Generosity
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It feels good to help others. Write about a time you helped someone — who they were, why you did it, and how it all turned out. Fiction or real.[Photo by Jeniffer Araújo on Unsplash]
CJP-Interview1
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[Credit: Amy Hirschi, Unsplash]
Check out the Journalism 101 interviewing tips, choose a classmate, preferably someone you don't know well, and interview this person with the goal of writing a solid profile. Then ask the person to interview you. Use whatever tools you have to document and/or record the interview.
Godin
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Author Seth Godin says, “Art is a personal act of courage.” With art -- either in words or images -- show your own personal act of courage.[YWP photo library, photo by Jaylin Seaman]
Hazel
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A challenge for Fiona Ella's Hazel's House series.
Explore
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Join Igniting Writing in the UK, and other young writers from Ireland and Ohio for this fun, international writing contest. The theme is Explore. Take it wherever you want. But it must be fiction, it must be original, and it must be submitted by Sept. 1.Read all the details here.
Risk
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Have you ever taken a risk and found it paid off? Often, just by trying and not being afraid to try, we find success. Write a story that explores this theme, real or fictional.[Photo credit: YWP Media Library, photo by Katelyn Turner]
Admire
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Write in the style of a writer you admire — just the opening paragraph of a short story or the first stanza of a poem. Be sure to state the name of the author at the bottom of your piece.[Unsplash, photo by Nicile Honeywill]
Music
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Writing about music is an art in itself, often challenging writers to translate sounds into colorful turns of phrase and rich metaphors. Music critic Tim Rutherford-Johnson, for instance, once compared a rugged piece of music to "granite in November rain." Find a piece of music that appeals to you, and try to describe it to someone who has never heard it.[Photo credit: YWP Media Library, photo by David Wrenner]...
Do-Over
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You are granted the gift of one do-over from your past. What would it be? Why?[Unsplash, photo by Khadeeja Yasser]
Changes
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One of the most effective elements in storytelling is to write about change — the fact that something has shifted, for the better or for the worse, or perhaps that it is just different now and things cannot go back to the way they were. Write about a situation, an emotion, a perception, a sequence of events, anything that results in a permanent change.[Unsplash, photo by Ross Findon]
CJP-Photo Essay1
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[Photo credit: Rutland by Icarus Blackmore]
Create a photo essay of your community. This could be a general collection of photos, or have a theme (front porches, town forest, main street, farmers' market, civic buildings, etc.). Along with the photos, write a short commentary that reflects the sense of place, what makes it unique or special to you. Remember to identify the photos.
Sandwich
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In great detail, describe the best sandwich you’ve ever had. What was on this incredible sandwich? Who made it? Where were you?[Unsplash, photo by Eiliv Sonas Aceron]
CJP-Night
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In the book "Night," Holocaust survivor and Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel writes about his experiences as a Jewish prisoner in the Auschwitz and Buchenwald concentration camps during the Second World War. Respond to Wiesel's story in words or images.
Explore
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Join Igniting Writing in the UK, and other young writers from Ireland and Ohio for this fun, international writing contest. The theme is Explore. Take it wherever you want. But it must be fiction, it must be original, and it must be submitted by Sept. 1.Read all the details here.
Self-portrait
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Write about yourself in a way that is positive. Express an appreciation for your own best qualities, talents, ideas, activities, and hopes and dreams.[Photo credot: YWP Media Library, photo by Ella Staats]
Connect
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Have you ever met someone and felt you’ve known them your entire life, or perhaps in another life? Describe the experience.[Unsplash, photo by Remi Walle]
Listen
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We all talk, but how well do we listen? Create a situation that turns on the ability of a character to really hear what someone else is saying. [YWP Media Library, photo by Elizabeth Goodrich]
Important
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Write a story that takes place over the course of just one day, where something very important happens.[Unsplash, photo by Gabriel Santiago]
Write a Prompt!
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Credit: "Reaching" by mythicalquill
We've come to the end of our Weekly Challenges for 2018-19 -- and now we're creating next year's list! WE NEED YOUR HELP!! Post your best, original writing prompts for the 2019-20 Weekly Challenges here. We'll collect them and make the BIG LIST. Inspiring, fun, serious, silly, creative, thought-provoking, original prompts wanted!
Moment
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Write a story or a poem about a personal moment in your life, a time you felt truly proud of yourself and not because someone told you so. A time when you felt like you were on top of the world. When nothing could stop you and you were a force to be reckoned with
Legacy
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What do you want your legacy to be? What is the one thing or personal characteristic you would like to be remembered for?[Unsplash, photo by Laura Fuhrman]
CJP-Impeachment
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[Photo credit: Andy Feliciotti, Unsplash]
For only the fourth time in U.S. history, a president is facing impeachment. The charges are that President Trump abused his office in an attempt to get Ukraine to launch investigations into Trump's political opponent, Joe Biden, and his son Hunter Biden, and that he obstructed Congress's investigation into the matter. Should the president be impeached? What do you hope for...
Surprise
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[Illustration and challenge idea from Kittykatruff]
You've been planning a surprise party for someone special for months, and so far, you've been able to keep the secret. But on the morning of the party, something unexpected happens to threaten the surprise. Tell the story through dialogue.Haunted
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Is there a house you pass by on the way to school that always gives you the creeps, or a stretch of woods nearby that you would never set foot in? Write the PG-rated tale of a haunted location, either from your imagination or by researching local/regional urban legends. [Photo credit: YWP Media Library, photo by Cassidy Mancuso]
Invention
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Have you ever thought to yourself, “Wait a minute… why isn’t that a thing already?” Explain your product or idea to the world.[Unsplash, photo by Raul Varzar]
Wistful
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Sometimes our mood can turn wistful, defined as "full of yearning or desire tinged with melancholy." Write a poem or story that conveys this feeling through tone and careful word choice.[Photo credit: YWP Media Library, photo by Rachel Ahokas]
Sprout
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Read through recently posted content on youngwritersproject.org until you find a piece that inspires you. Sprout from that piece to write a related poem or story that is distinctly your own, and remember to credit the writer who sparked your interest.[Unsplash, photo by Maryna Bohucharska]
5-Photos
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Credit: De controleon, www.flickr.com/photos/tekstbazaar
1. Create a story about what's happening in the sequence of these photos. And/or 2. Create your own 5-photo story. Try to find a place with a lot of movement, a busy street corner or even your own kitchen. Use your friends or family if you want to stage it. Let the photos tell the story, or add...
Shape-shifter
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Write about someone who has the ability to change shape. Can they take the shape of a wolf, another human, a virus, a plant, a chair, a speck of dust? What are the limits of their power, if any? What do they use them for?[Photo credit: YWP Media Library, illustrstion by Abrie Howe]
Humor
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The writer Clive James said, "Common sense and a sense of humor are the same thing, moving at different speeds. A sense of humor is just common sense, dancing." How would you describe humor?[Unsplash, photo by Lidya Nada]
Mars
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You have a chance to move to this planet, but you have to convince the rest of your family that it’s a good idea. Maybe real estate’s cheap. Maybe it’s a chance for adventure and a brand new start. Write a persuasive argument.[Photo credit: YWP Media Library, collage by Anna Forsythe]
Boost
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Warren G. Harding, the 29th president of the United States, once said: "There's good in everybody. Boost. Don't knock." Write about how this has meaning for your own daily life at school.[Unsplash, photo by Nicolas Gras]
ListenUp
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Respond to one or all of these prompts for potential inclusion in VT filmmaker Bess O'Brien's Listen Up Project.1. People always tell me ...
2. What parents need to know ....
3. If I was in charge...
4. Write whatever's on your mind ...
Haiku-form
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[Photo by beautiful]
Haiku is a short form of poetry adapted from Japanese tradition. Each poem consists of three lines; the first line has five syllables, the second line has seven syllables, and the third line has five. (5-7-5)Find an interesting place where you can sit and observe, uninterrupted. Focus on a tiny, detail -- a color, a texture, a movement. Create a haiku by describing (...
CJP-Kindness
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[Photo by Siora Photography on Unsplash]
Write about a kindness you have witnessed or heard about. What impact does it have? OR write about an act of kindness you would like to see or be part of.
Colors
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Muse magazine once asked kids to name the colors in an imaginary box of crayons, and instead of the usual colors, they came up with inventive names like Scary Movie Popcorn Yellow and Cat's Eye Nebula Red. What would you rename an array of colors (like those in the photo by YWP's Dancer)?
Winter '19
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Winter is coming soon. Write a short, descriptive poem or story about this distinctive season. Avoid cliches, and complaints. Express what is satisfying, beautiful and amazing about it. The best works will be selected for presentation by the Vermont Stage Company at its annual production of Winter Tales in Burlington in December. [Photo credit: YWP Media Library, photo by Vivien Sorce]
Record
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If you could break any world record, what would it be and how would you do it?[Unsplash, photo by Sam Sabourin]
Minute
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Enter the mind of a character in an interesting, difficult, funny, or odd situation and describe what they are thinking over the course of one minute. Match your story to "real time," so that it only takes about one minute to read.[Photo credit: YWP Media Library, photo by Ella Staats]
Tomorrow
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Begin a poem or story with the words, “Tomorrow, I hope...”[Photo credit: YWP Media Library, photo by Swantje Stein]
Letter
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The Senate majority leader has agreed to read one letter from one student in the U.S., and take action based on what the letter says. Your letter has been chosen. The letter has to be 250 words or less. Write the letter.[Unsplash, photo by Alvaro Serrano]
CJP-Bully
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[Photo by Justin Veenema on Unsplash]
Write a letter to a bully and show how destructive/immature/negative this person's behavior is. Use words to rise above.
Clearing
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Imagine you are the eyes behind this photograph by YWP's Selena Bulan. Have you just stumbled across a way out of the forest, with intense relief – or have you just ventured in? Tell the story.
Waiting
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There is no anticipation quite like the days counting down to Christmas morning or another holiday that is meaningful to you and your family. Write about how that felt for you as a young child — or how it still feels today.[Photo credit: YWP Media Library, photo by Katelyn MacEsker]
Rainbow
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The end of the rainbow is a myth, right? Through poetry or prose, write about someone who happens upon that great meeting of earth and color (literally or figuratively). What do they see, what do they feel? [Unsplash, photo by Jason Leung]
Chills
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Sometimes when positive/negative emotions peak at unexpected moments, our bodies have instant, visible reactions. Goosebumps, blushing, chills, twitching, and hives are all examples of this. Write about a memorable time you experienced one of these exterior changes in great excitement or duress. What was going on?[Photo credit: YWP Media Library, photo by Shawn Baker]
CJP-Tools
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[Photo credit: Hunter Haley, Unsplash]
For the Community Journalism Project, you are a journalist. What characteristics and tools will help you be successful in this role? Here's a partial list to get you started. A journalist needs:
- An open, independent mind
- Curiosity
- Patience
- The ability to listen, learn, and synthesize information
- Bravery and a...
CJP-Climate2
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Think about your daily life. What is one thing you could start doing today to help ease climate change?
CJP-Iran
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Qasem Soleimani, a top general in Iran, was killed by a US airstrike in Baghdad on Friday, Jan. 3. His successor has vowed retribution for his death. Crowds have flooded the streets to honor Soleimani and to protest against the US, which is sending additional troops to the Middle East. Read about this conflict. Write.
Shoes
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“Put yourself in my shoes,” the saying goes, often spoken by someone asking another to see things from their perspective. Whose shoes (like these sneakers of YWP's NiñaEstrella) would you like to try on, in order to get a better understanding of their life experiences?
Alive
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Complete the thought, “I feel alive when…” in just two paragraphs.[Photo credit: YWP Media Library, photo by Charlotte Hughes]
Reach
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Begin or end a story or poem with, “If only I could reach a little farther ...”[Unsplash, photo by Marc-Oliver Jodoin]
Perfect
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Everybody has their idea of a perfect day, when everything falls into place just right. Write about "my kind of day," starting when you wake up, moving through the day, and ending in the evening. Make your day come alive for the reader so they can share your experience.[Photo credit: YWP Media Library, illustration by Katherine Moran]
CJP-Prompts
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[Photo credit: Danielle MacInnes, Unsplash]
Respond here to add your own writing challenges or prompts for the Community Journalism Project.
CJP-Electoral College
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The candidate with the most votes does not necessarily win the presidential election, because the Electoral College system is designed to provide a voice for low-population states. Is this fair? Still realistic today?
Tell it!
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Choose an issue that really matters to you -- and write it! Don't stop to fix spelling or grammar. Get all your thoughts out. Shout it as you write. Who's your audience? Tell them exactly what you think! Record it and post it here.[Photo by Melany Rochester, Unsplash]
WHO-Contest
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[Photo credit: Kevin Huang, YWP Archive]
You're a teen (or pre-teen) in 2020, but who are you? What makes you uniquely you? What would you like people to know and understand about you? Where or how do you feel most like you?
Step
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It has been said that, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Think of something big you would like to accomplish, and write about the first step.[Photo credit: YWP Media Library, photo by Fiona Goodman
Reframe
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Your character is angry, or beset by some other negative emotion, but then manages to defuse the situation by looking at it from a new angle. This technique, called reframing, allows a person to pull out of downward spirals and create positive alternatives and outcomes. Write the story.[Unsplash, photo by Nathan Dumlao]
Stuck
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Write as a person trapped in the form of an animal. How did this happen and how do they react? Do they manage to undo the transformation, and if so, how?[YWP Photo Library, photo by Tyler Poulin]
Luck
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Write the story of someone with extraordinarily good luck or excruciatingly bad luck. What is everyday life like for them? Were they born with this luck, enchanted, or does it come from an object? What experiences and emotions result from it? Show the character in action.[Photo credit: Alain Pham, Unsplash]
Decide
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The pet store is closing in five minutes and you have to make a choice -- which pet to take home and which to leave behind. What do you do?[YWP Photo Library, photo by Madi Cohen]
Cover
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You’ve been commissioned to illustrate the cover of a new edition of your favorite book from your childhood. Submit the illustration to your YWP blog (and tell us the title of the book).[YWP Photo Library, photo by Madi Cohen]
Post Your Art & Photos!
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YWP is looking for your visual art -- photographs and scanned art -- to be featured in our monthly magazine, The Voice, on the front page of the site, the newspaper series, and the Anthology! Respond to this challenge and post your best photos and art!Lost
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You wake up slowly, your eyes gradually adjusting. Suddenly, you're on your feet, looking frantically in every direction. You don't recognize a thing. Where are you? How did you get here and what happens next?[YWP Photo Library, photo by Kevin Huang]
Title
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Good titles introduce, describe and catch interest. Deciding on one can be a complex process. Pick one of your pieces that you think has a perfect title -- or rename the piece after giving it some more thought. In a short essay, explain how the title relates to the piece it introduces. Is there a separate story about the title itself?[YWP Photo Library, photo by Abigail Harkness, challenge submitted by Hazel Civalier, YWP]
Alert
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An official phone alert wakes you up from a deep sleep. It says, "We are under attack. Lock your doors and bar your windows." Hundreds of random numbers are sending, "Let me in." Write a short, fast-paced story to match the urgency of the situation.[YWP Photo Library, photo by Samantha Aikman]
Beautiful
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Begin or end a poem or story with the phrase, “She was beautiful, but in a different sort of way.”[YWP Photo Library, photo by Shannon Ripp]
#smallstories
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A two-part challenge. 1. Write a story of 500 characters. 2. Copy your best and post them here as a blog response. Details:
- WRITE a story that is real or made-up or half and half.
- Write your 500-character story on TINY WRITES
- Write a lot of them on a regular basis.
- THEN, post your best, on an ongoing basis, as a response to this challenge.
- AND use the...
Reality
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Write about a character who realizes their perception of reality is completely different from that of most people, including those closest to the character. How does your character react upon discovering this? Why do they see things differently?[YWP Photo Library, photo by Kevin Huang]
15 Words
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Describe yourself in 15 words. No more, no less... A sentence, phrases, whatever you'd like.For the avids:
Describe anyone or anything around you. Just remember: only 15.
Like?
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Facebook is slumping, hit by accusations that it has been sloppy with users' data and manipulated by foreign adversaries. Do you like Facebook?
Wordgame
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[Photo credit: Kevin Huang]
Ask someone to give you a word. Take the word and build a poem around it.(This challenge idea comes from irishjayne, who used the word "fog.")
Photo-8 Cat
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You adopt a cat that you think is pretty ordinary … but when you bring it home and start talking to it absentmindedly, it responds to you -- and only you -- with the most expressive facial expressions. Describe your interactions.[YWP Photo Library, photo by Abigail Harkness]
Alone
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What happens at your house when no one is home? What’s the first thing the inanimate objects do? Have a party? Hop into the hot tub? Play tricks on the absent humans? Write a whimsical tale.[YWP Photo Library, photo by Madi Cohen]
Fable
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Write your own fable. Keep it short, but include the essential ingredients (non-human characters, conflict that leads to a moral, etc.)
Essential ingredients
1: Your moral. What message are you trying to tell? What wrong are you trying to right?
2: Your characters. Who are they? What are they?
3: What conflict arises?
4: What setting are you in? (You don't always need to describe it, unless it is relevant to the plot.)
...
Woods
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Imagine a talking forest where the trees’ dialogue reflects their characteristics: sweet-talking maples, cool but prickly spruce? What do the trees say? Write their dialogue.[YWP Photo Library, photo by Shannon Ripp]
Hurricane
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Write about a family experiencing a hurricane. What do they say to each other while they’re huddled in the basement, listening to their house being battered and torn apart?[Photo by noaa.gov]
Twist
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Write a story that leads your readers to believe it’s about one thing, but it turns out to be about something else entirely. Make it wacky and surprising![YWP Photo Library]
Pal
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Write about the relationship between a child and an imaginary friend from the perspective of the child or the friend. What’s the personality of this invisible character, and why does the child take such comfort in their company?[YWP Photo Library, photo by Holly Margulius]
Invasive
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This challenge has $$$ prizes! DUE: March 15. More details here.1. Write a persuasive essay urging people to take action against the invasive insect, emerald ash borer (EAB). Present a fact-based argument. You might include why this matters, how communities and homeowners can respond to EAB, and why a response is needed.
OR
2. In poetry or prose, tell the story of an ash tree that is threatened by EAB. You might stretch back to the ash...
Magic-18
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Photo by Erik Nyhagen
Tell a story about a magical experience related to this time of year -- winter, solstice, special holidays, snow sports. Real or imagined.Dye
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You’ve always wanted to dye your hair a gorgeous new color, and when you finally get up the nerve to do it, something goes terribly wrong. You didn’t read the fine print on the bottle. Now what?[YWP Photo Library, photo by Madi Cohen]
Replaced
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When you go to wake your child one morning, you immediately sense that the baby in the crib is not yours. While they look the same, you know in your heart your own child has been replaced. Does anyone believe you? How do you rescue your child?[YWP Photo Library, photo by Kevin Huang; challenge submitted by Rowan Potzler]
Prophecies
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Classic stories and myths are full of prophecies. Write about a character who is warned about a future event. Do they listen? What’s the source of the messages? Is the oracle thing legit or is it made up?[YWP Photo Library, photo by Alexandra Contreras-Montesano]
Because
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Check out this video and more from the anti-bullying campaign, Because of You. "Because of you, people can feel empowered and loved, but also insecure and hurt... Before you say or do something, think about how you might make others feel." Write about your own experience.
Tests
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Some colleges are turning away from SAT and ACT scores when reviewing high...
Home
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Where is your home? Far away in another land? Or here, where you live today? Read this poem "Home" by Balkisa Omar, a member of the Vermont slam poetry group Muslim Girls Making Change. Write about your own experience of home.[YWP Photo Library, photo by Alexandra Contreras-Montesano]
Problem
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“They were almost ready to leave, but now there was a problem.” Using this phrase as inspiration, what happens next?[YWP Photo Library, photo by Tess LaLonde]
Photo-9 Swings
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What are the dynamics in this group of friends? Do they all get along? Is there tension between some but not others? Imagine their dialogue as they swing. What are they saying to each other?[YWP Photo Library, photo by Alexandra Contreras-Montesano]
Awakening
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Spring is a time of rebirth and nature kicking in for its big show. Write a poem or story about a plant, animal or creature, real or imagined, coming to life.[YWP Photo Library, illustration by Ada Shookenhuff]
Song
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Listen to a favorite song and either write your interpretation of the lyrics or use them as inspiration for a poem, story or another song. What mental images do the lyrics evoke? Remember to list the song title and credit the artist.[YWP Photo Library, photo by Abigail Harkness, challenge submitted by Hazel Civalier, YWP]
Sounds
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Listen to the sound file and write the opening scene for a play, inspired by what the sounds make you feel: suspense, discomfort, anticipation? [YWP Photo Library, photo by Sophia Cannizzaro, sound by freesound.org]
Epistolary
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Write a story as a series of letters or diary entries. Popular books that use this method include The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Dear Mr. Henshaw, Letters from Rifka, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid.[YWP Photo Library, photo by Kevin Huang]
Photo-10 Vacation
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You’ve just won a dream vacation, and you can pick the location and one traveling companion. Where do you go and with whom do you travel? Describe the sensation of being lifted from your everyday life into a paradise of your choosing.[YWP Photo Library, photo by Rebecca Orten]
Senses
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Take a walk in your neighborhood, on a farm, in a city, down a school hallway. Stop for a moment and use as many senses as you can to describe what you see, hear, touch, smell -- and maybe even taste. Write a poem about your discoveries.[YWP Photo Library, photo by Kevin Huang]
Got your back
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Credit: Elijah M. Henderson, Unsplash
Write a poem or story to someone who needs encouragement in their life and remind them that you are there for them. Send it to that person. (Challenge created by LadyMidnight)
Spaghetti
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VERMONT WRITES DAY!You've walked past this sign for years. One day, it seems to be calling you inside -- and the adventure begins. Tell the story.
Courage
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VERMONT WRITES DAY!Describe a time, real or fictional, when you have to summon up your courage. Focus on the actual "moment of truth," when time slows down and you have to commit to breaking through. What happens and how do you feel afterward?
Rule
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VERMONT WRITES DAY!You have just been put in charge of the world, but you can only make one rule. What is it and what events or experiences led you to it?
Elves
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VERMONT WRITES DAY!Some people believe that forests are enchanted places, with elves living there. Write a story or poem about the forest elves. Or tell the tale of a person who doesn't believe this, but then something happens to make them less certain.
Jefferson
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VERMONT WRITES DAY!Thomas Jefferson said, "I am a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it." Write about a situation in which you, or a character you create, put a lot of work into something, and then luck seems to follow.
Moneybag
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VERMONT WRITES DAY!Two strangers happen upon a bag of money while they're waiting for a train. Who are they? What do they do?
4Photos
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VERMONT WRITES DAY!Choose one of the photos in the slideshow and write a story or poem about it.
Allergies
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Write a poem or short story about someone who is allergic to something really strange. What happens to them when they are exposed to this thing? Is is a food or some kind of object?Use sensory details to make the story pop.
Photo-Lighting
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[Photo by Ilya Ilford on Unsplash]
Pick a stationary object, and place it near a source of natural light. Take pictures of it periodically through the day. When you're done, try to identify areas of front, side, and back-lighting. Post your photos in a slideshow.Notes on Lighting:
Lighting plays a major role in how...
Cafeteria
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Some school years have a distinct aroma -- kindergarten might smell like glue sticks, second grade like lunchtime in the cafeteria, maybe eighth grade smells like a new book. These aromas can take you back to that place and time. Write about your own experience with certain years having their own special scent.[Unsplash, photo by Pawan Kawan]
Climate18
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Write to one or all of these Climate Change challenges created by YWP's Hazel Civalier and Sophie Dauerman for their special SoundCheck on Climate Change on Thursday, Nov. 15 at Burlington City Arts, 135 Church St., Burlington, VT, from 6-8 pm!FIVE CHALLENGES
Oasis - Artistically portray a place in nature that you believe we should protect: Is it favorite park or hike where you relax? Does it contain a national monument? A...
Morris
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Can't we do better? Kiah Morris, who represented...
Babysitting
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You’re babysitting two rambunctious children who have finally gone to bed. You’re exhausted and start drifting off to sleep on the couch, when you hear this sound. What is it? What do you do? https://freesound.org/people/tim.kahn/sounds/435490/[YWP Photo Library, photo by Tess LaLonde]
Photo-6 Satire
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Try your hand at satiric comics such as this one from Burlington YWPer Connor Byam. Tap into your artistic side. Throw in some humor -- and voila![YWP Photo Library, illustration by Connor Byam]
Photo-5 Child
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Addie Card was 12 and working as a spinner in a mill in North Pownal, VT, when photographer Lewis Hine took this photo in 1910. Find out more about America’s child laborers by researching Hine’s photos. Write a poem or story based on this photo or others you find.[Photo credit: Lewis Hine, Library of Congress]
Synesthesia
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Write about someone who tastes words, sees music and voices and/or hears colors. How do they use their mixed-up senses to their advantage, and what struggles do they face because of them?[YWP Photo Library, photo by Kevin Huang]
Trees
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Write about a world in which trees can talk and/or move on their own. How would trees be treated if they could speak for themselves? What would they say to each other -- and to us?[YWP Photo Library, photo by Kevin Huang]
Fourth
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The fourth wall is the conceptual barrier between any fictional work and readers. Write a piece that breaks the fourth wall with a character who is aware of being fictional, and directly communicates to the reader.[YWP Photo Library, photo by Jessica Belliveau]
Kites
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There is a new sport that’s growing in popularity: people fly kites that joust with each other in the air. Are the kites alive, enchanted, or built with advanced technology? What are the prizes for winning, and the consequences of losing?[YWP Photo Library, photo by Creative Commons]
Power
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A higher power decides to grant a superpower to all 7.6 billion people on planet Earth. But there’s a catch — if any two people name the same power, it becomes ineffective. What unique power do you choose, and what do you do with it? [YWP Photo Library, photo by Lia Chien]
Snow
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Vermont winters can be brutal and beautiful at the same time. Using descriptive language, write a story or poem that takes place in the dead of winter. Illustrate it with photos or drawings if you like.[YWP Photo Library, illustration by Ada Shookenhuff]
Location
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Your character is immersed in an unsettling and unfamiliar setting — a claustrophobic character in a cave, a first-time skier on top of a steep mountain, a city where no one speaks the character's language. Describe the environment and the character's reaction to it in a short scene.[YWP Photo Library, photo by Kevin Huang]
Creature
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You’re a terrifying creature — everyone is afraid of you — but you feel completely misunderstood. How did the world come to perceive you this way? Can you change their perception? Tell the story.[YWP Photo Library]
Definition
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Pick a word and give it your own personal definition. Perhaps to you, “friendship” means the secrets that are whispered at 3 AM in the dark, “pineapple” brings to mind an infamous childhood prank and "flower" is a sunny afternoon in your grandmother's garden.[YWP Photo Library, photo by Hazel Civalier]
Anticipation
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Write a story leading up to a major event or holiday and end it before it actually happens. Try to leave your readers wondering by playing around with ambiguity and cliffhangers.[YWP Photo Library, photo by Abigail Harkness]
Transition
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Fall is a time of transition in nature. What if it were for humans as well? Using elements of the season as your inspiration, write a poem about someone who undergoes a biological transition every autumn, .[YWP Photo Library, illustration by Callie Cox]
Photo-4 Friends
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What's the story behind these two friends? [YWP Photo Library, illustration by Ada Shookenhuff]
Here
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Write a story or poem starting with the line, “It had been a long time, but now he was here.”[YWP Photo Library, photo by Ada Shookenhuff]
Cooking
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Delicious meals are universally regarded as a labor of love. Tell the story of a recipe from start to finish: harvesting blackberries to make jam, foraging for mushrooms, roasting marshmallows—and how the experience affects the people who prepare and eat the meal.[YWP Photo Library, painting by Ada Shookenhuff]
Memory
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Psychologists tell us our earliest memories typically form between the ages of 3 and 4. What is your earliest memory, and how old were you? Are the details hazy, or do you see and feel it clearly?[YWP Photo Library, Photo by Kevin Huang]
Nerves
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The first day at school, camp, a new job can be nerve-wracking. Write about a memorable first day experience of your own or make one up, whether funny, mortifying or sad.[YWP Photo Library, Educational Technology Clearinghouse - University of South Florida]
Fighting-Words
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Your character is having an argument with someone. They begin hurling insults at each other, but without the use of profanity, slurs or comments about appearance. Maybe they end up laughing at the absurdity. Maybe they part in anger. Tell the story through their dialogue, showing the most creative fighting words they exchange. [YWP Photo Library, photo by Antonia Armstrong-Laird]
70°
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Imagine if 70° Fahrenheit weather — that pleasant, almost perfect temperature— were a person. How would the characteristics of 70°F weather be represented in a person? What would an interaction with them be like?[YWP Photo Library, photo by Kevin Huang]
Photo-1 Sunset
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Your character wanders off to this dock to watch the sunset. Something important has just happened and they need time alone. Tell the story.[YWP Photo Library, photo by Nora Wootten]
Club
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You have been invited to join a club that you’ve only heard wild rumors about. If you decide to join, what do you find out? What is the club really about? Are there bizarre initiation rituals and secret handshakes? Or if you take a pass, how do you come to your decision -- and live with that decision?[YWP Photo Library, photo by Abigail Harkness]
Photo-4 Circus
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Use this photo, taken at Shelburne Museum, as inspiration to write a story about a circus or carnival with dazzling acts touring the country.[YWP Photo Library, photo by Hazel Civalier]
Hey!
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Don’t ignore me! Write from the perspective of a character that you wish you would see more often or more accurately in the media, TV and movies.[YWP Photo Library, photo by Kevin Huang]
Royalty
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Write about someone who is ruler of something very strange or very silly. How did they become the leader? What “laws” do they pass? Who are their subjects and enemies, and how do they cope with this empire?[YWP Photo Library, photo by Kevin Huang]
Persuasion
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Use your best persuasive skills to convince your teacher or another adult to do something or believe something. What is the conversation in which you urge, coax or demand, and how does it turn out?[Photo credit: Lewis Hine, Library of Congress]
Greeting
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Write a poem or story that ends with a greeting. What is the backstory? Lead the reader along with you up to the point of the greeting, which might be a surprise (“Oh, hello!”), or a test of will (“Hi, my friends made me do this…”) or a coincidence (“Joe?! What are you doing here?”).[YWP Photo Library, photo by Amanda Seavers]
Education
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What improvements would you like to see at your school this year? Longer lunches? Later start time? More play, less work? Write a persuasive letter to your school officials, making a case for positive changes.[YWP Photo Library, photo by Tess LaLonde]
Afterlife
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Write about people in an unconventional afterlife. Maybe people are grouped for eternity by how often they laugh and they party, maybe they are immediately assigned a job position to help influence life back on Earth, maybe they have to drift around outer space together ... Let your creativity flow! What is life like for the dead?[YWP Photo Library, photo by Tess LaLonde]
Elections
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The midterm elections are approaching -- Nov. 6, 2018 -- and whether or not you are old enough to vote, your voice matters. Prompted by today's Daily Read, "Midterms," persuade people to vote. The midterms mark the middle of Republican President Trump's term, and all 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 seats in the U.S. Senate are being contested.
Portrait
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Write a description of yourself or someone you love. Include as many details of appearance, personality, habits and behavior as you can. If you like, use figurative or metaphorical language along with more concrete details.[YWP Photo Library, photo by Alexis Donna]
Almost
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“The scene in front of her was almost perfect. Almost.” Finish the story.[YWP Photo Library, photo by Rebecca Orten]
Photo-2 Guitar
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The man strumming his guitar says to you, “You’re a different soul, aren’t you?” What sets you apart from the crowd? [YWP Photo Library, photo by Holly Margulius; challenge submitted by Rowan Potzler, YWP.]
Photo-3 Thinking
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What is this girl thinking? Write her internal dialogue. Is she looking at you as she thinks? Or is she focused on something or someone else?[YWP Photo Library, illustration by Zoe Maxwell]
Winter/18
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Tell a story about your experience of winter in short, descriptive poetry or prose. Be original. Avoid clichés. The best will be selected for presentation by the Vermont Stage Company at its annual Winter Tales production in Burlington in December.[YWP Photo Library, photo by Lia Chien]
America?
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[Credit: Gerardo Mora/Getty Images, anti-Trump rally, New York Times]
"How do you love America? Stand up against narrow-mindedness and racism. Don’t turn away. Stay with it until you have done all that you can do." - David Maraniss, from "...
Tic Tac
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Overnight, your character shrinks to the size of a Tic Tac. What dangers await this...
CJP-9/11
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[Photo: Officers hang a flag with an image of the twin towers. Credit: Brittainy Newman/The New York Times]
From reading and learning about 9/11, write about its impact. Read this New York Times story about a young man whose mother was lost that day. The four 9/11 attacks against the...
CJP-Arts Critic
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Young Writers Project writers attend Kinetic Light's DESCENT at the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts on Oct. 30 and write a 500-word (max) review of the show.
CJP-Where I Live
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[Photo credit: Kevin Huang, YWP Photo Archive]
Take a moment to think about where you live. What makes it unique, special, feel like home? Maybe it could be better, but for this challenge, focus on what's good about it -- and write, draw, paint, or take photos!
CJP-Greta
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Greta Thunberg, 16, the Swedish environmental activist who has inspired people around the world to fight climate change, is Time magazine's Person of the Year for 2019, the youngest ever to receive the honor. If you're inspired, write a letter to Greta congratulating her and share your thoughts on climate change. Read the story in The Washington Post.
CJP-MLK
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Civil Rights Leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. sought to guide us to a more just America. Respond to Dr. King's message of love and equality as it relates to America in 2020: "Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that." (Strength to Love, 1963)