That’s the Power of Love!
Valentine’s Day is around the corner and so now is the time to spread a little love in 2021 with some Valentine’s Day themed challenges.
Like my other challenges before I will judge your entries on the following.
1) How well the entry fits the prompt/description.
2) How well it ties into the theme of Valentine’s Day.
3) Overall creativity and fun.
All challenges will end on February 15th, and the winners be choosing the winners around that time. If you have any questions about these challenges or what I may be looking for in these challenges, please feel free to send a message and ask me any time.
Most importantly, have fun and spread some love!
FICTION
Prompt: Favorite fictional couple.
Description: Any couple in any work of fiction. Movies, TV, video games, comics, etc. If you have more than one favorite couple, create a list. Also, explain why they are your favoirte couple.
Word Count: 15-300
Link: https://theprose.com/challenge/11768
NONFICTION
Prompt: Favorite real-life couple.
Description: Celebrities, historical figures, even people you know. Like the in the Fiction challenge if you have more than one favorite couple, create a list. Also, explain why they are your favoirte couple.
Word Count: 15-300
Link: https://theprose.com/challenge/11767
ROMANCE/EROTICA 1
Prompt: The Ultimate ‘Roses are Red’ poem.
Description: Like it says in the prompt, try and write the ultimate ‘Roses are Red’ poem if you can.
Word Count: 15-30
Link: https://theprose.com/challenge/11766
ROMANCE/EROTICA 2
Prompt: Since it is Valentine’s Day - and if this is your kind thing - write an erotic story/poem.
Description: Any style and format goes. If you feel the need to warn any sensitive readers, fill free to label your post NSFW.
Word Count: 15-1000
Link: https://theprose.com/challenge/11765
ROMANCE/EROTICA 3
Prompt: Why is it better to love than to hate.
Description: Just as the prompt says, explain why it is better to love someone rather than to hate. Any style and format is welcome.
Word Count: 15-500
Link: https://theprose.com/challenge/11764
LGBT
Prompt: Write a poem or a song for LGBTQ+ couples everywhere.
Description: There aren’t enough poems or songs for LGBTQ+ couples. So let’s try and fix that. See if you can write a poem or a song for a same sex couple somewhere. Let them know that their love for each other matters.
Word Count: 15-350
Link: https://theprose.com/challenge/11763
PARANORMAL:
Prompt: Angels and Demons... in love!
Description: Write a poem or short story with this premise: an angel and a demon in love.
Word Count: 100-500
Link: https://theprose.com/challenge/11762
REVIEW
Prompt: Your favorite romantic movie.
Description: What is your favorite romance movie you like to watch. If you got more than one favorite, make a list. Also explain why it is your favorite movie and why others should love it too.
Word Count: 100-1000
Link: https://theprose.com/challenge/11761
COMEDY 1
Prompt: Valentine’s Day Hoedown!
Description: See if you can come up with a Whose Line Is It Anyway style hoedown for Valentine’s Day. The theme for this hoedown is ‘First Date’. See if you can write one or a series of Whose Line hoedowns to a first date.
Word Count: 15-250
Link: https://theprose.com/challenge/11760
COMEDY 2
Prompt: Things you shouldn’t say on your first date.
Description: Write something that you shouldn’t say on your first date. The most hilarious one wins.
Word Count: 15-50
Link: https://theprose.com/challenge/11759
COMEDY 3
Prompt: The first conversation/date between Adam and Eve.
Description: Come up with a funny scenerio or some funny dialogue on what the first date or how the first conversation between Adam and Eve went down. Most hilarious entry wins.
Word Count: 15-150
Link: https://theprose.com/challenge/11758
#themechallenges #ValentinesDay #love #challenges #writing
Just. Be. Kind.
Be kind to yourself:
Unplug from social media (the internet and/or your television news program of choice) –
the endless scrolling through
what are probably not positive,
motivational posts, is leaching your soul
your spirit,
slowly, steadily,
of all that is beneficial and good,
unconsciously nurturing a you
that is ever more rigid,
angry
and incapable
of seeing the world
except through the prism
of your chosen lens;
the algorithms of the various sites
(or your favorite television news program)
will keep you buried in the voices
of your chosen choir
with no room for differing views
effectively eliminating any possibility of
a meeting of minds,
or compromise;
your “click” history will ensure
you get only more
of the same.
The world is so much more kaleidoscopic
than that narrow vision
we allow ourselves to see
in the rabbit hole
that is social media (the internet, tv news programs…)
So, give yourself a break: Unplug.
Read a novel. Or a poem.
Take a walk, Go on a hike.
Watch the sunrise…or set.
Cook something new. Bake something,
Share your creation.
Play with a child and really pay attention.
Listen to them tell a story.
Look at your teenager (friend, spouse, neighbor) in the eyes
when they speak so that
you can hear what they do not say.
Rub a dog’s belly. Make a cat purr.
All of these are good for your mind and spirit…and possibly someone else’s.
Be kind to others:
Instead of scrolling -
Call a good friend whose voice you have not heard in a long time. Catch up on YOUR lives, not the present sociopolitical situation.
Call a parent or a sibling – or any family member (family by blood or by choice). Tell them you love them. (Tell them every day.)
Handwrite a letter to a grandparent...or anyone else, really. Most would appreciate the time and thought that goes into handwriting a personal letter...and receiving something not a bill or advertisement in the mail. Ask them to write you back - maybe start a correspondence.
Do something good for someone in need. Don't tell anyone you've done it.
Smile at everyone you meet. Don't wait for someone else to be kind and friendly first. You may make someone's day.
And therefore your own...
It feels good when you lighten someone else's load.
Don't assume an off putting face is aimed at you. Everyone is going through something you know nothing about. That crazy driver honking and cursing at you? Respond with a wave and a smile and keep going. That anger has nothing to do with you. Don't let it ruin your day. And don't help make their day worse. Let it go. How you treat others is about who you are, not who they are.
Chat pleasantly with cashiers, counter people, waitstaff, receptionists, DMV and postal workers... and others with whom you come into contact. You may turn what seems a permanent frown into a smile. Be the friendly face you want to see.
When you look out at the world around you, stop labeling, judging, everyone you see based on preconceived notions of who you think they are and, therefore, what you think they must believe. You are probably wrong. People are much more complicated than the boxes we try to put them in. They, like you and I, are the sum total of myriad experiences we know nothing about.
Every major world religion has a version of the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have done unto you.
What a world it would be if we could all do that.
Just. Be. Kind.
something no one knows
I have synesthesia.
My alphabet has colors. Sounds and voices and names has texture and color. I see colors and shapes and pictures when I listen to music, as well as taste and smell different flavors and scents depending on the song. It’s helpful for memorizing, as I have lots of associations. It’s fun to be colorful, but it can also be confusing at times.
I actually have tried explaining it to my family, but they think I’m weird, so I didn’t bring it up again. I met another person with synesthesia for the first time, and now we’re really good friends.
So, I guess if anyone wants to know what colors I see for their name, you can drop your name in the comments and I’ll let you know.
@Shayna13
Stripes
Sixteen days was all it took
To go back to it’s old ways.
Something shining on the desk,
a mind at unrest,
With every little stroke, the souls slipped away.
I gave up everything to hold on. They split anyway, and I'm left with nothing.
"...We, who hurt each other so terribly, will sit here licking each other's wounds. We damaged goods will each seek the other out in comfort. If you are to die tomorrow, I'm fine with ending my life as well. But if you want to live for me for one more day, I'll go on living with you today as well."
All I'm saying is that if I moved to Chile and continued to live my life as a mountain goat, things would probably be better. No capitalism. No society. Just grass.
Rise of the Rainbow of Terror
Yes! October is almost here!
That means something much for terrifying than COVID-19 and the presidential elections approaches: Halloween! And that means the Rainbow of Terror is back with all new Halloween/horror themed challenges. It has been so long since I did a themed challenge hasn’t it. I feel whole again now that I’m doing themed challenges again.
Most of the challenges will be judged by me like last year’s Rainbow of Terror. I will grade each entry based on the following:
1) How well the entry fits the prompt/description.
2) How well it ties into the theme of Halloween/horror.
3) Overall creativity and fun.
All challenges will end on October 26, and the winners will be announced on Halloween night. Enter one, enter two, or enter in all of these fantastic and ghoulish horror/Halloween theme challenges. If you have any questions about these challenges or what I may be looking for in these challenges, please feel free to send a message and ask me any time.
Good luck, write up, and scare away. MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
HORROR 1
Prompt: 200th Horror Challenge
Description: The Horror Portal on Prose has finally reached its 200th challenge. Write a horror story in exactly 200 words. The winner goes to the most terrifying, and will be rewarded.
Word Count: 200-200
Link: https://theprose.com/challenge/11129
HORROR 2
Prompt: Local legends and ghost stories.
Description: Every town has at least a scary story or two. A story about a haunted house, or about a monster that lives in the local lake. Write and share a story or legend that you may have heard in your home town/city growing up that still gives you goosebumps when you think about it.
Word Count: 15-1000
Link: https://theprose.com/challenge/11128
HORROR 3
Prompt: You have just written the greatest horror book of all time. Describe that book and what happens.
Description: Plot twist: your story was cursed and what you have written comes to life. How long do you think you could survive?
Word Count: 50-500
Link: https://theprose.com/challenge/11127
HORROR 4
Prompt: Horror Under Quarantine
Description: Inspired by a short horror film titled Host, where a group of friends undergo a siance via Zoom only to experience a demonic encounter. Write a horror story where a someone or a group of people are stuck inside during Quarantine, communicating through videochats, when something horrible and terrifying happens. Paranormal activity, a killer breaks in, a monster attacks, you decide.
Word Count: 150-1500
Link: https://theprose.com/challenge/11126
HORROR 5
Prompt: Vampires or Werewolves?
Description: Which is the better monster and why?
Word Count: 15-300
Link: https://theprose.com/challenge/11125
HORROR 6
Prompt: “It has awoken to reclaim this world.”
Description: Use this sentence as the basis of your horror story.
Word Count: 100-2000
Link: https://theprose.com/challenge/11124
HORROR 7
Prompt: “The hunter is now the hunted.”
Description: Use this as the basis of your horror story.
Word Count: 100-2000
Link: https://theprose.com/challenge/11123
HORROR 8
Prompt: “She was dead, and I was going to be next.”
Description: Use this as the basis of your horror story.
Word Count: 100-2000
Link: https://theprose.com/challenge/11122
HORROR 9
Prompt: 2020, the scariest year so far!
Description: 2020 is a horror story on its own. Write about it!
Word Count: 20-2020
Link: https://theprose.com/challenge/11121
SIX WORD STORY
Prompt: Guess Boo! Round Two!
Description: Last year’s Guess Boo turned out to be a big success, so I figured why not do it again this year. This is a guessing game of sorts. What you have to do is think of a topic that is often associated with horror, and then write out three lines, six words each, that describes what you are so everyone can guess in the comments. The topic can be a scary movie (Jaws, The Exorcist, Aliens), a scary TV show (American Horror Story, Walking Dead, Goosebumps), a scary game (Dead Space, Ouija), or a scary book (Dracula, Frankenstein). Or the topic can be some sort of monster, masked killer, or whatever that is associated with horror. Or it can be real people that are often associated with the horror genre like writers Stephen King, Mary Shelley, and George A. Romero. I’ll start off with an example so you all can follow. Winner will goes to the one that stumps the most people, myself included.
Word Count: 18-18
Link: https://theprose.com/challenge/11120
HAIKU:
Prompt: Creepypasta Haiku
Description: Creepypastas. The modern age of telling scary stories through the internet. Slenderman, Jeff the Killer, the Rake, Candle Cove, just to name a few. For this challenge write two or three haikus (5 syllable 7syllable 5 syllable for each haiku) relating to your favorite Creepypasta. Here’s a link to the Creepypasta website to help you search through their endless list of terrors if you’re looking for some inspiration: https://www.creepypasta.com/
Word Count: 15-50
Link: https://theprose.com/challenge/11119
REVIEW
Prompt: Your favorite horror movie.
Description: For any moviegoers here write about your favorite horror movie.
Word Count: 15-1000
Link: https://theprose.com/challenge/11118
GAMING
Prompt: Your favorite horror video game.
Description: For any gamers here write about your favorite horror video game.
Word Count: 15-1000
Link: https://theprose.com/challenge/11117
ROMANCE/EROTIC
Prompt: Falling in love with horror!
Description: Just like it sounds, try to write up a romantic story or poem (or an erotic story/poem if that’s your thing) with elements of horror.
Word Count: 25-2500
Link: https://theprose.com/challenge/11116
PHILOSOPHY
Prompt: “The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.” - H.P. Lovecraft
Description: Is there truth to this quote? Do we still fear the unknown? Give me an essay on your thoughts on this.
Word Count: 15-1500
Link: https://theprose.com/challenge/11115
MUSIC
Prompt: Sing for Halloween!
Description: There’s plenty of songs about Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and even St. Patrick’s day. But there aren’t (if any) songs about Halloween. For any future song writers here, this is your chance. Write up an original song about Halloween!
Word Count: 15-1000
Link: https://theprose.com/challenge/11114
COMEDY
Prompt: How many Halloween puns can you come up with?
Description: Best puns win.
Word Count: 15-100
Link: https://theprose.com/challenge/11113
BOOK CLUB 1
Prompt: Which book deserves the crown for being the king of horror, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein or Bram Stoker’s Dracula?
Description: Give your opinions. Winner goes to the most convincing argument.
Word Count: 15-250
Link: https://theprose.com/challenge/11112
BOOK CLUB 2
Prompt: Does anyone have any horror stories they can recommend to me?
Description: I’m a fan of horror and I’m always interested in reading some new horror. Any have any recommendations?
Word Count: 15-150
Link: https://theprose.com/challenge/11111
#themechallenges #halloween #horror #fun #happyhalloween #RainbowOfTerror