 Contests & Activities: March 08, 2017 Issue [#8168] |
  Contests & Activities
This week: Different Types of Prompts Available Edited by: Dawn Embers  
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Contest & Activity Newsletter by Dawn
Glancing at a few different kinds of prompts and ways of finding inspiration. |
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One key element in many writing contests no matter the style or expectation is the use of a prompt. Each contest may have a specific type, style or genre and some may even provide options for what can inspire the person entering. Some even have no prompt at all, allowing for a more open option with less limiting factors though there may still be set limitation based on other factors, such as genre or type of item. As a contest host and someone who enters contests, prompts are something I see and think about on a regular basis. They can be both helpful (inspiring stories/novels whether I enter anything in the contest or not) or they can be vexing (trying to come up with new things often over the years). Either way, prompts do have their use and we all probably have preferences to what we like to use.
Some of the options for types of prompts one can use for either a contest or just to inspire their own writing include: images, music, words, characters, situations and more.
Some of the most common prompts are written out. These tend to be more specific to asking for a situation, a certain type of characters or interaction among characters or even just a list of words that must be found in the item. For poem contests, the word list or even just a single word or title used is a common style of prompt while in stories the characters or situations are often used. However, all of these can be used for many different types of static items.
Picture prompts are also seen on a regular basis here on WDC. There are a variety of options when it comes to images and will in part be based on the particular contest or activity used. Some may use their own artwork while others find the images online. How specific one must use the image will also vary on the judge preference. For example: if there is a person in the image, how they look and their gender might be what the judge wants to see. However, some judges are okay with some altering (such as switching gender) as long as some elements of the image are still viewable. The judge still needs to see how the prompt inspired the item when in a contest but isn't as important when not entering in some style of competition.
Less common in usage is the music prompt. We have had an official contest that used music for the prompt and some others around the site have used lyrics, youtube videos and clips. This can vary from writing a poem/story inspired by the lyrics, setting up a grouping of stories based on an entire album or getting inspiration from the music videos (some of which can be very strange) in order to create something. However, this style does have some challenges, particularly when have an instrumental piece and trying to see how the music was used within a story.
There are a few ways to get inspired when it comes to the quest for a contest prompt (or just one for yourself). Finding a prompt can be a challenge or it can be easy, either time these are some options for the search:
Web Search - This works for a few different types of prompts. You can find images by picking a word or more and using google images in order to find one that you feel might inspire others. Google is going to be a common choice though any search engine can be used. There are also sites that provide groups, pages or different programs to create prompts.
Surroundings - Sometimes it is the world around us that can inspire a prompt. Traveling can show us a sight or situation that we then want to write or use as a prompt. Or even mundane places like work can have an item that works as inspiration. There are many options in the world around us and just taking a look can help provide a form of prompt.
Preference - Another is to just consider what you would like to read or write. Seems a little simple but if I'm judging a contest that is specific to romance and have been wanting to see a certain character or situation play out, I can use the idea as the prompt. It's interesting to see what someone else will create when given an idea or suggestion because it's going to be different than what I might write but still have elements that will catch my attention since I was looking for that point in particular.
So, with writing for or even hosting contests and activities, prompts are both helpful and hindering. Some will like a particular type of prompt while others don't want a prompt at all. Any style has an advantage and disadvantage and preference is a definite factor. The question becomes what will you use and what inspires you? How do you look for prompts or inspiration? |
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What kind of prompts do you prefer when hosting or entering a contest?
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