Webb Writing Challenge - Part 2

 

This weekend I volunteered at my church bingo - five hours of running around handing out bingo cards, prizes and remembering to never wish them good luck (apparently this is taboo in the bingo world). I got started as a volunteer because I would rather work than actually play bingo. So, when I sat down to write this month's post I had all things bingo on my mind. Naturally, with the wild way my brain works bingo cards reminded me of reading challenges on bingo-like cards which reminded me of a writing challenge I gave everyone about a year ago.

Are you done yet?

I hope so since I have a new challenge. Since that challenge focused on fiction writing, I thought I'd give you a nonfiction writing challenge this time around. Use the card above to write your way to a bingo (four corners counts), a picture frame or pull out all the stops and write your way to a cover all. It's a great excuse to stretch those writing muscles and try new things. Don't forget to tell me how you're doing with the challenge!

1. Flash pieces - Can you express yourself in 1000 words or less? WOW's Creative Nonfiction Essay Contest is accepting entries right now but there are quite a few markets accepting flash writing.

2. Hit the Road - Write something based on travel -- anything from a description of your favorite place to travel tips to an essay on your dream journey.

3. Pleased to Meet You - Chat with someone you find interesting (your favorite author, your partner, the woman who owns your local coffee shop) and create a piece based on that interview. You never know what you'll learn or what other ideas will spring from that interaction.

4. Let's Laugh - Can you make your readers laugh? It's harder than you think! Craft an essay, article or even a how-to that will give everyone the giggles.

5. Outside Your Window - Focus on nature for your next piece. Maybe a description of the beauty you see in the autumn colors, an article about gardening, or even something about surviving a hurricane.

6. Hometown Happenings - What about your hometown could be interesting to the big wide world? Maybe a quirky local event, a famous resident, a vacation destination, a local food. I've written articles for national publications about local artists, local charities, the origin of nearby town names, a high school history class that build a Viking ship.

7. Be the Expert - I've written advice based articles about saving money at Disney World, shopping at consignment shops, encouraging a reluctant reader and book marketing. Where are you an expert? 

8. Listicles - They're everywhere: the ten best chocolate chip cookies in the grocery store, five towns every Civil War enthusiast has to visit, four holiday traditions to skip and four holiday traditions you can't miss. These are quick, fun pieces to write and can often find a home with online magazines.

9. Your Mission Should You Choose to Accept It - It's a challenge to write something that will stand out when everyone else is writing about the same topic. Check out Readers Write for The Sun Magazine and call outs from places like Business Insider and All Recipes. When creating a piece based on an assigned topic, strive to find a unique twist.

10. Review - Yes, you could review a book but that's not the only review gig in town. Review music, toys, power tools, events.

11. Pick a Side - Find a controversial topic (no, you don't have to go straight to politics) and pick a side. Right now the big online discussion is "Should You Take an Iced Coffee to a Job Interview?" Maybe your writing will start the next big discussion.

12. History - Turn back the clock and find something interesting in the past to write about. It could be your personal history or something about a company, town, celebrity, sports team, even your favorite food.

13. Hermit Crab - Write a personal essay disguised as something else: a recipe, a police report, a letter to your congressman.

14. Delicious - Why are cooking reality shows so popular? We all love food! So write about it. You can teach readers how to cook, share memories of a significant food in your family, discuss the latest trend (please, can something take the place of pumpkin spice), even a humorous piece about your epic fail in the kitchen.

15. For the Kids - Turn to a younger audience and craft an article, quiz, activity, or interview just for them on your favorite topic. There are plenty of kids magazines focuses on everything from history to science to cooking to world cultures.

16. That's New - Can't think of any ideas? Learn something new! Take a class in pottery. Read a book about fly fishing. Volunteer at your poll place. Maybe you won't write about that specific topic but it may give your brain a boost to another idea.

 

Jodi M. Webb writes from her home in the Pennsylvania mountains about everything from apple pie to consignment shops to travel. She's also a blog tour manager for WOW-Women on Writing. Follow her writing (and reading) life at Words by Webb.