Writing Challenges - how often, what sort of

[ludwig1beethoven]

How often do you do writing challenges for yourself and which ones? For example, challenging yourself to write something in the narrative way that you haven't tried before (unreliable, 1/2 person, 3 not omniscient), or setting a goal to transmit a feeling or writing about a topic and trying to avoid some specific words.

 

[pmmg]

I am too focused on my big project to want to get sidetracked into one off challenges. Generally, I like to participate to show site spirit and help things catch on, but I had to pass last time they came up. I used to do them more when I was younger, and wanting more feedback for my stuff.

I sometimes think of starting up something here, but...the membership never seems to jump on, and there is not a good way to showcase stories here. I am not sure it can catch on here. I think a story tool is missing that would benefit the site if it were here. But...I am not a site runner.

I see challenges on other sites, but at the moment, I am passing on them.

I dont know when I will look to take them up again.

 

[Karlin]

WIP is plenty of a challenge as it is. No need for official challenges

 

[Prince of Spires]

I'm working through a novel, that's already challenging enough. I don't need more writing work...

Having said that, I can see it being good practice to write shorter pieces that try to achieve a specific thing. I probably should do more of them. I just don't have the cognitive room or motivation to write more besides the big WiP.

 

[Kitty3569]

How often do you do writing challenges for yourself and which ones? For example, challenging yourself to write something in the narrative way that you haven't tried before (unreliable, 1/2 person, 3 not omniscient), or setting a goal to transmit a feeling or writing about a topic and trying to avoid some specific words.

I know this may sound odd, but I buy books that have writing challenges in them. when I get blocked on writing, I use these challenges to help me start thinking again.

 

[ludwig1beethoven]

I know this may sound odd, but I buy books that have writing challenges in them. when I get blocked on writing, I use these challenges to help me start thinking again.

Oh dang, I think that's very interesting

 

[pmmg]

Why buy a book though, when the internet surely has these for free?

 

[Lorn Ashby]

Only when I'm between my own ideas or stuck on something

 

[xena]

I always find myself interested in participating...but with all the other writing I do, I can never actually get myself to

 

[Rudolphthered]

I enjoy worldbuilding even more than I enjoy writing. So, whenever I am stuck on my big project, I drift away to write in-universe books about different topics from my world; be it travel guides, biographies, propaganda, scientific papers, myths, etc.

This forces me to do something different while still writing and fleshing out my world, and as a plus, sometimes it even gives me an idea to use on my main book, which is still on first-draft phase. As I write about different things in different places at different periods of times, it feels like a nice and soothing vacation from the routine of my main book.

Of course, these are self-imposed by me, whenever I feel like doing them. I've never taken on a writing challenge from the internet or a book, as Kitty said.